Page 8 of Glow

The day passed quickly, keeping him busy. When he finally headed home, he saw a new message from Dan.

Dan: Drive taking longer than expected, thanks to construction, still not there yet. I’m wiped out. Going to eat something and then fall into bed once I get to the hotel. See you in the morning.

Quinn: Sleep well.

Quinn knew just how exhausting a long drive could be. While he was looking forward to spending time with Dan, he understood the other man’s desire not to be running on fumes for their first meeting. Everyone wants to make a good impression. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’s interested in being more than a friend. But it might…

He made spaghetti for dinner, and while he ate, Quinn sketched out a list of area highlights he wanted to show to Dan. Some of the options would change depending on whether Dan was really interested in moving to Fox Hollow versus being a visitor.

Quinn wanted to show the town and surroundings in their best light, and to subtly make it clear that special abilities were welcome without giving away any secrets.

Maybe he’ll trust me enough to tell me what’s really going on. That way I can be more help, whether or not there’s anything between us.

He made a bowl of popcorn and started one of his favorite action movies, hoping to distract himself. It mostly worked, although Quinn’s thoughts strayed more than once to his list of unanswered questions.

I’m just going to have to wait and see. No use getting my hopes up until I know what’s real. But damn, I hope it’s real.

The next morning, a text message popped up on Quinn’s phone as he got out of the shower.

Dan: Got into the hotel late last night, but slept well. Are you still up for getting together?

Quinn: Still good with nine thirty at Bear Necessities?

Dan: See you there.

He rolled his eyes at the little jolt of excitement the note prompted. “I’m an idiot,” he muttered to himself, and dug into his cereal, intent on pushing the visit from his mind.

Quinn spruced up his usual look, going for a nicer pair of jeans and a fancier casual shirt than he wore into the woods. He had a change of clothing in the jeep for later, but he wanted to make a good impression.

After a final glance in the rearview mirror to make sure his hair wasn’t a mess, Quinn drove over to Bear Necessities and parked.

Here we go. He walked into the café, wondering if he would be able to spot Dan and thinking they should have at least traded descriptions.

“Quinn?”

He looked to his right and saw a dark-haired man rise from a chair with a tentative smile. “I’m Dan.”

“Nice to meet you.” Quinn extended his hand and felt a “zing” when they made contact. It startled him, and he saw Dan’s look of surprise as well.

Static electricity? Or a mate bond? Added to how attracted he was to Dan, Quinn knew which way he was leaning. He’d heard that shifters and other people with paranormal abilities often recognized their one-true-partner from a touch, but he never thought it would apply to him. I’m going to take that as a good sign and see where it goes.

“Glad you got in safely,” Quinn said, realizing the silence had grown awkward. “Sorry you had traffic problems.”

Dan shrugged. “No big deal. The scenery was pretty. It just gave me extra time to clear my head. I’m really looking forward to seeing Fox Hollow. Thanks for taking me around.”

“I’m looking forward to showing you my adopted hometown,” Quinn replied. “But first, coffee.”

CHAPTER 3

DAN

Dan spent the drive to Fox Hollow wondering how it would go when he met Quinn in person. They made a great team online, but real life didn’t usually match an RPG. He realized that his mental picture of Quinn was based sheerly on his imagination.

Now that he saw Quinn in person, he realized his imagination had underestimated possibilities. Quinn was a few inches taller, with blond hair and brown eyes. He was muscular in a way that suggested physical work more than a gym membership, and his casual outfit accentuated his shoulders and ass.

What are the odds he’s gay? Dan wondered as he mentally crossed his fingers. And what’s up with that “zing” when we touched?

Maybe he’s a shifter, Wally said. So are we—sort of. Do you think he could be our fated mate? There’s a really strong pull, and he’s nice to look at.