Page 41 of Moonlighting with the Werewolf

She cast me a curious side glance.

“Guadalupe means the valley of wolves. Nissa, Diego, and I got a kick out of it when we decided to make it our home.”

“Wait. That means... You’re Wolf Wolf, living in the valley of wolves?” Kerrigan shook her head. “Now I feel so foolish for notexpectingto meet a werewolf when I moved to town.” “That’s precisely why Sheriff Martin and I voted against putting werewolves on the town sign.”

Kerrigan’s eyes went wide. “Seriously?”

I chuckled and tapped her nose. “No, that was a joke. Although, when it comes to Bigfoot, that’s actually how Sasquatch got his nickname.”

One of her eyes squinted closed, and was she trying to give me the evil eye? “I can’t tell if you’re telling me the truth or pulling my leg again.”

Using my grip on her hand, I drew her closer and kissed the crinkle between her eyebrows. “One hundred percent serious. We often joke that all the Bigfoot sightings are just a result of him living in the forest by himself for decades. He’s so much taller and bigger than most people, and sometimes he rustles the bushes to play it up for the tourists.”

“No,” she said, her utter disbelief clear. “You can’t be talking about the same dude who escorts me home in deafening silence, never cracks a smile, and hardly speaks.”

“One and the same.”

“See, now I really don’t believe you. I’ve tried to coax out a smile, and all I get is a whole lot of nothing in return. And I’m freaking funny, damn it.”

“I wholeheartedly agree,” I said, and why did that cause the humor to drain from her features?

“It’s the outsider thing, isn’t it? No matter what I say or do, it’s not enough to change their minds.”

Well, shit. This wasn’t where this conversation was supposed to go. We’d have to deal plenty with that later, so I sidestepped. “Sasquatch is extremely serious when it comes to his duties. Now, no more frowning. We’ve got a couple hours before we have to head back, and I plan on enjoying it to the fullest.”

I released her hand and spread out the food for our picnic. Nothing fancy. Sub sandwiches, extra heavy on the meat, cheese, and mayo. We sat on a rock that’d been warmed by the sun and chatted as we ate.

Kerrigan declined her second sandwich, so I ate it before packing up the mess. Then I stood and kicked off my boots. I reached behind my neck, snagged the collar of my T-shirt, and peeled it off over my head.

“Um, not that I mind you adding eye candy to the view,” Kerrigan said, “but if this is your idea of a first date, I feel obligated to inform you that the social norm is to discuss stripping beforehand.”

I chuckled—like she’d said, she was funny. “I’m sure you can imagine how much I care about social norms. It also sounds like you’re quite the expert on stripping, and I’m all for a demonstration...”

She daggered a glare at me but lost the battle to suppress her smile.

“I want to show you my favorite place in the entire world. The climb there is steep enough that it’s easier for me to get there in wolf form.”

“How handy for you. You recall I’m not a werewolf, right?”

“I’m aware.” Too aware due to the fuss Nissa and the rest of the pack kept making. Elias had greeted us upon our return, and when I pulled the kid aside and inquired how everyone had treated Kerrigan—and told him this was his chance to be brutally detailed and honest—he relayed most disregarded her and griped over her presence.

Even Sabine, whose brother was alivebecause of her.

“Conall? Did someone press pause on you? Is it your belly button?” Kerrigan reached for it, and I caught her hand.

“I’m all for you pushing my buttons, but not that one.”

She stuck out her lips in a dramatic pout, so I tugged her to me and kissed them until they and her body both became pliant.

I used that to my advantage, twisting her around so that her back hit my chest. Then I pointed over her shoulder, to the gushing stream of water. “See that ridge along the top? You can’ttell from this angle, but there’s a cave behind the waterfall. It’s the prettiest spot you ever did see, completely hidden from the rest of the world. That’s where we’re headed.”

Her eyes widened as she studied the sheer rock face. “That’s the kind of climb that requires rope and those metal thingies that you”—she fisted her hand and brought it down in a hammer motion—“into the rock.”

“I don’t need those. My center of gravity is lower in wolf form, my footing extra sure. That’s why you’re going to ride me.”

“Another thing that’s usually discussed beforehand,” she said, and I huffed a laugh. “I get that you have special wolf skills, but I’d require a whole bag of gear to make that climb safely. Plus, like, a shit-ton of bubble wrap and some football pads.”

I wound my arms around her waist and lowered my mouth to her neck. “Have I mentioned how sexy your sense of humor is?”

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