Sniffer Update: @newshound – As attention focuses on the glittering gala ending WereCon2012, rumors fly that Neil Stillman lurks in the shadows. #nervous

Before heading to the ballroom, Duncan answered all the messages on his phone except for one. Neil had shifted to human form, at least long enough to locate his phone and send a cheesy threat—Watch your back, Woofer. It could be an empty threat, too. Neil wouldn’t have the nerve to show up when a party was in full swing.

Neil was a bully, and he’d counted on his brawn to give him the victory. Because that hadn’t worked out, he’d look for some other way to catch Duncan at a disadvantage. Confronting him in a crowd made no sense.

Duncan left his room and immediately was hailed by other Weres coming out of their first-floor rooms. He’d thought he might be the only one wearing the costume of his native country, but he grinned happily at the sight of the Mexican delegate in a black sombrero and a Zorro-like outfit while his mate wore a tiered skirt, a peasant blouse, and a flower in her hair. The Swiss delegate coming from the other direction was dressed in short pants, lederhosen, and a hat with a feather in the brim.

All three asked how he was feeling. Although he still had a shooting pain whenever he put pressure on his injured leg, he assured them he was in fine shape. He’d get enough unwanted attention as it was.

They joined the other Weres streaming into the lobby and down the wide hallway to the open doors of the ballroom. Duncan recognized the sound of live music and wondered if the evening would include dancing. He could manage something slow without too much pain, and if he could lure Kate onto the dance floor he could use the time to ask for a moment alone.

The ballroom had been transformed. Its former businesslike atmosphere of folding chairs and lecterns had been replaced with soft lights, flickering candles, fine linens, and joyful music. He glimpsed colorful costumes from every land, from Russian pantaloons to Japanese kimonos.

Best of all, the delegates had left their logo T-shirts and slogan buttons in their rooms. Duncan noticed the small globes in the center of each table and wondered if they had been Kate’s idea. The spirit in this room tonight illustrated what they’d tried to convey in the mission statement.

He knew from a quick phone discussion with Howard that the mission statement had passed, but he also knew a vocal minority was unhappy about that. Yet as concerned Weres came over to inquire about his health, not a single one mentioned the controversy. It seemed that the delegates had checked their politics at the door so they could enjoy the evening.

Still, he braced himself as Angela Sapworthy approached. Her long black dress was sprinkled with what seemed like a million rhinestones. Her spiked hair was also covered with rhinestones. She would have blinded him in full light, but candles helped mute the effect. Still, she made his eyes hurt.

“Duncan MacDowell! May I have a word?”

“Which word did you have in mind? I know several.”

She tittered. “You’re so droll. How about the word underwear? Do you know that word?”

“I’m familiar with it.”

“Is it a word that goes with kilt? Or not?” She batted her glitter-covered eyelashes.

He should have a good answer for this question after all these years, but he didn’t, so he decided to stall. “Depends on the occasion.”

“What about this occasion?”

“MacDowell!” The Russian delegate who’d promised to buy him all the vodka he could drink approached with a glass in each hand. He acted as if he had no idea he’d interrupted Angela’s attempt at an interview. “I decided Scotch would be your preference.” He handed him one glass and kept the other.

“Aye, ’tis.” Duncan took the glass. “Thank you. You know, I still can’t pronounce your name.”

“Doesn’t matter. Call me Nick.”

“Then thank you kindly, Nick.”

“You’re most welcome. To Werecon2012!” Nick tapped his glass against Duncan’s.

“Hear, hear!” Duncan took a sip.

“To the Worldwide Organization of Werewolves!” Another tap.

“Aye! To WOW!”

“To…” Nick looked over at Angela. “I’m sorry. You don’t have a drink. You can’t toast with us if you don’t have a drink.” He put his arm around her. “Let’s go get you one.”

Duncan grinned as he watched them leave. That little save had been worth twenty drinks. He’d find Nick later and tell him so. And he’d eventually figure out how to pronounce his whole name.

So far he’d seen no sign of Kate. He’d been searching the room ever since he’d walked in, but no luck so far. He continued to watch for her as he talked to delegates about everything except their political views. He heard funny stories of shifting mishaps, and Were jokes cropped up everywhere. He even heard one that started out Three werewolves walked into a bar. He wanted to tell Kate about that. Where the devil was she?

He desperately wanted to see her, but even beyond that, he needed to tell her something that was becoming more obvious the longer he stayed in this room. No matter what the future held, Weres would always require a gathering place that belonged to them alone. Their experience as Weres set them apart from humans, and they understood each other. Non-shifters, or the shifting disabled as one Woofer had suggested calling them, just wouldn’t get it.

He wasn’t giving up his dream of a day when Weres and humans interacted with full knowledge that they weren’t the same species. That secret was causing too many rifts among families where inter-species mating had already taken place. But this special gift of Were solidarity had to be protected. He wanted to tell her that.

