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.“Miss Smith was just telling me she's planning to leave.""Then you'd better go get her bill ready, hadn't you?” Though there was no hint of menace in Jon's soft voice, a flicker of fear ran across Hank's thin features.His dead gaze ran past them.For an instant, it almost looked as if he was consulting someone.Then he nodded and quickly scuttled away.Jon touched her arms and turned her around."You okay?"His eyes were full of concern, and it was almost her undoing.For a minute it looked like he cared.She lowered her gaze and stepped away."I was doing just fine, thanks.” Her voice sounded tart again, but she couldn't help it.She wanted this man to hold her, and that simply wasn't an option."Here, take this,” he said, and held out her coat.“It's warmer than my sweater.""Thanks.” His gesture surprised her.Had he gone back into the inn just to get it? Why? As he'd pointed out, he had a meeting to get to.She slipped off his sweater, handing it to him before putting on her coat.He slung the sweater over his shoulder.Maybe he liked the rain.Or maybe he just didn't plan to stay in his wet clothes all that long.She bit her lip and looked down at her feet."Have you decided to leave after all?” he said."Just the inn.I don't think it's safe anymore.""You may be right.” He glanced thoughtfully at the inn then back at her.The warmth had fled his eyes again, leaving them carefully neutral.“I really do have to go.""Then go.Have your fun with Eleanor.I can look after myself."His eyes darkened with annoyance.Maddie grimaced.She wasn't being fair.He was doing his best to find Evan, and being catty about it certainly wouldn't help anyone.If he was treating Eleanor as nothing more than a lead, why couldn't she?Because I saw the way she clung to him, and it annoyed the hell out of me.She swallowed and looked away.“I saw a hotel on the other side of the bridge.Sea View, I think it was called.I'll grab a taxi to my car, then drive out and book us a room.""All right, then.” He hesitated, then reached up and touched her cheek with his fingertips.His caress was gentle and made something deep within her tremble in response.“Wash your wounds, then rest.I'll be there as soon as I can."He walked away again.She watched him until he'd disappeared from sight, then sighed and headed into the inn.The firemen were still in the building, but they allowed her to collect her bag.She was glad of their presence, especially when she came out of the bedroom and found Hank waiting for her."So, you really are going?"She studied him uneasily.“I said I was.How much do I owe you?""Considering what has happened, we'll make your stay complimentary.""Thank you."The nearest fireman headed for the door.She shouldered her bag and quickly followed him."I do hope we see you sometime again,” Hank continued."Not likely,” she muttered, giving him as wide a berth as possible.His chuckle crawled over her skin.She shivered and involuntarily glanced back at him.Don't come back, his gaze warned her.If you do, you'll die.She swallowed heavily, trying to ignore the premonition, then edged closer to a fireman's broad back and followed him down the stairs.* * * *Jon leaned back on the sofa and watched Eleanor enter the room.She moved with feline grace, hair shining in the firelight.A golden cat, he thought, and guessed that was her alternate form.The cat he'd seen in the forest had been black.She smiled when she caught his gaze, her midnight eyes filled with heat.He felt his body respond, even though he had no true desire for the woman.She was just another job.And yet he knew this would not have been the case a week ago.Dangerous or not, he would have taken what Eleanor was offering and enjoyed it.But every time he reached for Eleanor he saw Maddie's eyes—frightened and alone and yet oddly courageous.Somehow, she'd slipped past his guard and become a friend.And he didn't leave friends alone and frightened.She had a hell of a lot to answer for, he thought grimly.Eleanor was the key to the kids, the figurative nut that had to be broken, through fair means or foul.How could he be expected to do his job when everywhere he turned he saw something that reminded him of Maddie?He accepted his drink with a smile and patted the cushion beside him.Eleanor folded down beside him, then caressed his thigh.He stared into her eyes and wished they were amber rather than dark."I'm so glad we decided to come back here,” she purred quietly.“So much cosier."He suspected it wasn't the coziness she was after, but rather the solitude.The Blue Moon had plenty of customers—and plenty of potential witnesses if something went wrong.Though why he thought something would go wrong he couldn't say.He just had an itchy feeling he'd better watch what he did—and watch what she did."It's not often another shapeshifter drifts into my territory,” she continued.“Taurin Bay is such a backwater."Her hand was moving up his leg, creating heat wherever she touched.The mind may not want her, he thought wryly, but the body sure as hell does.