chapter 12

The professor is far from suicidal, Ginger agreed. And he knew how the panthers felt about him, and about any attempts to remove their ancestral icons from the territory. But...it sounds as if you thought he had an inside man. We do. But how would an inside man get him past all of the other panthers? It still doesn't make sense.

He ran his hands wearily over his face. Okay. The day's over. Let's go for a run. I need to clear my head and then we can talk.

They drove outside of town, and the sheriff pulled into a small wooded cove by the side of the road. Loch got out of the car and Ginger followed suit, shutting the patrol car door.

He walked over to stand next to her, and she felt that familiar tingling sensation rolling over her, the pulse of desire that throbbed inside her with each heartbeat. Talk to me, Ginger said. Ever since the first time I laid eyes on you, I wanted to claim you as mine, Loch told her. That's why I went all caveman on you at the Hoot Owl. I've been trying to fight the urge to grab you and rip your clothes off every second that I'm alone with you.

Ginger stared at him in amazement. Several long seconds ticked by as she tried to process what he was saying.

Why me? she asked finally.

Why? Because you're beautiful, and smart, and kind, and sexy, and because you give me a hard time when nobody else dares too, and because you're my fated mate.

I...what? You believe in that? In the city, we think that's kind of a myth. Of course we believe in that, Loch said. It's true. My grandmother was with her fated mate for seventy years until he passed away, God rest his soul. My mother and my father, too. They live north of here; you'll meet them.

But...I just met you. Don't you feel it too?He took her hand in his, his eyes pleading. The feeling of his skin brushing against hers set her senses on fire, and she bit her lip, stifling a whimper.

I don't know what I feel. Every time I'm near you, I tingle all over and I can barely concentrate and everything I say sounds stupid and... she was blushing and staring at the ground. Have you ever felt that way about anyone else? Never. Listen, this isn't the olden days where the Alpha drags his fated mate off to his homestead the second he scents her, and there's a shotgun marriage on the spot, Loch assured her. Although, let me tell you, those marriages always lasted. That's how grandmother, in fact. my grandfather claimed my..

What? Ginger's eyes widened in surprise.

This is the 21st century. I get that. We can take all the time you need. And there'll be courting. Plenty of courting. His voice dropped to a low growl. But no other men.

And no other women! she protested, and then wanted to smack herself. Was she agreeing to this? Had she gone completely crazy?

Of course, no other women.At her skeptical look he added, I know my reputation. But I've literally never been serious with any other woman before I met you. And I've never lied to a woman . All those women that I was with...it was like I was trying to fill a void while I was looking for the one.

Oh. Her eyes were round with wonder. Let's run, he said.