by Terry Spear
He laughed. “That I’ve got to see.”
But she was certain he’d prefer seeing her string bikini again.
After they finished their drinks, the catamaran anchored, and they were served bowls of potato soup to start the three-course gourmet dinner. Then the main course came. Both chose mahimahi with Cayman-style sauce to enjoy the island experience, rather than selecting the chicken with mushroom sauce. Their fish was served on a bed of rice with steamed vegetables on the side, and slices of white bread and creamy butter. Coffee and rum cake finished the meal.
Everything was delicious, and as they ate each course, the catamaran rocked slightly in the Caribbean Sea. Shelley realized then that she’d never actually eaten on a boat, just sailed a few times. But anchoring and eating at a candlelight dinner shared with Duncan was romantic and casual and unique enough that she’d remember it fondly forever.
Feeling full after eating the last of her rum cake, Shelley didn’t think the night could get any better. But Duncan took her to the bow of the boat and pulled her to sit between his legs, well away from everyone else. Loosely draping his arms about her shoulders, he held her like that as they watched the sun sink lower in the sky. It was as if none of the rest of the people on the boat existed, just two wolves enjoying the sunset on a dinner cruise.
The bright ball of fire slipped into the blue water, leaving wide pink, purple, and orange ribbons stretched across the sky as if an artist had stroked his paintbrush across it. Skimpy clouds, a darker shade of purple, floated across the ribbons, growing darker as the sun sank lower.
Duncan wrapped his arms around Shelley’s waist, tightening his grip as he leaned down and kissed her ear. She sighed, loving every minute of the colorful display, wishing she had her camera with her to catch the vibrant colors that made the night even more perfect, and loving being in the Highlander’s arms. But she’d left her camera in her backpack in the car. “Hmm, Duncan, this beats drinks with Sal at his place any day.”
She shouldn’t have mentioned Sal when she was having such a good time with Duncan, but she couldn’t get the crook off her mind.
“I’m sure he’s rethinking his miserly offer of a date with you. Hell, for you, he should have offered the moon. He sure can afford it.”
Sal had to be pissed off that Duncan had taken her out. “Most likely women rarely turn him down, no matter what his offer is.”
“He’s not that outstanding looking,” Duncan grouched.
Shelley gave a little laugh. “No, not at all. Distinguished but not movie-star handsome. Not like you. I dare say he’s never been in a movie.”
Duncan grunted. “I was an extra.”
“Right. But he has sort of an appeal, like a man used to getting his way, someone who has money and power.” She shrugged. “A lot of women are drawn to that.”
“But not you.”
“No. I know what a rat he is, but it wouldn’t have mattered. The only reason I didn’t turn him down outright was that I thought I could help you get to him. So I didn’t want to burn bridges right away.”
“I don’t want you near him. This is strictly my business, understand?” Duncan had the stern look of a warrior who didn’t want a woman getting hurt or involved in any way.
“Of course,” Shelley said, not about to get into an argument with Duncan. If he wanted her help, she’d do what she could. If not, that was his call. “Will you drop me off at the reserve again tomorrow?”
His mouth parted, and then he frowned. “Didn’t you already record every plant there was in the forest?”
She smiled. “More than one hundred species and more than five hundred and fifty plants live in the forest. I think I missed one or two.”
He shook his head.
When the catamaran began to sail back to port, Shelley was in wolf heaven, snuggling next to Duncan as if the two of them were on a honeymoon. Or like wolves might do, curled up together under the light of a silvery moon.
She wanted to stay up all night. Run as a wolf with him. Swim as a human. Play until she was too exhausted to do anything but sleep. She wanted to enjoy all of that for now, and nothing more. She’d never had this much fun in her life. Going on a cruise like this with Wendy would never have been the same.
Her thoughts shifted to the problem with Silverman and what his next move might be.
“What if Silverman calls me again in the morning?”
“He’s not going to wait.”
She stiffened and looked up at Duncan. “What do you mean?”
“You only told him your first name over the phone, right? He hadn’t even asked for it before this, expecting you to be blown away by his bold interest in you. He figured he’d learn all he wanted about you when you had drinks with him tonight.”
“Yeah, he never did ask, and I wasn’t about to offer until I spoke with you. I wanted to see if you thought we could use his interest in me to your advantage.”
“That’s the thing. He’s going to want to know who you are, who your girlfriend is, and who I am before long. He’s going to want to find out where we’re all staying. He’ll think you’re rooming with a girlfriend. He’ll have the notion of visiting you early tomorrow before I have a chance to pick you up for the pirate cruise. Try to ingratiate himself with you before it’s too late. Maybe even attempt to turn your head so much that you’ll forget you had a date with me in the afternoon.”
“He can’t think I’d be that interested in him. You don’t think he believes I might consider being his mate, do you?”
Duncan snorted. “Money can buy just about anything. The thing of it is that the man’s already got a mate.”
Her jaw dropped.
“I wouldn’t put it past him to take another, pretending he doesn’t have one already and hiding that fact from his first mate while he hides her from you.”
“Wolves don’t do that.”
