Nick checked his phone, sighed, and then tossed it at the bed. “Can you believe they’re calling me already?”
“Work?”
“Yeah.”
“Give them an inch and they’ll take a mile,” she mumbled stupidly.
He pulled up a chair and sat across from her. “Kendra won a cook off contest for her soup.”
“I’ll try it some other time.” Danielle forked beef into her mouth and chewed slowly. Human food was really unsatisfying. “How much time did they give you?”
He might leave in a few days. Good.
She would never see him again. Bad. Very bad.
“A week,” he said.
“Then you’ll be leaving soon.”
“I’m not going anywhere. Not until I get to the bottom of Jason’s death. I owe it to my family.” He gazed at her with intense teal eyes. “Besides, I have another reason to stay.”
Her heart thumped in her throat. “What reason is that?”
“Killer squirrels on the loose.” He smiled, not so much with distrust, but amusement. “I really should take care of it. Too much for Greg to handle alone.” Nick dug into his soup, watching her over his spoon.
She laughed nervously. “Yeah, we should look into those killer squirrels.”
“Yes, we should.”
Muscles flexed with his every move. She could feel her brain cells going on strike. “You could put a shirt on,” she said, shifting on her seat. That would make it easier for her to think. Not much, but a little.
“Are you complaining?”
No. “Yes.”
He grinned, his eyes following her as he crossed the room. He left his bowl on the counter and took his time pulling a blue t-shirt out of a dresser. Danielle drew back her lips and sank her teeth into a chunk of beef.
What had she been thinking, loitering here like this?
Oh, yes, she was there to keep an eye on him. He seemed good to her. Didn’t take him very long to recover. All night she’d worried about him, and here he was doing just fine. He pulled his shirt over his head, exaggerating his movements. Too bad all this posturing wasn’t really for her.
She wished it was. Really, really wished it was.
Her stomach wasn’t pleased with the cooked meat. She was running on empty and needed a fresh kill. Nick was having no such trouble with his soup. He sat and shoveled it down.
“Wow. You do seem better.”
“Must be that concoction you gave me. I’ll probably have a relapse.” He nodded firmly and set his bowl on the floor. He rubbed his temples. “I definitely feel a relapse coming on.”
Danielle couldn’t help but smile. He wasn’t just hot. He was cute. And cute was more endearing to her than hot any day.
Nick looked up, eyes bright, hair falling over his forehead. She wanted to brush back the heavy strands.
“Get enough to eat?” she said, her throat tight. “Or should I get you some more?”
Get myself out of here for some fresh air before I lose control and leap across the room at you.
“Maybe later,” he said.
“Okay.” She glanced at her steak. It didn’t look appetizing, but she forked it and ate anyway.
“You going to finish that?”
She swallowed. “Probably.” Unfortunately. “Why?”
“Nothing. I guess I’m just used to women who eat half a salad and claim to be too full to have any more.”
“I hate salad.”
He leaned forward, elbows on knees. “So do I.”
Something shifted inside her, and she wanted to bray for him like a helpless lamb ripe for the picking. Must have been the human female in her, responding to some archaic need to be dominated. Come to think of it, her wolf half had that same desire . . .
“Um . . . are you going to watch me eat?” she asked.
“Does it bother you?” He didn’t look away.
“I can’t stop you from watching.”
“You could just bite me.”
She froze. Then she laughed like he’d told a good joke. “Right.”
“What really happened yesterday?”
“I told you.”
“Between us.” His smile turned predatory. “I won’t tell anyone, I swear.”
Sure, Nick. See, I’m a werewolf, and you’re related to werewolves. And, biologically, you are my mate. I bit you to test your strength and to leave a mark on you as a sign that you are mine.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said.
“That’s fine. I like a good mystery, especially when it involves a woman.”
“I’m no mystery.”
“Yeah, you are.” He smiled then. “You don’t have to look so worried.”
She smiled back, aware that it was forced. Nick stood and took her plate, setting it aside. Then he took her hand and urged her to her feet.
“So, we’ve established that you are not and never were involved with Lothar,” he said.
“Well, yes.”
He tugged her closer, Danielle powerless to resist. Her face tipped back of its own accord. He was so different from Lothar. Nick was American. Raised in a hick town. He’d probably graduated from public school with three pairs of jeans and five shirts to get him through the week.
He was like her.
And yet not, because he couldn’t shapeshift.
“Your eyes are black,” he said, then lowered his face to hers.
No, wait. There was nothing between them, save a genetic need for multiplication. She pushed on his chest and he released her.
“I’m sorry,” she breathed. “I just can’t.”
Nick shifted on his feet as if considering his next move. He ran his hands through his hair. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have. I’m usually better behaved than this.”
She believed him. It was the scent attraction. Danielle walked over to a window and opened it, hoping the fresh air might help. Cars passed below, no one in a particular hurry. An elderly woman walked a terrier down the road.
“Danielle?” he asked.
“Just clearing the air.” She turned to face him.