So far, however, she hadn’t made an appearance. Surely she wouldn’t hide in her room. She had more intestinal fortitude than that. He hadn’t seen Elizabeth, either, and when he did, he planned to ask her where Kate was. He was growing impatient.

The band ended their latest song. And that was another thing. He’d heard several that would have been perfect for dancing. Other couples had taken the floor, and he’d been asked to dance more than once and had declined. He was waiting for Kate.

The band broke into a jazzy little riff, and suddenly, there she was, climbing the steps of the dais behind her grandmother. A spotlight followed them to the microphone, in case anyone might miss their entrance. Considering the glittering picture they made, that wasn’t likely. Pride swelled in his chest as he watched Elizabeth and Kate take center stage.

Elizabeth wore a flowing, floor-length gown made of an iridescent material that shimmered in ever-changing colors as she moved. She wore an extravagant necklace of amethysts and diamonds, and those same gems dangled from her earlobes. Duncan appreciated the grace and style of her outfit, but he spent very little time looking at it.

He spent quite a lot more time staring at Kate’s red, form-fitting dress covered in sequins. Elizabeth’s outfit was lovely, but Kate’s…the plunging neckline had surely drawn the attention of every male in the room. As if that weren’t enough to send their libidos into overdrive, the skirt had a slit up the side that ended dangerously halfway up her creamy thigh.

A ruby pendant dipped tantalizingly close to her cleavage, and she’d worn her hair piled on top of her head to show off ruby earrings that brushed her shoulders. Duncan was so entranced that he took an unconscious step forward, as if he needed to reach her before any other Were got the jump on him.

Fortunately he snapped out of his daze before he made a complete ass of himself. He’d made a semi-ass out of himself, though, because those on either side of him gave him a knowing glance, and the Russian delegate winked. They knew. His besotted state was obvious for all to see.

Therefore he might as well confess that to her soon and get it over with. Besides, if he didn’t act quickly, she was liable to have six more offers before the night was out. He couldn’t imagine that any single Were in the place wasn’t thinking of Kate in very lustful ways. Woofer or Howler, they were all normal male werewolves with typical reactions.

He hoped that Jake Hunter wasn’t here, but the minute he had the thought, he spotted Jake from the corner of his eye. Jake seemed as transfixed by Kate as Duncan was. And to top it off, the bastard was wearing a tuxedo. Duncan hoped that Elizabeth was right about the lure of kilts, because Hunter had bloody well dressed to impress.

Elizabeth took the microphone first while Kate stepped back. “Welcome to our party!” She lifted her arms and the crowd cheered.

Duncan listened for woofs and howls, but didn’t hear any. Good. He hoped the evening would remain a-political, for everyone’s sake, especially his. This atmosphere could aid his cause by helping focus on the positives in their relationship instead of the negatives.

“I’m pleased to see that you’re all having such a great time,” Elizabeth said. “Thank you all for coming to WereCon2012. Stillman Lodge is honored to have hosted all of you this weekend and we would love to see you all back here for WereCon2013!”

More cheers greeted that suggestion. Duncan wondered what his life would look like a year from now. He was beginning to hope it might be very different, but uncertainty still gripped him. So much depended on Kate’s reaction to what he had to say, and he couldn’t predict what it would be.

“I only need one more minute of your time,” Elizabeth said. “Before you return to a much-deserved celebration, please give a round of applause to the person who worked very hard to make this conference happen, my granddaughter Kate Stillman!” Stepping back, she motioned Kate toward the mike.

The applause was deafening. Instead of howls or woofs, the air was pierced by loud whistles and cries of Kate, Kate, Kate. Duncan was quite sure he’d made an ass of himself, because he was surely the loudest of them all.

“Thank you all.” She swallowed and swiped her fingers quickly under eyes. “Thank you,” she said again, her voice husky. “This weekend has surpassed my wildest dreams. And it couldn’t have happened without my grandmother.” Turning, she started another round of applause for Elizabeth, who came back to the microphone and slipped an arm around Kate.

Elizabeth leaned toward the mike. “Now go enjoy yourselves!” As the band played another catchy sequence, both women started down the steps.

Duncan had already begun to move. He probably shouldered a few male Weres out of the way as he headed for the base of the steps. Too bad. When they reached the bottom, he planned to be there, and he would beat Hunter to the spot, too.

He made it just ahead of the Alaskan. Glancing back at him in triumph, Duncan turned toward the steps and offered his hand to Elizabeth. “You look beautiful tonight,” he said.

“Thank you.” She eyed his kilt. “You don’t look so bad yourself.” With a smile she squeezed his hand and released it before stepping toward Jake. “Mr. Hunter! I’ve heard so much about you this weekend, but we haven’t had a chance to talk. How would you like to buy me a drink?”

Duncan made a quick mental note to thank her for that later. But right now, he had to concentrate on Kate. He held out his hand to help her down the steps. He wasn’t even sure she’d take it.

But she did, her gaze locked with his as she descended the steps. “Nice kilt, Woofer.”

