Travis said, “My grandfather used to say that if you aren’t sure, it’s just lust.”
“It’s not just lust,” Tex said before he could stop himself.
The others stared at him.
“Cheers!” said Breck. “Who’s the lucky girl?”
“You lucky dog,” Travis added. “The sex is supposed to be amazing.”
Graham gave him a crooked smile and raised his beer can in a toast.
Tex groaned and put his face in his hand, tipping back his hat.
“I just - I don’t understand. We met before and it was nothing like this. Not even a spark. And now, she acts like… like…” Tex flailed. “Like she doesn’t feel what I do.”
“You already met once?” Travis asked, puzzled.
“Years ago, in Austin. Had a little after-hours chat when I was closing a bar I worked at.”
“Just a chat, eh?” Breck could make anything sound suggestive.
“Just a chat,” Tex said firmly. “She needed a little help, and even though she was gorgeous and willing, nothing actually happened.”
“And this time…?” Travis prompted.
Tex pulled his hat back down over his eyes. “Sweet daisies help me. I cannot get her out of my mind. I want to do unspeakable things to her, and I want to get down on my knee and propose on the spot, and she’s looking at me like I’m a sun-touched fool.”
“Is she a shifter?” Breck asked.
“No,” Tex said, just as his bear inside him said, Yes.
“What?” Tex said in confusion.
“Well, if she’s not a shifter, she might not know about mates. Probably she isn’t sure why she’s all hot and bothered for you in a crowd full of Mr. Shifter contestants.” Breck’s explanation was plausible.
“Doesn’t explain why he didn’t get the lightning bolt the first time they met,” Travis added thoughtfully.
“Not you,” Tex said impatiently. “My bear says she’s a shifter. But she said she wasn’t.”
That earned him curious looks.
“Bizarre,” Travis said with a shrug.
Graham looked darkly suspicious.
“Have you always been able to tell who’s a shifter?” Breck asked curiously.
“Sometimes I can smell it on them, but not always,” Tex said, baffled. He poked at his bear curiously, but his companion was distracted, all attention focused on their mate. All he could get was -- “A wolf. She’s a wolf shifter.”
“Can you tell what Scarlet is?” Travis asked avidly. Most of the staff had bets going on the topic.
Tex shook his head, shrugging.
Graham shushed them, pointing at the screen, and Travis turned the volume up as the program returned with the interview and videography of Mr. Austria, an eagle shifter with Alps for muscles and a thick Germanic accent.
He was just explaining his plan for improving world peace when there was a timid tap on the door.
Breck rose to answer it.