Page 37 of Half Wolf Mate
He tilted his head to one side and calmly stated, “You’re free to go.”
I froze. “What’s the catch?”
“Stay away from Adam Blackwell.”
“You know what? I think I’m going to stay away from werewolves altogether. Happy?”
He lifted one shoulder in response.
“So, that’s it?” I asked. “You’re just going to let me leave?”
He nodded. “I’m giving you a lift.”
My eyes narrowed to slits. I knew his generous offer was a ruse to continue monitoring me because he was still suspicious. Thoroughly irritated, I quipped, “Well, it’s the least you can do, considering you had me kidnapped.”
His lips lifted slightly into a sardonic grin. “After you, Sydney.” He gestured to the door.
Chapter 17 Sydney
Opening the car door, I slid out of the front seat, relieved to escape. The drive to my apartment had been painfully awkward because I had no idea what to say to a man who I was convinced hated me.
“Thanks for the lift,” I muttered and took off toward the building.
Footsteps echoed behind me, and I sighed my irritation. The last thing I wanted was for Cole to come into my personal space.
“Why the rush, Sydney? Are you eager to run back to Adam’s place?”
Taking a deep breath to keep any flippant retorts at bay, I said, “Not at all. I’m tired, and I’d like to get some sleep.” Of course, I knew that wasn’t going to happen. Worrying about being hunted had me so on edge all the time. Sleep was a distant memory.
“So you’re not going to invite me in?”
Stopping abruptly, I spun around to give Cole a seething glare, but I gasped instead because we almost collided. With just a hair’s breadth between us, my wits immediately scattered. Cheeks burning, I took a step back.
“I know you only offered me a lift to keep eyes on me,” I said. “But there’s no need for you to come in.”
Those cool blue eyes were fixed on me, and it was disconcerting. “Have something to hide, Syd?”
“Don’t call me that,” I snapped.
“You didn’t complain when Alex called you that.”
“Only people I like get to call me that.”
Something akin to regret flickered in his eyes, which left me confused. His subtle reactions of remorse puzzled me sometimes because he didn’t appear to have any problems cutting me with his words.
Shoving my fingers violently through my hair, I sighed, and it rang with pure frustration. “You know what? Come and search every inch of my apartment if that will make you feel better.” Not waiting for his response, I tuned and marched up the steps. Bypassing the elevator that was still out of service, I headed to the stairwell with Cole hot on my heels.
Halfway to the fifth floor, he asked, “Are you comfortable?”
I glanced over my shoulder with a frown. “What?”
“Here, in your apartment.”
“Um…sure…”
“Good.”
Making my way up the rest of the stairs, I wondered why he’d even ask me that. I didn’t think he’d care about my comfort. On my floor, as we walked to my door, I asked, “Why?”