Finding the Texas Wolf Read online

  “Here you go,” he said, handing her the water.

  “Thank you.” She flashed a brief smile before returning her attention back to the computer. “You’re reading about werewolves?”

  Something about her tone didn’t ring right. “I am,” he answered. “Fascinating topic. Do you know anything at all about them?”

  She shook her head. “Only that they don’t exist. I thought you were a journalist. I wasn’t aware you planned on writing fiction.”

  “Ouch.” Taking a swig from his beer, he sat next to her, close enough that if he moved his leg, they could bump knees. “I’m actually considering writing an exposé, attempting to prove their existence. I just need proof.”

  Now he knew he hadn’t imagined that flash of alarm in her eyes. “That sounds interesting,” she replied. But her voice contained little conviction.

  “You think I’m nuts, don’t you?”

  “I mean, think about what you just said. Sounds really crazy.”

  “Maybe, maybe not,” he argued. “But if I can get real proof, nondoctored video, people will have no choice but to believe me.”

  “I don’t think they ever will. It’s too far in the realm of myths and legends.” She met his gaze, her expression troubled. “And even if werewolves were somehow real, what would be the point of making people aware of them? Can you imagine what kind of hellish reaction that would provoke? It’d be the Middle Ages and the Salem witch trials all rolled up into a modern-day frenzy to exterminate them.”

  Taken aback by her reaction, he wasn’t sure how to respond.

  “Our country is already divided enough,” she continued. “But then you’d have to lobby for werewolf rights. There wouldn’t be peaceful protests, because there’d be too much fear. And here in a state where carrying a gun openly is legal, I can see groups being organized to hunt them down and kill them. And for what? Just because they’re different than us? Is that what you really want?”

  “Wow,” he said, scratching his head. “Where did all of that come from? How did we go from proving the existence of a supposedly mythical creature to worrying about protecting them?”

  “Because, Jake, you have to think ahead to the consequences of your actions.” Her green eyes were full of passion, and he could see her pulse beating furiously in the hollow of her throat.

  “Consequences,” he muttered. Though he was sore, though bruised and battered, he reached up and cupped her chin in his hand and kissed her. Slowly and thoroughly, exactly the way he’d been wanting to do since the moment he’d laid eyes on her.

  He kissed her until she kissed him back, until she shivered. When her arms came up around his neck and she clung to him as if she wanted more, he gently broke off the kiss. Breathing hard, he let his forehead rest against hers. “You’re something else, Maddie Kinslow. I’ve never met a woman like you.”

  Her generous lips curved at this, making him ache to kiss her again. Instead, he pushed himself back, putting some distance between them so he could think.

  “Would you go to dinner with me sometime?” he asked.

  “I don’t think that would be a good idea,” she answered. “Since you’re going to be my client. I try not to mix business with pleasure.”

  “I’m thinking in our case, that’s unavoidable.” He smiled when he delivered what he knew to be the truth. “Look at how great we are together. Just a simple little kiss...”

  “I’m thinking we shouldn’t kiss again,” she said. The lack of regret in her voice warred with her uncertain expression and her immediate blush. “That would be a simple rule to follow.”

  “Maybe,” he allowed. “As long as I don’t look at you, or touch you, or catch a whiff of your perfume.”

  The hitch in her breath told him how his words affected her. She swallowed, her eyes huge, her pupils dilated. “You make us getting together sound inevitable.”

  “Eventually. I’m confident of that. Not right now, when I can barely move my chest and stomach without pain. But someday, once I’m healed. Sooner rather than later.”

  Was that disappointment in her gaze?

  “Since we’re apparently being candid,” she said, “you should know I find your confidence really sexy.”

  Damn. Another jolt of lust hit him. His body responded immediately and decisively. “And there you have it. Proof. When we do come together, it’s going to be gasoline on a flame.”

  She flushed again. “Okay, I’ll take your word for it. But right now, let’s talk business. I sent you The Shadow Agency’s rates. What do you think?”

