Chapter Fifteen
‡
Dr. Crenely had yet to make an appearance, and the crowd was becoming restless. Connor leaned over to EmmaLee. “Had you heard that the man has a tendency to be late?”
“No, but if you look at my thesis advisor, he’s checking his phone every few minutes. I don’t think he knows where Dr. Crenely is either. Crenely should have called if he couldn’t make it on time.”
“What do you want to do?” Connor asked. “Stay or leave?”
He was being so nice. The Connor of old would have demanded they get out of there. This man seemed to understand how important this talk was to her. “I say we wait until we learn something.”
As if she were psychic, the side doors to the auditorium opened and two police officers walked in. The room buzzed louder than a disturbed beehive. Her thesis advisor rushed down the steps. The cops said something to him, but EmmaLee was too far back to read their lips. Damn.
Connor clutched her hand. When she looked up, his jaw was clenched, and his brow had furrowed. “What is it?” she asked.
“Let’s go.”
She leaned closer. “I’m not leaving until you tell me what happened.”
Connor squeezed her hand and then let go. “Your professor isn’t coming.”
That made no sense. This talk had been planned for month. “What did they say?”
“Someone murdered him.”
A band tightened about her chest, threatening to cut off her air. “What?”
Connor stood and edged his way toward the aisle, and EmmaLee was forced to follow on wobbly legs. Her mind whirred. Dead? Connor had to be wrong. Before they made it to the door, her thesis advisor stepped up to the podium and tapped the microphone. She stopped, and the audience quieted.
“I’m afraid Dr. Crenely’s talk must be postponed.”
Postponed? Hope surged through her. Maybe he’d only been injured and would recover. Connor glanced back at her and slightly shook his head, sending her down that dark tunnel once more.
“I can’t give you the details now, but I will as soon as I’m able. I’m very sorry. Please check the message boards for further information,” her advisor said.
The crowd erupted into chatter once more and then began the mass exodus. Because she and Connor were close to the door, they slipped out without being crushed. As soon as they made it outside, EmmaLee grabbed his arm. “What did you hear exactly?”
“The cops didn’t give your advisor many details, other than to say his body was found in the woods near here.” Connor grabbed her hand and led her to the car.
“That’s horrible. I can’t believe he’s dead. So what are we going to do?” she asked.
“We pack and go back to Silver Lake.”
She stopped. “Go back?”
His lips pressed together. “Your expert can’t help you now. I also think staying here will put you in danger.”
“You think Slater’s behind this, don’t you?”
“I can’t say, but someone murdered your expert. I wish I knew how long Dr. Crenely has been dead.”
“He arrived two days ago. Hasn’t Slater been in New York the whole time?”
“We can’t know for sure. He somehow seems to have the ability to travel between cities unnoticed.” Connor opened the car door, and she slipped in. “We’ll find answers. It just might take time.”
“Can you speak with the cops to find out what happened?” He’d say no, but the whole situation was too unreal.
“I’ll see if Jackson can find out more.”
“Before we leave, can we go back to my place?”
“Why?” Connor asked.
This was decision time. If she packed up her belongings, she would be saying goodbye to a town that had been good to her. She enjoyed the women she worked with and those who lived in the town—at least most of them—but her classes were complete, and that had been what had kept her here. Once she polished her thesis, all she had to do was email it in and then defend it. While it might have been nice to work in Billard, most likely she’d receive offers from a school out of state.
“I think it’s time I say goodbye to this town. It has some good memories, but some bad ones too. That means I’ll have to pack what hasn’t been torn up.”
Connor smiled then quickly sobered. “Are you sure?”
She loved that he really seemed to want her to move to Silver Lake. “Yes, but I’ll have to get a place of my own. I can’t stay at your parents’ guesthouse forever.”
His mouth opened as if he was about to say something, but he then quickly shut it. She didn’t want to get her hopes up in thinking he’d suggest they move in together. Connor wasn’t the impulsive type.
“Let me call the cops to see if the scene has been cleared,” he said. “If it has been, you can pack. We’ll figure out the rest later.”
*
As thrilled as Connor was that EmmaLee wanted to move to Silver Lake, he hoped it wasn’t the bad memories that were driving her decision. He wanted her to be in his town because she wanted to be with him.
For most of the drive back to Tennessee, she remained quiet. As much as he wanted to console her, she probably just needed time to figure things out for herself. Her hopes of learning that dragons might exist had been dashed, and he bet her heart ached at the loss of the great man.
Around eight p.m., he pulled in front of the guesthouse. Connor was still worried she’d breakdown. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
She shrugged. “Kind of. I feel…violated. And the worst part was that I trusted Slater.” She shook her head. “I was such a fool.”
“We all have done foolish things. What matters now is that you don’t make the same mistake twice.”
She looked over at him and attempted to smile. “I don’t think I will.”
His wolf rejoiced. “Glad to hear it.” He picked up her hand. “I know no one wants to think they need help, but maybe seeing a therapist would do you some good.”
She shook her head. “I’m okay.”
Connor figured she’d say that. “It’s your call, but from what I can tell, your childhood was traumatic. No one can come out of that unscathed, especially since your aunt and uncle weren’t the supportive type.”
Her chin trembled. “You’re right. I always thought I had worked through my issues, but given I put up with Slater for so long, maybe it’s time I face the fact that I might need some outside counseling.”
Connor rubbed a thumb over her wrist. “You know I’ll help you any way I can.”
“Thank you.”
He smiled. “Let’s get you unpacked.”
