Covert Desires. Sondrae Bennett

      He needed to think about this some more. When searching for a mate, he’d known he would have to look outside the pack. Mostly because he knew everyone in the pack and none of them were right for him. But he hadn’t considered what he would do if his woman thought the connection between him and his family was strange. In his mind, he’d pictured his family welcoming his woman with open arms. Which was night and day from what had gone down tonight. Clearly his family and Amber hadn’t gotten off on a great foot.

      What was he supposed to do now?

      Danny shook his head hard. What was he thinking? Amber wasn’t his mate, and it didn’t matter whether his siblings liked her or not. She was an agent trying to learn their secrets and use them to the government’s own end. And Danny was only gaining her trust so he could lead her astray.

      For a moment, another moment, he’d forgotten what this was. Not a date with a pretty girl, but a way of getting closer to the stranger in their midst. Keeping tabs. And no matter how much he wished otherwise, that was all this could ever be. She’d always be a spy, and he’d always be the man keeping her from doing her job.

      Now he just had to remember that. Easier said than done, with the attraction buzzing between them. His wolf kept trying to get loose from the cage of control he kept around it. And they were all in trouble if that happened.

      * * * *

      What the hell was she doing? Amber had no idea what possessed her to ask a question like that. She might as well have waved a giant banner that read, I don’t like your family, dump me now. Stupid, stupid. Especially because, no matter what her job was, she honestly liked Danny and didn’t want to hurt him.

      Now, the question hung awkwardly in the air between them. Her parents had always warned her that her mouth would get her into trouble. But she’d thought her job and her training had rid her of that little problem. After all, her mouth had never compromised a mission. Before now, that was.

      Yet here she was, asking Danny why he spent so much time with his brothers and sisters. His freaking family. Just because Amber had never spent that much time with her sister, didn’t mean she could judge others who did.

      The crazy thing? She hadn’t meant to be judgmental. Had just wanted to understand something she had trouble grasping. But judging by Danny’s silence, she’d seriously insulted him.

      “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.” Stupid, stupid, stupid.

      “No, I’m just thinking.”

      Amber held her breath while waiting for Danny to gather his thoughts. She wasn’t in the clear, yet.

      “It’s hard to explain, but they’re more than just my family. It’s not as if I can’t do something without them. I don’t need their permission for anything, but I value their opinion, and I know whatever advice they give me, is not what they think is best, but what they think is best for me. It’s rare to trust someone to give you that kind of advice, you know?”

      She thought about what he said, remembered all the advice and support she’d gotten in the past year. Some had questioned her ability to do her job, but not one had asked her what she wanted. None had asked her what was right for her. And not one had thought about her when doling out advice.

      To have someone watching out for her that way… A stab of envy tightened her gut. Even though they weren’t the most likable bunch in the world, she still wished she had more people like that in her life.

      “I understand. And I think you’re very lucky,” she told him.

      His breath left him in a whoosh, and his shoulders sagged. Visible relief. “For a minute there I thought you were asking me because you didn’t like them, or because you thought it strange.”

      “No, of course not.” She hastened to assure him. Then, a devil possessed her. Even as the agent side of her urged her to bite her tongue, Amber grinned and said, “Well, except your sister.” Without doubt the worst of the bunch. Although most of the others had warmed up to her as the evening wore on, Laurie kept her distance. Something Amber was grateful for. Because after the first impression, Amber wasn’t ready to cut her a break.

      Laurie should realize how lucky she was to have a brother like Danny, not drag him outside and mentally beat on him. But no matter how obvious the mutual dislike was, she shouldn’t put Danny in the middle.

      As soon as the words left her mouth, Amber wished she could pull them back. She cringed as she waited for his response.

      Danny grinned. Actually grinned at her. His entire face lit up with his smile, until he barked out a laugh. Relief coursed through her. She hadn’t screwed up. But if she wasn’t more careful, it would only be a matter of time.

      Why was she having so much difficulty holding her tongue? It was as if she had no filter around him. Danny grabbed her hand again, and they started meandering toward his car. The warmth of his palm radiated up her arm.

      “Yeah, I noticed you two clashed a bit. You’re actually a lot alike.”

      Amber threw him an incredulous look, causing him to chuckle again. He had an easy laugh, and she found herself smiling along with him even as the sound caused her gut to tighten in desire. She could easily get used to being the cause of his amusement. The sound warmed her from the inside out.

      “I’m not kidding.”

      When they arrived at his car, Danny reached around her to open the door, but paused with his hand on the knob. He was close enough that she could smell the sweet scent of his aftershave and feel the heat of his body through their clothing.

      For a moment, Amber envisioned herself as a simple girl out on a date with an attractive man. Would she let him kiss her?

      With a start, she realized she wanted him to. Wanted him to lean down until his lips brushed hers in an intimate caress. But would she give in to that desire, or hold out?

      She wasn’t sure. And that uncertainty urged her to reach down and cover his hand on the handle, opening the door herself, and using it as a barrier to put between them.

      If they had met under other circumstances, things might have been different. But things weren’t different, and imagining, even for a minute, that they could be, was a slippery slope. One she’d been down before, and one she almost hadn’t come back from.