Which reminded him why he’d doubled back to confront her in the first place. His main objective was to find out why she followed him—he didn’t entirely believe her offer of help—and whether or not she knew anything about Trey’s disappearance. That and get her the hell out of here. Hugh smelled something dangerous. He didn’t want Tess getting mixed up in his world.
She waved a hand in front of his face. “Hellooo. I just asked you a question.”
He rounded his shoulders and focused on the present situation. “Sorry. What?”
“I asked what exactly a Night Runner is. I’ve never come across your kind before.”
“My kind? How many Veilers do you know?” He tried not to let too much interest enter his voice. He had a feeling if she knew how much she unsettled him, he’d be in even bigger trouble.
“That’s none of your business,” she answered, defiance in her tone.
“Really?” He started to walk again. “And my pack is none of yours.”
She fell in step beside him, keeping up with his long strides. Her light scent tickled his nose and he realized it wasn’t his memory of the floral smell from the bar that he’d taken with him on his way to find Trey, but the subtle aroma of the woman on his tail. That should have tipped him off much sooner. It was his fault she’d gotten as far as she had. He’d allowed himself to enjoy the scent rather than think rationally about it.
“Is the friend you’re looking for a Night Runner too?”
He shot her a disapproving glance. Would she ever run out of questions?
“I’ll take that as a yes.” She pressed her lips together in a smug smile.
“Tell me again why you were following me.” He clenched his jaw, trying really hard to keep his temper in check.
A breathy, impatient sound came out of her mouth. “I already told you. To help you find your friend. Of course, that was before I knew you were a wolfen.”
“What did you know about me before we met?” Come on, Tess, give me something more. No sane woman goes lurking around alleys alone at night.
“What did you know about me?” she shot back.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing? You agreed to a blind date knowing nothing? I thought Kensie and Francesca sang my praises.”
He picked up his pace, hoping to get her back to her car sooner rather than later. The more they tap-danced around each other, the more he realized she didn’t know anything. And the less she knew about him the better.
“They did,” he guessed. “But neglected to mention you can be a pain in the ass.”
She shoved him. Hard. It took him by surprise, and he ended up against the side of the building in two seconds. A jolt of pleasure shot through him. She was no ordinary private investigator.
Her eyes widened. “You really want to know what I’m capable of, Mr. Night Runner? Because I’d be more than happy to give you a demonstration.”
No doubt she was strong. But he was stronger.
In less than a second, he whipped her around like she was a Barbie doll and had her pinned against the wall. His hands remained on her upper arms as he looked down into her surprised face. Although dim, the light post over his shoulder allowed him to see blue eyes so startling clear they roused every nerve in his body. There wasn’t a hint of fear anywhere in their depths. Instead, she looked ready to give him another whirl.
“Give it your best shot,” he said, wanting to play. Hell, his playful side rarely made an appearance these days, and at the moment he felt like a ten-year old who’d eaten enough sugar to last a week. Only this time his sexual appetite wanted in on the action.
“That’s exactly what Dane said.” Impossibly long eyelashes reached up to her forehead as she spoke.
He was noticing eyelashes? And angling for a glimpse down her dress, if truth be told. “Yeah, well…”
Their close stance rendered him unable to string more than a couple of words together. He released his hold and took two steps back.
“Where’d he go, anyway? Maybe he found your friend?” She lifted herself from the wall without any apparent hard feelings or obvious intention to seek revenge. Instead, she closed the gap between them while waiting for his answer.
He moved another step back. Did the damn woman know what she did to him? Her pouty lips and keen eyes with long lashes suggested she did. Women didn’t play fair. “We decided to split up so I could get you back to your car.”
“I don’t need an escort.” She marched past him, shoulders back, head held high.
“Right. So you can sneak around some more. I don’t think so.” He caught up to her. She didn’t fool him. Not for a minute. “I’m taking you back to the bar and you’re going to get into your car and drive home.”
“Excuse me, but—”
“I give the orders,” he interrupted, a smile tugging at his lips.
“You sure as hell—”
“—can give them to you, so be a good girl and let’s get you on your way.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed her clench her fists and take a deep breath. She probably thought about hitting him. With his stronger than normal senses, he heard her heart rate speed up, smelled the salty scent of perspiration on her skin. Then she bit her bottom lip in a most distracting manner before speaking again.
“I’ll get myself where I want to go, thank you very much. You don’t get any say.”
“Tonight I do.”
“Tonight you don’t.”
“Do you argue with everyone trying to do a good deed?”
“You’re not doing a good deed. You’re annoying me.” She turned a corner heading in the wrong direction.
“Wrong way, oh wise one.” He snatched her arm to steer her the right way.
She yanked her arm back, but switched her stride. “I knew that.”
“Of course you did.” He glanced at his watch. Time ticked away. Time he should be using to hunt for Trey. He needed to ditch the exasperatingly attractive woman in the blue dress pronto. No matter how much the thought disappointed him.
“I’ll tell you what,” Tess started, “you fill me in on the Night Runners, and I promise I’ll go peacefully.” Her steps slowed. She dragged her feet as if they suddenly weighed eighty pounds each.
“Peaceful or not, I can get you to your car without saying another word.” He would not give her the upper hand.
“Yes, but that won’t stop me from yelling a few choice expletives on our way. I might rouse the neighborhood.” She tossed him a smug look. “And I’ve got news for you—when I’m mad my voice and language can be pretty alarming. I don’t think you want that kind of attention.”
Damn, she was good. Her combative nature and challenge to his authority had him wondering what she’d be like in bed. Bloody hell. Why was he letting his mind wonder there? “Two questions.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You can ask me two questions that I’ll answer honestly. And then you’ve got to go.” He picked the pace back up, the realization of what he’d just offered making him want to hurry and put an end to this conversation. For reasons he couldn’t understand, he was willing to share with her things about his pack no other human knew. Fuck. What was it about her that made him want to spill everything he’d always kept close to the cuff?
She didn’t answer him right away.
The night shadows vanished, clouds swiftly blocking the full moon as he looked up to the sky. He felt the urge to howl, just to tease Tess, but refrained. Tonight’s sky held no real power over him besides causing the occasional itch. During full moons, Night Runners especially liked to mate. Maybe that was why he felt like confiding all of a damn sudden.
He steered her down a narrow alley that cut the distance to the bar by a block or two. The quicker they parted ways, the quicker his heart could return to a normal beat.