Page 41 of Wolf's Forbidden Curse

I wasn’t sure what shocked me more—her bluntness or the fact that she was right. I cleared my throat and tried to laugh through the tension. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Just because I don’t tell every stranger my life story right after meeting them, that doesn’t mean I’m hiding anything big. I could also point out that you haven’t been very upfront about your past as well, but you don’t hear me accusing you of hiding something.”

Missy cocked her head to the side. “Yes, but you see, that’s exactly why I don’t believe you. Because I’ve known a lot of secret keepers in my day, a lot of shady characters. And because I also play things close to the chest, so I know when someone is being evasive. And look—” She put her hands up in the air— “as long as you don’t do anything that might hurt Al, I really don’t care. Whatever the real reason you chose to come to Solara Bay of all places, that’s your business. I’m not here to blow up your new life. I’m only bringing this up because I wanted to make sure we were on the same page.”

I took a step back, noticing that she had advanced on me a little while talking. “And what page would that be?”

She looked me dead in the eye. “I want you to stay away from Al.”

“Stay away from him?” I laughed. “How could I do that? He’s my boss. I live on his property.”

“Don’t remind me,” she said bitterly. “He’s already given you enough charity, and it’s obvious to everyone except Al himself that you’re using him.”

“I’m not using anyone!”

“Ha, yeah, right.” She lowered her voice. “I’m sure Al probably told you about his daughter, and you knew that he would take pity on a young girl in need of a supportive male presence in her life. I not only know the game you’re playing, but I’m better at it.”

“What—” I balked. “What game? What daughter? Al doesn’t have any kids.”

She furrowed her brow. “You’re really going to play dumb? Act like you don’t know that his daughter passed away when she was a teenager?” Missy scoffed. “Shameless. That’s what you are. And I’m onto you. You better watch your back.”

So much new information had just been thrown at me in a short period, and while I struggled to process even a piece of it, Al came out of the sliding patio door and called out to us. “You ladies hungry?” he asked. “I was thinking about firing up the grill and making burgers.”

“Honey, I made reservations at that restaurant in town, remember?” Missy called back. She then gave me one last warning look before turning around and running up the steps, acting like nothing out of the ordinary had happened between us. “Plus, Katrina just came by to tell us she’s having company over tonight, so we should let her have fun with her friend.”

“Alright then,” said Al. I took a few steps back so that I could see him standing on the porch. He smiled down at me, and I resisted the urge to tell him what a psycho his girlfriend was. As uncomfortable as Missy had just made me, I couldn’t blame her for being suspicious. She was wrong about me taking advantage of Al’s kindness, but I could see where she got the idea from. Not to mention, she was right that I’d been keeping secrets—just not ones that had anything to do with Al.

I figured I would just have to show her that she could trust me over time and meanwhile let her play the role of the overprotective girlfriend.

“Have a good time at dinner,” I said, hoping my voice didn’t sound too strained.

“Thanks,” Al said with a big smile on his face. “We will!”

CHAPTER 17

RORY

Iarrived five minutes early but sat in the car for a bit so that I wouldn’t seem too eager when I went and knocked on the door. I wanted tonight to go perfectly. That’s why I’d stopped at the store and bought an expensive bottle of wine, some nice cheese, and three different kinds of crackers. I had no idea what she liked, but that was what tonight was all about—getting to know Katrina on more than just a physical level. It was obvious that we had a connection, and the sex was nothing short of mind-blowing, but I wanted more.

And I had a feeling she did, too.

Plus, I still planned on trying to sniff out any clues regarding Katrina’s mysterious past. That way, I could at least put Nic at ease after she inevitably found out I had broken my promise to her. God, that was going to be a rough conversation…

Finally, at a minute past eight, I got out of the car with my plastic grocery bags and walked up the side staircase to Katrina’s little apartment. She opened the door before I even knocked. She grabbed a fistful of my shirt and pulled me inside, cutting my greeting off with a kiss. I kissed her back because—how could I not? But then, when we came up for air, I smiled and took a step away from her.

“It’s good to see you, too,” I said. I put the bags on the short counter space available next to the kitchen sink. “I hope you like red, by the way.”

“Sure,” she said. “There are glasses in the cupboard above the sink, but…” She reached for my hand and started tugging me into the next room, where the bed was. “Before we even crack that bottle open, I was thinking…”

I laughed and squeezed her hand. “As tempting as that is, I think I need to eat something first. I haven’t had anything since we left the cafe and now it’s well past dinner time. Aren’t you hungry?” She walked back to me, and I tucked some of her short blond hair out of her face and behind her delicate ear. “There’s plenty of time for the other stuff, you know.”

She smiled coyly. “You say that as if I’ve already invited you to stay the night.”

I smiled back. “Let’s just have a glass of wine and see where the night takes us, shall we?”

Katrina allowed me to pull her back towards the kitchen area. She sat on the little couch on the other side of the room and watched as I opened the wine and poured us each a glass. I could feel her gaze on me, and it took every ounce of strength I had not to toss the wine glasses aside and run to her. Not to tear her clothes off and take back everything I just said about waiting to have sex.

But I stuck to my guns.

This was my chance to learn more about this amazing woman who walked into my life and turned it completely upside down. I wasn’t going to do anything to jeopardize that. If we fucked, she might call it a night early and send me home. That was the last thing I wanted.

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