Jack extended a warning finger. “That is not what I said. It’s just … you hit your head hard. You fell a long way. Before that you were fighting for your life. I’m understandably worried about you.”
“Right.” I dragged my hand through my hair and took a step back. I needed to expand the distance between us. “Well, I’m sorry that my mental capacity is such a worry for you. I promise to never bring up the Chupacabra again. Is that what you want to hear?”
“Oh, don’t do that.” Jack made a face as he tapped his foot against the ground. “That’s not why I came after you. I was legitimately worried when I couldn’t find you. I didn’t want to alert the others right away because I knew you would be embarrassed when I dragged you back. I’m trying to be a good guy here.”
He was. I didn’t doubt that for a second. “I’m fine. I was trying to see if I could find some footprints, maybe a path, when I lost my sense of direction and started to worry. I was crouched low when I heard voices and popped up. It was Zoe and her daughter. They frightened me – and I think I frightened them – and that’s why I’m out of sorts. I didn’t want to admit it because I thought it would make me look goofy, but … there it is.”
Sympathy creased Jack’s forehead. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
I made to move around him, but Jack grabbed my arm before I could take the lead for the walk back to the campsite. “You don’t have to be embarrassed.”
“I’m not embarrassed.” Mortified was more like it. “I just feel a little silly about letting myself get lost. It won’t happen again.”
“You weren’t very far from the group. Next time … um … next time tell someone before you take off to explore a strange forest. In fact, if you could grab a partner before wandering off that would be great.”
“Are you giving everyone the same advice?”
“To have a partner? Absolutely.”
“Okay, well, I’m sorry I made you worry.” I attempted to pull my arm from Jack’s grip, but he refused to let me go. “Is there something else you want to say?”
“I want you to be careful.” Jack licked his lips, choosing his words carefully. “This might not be a safe area. I don’t want you to put yourself at risk.”
“You don’t believe in werewolves, so what does it matter?”
“It matters to me.” Jack was firm. “And just because I don’t believe in lycanthropes doesn’t mean I don’t believe something is out here. I don’t want you to fall victim to whatever that is.”
“I’ll do my best to keep from disappointing you.”
“That’s not what I meant.” Jack carefully released my arm before heaving a sigh. “I know you don’t want to listen to me because you feel that I don’t listen to you, but that’s not true. Just … try to be safe.”
“That’s the plan.” I forced a smile for his benefit, but only because I wanted to ease the tension. “So, after listening to Zoe and her daughter I’ve decided that tween age must be the absolute worst. I thought for sure there were a few minutes when Zoe wanted to kill her own kid. Do you think that’s normal?”
Jack took me by surprise when he chuckled. “I think that’s entirely normal. I think the people you love and care about the most are the ones who set you off the easiest. That’s definitely the case for parents.”
Hmm. I hadn’t considered that. “You must care about me a great deal.”
Jack’s cheeks flooded with color before he quickly covered whatever emotion he was feeling. “Why do you say that?”
“Because I set you off constantly.”
“Yes, well, there are different types of worry.”
“I’ll try to refrain from being the source of your worry.” I offered a chipper smile that I didn’t necessarily feel. “I don’t want you to get an ulcer or anything … and you strike me as the sort who would definitely get an ulcer.”
“Why do you say that?”
“You’re wound really tight.”
Jack balked. “I am easygoing and a delight to be around.”
I snorted, genuinely amused. “Yes. You’re the calmest man I know.”
“I am.”
“You are.”
“I really am.”
“I know you are.” I picked an easy pace as I strode toward the campsite. “You’re not high strung at all.”
“I know exactly what you’re thinking,” Jack grumbled as he trailed behind. “By the way … you’re wrong.”
“Of course I am.”
“Ugh. I hate it when you say things like that.”
“Why do you think I do it?”
I WAS EAGER TO get away from the campsite so when Hannah mentioned she’d made arrangements to stop in at a local lab to test samples, I volunteered to go with her. Bernard served as chauffeur, and I’d barely glanced over my shoulder as we said our goodbyes. When I did, I noticed Laura cozying up to Jack – whispering something to him that was probably filthy – and it took everything I had to tamp down my agitation. I needed time to regroup, and a quiet laboratory environment sounded heavenly.
That’s not exactly what I got.
I wasn’t used to a lab setting, but clearly Hannah was. I considered her the quietest member of our group and I genuinely liked her because she didn’t pretend to be anything she wasn’t. Unlike Laura, she wasn’t over-sexed and she was mostly interested in the work.
The woman behind the desk showed Hannah and me where we could work. Bernard opted to conduct research on his phone in the lobby, so he remained at the front of the building. I thought we would be alone in a tiny room, but the space the secretary ushered us into was large … and bustling with activity.
I looked to Hannah to see if she was surprised, but she barely paid attention to the other lab technicians, instead heading straight for a microscope and dropping her purse on the floor before sliding on the provided stool. “I’m going to sit here unless it’s someone else’s station,” she announced.
When no one answered, she immediately set about her work. I couldn’t help being impressed with her fortitude. “You’re a lot more forceful when it comes to being in a lab, huh?”