“Normally, it’s not done. Then again, normally they don’t pick up other women, wolves or otherwise, once they have a mate. But he’s got one, and she’s still in the U.S. while he’s dallying with some other woman here.”
Shelley folded her arms, her back still stiff. It was one thing to pretend to be interested in a bachelor wolf to help Duncan out if she could. It was quite another to pretend to be interested in one who was not only mated but also having an affair with a human woman. He truly was a bastard.
Then another thought struck her. “Does his mate know about the money he’s been stealing?”
“Aye, lass. Before he went into hiding from the authorities, he deposited a whole lot of the stolen funds in her name. She didn’t steal any of it that we know of, but she and Sal are attempting to avoid having to give up any of the estates they have all over the world—and luxury cars, two planes, and a couple of ships—by saying it was her wealth and had nothing to do with his stealing.”
“It goes against everything I believe.”
“The stolen money? Or lacking loyalty to a mate?”
“Both.”
“Aye, that it does.” Duncan sighed deeply. “I had not planned for things to go this way. What with the devil’s interest in you, I will have to stick close to you, and I don’t like it one wee bit.”
“Sticking close to me?” she queried, her voice and brows raised.
He chuckled darkly. “Nay, lass. You think I would have an aversion to sticking close to you like this? I fear I’m going to have a time trying to learn where our money is while keeping him away from you.”
Shelley pondered that for a moment, not liking that she would be the object of such scrutiny by a wolf as rotten to the core as Silverman. Nor that Duncan had to worry about her while he needed to learn what he could about Silverman and where the clan’s funds were.
“What if he’s waiting at the harbor now? What if he follows us from the harbor to the villa? He’ll know you’re rooming with me. Then again, maybe that will be the end of his interest in me—once he learns he’s not going to be able to get to me alone all th
at easily. Since most wolves have scruples, he will assume that we’re smitten with each other and that he has no chance.”
Duncan ran his hands down Shelley’s bare arms in a soothing way. “Nay. Over the years, I’ve learned that a liar believes everyone else lies. A cheat believes everyone else cheats. It’s a way to justify one’s own actions. He’ll believe what he wants to about you. He’ll find out soon enough that we’re together. But I doubt that will dissuade him initially.” Duncan leaned over and kissed her ear.
“That’ll be a definite crimp in his plans to get you alone, to wean you away from me. He wouldn’t have had time to post anyone at the dock before we left, but I’m almost certain he’ll have someone watching now. Maybe even he himself will be nearby, checking me out—his competition—when we arrive back at the island.”
They were getting closer, able to see the dock and sandy beach in the distance. She tried to make out anybody who might be watching them, but it was impossible, even though she could see better in the dark than a human could. “Maybe I should have told him I was mated to you.”
“He’ll know we’re not mated, or you would have told him at the reserve. Hell, I would have told him so.”
“If he learns who you are, won’t he realize you might be trying to have your money returned?”
“No. We had the money listed under a corporation with a different name in the UK. He doesn’t know he stole from a Highland wolf pack or he’d be running scared.”
She nodded, suddenly understanding. “He’d go to a fancy prison for white-collar criminals if he got caught otherwise. Wolves would have to take him out,” she said solemnly.
“Does it bother you?” Duncan wrapped his finger around a wisp of hair that had pulled loose from her ponytail.
“No. It would be disastrous if he went to prison. You have no choice.”
“Aye.”
“So you’re the one who’s destined to take him down.”
“Once I secure our money.”
***
Once the catamaran had docked, Duncan couldn’t help how protective he felt toward Shelley. He didn’t want Silverman to even think he could get near her while she was on the island. He glanced around the area, looking for signs of anyone who might be watching them. Any of Silverman’s hired human goons could see Shelley and him on the lighted dock. But as wolves, he and Shelley could also see Silverman’s men if they hid in the dark to observe the two of them.
Duncan suspected Silverman would come himself, though, wanting to take a look at his competition, wanting to see if he could get a whiff of Duncan’s scent and learn if he was human or wolf. Duncan smiled in a dangerous way. If he’d thought Duncan was only human, Silverman would soon know he had real competition for the female wolf’s affections.
For the first time since Duncan had met Shelley, he wondered where the notion of winning her affections had come from. He appreciated the way she’d offered to let him stay with her and admired her for her frugality, not caring for the kind who would throw their money away on everything and nothing. He loved how she wanted to help him in his quest, despite the danger that could entail, and agreed with her about how wolves should behave when it came to mates. But competing to win her heart was another matter entirely.
He kept his arm around her waist, holding her close like a lover who couldn’t get enough of being with his date. Just like him, she was wary, looking around—but carefully, not like someone who was sure anyone was out to get them. She snuggled closer, wrapped her arm around his waist, and leaned her head against his chest as if to tell anyone watching that she was Duncan’s. He kissed the top of her head to show her how much he loved her playacting and to do his own part.
She didn’t say anything until they were inside the rental car, away from the others on the cruise who either took a shuttle ride back to their hotels or climbed into their own rental cars. When she and Duncan were on their way back to the villa, she finally spoke. “Did you see him?”
“Nay. I wonder if he knows I’m a wolf yet. Thinking I’m human might be the reason he’s still persisting in seeing you. He’d figure he easily had me beat.”
