Page 47 of Werewolves Don't Howl
He took my hand and swung it slightly, casually as we walked out, the eyes of everyone on us, including Leticia and Mr. Clay. He gave me a nod and a pointed look, reminding me of our meeting tomorrow.
“Do you want to go with me to Texas for a few days?” Cross asked. “Someone could cover for you while you work on your big exposé.”
I stopped while my heart pounded. A few days away from trying to not look like I wanted to stab Cross in public would be so great. Also good for my career. And getting away from corpses. “Yes. A few days out of town would be very nice.”
“You could skip your meeting with Clay.”
“Could I?” I glanced over at him. “Is he at odds with both of your identities or just the political one?”
“If you don’t want to smell like a werewolf, it would be better if you didn’t see him right away. Also, I have more than two identities, Miss Era.” He held the car door open for me and I climbed in, took out my knitting and tried to block out the rest of the world. My wolf wanted to curl up on Cross’s lap and snuggle. He’d fed me so beautifully. He deserved some appreciation. My elf wasn’t in the same mood. I didn’t appreciate his willingness to be objectified for my career. That made it far less satisfying. And I didn’t like him telling me that I shouldn’t see my boss. Of course, he was right, but it rankled.
“We could go tonight,” he said, glancing at his phone, then at me.
“Tonight? You’re joking.”
He gave me a slight smile. “The joys of having a private jet.”
I winced. “You want me out of town for a few days, or are you feeling the need to lie low?”
“I don’t like the way you were played, first the body and then Loren herself showing up like that. I don’t like how vulnerable you are here.”
I frowned at him. “But the only reason you agreed to be my protector was to capture this beast. If I’m vulnerable, I make a good target.”
His eyes narrowed and anger flashed in them. “On the contrary, Miss Era. I don’t throw away assets. Good targets only seem vulnerable, but must, in reality, be the strongest, most capable of us all. Even then, things go wrong, and bad things happen to those you’ve sworn to protect.”
“And you did swear to protect me in front of the Alta and all those people. Too bad.”
His lips twitched. “Yes, too bad. Henrick, airport,” he said with a slight smile as he looked at me. “I’ll make sure your clothing choices match my eyes.”
“My clothing doesn’t matter. I’m not the one being exposed.”
His smile became slightly more genuine. “But Miss Era, I only agree to opening up to the public if I’m protected by my committed relationship to the respectable society lady who can soften the assault.”
I stared at him, my heart sinking. “You won’t let me do an exposé?”
“Of course I will, but it has to be a couple’s story. Otherwise, no one would believe that you weren’t blackmailing me.”
“Or I could just make up whatever I liked.”
“Naturally, but the photos are what are going to sell it.” He held his phone out to me so I could see a picture of me and Cross together at the political event. I looked enchanting, confident, like a politician’s perfect wife at the side of the man who was looking down at me like I was his whole world.
I turned away from that nonsensical image. “Ah, the devoted husband. Another role you’re disgustingly adept at playing. Don’t you ever sicken yourself?”
“Every day. Husband? I’ll have to watch that, not look too respectable too quickly, or no one would believe it. Perhaps they would. We did know each other at school.”
“It was love at first sight,” I said drily.
“Absolutely. You were trying to bring the tiny sapling back to life after one of the careless boys fell over on it. Your magic was very beautiful.”
I blinked at him, my stomach lurching. It hurt for him to mention my magic so casually. I used to love plants like my brother loved cheese, and my magic had been part of me, like a limb I’d lost that when the wolf devoured me. “You mentioned it. Why would you bother remembering my magic?”
“I remember a lot of things,” he said with a flash of his violet eyes that made me want to stab him with my knitting needles. He remembered torturing me but still hadn’t bothered to apologize.
I wrinkled my adorable nose at him. “It must be quite unpleasant to be you.”
“Quite.” He smiled slightly and went back to his phone.
Somehow, I didn’t stab him.
