by Lynn Lorenz
“Ready?” He offered her his hand.
“Sure.” Taking it, she slipped out of the booth. He led her through the diner amid multiple waves from people and a few handshakes at the tables they passed.
Either they weren’t interested in her, or they were too polite to question him about her. She figured they all knew he’d lost his wife. Perhaps they were afraid they’d scare her off if they showed too much interest in her. If so, it said volumes about how Duke was respected in this small community.
They got back in the truck and pulled onto the highway.
“Can you stay until tomorrow?” Duke asked as he slid his hand into hers. She squeezed it, enjoying the comfort she got from his touch and that tiny tingling at the base of her spine, dry kindling waiting to ignite.
“Well, there’s nothing I have to get back to.”
“It’s Halloween tonight. As a witch, don’t you have something to do?”
“Like naked dance in the moonlight? Light candles? Sacrifice a goat?” She leaned back in the seat, watching him.
“We don’t allow blood sacrifices in this county and if you’re going to start a fire, you’ll need a permit. But the good news is, you can dance naked in the woods all you want. I won’t stop you,” he deadpanned.
“I’ll just bet you won’t.” She swatted him again and he made an exaggerated grimace as if she’d hurt him. Then he reached up and brushed his hand across her cheek. She shivered at his touch and leaned into his palm.
“Stay with me tonight.” It was a soft, gentle request and she was powerless to refuse.
“Yes.” She didn’t know where it would lead, but she wanted to spend as much time with him this weekend as she could. She needed it, needed to learn all she could about this man. Needed more of his scent on her body.
They drove back to the motel where she got her things, and checked out. Standing by her car, she asked, “Should I follow you?”
“Yep. We’ll leave your car at my place and then I’d like to take you for a drive and show you around.”
“You mean, show me off, don’t you?” She tilted her head at him, hand on her hip.
He shook his head. “I don’t know how you do that, but yeah, I want to show you off. If you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind, I suppose. Provided, next time you come to my place and I get to show you off.”
He blushed, shoved his hands in his pockets, and looked at his boots. Damn, he was so cute when he did that she could just eat him up. And she knew just where she wanted to start nibbling.
They got in their cars and she followed him toward Meridian. After a few miles, they came to a small subdivision and turned in. The sign read, Pine Forest Estates. Wooded lots. One to five acres.
Enough land for a wolf to feel at home, she guessed. Not like his dad’s place, perched in a state park, trees everywhere, no fear of being discovered.
She followed him down the street, made a few turns and then pulled into a long driveway. The house sat back from the road. It was long and low, with rough-cut light stone blocks around the entry and the rest of the façade was a terra cotta brick. A For Sale sign stood in the yard.
She parked on the side of his truck and got out. He met her at the back of her car and helped her with her overnight bag. She followed him to the front door.
Stepping inside, she looked around. She didn’t know what she expected—lots of wolf stuff—but there was nothing there to make you think a werewolf lived there. The living room had a brown leather recliner, matching sofa and ottoman, all facing a wall mounted flat screen television that had to be fifty inches across.
“Nice TV.”
He shrugged. “Not much to do out here but watch television.”
“When did you decide to sell?” She sat on the couch trailing her hand over the soft as butter leather.
He sat next to her and took her hand. “A few months ago, when I finally admitted I was dying. Wanted to get my affairs in order,” he whispered.
“You’re not making this easy for me, Duke.” She reached out, unable to stop herself and ran her fingers through his hair. Soft, silky, and definitely not falling out. Maybe the wolf would succumb before the man did. What would happen if Duke’s wolf died? She didn’t want to know.
“Your home is lovely.”
“Grace picked everything out,” he blurted. “I didn’t care. I just wanted whatever made her happy.”
Sam looked around at all the leather and masculine accessories. “And I’m thinking she picked what she thought you’d feel comfortable with. She must have been a wonderful woman, Duke.” Why were there tears in her eyes? She blinked them away before he could see them.
“She was.” He stood and faced away from her. “I’ve never brought anyone here before, Sam. It’s … I don’t know. Maybe I shouldn’t—” His hand stole to his face for a moment, then dropped. His broad shoulders couldn’t hide his pain and uncertainty from her.
“I’m sure she won’t mind, Duke.” She stood, went to her bag, and picked it up. “Is there a guest room I can put this in?”
Chapter Eight
Duke took a ragged breath. Sam was so incredible. She’d sensed his discomfort and made it so easy for him, even suggesting she take the extra room.
Not their bedroom.
He led the way to the back, and opened the door. “This is the guest room.”
Sam stepped in and looked around. A queen sleigh bed, covered in a homey quilt sat against the wall, a small mismatched table at one side. “It’s very nice. I can see that Grace had fabulous taste.” She smiled at him and set the bag on the bed.
He led the way back down the hall to the kitchen. “Do you want something to drink?” He stood in the middle of the kitchen, completely lost. Now that he’d brought Sam home, he had no idea what to do.
“No, I’m fine. I thought you were going to show me around town.”
The look of relief that passed over his face almost made her chuckle.