“Which is why I was so surprised to find you here.You look more a city type of girl."Eleanor gave him a lazy smile.“I am.Unfortunately, my other shape is not.""Very few are.” He reached forward, tracing the line of her cheek.“But Taurin Bay is such a small town.Small towns like to watch and gossip.""Ah, but I like the danger of discovery.” She leaned into his hand and lightly kissed his palm.“Besides, Taurin Bay has a city attitude.You can do what you want, and the neighbors have no wish to know about it."Was that some sort of admission? Did she mean you could kill without the neighbors getting suspicious? Taurin Bay wasn't that insular.Someone, somewhere, had to know something."So what do you do for excitement in a place like this?"Eleanor smiled.“You mean, besides trying to seduce passing shapeshifters?"He ran his fingers down her neck, letting them linger momentarily over her pulse.“Yes, besides that.""I hunt.I run the hills at night.I help Hank at the inn occasionally."And she was hunting now, with him as the quarry.Excitement lit her eyes, raced through her pulse.The edge he was walking was getting decidedly thinner.If she changed form, he'd be in serious trouble.He doubted if his own form would have much hope against a panther."I didn't know Hank owned the inn.""Oh, he doesn't.I do."He raised his eyebrows in surprise.Maybe, just maybe, Eleanor had given them their first lead.“Really.I thought the inn was owned by a Randolph Barker.""My former husband.Couldn't stand the demands of a shapeshifter, poor dear."The demands, or the appetite, of a shapeshifter? Maybe they should check out just what had happened to poor dear Randolph, as well as find out if he owned any other properties in the area.Eleanor's hand touched his thigh, then moved to the fly of his jeans.His groin tightened in response, aching with need.He leaned forward and kissed her.Her mouth was hot and sweet, but it was a taste that suddenly went sour.Damn, he just couldn't do this.He'd ignored Maddie's desperate need to be held and comforted, had ignored the flash of hurt when he'd walked away from her.But he simply couldn't ignore the fact that he had no wish to make love to one woman when it was another he wanted.He placed his hand on Eleanor's.“Eleanor, stop."She raised an eyebrow and sat back.“Cold feet?” she questioned softly.“Or a case of not wanting to cheat on your girlfriend?""Neither,” he replied calmly [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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.“Miss Smith was just telling me she's planning to leave.""Then you'd better go get her bill ready, hadn't you?” Though there was no hint of menace in Jon's soft voice, a flicker of fear ran across Hank's thin features.His dead gaze ran past them.For an instant, it almost looked as if he was consulting someone.Then he nodded and quickly scuttled away.Jon touched her arms and turned her around."You okay?"His eyes were full of concern, and it was almost her undoing.For a minute it looked like he cared.She lowered her gaze and stepped away."I was doing just fine, thanks.” Her voice sounded tart again, but she couldn't help it.She wanted this man to hold her, and that simply wasn't an option."Here, take this,” he said, and held out her coat.“It's warmer than my sweater.""Thanks.” His gesture surprised her.Had he gone back into the inn just to get it? Why? As he'd pointed out, he had a meeting to get to.She slipped off his sweater, handing it to him before putting on her coat.He slung the sweater over his shoulder.Maybe he liked the rain.Or maybe he just didn't plan to stay in his wet clothes all that long.She bit her lip and looked down at her feet."Have you decided to leave after all?” he said."Just the inn.I don't think it's safe anymore.""You may be right.” He glanced thoughtfully at the inn then back at her.The warmth had fled his eyes again, leaving them carefully neutral.“I really do have to go.""Then go.Have your fun with Eleanor.I can look after myself."His eyes darkened with annoyance.Maddie grimaced.She wasn't being fair.He was doing his best to find Evan, and being catty about it certainly wouldn't help anyone.If he was treating Eleanor as nothing more than a lead, why couldn't she?Because I saw the way she clung to him, and it annoyed the hell out of me.She swallowed and looked away.“I saw a hotel on the other side of the bridge.Sea View, I think it was called.I'll grab a taxi to my car, then drive out and book us a room.""All right, then.” He hesitated, then reached up and touched her cheek with his fingertips.His caress was gentle and made something deep within her tremble in response.“Wash your wounds, then rest.I'll be there as soon as I can."He walked away again.She watched him until he'd disappeared from sight, then sighed and headed into the inn.The firemen were still in the building, but they allowed her to collect her bag.She was glad of their presence, especially when she came out of the bedroom and found Hank waiting for her."So, you really are going?"She studied him uneasily.