Werewolf in Seattle

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  “If I’d known, I wouldn’t have gone up there.”

  “But you did, and you impressed him. He’ll support your business, and that kind of support could make a big difference.”

  She sighed. “Until he finds out that I’m the illegitimate child of his late cousin Byron.” Her eyes widened. “I think that means I’m related to George Trevelyan!”

  “I wondered when you’d figure that out.”

  She closed her eyes. “All I ever wanted was to hide out on that island. And that’s looking increasingly impossible. I’m a part of the Trevelyan pack, whether I want to be or not, and eventually that will come out.”

  Leaning down, he dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “Have you ever thought that maybe you weren’t meant to hide out somewhere? That you were meant for something more grand than living like a hermit on Le Floret?”

  “Y’all make it sound like some kind of destiny or something.”

  “Maybe it is, Luna.” He thought about the premonition he’d had when he’d realized that her name blended perfectly with his cherished love of the heavens. “Maybe it is.”

  Luna’s mood improved once she and Colin left the Trevelyan Enterprises building. She had to make a decision about whether or not to visit her grandparents, but she didn’t have to make it now. Instead she and Colin could explore Seattle, and the city in June was a magical place, especially for lovers. Much as she’d adored Geraldine, Colin was a more exciting companion.

  He insisted on going into an upscale department store to buy the clothes they’d need for the following day. He bought sensible things, a change of underwear and a cotton shirt, but he nagged her mercilessly until she ended up with a pair of designer jeans and a ridiculously expensive silk blouse that matched her eyes. Or so Colin said when she walked out of the dressing room wearing it.

  He took part in choosing her underwear, too, and so naturally it was black lace. “Why do males have this thing about black lace?” she asked him after they left the lingerie department, each with their purchases in a snazzy bag with handles.

  “Conditioning, I suppose.” He laced his fingers through hers as they strolled along the sidewalk toward Pike’s Place Market, where they planned to browse through some bookshops. “Black is the color of night, of mystery, of the forbidden.”

  She laughed and swung her shopping bag back and forth, feeling carefree and slightly decadent. “I don’t remember forbidding anything to y’all. I’ve pretty much given the Laird of Glenbarra carte blanche.”

  “And I hope you know that I don’t take that lightly, especially considering…”

  “I know. And I appreciate it.” Her heart softened. Colin had his flaws, but at his core he was inherently decent.

  “You’d have every right to forbid me everything, and yet, generous female that you are, you haven’t.”

  “Don’t give me too much credit. I’m getting something out of the arrangement, too.”

  “I hope so.” He lifted her hand and dropped a gentle kiss on the inside of her wrist.

  She shivered in delight. The Laird of Glenbarra did have a boatload of charm. “You’ve fascinated me since the moment you walked through the door of Whittier House.”

  “And I was fascinated with you from the beginning, too. You were the prettiest Were I’d ever seen, and your laughter was balm to my soul.”

  “I’m glad.” She was so unused to getting compliments from male Weres that each one Colin gave her seemed like a glittering jewel presented in a velvet box.

  They reached the market, a covered row of shops and stalls selling everything under the sun, it seemed. Fish, vegetables, flowers, New Age products, antiques, crafts—Luna was on sensory overload. And somewhere in this visual kaleidoscope was a bookstore. Colin had looked it up.

  “What was everyone laughing about that morning, anyway?” he asked. “I meant to ask you that before.”

  “It was…” She was embarrassed to think how stupid that conversation had been, but at the time, they’d all been so tense that everything had seemed funny. “It was nothing.”

  “Ah, come on, Luna.” He squeezed her hand. “Let me in on the joke.”

  “It won’t be funny anymore, but all right. We were confused about Scottish titles and thought a laird might logically have a lairdess, which somebody mispronounced as lard-ass, and Janet started prancing around with her bottom stuck out.” She snuck a glance at him. “See? Not funny.”

