IN THE WOODS, the sunlight rippled across the undergrowth. The leaves flashed and turned. Behind her, she could hear some stupid little animal scuttling around the base of a tree. Her stomach growled, but this wasn’t the time for a snack. She had bigger things to do. Plans to make. Unsettled by the wait, she licked at an invisible spot of dust on her foreleg and watched as the wet patch of fur glittered in the sun.
Finally, there was a flurry of movement in the open parkland below her vantage point. The man walked out into the grassy expanse, all jiggling thighs and fat-padded shoulders, focused on walking over the uneven ground. Her mouth watered and she rose into a crouch, brushing against a low-hanging branch. As her muscles bunched to spring, the man was joined by two women and another man, shouting at him to wait. A third man straggled out into the clearing behind them, lugging a giant backpack.
Damn. Too many. Everyone had forgotten about the so-called “daytime werewolf sighting.” Which hadn’t even been her. She’d wanted to prove that she could kill in daylight—take away the false safety of the sun—but this was asking for failure.
Keeping the rumble of frustration and disappointment that vibrated in her chest to a whisper, she sank back down onto the forest floor. The angle of the light against the trees increased her frustration. She’d run out of time—they’d be expecting her back, soon. What a waste. Still, maybe she’d have time to try again tomorrow.
When Matthew and Claire pulled up in front of Claire’s house, it was only a little after five thirty. Lisbeth’s note said she’d be home around six, so they had close to half an hour before she’d be back. Half an hour in an empty house.
“Do—do you want to come in?” Claire asked.
Matthew twisted in his seat so that he was facing her. He reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and Claire took a breath. Matthew’s scent filled her nose, and she resisted the urge to sigh.
“I want to come in more than anything,” he said, and the rough catch in his voice told Claire that he meant it, “but I don’t think that Lisbeth would love coming home and finding me here. And I really want Lisbeth to like me, because I’m hoping to be around a lot more, and it’ll be a lot easier if she does.”
Claire gave in with a sigh. “You’re right.”
“Still, we do have a few minutes.” Matthew cupped her face in his warm hands and leaned close. Claire blinked up at him, but when he brushed his lips against hers, her eyes fell closed. His mouth was gentle but insistent. Her lips parted and Matthew’s hands slid down to her shoulders, pulling her closer. The happiness that bubbled up in her chest when his arms slid around her was like nothing Claire had ever experienced before. After the last few days, when she’d felt uncomfortable everywhere, in every form, she’d finally found a place where everything seemed right.
It seemed like only seconds later that Claire heard Lisbeth’s car coming up the long gravel drive. She pulled away from Matthew, straightening her hair and taking a deep breath.
“Is something wrong?” The worried look on his face made Claire want to kiss him again.
“I heard a car coming,” she explained.
“Really?” he looked out his window. A few seconds later, the rumble of tires on gravel got louder and Lisbeth’s car pulled into view.
“Wow. I guess I wasn’t paying enough attention.”
Or I wasn’t paying enough attention. God, I was so focused on kissing him that I didn’t even think that I’d be able to hear something like that way before he could.
Claire nudged him with her knee. “You didn’t hear me complaining,” she said.
“So, do you want me to stick around and say hi?”
Claire shook her head. “Maybe next time.” She opened the door and slid out into the heat. “I’ll talk to you soon, okay?”
“I’m counting on it.” He smiled at her.
Matthew drove past Lisbeth, waving to her as he went.
Lisbeth got out of the car, looking a little out of sorts. She pulled her yoga bag out of the passenger seat and walked over to Claire.
“So, how was your date?” The note of teasing in Lisbeth’s voice fell flat.
Claire felt her cheeks start to burn. “It was nice,” she said, lifting her chin. She was allowed to date. She’d called Lisbeth to let her know where she was going. There was no reason for Lisbeth to make a big deal out of this. “How was your workshop?”
Lisbeth glanced at her bag and an unreadable expression fluttered across her face. “It was pretty good. I’ll be sore as anything tomorrow, I bet.” She turned to walk into the house. There was a dried leaf caught in the back of her hair and Claire plucked it out.
“Were you guys doing yoga outside?” she asked.
“Um, a walking meditation, yeah. It was hot as Hades. Why?”
Claire held up the leaf. “This was in your hair.”