EmmaLee didn’t have many possessions, and what clothes she had were stuffed into garbage bags. The rest fit into two boxes. Someday, he’d make sure she lived in a house that was full of love and had everything she ever needed and desired.
“Just set them in the bedroom,” she said. “I’m not in the mood to unpack.”
Connor had never seen her so listless, and that worried him. “Why don’t you take a hot bath? That might perk you up.”
Her eyes shone. “That sounds wonderful, but what about you?”
“I’ll clean up later. I’ll watch TV or something while you soak in the tub.”
EmmaLee stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you. I just wish this place had a tub built for two.”
His wolf howled. “So do I,” he said as he tapped her on the butt. “Go. I’ll be waiting.”
Connor grabbed a beer from the fridge and returned to the living room. He’d have to thank his mom for sneaking in and refreshing the drink supply. More than ever, he realized how lucky he had been to grow up with such loving parents.
He sank down onto the sofa and enjoyed listening to EmmaLee run the water, imagining doing this for years to come. As much as he wanted to sneak in and watch her, she needed this time. She had a lot to process: first the break-in and then the death of the one man who could have helped her understand what she’d seen the day her parents died.
These next few weeks would be critical for her. He’d ask his dad for suggestions for a good shifter therapist, and then try to convince EmmaLee to go. Hopefully, Slater Coghill would be found and brought to justice, and the Billard police would have some answers as to who might have broken into EmmaLee’s house. He doubted the cops would figure out who killed Dr. Crenely in that time, but he could hope.
While he waited for EmmaLee to finish her bath, he watched a little television, but the show held little interest, so he called his father. Even when his dad stayed home, he seemed to know things.
“How was your trip?” his father asked.
“It was cut short.” Connor explained about the break in and the death of the man EmmaLee wanted to speak with.
“I’m sorry. Any ideas on either event?”
“EmmaLee said the only person she’d shown the talon to, other than me, was her ex-boyfriend.”
“I thought he was in New York City.”
“He was, but we don’t know when the break-in occurred. Hell, he could have been waiting for us to leave the first time and then broken in.”
“That’s depressing.”
“As for whether he could be involved in Dr. Crenely’s murder, I’m hoping I can get a hold of the autopsy report to see the time of death.”
“Do you know how he died?”
“You mean was the good doctor shot to death, beaten, or attacked by an animal?”
“That covers the bases, yes, but if it had been the later, it would narrow down the suspect pool.”
“Agreed.” The soft padding of feet approached. “EmmaLee just finished her bath. I have to go, Dad.” Darn. He’d have to ask his father for suggestions for a therapist later.
“I’ll put out some feelers.”
That was what he’d hoped his father would say. “Thanks.”
Connor disconnected, and when he looked at EmmaLee, his body went wild. Her wet hair, freshly scrubbed face, and creamy skin excited his wolf too much. Wrapped in a soft pink bathrobe, he wanted to make love with her so badly he could taste it.
“Would you like to take a shower?” she asked. “My bath was divine.”
Was that a hint that he needed to wash off the road dirt? He had a spare set of clothes in the car. “I’d like that if you don’t mind waiting.”
“Not at all.”
Connor slipped out to his car and gathered the emergency set of clothes he kept there, which consisted of a pair of track pants and a t-shirt. Once inside, he headed into the bathroom. Not wanting EmmaLee to be by herself for long, he quickly showered. As he dried off, he debated walking out with just a towel around his waist like he had the last time but then decided she needed to rest. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t sure he could last another few days without making love to her. Connor couldn’t afford to rush her. His future mate had a lot on her mind.
Once he dressed and returned to the living room, he found her stretched out on the sofa, sipping a glass of wine. “I couldn’t wait,” she said.
“No problem. I already had my beer.”
Connor lifted her legs, sat down, and placed them on his lap. He wanted her to talk him. Her mind had to be spinning.
She set down her glass and sat up, curling her legs underneath her. “Thank you for everything,” she said.
He hadn’t expected that comment. “I didn’t do much.”
“You drove me to Billard when you were worried Slater might have been there.”
“Ronan had spotted him in New York, remember?”
“I know, but still. I wouldn’t put anything past that man.”
Connor stroked her arm. “He can’t hurt you—not when I’m here. I won’t let him.”
Her glance shot down to the side. “And I appreciate that.”
“If you must know, I took you to Billard because meeting the archaeologist was important to you. I didn’t want you to wonder whether what you’d seen that day was a dragon or something else.”
“Now I’ll never know.”
Her pain tore at his heart. “I’m sorry. So what are your plans now?” He’d thought about asking James, their resident immortal, to look at the claw, but even if he knew what it was, he probably wouldn’t tell. While Connor didn’t interact with him and the goddess Naliana very often, he knew their philosophy regarding humans and shifters. They wanted those on Earth to figure out their own problems and would only interfere if someone were in serious danger.
“I plan to finish my thesis, but this time I’ll be omitting all of the dragon parts. I need to move on. I have to accept that I might never know if they exist.”
He dragged a knuckle down her cheek. “I’m glad. Personally, I don’t want to meet one.”
That got a smile out of her. “Me neither—at least not up close and personal.” She yawned.
“You’ve had a long and stressful day. Why don’t you head to bed?” he suggested.
“I will if you join me.”
If he joined her, they’d be making love, and he didn’t know if she was emotionally ready for that. “Are you sure?”
“More than sure.” She picked up his hand. “I came back to Silver Lake to be with you. Even if Slater is tossed in jail and they throw away the key, there isn’t anything in Billard for me now.”
Connor couldn’t help but smile. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”