Page 44 of Howling Night

Before I could respond, she slid out of the booth and hurried toward the door, leaving me alone. I opened the menu again and kept my eyes down, hoping he’d ignore me.

Courtney hadn’t even been gone thirty seconds when someone slid into her seat. I knew without even looking up that it wasn’t Courtney.

I swallowed hard as I looked up. His lips curled into a smile that made my heart pound and the back of my neck prickle with heat.

His voice was smoother than silk. “So we meet again, Miss Everly Montana.”

ChapterTwenty

“Unfortunate,” I muttered, unable to look away from him. Ryder was going to be fucking pissed off when he heard about this.

Kellan laughed, glancing around the diner with casual interest before waving to someone seated somewhere behind me. His smile never faltered as his attention returned to me.

“You should go,” I said, keeping my voice low. “My friend will be back any minute.”

He rested his clasped hands on the table. “It’ll only take a second. I just wanted to say hi before heading out.”

“Hi. Now go,” I said, my hands balled into fists under the table.

“Aw, don’t be like that,” Kellan said, his voice tinged with false charm. The predatory gleam in his eyes didn’t fool me. “We just got off on the wrong foot the other night. A misunderstanding, if you will.”

I shook my head as I leaned back, putting more distance between us. “There was no misunderstanding. I think it would be best if we just pretend the other doesn’t exist. You won’t come to my house, and I’ll continue to avoid you like the plague. How does that sound?”

“But I don’t want to pretend you don’t exist.” A smile spread across his face, revealing his perfectly straight white teeth. “We could be friends.”

“I don’t have time for friends,” I said, barely moving my mouth.

Kellan gestured toward Courtney.

“Any more friends, that is.”

“I don’t know what Ryder’s been telling you about me, but I’m not the bad guy here. It’s him. He doesn’t like me because his friends keep leaving to be with me.” Kellan shrugged. “He tries to turn everyone against me, and it’s not working. He’s always been like this. Big chip on his shoulder.”

I remained silent, watching him carefully.

“He’s not who he pretends to be, you know,” Kellan said, shaking his head. “But he does have the whole town thinking he’s some kind of saint. Those who know him, really know him, aren’t fooled. Are you going to be fooled too, Everly?”

My stomach twisted with each word. Not because I believed him, but because he was sitting so close, it made me feel violated. This man had cornered me on a dark road and wrapped his hand around my throat. Now he sat across from me in a public place, acting like we were old friends catching up.

“Please leave,” I said, forcing a smile onto my face.

Instead of complying, Kellan leaned even closer across the table. “I can smell him on you,” he whispered, his eyes flashing bright amber for just a second. “You should be more careful who you trust. He’s a dangerous man.”

I leaned forward, matching his aggression. “You tried to kill me.”

“That idiot Paul. You saw us,” he hissed, his eyes narrowing. “We have rules. They aren’t just my rules.”

“I don’t care about your rules,” I said, sneering. “I have rules, too.”

Kellan grunted as he gripped the edge of the table. “Ryder broke the rules by allowing you to know the truth. I can’t and won’t let him get away with it. He holds me to the rules, then he should be accountable as well, right?”

I opened my mouth but found no words.

“Oh my gosh, Kellan? Hi!” Courtney’s cheerful voice broke the tension as she stood at the edge of the table, looking down at him. Her smile widened, and her eyelashes fluttered. “I didn’t know you two knew each other. How have you been? It’s been forever since I’ve seen you around here. It would be nice to catch?—”

“Courtney,” he said, the menace vanishing from his entire body. He slid out of the booth and gave her a quick squeeze. “It’s so good to see you.”

“You too,” she beamed. “Would you like to join us?”

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