by Lynde Lakes
Rory jaw tightened. “You’re right, of course. Forgive me. Again, I was out of line. I don’t know why but Brian seems to bring out the worst in me. But as of now, I’m on my best behavior.”
Uncle Hugh laughed. “Don’t sweat it. It’s no wonder you guys are each other’s throats, you’re both sweet on Valerie.”
“Uncle Hugh!” Valerie wished the floor would swallow her up and she could disappear. Nothing was going as planned. With all the discord, she couldn’t announce how proud she was of Brian and show her appreciation with the little gift. Rory would mock Brian’s accomplishments and make himself more of an ass than he already was. His promises were empty and clearly only an attempt to redeem his standing as a friend of the family. As far as she was concerned, it was too little, too late.
Later, when Kyle served a dessert of chocolate-peanut butter-cheesecake with whipped cream and raspberries dribbled across the top, Valerie leaned over and whispered in Brian’s ear. “Meet me in the rose arbor after dessert.
****
The minute dinner was over Valerie excused herself and headed to the kitchen with a tray full of dirty dishes. From there, she slipped out the back door to the rose arbor. The roses were in full bloom and the fragrance wafting on the cooling breeze relaxed her and reinforced her belief in aroma therapy. She heard footsteps but saw no one. Goosebumps formed on her arms. Then she saw Brian step into the light of the now quarter moon. His leanly-muscled, towering stature moved toward her with an animal grace. A gentle breeze blew his midnight-black hair forward, giving him that rugged bad-boy appearance that had sent a thrill through her the first time she’d laid eyes on him. Right in the beginning, she’d decided he was definitely an alpha male. And that was before she knew he was a werewolf.
He grinned. “We’re not on the foundation grounds,” he said in a low, sexy rumble. “Does that mean I’m permitted to take you in my arms?”
She tilted her head. “What if I say no?”
“Being a gentleman, I’d have to honor your wish, but with a werewolf inside me—” His sultry gaze intensified and he opened his arms. “It’s chilly out here. I have the feral heat to warm your soul.” He reached for her hand as he eased onto the bench and drew her down onto his lap. His thighs felt like heated steel beneath her.
“I’m sorry how things went at dinner,” she said, trying to hold on to her sanity. “I wanted it to be fun and a celebration, not a confrontation.”
He put his lips close to her ear. “It was a perfect meal and I always have a good time when you’re in the room. You inspire me, my Valerie…my Venus…my Roman Goddess of love and beauty. Besides, I’m used to confrontations and how to handle them.” His whisper of love sent thrills shimmering down her spine.
“I have something for you,” she murmured.
His eyes glinted with mischief and he did a slight upward pelvic thrust, bringing her in contact with his hardness. “I have something for you, too,” he said.
“We discussed that before,” she scolded with humor in her tone. “We agreed not to gamble and perhaps bring children with the lycanthrope gene into the world.”
He arched a brow. “I have protection this time. And it isn’t as though we haven’t been intimate before.”
“Protection doesn’t always work, and we’re getting off the subject. But we can keep making love in mind for after we take the cure.”
“What if loving you is the cure?” His probing gaze stripped her bare.
She tried to sound firm. “Nothing is ever that simple.” But my Wolf Man, you’ve touch my life in ways you may not even be aware of…and maybe in ways I’m not fully aware of yet, either.
“Okay. So what is the subject and why did you invite me out here if not to do some spoon’n’?” His voice was low, terribly sexy, yet gentle and non-confrontational.
She bent, kissed him lightly on the lips, and handed him the velvet box with the glittery ribbon. “This is to show you how proud I am of you for working hard at the foundation and for working diligently to get your license with record speed.”
Suddenly his eyes glistened with moisture. “Other than Momma Maggie, I never had anyone give me a gift. Thank you, Valerie.”
“Well, don’t just sit there looking at the box. Open it.”
