Chapter Nine
Catherine opened her eyes to find she was alone in bed. Where did Jacques go? She sat up and stretched. A small box on the table on her side of the bed caught her attention. She opened the lid and pulled out a silver chain. Was this for her? There were a couple of charms on it. The first made her laugh. A silver bullet. Something humans believed killed werewolves, but all they did was hurt like the other ones. The second one was a pair of handcuffs. The first thing that popped in her head was last night and how he showed her how to let go. The third was the symbol of the Saints. She’d recognize that anywhere.
Each of these charms could also symbolize Jacques. As a sheriff he used handcuffs, and the bullets, and the Fleur-de-lis was for New Orleans. She dressed then slipped it around her neck. It took her a few minutes to find him. With coffee in hand she walked out onto the porch where he sat.
“Thank you for my gift.” She sat beside him.
“Do you like it?” He shifted so he could look at her.
“Very much.” She lifted the charms as she looked at them. “I also like how they have two meanings. One to us and one to the rest of the world.”
“What has two meanings?” asked Alicia as she joined them.
“Oh, nothing.” Catherine let the charms drop and took a sip from her coffee.
“All right.” Alicia did the same thing. “You know I’m going to find out.”
“I know, but I’d rather not have it happen right now.”
“All you’re doing is making me curious.”
“Promise to explain everything later,” Catherine said.
“Okay.” She turned her attention to her mate as he stepped out onto the porch as well.
“I’m surprised to find everyone out here.”
“Sorry, sir.” Jacques stood. “I woke up early and came out here. Everyone decided to follow me.”
Max laughed.
Jacob stepped out on the porch. “Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes.”
“I better go get Everett. He loves Jacob’s food.” Jacques gave Max a slight bow and headed in.
That left Catherine alone with Max and Alicia.
“Nice necklace,” said Max.
“Thank you,” Catherine replied.
“It’s new, isn’t it?” he asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“Okay, I get the hint. I’ll see you two at breakfast.” Max placed a quick kiss against his mate’s cheek then headed inside.
“Spill.”
Catherine shook her head. “His ears are the best.”
“You know I’m going to tell him anyway. Why wait until he’s out of earshot?”
“I’d rather you explained it than have him overhear.”
“Jacques gave that to you.” Alicia pointed to the necklace.
“He did.” She looked at the three charms.
“What do you think that means?”
“That he’s enjoyed his time with me?” What was Alicia getting at?
“So he’s paying you for favors?”
“What?” Catherine took offense. “No!”
“Then he has feelings for you.”
“Why do you keep harping on this?” Catherine wanted to scream. “There is nothing beyond the short time we’ll have together. He’ll go back to his life, and I’ll go back to mine.”
“Is this what you two discussed or what you assume?”
Catherine glared at her. Ever since Alicia had used the Tears on herself and transformed into a werewolf her insight had grown exponentially. It amazed her on how close to the mark she was. “No, we didn’t discuss it. But he is their sheriff. His pack needs him, even if he’s not going to be their alpha. They respect him. They do what he asks. They follow his lead. I can’t ask him to leave his people when they need him.”
“You could go there.”
“And do what? Alicia, we’ve been over this. I understand this is only temporary, and I can live with that.”
***
Alicia sat at the table, watching Everett put away about a dozen pancakes. His appetite was amazing.
“How did your talk with Catherine go?” asked Max who pitched his voice so only she could hear.
“Not well.”
“She doesn’t see it.”
Alicia sighed. “She doesn’t want to see it.”
“Remind you of someone?”
She stuck her tongue out at her mate. He was referring to when they first met and how she would ignore things and pretend they didn’t exist if she didn’t want to deal with it.
“Catherine might be a little thick headed, but she will face the truth when she has to. We must give her time.”
“Are you going to tell her that he passed the test?” Alicia asked.
“Nope. I’m not going to tell either of them until they realize they should be mates.”
“How long do you think that will take?”
