Page 54 of Moonlighting with the Werewolf

Goose bumps spread across my skin as his expression turned deadly, even though it was aimed over my shoulder. “I’m asking if the mayor knew about us when he was trying to look down your shirt.”

Yikes.Finally, my fuzzy brain put together more pieces of the puzzle. “I’m sure he was merely awaiting the epic shot I was about to take. Besides”—I cupped myself over my bra—“it’s not like I have much to look at.”

Oh shit, I got the low growl. Conall slid his hand to my lower back, sprawling his fingers as he pressed me tighter against him. “What matters is they’re mine.”

If I’d been sober, I might’ve been able to stifle the ovary implosion. I was pissed at myself for the reaction, but my indignation was better aimed at him. “They’re not yours.” I shoved him away, and since he didn’t budge, it sent my other hip into the pool table.Ouch. That’s gonna leave a mark.“You can’t have it both ways, Conall.”

“I told you I couldn’t get seriousright now.”

I thwacked him in the arm, the move immature yet satisfying. “Then stop acting so serious in the bar.”

“It sounds to me like the lady’s asking you to back off,” Craig said, starting toward us, and I threw up astop-right-therehand.

“While I appreciate that, Craig, please just let me handle?—”

“If you don’t keep your eyes and hands off her,” Conall said, jabbing a finger over my shoulder, “I’ll remove them for you.”

Gina burst on to the scene, launching herself over the pool table and placing herself in the middle of the melee. “All right, boys, that’s enough dick measuring for the night. None of us have the time or energy to deal with a brawl. Not me, not the two of you, and certainly not the sheriff.” The glare she fired at Conall expressed that inher bar, she was the alpha. “I remained nearby the entire time, watching to ensure lines didn’t get crossed and that Kerrigan remained safe.”

“Safe? She’s wasted.”

“If you want someone to blame for that, blame yourself,” Gina retorted. “You’re the one who’s yanking her around. Telling her one thing one day and then changing your mind when you see her doing her best to move on. Figure it out.”

My thoughts and emotions whirled like a Merry-Go-Round set on destruction. Gina had come in clutch for me several times, and I wasn’t going to let her take heat formydecisions.

“Okay, that’s enough,” I said in my most authoritarian voice, which yes, would’ve worked better if my words didn’t slur together. “I’m a big girl, and I wanted a strong drink, something I can decide to have all by myself. Same way I can play pool with whomever I want. Mayor Sullivan...”

This time he didn’t insist I call him Craig, so at least he understood the direness of the situation.

“I’m sorry that you got caught in the middle. Conall and I... Honestly, I’m not exactly sure what we are anymore. Suffice it to say, he and I have a few issues to resolve. If I gave you the wrong impression, and you thought this was more than a friendly game of pool, that wasn’t my intention.”

“Well, you did ask after my dog instead of me, so I can’t say I’m surprised. Conall also always gets what he wants, so again, not a total shock,” Craig said, and did he think he was helping the situation? I took back what I thought about him understanding. He was stoking the fire rather than putting it out.

On cue, Conall bellowed, “What the fuck’s that supposed to mean?”

“Hello, didn’t you hear Gina? No fighting. Now, if y’all will excuse me, I’m going to take my shot, since it’s the first one that’s lined up semi-decently for me. Prepare for the comeback of the century. Or, you know, day.” I pivoted toward the table, and Conall caught the end of the pool stick an instant before it would’ve smacked him in the face. I winced. “Oops. Sorry about that.”

“And I’m sorry about how mad you’re going to be about this.” Conall yanked the wooden stick from my grasp and slammed it on the table. “Kerrigan and I are leaving, so she and I can have ourselves a discussion about those issues that need resolving.”

With that declaration still ringing in the air, he scooped me up and tossed me over his shoulder.

Between having his hard clavicle bone digging into my gut, and how quickly he whirled around and charged toward the door, I couldn’t tell which way was up or down anymore. But one thing was for sure: this fight was far from over.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Kerrigan crossedher arms tighter as I sped her tiny tin can of a car away from Lou’s Bar. “You didn’t have to make a big spectacle, you know.”

“Oh, I know,” I said since sarcasm was safer than letting my anger get the best of me. “It’s not like I didn’t warn you how possessive I am. I was crystal fucking clear on that point.” “That doesn’t mean you can show up, bark orders, and then carry me out of the bar like some kind of Neanderthal.”

“Funny, based on what happened back there, it’s exactly what it means.”

“Argh.” Frustration radiated off her, to the point I wouldn’t be surprised if her ears started steaming. “So, what? Even though you dumped me, you think you maintain the right to storm in wherever and whenever and use your brute force to punish me for trying to move on with my life?” Her voice broke on the end, and regret twinged.

Instead of admitting she had a valid point—and I hated that she did—I sidestepped. “I didn’t dump you. You left before we could finish our conversation.”

Kerrigan whipped toward me, fire in her eyes. “Are you serious right now? You hurt me, Conall. And then you didn’t call, didn’t update on me on Elias or bring him by the clinic—didn’tanything.”

“Not sure if this’ll help my case or not, but I did come to find you to tell you that Elias woke up this evening.”

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