Hannah smirked as she dug in her bag for the plastic bags she secured before leaving the campsite. “You seem surprised.”
“I am. You’re usually the quiet one.”
“That’s because everyone else is so loud. I don’t want to simply be another voice in the void.”
I pursed my lips as I watched her remove a baggie full of dirt before grabbing a pair of rubber gloves and tugging them into place. “I guess I never thought about it that way. There are a lot of loud voices in the group.”
“I don’t mind the noise,” Hannah said hurriedly. “I’m simply not a noisy person.”
“No, you’re definitely not.” I grabbed an empty stool so I could sit without crowding her, and watched her fast hands as she doled out samples onto slides. “What do you expect to see with the soil samples?”
“Probably nothing, but you never know what you’ll find when it comes to stuff like this,” Hannah replied. “The big thing I’m looking for is traces of blood in the soil. I took samples from eight different spots.”
“Wow!” I’d been wandering around looking for paw prints so I hadn’t noticed what Hannah was doing. “Do you think you’ll find blood?”
“I have no idea. That’s why I’m looking.” Hannah took a moment to smile. “You seem quiet yourself today. Is something going on?”
I chuckled at her earnest expression. “I simply got distracted in the woods, which meant I ended up turned around. I was getting close to panicking when Jack found me.” I’d already told the lie once so it made sense to keep repeating it, even if it did make me feel like a ninny. “I guess it kind of freaked me out more than I expected.”
“I can see that.” Hannah was pragmatic, so there was nothing accusatory about her tone. “You were alone when you fought off Zach and Naomi. I’m sure that’s still fresh on t
he surface for you. I don’t blame you for being afraid.”
“I wasn’t afraid,” I said hurriedly. “I just … don’t like the feeling of being lost.”
“I don’t believe anyone likes that feeling.” Hannah tied her long hair into a ponytail as she looked me up and down. “I never got a chance to thank you for what you did.”
The simple statement threw me. “Why would you thank me? I was simply doing my job.”
“You did more than that. You saved Chris … and Millie. Somehow you managed to keep yourself alive, too. No one else may be saying it, but I know they’re all thinking it. What you did that day was impressive.”
Hannah wasn’t naturally verbose so I felt uncomfortable with her rather obvious scrutiny. “I wasn’t trying to be impressive. I was simply trying to get everyone out alive.”
“And you managed to do it despite being outnumbered. I don’t know anyone else who could’ve done that. Okay, maybe Jack. No one else, though.”
“Jack probably would’ve done it without falling down the stairs.”
“Yes, well, Jack is trained.” Hannah was matter-of-fact. “You’re barely out of college and you saved three lives. You made it so Chris came back to us … and I’m extremely thankful for that.”
One of the first things I noticed upon joining The Legacy Foundation was the tight bond Chris and Hannah shared. It was one of the things that made me realize harboring a crush on my boss would be a mistake. “Have you considered asking Chris out on a date?” The question was out of my mouth before I realized how idiotic it sounded. Of course, that was the story of my life.
Hannah’s cheeks flushed crimson as she lowered her gaze. “Why would you ask that?”
I considered taking a step back and apologizing for overstepping my bounds, but I simply couldn’t. When else would I have an opportunity like this? “Because it’s obvious you like him.”
“It is?” I didn’t think it was possible, but Hannah’s cheeks turned even redder. “I didn’t think anyone realized how I felt about him.”
Her voice was so soft I took pity on her. “I think everyone knows but you two.”
“Two?” Hannah’s puzzled expression made me understand exactly how oblivious she was.
“Oh, you’re so cute.” I patted her forearm as I searched for the right way to drop the bomb on her. “Okay, here’s the thing: Everyone in our group seems to realize that you and Chris are gaga for each other. Everyone but you two, that is. We know you’re attracted to him and it’s clear he adores you … even though you clearly don’t see it.”
Hannah’s eyes widened to comical proportions. “You think he adores me?”
“Of course he adores you.” I was caught between pity and frustration. “Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately? Every guy with a pulse would fall all over himself just to get close to you. I swear I’m not making it up.”
“She’s definitely not.” A bearded man stepped to the open work station to our right and offered a grin for Hannah’s benefit. He wore a lab coat, and there was a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. “If you want a test date or something, I’m open for offers.”
“Oh, well, um … .” Hannah, clearly uncomfortable, shifted from one foot to the other.
I scalded the newcomer with a dark glare. “Don’t mess with her. She’s already nervous enough.”
The man held his hands up. “Sorry. I was just kidding. I couldn’t help hearing the tail end of your conversation. I thought I’d take a shot. After all, it’s not often that we have two such cute scientists in our midst.”
It took me a moment to realize he was including me in that statement. “I’m not a scientist. I’m only here to help out my colleague, who really is a scientist.”
“That doesn’t mean you’re not cute.” The guy winked, causing my mouth to drop open.
“This would be an example of the flirting I’ve heard so much about, right?” Hannah asked, glancing between us. “Is he doing it right? Should I try to emulate him if I’m going to ask Chris out?”