“With these two? I could retire before they admit what is happening between them.”
***
Jacques looked at Catherine who pretty much kept her gaze down as if she had been chastised. “You okay?”
She nodded.
He’d ask more but he knew they were being watched. Max wasn’t shy in how he watched them, but that was the alpha in him. He watched him right back. There was no way he was going to cow down when he knew Max was doing this on purpose.
Max smiled at him then whispered softly in his mate’s ear. She smiled then looked right at him as well. Wow, they were powerful alone, but together? He understood why Catherine worshiped them the way she did.
Jacques picked up his cup of coffee and took a sip. What now? Should he act like nothing was going on or should he be obnoxious and ask them why they were staring? A smile filled his lips when he imagined their reaction to the second question.
“So what are we going to do today?” asked Everett between bites of more pancakes.
“What would you like to do?” asked Max.
“I don’t know.” He moved his food around for a moment. “I heard there is a park nearby.”
“You want to go to our local walking park?” asked Alicia.
“Um, no. I was thinking more of the theme park? Carowinds? I’ve never been to one before.”
“Let me see what we can do,” said Alicia.
Everett gave her a big smile as he finished off another stack.
***
Catherine changed into a pair of jeans and a loose-fitting shirt. She wanted to go to their main library to look at a few of those ancient texts she had. Jacques wanted to go with her. He was curious about why all the different packs who had joined with Max allowed their histories to be taken. She did try to explain they didn’t take them. The goal was to preserve them, but she knew he would understand once he saw the library.
They arrived at an unassuming building.
“This is it?”
“What did you expect?”
“I don’t know. Maybe a building that looked like a library? This looks like a lab almost.”
“That is because it is a lab.” She unlocked the door and opened it for him. “Anyone from any pack can come here to read any of the books we have. They can also order copies if they wish.”
He followed her into the elevator and waited as they descended deep into the bedrock.
“I feel like I’m entering Batman’s cave.”
Catherine laughed. “We searched a while before we found just the right building. These books are special and they need to be preserved properly.”
She brought him to a pedestal. “This book was my great-great grandmother’s diary. I used this to test the units we have to protect the books. It’s been here for about thirty years and hasn’t aged anymore.”
“Okay. So you took all the old books and sealed them into these cases. I get that. But no one can see them. They’re locked away down here.”
“I know it seems like that but it’s not true.” She went to the computer. “Tell me something you’d like to know about.”
“When did werewolves come to the United States?”
“Okay.” Catherine typed in his question into the computer. “The first record we have is the Jamestown expedition. One family left the colony before they were destroyed by a hurricane. They sensed the danger in the wind and begged the rest of the people to leave with them. When they refused the werewolves left without them and were the only ones who survived.”
“How do you know that?”
She pointed to the screen in front of her. Catherine stepped back when he walked close enough to read the paragraph she just read. It also referenced a book. It told him what aisle and book it was in. It also made him aware that the book in question was in one of these podiums.
He memorized the information and walked to the spot where the book was placed. This podium was a little different. It had buttons that would allow him to read what he needed right there, he could have a copy of the book emailed to him or he could request a printed copy.
Then it asked for his member number.
“Membership number?”
“As each pack joins us we give each member a packet. That includes information on the library and how to access it. Each packet has a number that is assigned to the owner of the packet. It’s like a social security number, but for werewolves. It allows us to do as much as possible for each member.”
“And how many balk at the idea of becoming a number?”
“Almost all of them.” She laughed. “No one wants to get lost in the shuffle.”
“So how do you prove this doesn’t happen?”
“How do you prove anything? We help our businesses hire only werewolves. We help others start the business they want, but like anything else it has to be viable. Max has a good head for business. If someone wants to start a business, they apply for it. If they want to go to college, they try for our scholarship. Max told you about his college idea. We’re actually gathering educators to start that college for our people.”
“And will you lead that college?”