  He grinned. “Oh, it’s funny, especially when I visualize Janet putting on a demonstration. If the question ever comes up again, the proper term is lady, not lairdess.”

  “Well, that’s easy enough to remember.” She, for one, would never forget it. Knowing the title his mate would hold made it very clear to her that he would move on, and she would not move on with him. Her happy mood dimmed a fraction. She might be his lover now, but she would never be his lady. And despite understanding completely why that was so, she couldn’t help being sad about that.

  “Luna?”

  She looked at him and forced herself to smile. “What?”

  “I just wondered. You were quiet all of a sudden.”

  She grabbed the first evasive comment that came to mind. “I was just thinking about something.”

  “Must have been a serious subject.”

  “Sorry. Didn’t mean to be a Debbie Downer.”

  “A who?”

  “American slang. It means someone who looks on the negative side of everything and ruins the mood.” She brought up a topic that she knew interested him. “Here’s a thought. What if Edwina and Jacques Reynaud come here to shop?” She could let him assume she’d been dwelling on a potential visit to her grandparents. She would never ever admit that she fantasized about being his mate. It wouldn’t work, and she should just quit torturing herself about it.

  “They might shop here,” he said. “It’s obviously a popular place.”

  “They could even be here now. We could walk right past them and I’d never know.”

  “I have a picture of their house on my phone.”

  “Really? Can I see it?” She was legitimately interested in that. With Colin here to give her courage, she might even decide to go see them tomorrow. Maybe it was time to slay this dragon once and for all.

  “Of course. I wasn’t sure if you’d want to.” He reached inside his jacket for his phone.

  “Wait. Don’t take out your phone in the middle of this crowd. We need to keep moving or we’ll get trampled to death. I can look at it once we’re in the bookstore.”

  “Fair enough. And speaking of the bookstore, there it is.” He pointed to their right and they ducked inside.

  Luna took a deep breath. “Ah. Love that smell.”

  “Then maybe I’ll buy a really old, tattered book and rub it all over myself tonight.”

  She laughed and glanced around to see if anyone had heard that remark. Nobody seemed to be paying any attention. The clerks were busy ringing up purchases and the browsers all had that dreamy expression found on the faces of true book lovers surrounded by the objects of their affection.

  She leaned close to Colin. “I seem to remember y’all also love the smell of old books.”

  “I do.” He gazed down at her, amusement in his blue eyes. “I’d suggest scattering pages all over the bed so we can roll around in them, but that would require destroying a book, and I’m not sure I can do that.”

  “I couldn’t, either, but it’s fun to think about. Like a copy of Lady Chatterly’s Lover. We could stop every once in awhile and read a page for inspiration.”

  “I can’t speak for you, but I don’t seem to require more inspiration in your presence. In fact, if we stand here talking about this much longer, I’ll have to browse the shelves holding a shopping bag in front of my crotch.”

  “Don’t blame me, your lairdness. I’m not the one who started this conversation by mentioning that I might rub book pages all over my naked body.”

  “I didn’t use the word naked.�
�

  “No, but it was implied, and I have reactions, too, for your information.”

  “You do?” He let go of her hand and wrapped his long fingers around her upper arm. “Then come with me, little girl. I have some books I want to show you.”

  She allowed herself to be pulled up and down the aisles until he found one that was deserted. Then he set down his shopping bag and pulled her into his arms. “I wanted to do this when we were in Henry’s library together, but I didn’t, so I’m making up for it now.” Lowering his head, he kissed her with such focus and intensity that her shopping bag slid from her limp fingers and hit the floor with a soft thump. She didn’t bother to pick it up.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Colin kissed Luna until he realized he’d slid the strap of her sundress over her shoulder. Quickly releasing her, he repositioned the strap. “Sorry.” He cleared his throat. “Between you and the smell of old books, I lose all sense of propriety.”

  She swayed a little, and her eyes were dark and slightly unfocused. She licked her lips. “Me, too.”

