A thought began to form and Damien narrowed his eyes, considering the pros and cons of acting on it. He was tired, damned tired, and the idea of sleeping in the same bed for a few nights held some appeal. Plus he’d be able to stay close to Eve. “What do these cabins cost to rent?”
“Why? You interested in one?”
Damien shrugged. He had some money, not much but enough. Renting a cabin hadn’t been part of the plan, but since when did his plans ever run smoothly?
“So, what do you think?”
“About…?” He realized he’d missed part of the conversation.
“Working for me. Some of these cabins are pretty old. I bought the land a while ago but haven’t had enough time to repair them all. Two are habitable—mine and one I’m renting out—but a third isn’t in bad shape. You can stay in it as long as you want. Instead of paying rent, you help me fix them up.”
Damien kept his face neutral as he considered the offer. Why did McRae want him to stay? Was it part of an elaborate trap set by Lycan Link? Or was the offer genuine and he was just an Alpha looking for an extra set of hands?
He tried to sort through what was truth and what wasn’t. Why was he worried about Lycan Link? Was some sixth sense trying to warn him about McRae, or was he starting at shadows? Too many months alone were affecting his thinking. Was this what happened to rogues? Did they slowly go insane as distrust and paranoia overtook them? Well, if he was teetering on the brink, at least he’d have a place to stay. And he could wait and watch until it was time to strike.
“I’m not much of a handyman.” It was best not to sound too eager.
“Not a problem. It’s mostly painting, clearing away some trees, nailing loose boards into place. Most of the major repairs like wiring and plumbing I’ll hire out.”
Damien studied the man again, testing the air, still wondering if this could be some form of a trap. The arrangement had the earmarks of being legit, there were no warning signals in his gut, no prickling of his senses but something didn’t add up.
“Why the offer?”
“Because you’re a Lycan. Because dealing with humans can be…awkward…when they ask nosey questions. And because you’re a rogue who appears to be down on his luck.” McRae’s gaze was steady. “I’ve had friends who’ve gone rogue. Consider me a philanthropist of sorts.”
Damien nodded slowly. In this the man was definitely telling the truth.
Chapter 10
Eve paced around the living-room, a pillow clutched to her chest. It had been three days with no sign of the wolf and no word from Rafe. Given how they’d parted, she hadn’t called him even though she wanted to hear his voice again.
“I must be some sort of masochist,” she muttered. “Why would I want to talk to him otherwise? The man’s as cold as ice…well, except for when he’s kissing that is.”
A smile curved her lips at the memory. The kiss had been wonderful. Slow and sexy, then bursting into a blaze of passion. She’d replayed it over and over in her head, and it had figured heavily in some incredibly erotic dreams.
The need to experience those feelings once more consumed her. She wanted to kiss him again, to explore the muscles she’d felt beneath her palm, to feel his hot length pressed against her. Damn that gun for being in the way!
Rafe had given no indication that he felt the same way, however. Afterwards he’d been his usual stone-faced self. What was up with that? After much pacing and debate, she’d decided to tackle him about it when he returned from checking for the wolf. Unfortunately, he’d headed straight for his pickup. When she’d rushed out onto the porch, intent on getting him to stay and talk, he’d allowed her no opportunity.
Flicking his sunglasses down over his eyes, he’d given his report while climbing into the truck. “All clear. Stay inside.”
And before she could protest, the engine had roared to life and he’d driven away. Curse the man.
Well, she’d tried. For three days now she’d stayed inside, keeping herself occupied with her painting and reading, but now she was restless. She wanted to go for a walk, to talk to someone, to do…something.
Hadn’t Rafe said that rogues were transient? If so, then obviously this one must have moved on; surely three days without a sighting was a significant amount of time. She paced the length of the cabin once more, casting longing glances out the window. Should she chance going outside for a walk? Rafe had the gun now so she’d be unprotected. No, that wasn’t a good idea. But…what about going for a drive?