“I don’t know.” She looked at him. “I never really thought about it. My position at the college I work at is something I love to do, but this is my passion I guess. There is so much history out there that is fading away because we’re too scared to bond together.”
“Catherine!” A new voice caught her attention. “I am so glad to see you. Are you here for a few hours?”
“Why?”
“There is a book that is so delicate I think you should be the one to work with it.”
“Which one?” She looked at Jacques. “Do you mind? You could head back to Max’s if you want.”
“I’d like to watch if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t, but I might end up ignoring you if you have questions.”
“I promise not to break your focus.”
“You do that just by being in the room.” She gave him a bright smile.
***
He wondered how they went about preserving the books and now he would be able to see firsthand.
The young woman who had spoken to Catherine came back with the book in question. She rolled it in on a small table. Her next step was to take the book out of the bag they had sealed it in.
“Oh my. I need a unit right away.”
Another woman came with a clear box that Catherine took and placed the book in. It reminded him of an incubator with built in gloves. She gingerly opened the book to the first page.
“Ready the camera, set it to run the whole time so we can pick the best images later. This is so fragile I don’t want to put it through too much strain.”
Her assistant set up a fancy looking thing to take the images she wanted. Catherine picked up a small tool that reminded him of a cake spatula and she used that to turn the pages as she slowly moved through the book. Once she was done the book was transferred to one of the podium units to preserve the book.
“Upload those to the main server and I’ll work my way through the book along with the others I’m still working on.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
These women treated her like royalty and in a way she was. She was Max’s second. Catherine was in her element here. She was relaxed, happy. Her laughter lit up the room.
This was the first time he saw this side of her. Here she was in control. It dawned on him that as a female she always had someone telling her what to do. Her parents when she was little. Her brother and Max now that she was an adult. He was the same way. He thought she never allowed anyone to control her, but it was the opposite. She just hid that by making sure she was visible.
His respect for her grew. In their world the male was the dominant one. He had to protect his family. The alpha of every pack was always male. She was the first female he knew who was showing that women could be just as strong in leadership positions.
“You sure seem to be in deep thought.”
“Sorry.” He smiled at her as he linked his hand with hers. “I was thinking about how great you are at this. Are you the one who goes to all of the different packs as they join with Max?”
“Most of the time. I’m there with him and Patrick when they finalize everything. Most pack historians are women and they can relate to me better than Max or Patrick.”
“The more I learn about you and Max the more I learn to respect you.”
“Me?” She held his hand as she led him back out of the building. “I’m not sure I understand. Max, I get. The man is pulling our people together as a nation. Most alphas would rather fight with each other than work together, but Max has this way about him to make them see the big picture. I know your attitude has changed around Max. You bow to him like the rest of us do now. You do what he asks you to do, not because you’re afraid of him, but because you know he has everyone’s best interest at heart.”
“You’re right.” They stepped out into the sunshine hand in hand. “But the moment I met him I could feel that charisma of his. Then I saw how he handled my father and the respect he showed him. He’s also highly intelligent and I swear he knows everyone’s name.”
“He does, unless they’re new, but he can put a name to a face. I’m amazed at how he does it.” She was quiet for a moment. “I’d like to get a few things from my apartment. Do you want to take the car?”
“I’m fine, unless you don’t want me to see your bachelor pad.”
At that she laughed.
“I think calling it a bachelor pad is a bit much. It belonged to my brother but when he gained his pack he gave it to me. I’m still trying to remove his imprint on it. The one good thing is it’s not too far from here. We can walk there if you’d like.”
“Sure.” He let her lead the way. “I thought you people rode everywhere.”
“Sometimes you can’t help it. This used to be my family’s factory but when Charlotte started growing my parents moved it to the outskirts. The building sat empty for years before my brother decided to turn it into an apartment building. We rent out the bottom floors, but Patrick converted the top floor into a loft for himself.”
“We?”
