Nic by Jordan Summers Page B

like your friend Celina after all. You know where to find me once he kicks you to the curb.” Marco dropped down a step and his nose wrinkled. “Is Celina here?”
    “No. Why?”
    “Thought I smelled her,” he said.
    Mindy inhaled, but didn’t smell anything other than the roast. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    Marco poked his head in the door and dragged air into his lungs.
    “What are you doing? I told you she wasn’t here,” she said. “You need to leave. Now!”
    He scowled at her and walked to his car. He changed direction at the last second and slipped behind her house. Fear pulsed inside of her. What was he doing?
    “I mean it, Marco,” she shouted. “If you don’t leave this second, I’m calling the police!”
    At first, Mindy didn’t think that he’d heard her, then she saw him sprint across the yard. His face was pale and his wide amber eyes kept scanning the tree line. It was a relief to see that he was taking her threat seriously.
    Marco didn’t stop watching the woods until he was behind the wheel. Gravel flew as he tore out of her driveway.
    Mindy watched him leave. It wasn’t until he was out of sight that she was finally able to let go of the front door.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Nic passed the pup on the road. There was only one place he could be coming from. Fear demolished his nervousness. He needed to get to Mindy. Make sure she was okay. He stomped down hard on the gas. Nic’s truck roared as he raced down the road.
    He found the address and hurried into the driveway. Nic threw his truck into park and jumped out, not bothering to turn it off. He leapt up her front stairs and pounded on the door.
    “Marco, I told you to leave,” Mindy shouted.
    “It’s not Marco,” Nic rumbled.
    “Nic?” Mindy opened the door. Her pale face and trembling hands said all he needed to know. “Sorry, I thought you were someone else.”
    “Are you okay?” he asked.
    Nic didn’t wait for her to answer. He simply pulled her into his arms and ran his hands over her body. He needed to see for himself that she was unharmed. What was the pup doing here? How had he found out where she lived?
    She allowed him to comfort her for a minute, then Mindy slowly moved away. The awkwardness that had been there earlier in the day returned.
    Nic cleared his throat. “I’ll need the keys to your car. You still want me to take a look at it, right?”
    “Yes, of course.” Mindy lifted the keys off the hook beside the door. “Here.” She handed the key ring to him.
    “It won’t take long,” he said.
    “Take your time,” Mindy said. “I was just finishing up the side dishes for dinner. Would you like to stay? I made enough for two.”
    She was okay. He’d seen so with his own eyes. He should fix her car and leave, but Nic didn’t want to go. He wanted to spend more time with her.
    “Sure,” he said.
    “Great.” She smiled, and his stomach fluttered.
    Nic walked back to his truck. He could feel Mindy’s eyes on him. Everywhere she looked, a wave of heat followed. He flexed his hands and turned off his engine before grabbing his toolbox. Twenty minutes later, he’d finished the minor adjustment to get rid of the pinging and had her car humming once more.
    He dropped the hood and was walking back to his truck to put his toolbox inside when he caught a strange scent wafting on the air. Nic placed the toolbox on the seat and slowly shut the door. He raised his head and carefully smelled the area around him.
    What was that?
    Nic had never smelled anything like it. He stepped away from his truck and walked into the yard. The scent grew fainter. Nic frowned and switched direction. The breeze brought the odor again. This time stronger. He scanned the trees. Nothing moved. The hair on Nic’s neck rose and the wolf inside him surfaced.
    The door opened. “Are you done?” Mindy asked.
    Nic nodded, but continued to stare at the woods.
    “What is it?” Mindy stepped out of the house onto the