Racing Home (Dirt Track Dogs Book 3) (Paranormal Wolf-Shifter Romance) by P. Jameson

these?” Blister asked, setting the knife aside.
    “Just toss ‘em in.”
    He reached in front of her, adding the onions to the pot while she stirred.
    “Chili?” he asked.
    Annie grinned. “Mm hm. Do you like chili?”
    He nodded.
    “Good. You sticking around for dinner?” The hope in her tone was obvious and part of her wished he wouldn’t notice. There was a fine line between flirting and being pathetic.
    “Actually…” He stepped away from her, going to stand over by the sink. “I thought I might take you up on your offer.”
    Her offer. Did that mean what she thought it meant?
    “To stay in your storm shelter. Just, you know, until the cleanup is finished and I have time to set up a new place for myself.”
    “Sure, yeah.” She nodded, trying not to give away her excitement. “That won’t be a problem at all.”
    “I’ll just need to go home and grab some clothes.”
    “Okay.” She couldn’t look at him. If she did, he’d see her giddiness. And for sure, she needed to calm down. This didn’t mean anything. He needed a place to stay. She needed help cleaning up. It was quid pro quo.
    But what if?
    What if this was how they’d get to know each other better? Even if he just wanted to be friends. It’d be better than nothing.
    He maneuvered past her, pausing at the door. “I’ll uh, I’ll be back in a while.”
    She glanced at him, and it was mistake number two. His gaze was one she hadn’t seen from him before, full of emotion she couldn’t decipher. And it was impossible to look away. She wanted to run to him and hug him. He looked like he needed one. Or hold his hand, if a hug was too much. Or… maybe she could just smile at him like she always did and that would be enough.
    Her lips curved on their own. “I’ll save you dinner.”
    With a sharp nod, he escaped through the door.
    When she’d set the chili to simmer, she started gathering pillows and blankets and other items Blister might need in the shelter.
    Annie grinned to herself. She was going to make him feel so comfortable he wouldn’t even miss his tent.
    ***
    As Blister pulled into DTD, he was still troubled by his decision to stay at Annie’s, but there was no way he’d leave her there alone right now. Besides, last night had been hell on his wolf.
    He couldn’t bring himself to set up the tent she gave him. It was both a sad reminder of what he was, and special. Like a keepsake, he’d packed it away in the attic of the big house with all his other valuables. Later he’d get another one. For now, he’d take her offer.
    He found Drake at the practice field and when he would’ve drove right by him, his alpha waved him over. Blister thought about ignoring him, but he’d skipped out on his brothers today and he felt bad about it.
    Pulling to a park, he got out and sauntered over to where Drake leaned against the fence.
    “Where have you been?” he asked, casually.
    “Helping the cats.”
    “The cat’s huh?”
    Blister nodded, unwilling to add anything.
    “You’ve been hanging out with Annie, right? Is that it?”
    Blister stiffened. “It’s not what you think.”
    “It isn’t? Because what I think is that you’ve found your mate and you don’t know what to do with her.”
    Blister shook his head. “You’re wrong. I know exactly what to do with her.”
    Drake smiled wide, a laugh bursting forth. “Well, alright then,” he said, clapping Blister on the shoulder. “Look, I’m happy for you, man. You deserve everything this sweet mated life has to offer.”
    Blister jerked his head back to look at his alpha. “I told you, it’s not like that. I’m not claiming her. I’d never…”
    Drake frowned. “Wait, what? What do you mean you aren’t claiming her? Of course you’ll claim her.”
    Blister shook his head, growing frustrated. “No. I won’t do that to her. She deserves better than… me.”
    “Wait a second. So, you plan on watching your mate find happiness in another?”
    Once again, the idea