“My family? Patrick deals with the rent. We use what we need to maintain and make repairs to the building. The rest goes into a general account that Patrick and I can use for just about anything.” She stopped in front of a large brick building. “Welcome to my home.”
She led him to an elevator.
“Really?” He hated the damn things.
“I promise it doesn’t bite. It’s my private elevator and only goes to my apartment.”
True to her word they were in and out in seconds.
“Wow!” He was amazed at the place. Windows from floor to ceiling on one side, a gourmet kitchen and a large living room that transitioned into a dining area. A massive fireplace dominated the wall of the living area. It definitely had a manly feel to it. “Your brother’s?”
“Yeah. I haven’t gotten to the living area. You want to see a bachelor pad?” She picked up a pad from the couch. With a swipe of her fingers soft jazz started playing, the fireplace roared to life and the lights dimmed.
“And this worked for him?”
“Really well. He was never without a partner. I remember having to field his calls because he had several women wanting him to call them back at the same time. Max would give him a hard time about it.” She headed into her bedroom to get what she came after.
Jacques heard her struggling and followed her in to help her out. “Another suitcase?”
“This is my indoctrination kit.”
“You keep it in your apartment instead of in your office?”
“I know it sounds crazy but it’s easier. If I kept it at the office I’d have to go through security, go up to my office, ride that hideous elevator or drag this down several flights, go back through security then have to schlep this thing out to my car. Here all I have to do is take it down my personal elevator and get it into my car which I can park as close to the elevator as I want.”
“I’ll take that as a cue to put it by the elevator.” He took the case from her.
“Thanks.” She headed back into her bedroom.
Jacques heard drawers opening and closing. What was she up to now? He leaned against the door frame as she moved about the room. She folded and packed a few more tops as well as a few more skirts. That made his heart beat a little harder. Knowing she was getting those for him had his body tightening. He didn’t realize he had moved until he was taking one of the skirts out of her hand and setting it down.
She looked up at him with a startled look for an instant before her eyes softened and she smiled. She pulled her blouse off then slipped her pants down her legs.
He moved just as fast so they could fall on her bed together. Jacques brushed his fingers along her jaw before he captured her lips with his. His tongue slipped in when she opened her mouth for him.
What was it about this woman that made him want her all the time?
***
Catherine saw the desire swirling in Jacques’ eyes and felt her body sing with joy. He wanted what she wanted. It was amazing how quickly passion sparked between them, but it meant their lovemaking would never be dull.
She felt his hands gliding over her skin, heightening her need with each caress. As much as she wanted to take over, she learned that letting him be in control was well worth it. Closing her eyes, she pretended that she wore the blindfolds once again. Her hand brushed along his muscles, but she made sure she didn’t show any signs of trying to take over.
Jacques broke the kiss and lifted himself so he could look in her eyes. “Why are your eyes closed?”
She opened them to look back at him. “I’m imagining the blindfold.”
He smiled. “I’m glad you enjoyed that. I hope you enjoy each time we’re together.”
“I do.”
“Good. Now close your eyes once more and let me worship you the way I want.”
She closed her eyes as she felt a little thrill race through her body. Catherine didn’t know how he learned the things he knew but she was glad to be at the receiving end of his knowledge. He brought her to heights no one else could ever get her to reach.
First she felt his fingers gliding over her skin, brushing the tips of her nipples, following the ridges in her ribcage, sliding over her hip bone. That was followed by his mouth pressing kisses where his hands had been. Each touch of his hands or lips sent little fissions of desire to race through her blood.
A moan escaped her when she felt him latch onto one of her breasts. She wanted to take control so bad. It took all her concentration to remain still. Catherine gripped her comforter to help her keep her hands to herself.
Jacques started to move again, this time down her body. His fingers brushed against the inside of her thighs causing her to open them for him. Like butterfly kisses his fingers continued to dance across her skin. They brushed against her core, drawing a moan from her. His lips kissed his way down to where his fingers played. As his mouth laved her, his fingers slid inside to heighten her need.