“Or not. I might just want to have some fun on my vacation with a human. No ties that way. Since he’s a wolf, he may realize I might not want to get involved with him in case he wanted a mating and I didn’t. In any event, I’m sure he’ll figure out you’re a wolf quickly enough, if he doesn’t already know.” She patted Duncan’s thigh and said, “Want to run as a wolf?”
He frowned at her. “I thought you wanted to go swimming.” He was looking forward to seeing her in her string bikini again.
“That, too. The night is young.”
He thought about them running as wolves in the dark, which did appeal. The moon was at its zenith tonight. He and his family were royals and could shift at will. Even so, the full moon called to him whenever it appeared.
If they shifted back to their human forms on the beach, why bother with swimsuits? He smiled.
She laughed. “So, what exactly are you thinking?”
He shook his head. “I forget how observant a female wolf can be.”
“Oh yeah, just keep smiling when you’re thinking all those wicked thoughts, and I’ll be sure to know you’re up to no good.”
Chapter 8
As soon as Shelley and Duncan arrived back at the villa, they both hurried into the house, laughing and kissing and putting on a real show in case Silverman or one of his people had followed them. They were only playacting, but it felt real with both of them perfectly comfortable to show each other a lover’s affection.
Duncan was again considering taking Shelley home with him. Only this time to meet the family—not just to see the castle gardens. Taking her home would mean the whole family ganging up on them to see who she was and pondering why he was bringing here there.
They shut the front door to the villa behind them, and Shelley headed for the guest bedroom. “I’ll be down in a moment. In my wolf coat. You can get the back door. Too bad the villa doesn’t have a wolf door.”
“I imagine that’s because no pets are allowed at the villa.”
“Wouldn’t the owners be surprised to know what is staying at their place? By the way, I want to return to the reserve tonight.”
He frowned again at her. “In our wolf coats?”
“Yup. Silver palm trees shine in the moon’s light, and I want to observe it. It’s the perfect way to see them. I won’t be spending time cataloging plants or taking pictures. I just want to run through there as a wolf before I leave the island. This evening the moon is at its fullest, and the palms should be spectacular.” She smiled and hurried up the stairs.
Duncan wasn’t a plant enthusiast, but her own enthusiasm made him rethink his interest in vegetation.
He had just finished closing all the blinds when he heard the familiar sound of a wolf running down the stairs. He remembered how beautiful Shelley had looked in her wolf coat when she’d attacked him in a mock battle last night and wished she wanted to do so again.
She headed past him as if his only mission was to open the back door for her, and he hurried to strip out of his clothes. She didn’t turn to watch him, just waited patiently, standing at the door like a dog who wanted to play outside, her tail wagging enthusiastically. He opened the door for her, then followed her outside and watched her dash across the sand. He closed the door and summoned the need to shift, to join her and run and play and enjoy the wind in his fur and his face, the talcum-powder-like sand beneath his paws. The shifting was done quickly, his muscles stretching in a smooth, comfortable way to accommodate his wolf change until he was standing as a lupus, watching the female still heading toward the water.
He fought seeing her as his female, but he couldn’t help himself. She was his. At least for now when she had no male from a pack who could watch out for her. She was his—to protect and enjoy.
With his ground-eating stride, he raced to catch up to her. She ran so fast that s
he was like a greyhound, and he loved stretching out his legs to join her. He definitely wanted to protect her from the sharks in the sea some more, but running as wolves was just as exhilarating.
She dashed into the water and snapped at the salty spray, bounding like a wolf pup, jumping and running. For a moment, he just stood and watched, fascinated by her playful side. He wanted to tackle her, but he was used to wrestling with his brothers and male cousins in feral wolf rough-housing with no holds barred, which often accidentally drew blood. He was afraid to play with her like that, afraid of using his brute strength against hers, fearing he’d injure her and she would see him in a different light—savage instead of heroic.
She took off down the beach. He bounded after her.
She ran as if she were in a race to the finish, her tongue lolling to the side as she panted, and his did, too. But running together like this as wolves made him feel even closer to her, their shoulders brushing, their flanks touching. When he felt the overwhelming urge to turn his head and lick her, which he did, he saw the surprise in her green eyes. She smiled a little in a wolf’s way. He smiled back and continued running alongside her, pushing their endurance as if they were on a hunt and ready to take down some prey.
If she hadn’t been with him, he would have loved to have gotten Sal out here to confront him wolf to wolf.
When Duncan and Shelley reached the Mastic Reserve trailhead, they ran along the narrow path through the trees and vines toward the north of the island. Traveling through the mangrove swamp, they saw the moonlight reflected off the silver fronds of a stand of palms. They both paused to look at the spectacular sight, which seemed magical in the dark forest. They continued on until they stopped at the halfway point up the trail where the majestic mastic tree towered overhead.
He noted colorful parrots, a dove, and even a woodpecker half hidden in the leaves of the trees. And some kind of a furry varmint; he had no idea what it was. As soon as it saw them, it scurried into the underbrush. Lizards appeared on branches and leaves, and disappeared. Shelley ran on, and he raced to catch up.