“Do you want to get out of here?” He hitched a shoulder toward the door. “If you like the forest better, we could go for a walk.”
He had no idea. But the forest would only make her inner wolf harder to control. “You should rest. We both need it.”
A fiendish grin lit his sculpted face. Nick turned and plopped back on the bed, crossing his bare feet at the ankles. He took the remote off a side table and flicked on the TV. Teal eyes slid in her direction. “You can join me. For a nap, I mean.”
She shook her head.
“I could buy some furniture.”
That was sweet. Sure, now he was drop dead gorgeous, cute, and sweet all at the same time.
“Nick, maybe I should leave.”
“It’s not like I bite.”
No, but I do.
“Humor me, I’m sick.” He held out the remote. “You can watch anything you want.”
She took a step closer.
He waved the remote, his expression exuding innocence. “I promise not to complain about whatever you choose.”
It wasn’t smart. It wasn’t safe. But she did it anyway. Taking the remote from his hand, she sat next to him. Danielle crossed her legs, sitting up straight.
Nick laughed. “You look really uncomfortable. Do I smell bad or something?”
“No, you smell nice.”
“Then why are you over there?”
She scooted back, propping a pillow behind her. Lifting the remote, she sifted through until she found a documentary on the migratory habits of birds. She set the remote aside.
Nick laughed. “I should have known.”
“You promised, no complaining.”
“Who’s complaining?” He tucked his hands behind his head. It showed off the muscles in his arms.
What if she decided to keep him, she wondered?
Her scent alone would have hi
m close at hand for the rest of his life.
She caught her lip between her teeth. All right, so her species would applaud her as a whole if she did, and it would get Lothar off the hook with his uncle.
Oh, but Lothar . . .
“Careful, you’ll bite right through your lip if you keep that up.”
She loosened her jaw.
“Permission to touch you?” he asked.
“Why?”
“Or not.”
Danielle blew out a breath. “This is why I didn’t want to sit here.”
“One arm only.”
“Nick, I really can’t.” She stopped. Actually, she really wanted to. “Permission granted. One arm.”
He tucked it around her waist. Danielle fidgeted, caught between human need, animal instinct, and pure embarrassment. Aside from occasional—and downright confusing—demonstrations of affection from Lothar, it had been fifteen years since she’d had a boyfriend. Henry Taylor. The captain of the football team. He’d hated Lothar from the start, and had been more than happy to betray them both to a vampire after she’d broken up with him. That was how Lothar had gotten his back broken and lost his Mentor status.
Suffice it to say, that hadn’t ended well for her.
“Too much?” he asked.
“Ne,” she said out of habit, then felt her face burn. She cleared her throat. “No, not at all.”
Nick kissed the top of her head. “Relax,” he whispered.
She nodded, doing her best. She’d done this while he was incoherent. She could do it now. By increments, she rested her cheek against his chest. Danielle pushed her sense of hearing to the back of her awareness so she wouldn’t be overwhelmed by the sound of his heart.
Don’t get used to this, she reminded herself. You can’t keep him.
He fell asleep a few minutes later, his body warm beside hers. She contemplated making her escape for a decent meal, then gave in to need and stayed with him instead.
Chapter Six
Nick knew it was Lothar. Who else in town would pound on his door like they were trying to break it down? Danielle sat up next to him, her eyes black and her expression like a thief caught in the act—a look he’d seen enough times on the job to know.
“Easy, baby. It’s just the door.” He rolled out of bed, smiling at her, hoping to ease the tension.
Danielle scrambled to her feet and ran her hands over slept on hair. She tucked a lock behind her ear. That little habit of hers made her look vulnerable.
Her vulnerability made him want to protect her.
“It’s Lothar,” she said with a wince. “I mean, it’s probably him.”
“We were only napping. Besides, it’s none of his business.”
The banging continued, the door rattling on its hinges.
“Yeah, all right,” Nick yelled. He turned back to Danielle. “He’s difficult, huh?”
“Only if you don’t know how to handle him.”
He shook his head. “Too much information. Are you sure the two of you aren’t a thing?”
“I’m sure.” Her gaze shifted, and Nick knew she wasn’t sure. Great. That was the last thing he’d wanted. His partner had done that to him with Genevieve.
“Oh, Danielle, you should have told me.”
She glared. “He and I are not involved.”
But she had feelings for the man. “You should have told me anyway.” Gritting his teeth, Nick swung the door open.
It was Lothar all right, in designer jeans and an expensive black sweater. He didn’t dress like a man on a limited salary.
“Let her go,” he said under his breath.
One look at Lothar’s scowl, and Nick abandoned all thoughts of stepping out of the way. He leaned against the doorframe, strategically between Lothar and Danielle, his arms crossed over his chest. He felt like a buck facing another buck over a doe. This was a battle of supremacy.
“Are you her keeper?” Nick asked.
“I am her boss, and we have job to do.”
“She was up all night. Give her a break.”
“I have known her for long time, Shepard.”
Nick shrugged. “And?”