Her breath caught in her throat when the combination took her breath away. Her body shook. Her blood zinged through her veins. A howl escaped her as she climaxed.
Jacques moved back up her body and drove into her, causing her to arch against him. He started to move. Each time driving in as deep as she could take him. Everything tightened inside her. Good Lord she was going to explode again. She could feel it build inside her quickly. In seconds it overpowered her.
She found herself breathless once again.
Jacques captured her mouth with his. His tongue twining with hers. She was beyond thought. All she could do was feel. He started moving faster. The friction he caused had her wanting more. Her legs wrapped around him and she met him thrust for thrust. They moved together, faster and faster, reaching for that moment of pure bliss. It started to build in the pit of her stomach. She felt it flow through her, filling her and sending her free falling.
Another howl filled the air but she wasn’t sure if it was her or Jacques who did it. She melted against the bed, unable to move.
***
They arrived back at Max’s place with everything Catherine needed to start gathering the information on Jacques’ pack.
“I’m giving you two weeks, Catherine. That’s normally how long it takes for you to record the information you gather. If you can’t solve this murder problem by then I want you back here anyway. You have a job to do and you need to get back to it.”
“Yes, sir.” She didn’t look at Max. Catherine stared at her shoes instead. Her heart sank when she realized just how mad he was with her. Without saying it he told her that he felt she wasn’t focusing enough because of Jacques. So if she didn’t start focusing she would have to come home a failure. Something he knew she would take hard. She didn’t want to disappoint him anymore.
She prayed Jacques wouldn’t question Max. Max might be smiling, but she knew one wrong question would show why Max is the true alpha. He brushed his hand against hers and twined her fingers with his. It gave her the support she needed to look up at Max. What caught her off balance was the wink Max gave her.
Everett came over to Jacques and Catherine and tugged on his pant leg. “Must we go home?”
“I’m afraid so.” He crouched down in front of Everett. “Your mom and dad miss you. So do your siblings.”
Everett nodded. His sadness at leaving radiated through the room.
“Everett.” Alicia came over and sat in a chair near him. She patted the chair next to her for him to join her. Once he climbed up she gave him her best smile. “I know you have loved it here. We love having you, but we can’t keep you forever. You know that. Your momma wants to see your face. I have been talking to her though and let her know how much you love it here so we’re going to set up other times when you can come visit.”
“Really?” He gave her such a hopeful look she laughed.
“Yes. I promise.” She placed her hand on his shoulder. “But you must promise not to run off like you have in the past and you have to keep your grades up.”
“My grades?” Everett gave her a confused look. “I’m not in school yet.”
“Your mom tells me you’re going to start in the fall.”
“I am?” He looked at Jacques. “Momma wasn’t sure if she’d let me go.”
“She asked me if I thought you were on your best behavior and I told her yes. You’ve been the perfect little gentlemen. She made a comment that maybe you had matured enough to attend classes with your brothers and sisters without allowing them to distract you too much.” Jacques came over and ruffled his hair. “You’re so smart I know you will do well in school, but you can’t let anything distract you. Don’t let your family tell you you’re something less than the brilliant young man you are.”
“I promise.”
***
The flight back on the private jet was quiet.
“Why did you stare at your shoes the whole time Max was talking to you?”
“You haven’t angered Max yet, but that was his way of telling me he’s not happy. We normally don’t get timelines because we get the job done quickly, but I can’t figure this one out and Max thinks it’s the fact that we can’t keep our hands off each other.”
“I think you’re overthinking it.” He wanted to comfort her but wasn’t sure if anything he said would help. He was sitting beside her so placed a hand on her thigh to show silent support.
“What do you mean by you can’t keep your hands off each other? I don’t see you touching each other that much,” Everett commented.
Jacques smiled.
“What I mean is Jacques and I have become very close friends and Max thinks it could get in the way of me figuring out who has been hurting members of your pack.” Catherine smiled at Everett. Only a curious child like Everett would make such a simple statement.
