Werewolf in Denver

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  Her heart beat faster. Someone was there, but who? She hoped to God it wasn’t her seventy-five-year-old grandmother hoping to get the jump on Neil. Surely not. But whoever had come up in the glass elevator understood how it operated and had kept the light off. If it was her grandmother, did she realize Neil had a gun?

  “Okay, Neil,” Kate said. “I don’t appreciate being held at gunpoint. Could you put that thing away so we can talk like civilized beings?”

  “I rather like this gun, Kate. I’ve never seen you quite so nervous before, and it does my heart good. You and Penny always thought that you were better than me, but I’m the one in control now, not you.”

  Beside Kate, Penny tensed. She must have seen the bookcase moving, too. Duncan’s breathing had changed slightly. He must also be aware that someone was back there.

  “What’s the bottom line, Stillman?” Duncan asked. “How much do you want for this blackmail scheme, and how are we supposed to get it to you?”

  “Well, well. It appears that your sweetheart is a sensible Were, Kate. He’s figured out there’s no way around the problem, and besides, it’s only money, right? The safety of family is way more important than a little cash.”

  Kate prayed her grandmother wasn’t about to leap out from behind that bookcase with a baseball bat. Neil would turn and shoot her. Grandma Elizabeth had many wonderful skills, but dodging bullets wasn’t something she’d ever had to learn.

  “Come to think of it,” Duncan said, “Kate has her purse right here. She might be able to give you something immediately, to tide you over until we can arrange for more.”

  Kate had nothing in her purse but her room key and a tube of lipstick, but she guessed Duncan might be looking for a way to distract Neil. “Actually, I do have a fair bit in here,” she said. “I was planning to give the staff a bonus in cash tonight, rather than make them wait until payday. They’ve done a fabulous job this weekend.”

  Neil’s eyes glittered. “Then I’ll just take that little purse as a down payment.”

  “Here.” She threw it straight at his head, grabbed Penny, and jerked her to the floor. She got a quick glimpse of two large bodies hurtling through the open bookcase wall. Neil’s yell was followed by the thud of fists against flesh. The gun went off. Her stomach pitched at the thought of someone being shot. Please not Duncan. She lifted her head to look.

  “Stay down!” Duncan’s shout was music to her ears.

  More thudding sounds followed, punctuated by crashes, grunts, groans, and curses, some in what sounded like Gaelic. Finally, it was quiet except for the sound of heavy breathing.

  A hand touched her shoulder. “It’s okay, lass.” Duncan gulped air. “You can get up now.”

  Kate scrambled to her feet and Penny got up more slowly. The room was in chaos, with lamps smashed, books scattered, and a curtain ripped. Neil lay facedown and very still on the hearth. Duncan stood on one side of the fireplace guarding Neil’s prone body while Aidan and Roarke Wallace stood on the other side. All three struggled for breath. Their fists were raw and bleeding.

  “Is it over?” Grandma Elizabeth peeked out through the open bookcase wall.

  “Grandma!” Kate started to rush over, but a sharp warning from Duncan made her pause.

  “There’s glass everywhere,” Duncan said. “Best stay right there for now.”

  At least Kate knew how Aidan and Roarke had accessed the elevator. “Is Neil…” She couldn’t bring herself to say the word. Much as she hated him, she hoped they hadn’t killed him, especially in front of Elizabeth.

  “He’s alive,” Duncan said. “Just out cold.”

  The knot of tension in Kate’s chest eased, and when she glanced at her grandmother, Elizabeth briefly closed her eyes in obvious relief. Then Kate studied Duncan, Aidan, and Roarke. They were battered but didn’t appear to be shot. “The gun went off,” she said. “I heard it hit something soft.”

  “I’m afraid he put a bullet in your lovely sofa, milady.”

  “Who cares?” She let out a breath. The bullet hadn’t gone into living flesh.

  “Well, somebody needs to organize things, so I guess it will be me.” Elizabeth picked her way around the debris as she walked into the room. After one glance at Neil, she averted her gaze. “Shameful. Just shameful.” Then she raised her voice. “Howard! You all can come in now.”

