Silver Mine by Vivian Arend Read Free Book Online Page A

access to the main room. There were broken tiles piled in one corner of the shop and a cutter beside them. “Having troubles with the flooring?”
    Shelley sighed. “Well, actually, yeah. But I think I’ve figured it out. Come on. If you really need to be here, I’ll wash my hands and we can talk. My office is pretty much done.”
    She led him into a nicely organized room with an efficient-looking desk and file system. And only about three feet of floor space. “This won’t work.”
    She’d already settled behind the desk, obviously using it as a safety barrier between them. “We can talk here first. We’ll go elsewhere if needed.”
    Chase shrugged. “You’re the doctor.”
    “Vet. I have vet training.” She frowned. “You sure you need to see me?”
    He nodded. “Shifted form isn’t healing. I hope you can tell me why.”
    She pulled out a pad of paper and asked him questions. The usual overall health and history. When he mentioned his Métis blood, her eyes widened but she stayed professional. Now that she was over her initial shock, she’d slipped into the smoothest bedside manner he’d ever seen.
    His cock got hard just thinking about beds and her at the same time.
    Her scent floored him. This time, it wasn’t just the wolf that was interested, but the cougar as well, and that bastard was the pickiest thing when it came to females.
    “Chase.”
    He’d gone and lost all train of thought. “Sorry. What?”
    “I asked if you’ve got the injury in all three forms? Since you’re Métis.”
    He shook his head. “No. Or, I don’t think so. I’ve only shifted to the cat and back to human since the accident.”
    She nodded and laid aside the notepad. “Follow me. You’re right. This space won’t be big enough for your cougar. I would like to examine all your forms, please, if you don’t mind.”
    He followed her into the back where there was a large stainless steel table in a sparkling clean examining room. Now his troubles started, more than the fact he had to hide his erection from her. Damn, she smelt good. “I don’t mind, but I might not be able to oblige.”
    Shelley paused in the middle of washing her hands. “Reason?”
    “Can’t control the shift.”
    Her face went white, and for a second he thought she might actually pass out on him. She clutched the sides of the sink. “No control? But you can shift when you want?”
    He nodded, loosing the top button on his shirt. “I can go furry, but the beasts decide who gets to come out and play, so to speak. My wolf’s been pouting lately. Only been the cat showing up.”
    She took a deep breath. “Okay, that might make it a little more difficult, but let’s see what we can do.” She patted the top of the table. “First, if you don’t mind. Sit here and let me see the marks on your human form.”
     
    She turned away under the excuse of grabbing her instruments, but honestly she couldn’t bear to watch him strip off his shirt. The buttons had sounded loud in her ears, and the thought of having this delicious man half-naked in her office—oh boy.
    She was a dirty pervert, the thoughts running through her brain.
    The past three nights she’d been thinking about him and her lost opportunity at the party. Caroline had been kind and stopped teasing after only a couple more digs. Shelley had been the one to administer chastisement for the next while. She could have had a man in her bed, but instead she was making herself come in the middle of the night, waking up to feverish dreams, all of which involved Chase.
    Now he was here and she had to touch him.
    She was either being punished or rewarded, and she wasn’t sure which.
    “I’m ready.”
    Slow and steady, there was a teasing lilt to his voice, as if he knew she was hiding as she gathered tools. Shelley braced herself and lifted her chin as she turned back.
    She should have grabbed a towel to catch her drool. My, oh my, he was a fine specimen. Sharply muscular, the combination of