Page 40 of The Claiming of the Shrew
“I don’t know, but her smell was all over my room and now she’s disappeared. She’s the person who planted the jewelry, I’m sure of it. I assumed she was involved with your disappearance, although finding you was more of a priority than finding her, obviously. Maybe she and Ralph are working together.”
Leah shook her head. “I didn’t see her anywhere. And he didn’t act like he has an accomplice.” She frowned. “Ralph tried to pen me up in a coffee can. Maybe he’s got Maggie in a cage or something. Someone should check his campsite.”
“What does she turn into?”
“I’m not completely sure. I know it’s some kind of bird, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen her shift.”
“That tracks,” Fawkes said. “I found her room empty and her window open.”
“Put me down,” Leah complained. He was carrying her toward the hotel. “No wait. Where are my crutches?”
“In your sister’s room. Actually, you should call her and let her know you’re okay. Hold on.” Fawkes stopped and adjusted his grip on Leah, causing her to do a happy little wiggle, so he could get out his cell phone. “Use my phone. Joy’s number is on there.”
Leah sent Joy a rambling text while he carried her into the hotel and, with increasing strain, up the stairs. Leah was light and he was shifter-strong, but it was a long way to do a bridal carry. By the time they got to the door of Joy’s room, he was happy to put her down.
At that point he discovered the door was locked and he had no way to get in. He about-faced and carried her to the other end of the hall and the door to his room—where he remembered that the key was in his pants. Which were in Joy’s room along with the rest of his clothes.
“I’ll get Hester?—”
“No, I’ve got it.” Leah plunged out of his grasp, he heard a tiny plop, and as he moved aside the sheet of fabric he’d wrapped her in, he saw a small gray thing wriggle under the door. A moment later, Leah, standing up and propped on the wall, opened it from inside. Under the room lights, he had a glorious view of her lean, naked body.
“Nice,” Fawkes told her. In spite of his aching shoulders and back, he swept her off her feet again and carried her to the bed.
“Nice?” Leah repeated, laughing, as he laid her down on the bed. “I’m blushing, I can’t bear it, I’m going to die from these compliments. Nice!”
Fawkes nuzzled into her neck. “You smell nice, too.”
“I was just in a coffee can.”
“Oh, that’s probably it, then.”
She bit his ear. “Why are you wearing a bathrobe?” Her hands were exploring down his chest now. “Were you a raccoon?”
“I hate to tell you this, but you’re not doing so great at the dirty talk yourself here,” he said in between kisses of her luxurious neck.
“If you keep up the compliments, I’m going to swoon. On that note, Fawkes?”
“Yes, you beautiful shrew?”
“I’m entirely serious about eating before we go any further.”
The honeymoon suite had come with a complimentary basket of snacks, which he largely hadn’t touched. He brought it to the bed, and Leah sat naked and scarfed down two muffins and a chocolate bar while Fawkes filled her in on the broad outlines of what had happened after she went missing. Fawkes sent a text to Hester telling her that Maggie might be in danger and Ralph’s campsite should be checked.
Do we know if she’s the thief?Hester texted back.
Don’t know. You have the jewelry?
Got it right here.
“Hester wants to know if we should tell people about Maggie or not,” Fawkes said.
Leah sighed. “I’d love to throw her under the bus like she did me. But we don’t know for sure.”
Fawkes texted back,Please wait to say anything until we can talk to her. We don’t even know where she is.
Fine,Hester replied.I’m going to bed. Deal with the rest of this in the morning.
Fawkes showed Leah the text. “Good enough?”
