Page 59 of Stripped

“So, what have you been doing?” Alice asked. “Or should I say who have you been doing?”

Julie gave me a worried look, but I forced a big smile and shook my head. I wasn't in the mood to get into my drama with Zane. “I've been too busy avoiding a vampire with a vendetta to worry about romance.”

“Are you moving to Denver soon?” Carly asked. Alice was still eying me like she was planning to dig for more information and she poured more booze in my glass while I was focused mostly on Carly.

“As soon as I can,” I said. “I'm ready to start on the next phase of my life.”

“Me, too,” Carly said. “Stripping was good money, but I hated it when the guys put their hands on me.”

I nodded. The men weren't supposed to touch the dancers, they were supposed to call Zed over when it happened, but I knew Zed didn't get called for every slap on the ass or boob grab. “That's certainly something I won't miss.”

Alice shrugged. “Considering how much they paid for the lap dances, I never minded a guy getting a little handsy.”

I didn't react to her words. If I'd still been her boss, I would have spoken to her about her willingness to let patrons cross boundaries, but I wasn't her boss anymore and she wasn't going to be a stripper anymore. It was relief, honestly. Alice acted tough, like nothing affected her, but she was a pleaser at heart and I'd always worried she'd let a guy get too far with her. That she'd lose more of herself than she'd been willing to give without realizing it.

Alice laughed like everyone had agreed with her. “Too bad I never found a sugar daddy to set me up for life.”

“Hey, I heard there's a party in here,” Paulie said from the doorway. He had three other guys with him and they were all carrying bags of chips and beer.

Shortly after they arrived, more wolves poured into the building until it looked like the whole town was there.

Julie caught up to me about an hour into the party. She looked exhausted. “I'm going to head home,” she said. “I'm beat. You can crash at our place if you want.”

“I'm good here,” I said. “But thanks.”

Julie left and I wandered into the crowd. Everyone I'd met had been kind and friendly, and I'd never been the type to hang by the punch bowl and avoid people.

“Want to go waterfall diving?” an elderly woman asked, apropos of nothing.

“What is that?”

She grabbed my hand and tried to pull me out of the building, but I planted my feet so she couldn't move me. “You'll love it,” she said. “Come on.”

“Don't go with Esther.” A warm hand wrapped around my other hand and held me in place. I twisted to see Zane by my side.

I yanked my hand from his. “Let go of me. I'm going waterfall diving.”

I followed Esther out of the building, grabbing my coat, hat, and gloves on my way out, operating on anger and stubbornness. Zane went back into the barn, letting me go. I didn't care, I didn't need him.

Moments later, I heard his footsteps pounding behind me and relief washed over me. I really didn't want to be out here alone. He didn't touch me, but he was so close I could feel the heat of his body. “It's dangerous for werewolves,” he said. “And we heal. You won't survive it.”

A shiver ran through me. I had no desire to do this, because I didn't want to die and because the night air, though unseasonably warm, was too cold for swimming and I had no interest in getting wet. I'd just go with Esther and watch. It sounded like something I needed to see.

Esther walked up the side of the mountain like she was power walking around the mall. I was panting and gasping for breath about two minutes into the entirely up-hill walk. “Where is this waterfall?”

Esther was so far ahead, she couldn't hear me.

“There are waterfalls all over the mountain,” Zane said. “She could be taking you to any one of them.” He wasn't the least bit out of breath, the fudgesicle.

“Sounds great,” I said, barely able to get the words out. “I love trying new things.” I really needed to stop talking. I couldn't keep going if I wasted all my air on words.

Zane didn't laugh at me. “You know you're killing yourself getting up this mountain for no reason. I'm not going to let you jump off a waterfall.”

I stopped, as much because he'd just pissed me off as because I needed a break to catch my breath. “You have no right to tell me what to do.”

“I'm not telling you what to do. I'm protecting you.”

“I don't need or want your protection. I'd be just as happy never to see your face again.”

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