She’d be safe inside the car, right? And her mailbox was down by the highway, a public highway with lots of traffic. No wild animal would hang out there. A wide grin broke out on her face at the prospect of doing something, and in no time she was ready to go.
A quick glance about still showed no sign of the wolf, but just in case, she ran the short distance to the car. Once inside, she grinned, feeling quite safe and ready for an adventure.
The trip to the mailbox was unexciting. Her car bounced and shimmied over the rough dirt track that served as a driveway, twisting this way and that as it meandered through the forest. All the cabins had their own laneway, but they eventually merged together into the main drive that led to the highway.
Once there, Eve checked again for the wolf before exiting the car. She wasn’t going to give Rafe any more cause for calling her careless. Yep, the coast was clear. No wolf in sight. Clambering out of the vehicle, she strolled to the mailbox, waving at the town’s people that occasionally drove past, beeping their horn at her as a form of greeting.
There were six old-fashioned metal mail boxes lined up in a row; one for each rental cabin and one for Rafe’s place. Hers was stuffed with the usual junk mail, a credit card bill and—hurray—a note from a gallery saying they were indeed interested in an exhibit of her work and would she please read over the enclosed contract.
Leaning against the fender of her car, she spent some time skimming over the contents of the envelope. It all appeared to be in order, and she’d begun to plan what pictures to include when an all too familiar feeling made her shoulders twitch. Someone, or something, was watching her!
She quickly spun around, studying the trees, looking for some evidence that anyone was present. As always, there was no one there. The roadway stretched empty on either side of her as well.
Eve dragged her hand through her hair, wondering if being Fae also meant developing paranoia and sensing things that didn’t really exist. Maybe she was becoming sensitive to ghosts, long dead fishermen who haunted the edge of the lake looking for that perfect trout they’d never caught? A snort escaped her at the ridiculous idea, and she climbed into her vehicle and headed home rather miffed that her grand adventure had ended on the same uncomfortable note that had plagued her all too often lately.
She hadn’t travelled far when something appeared in the road ahead of her. It was an animal of some sort. Sighting them was nothing new. Slowing her speed, she continued to contemplate her upcoming exhibit, expecting the creature to run off into the forest in a second or two; that’s how they usually responded to traffic. Strangely enough, this one stayed in the middle of the road. Was it injured or merely curious? Perhaps a young deer that didn’t know any better?
As she drew closer she was able to discern its shape more clearly and groaned in frustration when she saw it was the wolf again. The contrast of bright blue sky and deep shadows from the trees made it difficult to discern the animal’s features, but she’d seen the beast often enough to know its outline. Pointy ears, four legs, bushy tail… Yep, a wolf. Well, that likely explained the being-watched feeling.
“Damn you, why don’t you go somewhere else.” She softly cursed the creature. While she felt great sympathy for the lonely animal, she was getting rather tired of how it kept interfering with her plans. Now she’d be stuck inside again.
Bringing her vehicle to a halt, they had a face off. It stared at her and she stared at it, tapping the steering wheel impatiently as she waited for it t
o move on.
Unfortunately, it seemed to have other plans.
“You know, Wolf, you were nice enough to talk to the other day but I don’t see us having a lasting relationship. Head on your way.”
The beast took no notice of her. Despite the shadows in which it stood, she was sure she saw a flash of teeth and she shifted uneasily in her seat. It had given the impression of being a lot friendlier during their previous encounter. She bit her lip, not sure what to do but anxious to be back in the safety of her cabin. Why she’d ever thought taking a drive was a good move, she’d never know. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Exasperated with herself and the wolf, she beeped the horn, hoping the sound would scare it away.
It didn’t leave. Instead, its tail flicked from side to side in an annoyed pattern and it lowered its head. Eve was sure she could hear it growl even at this distance. The sound seemed to reverberate around her, coldness creeping down her spine, wrapping its clutches around her soul and squeezing at her heart. She shivered at the hatred that was invading her mind, filling her with images of death and blood. Her throat tightened, she struggled to draw in a breath. Darkness was surrounding her, blocking out the sun, dimming her vision until all she could see was the gaping jaws of the beast before her.