“Sure. But first, do you mind if I get cleaned up and change my clothes?” he said.
“Of course. I’ll just wait in the living room.” He turned down the hall and she kept going straight. Along the wall of the hallway, she could make out several clean squares where pictures had once been and a terrible sadness came over her.
Duke had taken down pictures of Grace or perhaps of him and Grace together. Wedding pictures, perhaps honeymoon photos. They must have been a painful reminder of what was and could have been. Sam could only imagine how he might have felt walking down this hall every day, seeing them.
Settling into the couch, she sat back to think. Or not to think. Thinking was too hard, reasoning didn’t seem to work for this. This was more about feelings than about common sense and she didn’t know if she could work her way through it all.
Closing her eyes, she let her mind drift away from thoughts of werewolves, death, and life-altering decisions. For awhile, she cleared her mind, but thoughts of what they’d done to each other last night kept intruding, making her core dampen.
“I’m ready.” Duke’s deep voice washed over her and she opened her eyes. Her heart sang when she looked into his dark eyes and saw all his hopes hiding there.
“Let’s go.” She stood, slung her purse over her shoulder, and followed him out the door before she begged for a repeat performance of last night.
Before she knew it, they were back in the truck and heading down the highway into town. Duke didn’t live in Meridian, but in a little town on the outskirts called Bankston. He explained as they drove that it had grown up around the farming industry, but over the years, the farms had disappeared as the city crept closer. Now it was a bedroom community for those who wanted out of Meridian, but close enough to enjoy what the larger town offered. Like a mall and movies.
They drove down the main street, an extension of the old state highway that passed through Bankston. She’d seen a hundred southern small towns, just like this one, frozen in time somewhere in the thirties or
forties, with its share of quaint antique stores, cafes, and small businesses.
Turning down a road off the main street, they traveled for a while until they came to a small church, First Baptist, and pulled in behind it. A small cemetery with a black iron fence bordering it sat tucked up under the tall pines.
The church looked like a postcard. White clapboard, tall steeple, front steps. A placard on the side of the building said it had been built and dedicated in 1934.
“Why did you bring me here?” She gazed at him as he stared through the windshield at the chapel.
“This is our church. Most of my family is buried here.” He parked the truck and they got out. That knot of tension tightened in her stomach and she wrapped her arms around herself. The chill she felt wasn’t in the air.
“Come on.” Taking her hand, he led her through the gate and toward the back. At the last row, just before the trees, he stopped.
“My grandfather, grandmother and my father’s brother, Walter, are buried here.” He paused and cleared his throat. “So is Grace.”
A beautifully carved stone read
Grace Montgomery Stevens
Born 1975-Died 2005
Beloved Wife and Daughter
Forever Missed
Sam’s heart pounded in her chest and there was no room in her throat to swallow.
Anger bubbled up, about to erupt, but when she stole a glance at his face as he stared at the marker it subsided.
His forehead furrowed and his jaw worked as he struggled with whatever was going through his mind. This was more about him letting Grace go than about putting pressure on her to decide.
He’d shoved his hands in his pockets, a sure sign he was at a loss. How’d she come to know him well enough in so short a time that she could read his body language?
She stared at the marker. Would she have to ask Grace’s permission to marry Duke or her forgiveness? If so, it wouldn’t be now, when she had no idea which way she’d fall.
“Do you visit here often?” She didn’t know what else to say.
“Used to come here every week at first. Less and less nowadays.” He shook his head. “Guess I’ve been letting her go all along.”
Sam moved to his side and wrapped an arm around his waist. They stood in silence for a while, then he sort of shook himself and smiled down at her.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought you here.”
“I have to admit, it’s the strangest first date I’ve ever had. But, believe it or not, I understand.”
They turned from the markers and made their way back through the cemetery to the gate. She got into the truck and buckled up. Duke paused, door open, his foot on the truck step up, and gazed at the little graveyard, then he swung up into the seat, slammed the door and started the engine.
Once again, they were on what she’d come to think of as the Greater Bankston Home and Garden Tour, back on the main street and cruising its length.
A few fast food places were scattered down the length of it. They’d leisurely driven to the end and back and then down some of the side streets, as he showed her the little town. Quaint bungalows, low ranches, and Victorian two-stories, complete with painted gingerbread, sat on the oak and magnolia lined streets. Pumpkins dotted the walks and adorned porches, scarecrows sat on benches and hay bales and ghosts dangled from the low limbs of trees.
It was almost one thirty in the afternoon and breakfast was a memory.
“So, where’s the best place in this town to have lunch?” she asked. “And don’t say Carl’s.”
“Then you want the second best.” He grinned at her and she rolled her eyes. “That would be the Hong Kong Garden.”
“Chinese? Here?”
He nodded. “Yep. Run by real Chinese. Great food. Better than what you find in Meridian.”
“Chinese it is.”
They entered the restaurant and, once again, everyone knew Duke. When the owner came out of the kitchen, he shook Duke’s hand. Duke introduced her as his friend. The owner’s wife seated them, gave them menus, and brought glasses of ice water.
