The Enigma (The Loup-Garou Series Book 1)

by Sheritta Bitikofer

  Chapter 20

  As soon as Logan parked the truck on Main Street, Katey hopped out of the vehicle and vehemently searched through her bags for her dancing clothes and some hygiene products to freshen up. Logan slid from the driver’s seat and escorted her across the parking lot. By the sour look on his face, Katey could tell that Logan was less than enthusiastic about tagging along.

  “Did you really not want to come because you thought Darren would have a problem, or is it because of something else?” she asked.

  Logan sighed and his breath misting as it billowed out of his mouth. “I’m not big on crowds.”

  “You seem to survive ok in school?”

  “That’s because I’m busy doing something. Here, I’ll have nothing to do.”

  Katey smiled. “You could dance. There will be plenty of pretty girls here to dance with.”

  Logan chuckled irreverently. “No, I think not.”

  “No to dancing, or no to pretty girls?”

  “Both.”

  The two stepped through the doorway and Katey tried to hide behind Logan, but it was no use, everyone’s eyes - including Lily’s - were drawn to them.

  When Lily saw Katey, she screamed in excitement and came running over. She tackled Katey with a big bear hug and Katey tried to stand straight up as her friend welcomed her. It was amazing how much energy she had all the time.

  “I almost thought you weren’t going to come. What took you so long? Why are you wearing that? Go change! It’s almost time to start!” she began pushing Katey across the room toward the back offices before she could even give the slightest protest or explain herself.

  Katey glimpsed back at Logan, who was standing alert, scanning the room. She hoped that he would relax a bit and let her keep her promise for at least an hour.

  As he silently sat down, his eyes caught something of interest and his lips curled into a grin. She followed his gaze to Forrest, who returned the smile with a casual wave. Katey wondered if they knew each other.

  As Katey disappeared into the back, Forrest moved around the podium where he was standing and approached Logan. “Never thought I’d see you here,” Forrest remarked as they bumped fists.

  What Logan had told Katey was mostly true. He abhorred crowds, but not only that, he hated parties. The last party he attended was nearly a century ago and it didn’t end well. Forrest knew all about it, which was why he was slightly amazed to see Logan there that evening.

  “I know, right?” Logan said. “I’m serving as Katey’s bodyguard tonight.”

  Forrest gave him a knowing smile. “You sure it’s not a date?” he asked.

  Logan sighed and nodded, looking away. “Very sure.”

  “Lily’s been telling me all about you and Katey from what she’s seen at school.”

  Logan raised his eyebrow to his old friend. “Is that a fact?”

  “Yep. The day after you too met she came in here all starry eyed with your jacket.”

  “Hmm.” Logan bowed his head and smirked, wondering what else Forrest knew.

  Forrest sat down in the chair next to Logan and leaned in close so only Logan would hear his words. “Does she know?” he asked.

  Logan only nodded and inhaled deeply before looking up towards the back room entrance as Katey emerged.

  Katey waltzed out onto the dance floor and noticed that the attendance numbers grew a bit. Some guests she recognized from the group lessons and some from previous private lessons.

  She grimaced, knowing it would mean that more people would see her in the skirt she accidentally grabbed instead of her normal dress slacks. The skirt was long and black, so it matched well with her blouse, but she hated her gangly legs. It was a gift that Lily had given her for Christmas a few years back when they were shopping at the mall in the next town over, but she’d never worn it since she first tried it on. Thankfully, the style of the dress did not accentuate her body too much and billowed out from her legs when she spun. It was the perfect dancing skirt, even in Katey’s opinion.

  Lily was at the laptop, editing the play list for the night and Katey saw Forrest and Logan talking at a table on the other side of the dance floor. It felt odd seeing Logan talking with someone else besides her or the teachers. She assumed they knew each other through other friends or maybe even through the teachers. Maybe they were wrestling partners or something.

  Katey timidly walked over to Lily and peeked over her friend’s shoulder as she searched for music. When Lily looked up and saw Katey wore a skirt, she looked like she was going to have a heart attack. She had to steady herself against the podium, acting all dramatic.

  “Katey! Do you know what you’re wearing?” she remarked.

  Katey rolled her eyes and folded her arms.

  Logan did see what she was wearing and his face showed his reaction. He was stunned speechless. Forrest waved his hand in front of his friend’s face, but Logan didn’t deviate his stare. Forrest chuckled and shook his head. Then he turned to see what Logan was staring at and his jaw dropped too.

  “Don’t make such a big deal. It’s just a skirt,” Katey muttered and smoothed down the fabric on her hips nervously. She glanced over at Logan and Forrest, who were both staring at her, wide-eyed and suddenly interested. She stuck her tongue out playfully at them.

  “But, you never wear skirts!” Lily exclaimed. “And it looks so good on you! Forrest has to see this!” Lily grabbed Katey’s hand and dragged her across the dance floor to where the two guys were sitting.

  As they passed by the party guests, Katey couldn’t help but notice that she was turning a lot of heads.

  When they came to Logan’s table, Forrest stood up and gave Katey the once over with a leering eye. “And who are you?” he asked jokingly.

