“That’s probably because she’s a croc shifter,” Jareth said. “They trigger our fear and gross-out buttons, kind of like sharks.”
“Go back and make sure Ms. Monroe is doing what she’s supposed to.”
Ginnie went to the door, turned back, shook her finger at him, and said, “Apologize.”
“Okay, okay.” Walter raised his hands in defense. “I’ll apologize. I was going to anyway, before you became so imperious.”
The door closed behind them and he went back to staring out the window, where he could see the goings-on in Town Square.
Jareth was right — he’d overreacted, and that didn’t sit well with him, especially since it was completely out of character. He’d been caught by surprise, sure. He’d assumed — he and Ty both had — that she was Jade Monroe because of the business card and state-of-the-art laptop in the bag.
The confused and fearful look in Sugar’s eyes haunted him. She was a person with amnesia, and still he’d treated her like that. He should have known better, could have handled it better. That wasn’t like him. He’d gotten too emotional where Sugar was involved.
He was going over at three and he would definitely apologize.
Was it possible to have separation anxiety from someone you just met? Because he was pretty sure that’s what he was experiencing. And his wolf was pacing, anxious to go see her.
It was nearly two o’clock. He was going to leave now to make sure he got there in time. Just in case there were accidents or toxic spills or some other tragic event on the drive.
He would walk up to the Noel home precisely at three o’clock.
As he left the office and headed for his vehicle, he shook his head. He had it bad. As bad as Ty did when Mara had first come to town. The question was — what was he going to do about it?
That Bad, Huh?
WALTER FELT LIKE A SCHOOLBOY knocking on the principal’s door.
Jingle opened it and smiled warmly. “Dr. Clemmons, come in.”
She wasn’t angry. That was a good sign — he hoped. He stepped inside. “Thank you, Ms. Noel.”
“Ms. Belle-Noel to you,” she informed him coolly.
“Oh.” She was going formal on him. So she was angry.
But then she smiled. “I only use my formal hyphenated name when I’m putting wolves in their place, actually.”
He studied her. “I’m seeing a whole new side to you, Ms. Belle-Noel.”
“Oh, call me Jingle.” She smiled brightly. “Please.”
He chuckled and found he wasn’t quite as nervous as before. He suspected that had been her intent.
“Sugar’s in the dining room. She’s nervous and I want your promise that you will be kind to her.”
“I will,” he said. “I was out of line yesterday.”
“Yes, you were.” She narrowed her eyes. “You weren’t the first person following her scent to my booth.”
That surprised him. “I wasn’t? Who was there before me?”
“A tall woman with green eyes.”
“Jade Monroe?”
“Yes. And Sugar was terrified of her.”
“Why would that be?”
“I don’t know. And you don’t either. All I know is you will be kind to her or I will use every ounce of magic at my disposal to destroy you.”
“Destroy?” He studied the petite woman.
“Well, poke you in the eye, at least. Give you a snow cone that produces nightmares. That kind of thing.”
“I see.” He smiled. “Well, I don’t want to wear an eyepatch, and I certainly don’t want to be terrorized in my sleep, so I’ll take you at your word.”
She motioned for him to follow her and he did.
Sugar was sitting at a table, looking morosely down at her hands. She looked up and he saw the sadness in her eyes.
It twisted his insides into knots. He would have taken her into his arms, but Jingle motioned him to the chair across the table from Sugar. Reluctantly, he took that chair.
Jingle told Sugar, “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.”
Sugar nodded.
When they were alone, she looked into Walter’s eyes and he could see her steel herself.
She had to steel herself to be around him…?
That hurt him — and meant he’d screwed up royally. He kept his voice low. “Sugar, I am so very sorry. I feel horrible about yesterday. It caught us both by surprise, but I reacted poorly.”
She sniffled and his heart twisted again. “I’d already had my identity ripped away from me, and then I had the identity I thought was mine ripped away.”
