She gave a short laugh. “Like you wouldn’t give up trying to solve Larissa’s murder, even though Darien didn’t want you here getting into his family’s business? You persisted until you had your man.”
Ryan’s hands moved to her lower back as if she’d hit a nerve. Sure, she’d solved the case through her psychic talents. Was it that he didn’t like that she, rather than he, had broken the case? Or was it strictly because of how she had been able to do so?
Fine, might as well take the conversation to something less sensitive. She didn’t want him pushing her away in the middle of the dance and acting as though she was too repugnant to touch. Maybe he felt that way, but she sure as hell didn’t want him to show that in front of all the others.
That’s when she noticed how nearly everyone was watching them, even those dancing on the floor.
Lelandi smiled at her as she passed by with Darien, dancing nice and close also. He was scowling at Ryan, big time. Silva smiled at her as she and Sam waltzed by, while he was behaving as though he was as irritated with Ryan as Darien was. Ditto with Tom and Jake standing on the sidelines. Tom’s hands were in his pockets, and he shook his head. Jake folded his arms and gave her the evil eye rather than Ryan.
Yes, she knew it was all her fault. She should have kept some distance from Ryan. She smiled and winked at Jake. His hard expression grew even harder still. Teach him to taunt her about Mervin being interested in her.
She didn’t have to see what the bachelor males thought of the situation. She just hoped they wouldn’t gang up on Ryan later and give him a rough time. Although as alpha as he was and as beta as they were, she figured they didn’t stand a chance.
“So what did you think of Marilee?” she asked him, her question an attempt at light and unconcerned.
Immediately, Ryan’s hands returned to Carol’s rump and he rested them there, the sensuous touch making her heartbeat quicken. So what did his reaction mean? He liked Marilee and wished he had his hands on her backside instead? Carol hated how she always overanalyzed people’s behaviors.
“Hmm,” Ryan said, and she didn’t like the way he said it, thinking he enjoyed being with Marilee more, like some horny male, as he continued to dance with Carol crushed against his chest, his leg locked between hers and moving at intervals to brush her mound in an enticing caress.
She could imagine him closing his eyes and envisioning he had that hot, sultry number in his tight clutches instead—the long, curly hair, the luscious glistening lips, the fluttering long, dark lashes… all together tall, dark, and bosomy. Not short, pale and… well, Carol had nice-sized boobs, too, but that was about it.
“She’s… not… my type,” he said slowly.
Carol glided with him across the smooth tile floor, trying to let herself just soak up the moment, but she couldn’t give up the gnawing notion that he liked the other women better. They were grays, had been born as such, and weren’t an enigma like she was. Why wouldn’t he prefer them to her?
When she didn’t say anything in response, he sighed. “She’s too… clingy, too… sweet, too…”
“Hot?”
He chuckled. “I’d be lying if I said she wasn’t hot. But that doesn’t mean I’m interested.” He lifted Carol’s chin and looked into her eyes. “You don’t have to prove anything to anyone here tonight.”
Which meant what? She wondered if he felt a connection with her, maybe because of her solving the murder —not in the way he would, but that she could— like he did in his line of work. Like a fellow investigator, even though she hadn’t investigated anything. Maybe he didn’t really feel anything for the other women. Except that one was hot.
“Did you dance with Becky?” she asked, wondering what he thought of her. “She seems to need rescuing from Mervin.”
Ryan’s face turned dark. “What happened between you and Mervin?”
Not expecting him to question her about Mervin also, she pursed her lips in annoyance. And wished she hadn’t brought Mervin’s name up.
Carol shook her head. “Nothing happened between us.”
“You make a lousy liar.”
She stiffened her back. Didn’t matter that he was right, but she didn’t need him telling her so.
He immediately stroked her back as if attempting to placate her. “I’ll learn one way or another, Carol. It’s what I do.” His voice was back to being darkly seductive.
She harrumphed, although she admired him for looking doggedly into a situation until he discovered the truth. She just wished she wasn’t the focus of one of his bloodhound hunts.
“Didn’t you already scare the truth out of him?” she asked.
“I always get confirmation. That way I learn the real truth.” He slid his hands down her bare arms with a sensuous sweep, caught her wrists, and turned them to consider her skin, his touch gentle, concerned. “He didn’t bruise you.”
