Page 130 of Hunted in the Shadows
“It never would’ve worked between us, anyway,” she said, smoothing her hands over his chest. “I need cats. It’s a dealbreaker.”
Cliff sucked air through his teeth. “Ouch.”
Gwen chuckled, cupping his face in one hand. “It shouldn’t surprise you that I’ve always had a thing for strays.” She lifted on her tiptoes, brushing a kiss to his cheek.“Thanks for… you know—not leaving me for dead at the outpost,” she added, almost shyly.
Cliff’s gaze softened on her. “I’d say that evens the score between us.”
She chuckled, folding her arms over her chest. “It's a start.”
The rumble of the Challenger’s engine crossed the front windows. Cliff looked like he wanted to touch Gwen, his hands flexing with restraint.
She was choosing—it just wasn’t him.
“I’ll see you around,” he said.
Cliff stepped away from her, striding toward the door. Sylvia took to the air behind him after setting down her entire thimble and murmuring her thanks to Gwen. She gave the former hunter a reserved look before flitting through the open doorway, asking Cliff something about the new vehicle.
I approached Gwen, hesitating for a moment before awkwardly wrapping my arms around her.Wasn’t that theright move? What you’re supposed to do when someone saves your ass and you ruin their life in return?
Gwen tensed against me, shoving me off. “Easy, big guy. We’re not there yet.”
I backpedaled, almost relieved as I shoved my hands into my pockets instead. We studied each other, all veneer of civility dropping now that we were alone. To my surprise, the abject hatred in her honey-brown eyes had cooled somewhat. But the past few days couldn’t erase our history—what I had done.
“I owe you an apology about Luke.” My words came out gruff and rushed.
“You owe me more than you can offer. Just… don’t. I don’t want to hear it.”
I nodded, pinned by her gaze as she read something in my face. “You’ve changed, Nowak. Starting to think that little ice princess has you wrapped around her finger.” She smirked a little, amused by the notion, but her eyes narrowed at me. “Don’t fuck her over.”
I smiled—that I could promise.I dug around in my pocket, scrawling my cell number on the back of a crumpled receipt.
“Call if you need anything. Monsters or otherwise,” I told her, pressing it into her hands before she could reject the offer.
A German Shepherd and a teacup Yorkie bounded beside me, matching my stride as I crossed the gravel-strewn lot. Up ahead, theChallengeridled near the front lot, its burnt-umber body glinting in the sunlight where the towering oaks no longer cast their shade. Despite its vintage year, the car glimmered like it had been dipped in molten metal. The tires were new, made for grip, and the black racing stripes down the center added a certain predatory detail. It was the kind of car that jumped off the pages of a movie poster, and a boyish part of me was itching to get behind the wheel to see what was under the hood.
By the looks of it, I would have to fight Cliff for the chance. I stood beside Hannah at the trunk, watching Cliff circle the car slowly. He moved like a lover admiring every curve, his palms skimming delicately over the paint. He glanced over at me, grinning.
“God, she’s perfect, isn’t she?” He reached through the driver’s window to caress the steering wheel.
Hannah laughed. “I’m glad someone appreciates Brandy. She’s a sweet ride.”
“Brandy,” Cliff echoed, eyes glinting. “I like it.”
“I spent a lot of time on her. Not one scratch, you hear me?”
I winced, knowing there was no chance in hell we’d manage that. Cliff knew it, too, because he nodded vaguely and excused himself to pack up the belongings we’d collected from the motel room.
Meanwhile, I had to practically drag Sylvia away from saying goodbye to the animals—even when she insisted that there were more that she had missed inside the house.
“You’re taking them all with you?” Sylvia asked Hannah, stroking the German Shepherd’s ears while the Yorkie grumbled for attention.
“Can’t separate the pack,” Hannah said. “It won’t happen overnight, but we’ll get them over there eventually. Trust me, they’ll love it. It’s an old family place out in the country with plenty of space for them to run around and get into all sorts of trouble.”
“An old place? You’ll call us if it’s haunted?” Sylvia inquired far too cheerfully as she finally flew up to eye level.
Hannah’s eyes widened at the possibility. “I think Gwen’s got that in the bag—but I wouldn’t mind a non-life-or-death visit sometime. I’ll have to see about getting some strawberries to grow out there.”
Our future may have been a strained mystery, but Sylvia looked prepared to take whichever path led her back to Hannah’s baking.