“And I was a jerk.”
Her lips quirked up a little. “Maybe a little.”
“A lot.” He reached out his hand across the table and hoped she would take it.
After a long pause, she did.
He closed his fingers gently around hers. “Will you forgive me? I’m old and set in my ways and stupid, but I care about you very much.”
“I do forgive you.”
He drew in a huge breath, full of relief. When he blew it back out again, he said, “Thank you.”
“I care about you, too,” she said.
The sadness had lessened and now her eyes had smile crinkles about them. He smiled back. “Where do we go from here? Can we go back home?”
“To your house?” she asked.
He nodded. “I want to take care of you.”
“I’d like that,” she said. “But I need a few days to think things over. Jingle said I could stay here.”
“All right,” he said, disappointed and yet hopeful.
A knock at the door startled them both.
“I wonder who that is,” Jingle muttered as she moved past the doorway toward the front door.
They heard her open the door, and then a man said, “My name is Clyde Leeds and I’m here to see Lydia.”
“I think you have the wrong house, sir.”
“I was informed that she was staying with you. She is going by the name of Sugar, though that is, of course, not her real name.”
“What is your business with her?” Jingle asked.
“I’m her fiancé.”
Jealousy hit Walter in the gut. This was exactly what he’d been afraid of.
His wolf howled in pain and anger.
Sugar’s eyes widened and she held his hand tighter.
“We have to know,” he said quietly, trying to reassure her even as he wanted to protect her. “Let’s go meet the man I was afraid was out there somewhere.”
At the doorway to the dining room, he released her hand. She looked at him, as if for reassurance.
“I’m here for you if you need me,” he said gently.
Then they walked into the living room.
A tall man stood inside the door, dressed in jeans and a gray golf shirt. He was probably six-six, a slender but muscular man. When he saw Sugar, he smiled. “Darling. I’ve been so worried about you.”
Walter didn’t trust the guy. He was a shifter of some sort, but he was wearing a magical spell to mask which kind. He was tall and had blue eyes — and a cruel twist to his lips.
Walter didn’t believe for a moment that his sweet little Sugar could be engaged to this smarmy guy. “Where’s her ring then?”
The man stared at Walter. “Not that it’s any of your business, sir, but it was being sized. I’ve got it with me.”
He pulled out a delicate gold ring with a small diamond and held it out to Sugar.
She looked stunned as she reached for it. She didn’t put it on, just held it on her palm and stared at it. “It’s very pretty,” she stammered.
“I’d like to take you to an early dinner, my darling. We have so much to talk about.”
“She doesn’t remember you,” Jingle said.
“She doesn’t?”
“I have amnesia,” Sugar admitted. “I don’t even know my name.”
“It’s Lydia,” the man said. “I love you, Lydia Hamilton, and I want you to
be my wife. If you don’t remember me, then I’ll have to court you all over again.”
Walter exchanged a look with Jingle, who looked as concerned as he was. He pulled her aside and whispered, so low even another shifter couldn’t hear from across the room, “We need to get Nick and one of the other deputies to follow them to dinner if we can’t talk her out of going. I don’t trust this guy.”
“I’m not getting a good vibe from him, either. But how can we dispute his claim?” She pulled out her phone. “I’ll text Nick right now.”
“I’ll ask Ty to follow, too.” It would kill him not to be close by. Maybe he’d follow at a greater distance.
He didn’t know who’d kidnapped Jade and Sugar, but Sugar couldn’t remember either. He didn’t trust anyone.
Especially around his woman.
Mine, his wolf agreed.
Almost in a daze, Sugar sat across a restaurant table from the man who claimed to be her fiancé.
Fiancé.
The promised early dinner had been served, and then dessert. They’d done only a little chatting, and he seemed to be content with that. For now, at least.
She studied his face. He looked vaguely familiar. Did that mean she really was engaged to him?
Oh, how she wished she had her memory back.