He slipped the ribbon off slowly with steady hands and opened the elegant, velvety box. “A Rolex watch! Wow! Nothing I’ve done deserves this classy timepiece, but thank you, Valerie. I love it.”
He slipped the watch on and stared at it, shaking his head. “I don’t believe this.” Grinning, he met her gaze, his eyes crinkling and his probing stare as intimate as a French kiss.
Her heart pounded like crazy. Captivated by his sultry, thickly-lashed eyes, she fought to ignore the heat rising between them. He drew her close. She pressed a hand to his chest. Under his dress shirt, muscles expanded and contracted in a wild rhythm that took her breath away. His heart was pounding almost as hard as hers. She smoothed his shirt and the muscles beneath. She had an urge to unbutton the shirt and touch his warm flesh.
He bent toward her until their faces were only inches apart. A hot surge rushed through her, touching her with the magnetic magic of the moment.
He caught her face between his hands and covered her mouth with his, stealing her breath, her sanity. His mouth tasted of chocolate and peanut butter. Love and lust exploded inside her as he increased the delicious pressure and stole her breath away. His talented tongue played sensual havoc with her nerve endings. She inhaled his feral male scent mingled with the fragrance of roses. She clung to him with all her might, feeling his heat, his power. She wished she fully understood the deep complexities of her human heart. Her wolf soul and human heart both craved sex with him, yet somehow her rational, human side shoved him away. “I’d love to, but not tonight, Brian. Not tonight.”
****
Brian felt a sharp pain like she’d kicked him in the balls. The pressure on him to volunteer to test the serum grew stronger, more intense. He kissed her forehead. “I understand.” He sighed. “I need to be alone for a while. I’m going for a short walk. And thanks again for the watch. It’s incredible.”
“You’re more than welcome…and again, congratulations. I’m so proud of you on many levels.”
He forced himself to turn away before he grabbed her again and kissed her until she changed her mind. But neither of them dare take that chance.
When he neared the edge of the property, he looked up at the sliver of the moon. When full, it controlled his life as it had for so many years. He looked down at his watch gleaming up at him. Valerie must really care for him to give such an outstanding gift. And the only thing he had to offer was himself. Hands down, she was the only contender to be his mate. He wanted her as a werewolf, yet how wonderful it would be if they were both free to bear children. But if something went wrong, his dream for the future could go up in flames. Damn. If he didn’t do something, he might lose her anyway and without her he knew there would be no future for him.
****
As Rory raced around the mountain curves on his way back to the campus, he mentally argued with his counterpart, Reeves. “You aren’t a people person, are you?”
“So what?”
“You’re ruining my chances with Valerie. I really like her and her dad’s money. And those insults to Brian are messing everything up. I want you to back off and let me handle her and that turkey Brian.”
“It ain’t gonna happen, Kid. I’m the strong one and commander of your mind and body. Live with it. Besides, all that fighting over the woman nonsense won’t matter soon. Won’t be long until I’ll be moving into the mansion and everything will be mine and…
“Yours? What about me.”
Chapter Ten
The following week, from over a hundred and sixty applicants, Valerie hired a small staff of fifteen, who believed in the foundation cause. She wanted to start small and add staff as needed, believing in the adage don’t bite off more than you can chew. She was
relieved that there was no application from Rory. She didn’t know how she would’ve handled rejecting it. Thank you, Lord, for saving me from that touchy situation.
After receiving an all clear from the investigative service she’d hired to thoroughly check out each of the new employees, she put everyone to work, full speed ahead. Brian always stayed close by, looking so capable, so handsome, so in control. It became increasingly difficult to stick to her guns about not touching him. Even after an adorable strand of black wavy hair fell onto his forehead, she resisted brushing it back.
She thought they were both doing a pretty good job of hiding emotions until her secretary Geri said, “I hope this doesn’t go against me, but everyone on staff wants to know—what’s with you and Brian? When you’re in a room with him, electric vibes zigzag all over the walls. You either like each other a whole lot or hate each other’s guts.”
Was Geri asking for the group or did she have eyes for Brian?
