Burning Up by Nalini Singh, Meljean Brook, Virginia Kantra, Angela Knight Page B

grinned. “I was hoping to score brownie points.”
    “So it’s DarkRiver Construction?”
    “Part of it. The building will also function as the pack’s city headquarters—we outgrew the old premises.”
    All of which, Ria knew, meant she’d never get the job. Changeling packs looked after their own, sticking together like glue. Sure they’d helped clean up the city, making it safer for everyone, but as Emmett had explained, that had more to do with holding territory than anything else.
    Tired, dispirited, and hungry, she walked into a neighborhood restaurant run by a family she’d seen at community functions, and grabbed a seat. Emmett took the chair opposite hers.
    “You order,” he said, scanning the room.
    She was telling the waitress—who also happened to be the owner’s daughter—that she wanted cashew chicken, when Emmett moved across the table to smash her and the waitress both to the ground. A split second later, she heard a loud pop followed by a scream. Emmett was already up and speaking on his cell. “He’s heading out, past the candy shop—” He ran toward the door.
    Getting up, Ria helped the shaken waitress to her feet. Emmett was back before she’d finished. “You hurt?” His hands swept over her body.
    Aware of several interested glances, she slapped them off. “I’m fine.” She turned to check on the waitress and got the same answer in response. “What happened?” she asked Emmett.
    He pointed behind her. A large hole marred the previously pristine wall. “Bullet.” His jaw was a brutal line, his eyes . . . his eyes .
    Stepping instinctively closer, she put her hand on his chest. “Emmett.”
    He glanced down, those incredible green-gold eyes, leopard eyes, looking out at her from a human face. His hand cupped her cheek. “You have a scratch here.” A thumb stroking gently over a hurt she didn’t even feel, his gaze predator-cold.
    She didn’t know how she knew what to do. She just did. Instead of fighting off his hold as she had earlier, she leaned into him, slipping her arms around his waist. His own came around her at almost the same instant, and he squeezed her close, until she could barely breathe. But she held on, held tight.
    She didn’t know how long they stood wrapped around each other, but when he did finally release her, the fear in the restaurant had turned to speculation. Likely, her grandmother and mother would be hearing all about it in the time it took to type a text message. She didn’t care. Because the leopard was gone from Emmett’s eyes, his rage under control.
    He tapped her cheek. “Grab your purse. This place needs to be looked at by our techs, and I want you safe at home.”
    Realizing he wanted to start tracking the shooter as soon as possible, Ria didn’t argue. Emmett’s eyes were hyperalert as they began to head out of the restaurant, his big body vibrating with protectiveness.
    “Please!”
    Startled, she looked over her shoulder. It was the waitress Emmett had taken down—the woman ran over, a bag of take-out containers in hand. Her smile was a little wary as it flicked to Emmett, but her gratitude clear. “Thank you.” She shook her head when Emmett, the majority of his attention clearly on ensuring no more nasty surprises, went to grab his wallet. “It’s a gift. My father was in the army. He says that bullet would’ve hit me first.” She pressed the bag into Ria’s hands. “Please take this.”
    Ria accepted it, understanding the family’s need to give something back to the man who’d saved their child’s life. “Thank you.”
    The woman smiled and looked up at Emmett. “You’re welcome at our table at any time.”
    Emmett gave a short nod. Ria wondered if he understood the value of the invitation. She could’ve let it go, but that wasn’t who she was—she asked him about it as they walked home at a rapid clip.
    “I know,” he said, his voice tense as he scanned the area. “We’ve been working on building