Chapter 7: Confrontation With Kurt

“Helina,” Chase called from his office.

Helina was thankful for the distraction as her computer decided to update or something while she was working. She would eventually get the hang of the thing. Chase was beyond patient now that they both knew she had little experience in a corporate environment. Helina hoped Chase would never figure out just how little knowledge she had of his world.

She stopped in the doorway. “Yes?”

“You’ve awakened something in me,” he said.

Helina’s heart leaped in her chest. Did he feel the same attraction she did? Was he going to express his need for her? “Oh?”

“I’ve never had a sweet tooth, but after that bear claw on the way to work yesterday, I want another one. Or something else. Not sure.”

“Okay.”

Did he expect her to bake something?

“Would you run down to that baker on the corner and get me something. With cinnamon. Beyond that, I don’t care.” He fished some cash out of his pocket. “Get something for yourself if you want.”

She took his money and walked to the bakery on the corner. She paused in the doorway to take in the scents. She would miss this if she ever went back to her pack. A sense of loss streaked through her, but she shoved it away.

Approaching the counter, she perused the bakery case and made a quick decision. “Two cinnamon rolls, please, and a latte.”

The last one was for her.

With the rolls in a bag and the latte in her hand, she pushed open the door and stopped. Kurt leaned against a pole outside a grimace on his face. Despite his casual posture, Helina knew he was there for her. She stepped out onto the sidewalk, searching for a way out. She couldn’t hide in the bakery.

Chase knew that she’d run from a bad situation, but she didn’t want him face to face with the wolf that had created that situation. She had to protect Chase since he’d taken her in.

“Helina.”

“Kurt.”

He shoved himself to his feet, approaching her as if he owned her. She didn’t step back, but she wanted to. If he got his hands on her she might not make it back to Chase’s office. What she didn’t know was if he realized she’d seen him murdering the human. She wasn’t going to tell him.

“You ran away.”

“I did and I need to get back to my job.”

He stepped closer. “I thought we had something.”

“We didn’t.”

“What made you run away? Don’t I at least deserve an explanation?”

She swallowed hard. Before she could answer, a man in a suit tailored as well as Chase’s stopped next to her. “Sorry, I’m late, honey. I hope you haven’t been waiting long.”

Helina glanced up at him and something in her eyes made her play along. “Not long at all.”

Kurt stepped back his gaze darting between the man and Helina. The man kissed her cheek, but his gaze was on Kurt.

“Who’s this?” the man asked.

Kurt reached out his hand and he had a gleam in his eye. He was sizing up the suited man who had come to Helina’s rescue. “Kurt.”

“Colt. Nice to meet you, Kirk.”

“Kurt.”

The handshake lasted longer than Helina thought it should, but she recognized two males trying to intimidate each other. She wanted to laugh, but the situation wasn’t funny. Kurt let go first. One point for Colt. Kurt stepped back.

“Is there a problem here?” Colt asked.

“No. None at all,” Kurt said. “I thought I knew this woman. I guess I was wrong.”

Kurt vanished into the crowd without another word. Helina was left staring after him. Kurt had backed down. Who was this Colt man and why had he decided to step in and help her? Her gaze traveled back to him.

“Nice guy,” Colt said, the sarcasm evident in his voice. “Are you okay?”

“Why?”

“You were clearly upset.” Colt shrugged. “I’m that kind of guy.”

She let out a breath. “Thanks. He’s a long story.”

“None of my business. Can I walk you to where you’re going?” He pointed to a ring on his finger. “Not hitting on you. I’m happily married.”

She eyed the gold band and decided that she wasn’t in any danger. “I’m Helina.”

“Looks like you have some goodies there. Mind if I get some for myself and then walk you to the office? Do you have time?”

“Sure.”

What did she have to lose? If Colt was around Kurt wouldn’t reappear. She went back into the bakery with Colt then he walked her the three doors to the building where Chase had his office.

“I’m going here, too. What a coincidence.”

“Oh?”

“I’m here to see someone in this building. We can share an elevator,” Colt said.

“Okay.”

“I’m here to see Chase Landford.”

Her mouth fell open as she entered the elevator. “He’s my boss. He sent me out for something sweet.”

“Sweet? Chase doesn’t usually eat anything with sugar in it.”

Was this her doing? “I guess my sweet tooth has rubbed off on him.”

The elevator doors closed with a ding.

“Have you worked for him for long?”

“Just two days.”

Colt nodded. “Right. He said he had to hire a new assistant. Doing errands is part of the job?”

“Yes, but he gave me incentive,” she said, lifting the latte.

Colt nodded. “Got it.”

The doors opened and Colt motioned for her to step out of the car first.

Chase was in his office, staring at his laptop screen. He looked up when Helina put the pastry on his desk. He took a deep breath. “Thank you.”

“Colt is here to see you,” she said.

“I thought your body was a temple,” Colt said from the doorway.

“Well, my new assistant is a bad influence,” Chase said, but Helina detected no rancor in his words.

His eyes sparkled as he smiled at her. She suspected there was more meaning behind his words than he was saying. She cleared her throat as his smile warmed her to her toes. “Do you need anything Colt?”

“No. I’m fine. Chase and I will enjoy our sweets and then have our meeting,” Colt said.

“Thank you, Helina. I appreciate you getting this.”

She put his change on the end of his desk and then left the two men to their meeting.