And there’s no deception in that, she thought, glancing at Kieran. He’d spent the ride sitting stiffly in the passenger’s seat, arms braced at his sides, long fingers driving indentations in the leatherette. The wolf in him, she reminded herself, and that knowledge should have brought some comfort.
But she didn’t feel comfortable. In the confinement of the truck she was all too aware of his size and strength and masculine beauty. She felt herself begin to tense as they approached town, matching Kieran muscle for muscle, her fists gripping the steering wheel.
She glanced in the rearview mirror. Julie was right behind them. The other woman’s reaction to Kieran had been strange enough to make Alex sit up and take notice, and it was going to be worse in Merritt.
No one there had ever seen her with a man, unless it was when she exchanged a brief word with Dutch or the few other townsfolk she occasionally spoke to. She could imagine what piercing looks and gossip would follow her and Kieran the moment they set foot in town. Even if Kieran behaved with absolute discretion.
When they pulled up in the small parking lot of Olsen’s Market and General Store, the first faces that swung their way told Alex that her fears had not been unjustified. The women leaving the store paused, took one long look at Kieran, and bent their heads together with hissing whispers.
Alex got out of the truck and turned her back to the women. Julie was just pulling up behind them as Kieran opened the passenger door, breathing in the chaotic scents of Merritt.
Julie left her motor running and leaned out the window of her truck.
“Too bad Olsen’s is the only game in town for what you need,” she said, her normally pleasant expression edged with dislike.
Alex grimaced. “After what happened with Deanna,” she said, “I’d rather go just about anyplace else.” And Olsen was a prime gossip himself. But there wasn’t any viable alternative without driving all the way to Juneville, and that was the last thing Alex wanted—to be in close proximity to Kieran for another twenty miles.
“Well,” Julie said, “I’m going to the garage for a bit. Say I meet you back here, and we’ll have lunch at the Big Mouth.” She smiled at Kieran, but the hint of strain hadn’t left her face. It had been there ever since Alex introduced them. “I’d like to get to know your odd friend better.”
And that was the problem. Julie saw too much, even if it was impossible that she’d guess Kieran’s true nature. “Actually, we… we weren’t staying—” Alex stammered.
“Ah, come on. You’ve got to treat Kieran to the Big Mouth at least once. And anyway”—her voice dropped to a stage whisper—”you know everyone is going to be talking about him. You can’t shut people in this town up. So you might as well charge right in.”
Alex flushed, painfully aware of how it made her scars stand out in harsh relief. “It’s not what you think,” she muttered. “He’s just a colleague.”
“I believe you. I’m just saying don’t give people any more to talk about.”
Julie was right. Disarming the gossips early on would be wise. If they thought Kieran merely another odd wolf researcher stopping briefly in the area, they might not search any further.
And if they assumed he and Alex were lovers…
“You’re not afraid he’ll eat with his fingers, are you?” Julie said, grinning at Kieran to bring him in on the joke.
Kieran looked at Alex, yellow eyes intent. “I am hungry, Alexandra,” he said.
Alex couldn’t seem to think clearly or rationally. The way he gazed at her set her heart thumping loud enough to drown out all the warning bells in her mind. “All right. A short lunch… in an hour?”
“I’ll be here.” Julie waved at Kieran and pulled out of the parking lot.
Alex folded her arms and stared after her friend. She couldn’t believe Julie had tried to manipulate her. It wasn’t in her character. And as for Kieran, he wasn’t sophisticated enough, not by a long shot.
She turned around. Kieran’s back was to her, and he was watching a pair of men emerge from the bar three doors down from Olsen’s. Men Alex recognized as among Howie Walsh’s cronies.