  “I want to hire you. But honestly, not if my doing so will come between you and me getting together.”

  “Oh, it definitely will.” Even her quiet chuckle struck him as sexy. “So, what you have to decide is if you can be patient enough to wait until the investigation is finished.”

  Surprised, he considered her. “Knowing what you now do, are you still willing to help me investigate?”

  “I think so. Are you still fixated on that door and that dead-end alley where I found you, or have you moved on to somehow proving the existence of werewolves?”

  “Both,” he answered promptly. “I think the two are tied together.”

  Rolling her eyes, she groaned. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes, I am. I’ve been doing investigative reporting a long time. I’ve got a gut feeling that I’m on to something. And I’ve learned to trust my gut.”

  “You’re not afraid of ridicule? It will happen if you continue to pursue this werewolf thing.” Back straight, hands folded in her lap, she studied him.

  “I have my reasons.” He hesitated. “I’ll go ahead and tell you, just so you understand. I don’t want you to think I’m crazy, but I know what I saw.” He took a deep breath. “After I became interested in that door, I started watching the alley. People went in and didn’t come out for hours. Some of them stayed all night.”

  None of this seemed to surprise her. But then again, he reminded himself, she’d actually been one of those people he’d seen going in through that door. She knew more than she was letting on.

  She didn’t react when he pointed that out to her. “I can promise you that what’s behind that door is infinitely less interesting than you think it is. It’s a club, a private club. With drinks and music, just like any other bar. Except only members are allowed. Which is why I can go inside. I’m a member. Nothing nefarious is going on, I promise. You’ve been wasting your time.”

  “Have I? Then tell me why those two guys beat the crap out of me in that alley?”

  “Who knows? Drunk bullies have been known to do such horrible things outside bars all over the country. They might not have liked the way you looked at them, or—”

  “Or my skin color,” he interrupted. “I admit the possibility of it being racially motivated occurred to me. But I don’t think so. They didn’t call me names and the entire time, it seemed clear from the way they attacked me that it wasn’t personal. More like they were defending something instead of lashing out.”

  “You really are observant,” she mused. “If you’re correct, then why do you think they attacked you?”

  “To warn me away. Somehow, they figured out I’ve been watching them.”

  “Okay, even if I buy that explanation—which I don’t—it doesn’t make sense. There’s a bar behind that door. Nothing more, nothing less. A private party place for members to go.”

  “I don’t believe you,” he said.

  Hurt flashed across her mobile face. “Then I guess it’s best if I go.”

  “Wait.” Though he’d told himself he wouldn’t touch her again, he grabbed her arm. “I have a good reason for saying that.”

  “For calling me a liar?” She shook off his hand. “Let’s hear it.”

  “I’ve seen something,” he told her, hoping she’d believe him. “I’ve spent a lot of time watching that alley and seeing people come and go. One night around three a.m., I saw a group of men leaving. They seemed drunk
, which lends credence to your claim. They were pushing each other around, loud horseplay, like young guys do.”

  Crossing her arms, she watched him. “Go on.”

  “They’d gotten loud enough to cause a disturbance or, at the very least, attract notice to the place. So a big guy—must have been a bouncer—came out and told them to shut it down. That’s when it happened.” He took a deep breath, not sure how she’d take what he had to say next.

  “One of the young guys changed into a wolf and tried to attack the bouncer. The other two had to pull him off.”

  Chapter 6

  Rick knew in his role as pretend human husband, he needed to act at least slightly upset that Gus had not only taken Carmen to his bedroom, but that they’d stayed so long. Truth be told, he actually did feel a twinge of something—maybe even jealousy. Had playing the fantasy messed with his head? When the two of them finally emerged, he narrowed his eyes. “What were you two doing in there?” he asked, making his voice heavy with suspicion and crossing his arms.

  Gus turned away from him, clearly not wanting to quibble. Rick let him go, focusing instead on the beautiful Vampire. “Well?” he demanded.