  Katey slapped his shoulder. “Shut up and go dance with your girlfriend,” she snapped with a lighthearted grin. Lily giggled and grabbed at her boyfriend, pulling him back to the podium so Katey and Logan could have a moment alone.

  Logan was still sitting while gawking at Katey with an expression she couldn’t put a name to. It was a look she had never seen before that she couldn’t find the right word for. It was a step above admiration, but a step below intimate affection.

  “And what are you staring at?” she asked teasingly, sitting down in Forrest’s seat and looking out over the crowd that had begun dancing to the music. It took a moment for Logan to break out of the spell she had unwittingly cast upon him.

  “I… I… uh… nothing. I mean, you’re not nothing, but… crap,” he jabbered, feeling flustered and hiding his face in his hands to conceal the blush rising to his cheeks.

  Katey couldn’t help but giggle a little and pity his speechlessness. She turned to the floor and counted the individuals that had shown up. Including Lily and Forrest, there was an even amount of girls and guys if Katey and Logan were not included in that number.

  “Looks like I’m the odd person out now,” Katey mused, anxiously fixing her skirt to cover more of her shins, but the material refused.

  Logan peeked out from his hands to her. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, besides you, there’s an odd number of people, so everyone has a partner except for me.” Katey shrugged. “But, that’s ok. I’m used to it. When I first got involved in dancing it really discouraged me though.” At a particular thought, Katey caught herself in a smile.

  “What’s that smile for?” he asked, sitting back in his chair.

  “I’m just remembering some advice a friend gave me a long time ago. He actually got me started into dancing. He was the president of the club at school in my freshman year. I told him about how discouraged I’d get when I’d be sitting all by myself and he’d say to never give up or get discouraged just because there wasn’t any room for me.”

  Katey’s mind drifted back to that year and her friend. His advice might have been applicable to anything in life, not just dancing. It struck her on such an emotional level that she made sure never to forget it.

>   Logan felt a pang of jealousy and looked away. “So, why aren’t you dating this guy now?”

  Katey snorted and shook her head. “It wasn’t like that. His family died and he moved away. He wasn’t that cute anyway…” Katey watched Logan’s face as the focus returned. “But, that’s ok about being left out because now I can go around and correct people.”

  She stood up and walked away, making sure to swish her skirt a little as she did to catch his attention.

  ***

  Nearly an hour passed and Katey still had no partner. Mostly she just went back and forth between the dance floor and checking on the play list until Forrest and Lily joined her.

  “Why aren’t you dancing with Logan?” Lily asked, gesturing to where Logan had been sitting all evening, calmly observing the rest of the party.

  “Because he said that he would come and be my ride, but he wouldn’t dance,” she replied as she added an extra song or two to the playlist.

  “He wants to dance with you,” Forrest stated as if it were a fact of nature. “He’s been staring at you nearly all night and tapping his foot to the music. You may not know this, but he’s a fantastic dancer. Believe me, I know. He probably just doesn’t think you want to dance with him! Come on.”

  Before she could protect, Forrest took Katey by the arm and pulled her out onto the dance floor. Logan saw them approach and rose to his feet with an accusing look trained on Forrest.

  “Dance!” Forrest ordered, shoving Katey one last time into Logan before fleeing back to the podium. She almost fell straight into his chest if she hadn’t caught herself and backed up a little. Katey glimpsed nervously up at Logan, who looked down at her with the same look in his eyes.

  She tilted her head up to the speakers and heard a slow waltz begin to play. She recognized the song as “Come Away With Me” by Norah Jones. She had always loved that song.

  “Can you dance to this?” she asked a little apprehensively.

  “I believe I can,” Logan said softly, almost inaudible over the music.

  He took a few steps off to the side and bowed courteously at the waist. “Would you do me the honor of a dance my lady?” he asked formally, then held out his hand, which was oddly steady, unlike hers.

  Katey smiled and she could feel her cheeks blush a rosy red. She remembered the time they tried to dance before. She had been so nervous then, but now she was eager for the chance to try again.

  “Of course,” she replied and placed her hand in his. She glanced down to their joined hands as she felt electricity course through her. His hand seemed so much bigger than hers, tanner and rougher. But despite the power behind them, Logan was still very gentle with her delicate hand.

  Katey gave him a warm, encouraging smile, the one she gave to all her students when she was about to teach them a new dance. The kind of look that says, Hey, you can do this.

  Logan took a deep breath to relaxed and grinned as he carefully wrapped his fingers around hers and accompanied her out to the dance floor.

  “If you’re in pain or lightheaded at any time, let me know and we’ll stop,” Logan said.

  Katey shook her head. “I’ll do nothing of the sort,” she replied with a simpering grin.

  It seemed like all eyes were on the two now as he slipped his other hand around her shoulder blade, being careful not to let it drop even close to her waist, which Katey was thankful for.

  The melody was light and airy as Logan led, taking each step as gracefully and fluidly as she did. He was a natural. The few steps they had the other day did not give her such a clear idea of how well he could dance. She almost made the assumption that a guy like him wouldn’t even know how to dance.