Survival instincts had her fumbling with the gear shift, throwing the car into reverse. The wolf stalked towards her and she backed up, increasing her speed, praying she didn’t drive off the road. The creature was still coming, now breaking into a trot, then running towards her, gaining on her.
Desperation filled her. A scream ripped from her throat. Her car careened backwards down the driveway, the steering wheel slipping beneath her sweaty palms. She was sure she was going to crash.
From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of the lane that led to Rafe’s place. With a skill she didn’t even know she possessed, she quickly popped the vehicle into drive and gunned the engine, taking off down the laneway with dust and gravel spewing behind her.
Eve gripped the steering wheel, fighting for control as the vehicle lurched down the rutted path. There was too much dust in the air for her to see behind her but she prayed she was outrunning the wolf. God, this was what Rafe had been talking about when he claimed rogues were dangerous. The other day it had seemed almost dog-like, lulling her into a sense of security but this…this was like a demon.
She manoeuvred the car around a bend in the lane, breathing a sigh of relief when Rafe’s place came into view. It was a rustic styled log house considerably larger than the cabin she rented. However, its appearance was the last thing on her mind.
Slamming the car into park, she leapt from the vehicle, raced up the steps and pounded on his door.
“Rafe? Rafe, let me in!” The glass in the door rattled with from the force of her blows. She glanced over her shoulder sure the wolf would appear at any moment. “Rafe, open the damned door!” She jiggled the knob and was surprise when it turned easily. Giving no thought to the etiquette of entering someone’s home uninvited, she hurried in and slammed the door shut behind her. Quickly turning the lock, she ran from room to room, checking the windows and finally the back door.
By the time she had the house secured, she’d been through every room yet there was no sign of her landlord.
Eve stood with her hand pressed to her pounding heart. She was safe inside but the feeling of evil that had overcome her was hard to forget. If Rafe was here, she’d have plastered herself against him, wanting the warmth of human contact to help erase the experience from her memory.
Taking deep calming breaths, she tried to think of where Rafe might be and realized she really didn’t know anything about the man. He said he was a counsellor…well, he’d never said that exactly but he hadn’t denied it either. And he knew about wolves. She made a face. That wasn’t much to go on. For a moment, she considered calling him, but her purse was still in the car and there was no way she was going outside to get her phone! A quick look around didn’t reveal a landline, though his cell phone was lying on the table. Apparently Rafe wasn’t the type to keep his phone glued to his side.
Not sure what else to do, she sat down in a chair with a strategic view out the window so she could see if anything was approaching down the laneway. An afghan was draped across the back and she pulled it down and wrapped it around herself, faint shivers of fright still wracking her frame. Slowly, her heartbeat calmed, the cold feeling inside her seeping away.
There was a sense of safety being in Rafe’s house. It was definitely a man’s home, with black leather furnishing and a few bold splashes of colour. Drawing the afghan up closer to her face, she inhaled noting how it smelled faintly of him; a combination of soap and nature. A smile spread over her face and she closed her eyes, allowing her imagination to take over. What would it be like to have his arms wrapped around her? To feel the heat of his body warming hers, the gentle brush of his lips over her brow? To press her ear to his chest and hear the steady beating of his heart… She sighed and snuggled into the afghan content to drift along with the pleasant little daydream her imagination was concocting.
Sometime later, she awoke with a start, disoriented and muzzy from the steamy dream she’d been having about Rafe. Wincing at the kink in her neck, she got to her feet and brushed her hair from her face. It would seem that Rafe still wasn’t home. A quick look at her watch showed that only an hour had passed. If he’d driven into town, he could be gone for a while. Giving a stretch, she headed to the kitchen intent on finding a glass of water and perhaps something to eat. Barely had she stepped into the room when a noise caught her attention.
