Riley's Secret (A Moon's Glow Novel # 1) (34 page)

She looked at me with confusion. “How bad is what?”

I walked over to turn up the tiny radio Nate had
sitting on top of his fridge, hoping to drown out our conversation. Having guys
around with heightened senses could sometimes be inconvenient. “The crush you
have on the shirtless Irishman.” I nodded out the window to where Joe stood
holding a large metal spatula. He was only wearing old jean cutoffs. Even his
feet were bare. It wasn’t hard to see why Lauren would fall for him. He was
ridiculously hot, funny and obviously attracted to her. His eyes were
constantly on her. I couldn’t count how many times he said she was pretty, just
since I had returned from my walk with Nate.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She smiled,
but refused to look at me.

“Uh huh,” I muttered as Nate poked his head in through
the door. “The steaks are ready, you want to bring out the plates or should we
bring these in?”

“We’ll come out,” Lauren replied, suddenly blushing.
“Do you think he heard?” she asked once he was out of earshot. I assured her he
didn’t as we carried out the salad and dishes.

After dinner we watched a movie. It was a compromise
between the two sexes, but I never saw the ending. I fell asleep and didn’t
wake up until the next morning. I was still wearing the necklace. I removed it
and put it away. I didn’t want to hurt Nate with it.

The next few days seemed to run into another. Waiting
for Rowan to make his move was wearing on my nerves. Both werewolves took
shifts to go out and try to pick up his scent and if they ever found one it was
usually a dead end. I desperately wanted to get out of the cottage, but I
didn’t really know where I wanted to go. Lauren stayed and she was just as much
a prisoner as I was, even though she didn’t know it. Joe didn’t want her out of
his sight and when she was out of earshot, he insisted she stay.

They continued to flirt with one another, but nothing
else had happened. Lauren finally confided in me about a week after I had asked
her about it.

“All right, I do,” she said as she reached over to
grab the sunscreen off of the little table between our two lounge chairs. We
went for a morning swim, since
again,
it was horribly hot. Now we were
lying around waiting for Nate to get back with the burgers he had promised when
he was out on his hunt for Rowan.

Joe was still floating on a little blow-up boat,
drifting slowly around the lake, wearing black swim trunks and sunglasses.
Lauren watched him lazily graze the dock and kick the water gently. The water
splashed up onto his legs, glistening in the sun.

I turned, staring at her through my sunglasses,
wondering what she was talking about. “You do what?”

“Have a crush,” she whispered, flicking her eyes from
me to Joe, obviously worrying he might hear. If he did I couldn’t tell. He made
no movement except a slow wave of his hand through the water.

“I knew it.”

“And I get the feeling he feels the same, but he
hasn’t made a move.”

I considered it and even though I knew the truth I
said, “Well, it’s not like you’ve had much time alone.”

“Yes, we have. I’ve stayed up a few times after you
went to bed hoping he’d do something, but after you guys leave he gets quiet
and distant. If I try to talk to him he barely even notices I’m there.” Her
face fell and her eyes were slightly red. I could tell that she felt rejected.
I suddenly wanted to tell her the truth.

“Listen, Lauren, it’s not that—”

“Megan,” Joe yelled sharply, cutting me off. I looked
up him; he was now facing us. He shook his head no, obviously hearing our
conversation.

Lauren looked from Joe to me, her cheeks crimson, her
face full of confusion.

Nate’s car pulled in the driveway, interrupting any
further conversation. Joe came out of the water without looking at us and we
ate our burgers. None of us mentioned the earlier discussion.

After another movie, I went to bed before the rest of
them, pulling out a book I had purchased a few weeks ago and had yet to read. I
opened it to the first page and lay back onto the pillow for some private time.
It had been over a week since I had any.

I was still reading when Nate came in. He climbed
under the covers and into our favorite position. He lay behind me and I could
feel his hand on my bare stomach. “Joe told me about your conversation with
Lauren today,” he said softly. I marked my spot with my bookmark and set it
onto the nightstand, turning around to look at him. The low lamp light created
shadows on his face making him look mysterious. “Were you going to tell her?”