“I said I was.How much do I owe you?""Considering what has happened, we'll make your stay complimentary.""Thank you."The nearest fireman headed for the door.She shouldered her bag and quickly followed him."I do hope we see you sometime again,” Hank continued."Not likely,” she muttered, giving him as wide a berth as possible.His chuckle crawled over her skin.She shivered and involuntarily glanced back at him.Don't come back, his gaze warned her.If you do, you'll die.She swallowed heavily, trying to ignore the premonition, then edged closer to a fireman's broad back and followed him down the stairs.* * * *Jon leaned back on the sofa and watched Eleanor enter the room.She moved with feline grace, hair shining in the firelight.A golden cat, he thought, and guessed that was her alternate form.The cat he'd seen in the forest had been black.She smiled when she caught his gaze, her midnight eyes filled with heat.He felt his body respond, even though he had no true desire for the woman.She was just another job.And yet he knew this would not have been the case a week ago.Dangerous or not, he would have taken what Eleanor was offering and enjoyed it.But every time he reached for Eleanor he saw Maddie's eyes—frightened and alone and yet oddly courageous.Somehow, she'd slipped past his guard and become a friend.And he didn't leave friends alone and frightened.She had a hell of a lot to answer for, he thought grimly.Eleanor was the key to the kids, the figurative nut that had to be broken, through fair means or foul.How could he be expected to do his job when everywhere he turned he saw something that reminded him of Maddie?He accepted his drink with a smile and patted the cushion beside him.Eleanor folded down beside him, then caressed his thigh.He stared into her eyes and wished they were amber rather than dark."I'm so glad we decided to come back here,” she purred quietly.“So much cosier."He suspected it wasn't the coziness she was after, but rather the solitude.The Blue Moon had plenty of customers—and plenty of potential witnesses if something went wrong.Though why he thought something would go wrong he couldn't say.He just had an itchy feeling he'd better watch what he did—and watch what she did."It's not often another shapeshifter drifts into my territory,” she continued.“Taurin Bay is such a backwater."Her hand was moving up his leg, creating heat wherever she touched.The mind may not want her, he thought wryly, but the body sure as hell does.“Which is why I was so surprised to find you here.You look more a city type of girl."Eleanor gave him a lazy smile.“I am.Unfortunately, my other shape is not.""Very few are.” He reached forward, tracing the line of her cheek.“But Taurin Bay is such a small town.Small towns like to watch and gossip.""Ah, but I like the danger of discovery.” She leaned into his hand and lightly kissed his palm.“Besides, Taurin Bay has a city attitude.You can do what you want, and the neighbors have no wish to know about it."Was that some sort of admission? Did she mean you could kill without the neighbors getting suspicious? Taurin Bay wasn't that insular.Someone, somewhere, had to know something."So what do you do for excitement in a place like this?"Eleanor smiled.“You mean, besides trying to seduce passing shapeshifters?"He ran his fingers down her neck, letting them linger momentarily over her pulse.“Yes, besides that.""I hunt.I run the hills at night.I help Hank at the inn occasionally."And she was hunting now, with him as the quarry.Excitement lit her eyes, raced through her pulse.The edge he was walking was getting decidedly thinner.If she changed form, he'd be in serious trouble.He doubted if his own form would have much hope against a panther."I didn't know Hank owned the inn.""Oh, he doesn't.I do."He raised his eyebrows in surprise.Maybe, just maybe, Eleanor had given them their first lead.“Really.I thought the inn was owned by a Randolph Barker.""My former husband.Couldn't stand the demands of a shapeshifter, poor dear."The demands, or the appetite, of a shapeshifter? Maybe they should check out just what had happened to poor dear Randolph, as well as find out if he owned any other properties in the area.Eleanor's hand touched his thigh, then moved to the fly of his jeans.His groin tightened in response, aching with need.He leaned forward and kissed her.Her mouth was hot and sweet, but it was a taste that suddenly went sour.Damn, he just couldn't do this.He'd ignored Maddie's desperate need to be held and comforted, had ignored the flash of hurt when he'd walked away from her.But he simply couldn't ignore the fact that he had no wish to make love to one woman when it was another he wanted.He placed his hand on Eleanor's.“Eleanor, stop."She raised an eyebrow and sat back.“Cold feet?” she questioned softly.“Or a case of not wanting to cheat on your girlfriend?""Neither,” he replied calmly [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]