“It can’t happen.” He took her hand and squeezed. “Carol, you can’t keep fighting this. It’s part of who we are. It’s our nature. Yours and mine.”
She swallowed hard, pulled her hand free, and folded her arms tight around her waist. “What better way to learn the truth about my future visions than to hang around and protect me while being my personal bodyguard?”
Ryan pulled her back to her seat, watching her and pondering the notion. When she retook her seat, he took his, but the conversation in the room didn’t begin again.
“You’ll tell me every time you have the urge to shift. No matter when or where you are. And you’ll let me know every time you have a vision? No matter what it’s about?”
She tilted her chin up. “Gladly.”
He smiled and finished his beer and then stretched his hand out so they could shake on it. She sighed and offered her hand. He gave it a firm shake, felt the heat and a spark of electricity, and saw the hope in her eyes, those large pools of liquid blue. He felt that if he looked into them much longer, he’d drown in them with pure pleasure. He released her, severing the connection. Somehow touching her made him feel as though he might be able to coax her to shift when others in her pack hadn’t had any success.
He scoffed at himself. She needed a mate who would encourage her to capitulate.
Silva immediately hurried over with another beer and their sandwiches. “Ohmigod, McKinley, you can’t be planning to stay.”
“You didn’t hear our whole conversation, did you?” Carol asked, her voice a little shaky.
“Well, no, I have been waiting tables, and Darien, who is on the opposite side of the tavern, asked me a few questions. Despite what everyone says, I don’t have hearing that sharp. But I did overhear you ask if Ryan would be your bodyguard.
“He hasn’t gotten Darien’s approval,” Silva warned. “And you know how he is with outsiders interfering in pack business.” She sighed. “You and Lelandi sure know how to stir up a pack. Did you need anything else to go with the sandwiches?”
Privacy. Ryan cleared his throat. “Looks good to me. Thanks, Silva.”
Silva barely waited for Carol to answer, and when she shook her head, Silva stalked to the bar to grab another tray of drinks and sandwiches, and then hurried to drop them off at a table. After that, she rushed to Darien’s table.
“If you want anyone to know your business, tell Silva. She’ll spread the word,” Carol said.
Ryan had already gotten that impression. He watched Darien’s reaction as Silva spoke to him. Darien’s eyes narrowed a bit.
Jake immediately looked in Ryan’s direction and gave a knowing smile. He must have realized Ryan was up to the challenge. Tom flat-out frowned. Ryan had expected that. Lelandi smiled. Darien shook his head, gave Ryan a stern look, and then listened to something Lelandi said to him. He leaned over and kissed her lips.
“So what do you think? Was that a yes or a no?” Carol asked.
Ryan felt as if she was testing him, but he turned the tables on her. He wouldn’t let up until he knew the truth. “You’re the one with future visions. What do you see?”
She smiled at him. This was going to be a real test of wills. She lifted her sandwich. “Nothing in any future visions, but I’d say Lelandi convinced him to give you a chance.”
“He’ll allow it,” Ryan confirmed, no hesitation in his response. “Either that or he’s going to have to put one of his deputies or his brothers up to the task of protecting you. They’ll be concentrating on Lelandi, in the event she’s at risk. Because no matter what, he has to consider that someone from her old pack may want revenge. And stealing Darien’s mate may be just the notion they have. So until it’s proven otherwise—”
“I’m more expendable.”
Ryan raised his brows, not believing she would think that. No one in a pack was expendable. “I’m very capable of protecting you.” He took a deep breath. “What I was trying to say is that until it’s proven otherwise, both of you need to be watched.”
“All right.” She took a bite of her sandwich, then set the rest of it down on the plate and eyed Ryan. I wasn’t sure why I’d seen you in a vision before. They’re always important for some reason and have some connection to me. Maybe this is it.”
He arched a brow. “You saw me in a vision?”
“Yeah, I mentioned it before, but you weren’t paying attention.”
“What was I doing?” He tried to sound like he believed her. He wondered if she was one of those people who told stories to get attention. He had a friend like that from Texas that he swore didn’t even realize he was embellishing the truth because he believed in his own stories to such a degree.
“I envisioned you watching me from the woods as a wolf. That’s why I went to the window and looked out. That’s why I went outside when I saw you standing there and then followed you. I wanted to know who you were and what you wanted. Now I suppose it was because you spied the red wolf and are going to protect me from him.” She smiled, the expression sweet and innocent, yet he was sure it was a façade.
She was cute and good. But he didn’t believe it. Although he had wondered what had brought her to the window. And why she had come to see him in the woods. “You seemed irritated with me at first.”
“You’d awakened me. I had worked a twelve-hour shift at the hospital, and I was trying to get some much-needed sleep.” She didn’t sound sincere, and she wouldn’t look him in the eye. Something had kept her from sleeping.
“I’ll try to be more considerate next time. But in the future, if you spy a wolf in the woods and don’t know who he is, don’t seek him out.”
“In the future.” The way she spoke indicated to him, that if she felt driven to do so, she’d take off into the woods again and check him out.
That made his gut wrench with concern. He’d prefer the damsel in distress to be agreeable. Made his work so much easier. He ate the last bite of the tender roast beef sandwich, the meat melting in his mouth. Then he wiped his fingers on the napkin and drew up taller.
“I’ll have to return to Green Valley to pick up some clothes and other articles. Darien and his brothers can keep you safe until then. At most, three hours, and I’ll be back.”
“Thank you.”
Striving for professional, which he sure as hell had lost sight of when he’d first kissed her and then danced with her, Ryan said, “I have a job to do. No need to thank me.”
Her lips curved up slightly. He had the sneaking suspicion she saw right through him. Damned if the more primitive side of him didn’t want to haul her out of her chair and kiss her again. Forget professional.
She gave him a hard nod. “Right. Where will you sleep?”
“Close. No sense in being your bodyguard if I’m not nearby. And, Carol?”
“Hmm?”
“Wear something other than that silky nightgown you wore last night. I don’t need the distraction.” He cast an elusive smile at her, winked, and rose. Then he slipped his credit card back in his wallet and deposited money on the table instead.
“I’ll speak to Darien and then be on my way. Don’t leave the tavern without Darien or his brothers’ escort home.”
She glanced at their table. “I’m sure they wouldn’t think of my leaving without one of them accompanying me.”
Watching Ryan and Carol, two of the bachelor males rose from their seats. “Christ,” Ryan swore under his breath and offered his hand. “Come on. We’ll talk to Darien together, and you can sit at his table until you’re ready to leave.”