I sighed, looking up at the ceiling. “Yes. I know it’s
not my business, but she looked so sad.”

“I know you care about her, but he has to be the one
to do it.” He sighed, leaning in to kiss my forehead. “And I still think he
should tell Will first. They’re friends and I’m pretty sure Will is not going
to take it well.”

I thought about it from her father’s perspective. A
guy, a
werewolf
, he’d known for twenty years, was in love with his
eighteen-year-old daughter. Normally it would be gross, but since Joe didn’t
age it added a whole new amount of weirdness. “I won’t tell her, but I don’t
want her to feel rejected by him. If it gets worse he should say something to
her. Admit he has feelings, but it’s not the right time or something. I don’t
want him to hurt her.”

He caressed my cheek, sadness creeping into his eyes.
“Is that how you felt?”

I knew what he meant and I wasn’t sure of the answer.
In the beginning,
no
. He treated me the same as anyone else. But once I
got to know him and he started his rollercoaster of moods,
yes.
But, I
didn’t want to dwell on it again. We’d already been through this. I smiled,
looking him in the eye. “It’s over. I know you love me now. That’s all that
matters.” It was true what I said, but it still hurt sometimes to think about.

He smiled slightly, but the sadness stayed in his
eyes. “I might have been slow to admit my love for you, but you don’t have to
worry, I’m here now for as long as you’ll have me.”

I wrapped my arms around him. We embraced for a while,
breathing each other in, feeling the warmth of our bodies.

Black and White

I must have eventually fallen asleep because sometime
during the night I woke to the sound of the floor creaking in the hallway.

I climbed out of bed, tiptoeing to the door. I opened
it a crack and saw Joseph standing in Lauren’s doorway.

“What are you doing?” I hissed at him, trying not to
yell.

“I just wanted to make sure she was safe.”

I put my hands on his shoulders and pushed him into
the living room. “Do you know how creepy that is? What if she woke up and saw
you watching her? Can you please try to be a human for a few minutes?”

He stood staring down at his feet, like he was a child
being scolded. He was wearing a black T-shirt with a pig playing cards on the
front and black boxer shorts.

Nate came out yawning, wearing only black cotton
pants. His hair was sticking up everywhere. “What’s going on?” he asked with
another yawn.

“I found Joseph watching Lauren sleep. Will you tell
him how weird that is?”

Nate’s eyes darted from me to Joe, then to the floor.
“Joe, that’s weird.” His voice was void of feeling.

“That’s the best you can do?” I stared at him and then
turned to the other werewolf. “Could you try to control yourself? If Nate did
it, you can. Do you think he watched me sleep? I don’t think so.” I was still
whispering, but my voice was getting louder.

“Actually,” Nate interrupted me as I was about to
continue my rant. “I did control myself at school, but it was hard to be away
from you. The first night you saw me…as a wolf…was not the first time I was at
your house. I used to watch you from your window. But only as a wolf… if that
helps.” He trailed off, looking extremely guilty.

“You what?” I was shocked. The Nate I knew would never
do that.

“I can see that this is personal, Love, so I’ll just
get out of your way.” Joe started back toward the bedrooms.

I grabbed the back of his T-shirt, stopping him
mid-step. “No, you get back here and get on that couch. Do not get up again. If
you want her to like you, she can’t wake up and see you staring at her. It’s
weird.” He did what I said, pulling the blanket up above his head. “And
you
,
follow me.” I pointed to Nate before stalking into his bedroom.

Once we were back under the covers. I heard him
whisper, “I’m sorry.”

I really didn’t want to get into it with him yet. I
was still in shock. How many times since he’d told me what he was, did he say
he’d be honest with me? And the idea of eyes on me while I was in my bedroom,
doing my homework, watching a movie or worse, undressing…was a little
unsettling. Yes, it was Nate, but still. “We’ll talk in the morning after I calm
down.”

