The Keeping

by Nicky Charles

  Pushing off from the wall, he sauntered across the room to where Mel was waiting and sat down. “I see Lucy was keeping you company.”

  “Uh-huh. She was telling me all your dirty little secrets.”

  Ryne stiffened in his chair, suddenly wary. “Such as… ?”

  Mel looked at him strangely. “Nothing bad—it’s just a figure of speech, you know.”

  Mentally kicking himself, he relaxed and tried to cover his mistake. “Well, with Lucy you never know.”

  “Relax. She was actually quite complimentary to you. Apparently, you and your friend Bryan saved her and another girl from the clutches of some big, bad bikers.”

  Casually slouching back in his chair, Ryne felt a wave of relief wash over him. Of course, Lucy didn’t know any of his secrets; she wasn’t even aware that he had secrets. It was just that this whole damned situation had him on edge. He cast an easy smile at Mel, keeping his lids lowered so she’d have no glimpse of his inner turmoil, and raised his hand towards the bar. Armand nodded, catching his request for more beer. Ryne was always amazed at how the man could catch the smallest flick of a finger when it involved the ordering of liquid refreshments, but could turn a completely blind eye to some of the other, more dubious goings on that occurred at the establishment.

  “So,” Mel prodded. “Are you going to tell me about the bikers?”

  “There’s really nothing to tell. They were a bunch of losers. We took care of them. End of story.”

  “Ah, you’re modest.” She tilted her head and there was a mocking edge to her voice.

  “But of course.” He smirked and picked up the beer that had silently arrived in front of him.

  Mel leaned back and appeared to be studying him. Ryne remained calm under her scrutiny, watching her, noting the expressions flitting across her face. He could see that he puzzled her. She didn’t know what to make of him. Staring at her pupils, he tuned into her breathing, and inhaled her scent. Suppressing a smile, he acknowledged the fact that she was attracted to him. Was she aware of the fact? Possibly, on some level. What would she do, if he pushed the limits? Weighing the benefits and consequences, he decided that if the opportunity presented itself, he’d conduct a little test.

  Finally, Mel seemed to have come to a decision about him. “You know, Ryne. I think you’re bipolar.”

  “Oh really? And how did you reach that stunning conclusion?”

  “Well, first of all you live behind this fortified gate in the middle of nowhere, with a private phone number and, quite frankly, it was almost impossible to verify your existence. So on one hand, you’re an obsessive recluse.”

  Ryne gave a half shrug. She was partially correct.

  “But then, when I finally meet you, you have this nasty attitude, you’re rude, and you keep goading me with your comments, so that makes you a sort of a bad-ass character.”

  “Would that be a sexy, bad-ass character?” He wiggled his eye-brows at her and then leaned forward into her personal space, leering.

  Mel pushed him back, looking exasperated. “There! That’s what I mean—that kind of thing.” She took a deep breath before continuing. “And then, you can actually be nice at times. Like at dinner tonight, and when you saved Lucy and, I suppose, you were even being nice when you drove me back to the cabin the other day.”

  “And don’t forget that I didn’t press charges for trespassing. That was nice of me, too.”

  Mel just rolled her eyes and ignored his comment. “So you can see what I mean. You’re bipolar.”

  “Actually ‘bi’ means two and you described three sides of me. Though, I don’t think there is such a thing as tri-polar. Hmm… Maybe I have multiple personalities.” He sipped his beer while attempting to look thoughtful.

  Throwing up her hands in despair, Mel exhaled loudly. “Whatever. The point is, you’re very confusing. It’s going to make interviewing you and presenting an accurate portrayal very challenging.”

  “And do you like challenges?”

  “Well… yes. If things are going too easy, it gets boring.”

  “Then I guess I won’t bore you.”

  She sat up straight and looked at him happily. “So does that mean you’ll let me interview you and write an article on your work?”

  Ryne hesitated before speaking, not wanting to appear too eager, which he wasn’t anyway. It would be better if she thought she was wringing the information out of him. “Probably. I’ll let you know for sure in a few days.”