  “On top of that, I’ve smeared your lipstick.” Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out a handkerchief. “Here.”

  She waved it away. “If I get dark pink lipstick on that white handkerchief, it will never come out.”

  “Then I’ll keep it as a souvenir.” He cupped the back of her head. “Here, I’ll do it. Hold still.” He carefully wiped her mouth. “You’ll have to start over, I’m afraid.”

  Gradually her dazed expression was replaced with a mischievous smile. “I’m not the only one wearing raspberry lipstick.”

  “Oh.” He hadn’t thought of that, but then, he wasn’t in the habit of kissing females in the middle of bookstores, or in any public place, for that matter. He’d never been overcome by the need to kiss someone immediately until he’d met Luna.

  “Allow me.” Taking the handkerchief from him, she reached up and dabbed at his mouth. “Y’all have such a sensuous lower lip.”

  “I’ll bet you say that to all the chaps.”

  “I’ve never said it to anyone before.”

  “I know. I was teasing you again, and I shouldn’t do that.” He caught her hand in both of his and kissed her fingertips. “Knowing I’m your first lover is an endless source of pride and joy to me. You’ve given me a priceless gift, Luna.”

  “No less than you gave to me. I feel as if I’m…how would I describe it? Something was missing in my life, and I knew that, but I didn’t understand how different I would feel now that I’m…” She blew out a breath. “Like I said, I’m not sure how to describe it.”

  He kept holding her hand because he couldn’t seem to stop touching her. “Complete?”

  She nodded. “Yes, complete. I feel complete, now, as if I know what the world is about. I’m so grateful, Colin.”

  He was mesmerized by the warmth in her eyes. “Maybe we should skip buying the books and check into the hotel. We can order books online.”

  She smiled. “That’s no fun.”

  “But we could have a whole lot of fun in that hotel room. I like books, but not enough to give up a chance to—”

  She laid a finger over his mouth. “We’re here, now. We might as well pick up some books.” Removing her finger, she chucked him under the chin. “We don’t have to stay long, but we should do it.”

  “And then we can go back to the hotel?”

  “Yes.”

  “Excellent.” He picked up his shopping bag and looped the handles over his forearm. “This will take me about five minutes. I’ll take this one, and this one, and—”

  “Colin! You’re not even looking at them! What on earth have you got there?”

  “I don’t know. I liked the red leather cover.” He glanced at the spine of the book in his hand. “The Mating Habits of Crustaceans.”

  “We don’t need that book. Or—” She peered at the spines of his other choices. “Fun with Chemistry or The Secret Life of Snails. Put them back.”

  “I don’t know. That last one sounds kind of sexy. Maybe they dress up in black lingerie.”

  “Now you’re being silly.” She glanced around. “No wonder! We’re standing smack in the middle of the science section. Let’s move to the fiction aisle.”

  “Wait.” He spied a book on a top shelf and pulled it down. “I’ve never been able to find this one. I even did a rare book search with no luck. And here it is.” He held the book up so she could see.

  Her expression softened. “I didn’t think about you finding astronomy books here.”

  Colin looked at his treasure. “Lowell’s theories on Mars have been disproven, but I wanted to have this, anyway.” He glanced at the price written on the inside cover. “As I thought, they don’t know how much this book is worth. It should go for several hundred dollars.”

  “So y’all found a bargain!”

  He laughed. “Every Scotsman’s dream. Okay, now we can go to the fiction section. I’ve found my treasure.” Those words taunted him as he followed Luna over to the well-populated fiction aisle.

  He’d found his treasure, all right, and it wasn’t this book. He could take that home and place it on a shelf in the library at Glenbarra. But the real treasure, the lover he’d waited a lifetime to find, would not be coming home with him.

  He wouldn’t let thoughts like that ruin his time with her, though. He wasn’t about to be—what name had she used? Oh, yes. Debbie Downer. He refused to be her twin brother Donny Downer. So he’d enjoy the devil out of watching Luna choose her books.