Valerie felt her face flame. Stunned by the totally inappropriate personal question, a barrage of emotions surged through her — anger at the invasion, disbelief at Geri’s nerve, a twinge of jealousy, and then defensiveness. Geri, a slender knock-out redhead was about twenty-five and old enough to know better. Squelching the idiotic jealousy, Valerie wanted to respond with he’s simply my bodyguard and a lovable pain in the neck. But since she wasn’t supposed to disclose the bodyguard part, she merely forced a laugh. “I think you all have far too much free time. Let’s concentrate on the children and how to design better programs to save them from the harm caused by their parent’s addictions.”
Geri’s face paled, and worry lines deepened on her forehead. “I really put my foot in my mouth this time. Please, forgive me. It’s just the match-maker in me stepping out of line. I apologize.”
She forced a smile and patted her hand. “In the long run, you probably did me a favor. Thanks for telling me what people are thinking. I’ll have to work harder to keep everyone focused on the job.”
Back at her desk, she rolled a pen between her fingers and looked out the picture window at the manicured grounds. Without constant vigilance the landscape would be overgrown with weeds. Constant vigilance echoed in her brain. Knowing she and Brian were under such close scrutiny made her all the more determined to stay on guard and keep her emotions hidden. It wouldn’t be easy. Brian seemed better at it. Did that mean he didn’t care as much?
No! I won’t go there. And I won’t let the green-eyed monster get me. I must think positive. She admired Brian’s skill and patience, especially when he handled young clients. It was a blessing to have a strong male figure on staff with an understanding of what it was like to be abandoned. He was an excellent example that, with determination and hard work, a person could rise above the obstacles with a little help from someone who cared.
Nevertheless, it was frustrating to work closely with the man she desired and not walk into his arms each time he opened them to gesture a new concept.
In the meeting room while passing papers, their hands often brushed and her face burned like a hot sidewalk in sultry, mid-July. When he was around, which was practically always, she had to make several trips to stand in front of the AC. In self-defense, she developed a tight routine and schedule which she dutifully followed to keep her mind on the job and off him.
Hiding her feelings for him wasn’t her only challenge. As the weeks passed, she found it difficult to make some of the hard decisions concerning The New Beginnings children. The irresponsible actions of one set of addicted parents forced her to turn nine-month-old Vicki over to family services. Of course the final decision on Vicki’ fate would be up to the courts. But this was an emergency action to save the child’s life. She gave the parents repeated chances, but they failed to stay off drugs. She didn’t want to thrust defenseless, adorable little Vicki with the dimpled smile into unfamiliar surroundings, but it was that or she’d be attending the baby’s funeral. After the highly emotional removal of the child, she sat down at her desk, put her head on her arms, and cried.
Brian came into the room from making copies of affidavits. Catching his feral scent, she looked up, blinking back tears.
“Your humanness and gentle nature gets in your way, doesn’t it?” he said.
She shrugged, unable to deny it. His tone had been soothing, not critical. He reached out as though to touch her shoulder…
“Don’t you dare touch me,” she said. Even though right now, I could really use a hug. With supreme effort, she fought her longing while desperately needing his touch like air to breathe. “I’ll get better at handling it. If only the parents had remained in the program and given the psychologist time to work with them. Obviously they loved drugs more than their adorable baby girl.”
“Hang tough, Val.”
While reveling in his tone, she realized he’d never called her Val before and the intimate use of her name calmed her. And he was right. She had to hang tough. It was grueling to be as resistant as she needed to be. If she wanted to make this foundation’s goals succeed and confront the obstacles, she had to grow and strengthen her backbone. And besides all the rational reasons for hanging in there, she didn’t want to disappoint her dad. Even Brian. Or herself.
Brian winked. “Don’t be afraid to trust your judgment.” Then he grinned. “Don’t forget you’re an alpha leader.”
She laughed through her tears. He was right. She had to trust her assessment of situations, assert her authority, and risk alienating some of the people she had to deal with.
