Tempting The Dragon. Karen Whiddon
Libby had become pretty self-sufficient, except for her crippling shyness that kept her from making friends. After all, if she went to town, she looked like everyone else. Half the time, people had no idea she was actually the “lake beast.”
With all of her kind gone, Libby had felt the weight of her aloneness grow heavier. It wasn’t until Jade had taken over that Libby had realized she didn’t have to live as an outsider. She just needed Jade to help her figure out how to make that happen.
* * *
It had been a long day. Rance had seen the panic and condemnation on that kid Lucas’s face. The sickly sort of disbelief on Jade’s. Though he’d itched to photograph everything, document it for posterity, in that particular instance, he knew better. For the first time since starting out on this quest, he’d felt a faint prickle of conscience, as if the teen might be right and he should focus on other things.
Except he couldn’t. Not if he wanted to bring Eve what she’d asked for.
Deliberately forcing his thoughts to other things, Rance remembered the pub he’d seen on the way to Jade’s house. The thought of pub food—greasy hamburgers and seasoned fries—made his mouth water. Though as a recovered alcoholic he no longer drank, he’d refused to avoid places that served alcohol entirely, viewing it as a way of testing his fortitude. Tonight, this would be exactly what he needed to get his mind off both his predicament and the sexy silver-haired Jade Burnett.
Since the evening air felt perfect, he left the rental car parked outside his motel and walked the few blocks to the bar. The road climbed and dipped, but the Brew and Chew Pub sat halfway up the first hill, making his walk more of a workout than he’d anticipated. Which was all good. Hiking around the lake had made him realize he needed to get out more. He’d even purchased a nice pair of hiking boots so he could do this.
He also needed to change. But in what he assumed must be a community of shape-shifting wolves, his kind of beast would definitely be noticed, so he had to be careful.
The unhurried pace of the locals as he strode past them made Rance smile. In larger cities, these people would get mowed down by the fast-walking crowds. Even compared to Houston, Forestwood seemed positively bucolic. Here, even though he would have thought they’d take the scenery for granted since they lived here, every person he passed appeared to be engrossed in the picturesque storefronts with blooming flower boxes and towering trees, enjoying one another’s company. Inhaling deeply, Rance could smell the scent of hamburgers and fries cooking somewhere drifting on the breeze.
Unable to resist, he got out his camera and snapped a few shots. Then, because he never knew if he might want to take another, he kept his Nikon in his hand, secured by a neck strap.
His spirits lifted. All in all, this began to look like it would be a perfectly great night. The possibility of achieving his goal put a spring in his step and hope in his heart.
Even better, he felt like he might fit in while here, despite having only been in town a couple of days. No one stared at him or gave him sideways glances. No, sir, generally the locals didn’t even appear to act like he might be out of place. Which was in stark contrast to the way they’d acted when he’d first arrived in town.
In fact, one might consider them a bit overly friendly. Especially the other men. Rance noticed every single guy—old or young—gave him a broad beaming smile. Sometimes a wink, or a dip of the chin, and even once a thumbs-up. All very convivial and jovial, almost like they were congratulating him for something, though he had no idea what. Maybe word had leaked out that he’d seen their lake creature? Judging from the teenager they’d run into at the lake, he wouldn’t have thought that’d be a good thing.
In fact, it was beginning to creep him out.
Ahead, he saw the sign for the Brew and Chew Pub.
Finally reaching the bar, he yanked open the surprisingly heavy red painted wooden door and went inside. As the door swung closed behind him, he blinked, letting his eyes adjust to the dimness.
The inside smelled like heaven. Grilled burgers with onions and fries. No cigarette smoke, for which he felt grateful. In fact, several no-smoking signs were prominently displayed.
One empty bar stool in the middle of the bar beckoned him. Red pleather, he thought as he took a seat. While he waited for the bartender to notice him, he thought about grabbing a menu, but decided he didn’t need it. He already knew what he wanted.
When the bartender—a tall, thin guy with a close-cropped head of gray hair—appeared, he slid a tall glass of draft beer to Rance. “Guys at the pool table bought it for you,” he said, grinning.
“Why?” Perplexed, Rance eyed the drink, his mouth suddenly dry with longing. He even reached for the glass, feeling the cold sweat on his palm before turning and raising it in a salute of thanks in the general direction of the pool area.
Cheers erupted.
When Rance turned back, he carefully relinquished his hold on the glass and slid it away from him. “I don’t actually drink,” he said. “Could I get a ginger ale instead?”
“No problem.” Dumping out the beer, the bartender, whose nametag read Earl, refilled the glass with a can of Canada Dry. “You’re kind of a local hero today. Do you want to see a menu?”
A local hero. Deciding food trumped hearing gossip, Rance shook his head. He’d ask why later. “No need. One burger and fries is what I need.”
“Double or triple?”
Since he needed meat, Rance opted for the triple.
“Coming right up.” Earl left to go put in the order.
The guy on the bar stool to the right of Rance swiveled around. “Lucky bastard,” he said, grinning. “Not sure how you managed it, but every single guy in town wishes they were you.”
Now Rance knew he had absolutely no idea what this man meant. He took another pull on his ginger ale and shrugged. “Thanks, I guess. Though to be honest, I have no idea what all of this is about.”
The other guy’s eyes widened. He opened his mouth to say something, but just then Earl appeared with Rance’s dinner.
“Here you go,” Earl said, sliding the plate in front of him. “The cook had started making one for my meal, but I’m letting you have mine. Hope you enjoy. And, Ted—” he shot Rance’s neighbor a warning look “—let this guy eat in peace, will you?”
Mumbling what sounded like a disgruntled affirmative, Ted turned back to his beer.
Mouth watering, Rance grabbed the burger and dug in. He tried to make himself eat slower, but the food tasted so good and he was so hungry he practically inhaled it. Luckily, he had the soft drink to help wash everything down.
When he’d cleaned his plate and drank all his ginger ale, Earl brought another. “This one’s on the two guys at the end of the bar.” He jerked his head toward them and they waved.
“Okay.” Rance began to wonder if he’d inadvertently wandered into a gay bar. “Listen, Earl. Why is everyone buying me drinks?”
Earl scratched his head. “You really don’t know?”
“I have no idea.”
Ted snickered.
Ignoring him, Earl leaned on the counter. “Two words. Jade Burnett.”
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