“And the lab results didn’t have these natural antibodies. Isn’t that a good thing?”
“It might be if he ever needs a blood transfusion, except the tests are wrong. Unless he’s a canine.” Dr. Wilson chuckled.
“Huh?”
“Simply put, dogs don’t have these natural antibodies.”
She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Dogs, you say.”
“Which is why I’m irritated at the results. Shoddy work. It’s nothing like the old days when people took pride in their jobs. We’ll have to repeat the tests, of course. I’m leaving on vacation tomorrow, but you can bring Surlock in any time.”
Everything was slowly sinking into her brain. The X-rays were wrong because there were two types of bone structure, the blood work was incorrect because the results were those of a canine. She closed her eyes for a moment. Or wolf. The howling in the woods. Thinking she was looking into the eyes of a wolf.
“You still there, girl?”
“Yes,” she squeaked, then cleared her throat. “That will be fine. I’ll get him down to the office.”
“Good. I apologize for the inconvenience.”
“No, that’s okay. These things happen.”
“How’s the boy feeling? Any more humming in his ears?”
“He’s better. Remembering more every day, and the humming is getting better, too.”
“Good. I told him that his memories would come back.”
Darcy didn’t mention that Surlock’s memories were a little crazy. She didn’t want to take the chance Dr. Wilson would commit him, because they might commit her as well. “Have a good vacation,” she said instead, and replaced the phone in the cradle.
“That was the doctor,” Surlock said rather than asked.
She faced him with a bright smile on her face. “Yes. There was a mix-up with your blood work and he only wants to repeat it.”
“What kind of mix-up?”
She shrugged. “Stuff like this happens all the time. Nothing at all to worry about.”
He watched her, but rather than pressing the issue, he nodded. She let out a deep breath. He was not a monster. This was all a coincidence. The idea that he could be a werewolf was so crazy, she didn’t want to think about it.
She sat in her chair in front of the computer again and continued her search on the Internet. Surlock didn’t say anything, but she could feel him close to her. She was not going to mention what kind of error the doctor had found. That was all it was, just an error. People made them all the time. It was ludicrous to think he could change into—what? A wolf? Or worse—a werewolf. And if he could, what did that make her?
An hour later, she pushed away from the computer. Nothing. Not a blasted thing. There was no Prince Surlock, no New Symtaria. Nothing whatsoever. She’d hit another dead end.
“I guess I’m not much of an investigator,” she said, turning in her seat until they faced each other.
He pulled her onto his lap before she could think to protest. Once she was there, she didn’t want to leave. It felt too good having him hold her close. It wasn’t as if they were going to mate. She frowned. Make love.
“I think you’re a very good investigator.”
“I haven’t found out anything.”
“I wouldn’t say that. I could be a secret agent, or a werewolf, or I could be a prince.”
Oh, great, now she felt a whole lot better. Everything she had come up with sounded totally ridiculous. No wonder her mom didn’t want Darcy to get a job—she knew she couldn’t cut it in the real world.
“What are you thinking?” Surlock brushed his lips across the top of her head.
A shiver of need spread through her. “That I suck at the only job I’ve ever had.” She felt the rumble of his chest. Oh, yeah, now she felt a whole lot better.
“I’m not laughing at you,” he finally said.
“Of course not. You’re laughing with me. Uh, I hate to tell you this, but in case you haven’t noticed, I’m not laughing at all.”
“Why does it have to be so complicated?” he asked. “Going to the party was a great idea. Someone is bound to know me. You did say Peter always has a large number of people there, right?”
She’d forgotten about the party for a moment. So maybe everything wasn’t a hopeless cause.
“We’ll need to get you a costume,” she said. “What do you want to go as?”
“How about a wolf?”
Was he laughing again?
CHAPTER 21
Nerves of steel, that was Darcy.
Jennifer and Annette had already left for the party. Darcy was taking her time. She wanted to arrive when there were more people so Peter could announce them. She was hoping someone might recognize Surlock.
And if no one knew him, then what? Her nerves of steel melted around her feet like warmed butter. Deep breath. She was meant to be an investigator. Peter’s party was the perfect place to be seen, and hopefully recognized.
She slipped her foot inside the stiletto and stood, but her movements were slow and jerky. If no one knew him, then once again, she would have slammed into a brick wall. What would she tell Surlock? What could she tell him? Nothing. She squared her shoulders.
Think like Dick Tracy, she told herself. Be Dick Tracy. She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, then exhaled. What would Dick do?
She grimaced. She wasn’t sure what Dick would do, but she knew what her father would do. He’d taught his daughter the ins and outs of the financial world. One of the first things he told her was to know when to back out of a negotiation, even if it cost you money. Losing a little was better than losing a lot. Maybe it was time to get Surlock an experienced investigator. She didn’t like the idea of throwing in the towel, but she was there to help him, and she wouldn’t let her ego stand in the way.
With her decision made, she looked one last time in the mirror. She hadn’t worn her cat costume in a few years. The black glittery material clung to her curves. The ankle-length dress was cut in a low vee neckline, and it had a very high slit on the side.
Annette had painted Darcy’s face so that her eyes were catlike, dark and mysterious. She’d passed on the black nose and just went with the whiskers. She’d covered her blond hair with a long black wig. Not bad. She had a feeling she would definitely have all of Surlock’s attention tonight. Her blood heated, flowing hot through her veins as she imagined his reaction.
Just as quickly, she tamped down her lustful thoughts. They couldn’t make love until they figured out just who he was. But then again, if they found out tonight, then they could make love when they got home.
There was a light knock on her door. Darcy smoothed the material over her hips and called out, “Come in.”
The door opened and Surlock entered, stopping when he saw her. His gaze slowly moved over her, touching her in all the right places. Then she noticed how he was dressed and her mouth went dry. Good Lord, did he realize that he could send women into cardiac arrest?
She swallowed. “I’m not sure it will be safe to let you out of the house looking like that.”
He looked down. “Is this not the right costume?”
“I doubt we could have found one more perfect,” she said. He wore a short apron of wolf fur. It was fake, of course, but no one would be able to tell. Not that they would be looking at the apron of fur. No, they would be drooling over his muscled thighs. His rock-hard abs and chest were also bare, displaying a very sexy expanse of skin. On his head, he wore a wolf head with fur that came down on both sides. He reminded her of an Indian warrior—strong, powerful and damned sexy.
His forehead wrinkled. “I don’t understand.”
“The women will be drooling.”
He grinned. “Do you think so?”
She frowned. “Don’t get any ideas. You’re …” What had she been about to say? You’re mine? But he wasn’t.