I can’t help but agree. Even if it means she dresses and leaves.

“I may have sneaked in here with a plan, but I didn’t mean to stay all night, Austin.”

“I didn’t mean for it to happen either,” I admit, “but it did, and I fucking loved the surprise.” I give in and caress her messy hair—hair that’s mussed because she was in my bed. “I’m not sorry.”

A small smile turns up the corner of her mouth. “I’m not either. But I do owe my dad an explanation as to why I wasn’t at breakfast. God, how did I let this happen?”

“Carly…”

“I’ll just be a minute.” She closes the door between us.

I sigh and turn. Miles still stands just inside my bedroom.

“What do you want me to tell Chance and Mayor Vance?” he asks.

I shake my head, running my fingers through my hair again. “Tell them that this isn’t eighth grade and my sex life isn’t any of their business.”

“You got it.” Miles grips the doorknob.

“No, wait.” I hold up a hand and sigh.

He turns.

Mayor Vance is Carly’s father. He means something to her, and she means something to me.

Hell, she means a lot to me.

If we’d known each other for more than a damned week, I’d say I’m falling for her. But how can I be? Love at first sight doesn’t exist.

Except I feel like a wolf who needs to protect his mate.

But protect her from whom?

The only other person who wants her safety as much as I do. Her father.

“I’m aging here,” Miles says. “Vance isn’t going to wait forever in the other room. Soon enough, he’ll start searching.”

“I need to put on something more than jeans. I’ll be out in a minute.”

“With Carly?”

“That’s up to her.”

He turns toward the door. “Good enough. I’ll tell them you’re coming. The mayor and Chance are in the living room.”

“Wait, wait, wait… You’re not going to be there?”

“This doesn’t concern me, bro.”

“It doesn’t concern either of them either.”

Miles lets out a laugh. “Good point.”

“Look,” I say. “You and I don’t know each other at all, but if there’s something good to come out of this, it’s that I have a brother who I think I might like.”

He rolls his eyes. “You’re a fucking sweet talker. I’m blushing.”

“For fuck’s sake. That came out all wrong. I need you, man. I need you on my side out there. I’d do the same for you. I swear it.”

He cocks his head and studies me. “Yeah, I think you would. Get some damned clothes on and meet me in the living room. You’re right. I’m not missing this showdown for anything.”

“Ha. Funny.” I push him out of the room and hastily dress in a clean shirt. I slide my leather slippers onto my feet. Then I kick them off and put on socks and my jogging shoes. Slippers mean I just got up. They mean I was in bed. Jogging shoes mean—