Her lips parted in surprise. Did Ryan suspect what had happened? At this rate, she figured the truth would come out anyway. Except she wasn’t mentioning the damned urge to shift. “He tried to stop me from leaving the house. That’s all.”
“All right. That’s what he said. And then? You decided to change into this?” He slid his hands down her back again, skin against skin, then lower, caressing her body beneath the clinging silk and leaving a sizzling trail of desire. “Why?”
She was still absorbing the sensual feel of his touch as she fought to respond with an intelligent reply, no matter how much he unsettled her—both with his words and actions.
“You know, if you really want a chance to have me for your own, you’ll have to quit questioning my motives all the time. And frankly, Chester Ryan McKinley, it is none of your business.”
He whispered against her ear, “Why would you think I’m attempting to pursue you?”
She smiled just a hint. “It’s your nature. You want what you can’t have.”
He gave her a husky laugh and moved his hands to her buttocks again. “If I wanted you, make no mistake, Carol, you would be mine.”
She chuckled and rested her head against his chest again. “I love a man with a sense of humor.”
“Hmm.” He continued to dance slow with her, his arousal throbbing with need—that she’d happily created—and his hands treacherously sliding over her buttocks in a sensual caress. If he didn’t want her, he sure was a master at deception.
She was beginning to think maybe he really was interested in her, and her psychic business was what still bothered him. Then to her disappointment, the music ended, and another man stood at her elbow, ready to dance with her next. She hoped he didn’t think she’d want to dance close with him, too.
But would Ryan rescue her and take her to the tavern instead, like he’d wanted to, or give her up to the guy who was now tapping his foot on the floor, hands on his hips, an annoyed expression darkening his face?
“Sorry,” Ryan said to the man. “She promised me two dances.”
She was shocked speechless and quickly snapped her gaping mouth shut.
The guy scowled. “But…”
The music began again, and Ryan pulled Carol deeper into the group of dancing couples.
“I thought we were going on our date next,” she said, amused that Ryan seemed reluctant to let her go.
“We are on our date. First here, then at the tavern.”
“Yeah, but it’s not a real date, and you’re making a lot of men angry.” She frowned up at him, really hoping he wouldn’t have a fight with the other men over her. Inwardly, she laughed at that. No one would have ever fought over her.
“They’ll get over it when I’m gone.”
Her heart hitched a little, when she shouldn’t have cared one bit. She should have known. Maybe he already had his sights set on a woman in his pack.
As soon as the music stopped, Ryan hurried her to the great room, his hand clamped around her wrist, moving at double-time. Thankfully, his touch didn’t force the urge to shift.
She was afraid to see who would come after them— Darien, his brothers, Sam—all intending to put a stop to it. But all that happened was the sunroom remained really quiet. No music, no conversation, just Carol’s heels clicking on the tile floor, headed toward the foyer as Ryan rushed her to the front door.
And then Darien’s harsh holler came from the sunroom, “Remember what I said, McKinley! Bring her back by midnight.”
Surprised he’d allowed it, she wondered if Lelandi had convinced him to let her go with Ryan.
“I feel like we’re eloping,” Carol said, frowning at Ryan, barely able to keep up with his long stride while she teetered in high heels as he hauled her out of the house to his vehicle.
He raised his brows. “Just a meeting to set some things right.”
That’s what he thought.
“Hope you’re not too disappointed when you go home alone to your bed tonight without the answers you are looking for.” She gave him a sweet smile as he opened the pickup door for her, and she climbed into the passenger’s seat.
His expression was noncommittal. “My conscience is clear, and I sleep well at night. What about you?”
She turned away and looked out the windshield as he still held her door, waiting for her response. She didn’t sleep well at all. Certainly not last night after fighting the craving to shape-shift half the evening. Her lack of sleep had nothing to do with having a bad conscience and all to do with the moon and a wolf named Ryan who had come to her in a vision. Mervin, too, wearing his red-and-white-striped jacket.
“I sleep wonderfully well.” She gave Ryan a quick smile.
He smirked. “Right. That’s why you have dark circles under your eyes. I am trained to observe people and objects. I notice things.” He took a deep breath. “This won’t take long.”
Which suited her just fine. She folded her hands in her lap and nodded. “Let’s get it over with. The sooner the better.” But she wanted to look in the visor mirror and see for herself if she had dark circles under her eyes. She hadn’t noticed when she smoothed lipstick over her lips or applied makeup earlier.