I smiled slightly and nodded.
Less than five minutes later, we were pulling up to Dale’s shop.
She was looking around with interest until Dale moved to the partially opened bay door.
“Dale from the parking lot?” she whispered, looking at me in surprise. I nodded and wondered why she remembered Dale so well. Dale waved when he saw it was me.
I got out and moved around to open Gabby’s door. I knew she was curious, but maybe having her meet Dale a second time wasn’t such a good idea.
Gabby stepped out as Dale walked toward us.
“Hi there, Gabby. Glad Clay finally brought you around.” He held out his hand, and she clasped it briefly.
Why was I so jealous over a handshake?
“I have to tell you that I was surprised when Clay showed up and was as good as you boasted. Although, it doesn’t look like he’s been taking care of your car.”
Bull crap. What was Dale playing at?
“I’m always running back and forth to my classes. It’s hard to give it up for any amount of time.” She shrugged. “Speaking of which...” She glanced at me. “I really need to get going, or I’ll be late. It was nice seeing you again, Dale. I hope stopping in was okay. I really wanted to see where Clay was working.”
“Stop by anytime.” Dale waved as we walked back to the car.
“I’m sure there was some type of logic to picking that place,” she said as I drove home. “Someday you’ll have to tell me about it.”
After she dropped me off, I dressed for work. No doubt Dale would have some questions for me.
When I got there, Dale joked about my black eye and teased about keeping men away from Gabby but otherwise let me work. He wasn’t too bad for a human.
By the time I finished the last work order, I was ready to go home and spend time with Gabby. I couldn’t stop thinking about our kiss.
My distraction didn’t keep me from noticing the scent of several wolves in the abandoned building. I rolled my shoulders and cut around back, hoping it wouldn’t take me too long to send the new challengers on their way. I didn’t like the idea of Gabby spending any time alone in the house. Hopefully, Rachel would be there tonight.
Chapter 17
The house was quiet when I snuck in just after nine in the morning. On a Saturday, that wasn’t unusual. Still, I inhaled deeply as I entered, checking to see if trouble waited for me. Gabby and Rachel’s scents drifted in the air along with a faint trace of Peter’s but no hint of any werewolf’s. I let out a relieved sigh and slowly made my way to Gabby’s room.
I was exhausted and couldn’t name a spot that didn’t ache. Quietly, I disrobed and dropped my clothes on the floor. Gabby would flip if she saw the number of bruises I had now. I shifted quickly and hopped up on the bed, already half asleep.
She moved slightly as if I’d disturbed her, but her feet didn’t search for my warmth like they normally did. She must really be out. I curled up and closed my eyes.
She moved again, her breathing oddly shallow.
I lifted my head and looked at her as she attempted to sit up. Her eyes were open but she still looked like she was sleeping, her moves uncoordinated.
“C-clay, we need to get to the Compound. Can you drive?”
Her stutter worried me as did the wince on her face when she tried to sit up again.
She managed to lift herself and slide from the mattress, but she only stood on her shaky legs for a second before she sat once more. Her head hung down as if it hurt too much to lift it. I shook off my exhaustion and inhaled. Her scent was off. What was wrong? Was she sick? I knew she’d pushed herself too hard after whatever had happened to her at that party.
Confused and worried, I hopped off the bed, quickly shifted back to my skin, and slipped on my jeans. Before I could button them, she moved to stand again.
This time, I was there to steady her with an arm around her back. She willingly leaned into it. Beneath my arm, she trembled.
She lifted her head, and her reflection in the mirror seemed to catch her attention. I could understand why. She was pale with dark circles under her eyes.
Her glazed eyes drifted from her reflection to mine, and my eyes narrowed. I knew that glazed look. She’d been the same after the Halloween party. I inhaled deeply, near her hair, pulling in the lingering scents of alcohol, perfume, and my kind. Had she seriously gone to another party while I was fighting?
“A lot happened last night while you were gone. Rachel talked me into going clubbing. I’ll tell you about it on the way.”
Guilt filled her eyes; and she looked away, but not far. Her gaze swept over me appreciatively, lingering on my stomach. I almost sighed. One look and she wiped away my anger and made me want to grin. I was hopeless around her. She shivered, and I reached for her forehead just to be sure she wasn’t actually sick. No fever, just like last time.
I continued to watch her in the mirror as her gaze finally gained some focus and ever so slowly drifted upwards. She was eyeing every piece of exposed skin my chest offered. Suddenly, she squinted and scowled. It wasn’t hard to figure out why. She was glaring at the bite someone had given me.
Then the scowl cleared, and she sighed.
“I need to use the bathroom then start packing.”
After what happened with Sam, I knew something serious had to have happened for Gabby to want to return to the Compound. Maybe she thought the Elders could help with whatever was happening to her.
Not liking the idea of going back, but needing to do anything I could to get her well again, I nodded and helped her through the door. She leaned heavily on me as each slow step brought us closer to the bathroom.
I heard movement from Rachel’s room and wanted to groan. A second later, Rachel stepped into the hall. She glanced at Gabby whose head hung low, then at me.
“Hi, Clay. How’d you get here?”
Gabby and I paused, and Gabby forced her head up as she answered Rachel.
“I called him. Sorry, Rachel, I didn’t want to bug you.”
Rachel’s gaze drifted to me. She eyed my chest and the jeans I still hadn’t managed to button. Her perusal made me nervous even though a hint of her concern for Gabby remained in her eyes. I didn’t trust her. The last time she’d looked at me with concern, the vet had nearly unmanned me.
“It’s okay; I get it,” she said, still eyeing me.
Gabby shivered again, drawing Rachel’s attention. I wanted to hug Gabby.
“Are you sure you should be going?” Rachel asked.
“Yeah,” Gabby said as I helped her take a step toward the bathroom. “Clay’s going to pack for me, and then we’ll go. Oh, and he came by last night, saw the dog out, and took him home. We’ll take him with, so don’t worry.”
As soon as Gabby reached the tiled floor, she grabbed the door and shut it, leaving me in the hall...alone...with Rachel.
Slowly, I turned to face her. She grinned at me, her eyes again sweeping my bare chest. I fought the strong urge to cover myself with my hands. She grinned wider. I sidestepped her and backed toward the bedroom. By the time I reached Gabby’s door, Rachel was laughing softly. That woman had issues.
I closed the door, pulled on a shirt, and buttoned my pants. Then, I grabbed Gabby’s bag and started stuffing it. I didn’t pay much attention to what I threw in. I was busy listening for Gabby and for Rachel. I didn’t want Gabby to fall. She’d barely had the strength to walk. And, I didn’t want Rachel to...well, corner me.
After I had the clothes, I grabbed our toiletry stuff from the top of Gabby’s dresser then shut the bag. Since Gabby was still in the bathroom, I put on my shoes and brought the bag to the car.
My breath fogged as I tossed the bag into the backseat. It was too cold outside for Gabby. I quickly started the car, then headed inside to grab a blanket and Gabby’s shoes. I took everything out to the car and made a little nest in the front seat for her. The heat was finally blowing warm.