“I thought having more than one person made figuring things out easier.” He crinkled his little brow in confusion.
“It does,” said Jacques. “But we can’t find the answer.”
“Perhaps you’re looking in the wrong place,” he said.
“Which is why we’re going to start all over when we get home.”
***
They had about an hour before a mass of Catherine’s people would descend on the pack and the time went by fast. Catherine had taken the things she brought back from Charlotte to the house Max had rented for her and her workers and she worked on the schedule for them while they waited. The people coming were all women and they all would look to Catherine to get them started.
It was a bit chaotic when they first arrived. There were lots of hugs, a bit of laughter, and lots of looks in his direction. Catherine got them to focus on the task at hand quickly.
Jacques watched in amazement as she gave each woman direction on what was needed. Where to set up their equipment. She told each woman which room they could put their things in for the duration.
Once she had them setting up their things she went to the kitchen where Sally had been preparing a light meal for the women. Catherine asked her if she could utilize the restaurant to do some of the interviews, wanting to make sure they could interview where people felt the most comfortable. Then she asked about what she wanted to do personally.
“The first thing I’d like to do is copy your local paper. You said it went back to the beginning of the pack? That always has the best information.”
“Some of those are so delicate.” Sally hesitated.
“Sally, I saw her work with some delicate books that were donated by other packs. Catherine will be extremely careful.” He looked over at Catherine. “She will treat everything with the proper respect.”
Sally looked at him for a moment. “They’re at my house.”
***
Catherine sat on the floor of Sally’s home office assembling her portable scanner. This was a lot like the incubator she had in Charlotte but designed to scan the delicate items before she either sealed them for the owner or placed them back in what they had been kept in for years.
“I protected them best I could once I realized they were breaking down. Some of the pages ended up sticking together but I put as many as I could in plastic bags like the ones they put comic books in.”
“That was a smart idea. I’m assuming your paper was about the size of a newsletter?”
“We never had enough info to fill a paper so it was more of a bulletin sometimes. We keep it to once a month now, but in the past they were released whenever there was big news.”
“Okay, do you want me to start with the older issues and move forward? Or the other way around.” Catherine got up on her knees when Sally brought a box over to her.
“Let’s start with these.”
Sally wasn’t sure if she could trust her with these yet and Catherine understood. The pages in this box dated back about fifty years. Each had been placed in plastic sleeves but were still deteriorating because air could get into the top. Putting on her gloves she gently picked up the plastic and placed it inside her scanner. Once she had it sealed she took her gloves off and used the gloves attached to the equipment to gently pull the page out of the sleeve. Placing it on a small plate inside she adjusted the scanner that worked more like a camera to capture the image in high resolution before placing the page back in the sleeve. She did this with each page, slowly, methodically, making sure each one was handled as gently as possible.
“Sally, I can use my machine to seal these to protect them better.”
“Really? I’ve tried all kinds of things but I was afraid I’d damage them.”
“This is very easy.” She put a clear sheet on the plate then took one of the pages out of the sleeve and placed it on top then placed another piece of clear sheeting on top before sealing the edges. Once done she took it out of her incubator and handed it to Sally. “If you want me to seal every page like this I’ll get several of my crew to help. I promise they will treat everything with respect.”
“I do want them protected but if it’s too much work it can wait. At least the newer releases.”
“Protecting our history isn’t too much work.” Catherine stood. “We’ll get it done.”
***
Jacques sat at the restaurant wondering what Catherine was doing. He hadn’t seen her since the other members of her pack had showed up. He knew she was working on copying their tiny newspaper, but he thought she might take a break here or there.
Sally was with her so he was in charge of the restaurant. The rush had come and gone and he had decided to close up a little early tonight. He had seen a few of the women, but he knew most were still working and he bet that Catherine was in the middle of it. He packed sandwiches, condiments, chips, water, sodas, iced tea and coffee for everyone he assumed was in Sally’s house.