Even him.
Perhaps if she let go of how she thought things should be, she’d feel better about how much she’d already achieved and be more satisfied with the way things were now.
Maybe the same premise could be applied to her relationship with Brian and make her more satisfied with their present go-nowhere entanglement.
The phone rang and she picked it up. “New Beginnings, Valerie Lamont speaking. How may I help you?” she said, believing she was ready for anything.
“Miss Valerie,” the child said in a small teary voice. “This is Kindra Kee Kendall. A big bad wolf crashed through the window of our apartment and took a huge bite out of my momma’s neck and did nasty things to her.”
Valerie gasped. “Is he there with you?”
“Yes. He’s glaring at me. I’m so scared. He told me I’m next if you don’t come right away. Alone.”
Valerie froze for an instant and then pressed the conference call button so Brian could listen, too. Then she pressed the recording button. “Don’t worry, baby. I’ll come now.” Valerie had a file on Kindra. She was a ten-year-old girl with mixed heritage who’d already suffered more than any human should. Her mother was a recovering hardcore addict and her father had never been in her life.
Her three-month-old brother was a crack baby born at home who shivered and cried all the time. “Where’s your brother?”
“He’s alone at the apartment with my momma.”
“You’re not at the apartment?”
“No, Ma’am. The big bad wolf took me to a haunted house.”
Brian got on another line and told the secretary to call 911. He gave her some brief details where to find the mom and baby and then resumed listening to the call on the conference line.
Valerie gripped the phone tighter, attempting to steady her trembling hands. “Put the wolf on so he can give me the address of where you are.”
Kindra sobbed hysterically. “He’s shaking his head no. But he’s printed it out for me to read to you.” Her words come out barely understandable.
“That’s okay, baby. Take a deep breath and then slowly read it.”
Kindra read the address between huge, heart-breaking sobs. Both Valerie and
Brian copied it down with tears glistening in their eyes. “Read it one more time, baby, to make sure I got it right.”
The child repeated it in a trembling voice, and then screeched into the phone, “Please come now! He keeps twirling my h
air and saying I’d be a freaky bald-headed corpse an…an…an he likes to eat the throats of freaks.” She sobbed again. “I don’t want him to eat my throat.”
****
Valerie quickly checked the address through the county records. It was a boarded up condemned house in the barrio ready to be cleared for a flood control project.
She grabbed her purse and a flashlight. Then she headed out the door, Brian right behind her. She wheeled around and made a stop gesture with her right hand. “I have to go alone or he’ll kill Kindra.”
She started out the door again. Brian grabbed her arm. His grasp burned like a brand. “You can’t,” he said hoarsely. “He wants you. And when he’s through with you, he’ll kill her anyway. There’s no way I’m letting you go alone. Dammit, I’m your bodyguard, hired to accompany you everywhere. I contacted the police to check out the little girl’s apartment. If you don’t let me go, I’ll give them the address of the boarded up place, too. And you know that neither of us want the police in on this.”
Valerie glared at him and then down at her arm. He didn’t release his hold. Part of her didn’t want him to. But a child’s life was at stake. “I must show up alone and since you can’t make yourself invisible, you stay put. That’s an order.”
“Wait a minute. At least wear this.” Brian placed his cross around her neck. She figured it was a gesture brought on by his feeling of helplessness. “May God keep you safe.”
As she climbed into the station wagon she heard him call, “Don’t get eaten by a lion…or wolf. And you can’t fire me if you’re dead. And if you go alone, you are as good as dead.”
His prophecy probably didn’t bother her as much as it should. All she could think about was that monster had Kindra. She stopped at a gas station and borrowed a crowbar. The attendant didn’t ask any questions. He merely told her not to forget where she got it.
He was young, about Brian’s age, but his off-handed charm didn’t hold a candle to her wolf man. Like a trigger response, the thought of Brian bought back his words. “You can’t fire me if you’re dead. And if you go alone, you are as good as dead.”