I heard him turn away from me onto his other side.
“Goodnight,” he whispered.

I opened my eyes the next morning and smiled. Lying on
Nate’s pillow was a single rose with a note beside it that said ‘I’m sorry’ “I
picked it up and sniffed in the sweet scent of the flower. I had to admit, it
was a nice way to wake up.

I sat up in bed as the smell of bacon and eggs drifted
into the room. As I climbed out of bed, pulling on a pair of gray yoga pants, I
remembered what happened in the night and what I had learned. Since we had
company, I brushed my hair and then walked out to see who was cooking.

I was surprised that Nate wasn’t alone in the kitchen.
Joseph was making toast and taking plates out of the cupboard.

I turned around at the sound of Lauren’s door opening.
She yawned, wearing a pink tank top and cotton shorts. She had gone home a few
days ago to get some things. She looked sleepy, like she had just gotten out of
bed, but her hair was brushed and it looked like she was wearing makeup. “I
smell food. I’m starving.”

Nate turned to me and smiled warily. “Good morning.”

“Sit down, girls, breakfast is ready,” Joe announced
as he set the plates and silverware on the table, going back to the kitchen for
the toast. He sat down between Lauren and me. Nate carried the food over and
set it on the table in front of us.

I avoided Nate’s searching eyes as I dipped my toast
into my egg yolk. “How did everyone sleep?” Lauren asked, sensing the tension.

I just continued to eat, but heard Joe answer. “I
slept like a log. Nate, your couch is so comfortable.”

I looked up at him. “Really, you slept like a log? You
didn’t get up in the night at all?” I asked, challenging him.

His cheeks reddened slightly as he fidgeted in his
seat. “Nope.”

Nate stared at me with sad eyes. “Megan.” His tone of
voice made my name alone sound like a scolding.

“So, what’s going on today?” Lauren asked, glancing at
each of us.

When no one spoke she cleared her throat and continued
to eat.

“I don’t know about anyone else, but I think I’ll go
and spy through people’s windows.” Everyone’s eyes fell on me.

“Did I miss something?” Lauren asked me.

“Could I see you in the bedroom?” Nate asked, standing
up and holding out his hand for me to take.

“No, I’m not finished eating,” I answered defiantly,
avoiding his eyes.

“Then eat quickly.” He was annoyed now.

I took my time finishing off my toast, taking slow
bites. Everyone else was finished and was cleaning up the dishes. As soon as I
took my last bite, Nate was there picking up my plate. He grabbed my arm and
pulled me toward the bedroom, tossing my dish into the sink as we walked by.
“Excuse us, we won’t be long. Help yourselves to the main washroom shower,” he
yelled to Joseph and Lauren as he slammed the bedroom door. When he turned
around to face me I was lying on the bed looking out at the lake.

“Will you talk to me, please?” I felt the bed dip when
he sat down on the other side.

“What’s there to talk about? You spied on me for
years. Who knows what you saw. But I just have to accept it because I’m in love
with a werewolf.” I didn’t look at him, just continued to stare out the window.

“If you think I watched more than you sleeping, fully
covered by your blankets, you’re wrong and you don’t know me at all.”

I spun my head around to face him. “I thought I knew
you, but the Nate that I fell in love with would never spy on me,” I yelled.

He jumped off the bed and rushed over to sit on the
edge of the bed beside me. His hands held each side of my head making me look
at him. “Listen to me. Sit up and listen to me.” His tone had me doing exactly
what he said, but I still refused to look him in the eye. “Your problem is that
you think it’s not normal to watch someone else sleep. It’s not normal to worry
about the person they love so much that it almost kills them to be away from
her. Your problem is that you think
I’m
normal. I’m not.” I glanced up
at him briefly. His eyes were yellow, his face intense. “Do you know anything
about wolves?” I shook my head and he continued. “Last week you called Lauren
over here because you could see how agitated Joe was without her. Did you think
his behavior was typical, or did you know that was a werewolf thing?”