“But why?”
We could keep asking that question, drilling further and further back for every answer we came up with.
Headlights appeared as a car turned the corner, driving slowly as it edged along the alley.
Rick stood. “Hold on a moment.”
I looked around. I hadn’t gotten far from the parking lot. Across the street and down the block, we sat against the row of shrubs and fence that divided the condo from the rest of the neighborhood. The car stopped nearby as Rick flagged it down. It was Ben’s car. The lights went off, then Ben stepped out.
Relieved, because I felt a little safer now, I went to meet him.
“I called him,” Rick said. “I hope you don’t mind.”
Ben looked relieved, too, his lips in a thin smile. “I found your clothes and bag by your car.” He held them up to show me.
Ah, clothes. “Thanks,” I said, leaning into him in an awkward hug—his hands were full, a
nd I was busy holding Rick’s coat around me.
“Are you okay?” Ben said.
“I think so. Just a little shook up.”
Then came shock and panic—I didn’t have my watch, I didn’t know what time it was. It was Friday night and I was supposed to be working right now, not running around naked.
“What time is it?”
“You have an hour,” Ben said. “Get in, I’ll drive.”
He handed me my clothes and got back in the car. I was left holding clothes in one hand, using the other to hold the coat closed, and contemplating how I was going to manage the next few minutes.
I looked at Rick. “You saw me naked, didn’t you?”
“Maybe just a little.” He quirked a smile. Sheesh.
With a long-suffering sigh, I decided to let it go. I handed him his coat and started pulling on my jeans and shirt. The vampire turned his gaze skyward and politely pretended not to notice.
Ben, however, leaned out the driver’s-side window and watched.
“Okay,” I said, finally ready to go. “I’m hoping this’ll all be over tonight, one way or the other.”
He nodded. “Good luck.”
“Thanks.” I flashed a smile, then jumped in the car, and we drove away.
Ben was smirking. No, he was positively leering.
“What?” I said, a little put out.
“You’re awfully cute, you know that?”
“Is that supposed to be a compliment?”
He just kept grinning, all the way to the station.
Chapter 20
I was exhausted, itchy, annoyed. My skin still felt like it should have fur. I couldn’t have been asleep for more than an hour—not enough time to sleep off the Wolf. Part of me glared out, shoulders up, head low, like a pacing animal.