Lothar came to his full height and Nick straightened. They were eye-to-eye. “I know what she needs better than you.” Brown eyes darkened to black, just like Danielle’s.
Interesting.
“I bet you know a few things I don’t,” Nick said. Like why their eyes turned black when they were tense or excited. “She’s a big girl. She can make her own choices.”
Lothar smiled blandly. “Think you are choice?”
Now they had it out in the open. Nick could almost hear the sound of clashing antlers. “I think she should have the chance to make up her own mind.”
Lothar shifted, looking around Nick, said something to Danielle in his native language.
“Ne,” she countered, narrowing her gaze.
“Leave her be,” Nick said.
“Nick.” Danielle came up to him. “He’s right. I have a job to do.”
He turned to face her, ignoring Lothar altogether. “You don’t have to leave.”
She hitched her bag up on her shoulder. Dark lashes crossed her cheekbones as she looked away. “I’ll see you later.”
“Oh, no you don’t.” Nick took her by the hand and urged her back in. He slammed the door in Lothar’s face.
Danielle shook her head, but she looked more concerned than angry. “Lothar makes a terrible enemy. Trust me. He could break down that door in a second. He’s being polite, believe it or not.”
“I’ve put men behind bars that would love to rip my head off.”
“Some men have bigger teeth than others.”
“They sure do.” Nick arched his brows.
“Referring to yourself, I take it.”
He ducked his head so they were on the level. “Don’t let him rule you.”
“He doesn’t rule me.”
“Could have fooled me.”
“It isn’t like that. Not like you’re thinking.” She sighed, looking resigned. “There are things you don’t understand.”
He softened his voice. “I’d like to. If you’d let me.”
“I will see you later.”
“Where are you staying?”
“Holland Road.”
“Not Judson’s old place?”
“That was the name of the man we bought it from.”
“You’re living there? It’s a dump.”
“Yeah, I know.” She glanced at his kitchen with its ancient, but running appliances. “We buy dives and fix them.”
She deserved better than that. She deserved better than a life spent wandering from forest to forest tracking deranged . . . bears? Nick’s jaw tightened. He couldn’t for the life of him accuse Danielle of outright dishonesty, but Lothar was another story. And that left him wondering if she was safe with him.
“There’s no power out there,” Nick said, as if he could use that alone to convince her not to go.
“We have a generator.”
“No running water.”
“There’s a hand pump, but no warm water. Unless I heat it on the wood stove first.”
“You can use my shower anytime.” Or she could stay. And use his shower.
Her eyes widened at the suggestion.
“If you want,” he said, like it didn’t matter to him if she stayed or not.
“Well, thanks.” She turned, opening the door. Nick knew he was losing her.
Lothar was outside looking tall, dark, and annoyed. Danielle said something to him as she left. Dang, but she was pretty good with his native language. Lothar seemed relieved, or something. Either way, his face softened, showing a different man beneath the lead-lined exterior.
She looked over her shoulder as she headed down the stairs, as if she really wasn’t sure what she wanted. Nick almost called her back, then realized the full extent of what he was doing and let her go.
She didn’t share herself easily. Being in
a relationship with Danielle wasn’t something he could jump right into. He still had a job back in New York. She didn’t like cities.
Feeling mostly back to normal, he made his way down to the diner for more food. He listed off reasons why he shouldn’t get involved with her in his head as he slid onto a stool at the counter next to Greg, who was shoving chicken and dumplings into his mouth almost faster than he could chew. He was still in uniform.
“So he lives,” Greg noted over a mouthful.
Kendra swept in on Nick’s other side, holding a cup of steaming coffee in her hands. She took a sip. “I told Greg about your nasty bite.”
“Yeah, I need to warn you. We have a deranged squirrel on the loose,” Nick said.
One of Kendra’s waitresses stopped in front of them, on the opposite side of the counter. “What can I get you, Nick?” It was Stephanie. She’d graduated with Greg. Her dark hair was braided, and she was wearing the same white flounced apron as Kendra.
“Greg seems to like the chicken and dumplings,” Nick said.
Steph had a nice smile, sweet and innocent. The girl hadn’t been away from home for longer than a week at a time in her entire life. That was the reason Nick had never gotten involved with her. He was NYPD. Nothing would soil that smile faster than a relationship with a homicide detective.
“He has the chicken and dumplings three times a week,” Steph said.
“Free food,” Greg added.
“He’s been trying to eat me out of business.” Kendra reached around Nick and tugged on her brother’s hair. Greg waved her away.
“He’ll have to try harder to make that happen,” Steph said. “I’ll get your chicken and dumplings for you, Nick.”
“Thanks.”
Kendra speared him with a blue-eyed gaze.
“Yes?” Nick questioned.
“Your nurse hauled out of here in a hurry.”
“She had to get back to work. Mush, mush.” Nick pinched the bridge of his nose. His headache was returning.
“And you would rather she had stayed.”
He dropped his hand and lifted his brows. “Do you really want to know?”
“Just keeping an eye on you. And no, I don’t want any details.”
Tangled Moon Page 6