  Expression grim, Carmen only shook her head. “Nothing untoward. We were discussing the terms of my employment,” she said. “Needless to stay, we both had differing ideas. But we finally reached an agreement. Now I’m eager to get to work.”

  “Terms?” he asked, his gaze sliding from her to Gus. “I thought we’d already settled all that.”

  “No. We hadn’t.” Gus wasn’t smiling, either. Whatever discussion that had taken place between him and Carmen must have been a doozy. But, judging from the way Gus was acting, it appeared Carmen had won. Good.

  Then Carmen took Rick’s arm and peered earnestly up into his face. “No drugs,” she said, imploring.

  “What?” He wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly.

  “That’s part of the deal,” she continued, trailing one scarlet-tipped finger down his chest. “Neither one of us can use drugs while working on this project.”

  Ah. Now he got it. He’d need to tell her later that her acting skills were superb.

  For the sake of their audience, he pretended disappointment. “Not even—”

  “Nothing,” she cut him off. “Or this deal’s off. Got it?” Again she used her nail, trailing it up the side of his throat, making him actually shiver. “Don’t make me have to punish you.”

  Punish him? That actually sounded interesting.

  Fighting through an unexpected haze of arousal, he nodded slowly. He wasn’t entirely sure what Carmen was up to, but he clearly had no choice except to go with it.

  Watching them, Gus laughed. “You’ll survive,” he said, his good humor clearly restored. “I’ll even allow the occasional alcoholic beverage. But nothing else. No pills, no needles, no smokes. Got it?”

  Rick and Carmen nodded in unison. Rick kept his face expressionless while he worked furiously to get his body under control. He couldn’t believe she’d made him hard with just a touch of her fingernail and a few drawled words. Damn.

  “Good. Come on.” Landers motioned for them to follow him. “I’ll show you where you’ll be staying for the duration.”

  Staying on premises? Not good. Rick cursed under his breath, realizing he should have thought of this.

  Next to him, even Carmen tensed. Vampires didn’t like to be confined, so this would be even worse on her. Especially if Landers put them in a room near his, where he could keep an eye on them at all times.

  To his relief, Landers led them out the back door. “We have a small guesthouse set up for your use,” he said, winking at Rick. “All our on-site employees have them. We prefer to keep you where we can see you, you know. Plus, the individual structure gives you two some privacy to indulge your little role-playing games or whatever.”

  Unable to bring himself to wink back, Rick nodded. “Thanks,” he said. “We appreciate that.”

  And then he caught sight of the “guesthouses.” Landers had stretched the meaning of the term to describe these. Several tiny buildings the size of storage sheds had been set up on the expansive property. They were at the most twelve by fourteen, made of wood, with a door and one window. For whatever reason, each had been painted a different color. There were yellow, green, red, blue, brown, white, and black.

  Landers stopped at the yellow one that sat closest to the main house. “It’s not big, but it has everything you need,” he said as he unlocked the door. “Come take a look.”

  Rick and Carmen exchanged a glance as they followed him inside. He flipped a switch and stepped back, gesturing grandly. “See? All the comforts of home.”

  He wasn’t kidding. Somehow, they’d managed to cram a miniscule kitchenette with a miniature two-seater table, a living area with a small love seat and a TV hung on the wall, and a tiny bathroom with sink, toilet and stand-up shower inside the roughly 168-square-foot building. Talk about a tiny house.

  “Wait,” Carmen said. “There’s no bed. And there’s not room on that couch for one person to sleep, never mind two.”

  “Oh, we thought of that.” Grinning proudly, Landers gestured at a wooden wall. “You’ll have to push the kitchen table out of the way, but there’s a Murphy bed. It pulls down for you to sleep on it and goes back up once you’re awake. Perfect space-saver.”

  One bed. Rick could read the dismay in Carmen’s eyes, even as his body practically thrummed. He’d tell her later that he’d sleep on the couch. Unless she, as a Vamp, needed other arrangements. He realized he’d never really considered where or how the undead slept.

