Now, she was anything but calm. Dilated pupils. Accelerated heart. Unsteady breathing. The scent of fear and stress. The clues were there, subtle but plain. He should have caught it. He, and his wolf.
“We have people to do that, Kim,” he reminded her.
“It was my fault,” she argued, smiling slightly—but still not looking directly at them.
Hollis glanced at Ellen. She was watching his lab assistant with unsettling intensity. That look alone would make him nervous, even without knowing she was a wolf. God she was beautiful. And dangerous. She radiated a predatory confidence that most humans shied away from. Like Kim. Now. He squeezed her hand until she looked his way. His slight frown made her posture ease, but she still wasn’t radiating “warm and friendly.”
With a sigh, he turned back to Kim. “I read your notes on the stem cell trial. It looks promising.”
“I thought you’d be pleased.” She nodded.
“Kim.” Hollis paused. They’d never discussed their personal lives. He knew very little about her and hoped she knew less than that about him. It was something he appreciated about working with her. But now…he couldn’t sit by and say nothing. “Are you okay?”
“Only tired. I’ve had a cold for a while.” She hedged, continuing to mop up the trail of coffee.
Her heartbeat faltered—the scent of fear i
ncreasing. She was lying. Why? He glanced at his mate again, relieved to see her studying his computer screen. “You’ve been working late the last two weeks. If you need some time off—”
“No.” The word was urgent. She looked at him then, dark eyes wide, her hands clutching the broom handle. “No. I’m fine, really.” Her gaze dropped to the floor.
She was anything but fine. “You’re sure? I may be your employer, but I’d like to think you’d tell me if you needed time. Or if something was going on in your life that required your attention. I’d understand.” He finished.
“I appreciate that, Dr. Robbins.” She cleared her throat. “I love my work here. Maybe you’re right. Maybe I’ll leave early?”
Hollis glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost four. “Sounds good.”
“I hope you feel better, Kim. You’re very important to Dr. Robbins and his work.” Ellen’s words startled him and stunned Kim. Her dark eyes regarded Ellen with dismay. He understood. There were times he didn’t know what to make of his mate, either. But there was still fear in the woman’s gaze—and sadness.
“Thank you,” Kim whispered. “I’ll…I’ll go put this away and see you tomorrow.” She carried the mop and bucket from the room, not bothering to look up.
He stared at the door long after it shut. “She’s sick.” It was the easiest explanation. Right now, he really wanted an easy explanation.
Ellen snorted. “Keep lying to yourself.”
“Maybe she can sense your wolf?” he suggested. “She’s smart, intuitive, and freethinking. That’s what makes her such an exceptional lab assistant.”
Ellen scowled. “How nice for you.”
Hollis swallowed down his laughter, his gaze sweeping over Ellen’s face. “Do you realize how fierce you can be? Right now, you look like you could rip out her jugular.”
“I have ripped out someone’s jugular.” Her brows rose. “Keep singing your little lab assistant’s praises and you’ll see just how fierce I can be.”
“I look forward to it.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I need to finish—”
“Your fifteen minutes are up,” she interrupted, standing.
“You’ll have to give me five more.” He stared up at her. “It’s your fault. First you distract me, then you terrify my lab assistant. I can’t leave your blood samples out, files all over the place, or my computer on.”
She sighed, crossed her arms over her chest, and sauntered toward the table covered with files. “Where do they belong?”
“Far left file cabinet,” he said, smiling at her.
“I’ll help. But only because I’m hungry.” She glared at him, picked up the files, and went to work. In time, her natural curiosity kicked in and she was questioning the things she was supposed to be filing. Her mind was sharp, easily digesting processes and tests it had taken his crew weeks to decipher. And her insight was, as always, staggeringly unique and illuminating.
Something else to add to his growing lists of “things Ellen does to turn him on.” So far, that included things like breathing, running her fingers through her hair, shooting him irritated looks, and standing within fifty feet of him.
If she hadn’t pointed out Kim’s reaction, would he have noticed? He had the ability, it was time to use it. If he was going to be any help to Ellen, he should attempt to reach some sort of understanding with his wolf—beyond the whole addicted to her thing. Whatever was troubling Kim, it wasn’t being overtired or sickness. He’d seen that look before. She looked like Jessa after she’d seen her first wolf. Or Olivia when she realized there was no escaping the Others. Kim looked like she’d seen the monsters of this world—and knew Ellen was one of them.