  Kate turned toward the entryway and her eyes widened as Howard walked through the door followed by Emma, Abby, and…Angela Sapworthy? She turned to Duncan, who only shrugged. He seemed as bewildered as she was.

  Although both her table lamps had been destroyed in the battle, Kate’s overhead kitchen lights were on, and Angela’s rhinestones created a strobe effect when she moved. She walked around the suite inspecting everything and everyone. “Amazing,” she said. “This will make such a great story.”

  “Excuse me.” Kate faced her grandmother. “But why is Angela here? I realize that eventually we’d have to make a statement of some kind, but it seems as if you actually invited her in.”

  Elizabeth’s expression was sheepish. “We really had no choice. She’s the one who tipped us off about Neil.”

  “That’s right.” Angela continued to take careful inventory of her surroundings. “I saved the day.”

  “How?”

  Angela walked over to her. “I was so fascinated by this romance between you and that hunk of a Scotsman that I followed you up here. This lodge is old, you know, and the doors don’t fit very tight. I thought maybe if I listened at your door, I’d hear some interesting sweet talk.”

  Kate gasped. “That’s a terrible invasion of privacy!”

  “It may be,” Elizabeth said, “and I don’t condone her methods, but in this case they came in very handy. She heard Neil’s voice, heard him mention Penny, and knew you had big trouble.”

  “So I hotfooted it down to the ballroom, alerted Howard and Elizabeth, and voilà.” Her rhinestones flashed as she twirled around, causing everyone to squint.

  “We had some help from Duncan and Kate,” Roarke said. “I knew Kate had seen the bookcase move when she started talking about the gun. Factoring in the gun meant we needed a distraction so we could rush him, and Duncan suggested that Kate hand her purse to Neil. But she threw it, which was even better.”

  “And you had sense enough to duck.” Duncan bestowed a warm smile in her direction.

  “She was much more resourceful than I was,” Penny said. “She’s become quite a leader. All I could do was sit there and shake.”

  Those words of praise about her leadership ability meant more to Kate than Penny would ever know. She put an arm around her sister and gave her a squeeze. “Of course you were terrified. You had the most to lose.”

  Emma stepped forward. “Penny, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Emma Wallace, Aidan’s mate.” Stepping carefully, she rounded the sofa and held out her hand.

  Penny shook it warmly. “I know all about you. I’ve read your books, although I’m careful not to let my family know. I don’t want to introduce the subject of werewolves, even in a work of fiction.”

  “I understand. And please don’t think I’m trying to interfere in your business, but…I have an idea for you to consider.”

  Penny looked wary. “What’s that?”

  “I haven’t checked it out with Aidan, either.” Emma’s gaze sought her mate’s. “But I think he’ll agree with me. I can imagine how much you long to share your secret with your mate, and the distress it’s causing you not to, even without Neil making your life miserable.”

  Penny sighed. “I admit the pressure becomes greater every day. And then I think about my human kids. They know they’re adopted, but not the real reason I didn’t have children of my own. Tom doesn’t know, either, of course. Maybe they should, but I can’t imagine just throwing it out there.”

  “I can’t, either.” Emma glanced over at Aidan again. “So here’s my idea. Plan a family vacation to New York. Stay with us at the Wallace family compoun
d. You can say we’re old friends of your folks, whatever excuse you want. But let Tom and your kids see how normally we live. Then, when we’re all around, including Abby and me, who are human like Tom and your kids, break the news.”

  Aidan smiled. “Brilliant, Emma.”

  “I agree,” Howard said. “Well done, Emma. It could work.”

  “Or it could backfire,” Kate said. “It’s still very risky.”

  “It is, but not as risky as me telling them when I’m surrounded by humans.” Penny studied Emma carefully. “And living the way I do now is torture and not fair to them, either. They don’t really know me.”

  Emma gave her a quick hug. “Think about it. And let me know. I hate to see you suffering.”

  “Yes, but I put myself in this position, didn’t I?”