“Duke, I’m so glad you brought your friend here for lunch.” The woman beamed at him. She had no trace of an accent, unless you counted her Mississippi twang.
“I asked for the best place in town,” Sam said. “And here we are.”
“I haven’t seen you in a long time, Duke.” A quick expression of sorrow passed over her face, then the smile returned. “Glad you came back.”
“Well, I hadn’t really had much of an appetite, Mai.”
“I understand. You don’t have to explain to me.” She turned to Sam and blasted her with a smile. “I’m just glad to see you aren’t alone.”
“Me, too. Now, if I can just convince her to stay.” He reached out and took Sam’s hand in his and her cheeks flushed with heat.
“Sugar, you couldn’t find a better man than Duke Stevens.” She winked at Sam.
Sam gave a nervous smile, uncomfortable with all this attention and the implications, but her hand did feel so good wrapped in his.
Mai took their orders and disappeared, leaving them alone.
“Good Lord, Duke. Is there anyplace in this town where the people don’t know you?”
He scratched his chin and gave her a lop-sided smile. “Probably not. Look, I’m sorry about that, but it’s a small town.”
“I noticed.” She chuckled.
“Do you think you could live in a small town?” He pulled her hand closer and brushed her knuckles with his thumb. Shivers rippled down her spine to lodge in her belly.
Okay, necking in a restaurant, over lunch, would not be cool.
“To tell you the truth, I love small towns. Right now, I live in Baton Rouge, but it’s become so overgrown. So many people and cars. Traffic is murder.”
“What do you do?”
“I’m a loan officer.”
“Hey, we have a bank.” He looked hopeful.
“Going to find me a job?” Unable to keep her hands off him, her fingers played over the back of his hand. Dark, soft hairs teased her fingertips, the same hair that had sugared his chest, circled his nipples. She swallowed a sip of iced water to cool her off.
“If you want to work. If you just want to stay home and have babies, that’d be fine too.” He grinned at her and she almost sprayed tea across the table.
“You’re kidding, right?” He said babies. Not just a baby. Be still my heart.
“No. Not at all. You’re not the only one with a biological clock.”
“You have a biological clock?”
He lowered his voice. “All werewolves do. Around thirty, we come into maturity, find our mates, and the urge to procreate takes over.”
“You said you needed to mate. I thought you meant, you know, get laid.” She grimaced at her misunderstanding.
“No.” He shook his head. “I need to mate. Carry on my line.” He sat back and sighed. “Grace and I tried so hard to have a baby. After the first year, we went to a doctor and that’s when they found the cancer. Six months later, she was gone.”
Sam’s voice dried up. What could she possibly say? His wife had been taken from him and any hope of children gone with her. Life must have seemed pointless and when he’d started down the slow road to his demise, it must have been like seeing the end of the world shimmering in the distance. Just out of reach.
No wonder he’d decided to kill himself. A man like Duke would choose a quick death over slowly wasting away.
If she didn’t agree to this, he’d face it again. Now, she understood what he’d said about telling him as soon as possible. He didn’t want to waste time getting weaker.
He wanted to know that he could kill himself and be done with it.
A cold shudder ran through her body, and she wrapped her arms around herself. No way would she let that happen. Not to her…
Mai brought their food, interrupting Sam’s thoughts, and placed it on the table, along with a small bottle of Chinese rice win
e.
“I didn’t order wine, Mai,” Duke said.
“On the house, Duke. For this special occasion.” She grinned at Sam, who squirmed in her seat. The expectations being placed on her were mounting. If she turned Duke down, would she have to go around to everyone in town and apologize?
During lunch, she relaxed as they talked of little things, movies they’d seen, books they’d read, just getting to know each other, until all the food was gone and they’d run out of small talk.
So many bigger things were left unspoken.
“I have to admit. Lunch was wonderful. I don’t know about Meridian, but it beats what I’ve had in Baton Rouge,” Sam said.
“I’m glad you like it. One more point for Bankston.” He grinned at her and she had to laugh.
“Keeping score, huh?”
“I’m not sure. How am I doing?” God he was so adorable, she wanted to eat him up. Slowly. Taste the muskiness of his cock again, the scent of his body mixed with hers.
“Too soon to tell.” She winked back at him.
When the bill arrived, two fortune cookies sat on top of it. She reached for one, and he took the other.
Sam cracked hers open and read. Take the leap. She looked up at him. Duke’s brows furrowed as he read the small white slip of paper.
“What does it say?” she asked.
“The end of your journey is near.” He looked up at her, something unreadable in his eyes.
“Mine says, ’Take the leap.’” She reached across, and took his hand. “I’m not sure what yours means, but I’m pretty sure what mine is saying.”
“I hope it’s that you’re supposed to take a chance on me.”
Sam tried a vague shoulder shrug. “What about yours?”
“Well, it’s pretty obvious, don’t you think?” He tossed some cash on the bill and stood. Sam could feel his anger, although she had no idea what he was mad about or who he was mad with.
“Come on. Let’s get out of here.” He took her hand and they left.
When they got to his truck, he opened the door for her. She stepped up on the running board and he caught her waist with both hands.