is with his creator. May the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit fill you with comfort and peace that passes understanding. I am always here for you and your family in this time of despair, so please do not hesitate to contact me if you need anything. Go in peace, my child, and be comforted by the love of your God. I know Marc is smiling down and watching over you.”
I just bet he‘s smiling, I thought, but what I said was, “Thank you, Brother Thomas.” The idea that Marc was watching me gave me the heebie-jeebies, and a chill skittered up my spine. Could they not bury the body already?
I forced a small smile and he nodded, then walked away to greet one of Marc‘s uncles who had sat beside me during the services.
I took that as my cue to stand up and find Daryn, but when I turned, I was face to face with the city‘s homicide detective, Alex Rhodes.
Company—the bad kind. Crap!
Alex gave me a sympathetic expression as I slid my sunglasses into place over my eyes. “Mena, I‘m so sorry to hear about Marc. All of us down at the precinct were blown away by the news. We‘re here for you. If you need anything at all, please don‘t hesitate to call me.”
I sighed in relief, and my mouth curved up into a genuine smile. Alex and Marc hadn‘t exactly been friends. Marc had been a defense attorney, so the criminals the cops locked up, Marc had set them free. And he had been damn good at his job, too. I, however, had never had any problems with Alex; he had always been kind to me.
“Thank you, Alex.” It was all I could think of to say, because the wolf inside me seemed to be mesmerized by the detective‘s hazel eyes, strong jaw line and that perfectly tousled brunette hair of his. I swear I thought she was drooling.
Embarrassed because I was staring at him, I tried to look away, but she wouldn‘t let me. I was happy I had remembered to put on my sunglasses; the hungry eyes of my wolf had to be showing.
No! I scolded her in my thoughts. Not only is Alex off limits because he‘s a detective, but he‘s human! I‘m supposed to be in mourning and you want to hump his leg! No. Sit down and let me get rid of him. He is dangerous to us.
A shudder rippled through my body, and I could tell she wasn‘t at all happy with the way I had stood up to her, but I could feel her pouting and knew she was going to let me have my way—at least for now. I made a mental note to avoid Alex Rhodes at all costs.
“Can I give you a ride home? I—”
“Mena, the car is ready,” Daryn‘s voice interrupted, and I could feel his anxiety as he moved into my personal space, the overgrown male crowding Alex in the process.
Alex observed him a moment and then casually took a step back, his hand coming up to offer an introduction. “Alex Rhodes. I don‘t believe I‘ve seen you around Montgomery. Were you a friend of Marc‘s?”
Daryn eyed the outstretched hand and, instead of taking it, he brushed my lower back with his fingers and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me to him possessively.
I was in too much shock to respond. What the hell was he doing?
“Not really. Marc was my boss,” Daryn said.
Those hazel eyes shifted from Daryn to me, and then Alex lowered his arm and nodded, seeming to understand something that was not true, that Daryn and me were dating, and going public with it at my late husband‘s funeral. No! That‘s the last thing I needed on the front page of the Daily Independent tomorrow, the same morning that I was to give the press release.
I lifted the heel of my left foot and casually placed it on the toe of Daryn‘s boot, then transferred the weight of my body onto it, aiming to cut one of his toes off if I was lucky.
Daryn‘s body went rigid and his arm dropped from around me.
I smiled at Alex as Daryn limped away. “Sorry about that. He‘s my cousin and very protective of me. I guess he thought you were trying to make a move on me at my husband‘s funeral.”
Oh, God! Where had that
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