It took a couple trips before he had everything up on her porch. He knocked on the front door then walked in. “Hello?”
“Back here, Jacques,” said Sally. “Do you need help?”
“That would be great.” He gestured behind him. “I brought sandwiches and drinks.”
“I taught you well.” She helped him haul everything into her kitchen.
“Get the tray and we’ll put the sandwiches on them.” She started pulling them out of the bag and looked at him. “How many people do you think are here?”
“About seven, including you and Catherine, but females or not, they are werewolves. You can’t tell me they don’t eat that much.” He set up the coffee pot then set the cups, cream and sugars next to it. “Coffee for whoever needs it. I brought the rest for those who might not want coffee this late.”
“Thanks, I was hoping you’d think of us. They are in such a zone right now I hate to disturb them.” She carried the tray she filled into the room where the women worked. Jacques followed with the drinks. “Ladies, we have sustenance for you.”
“Thank you, Sally,” said Catherine. She stood then all the women with her did the same. “You guys go ahead. I’ll get something in a minute.”
Jacques watched her as she looked at him. He wasn’t sure if he should go to her the way he wanted, then decided these women probably already know that they had been together. They wore each other’s scent and gossip could travel fast within any werewolf community.
“I also brought drinks for the ladies.”
“Thanks, Jacques.” She brushed a stray hair out of her face. Catherine looked at the women who were watching them with open curiosity. “I’m going to take a quick break.”
He gestured for her to go first.
“He’s cute, Catherine,” he heard one of the women say.
“I’m sorry. It seems my love life is everyone’s business.” She said the last part loud enough that she had to be heard.
“When you never had one before it is an anomaly we don’t believe,” came the retort. “And we want to make sure we’re not dreaming.”
Jacques laughed. “Extended family?”
“Very much. I’ve been working with these ladies for several years now.”
“It’s nice to have people who care about you that much.”
“And sometimes it’s annoying. If they overstep any boundaries please tell me and I’ll get them to stop.”
“If I can put up with Sally and her meddling I can handle your friends.” He stepped close and took her hands in his. “I know you’re working hard.”
“I promise I’m not going to work through the night, but I will be working a few more hours.”
“Do you want me to come back for you in a few hours?”
“I’d like that. Did you want to stay at the house Max rented? He did make sure there was room for us as well.”
“And have your friends listen to every little noise we might make? I’m not sure I’m up to that. I know it’s a little further away, but do you mind staying at my house tonight?”
“As long as I’m with you I’ll be happy.”
***
He came back to Sally’s house about three hours later. He had been going through his notes once again and lost track of time. Sally met him at the door.
“Glad you came back.”
“Is something wrong?” He felt his heart stop for a moment.
“No, just follow me.” She led him back to her office.
Everyone had left except for Catherine, who had fallen asleep while she was putting her equipment away.
He smiled. Instead of waking her he picked her up.
“You two can take the spare room.”
“Thanks.” He was careful as he brought her to the room. He sat her in a chair while he turned the bed down. Once he was done he knelt in front of her. “Catherine, it’s time for bed.”
“Oh, no.” She stirred. “Did I fall asleep?”
“You did, cher.” He helped her to her feet, then helped her undress.
“You going to stay with me?” she murmured.
“I’m here for you.” Once he had removed her clothes he led her to the bed and tucked her in. Instead of joining her right away he went back to the kitchen where he found Sally. “Any idea when her ladies are coming back in the morning?”
“I think around eight.”
“Thanks. I want to be sure she’s up when they get here or she might not forgive me.”
“I’ll knock on the door when I get up.”
“Thanks.” He went back up to the room. The bed wasn’t that big but they could make it work. He stripped and climbed in beside her, pulling her against him as he spooned her. Holding her so intimately had him wanting her, but he knew she needed to sleep. It was going to be a long night.