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Authors: Jenny Schwartz
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he?”
“No, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t powerful. What he lacks is an alpha’s protectiveness.”
The simple statement struck a chord with her. Her grandfather was protective, so was her brother, the new Suzerain, and so was Carson. Brandon might love his children, but she received no sense that his concern extended further. Perhaps that was why, despite all his surface appeal, she was so wary of him.
She touched a leaf of the nearest gentian, feeling its slight roughness and sensing its vitality. “I didn’t come here for you to take on my problems.” She let the leaf go and watched it spring back, heard the faint rustle of it. “I’ll tell Brandon the truth. That I panicked, not wanting to hurt his feelings, but that you and I aren’t involved, and I won’t be wooed into a relationship with him. The truth is safest.”
Carson tipped his head fractionally, as if he’d heard something curious in her words.
She replayed them in her head, and couldn’t detect anything. “I’ll phone him.”
“No,” he said slowly. “John didn’t seem to think that associating with me put you in danger.”
A faint flush rose in her face and she ducked her head, turning aside, to hide it. On the contrary, her grandfather had implicitly encouraged her involvement with Carson. Had she, mortifying thought, mentioned Carson to Brandon precisely because she did want a relationship with him despite the necessity of putting protecting Kylie first? Was that why the excuse had risen so easily to her tongue?
Or had she recalled his quiet protectiveness and instinctively sought a refuge?
“One date,” Carson said.
“Pardon?”
“Are you working, tonight?”
“No. Tomorrow night.”
“Dinner and a club. We’ll go dancing.”
She stared at him.
He elucidated. “One public date. It won’t mean much to anyone watching me—although you can’t visit here, again—but to Brandon, after what you told him today, if he pursues you I have the right to challenge him over it.”
Challenges among weres happened, but her grandfather had strict rules of behavior for the wolves in his pack and those, like Carson, who were visiting. According to John, squabbling was for youngsters. If Carson intended to call Brandon on his behavior, then he had to have a clear case for doing so. A date, as he’d said, would provide the proof for Liz’s lie to Brandon earlier.
And her grandfather knew they’d run together last night.
“All right,” she agreed. “Dinner and dancing. If you don’t mind?”
Unexpectedly, Carson grinned. “Do I mind an excuse to cuddle you on a dance floor?” He swooped and bent her back over his arm as if they were tangoing.
She started laughing, unable to stop even as he pulled her upright. She leant against him until her laughter faded. “I have a favorite club.”
“Ah?” Cautious. Such a clever wolf. He wanted to know what she found so hilarious.
“Everyone will expect me to take you to the club. It serves dinner, so we can eat there.”
“What’s the club, its theme?”
“Salsa.” She smiled brilliantly. “Get ready to shake your booty, baby.”
“What if I have two left feet?”
“I’m a doctor. I’ll stitch you on a right foot.”
It was his turn to laugh. “Okay. I’ll pick you up about eight o’clock.”
“Uh no. Don’t do that.” Her laughter vanished in a panicked rush.
So did his. “If you think Brandon’s watching your house, this is more than game playing. I’ll challenge him now. Stalking is wrong.”
“No, no. My house. Eight o’clock. I’ll be waiting.” And Kylie will be hiding . “See you then. Wear your dancing shoes.”
Carson found a parking spot within walking distance of Liz’s home and didn’t try for one closer. There probably wouldn’t be. It was a perfect summer’s night and London was heaving with people out and about, intent on enjoying the last of the warm weather.
In Eaton Square, the iconic plane trees of London
“No, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t powerful. What he lacks is an alpha’s protectiveness.”
The simple statement struck a chord with her. Her grandfather was protective, so was her brother, the new Suzerain, and so was Carson. Brandon might love his children, but she received no sense that his concern extended further. Perhaps that was why, despite all his surface appeal, she was so wary of him.
She touched a leaf of the nearest gentian, feeling its slight roughness and sensing its vitality. “I didn’t come here for you to take on my problems.” She let the leaf go and watched it spring back, heard the faint rustle of it. “I’ll tell Brandon the truth. That I panicked, not wanting to hurt his feelings, but that you and I aren’t involved, and I won’t be wooed into a relationship with him. The truth is safest.”
Carson tipped his head fractionally, as if he’d heard something curious in her words.
She replayed them in her head, and couldn’t detect anything. “I’ll phone him.”
“No,” he said slowly. “John didn’t seem to think that associating with me put you in danger.”
A faint flush rose in her face and she ducked her head, turning aside, to hide it. On the contrary, her grandfather had implicitly encouraged her involvement with Carson. Had she, mortifying thought, mentioned Carson to Brandon precisely because she did want a relationship with him despite the necessity of putting protecting Kylie first? Was that why the excuse had risen so easily to her tongue?
Or had she recalled his quiet protectiveness and instinctively sought a refuge?
“One date,” Carson said.
“Pardon?”
“Are you working, tonight?”
“No. Tomorrow night.”
“Dinner and a club. We’ll go dancing.”
She stared at him.
He elucidated. “One public date. It won’t mean much to anyone watching me—although you can’t visit here, again—but to Brandon, after what you told him today, if he pursues you I have the right to challenge him over it.”
Challenges among weres happened, but her grandfather had strict rules of behavior for the wolves in his pack and those, like Carson, who were visiting. According to John, squabbling was for youngsters. If Carson intended to call Brandon on his behavior, then he had to have a clear case for doing so. A date, as he’d said, would provide the proof for Liz’s lie to Brandon earlier.
And her grandfather knew they’d run together last night.
“All right,” she agreed. “Dinner and dancing. If you don’t mind?”
Unexpectedly, Carson grinned. “Do I mind an excuse to cuddle you on a dance floor?” He swooped and bent her back over his arm as if they were tangoing.
She started laughing, unable to stop even as he pulled her upright. She leant against him until her laughter faded. “I have a favorite club.”
“Ah?” Cautious. Such a clever wolf. He wanted to know what she found so hilarious.
“Everyone will expect me to take you to the club. It serves dinner, so we can eat there.”
“What’s the club, its theme?”
“Salsa.” She smiled brilliantly. “Get ready to shake your booty, baby.”
“What if I have two left feet?”
“I’m a doctor. I’ll stitch you on a right foot.”
It was his turn to laugh. “Okay. I’ll pick you up about eight o’clock.”
“Uh no. Don’t do that.” Her laughter vanished in a panicked rush.
So did his. “If you think Brandon’s watching your house, this is more than game playing. I’ll challenge him now. Stalking is wrong.”
“No, no. My house. Eight o’clock. I’ll be waiting.” And Kylie will be hiding . “See you then. Wear your dancing shoes.”
Carson found a parking spot within walking distance of Liz’s home and didn’t try for one closer. There probably wouldn’t be. It was a perfect summer’s night and London was heaving with people out and about, intent on enjoying the last of the warm weather.
In Eaton Square, the iconic plane trees of London
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