  Not long ago, Kate would have said the same about her sister. But she saw the situation differently now. “You put yourself in this position because you found your one true love.” She looked over at Duncan and took a long, slow breath. “I finally understand that.” She absorbed the warmth of Duncan’s answering smile before turning back to her sister.

  The tension in Penny’s expression eased. “You do?”

  Kate nodded. “Uh-huh. Found him.”

  “Oh, Kate! Congratulations!” Penny hugged her tight. “That’s so wonderful.” Then she stepped back and turned her attention to Duncan. “You’d better treat my baby sister like the treasure that she is.”

  “Aye. I plan to.”

  “And on that note,” Elizabeth said, “it’s time to put things to rights around here. Aidan and Roarke, if you wouldn’t mind loading Neil onto the elevator, I’ll ride down with you. I’d rather not haul him out through the lobby.” She pulled a cell phone out of a small evening bag. “I’ll arrange for members of our pack to meet us at ground level.”

  Roarke nodded. “We can do that. Come on, Aidan. Let’s dispose of this unwanted garbage.” He walked over to Neil, who had begun to stir. “He won’t be happy when he comes to, so we need him out of here before then.” He leaned down and grabbed Neil’s feet.

  Aidan moved into position and took hold of his wrists. “Should we put a blanket over him? It’s cold out there.”

  Roarke looked at his brother. “No.”

  “Right.”

  Elizabeth sighed. “Taking him out the back way may be silly. I realize it’ll be all over Sniffer soon, but I’d rather not supply a visual to go along with it. You notice I didn’t allow Angela to bring her camera crew up here.”

  Upon hearing her name, Angela paused in her cataloging of the details of the scene. “And what will happen to him, pray tell?”

  “I have an idea about that,” Howard said. “Now that WOW exists, I propose that we use the council to determine the fate of our rogues. But he’s from the Stillman pack, and we’ll be setting a precedent. Elizabeth, you should weigh in. What do you think?”

  “I think that makes perfect sense. Chances are he’d get a much harsher sentence from his pack once they discover he was blackmailing one of us and threatening to expose all of us.”

  “I guarantee the council won’t go easy on him, either,” Howard said. “Can you detain him for us temporarily, until we set up our procedures?”

  “I most certainly can.”

  “If you’d like to transport him to Scotland, I can provide a dungeon.” Duncan seemed quite taken with that idea.

  “It’s tempting to turn him over to you, Duncan,” Elizabeth said, “but I can create something very dungeonlike right here.”

  “Good.” Howard nodded in satisfaction. “Then we’ll be in touch, and I’ll work something out as soon as possible.”

  “I’ll await your instructions.” Elizabeth’s glance fell on Penny. “I’ll arrange for a car to take you home, sweetie.”

  “That would be great.”

  “Abby and I will walk with you downstairs,” Emma said. “On the way we’ll help you come up with a good cover story to tell Tom. I’m an expert at that kind of thing after keeping my mother in the dark for all this time.”

  Penny smiled. “I have a feeling I’m going to be very glad I met you, Emma Wallace.”

  Elizabeth surveyed the room with obvious satisfaction. “Then we’re all set.” She started toward the elevator and paused to glance at Kate. “I’ll send a cleaning crew up here right away. They’ll bring replacement lamps for you, as well.”

  Kate exchanged a quick glance with Duncan and was fairly sure she knew what he was thinking. “Could you hold off on that until morning?”

  Elizabeth frowned. “I can’t imagine why you’d want to put up with this mess until morning.”

  Angela looked over at her. “Oh, I can, Elizabeth. There’s nothing wrong with the bedroom.” She batted her glitter-covered eyelashes. “If you get my drift.”

  “Oh.” Elizabeth cleared her throat. “Yes, well, I suppose you’re right. Then I’ll be off. I’ll meet the rest of you at the party when this matter is handled.”

  “Wait.” Kate stepped cautiously around scattered books and broken lamp parts to give her grandmother a tight hug. “Thank you, Grandma.”

  Elizabeth hugged her back just as fiercely. “You were very brave,” she said in a low voice. “You’re going to make a fine alpha.”

  “Thank you.” Her throat tightened in a rush of unexpected emotion. She hadn’t realized how much she’d longed to hear those words.

