C14 I'm an artist

"Don't make this harder than it has to be. We were sleeping together. That's all. And out of respect for you, I'm finishing it now instead of leaving you hanging. It's over, Kearny . I'll never see you again, and I'd appreciate it if you'd do the same."

His brow furrowed at my tone. He studied me, trying to find a weakness, a sign that I was joking. He found none and his lip trembled. "You're not kidding, are you?"

I shook my head. "No. And it had to end up happening. We agreed..."

"Is there anyone else?" he asked.

"No," I lied. Although, I wasn't lying if I had a hidden agenda. "I've had enough. That's it. I want to nip it in the bud."

"You're lying to me," he hissed venomously, taking a staggering step toward me. "I know you, Paul Reed. I know how you need to keep your member wet and your wolf sated. You won't finish me for nothing."

"Well, yes. I wish you well, Kearny."

I turned my back on him, intending to walk away, but instinct made me turn around just in time to grab his wrists before his claws ripped chunks of skin off me.

"Son of a bitch!" he screamed, trying to claw my eyes out.

"Calm down. And back off," I growled, the wolf and alpha in me surfacing at his audacity. "Don't play the victim. Otherwise I'll make your life hell, and you fucking know it. We've fooled around. That's it. I never promised you anything else. And you've been happy enough, running around with others..."

"I won't," she sobbed, pleading with me. Makeup and tears streamed down her face. "I won't run around with anyone else. Not anymore. I only want you, Paul . I've been waiting. Waiting for the mate magic to happen."

"It won't happen," I said, calming myself as the guilt hit me. "I told you that. And you accepted it."

She tugged her wrists from my grip. "You won't even give him a chance. You keep waiting for some two-bit whore when you know I'll make you happy."

I took a step closer, seeing for the first time the glimmers of what Mánala had warned me about. "Have you been lying to me, Kearny ?" I asked, growing increasingly annoyed as I saw the tears on her face.

"No," she blurted out. "Of course not!"

Then where is all this coming from? You told me you were happy to do the dating thing, to keep it as just sex. Don't give me that I betrayed you, crying like I promised you something when I didn't."

She went to say something but stopped, her tears stopped just as quickly. They glistened with rage. But this time it was to her credit. She held back, determined, knowing all too well that her antics wouldn't get her very far. She stepped back and crossed her arms over her chest, waiting. I said nothing. But then her eyes watered again. Only this time, she didn't appreciate it. She staggered toward the cabin.

"I'm sorry, Kearny," I whispered, not wanting to hurt her. But I would in the long run if I didn't end this now.

"Me too," he said weakly, shoulders slumped as he disappeared inside the cabin.

Lara

Ishoved on the strap of the dress, trying to get comfortable in the outfit I'd chosen for my supposed date. Not that I'd had much of a choice after shoving a few outfits into the bag as I hurried to get away. The summery white dress with gray and silver stripes, thin straps and modest knee-length, would have to do for dinner with Paul Reed .

Last night, he had had the power because his arrival had caught me off guard. I had hoped to have information about him before participating in what seemed like a cat-and-mouse game. But it hadn't been, and my unexpected reaction to him had upset me.

He's playing with you, I reminded myself again. Either he's suspicious of your arrival or he thinks he can take advantage of the fresh meat that passes through here.

That thought helped me steel myself against the memory of his kiss; the way I had cum against my fingers with him on my mind.

No. I straightened up decisively.

Focusing on what mattered, I had no choice but to take advantage of the date to get under Paul's skin and outwit his defenses. As soon as Mary fixed my truck, I'd ask him out dancing. Maybe somewhere out of town. If he was lucky, he might say yes to a night under the stars. There, I'd drug him with his booze, get him in my truck, drive him back to Scott, and concentrate on Plan B.

Easy, very easy.

But it wasn't. The thought of seeing Paul again, of cheating on him, was getting on my nerves. The butterflies in my stomach made me look at the clock fifty times, and I needed to control myself. If I didn't, I wouldn't be able to complete the task. And this was more serious than sex with a gorgeous man who would sneak into my mind and never leave if I let him.

Calm down, Lara. It's a reward and nothing more. But my pathetic attempt to reassure you didn't work. The whole thing seemed surreal, hard and nothing like the jobs I had done so far. But even though my palms were sweating and my head was spinning, I had to face it head on. I had to get the bull's-eye out of my uncle's head.

Noticing seven o'clock approaching, I grabbed my bag with the gun tucked in a secret compartment and headed downstairs to Rose's reception. It paid to be cautious.

Paul was standing chatting with Rose ready and waiting for me, looking damned good in a plain shirt over his jeans-smart with a rough edge, and it worked.

"There you are," he smiled, his eyes lit up with interest at the sight of me. "I hope you're taking care of our guest, Rose."

The older woman laughed. "Miss Swan is a wonderful guest. We chatted a while earlier about my flower pots out back, didn't we, dear?"

"Of course we did," I replied with a strained smile. "The flowers sing for her."

"They sing for her?" She raised an eyebrow. And I realized I'd forgotten for a second who I was supposed to be representing.

"I'm an artist," I explained, trying to keep the subject light. "I've learned to see beyond what we see with our eyes. And Rose's flowers thrive under her care."

"I told you," Rose said , sharing a look with Paul . "A total sweetheart."

"Yes. She is, isn't she?" He dropped a light kiss on Rose's cheek , then held out his arm for her to take. "Are you ready for dinner, my lady ?"

Instead of rolling my eyes, I couldn't deny his genuine smile. I slipped my arm through hers. "I am ready, kind sir. Let's go eat. Goodbye, Rose."

"Good night. Don't be in a hurry to come back." She winked, tossing us a wave and leaving us alone.

"Everyone here is lovely." I sighed, stepping into the twilight outside. "They're all so welcoming."

"That's the way we are in Woods Creek. We look out for each other."

"And the need for secrecy?" I asked, feeling it was a natural question. But it also intrigued me.

"We're not a secret," he replied. "We're just not big enough to be represented on any map."

He led me across the street, in the direction of the restaurant. "I'm going to take you to an Italian restaurant called Il Bel Lupo. It won't take you long to get there. But walking gives me a chance to have you all to myself for a while."