Page 27 of The Crimson Wolf
I sigh before opening my door and exiting my car to head inside.
Walking through the doorway, I immediately catch Cameron sitting at the booth near the back. He waves at me, a steaming cup of coffee cupped in one hand and a matching one across from him.
He exits the booth as I approach, a smile etched on his perfect face. “I was starting to worry that you swerved off the road from a brain injury.”
“What?” I give him a disgusted look before sliding into the booth.
His smile fades, and he sits across from me, wrapping his large hands around the white mug. “Remember the soccer ball that just hit your head? Are you sure you’re okay?”
As soon as he mentions it, the throb returns slightly. “Oh, yeah. I’m sorry. It’s been a day already, and I had to call my Granny and message my work.”
He nods. “You mentioned you’ve been having some rough days.” He looks down at the coffee in front of me. “I got you a black coffee, but we can get some cream and sugar if you want.” His eyes search the diner as if looking for a waitress to summon.
“No, it’s fine. Black is great.” I bring the coffee to my lips, taking a tiny sip. Well, shit. He was right. This coffee is good. I don’t feel like paying him the compliment for his suggestion, though. I’d rather get to the point.
“So,” he says before I can get out my first question. “What did you want to meet with me about?”
I arch my neck back in confusion. “Meet with you? You invited me to coffee.” How could he possibly know that I had ulterior motives for meeting him?
He sighs and shakes his head. “Remember when we met? Before you left, you said you wanted to meet with me again. Shit, Red, are you usually like this, or did Ben really knock all the memories out of you?”
Our last conversation materializes in my memories. It seems like ages ago, but it was only two days prior. So much has happened since he caught me in the woods and brought me back to his creepy cabin.
“No, I’m not usually like this, but as I said before, it’s been a rough few days. I don’t remember every conversation I have with a stranger.”
Cameron makes a forced laugh and pushes himself back. “And I thought I just caught you at a bad time the other day. You really are a pain in the ass all the time.”
“Excuse me, I am not a pain in the ass. You were the one who was rude to me, took me back to your torture dungeon, and then assaulted me in the park.”
He leans forward. “Assaulted you? It wasn’t… You know what, never mind. Are we done here?” He pushes himself back as if to exit the booth.
“Wait, no.” I breathe out, my temper settling. Maybe I am coming on a little hot and heavy. “I do need to talk to you.”
He shakes his head, an uncomfortable smirk marked across his lips. “And why should I talk to you when it’s obvious all we do is argue?”
“Because I know you know more about the attacks, and I’m not giving up until I figure out what the hell is happening in this town.”
I can tell he’s trying to mask his expression, but I catch a bit of color drain from his skin. “Why are you so obsessed with those attacks?”
“Well, besides it being my job to investigate them, they’ve recently become a bit more personal.”
He studies me. “What do you mean?”
I sigh. “It’s hard to explain without sounding crazy.”
“Try me.” He leans forward, his dark gaze catching mine, sucking me into him.
I lean closer to him. Despite the magnetic pull, I don’t want the sparse patrons of this coffee shop to hear me. “Do you know anything about werewolves?”
Surprise flashes through his eyes for just a moment before he pushes himself against the booth and laughs. “What kind of reporter are you, Red?”
I cross my arms. Sure, what I’m saying is crazy, but I’m picking up on his body language a little too well. He knows something. “Okay, then, how do you know Jack?”
A vein bulges at the side of his neck even as he steals his expression. “Family friend.”
“Are you sure about that?”
He studies me before speaking again. “He’s your boyfriend. Why didn’t you ask him how we know each other?”