  “Oh, that’s great!” Mel beamed initially and then frowned. “A couple of days? Exactly how many do you consider ‘a couple’ of days? Two? Three?”

  “Something like that. Maybe more.” He bit back a smile as he watched her struggle to maintain her composure. She wasn’t good at waiting, he decided. Maybe it was time someone taught her the benefits of patience; he was ready to volunteer to do the teaching. Eventually, she exhaled slowly and nodded. Satisfied with himself for having the last word, he drained his beer, checked his watch, and stood up. “I need to get going. There’s a kitchen that’s waiting for me to start renovating it in the morning.”

  Pulling on her jacket and grabbing her purse, Mel stood too. “I should be going too. Where do we pay?”

  “Never mind. Lucy put everything on my tab.”

  “Oh, but I can cover the cost. I’m the one that wanted to talk to you.”

  Ryne shook his head. “No. I pay. Add that to my list of character traits. I’m old fashioned. When I eat out with a lady, I pay.” He noticed that she seemed taken aback and was pleased to have once again thrown her off balance. “Come on, I’ll walk you to your car.”

  “You don’t have to. I’m just parked… ” Mel’s voice trailed off as he stared at her, silently willing her to follow his commands. Not surprisingly, she caved in, giving him a quick, tentative smile, as if she wasn’t sure what to make of him. “All right, you can walk me to my car.”

  Pleased that she’d obeyed, he put his hand in the small of her back and guided her out. She was certainly a tiny thing. He’d sensed that when he carried her from the house the other day. Now, as she walked beside him, he noted that her head barely reached his chin. Recalling their earlier kiss and how her body had fit snugly against his, he decided it was the perfect height for him.

  All was quiet in downtown Stump River, most of the residents contentedly relaxing in their houses while the various businesses presented darkened windows and locked doors to the few individuals still moving about. One lone car was waiting patiently for the town’s only stop light to change to green before continuing on its way to destinations unknown. As the car drove away, its wheels made a faint hissing sound that eventually faded into nothingness as it disappeared from sight.

  With the car’s departure, they became the only two people on the otherwise deserted street. The faint clicking of Mel’s heels on the damp sidewalk was the only sound to break the silence. Overhead the sky was clear of clouds. A crescent moon was hanging low over the silent town and a few stars were starting to make their existence known. Mel shivered in the cool night air; it was still early enough in the spring for the evening temperatures to drop close to freezing after sundown. Ryne noticed that she was chilled and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, sharing his body heat. At first she resisted, but eventually relaxed into him. He speculated as to whether she was feeling more at ease around him, or if her need for warmth was outweighing her desire for independence. Either way, he didn’t mind.

  Adjusting his stride to match her shorter one, he relished the way their thighs occasionally brushed together. Her arms were folded in front of her and, as he glanced down, he noted with a distinctly male appreciation, the fact that she was unconsciously causing her top to gape at the neck, allowing him a satisfying glimpse of her cleavage. Ryne found himself inclining his head towards hers. The scent of her shampoo tickled his nose and he inhaled deeply trying to place it… Green apples, possibly? Whatever it was, it mixed well with her own natural scent as it d
rifted upwards and wrapped around him.

  Her car was, in fact, parked just a block down the road from the Broken Antler and they reached it sooner than he would have liked. As she turned to face him, he leaned in close until her back was up against the vehicle.

  “Ryne?” She looked up at him sounding uncertain, as if she wasn’t sure what his intentions might be.

  Well, he’d thought earlier on that he’d like to run a test to see how attracted she was to him. This was his opportunity. He cupped her face and ran his thumb over her bottom lip, noting how her eyes started to darken. Pressing a bit closer, her breathing hitched and he could see the pulse at the base of her throat quicken. Yes, he definitely affected Melody. He should stop now that he had his answer, but once again his wolf had other ideas.