  On top of that, he knew she’d need a steady supply of blood for nourishment. How the hell would she get that if she was being watched 24/7? He’d have to hope she could figure out a way. She was a Vampire, so no doubt she would.

  “This will do,” Carmen said, nodding at Landers. “When do I start work?”

  “Tomorrow morning, at 0600 hours.”

  She nodded. If she found it at all odd that she’d be starting work before the sun even rose, she didn’t show it.

  Finally, Landers left.

  “Come here,” Carmen ordered, standing and holding out her arms. Heart thumping, he stepped into her embrace, instantly hard and ready. She leaned close, her breath tickling his ear. “They’re probably watching and listening to us,” she whispered, pressing herself so close to him that he knew she had to be aware of his arousal. “So this is the only way I can tell you what went on in there. They think we’re drug addicts. Oh, and also that we’re into S and M. I’m the dominant and you’re the submissive.”

  “What?” He reared back, too shocked to think straight. When he realized what he’d done, he wrapped her in his arms and pressed his swollen body against her. Her swift intake of breath was a satisfying reaction. Two could play this game. “Why the hell would you say something like that?”

  She smiled, a slow, sensual smile. “To make things interesting, of course. In reality, I needed a way to be able to come and go as I pleased, plus protect you.” She licked his earlobe, which made him start slightly. “You may not realize this, but I’m valuable to them. Gus wanted to kill you. By assuring him that I had you firmly in hand, I was able to guarantee your safety.”

  He wanted to tell her he could take care of himself, or that such elaborate subterfuge was completely unnecessary. But she kept shifting her body, putting friction and pressure on his swollen anatomy, and he could scarcely think beyond the red haze of desire.

  What the freakin’ hell?

  Finally, she released him. Her savage grin told him she knew of his discomfort. “I already informed Gus that I need you to assist me in the laboratory,” she pronounced. “He agreed. I said I’d work much better if I’m not distracted by worry about you.”

  Begrudgingly, he had to admit she had a good plan. At least, that part of it. But there was one thing he felt he needed to make perfectly clear.

  Snagging her arm, he pulled he
r up against him. “Why do you think I’m going to let you be in charge?” he murmured into her ear. Then, telling himself he only wanted to prove a point, he covered her mouth with his, hard and punishing.

  She gave back as good as she got, standing her ground. The instant she opened her mouth, giving his tongue access, he realized he’d made a major mistake. She took, he gave, until he found himself so caught up in the taste and feel of her that he spiraled out of control.

  Worse, he didn’t care. He wanted, he craved, and with his hands tangled up in her hair, he would have given anything to push himself up inside her.

  She laughed, letting him know she knew. “Not now,” she murmured, her unsteady voice telling him she wasn’t as unaffected as he’d thought.

  In fact, the desire blazing from her heavy-lidded eyes came close to matching his own. “Checkmate,” he said.

  To his surprise, she nodded. “We’ll need to tend to this fire before it gets out of control.”

  “I agree.” With a savage ruthlessness, he turned and worked at getting himself back together. It had been a long time since a woman had aroused him so strongly. The fact that this woman also happened to be a Vampire shocked him.

  His inner wolf, now fully awake and restless, paced and whined. Rick had to spend a few extra moments calming that aspect of himself, as well.

  Behind him, Carmen waited silently. Rick sure as hell hoped she was having to pull herself together, too. If not, he definitely needed to up his game. No way did he intend to allow her to have the upper hand. No way at all.

  Finally, he turned to face her. “What now?” he asked.

  “I think we should go for a walk and explore the grounds,” she said, using a normal voice. “I’d like to check out the landscape of where we’re going to be living while working here.”

  “Sounds like a good idea.” He held out his hand. When she slipped her slender fingers into his, he resisted the urge to tug her close. This would never work. He was good at his job, damn good. He refused to let lust be this big of a distraction. As soon as possible, they’d deal with it and get it out of their systems. Things would surely go back to normal after that.