Spontaneous Heat - A wolfblood Romance

Enough

Lee trudged through the grocery store after a long day running her business. Her daughter was not feeling well and she wanted to get some nutritious food for her. Chicken nuggets and Happy Meals were not keeping her healthy. Maybe some homemade chicken soup with turmeric, she thought.

Her little 7 year old bounced around the produce section, still full of energy even though she had a cold, always moving, always humming or singing. She was not a quiet or docile child. She was not very obedient either. It was hard to be both a mother and father for her especially since her own parents had been so indulging of her in childhood, that she was certain that she was a real princess until she reached the age of fourteen. She was grateful for that, but it hadn't equipped her to deal with such a strong-willed and energetic child of her own.

She headed for the celery only to discover that there was none to be found. Turning toward the organic section she noticed a very tall man there attempting to avoid tripping over her bouncing daughter, Marie. He stilted forward on his tiptoes, trying to avoid stepping on her, almost falling forward into the refrigerated shelves of produce.

"Marie! Come here please, watch where you are going."

The man's body language said he was annoyed. Well, she couldn't really blame him for that. Maybe he didn't like children. There appeared to be some muscles under his clothes that were now very tense, the veins on his neck popping out. He was very tall, 6'3 at least, maybe 6'5, of sold build, he looked athletic. She could see from the back that he had dark hair and muscled arms. His small cart held a few items in small quantities and a quart of milk.

Definitely on his own, a military man, maybe....

In the back of her mind she thought:

I wish I was fifteen years younger....

She felt a little sad knowing that her time had passed, that her beauty was fading and that likely, she would be sleeping alone for the rest of her life. If only she had made different choices when she was still young and beautiful. She had been once, and had wasted her youth on the wrong things and the wrong people.

Another hot flash chose to assault her in that very moment. Ugh.

Turning 50 sucks, she thought as sweat beaded on her forehead and she felt like she was burning alive from the inside out, once again. It had been happening more often lately.

The man turned toward her and she realized that he had silver at his temples, that he was probably close to her own age. She started to apologize for her daughter, to say something, but when his piercing blue eyes met hers, she forgot how to speak. He didn't look happy or even friendly. There was an intensity there, a strength, and something else, but she had no idea what that was about. He had a strong jaw and a broad chest.

She felt like she knew this man from somewhere.. and he was perfect. Absolutely the most attractive man she had ever laid eyes on. Her knees actually went out from under her and she had to catch herself with the cart.

What the hell is wrong with me?

Embarrassed now, she looked away as her whole body seemed to flush. Her skin was entirely too hot and tight. Beads of sweat ran down her spine and thighs under her clothes.

She had been without a husband for fifteen years and was engaged to Marie's father when he turned bad. Hell, maybe he never was good. That was eight years ago.

After that fiasco, there had been no one else. She didn't want to go through any more pain. She was alone and had gotten used to it. She had been happy with her life.

Why then had her thoughts turned to finding someone recently? Was it turning 50? Hormones? Or something else? So why the sudden interest in this strange man? Maybe she really just needed to get laid. But that had never turned out well and really she knew she wanted something more, longed for it even. There had to be someone out there for her.