There was a steady thumping sound coming from behind the house. She froze in place. The pleasantly relaxed feeling she’d gained during her impromptu nap was immediately replaced by prickles of fear as she imagined the wolf trying to break down the door. Insanely, an image of the story of the three little pigs came to mind, and she almost expected to hear a deep voice saying “I’ll huff and I’ll puff….” A bubble of hysterical laughter threatened to escape as she looked around frantically, not sure what to do. Should she barricade the door or try to make a mad dash for the car?
Dragging her fingers through her hair, she forced herself to calm down and think rationally. The noise was too rhythmic to be an animal and it was coming from the yard, not the door. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to move. Tiptoeing to a window facing the backyard, she pressed her body flat to the wall, gathered her nerve and then cautiously slid sideways so that one eye was able to peer outside.
A man was there repairing a wooden fence and—she allowed her gaze to travel the length of him—oh, what a man it was! All caution forgotten, Eve clutched the curtain she’d pushed aside and stared in fascination as he swung the hammer over and over. Each perfectly defined muscle in his back stretched and contracted, in a mesmerizing dance, as the hammer rose and fell with a steady pulsing beat.
The artist in her immediately felt the need to start drawing his likeness. Who was this divine specimen? Not Rafe; the build was right but not the colouring. The god before her had dark hair but his skin was lighter and… Recognition suddenly clicked in. It was café-man!
Letting the curtain fall back into place, she recalled her last encounter with him; how she’d wanted to try to ‘read’ his emotions as an experiment of sorts. She’d never expected to see him again and yet, here he was. Should she stay inside or go talk to him? Hiding wouldn’t accomplish anything. And perhaps she’d be able to discover what made him different while at the same time finding out where Rafe was. Walking to the back door, she hesitated, her hand on the knob, thinking about the wolf but then reasoned that the loud sound of hammering would likely keep it away. And café-man was out there, obviously unharmed. Boldly, she left the shelter of the house.
As she approached him, she began to imagine using him as a live model. He’d look amazing on the cover of a book.
“Enjoying the view?”
With a start, Eve realized his head was angled enough tha
t he could see her out of the corner of his eye.
“Uh…” How had he heard her over the noise of the hammering?
He set the tool down and turned around completely, leaning his hip against the fence he’d been mending. His front was as impressive as his back with each abdominal muscle clearly outlined. She swallowed hard and forced herself to quit staring at his body.
“I’m looking for Rafe.”
He didn’t answer her right away. His face was expressionless as he looked her up and down, no hint of the interest or emotional turmoil she’d thought she’d detected during their encounter in town. In fact, she wasn’t even sure if he recalled having seen her before. Now that was rather deflating.
“Sorry, can’t help you.” He answered in clipped tones and seemed to dismiss her. Bending over, he selected a piece of lumber from a pile on the ground, turning it this way and that as if trying to decide its suitability as a fence board.
She waited, rocking a bit on the balls of her feet, but he didn’t appear inclined say anything else, so she tried again. “I haven’t seen you around here before, except for the other day in town. Are you visiting? A friend of his, maybe?”
“I’m passing through. Doing a bit of work here and there.” He paused in his examination of the board and gave her a cool look. “What about you? Are you a…friend…of Rafe’s?”
The way he said ‘friend’ had her cheeks burning.
“I rent a cabin from him.” It wasn’t any of café-man’s business if she had a relationship with Rafe or not. Not that she did, or course. At least, not exactly. She recalled the kiss and a little frisson of excitement went through her.
Café-man gave her an assessing look, and Eve had the uncomfortable feeling that he somehow knew the direction her thoughts had taken. He reached down for the hammer.
“You never told me your name.”
He turned away and held a nail in place. “You never asked.”
She compressed her lips, holding back an exasperated huff. “Well, I’m asking now.”
Betrayed: Days of the Rogue Page 11