Page 24 of Moonlighting with the Werewolf

Too bad, so sad. Hit the road, Jack.

“Like I said, I’m not a fan of carnival rides, anyway.” Craig pulled in his chin and slid his hands in his pockets, classic signals of surrendering that fed my already inflated ego. Yeah, I was a dick sometimes. I owned that.

Perfect timing, we were next to load. I moved my mouth next to her ear, folding her hand into mine as I did so. “Trust me, it’s for the best. You need a real man to hold your hand on the Ferris wheel.”

A storm brewed in the eyes that’d previously held more tenderness than I deserved, lightning flashing and thunder rumbling under the surface. She jerked her hand out of my grasp and crossed her arms. “That wasn’t very nice.”

Between the exposed shoulders and that adorable-as-fuck bow she’d tied in the scarf around her hair, I couldn’t decide what to soak in first. Vanilla, blackberry, and floral notes hit me,and I stifled a groan as her pheromones compelled me closer. “Who ever said I was nice?”

She opened her mouth, presumably to light into me. But then the conductor ushered us toward the bucket. She glanced at the people growing anxious behind us, and I could practically see her calculating how it’d look if she stamped away.

With a resigned sigh, she climbed into the bucket. I paused to slip the conductor a twenty and asked for a favor that’d likely get me into even more trouble with my riding buddy.

Judging from the scowl she fired at me as I settled into place, causing the bucket to sway,buddywas the wrong word. It wasn’t the word I wanted anyway, but I wasn’t quite sure what to settle on. None of the options fit, and I didn’t have time for entanglements, so I hadn’t a clue what I meant to gain by this.

Besides being near her for a while. There was that swirl of amusement, too, as she pointedly studied everything but me. Our bucket lifted higher into the air, and Kerrigan gripped the handlebar tightly, the snail-pace speed notwithstanding.

I leaned back in my seat, casually draping my arm over the metal back as the last cluster of people loaded into the final empty bucket. “Don’t you want to ask me how I’m feeling, Doc?”

Hands still clenched around the metal rod, Kerrigan swiveled her knees and face in the direction opposite me. “That’s not my business, remember?”

We weren’t quite high enough to see the compound yet but would be as soon as the ride whirred into motion. “Funny. I thought your business was fixing up animals. Because of that, I feel much better this weekend than I did the last one.”

Again with that haughty lift of her chin. “Oh, I’m well aware of what my job entails, and you’ve settled your bill, so I’m done with you. I don’t want to know anything about you or your businessever again, so don’t bother telling me. Fickle guys are such a turnoff.”

My jaw about hit my knee. Evidently, her kitty wasn’t the only one with claws. The engine whined as the ride soared into motion, and my stomach lifted along with the bucket.

Kerrigan’s knuckles whitened, the blood draining from her face as well as her fingers. If I didn’t think she’d rip my arm off and beat me with it, I’d extend it her way so she would have something better to hold onto.

A tiny, regretful noise emanated from her when we soared toward the sky. She cracked open an eye, then frowned when she found me peering at her. “I’m sort of afraid of heights. It’s not a big...” She let out a tiny scream and, keeping her iron grip on the handle, eyed the door as if she were contemplating bailing. “Shit, I’ve made a huge mistake, and I want out. Like, right now.”

“Hate to break it to you, and I’d like for you to remember that saying about not shooting the messenger, but we’ve passed the point of no return.”

“I didn’t shoot Elias when he came in, but you were in charge of that message—one I got loud and clear, so your request is denied. As I said before, more and more I see why someone would want to shoot you.”

Since she was obviously distressed, I let that slide right off me. “Oh, you think the mayor would’ve handled this better?”

If looks could kill, I’d be dead, and I was fairly certain she’d celebrate.Elias was right about it not going so well if I needed another trip to the vet.

Kerrigan lowered her face to the fingers encircling the bar, mumbling about how she didn’t care if she was bold or brave anymore.

A string in the center of my chest tugged. I tried to remind myself I was on a mission, but the urge to blow it off gathered steam.She’s gonna be pissed as hell in a moment, so I might as well do some preventative maintenance.

I stretched out my legs and scanned the treetops. “Wow, you can really see the entire town from up here. Take a look while you can; it’s beautiful.”

“No, thank you,” she muttered.

“Here I thoughtIwas the caged animal.” I risked placing a hand on her knee, and when she didn’t push it away, I swiped my thumb over the denim, hoping it made her feel more safe and secure, whether or not she’d admit it. “Relax. If we fell—even from the tippy top—I’d survive it.”

“How comforting for me, the human who doesn’t regenerate.”

Balking at how little faith she had in me wouldn’t help the situation, but seriously? She thought I’d let any harm come to her? “I meant that I’d curl you into my body and let you use me as a shield. I owe you one. More like two.”

“You don’t, because you already paid me. Overpaid me, honestly. You don’t have to bribe me, you know. I’m not going to expose you or your pack.”

“It was fair compensation. Nothing more.”

Kerrigan twisted her head my way, leaving her cheek resting against her knuckles. She inhaled a deep breath and then lunged in my direction, both of her arms winding around my left one. Happiness spread through my chest, and I internally pumped my fist. Her breasts pressed tighter to my biceps as she exhaled a shaky breath. “I’m still mad. You just also made a good point about using you as a shield, and I trust your healing abilities more than I trust this deathtrap machine.”

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