Well, that was a loaded question if I ever heard one. “No, you most definitely shouldn’t emulate him,” I replied when I found my voice. “His approach is an acquired taste. You won’t need it. Chris is already head-over-heels for you.”
“So … what should I do?”
“Just ask him out.” I opted for honesty. “Hannah, you could ask Chris to spend a day searching through dirt for specific bugs and he’d say yes because he’s that enamored with you. The problem is you’re both too timid to do anything about it. One of you has to be the brave soul and take a chance.”
“And do you think I should be that brave soul or wait for Chris to do it?”
“I think you should do it,” I answered without hesitation. “Chris is a fraidy-cat and it will take him forever to get up the courage. Heck, it might take him forever and a full fifth of whiskey to get up the courage. You should do it.”
“But … how do I do it?” Hannah was earnest. “I’ve never asked anyone out before.”
“But you have been on a date, right?” I couldn’t be sure. Hannah was beautiful, but closed off.
Hannah nodded. “I went out with people when they asked during college – and even a little after – but I stopped agreeing to the requests because I didn’t like any of them. I already like Chris.”
“And he already likes you. I promise that’s true.” I licked my lips as I debated what plan I should offer. “I think you should just be calm and self-assured. Wait until he’s alone, ask him about his day, and then suggest a quiet dinner with just the two of you. I think you’ll be amazed at how fast he jumps at the chance.”
“Really?” Hannah didn’t look convinced, but I knew I had time to bring her to my way of thinking.
I nodded. “Really.” I flicked my eyes to the amused man who continued to watch us as he organized slides. “What is your name?”
“Kent Logan. Why? Are you going to ask me about my day and then invite me to dinner?”
“No.”
“That’s too bad.” Kent’s smile was so wide it split his entire face. “I like Mexican, and you happen to be too cute for words.”
Despite my determination not to fall victim to his charm, I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. “Just out of curiosity, are you local?”
“Will that help my chances for dinner?”
“No. I want to know if you’re familiar with someone I met this afternoon, someone I find very intriguing.”
“Does this person have a name?”
“Zoe Lake-Winters.”
Kent’s smile grew even wider. “Oh, well, how much time do you have? Zoe Lake-Winters is famous. So is her husband. As for that kid? She’s young, but she’s building quite the reputation, too. Who do you want to hear about first?”
That answer was easy. “Zoe … and don’t leave anything out.”
7
Seven
Hannah’s soil samples were a bust, but my mind was bursting with gossipy goodness when we returned to the hotel. I retreated to my room to shower and change – the Michigan humidity was murder – and by the time I returned to the lobby I found almost everyone hanging around and talking.
“So there was no blood or anything?” Jack was focused on Hannah when I sidled up to the couch. I could tell he was doing his best to ignore Laura, who insisted on sitting next to him, and instead glean more information about why we were actually here.
“No blood in any of the samples,” Hannah confirmed as she stiffly perched on the arm of the chair in which Chris sat. What she couldn’t see was the way his eyes kept drifting to her rear end. She was too nervous to even look at him. I figured I would need another talk with her before the night was over. She had to loosen up if this was going to work.
“That basically means no one died there, right?” Laura interjected, angling her body so Jack had a better view down the vee of her shirt … but only if he wanted to look. Apparently he didn’t, because he absolutely refused to look in h
er direction.
“We don’t know that,” Chris argued. “We only know that no blood was involved.”
“How would your werewolf kill without blood?” Laura challenged. “Do you think he’s walking around with poison or taking the time to strangle people?”
“You know I don’t like that word,” Chris shot back. “Use the correct word or … .”
Laura cocked an eyebrow. “Or what?”
“Don’t speak at all,” Jack finished for our boss, his discomfort obvious. “I don’t care who uses what word. I care about being helpful. If you can’t be helpful, Laura, then shut your trap.”
Laura had the audacity to look affronted. “I was trying to help!”
Jack ignored her screech, pushing himself to a standing position before stepping over the glass coffee table in the middle of the furniture arrangement. He glanced around for a moment and then grabbed my arm to drag me to the middle of the second couch – the one across the table from Laura – before he sat at the end. I realized right away it wasn’t because he wanted to be close to me, but rather that he wanted to ensure Laura couldn’t sit next to him and continue her relentless flirting.
“So what do we have?” Bernard asked, leading the conversation toward something constructive.
“We have two missing people who haven’t been seen in days,” Jack answered. “Their cell phones are off. They haven’t pinged on a tower in more than three days. We have no idea when they went missing because they were supposed to be camping for three days. We have no idea how they went missing. That’s basically it.”
Chris stirred. “That’s nowhere near everything we have. You’re forgetting the prints on the ground, which were definitely canine in nature. You’re also omitting the claw marks on the tent and the way the campground was trashed. We very clearly have the makings of a lycanthrope attack.”
Jack managed to keep his temper in check, but just barely. “No, we have a disturbed campsite. You can’t prove that damage wasn’t faked in an attempt to cover up a crime.”
The Werewolf Whoops Page 6
