Page 28 of Werewolves Don't Howl
“I see that you’re going. Maybe you can do a few interviews for me,” I said, smiling wanly. I still didn’t know how to deal with him showing up to claim to be my protector. How did he find me? Why did he want to protect me? There were secret societies and mysterious beasts behind those questions, so I wasn’t going to ask them, at least not out loud.
He gave Mossy’s ice-cream-and-cold-cereal breakfast a look. “I see you’ve figured out my stocking system.”
She stuffed her face and hid it in the bowl.
“Miss Era,” he said, facing me with a slight frown. “Would you allow me to escort you to the bi-annual Bouquet Brunch? I believe it would be an ideal opportunity to announce our relationship publicly.”
“What?” was all I could think of to say. Writing an article had used up any remaining brain cells I had after last night.
“We are dating.” He glanced at Mossy. “I know that you’d rather keep it private, but after last night, it seems essential to be bold.” He took two steps, closing the distance between us, and took my hand. It wasn’t a grabby grip, just nice, cool, with the good energy you’d expect from an elf who had no idea how to hold hands. I stared at him. He’d never held hands before or he wouldn’t be doing it like this.
The werewolves would be watching. They expected more than just protection. It wasn’t any of their business, but at the same time, as a werewolf, they had power over me. And honestly, if Senator Silverton had actually asked me out on a date, if my whole werewolf thing didn’t keep me from dating anyone, I would have said yes.
But, “Dating me isn’t going to be good for your career.”
He raised an elegant brow. “Trust Henrick. He’ll spin it perfectly so that you’re an asset.”
“But, I’m a werewolf,” I said, glancing at Mossy, who flashed me a sharp-toothed smile dripping with ice cream. Shudder.
“He’ll spin that too if it comes out. It’s not public knowledge, and hopefully won’t be until you’re prepared for it.”
I squeezed his hand until his fingers curved around mine properly. “Okay. If you’re sure.”
His lips twitched. “I’m sure.”
He said it in a way that sent a rush of nerves through me. He was sure of what, exactly? Did he want to date me? He couldn’t, not possibly, and yet, he’d slept with me on the hospital bed last night, letting me snuggle up to him. If he didn’t mind that, he probably wouldn’t mind anything. For some reason, he’d let me into his very personal space that elves guarded above everything. He must really want to catch the monster.
“I’ll try not to make you regret it,” I said with a bright smile, then dropped his hand and edged away. “I’ll go get dressed.”
ChapterNine
We held hands while he drove a very nice blue sports car that would help us fit in with all the other young, handsome, wealthy socialites who would be there. He’d asked if he could hold my hand, and I’d said yes, and not added that he needed the practice before we got out in public.
“What will you say when people ask you about dating me?” he asked.
I shot him a look. We were stopped at a red light a few blocks from the Henredon estate. “What will you say?”
He smiled slightly and looked superior. “No one will ask me, because I customarily bring women to events as part of my image as a social butterfly. You never date, so it will make people curious.”
“Ah. You’re trying to prep me for my real interviews here, being interviewed. How long do you think it’ll last?”
His lips pressed together for a moment in thought or discomfort, I wasn’t sure. “I assume you’re not talking about the brunch, as you’d know far better than me. Our relationship will last until you’ve found someone else to protect you, I imagine.”
“That could take a long time.” Forever, most likely.
“There is no rush, Miss Era. Having one steady girlfriend will be good for my image, make me look more reliable. And you are universally liked. Everyone will think I have surprisingly good sense to choose you. And elves date for years, decades, sometimes centuries before they settle into marriage.”
“It will take that long for you to learn how to hold a hand properly, not to mention kissing.”
He squinted at me. “You’re shocking, Miss Era.”
“I’m a werewolf, Mr. Senator. If there wasn’t danger of infecting you, I’d take it upon myself to train you up in all manner of scandalous ways.”
His lips twitched in a smile. “How very selfless of you to consider the greater good.”
“Naturally. I believe that I mentioned that my beast wants to make you her pet. That might get messy. If you didn’t have a dragon, a gargoyle, and a sorcerer’s guild backing you up, I might be worried.”
“You did very well last night. Miss Era, I believe with proper training, you could defeat even the Alta himself.”