  Slowly, he lowered his head, gauging her response. When their lips were almost touching, he paused and waited. Mel made an indistinct little sound and stretched her neck the tiny amount needed to bring their mouths into contact. Gently, he brushed his lips back and forth across hers, savouring the sweetness of her breath as she exhaled, the softness of the plump surface, and the tingle of sexual awareness that bounced between them.

  He withdrew and let his eyes lock onto hers. They gazed at each other, questions and uncertainty quivering between them, but overriding it all was a desire for more. Of one accord they kissed again, mouths opening to taste and tease. Ryne wrapped his arms around her, drawing her in closer and, in response, he felt her moving her hands move up to clasp his shoulders.

  Plunging his tongue into her mouth, he stroked her sensitive upper palate, the soft inner surfaces of her lips, absorbing the essence of her. He withdrew and she followed, exploring him a bit more tentatively and he moaned in encouragement. Breaking away briefly, he tilted his head to change the angle of their connection. She whimpered at the momentary separation and he reassured her with another deep kiss.

  She worked her body even closer to him and he widened his stance, feeling the heat pooling in his groin. Experimentally, he brushed against her and she reciprocated. His excitement grew. He grasped her butt, and flexed against her, a low growl escaping his throat. For a moment she seemed to be responding, but then abruptly froze before starting to struggle. Now she was pushing him away, ducking her head to avoid his attempts at nuzzling… It took a minute for his brain to register her withdrawal. Dropping his hands to his side, Ryne stepped back and took a deep, calming breath, forcing the animal within back down. Silence stretched between them. Clearing his throat, Ryne attempted to speak.

  “No?”

  Mel brushed her hair from her face, looking everywhere but at him. “I… I just met you and I don’t hop into bed with a guy the first time I meet him.”

  “Well, technically this is the third time we’ve met. Once at my house, at noon today and now for supper.” He quirked a smile at her, hopefully hiding how much the encounter had affected him.

  “Nice try, Taylor.” She shook her head and slid a glance his way.

  He shrugged and shoved his hands in his pocket, responding in an indifferent tone. “I didn’t think it’d work, but figured I’d give it a shot.”

  She cocked her head to the side and then gestured between the two of them. “My getting to interview you wasn’t contingent on the outcome of this, was it?”

  He snorted, feeling somewhat offended. “Do I look like I need to blackmail women into sleeping with me?”

  An embarrassed flush crept over her face, but she continued on. “No, but in some of the journalism courses I took, they warned us about sexual involvement with interviewees. It can make things pretty sticky sometimes.”

  Ryne opened his mouth to say something crude and sexual, but caught her expression and stopped. She’d obviously realized that what she had just said was the perfect opening for him to make one of his usual comments. He hated being predictable, so said nothing. After a moment, she continued.

  “Well, thanks again for the meal. I’ll be waiting to hear your answer in the morning.” Mel looked at him hopefully.

  “In the morning.” He nodded and opened the door for her. She slid inside and he pushed the door shut. With a final puzzled look in his direction, she drove off. Ryne stood there until her tail lights disappeared, before starting towards his own vehicle.

  It would be a great night for a run, but turning into a wolf in the middle of Main Street—even if no one seemed to be about—was definitely courting trouble. Instead he climbed into his truck and drove home, mulling over the events of the night.

  Chapter 14

  Mel was having trouble sleeping. She lay on her back, enumerating all of the positives around her that should be contributing to a blissful state of slumber. The bed was relatively comfortable, the temperature correct and there was no noise outside to bother her. She wasn’t thirsty, nor did she need to go to the bathroom. Even her feet were warm, due to the presence of her favourite fuzzy socks encasing her lower extremities.

  So, if everything was perfect, then why did her mind refuse to turn off? She flopped over for what seemed like the twentieth time and firmly closed her eyes only to pop them open again as thoughts of Ryne filled her head yet again. She wasn’t sure exactly when her mind had made the switch from referring to him as ‘Taylor’ to calling him by his first name, but they seemed to be on a more personal level now, and he was no longer just an anonymous, but annoying research project.