  “And we’re outta here,” Emma said. “Penny, I’ve already thought of several excellent excuses to give your mate.”

  “Wonderful.” Penny made her way over to Kate and hugged her. “Be happy.”

  “I already am.”

  Howard cupped his hand under Angela’s elbow. “Time to go, Ms. Sapworthy.” He propelled her toward the front door. “And I want it understood that there will be no more listening at the door tonight.”

  Angela looked offended. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” Then she giggled. “I have so many juicy tidbits, I won’t have to listen outside doors for at least another week.”

  Kate followed them to the entryway and called out a few more good-byes before closing the door and twisting the dead bolt. Then she turned, walked back into the living room and straight into Duncan’s arms. “Now, where were we?”

  “On our way to your bed, milady.” Guiding her gently through the bedroom door, he nudged it closed with his foot, shutting out all the ugliness and closing in all the beauty.

  Duncan learned that a dress that fit like a glove and sparkled like a galaxy of stars was extremely complex and difficult to remove from the female wearing it. But he also suspected that this particular dress cost the moon and stars, too, so he finally stopped his search for a way into it. Reluctantly ending a most satisfactory kiss, he drew back.

  “You’ll have to get yourself out of that contraption, lass. I canna do it. Or I could, but I’d ruin it for sure. It’s too lovely to ruin.”

  Flushed with the effects of his kisses, she smiled, reached under her arm, and pulled down a side zipper.

  “Ah, so that’s the trick.”

  “That’s the trick. Once the zipper’s undone, it slides off like a peel from a banana.” She demonstrated by pushing it down to the floor and stepping out of it.

  His breath caught. She wore nothing but her ruby jewelry, skimpy lace panties, and red high heels. “I’m glad I let you do it. I have to stand back a bit to appreciate the view.” He’d thought his need for her couldn’t get any more desperate. He’d been wrong.

  “Do you want me to leave any of this on?”

  He shook his head. “It’s a fantasy, I suppose, but…to tell the truth, all I want is you.” He took a deep breath to rein in the wolf in him, a wild creature yearning to take her in a surge of passion that left no room for tenderness. “Just you, Kate.”

  Her eyes grew misty. “And I feel the same about you.” She took off the earrings and laid them on the dresser beside her. Then she removed the necklace and put it there, too. Last she kic
ked off her shoes and removed her lingerie. “Do you…do you have to leave in the morning?”

  “I do.” He would hate leaving. He would hate it so much that he didn’t know how to put it into words.

  “Oh.”

  “Just to settle some things. It might take a week. Is that too long? Perhaps I can do everything in less, but I’m not sure that I can.”

  Her expression was endearingly hopeful. “You mean, after this week of settling things, you’ll come back…to stay?”

  “Aye. If you’ll have me.”

  “Of course I’ll have you!” She rushed into his arms, nearly knocking him over. “I thought you’d have to stay in Scotland. You’d really be willing to live here, with me?”

  “You’re to be the pack alpha one day, so that seems like the right choice for us. I can do my writing and my work with the Woofers anywhere. We can visit Glenbarra whenever you’re ready, but for the most part, I think—” He was prevented from further explanation when she began kissing him as if she would never stop.

  But finally she did pull back a little, her voice breathless. “But you’re still dressed.”

  “So I am.” He regarded her with amusement. “Perceptive of you to notice.”

  “I’m no better at taking off a kilt than you are with a side-zipper dress. And I almost forgot. I still don’t know what you have on under it.”

  “The usual.”

  “That sounds like what you’d say to Angela Sapworthy. It tells me nothing.” Slipping out of his embrace, she stood with her arms crossed. “Proceed, Woofer.”

  He undressed for her, and mindful of what Elizabeth had said, he left the kilt on until the very end.

  She moistened her lips. “I’ll say this for you. You know how to build the suspense.”

  “No point in wearing a kilt if I don’t plan to make the most of it.” And then he took it off.

  Her eyes widened and her hand went to her mouth as she gasped. Then she met his gaze and smiled. “So tell me, how does it feel to waltz like that?”