  She chortled with glee each time she found one for the growing collection in his arms. “You should choose some,” she said after she’d stacked up enough hardbacks to reach almost to his chin. “I can hold those.”

  Considering the weight, he doubted it, but it was sweet of her to offer. “You go ahead and pick them out. I’ll be the muscle of the operation.”

  “Are they getting too heavy?”

  He wouldn’t admit it if they were. “I’m fine, but I suppose we have to consider the weight limit of the helicopter.” He had no idea what that was, but he was ready to finish up here and whisk her away to their hotel.

  “All right.” She held up a tattered paperback copy of Lady Chatterly. “This will be the last one.”

  He smiled at her choice. “I should have known you’d track that down, although it doesn’t look to be in very good shape.”

  “Oh, it’s not.” She leaned close. “It’s already falling apart.”

  “Really?”

  “It’s marked way down because the glue isn’t holding. A few good shakes and pages would go everywhere.” She winked at him.

  “I see. Then maybe we need to get it back to the hotel room before something happens.”

  “Good plan. Let’s check out.” She walked ahead of him with a decided sway to her hips.

  He couldn’t remember her walking like that before. Unless he was mistaken, his former virgin was turning into a vixen. And he was all for it.

  Setting the books on the counter, he handed her his shopping bag from their clothes expedition, took out his wallet and extracted several bills. “This should cover the books. I’ll be right back.”

  She looked surprised, but he dashed out of the bookstore before she could ask any questions. He’d noticed the way she’d gazed longingly at the flower stalls, and this was the kind of day that called for a romantic gesture.

  When he returned, he found her standing just inside the door of the bookstore, a sturdy double bag of books and the two shopping bags at her feet. When she saw the bouquet in his hand, her eyes widened and she covered her mouth.

  He held out the flowers. “For you, m’lady.”

  She took the bouquet hesitantly, glancing from the multi-colored gerbera daisies to his face. Then she looked at the flowers again, almost as if she couldn’t quite believe he’d done such a thing. He’d hoped she might smile.

  Instead, tears welled in her eyes.

  He panicked. “
You don’t like them? Are they the wrong kind? Tell me what you like, and I’ll get those, instead. I just wanted to—”

  “I love them.” She launched herself into his arms, grabbed him around the neck and kissed him, even as tears dribbled down her cheeks and flavored the kiss with salt.

  Cupping her face in both hands he brushed at the tears with his thumbs. He still wasn’t sure if he’d done something good or something bad by giving her the flowers, but her kiss seemed to be saying he’d done something good.

  Finally she drew back. “No one’s ever given me flowers before.” Her voice was thick with emotion. “We’ve had bouquets of flowers from the garden all around Whittier House, but that’s not the same as having someone buy them just for m-me. I’m a—” She paused to sniff. “A flower virgin, too.”

  “I thought maybe I’d made a mistake.”

  She shook her head violently. “It was wonderful of y’all to surprise me with these. They’re such happy flowers, and all different colors. We need to hurry to the hotel so we can put them in some water. What about a vase? We don’t want them to die, and I’m not sure a water glass will work.”

  “We’ll ask room service to send something up.” He looked into her eyes, needing reassurance that she really was happy about his attempt to be romantic.

  “Honestly, Colin, I love them.”

  He took a shaky breath. “All right. You had me worried there, but if you say so, then…all right.” He leaned down and picked up the weighty sack of books and both shopping bags. “Let’s get a cab.”

  All the way to the hotel, Luna kept looking at her flowers. She really did love them, and they were so much more imaginative than roses. Every time she thought of Colin rushing out to buy flowers for her, she choked up.

  But that wasn’t the only reason. When he’d presented them, he’d said m’lady. If he hadn’t recently told her what his mate would be called, she wouldn’t have thought anything about it. But he had just told her, and yet she imagined his choice of words had been unconscious. He couldn’t know that being addressed like that taunted her with what she’d never have.