  Correction. He was still annoying, but she was learning to deal with it. The main problem—beyond getting him to agree to an interview—was figuring out what to do about the physical attraction that threatened to arise between them. As she’d said before, she didn’t ‘poach’ men from other women and Lucy was involved with Ryne in some way.

  Ryne inexplicably found her attractive. The bulge pressed against her stomach had been undeniable and the heat of his kisses hadn’t been faked. She knew she wasn’t ugly, but neither was she drop dead gorgeous. Her brown eyes and hair that was some shade between blonde and brown were just ordinary. Similarly, her features were okay; an average sized nose with the faintest smattering of freckles, a wide mouth with a friendly smile. Again, just ordinary. The only slightly interesting thing about her might be her breasts, which she always thought were disproportionate, but not in a fake ‘I’ve-had-augmentation’ kind of way. Nope. In her opinion, there was nothing about her that should attract someone as hot and sexy as Ryne.

  Perhaps the man just went after any female that didn’t make him gag. It was a possibility. Some men did seem to have the need to sow more than their share of wild oats. Mel often suspected her father was that way, but never mentioned the fact to her mother. Her father was the only taboo topic between them and even to this day, Mel had only the sketchiest information about him. Not that it mattered; it was just that sometimes she was curious. With a slight shake of her head, she dismissed her father and returned to the more interesting topic of Ryne Taylor.

  Without a doubt, the man was attractive and just the idea of having sex with him had warmth pooling between her legs, but it wasn’t in the cards. Maybe after the interview—if he did go along with the idea—it would be a possibility. However, there was Lucy to consider. Mel liked the woman even though they’d only talked twice. The waitress wasn’t exactly refined, but there was something likeable about her. Lucy was open and friendly. She didn’t try to put on airs; she was who she was. In fact, Lucy was almost too nice for someone like Ryne who seemed more of a ‘love ’em and leave ’em’ type.

  Mel tried to picture Ryne in a long term relationship, with a wife at his side and little kiddies playing at his feet. The image quavered in and out of focus in her mind. She frowned. Somehow she was putting herself in the wife position. No. That wouldn’t do. Erasing the very idea, she rolled on her stomach and buried her head under the pillow, forcibly pushing Ryne out of her head. She began humming a popular tune, but grunted in disgust when she realized it was a mushy love song and she was getting all hot and bothered by it.


  Throwing back the covers, Mel got up and stomped into the kitchen. Taking a glass from the cupboard she got a drink of cold water and then stood in front of the window, pressing her warm cheek to the cool smooth pane. The night here was much blacker than it was in Chicago. With no street lights or neon signs to hold back the night, it shrouded the world in complete inky darkness. It was calming, but also a bit frightening to think that, except for the Kennedys, there was no one around for miles. And without a phone, she had no way of summoning help, unless she ran along the path through the little woodlot in the dead of night…

  A shiver passed over her as she realized how truly alone she was. Just herself, the darkness, and whatever animal life existed in the forest behind the cabin. She set the glass down on the counter and walked to her bedroom, intent on climbing back into bed and hiding under the covers, but for some reason, found herself peeking out the bedroom curtains instead.

  The view from the kitchen had been that of the woodlot, but this room faced the actual forest. She recalled the footprints—both human and canine—that she’d found the other day and searched the murky darkness for any sign of life. The moonlight was dimmer now than it had been when Ryne had walked her to her car; no doubt clouds were starting to roll in as the forecast had called for rain. Still, as her eyes adjusted, she could just make out the shadowy shapes of tree trunks and a few low slung bushes.

  For a moment, she thought she detected something moving. It was just a sense of the shadows shifting near the base of a tree, and maybe a glint of something shining, but then it was gone. For long moments, she waited and stared, but saw nothing. With a sigh, she let the curtain fall back into place. It was just her imagination, thank heavens. There was nothing dangerous out there, at least not to her. Probably the little rabbits and squirrels that were regularly prey had a different perspective, but she had nothing to be concerned about.