She hadn’t put the ring on her finger. Instead, she told him she needed time to get used to this situation before she wore it again. He’d agreed.
He smiled at her and looked at her lovingly. “Oh, Lydia, I was so worried about you when you didn’t call. I had to hire a private investigator to find you.”
“I wish I remembered you, Mr. Leeds.”
“Please, Lydia, call me Clyde. I will be heartbroken if you don’t at least do that.”
“Clyde,” she said. The name didn’t flow naturally off her tongue.
This was the most awkward meal ever.
Jingle had insisted on driving her over to the restaurant to meet him, and said she’d remain in town to wait to pick her up whenever Sugar texted her.
They currently sat in Incognito, apparently the second fanciest and most expensive place in town. It was nice, set in a lovely old Victorian mansion, but all she could see was his face. Those blue eyes that occasionally showed a flicker of green around the edges, which was weird.
And his smile that didn’t quite seem to reach those eyes.
She’d much rather be looking into Walter’s warm brown ones.
She looked at him again. This was way too overwhelming. She needed time to deal with it. To examine it and see how she felt about it without the pressure of being in the same room with him.
Feeling lightheaded, she excused herself to go to the ladies’ room. Once inside, she went into a stall and leaned her head against the door, trying to catch her breath. It took several minutes before she’d calmed down enough to think clearly.
Okay, she could deal with this. Even if she had been engaged to this man, it didn’t mean she had to be engaged to him now. If she ever regained her memories, she could go back to him if she wanted. But for now, she just needed space.
She pulled out her phone and texted Jingle, telling her she’d be leaving in about ten minutes and needed a ride.
They’d come early enough, right after he’d come to Jingle’s house, so that it was only 4:30 now. Walter would still be there. She had to see him.
Jingle immediately responded, saying she’d be right in front of the restaurant.
Sugar went back to the table and said, “I’m not feeling well, Clyde, and I’m a bit overwhelmed with … well, with our relationship, since I don’t remember any of it. I’d like to go home now.”
He looked disappointed, but he nodded and stood, tossing a generous tip on the table.
He reached for her hand, but she pretended not to see it and turned toward the doors. Outside on the porch, she said, “Thank you.”
“May I give you a goodnight kiss?”
She wasn’t ready for that — but maybe it would help her remember. She nodded and he stepped close to her, tipping her head up with his hand. He placed his lips on hers and kissed her.
It was nothing like the warm kiss she’d shared with Walter. This was cool and ... just oh-so-wrong. She pulled back, resisting the urge to wipe her mouth.
He frowned and touched her hand, rubbing his fingers across it. She resisted the urge to yank her arm out of his reach, but she smiled at him as she stepped away. “Thank you. Dinner was lovely.”
“When may I see you again?”
“A few days, maybe. I need to think things through.”
She turned to go and he took her arm in a strong grip, walking down the stairs with her. As they approached the road, she tried to tug away, but he didn’t let go.
“You’re hurting me, Clyde.” She glanced about frantically, trying to pull free. Walter had said Ty would follow her. Maybe he’d even decided to come, too. Unfortunately, all she saw was the sidewalk.
He tugged her for a few more steps, then his whole demeanor changed. His body stiffened and, slowly, he let go of her arm. He smiled down at her. “I’m sorry, darling. I’ll see you in a few days.”
A car honked its horn and she turned to see Jingle’s car.
“Good night, Clyde.”
“Good night, Lydia.”
As she walked down off the porch, she saw two shadows on the sidewalk, partly hidden by the foliage.
It was Nicholas, Jingle’s husband, and another man, and they were both in uniform.
Were they what Clyde had seen when he stopped tugging on her arm?
She slipped into the car and blew out a huge sigh of relief. “Thanks for picking me up.”
“That bad, huh?”
“I can’t possibly marry him. I can’t even believe I’m engaged to him. It just felt … wrong.”
