Part 28 (1/2)
She hopped off the bed. ”That's the only kind you're going to get right now,” she said, making a beeline for the window across the room.
If she thought her backside would keep his focus off her body, she was mistaken. He watched her move and couldn't help but think about how he'd navigated every inch of her last night. She made him vulnerable-made the human side of him want to fight to the death to protect her while the wolf side of him wanted her to tame his savage soul.
”I'm going to show up as a room service attendant and knock on the doors until I find the right one,” she continued.
”That's original.”
She turned with the kind of perturbed posture a disgruntled teenager might wear. One shoulder was higher than the other, one leg was bent, the other straight. Her head slanted to the side and her arms were crossed.
”Do you have a better idea?” she asked with a sa.s.sy tone that shouldn't turn him on when they needed to focus on business, but did anyway.
”Of course I do.”
But before he could share it with her, there was a knock.
He used his superhuman speed to get to the door before her. He had no idea who stood on the other side, but his skin p.r.i.c.kled, his muscles tensed and instincts told him to be cautious.
Tess stood behind him a few seconds later, her warm breath on his neck. ”Let me answer it.”
”No.”
She tried to get around him. He countered her every move with one of his own, keeping his back to her attempts. Didn't she realize he had seventy-five pounds on her and several inches in every direction?
”Dammit, Hugh. Let me get it.”
Another knock sounded. He ignored her and opened the door.
Dane stood in the hallway, looking rather amused in a relaxed stance. ”Am I interrupting something?”
”What-” he and Tess said simultaneously before she backed away.
”What are you doing here?” Hugh continued, opening the door wide enough for Dane to enter.
The Night Runner strolled past Hugh and stopped in the middle of the room to look around. Hugh noticed his attention linger on the computer and desk area before settling on Tess. She leaned against the side of the couch, her hands bracing on the arm as if she were waiting for the right moment to launch off.
”The hotel was closer than I thought, and the young woman at the front desk was kind enough to give me your room number so I could come get you.” He stood with his arms at his side, his fingers twitching.
Tension filled the room.
”Bull-”
”Tess,” Hugh interrupted, ”can I see you over here for a minute?”
She pushed off the couch, took a detour by the bed to retrieve her bag, and met him near the bathroom door.
”I want you to stay in the bathroom for a few minutes while I talk to Dane,” he whispered.
”The h.e.l.l I will. He's lying and I want to know why.”
”I'll find out what's going on, not you.” No way was Dane's being in San Diego a coincidence and Hugh needed to interrogate him alone.
Her eyebrows furrowed. ”It sounds like you don't trust me.”
”You are the one with the mercury bullet.”
She blinked long enough for him to see the corner of her eye spasm. When her lids lifted he saw pain in the blue-green depths, but he refused to acknowledge it. He was protecting her, G.o.ddammit. Reminding her if push came to shove, she had a job to do.
”This isn't your deal, it's ours. Dane's arrival means something, and knowing the history between the two of you, I might be able to get more information out of him than you,” Tess said.
”Get in the bathroom, Tess.”
”You can't force me in there.”
He darted his gaze to Dane. His pack mate wasn't hiding his interest in their conversation. h.e.l.l, he'd most likely heard every word. Hugh readied himself to end the show. ”Watch me.”
Faster than he'd give her credit for, Tess moved out of his reach. With her arms in the air, a twirl in her stride and a voice to rival Mary Poppins, she said, ”Oh Hugh, don't be silly. Dane would love for me to join you in a drink. Wouldn't you, Dane?”
”Actually-”
”I don't think he would.” Hugh's swift stride carried him to Tess's side before she had time to lower her arms. He took her wrist with a firm hold. ”We've got pack business to discuss.”
”I can speak for myself, Hugh.” Dane remained in statuesque form a step away from Tess's flailing free arm. ”And I was about to say I do have business to discuss that needs to be done in private.”
”Come on boys. I promise I won't tell.” She brought a hand to her chest and drew an X across her s.h.i.+rt. ”Cross my heart and hope to die.”
Her words cut into Hugh deeper than if she'd held a knife to his skin. Even though it was a common saying, he didn't like hearing the word die come from her lips. Because reality was, someone might. Tonight.
Tess's pulse raced under his hand. She might appear calm but she was anything but. He knew she was angry, but more than anger made her heart beat faster.
He gently laid her arm at her side and wished he didn't have to let go. ”Stay here. I'll be back in forty-five minutes.”
”You're kidding, right?”
Dane chuckled. ”Does Hugh know how to kid?”
Hugh ignored the comment and brought his mouth to her ear. ”Don't go anywhere without me.”
”Where would I go?” she asked, disdain in her tone. ”I've got nothing better to do than sit here and wait for you. I'll just clean out my purse. It's full of useless c.r.a.p.”
Tess skipped-skipped? Whatever it was, it wasn't walking-to the couch and plopped down like an ent.i.tled princess who hadn't gotten her way. When she wanted to lay it on thick, she sure knew how to work it. No wonder she was so successful at her job.
With her bag in her lap, she gave him a huge smile that reached the corners of her eyes. The kind of smile that told him when he walked out of the room there was no telling what she might do. d.a.m.n her. But he had to talk to Dane in private to get to the bottom of his reasons for being in San Diego. Every muscle in his back clenched. He trusted Dane less and less every minute.
The trust he had in Tess, however-or was it wishful thinking?-won out, despite his worry she'd do something stupid. He had to go for the drink. Had to confirm or refute his doubts about Dane. Pack loyalty was crucial at the moment.
”I won't be long,” he said.
”Yeah, yeah. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine here all by myself.” She rummaged in her purse rather than look his way.
Guilt overcame him. He knew she'd be fine by herself, but he hated leaving her alone. If anything happened to her while he was gone, he'd never forgive himself.