  The whole time she had her back arched and craning her head back majestically and looking off the her left, her hand just barely resting on his shoulder and the same elbow raised up as to not touch his.

  They danced so elegantly around the room that many couples stopped just to observe. Even Forrest and Lily were watching on with interest.

  Their technique progressively became more unique and intricate, adding steps that Katey thought only she knew. She followed obediently to his lead and kept a calm and regal face, trying vainly to hold in her smile.

  “I can’t believe we’re dancing,” Logan whispered and Katey realized that he was just inches from her face. Katey glanced up to him and met his serene blue eyes that threatened to make her stumble, but she held herself together.

  “Me neither,” she replied breathlessly. Logan kept her on her toes the whole time, keeping in perfect time with the music.

  Katey felt fear and anxiety grip her chest suddenly as it had before in the wrestling gym. That inexplicable emotion that felt so familiar, yet so alien at the same time. She wanted to stop, but he had his hand completely around her, there was no way to escape. She determined to wait it out and power through. It had to pass at some point.

  She wanted to enjoy this. She told herself over and over again in her head that there was no reason to fear. Being with Logan was perfectly safe. He would never hurt her. So why did she feel like she was slipping over ice towards a bottomless pit and didn’t want to grab for a lifeline?

  “How did you learn to dance so well?” she asked, trying to take her mind off of her pounding heart.

  “Well, you have Dustin to thank. I don’t know if you caught on yet, but he’s kind of a lady’s man. He knows a lot of dances and taught me a few,” Logan said, giving her a mischievous smile.

  Katey grinned, but shied away from his eyes and tried to hold her lips together. “I had a feeling that’s how he was.”

  “Forgive me for saying this, but you…” Logan began.

  Katey looked up and saw the searching expression in his face like he was trying to skim through his vocabulary for the word that would fit. Katey was hoping he’d say something like pretty or beautiful or heaven forbid, gorgeous.

  “You look… exquisite,” he finished.

  Wow… exquisite?

  Katey stared into his eyes, warm and lucid. She swore she saw them even sparkle a bit. “Exquisite?” she questioned.

  “I’m sorry, was that too much?” he asked worriedly.

  “No, no. It’s fine… I just never heard anyone describe me with that word… Thank you… I guess.”

  “I assure you, it was a compliment,” he said with a sweet smile. “By the way, you’ve been doing a good share of lying lately.”

  She jerked her chin down. “Excuse me?”

  “You said you didn’t dance that well. You lied.”

  Katey forced herself to look away again and tried to clear her head, just as the soft waltz music faded. Logan spun her a few times and extended her out gracefully at full arms length.

  Their audience applauded as Katey’s chest heaved for air. She could already feel her forehead damp with perspiration; not only from the dancing, but also from how achingly close Logan had been to her and all the wonderful things he said. A quick trip outside into the cold air would have done her good.

  Katey tugged at his hand to walk away, but he wouldn’t release it.

  She gazed into his eyes, looking for an answer to everything that confused her about him, but she couldn’t see any, only that little sparkle remained and the look she still couldn’t name.

  Another song began, one that had a faster beat. “Give Me Just One Night” by 98 Degrees.

  Logan firmly yanked on Katey’s hand and she came spinning back into his embrace. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her in close. His sweet breath engulfed Katey’s face and she swooned in his arms.

  She found her strength in the music and without even having to think about it, they started on the same beat.

  They danced passionately, stepping and swaying sensually with each subtle push of his hand against her. Several times she spun on his cue, her skirt flying out around her. The entire time, Katey’s eyes seemed fixed on Logan’s as they seemed to pierce through her very soul. It terrified her, but she never f
elt more alive, entranced by his charm and masculinity.

  Logan never missed a beat and was precise in timing so much that it amazed even Forrest who had years of dance experience under his belt. Their bodies pulsated as if the music dictated their actions and not their own wills.

  Passion swelled between them both as they strayed from traditional dance steps, stunning everyone there. Katey moved parts of her body she had never moved before, hardly knowing how or why she was able to. Logan’s hands roamed erotically over her supple curves, his lips trailing dangerously along her neck and cheek. They could feel the desire surge within themselves like a roaring river that no dam could contain.

  Her body felt on fire, burning with an intensity that she barely understood, but couldn’t extinguish.

  In that dance, Katey found the reason for her fear. She felt deeply for Logan, more so than she had with any one. In his arms, she felt whole and wanted, like the rest of the world didn’t exist and all there could ever be was them and this moment. Katey wasn’t just attracted to Logan. She didn’t just like him as a friend or something deeper. She loved him.

  She loved him for his strength, his confidence, his caring nature and gentility. When he looked at her, she felt loved. When he talked to her, she might as well have been the only one in the room. The teachers didn’t matter, her friends didn’t matter, and the canyon of differences between them was nothing compared to what she felt in her heart.

  The music stopped abruptly with one loud drumbeat and Logan froze Katey in a deep dip, where his body loomed over hers as she gazed into his eyes. For a moment, she thought her heart stopped beating it had been pounding so fast.

  Logan had a wild look in his eyes like he was about to lose all self-control. She wondered if this is what he meant by having to keep a tight reign on himself and his loup-garou side.