Jingle patted her hand comfortingly. “Let’s go back home. I’ll even let you choose the movie tonight.”
“A Walk in the Clouds,” Sugar said quickly. “But would you drive me to the council office first?”
“Sure. I’ll go in with you if you like.”
“Thanks. I think I’ll be okay on my own, if you’ll wait for me.”
Sugar knocked on the door of the council building. It wasn’t opening for her. Maybe no one was there or maybe no one was answering.
It was just before five, so the staff should still be inside working.
Maybe Walter could see her right now and was hoping she’d leave.
She sucked in a lungful of air and knocked again.
Finally, the door opened. Heidi stood there with a huge smile on her face. “Come in, Sugar. We’ve all missed having you here.”
Sugar’s heart grew a little lighter. “Thanks. I’ve missed you all, too.”
“Come on back. I know Walter’s been frantic about you. Ty practically had to hogtie him and bring him back to the office to keep him from pummeling the guy who is your alleged fiancé.” She smiled and fanned herself with her hand. “How scandalous.”
“Glad I can provide entertainment for you all,” Sugar said drily as she followed Heidi back to Walter’s office. “How’s the egg doing?”
“It cracked a little more this morning. Walter thinks it could hatch today, or tomorrow at the latest.”
“Wonderful. Are Ty and Mara at the hospital?”
“They’re on standby at their house, ready to fly over at a moment’s notice.”
Walter met her in the hall, his eyes frantically searching her for injury. “Are you all right? Did he hurt you? I heard he tried to stop you. And the only reason he didn’t grab you was because Nick and Sheriff Winston were standing there. I didn’t see it but they told me all about it. Had I been there …”
And then, in front of everybody, he pulled her in and kissed her!
Ginnie laughed. Jareth snorted. Someone clapped — and soon Sugar didn’t notice anything but Walter’s lips against hers.
He pulled back with a predatory gleam. His brown eyes were flecke
d with wolf gold.
“Okay, everybody,” Ginnie said, clapping her hands. “Back to work. Nothing to see here, folks.”
Laughter and then everyone left.
Walter took her hand and led her to his office, closing the door behind her. “I was so worried about you. I don’t trust the man, Sugar.”
“We don’t know him.”
“I know his type.”
She said, “I didn’t feel like I knew him, either. As a matter of fact, he made me extremely uncomfortable and scared me. He kept wanting to touch me.”
A memory tried to surface. Something about luck, being touched for good luck. And then it was gone.
Walter said, “I have something for you.” He pulled a small canister out of his pocket and handed it to her. “Be careful.”
“What is it? Pepper spray?”
“Even better. It’s Troll Spray 501. It claims to stop a troll at 501 paces.”
“Will I be running into any trolls?”
“I hope not, but it’s also good for fiancés who get out of hand.”
The door burst open and Heidi looked frantic. She yelled, “It’s been stolen! The egg is gone!”
The Eyes Don’t Lie
“WHEN?” WALTER ASKED.
“Ten minutes ago.”
“And the incubator?”
“Yes.”
Walter jumped into action. “Call the sheriff and get roadblocks set up. I’ll call Ty. We have to get that egg back before it hatches.”
Sugar’s heart sank. Ty and Mara’s baby was going to imprint on someone else? Possibly someone evil?
Walter didn’t want to do it, but he called Ty.
When the dragon answered with a gruff, “Is it hatching?” Walter hated to tell him the truth. “It’s been stolen, incubator and all.”
Ty swore, and he heard Mara cry out in pain in the background. She’d heard the news then, too.
“You and Mara need to fly overhead. See if you can find a vehicle large enough to hold the incubator. A van, at least. Possibly larger.”
“If we don’t find it...”
He didn’t continue but Walter could fill in the blank. Our friendship will be over. I’ll never forgive you. And a hundred other bad things.
The Hacker Pushes Her Luck: Moonchuckle Bay Romantic Comedy #6 Page 8