His pulse leaped at the warm glow in her blue eyes. “Nice dress, Howler.” The band was playing a waltz. He would have preferred something a little less taxing, but he’d take it. “Can you dance in it without causing a riot?”

“Can you dance in your kilt without causing one?”

“I couldn’t say, lass. The sway of a kilt does tend to cause some excitement.”

“As does the flash of a naked thigh.”

“Then let’s put on a show, milady.” His idea of a quiet interlude was disappearing fast, but he couldn’t resist the challenge in her eyes. If she wanted to display their connection for all to see, he was done with protesting. She knew what she was doing.

He’d been taught to waltz at a young age, and while it was very romantic, he wouldn’t be allowed to mold her body to his as he’d hoped. Placing his palm in the small of her back and cupping her hand in his, he looked into her eyes. “I love you.” Ah, he hadn’t meant to say that.

Her lips parted as her breath caught. “Way to throw off a girl’s concentration, Woofer.”

“Sorry. Let’s dance.” He began to twirl her around the floor as he cursed his loose tongue. What a blunder that was. He’d meant to lead up to it, find a quiet time, a secluded spot…and that plan was in ashes.

“Is that it?” She danced as beautifully as she did everything else. They moved together as if they’d been doing this for years. “You blurt out that you love me and then we just waltz?”

“I dinna mean to say it.” Turned out his bad leg was only good for a couple of times around the floor. Now he winced every time he put his weight on it.

“Because you don’t love me? Is it because I’m not a human? Is that it?”

“Nay, I do love you, and I love that you’re Were, too. That’s the best part, which is ironic considering how I’ve been sounding off on the subject. But this wasn’t how I…bloody hell. I’ve made a mess of this.” He sucked in a breath as pain sliced through his leg.

“Duncan, what’s wrong with you? Are you hurting?”

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing. Your jaw is clenched and sweat is popping out on your forehead. Unless you really hate dancing with me, and after saying you love me I doubt that, you have a problem.”

“Just keep dancing. I don’t want anyone to…just keep going.”

“But you’re in pain. I can tell.”

“I don’t want them to know I’m injured. The fight caused too much commotion as it is.”

“All right. Then I’ll have to come up with a different reason why we’ve stopped dancing.”

“I can’t imagine what that would be.”

“I can. Get ready because I’m about to stop. On three. One, two, three.”

Before he knew what she was about, she’d come to a halt and thrown her arms around his neck. Then she pressed her mouth against his. At first he simply stood there in shock, unable to believe that she’d truly kissed him in front of the entire room full of delegates, including Howlers and Woofers.

“Kiss me back,” she murmured as she continued to press her mouth to his, “or I’ll look like a fool.”

Of course he didn’t want that, so he wrapped her in his arms and got serious about this unexpected event. At first he was aware of the other dancers who had slowly stopped moving to stare at them. But as the heat of passion rose in him, he lost touch with his surroundings.

The world disappeared and there was only Kate, the love of his life, here in his arms as if she meant to stay there for a very long time. His arms tightened and he kissed her with all the tenderness in his heart, which turned out to be quite a bit. Once he started kissing her, he couldn’t seem to stop.

Eventually he became aware of someone tapping him on the shoulder. How annoying. He glanced up to tell the intruder to bugger off. The intruder turned out to be Elizabeth Stillman.

“I think you’ve made your point,” she said with a smile. “We all get it.”

Slowly he remembered where he was, but he didn’t let go of Kate. Keeping one arm firmly around her waist, he turned to the group of curious onlookers. “I suppose you’re all wondering what this means.”

Knox Trevelyan was one of the bystanders, and he chuckled. “We’re all adults here, MacDowell. We have a pretty good idea what it means.”

Beside him, Kate stood up straighter and took a deep breath. “It seems I’ve fallen in love with the King of the Woofers.”

Duncan stared at her. “You have? That’s wonderful news, lass!”

She flashed him a smile. “Yeah.” Then she continued to address the crowd. “If my followers want to kick me out, then I understand, but personally, I don’t think it would be such a bad thing if we had greater cooperation between the two groups. We could keep an eye on each other that way.”

Heidi stepped forward. “I can’t speak for all the Howlers, but I don’t see how anyone with a heart could help falling for Duncan MacDowell. I’m half in love with him myself.”

Kate laughed. “Hey.”

“Just kidding. Sort of. But most of us suspected you two had a thing for each other. I’m glad it’s out in the open. I, for one, don’t see a problem. Like you said, you’ll keep an eye on each other. Worthy opponents.”

Duncan glanced around at the group and was gratified to see heads nodding in agreement. “Those of you who know Kate won’t be worried that I’m going to convert her to my way of thinking. She has strong opinions and that won’t change.” He couldn’t believe that she’d made his argument for him. “But I can keep an eye on her. And she can do the same with me.”

“Fine speeches,” Elizabeth said. “Well done, both of you.” She handed Kate a small evening bag. “Here’s your purse, dear. Now get out of here. I’m sure you have better things to do than hang around this ballroom.”

That brought another laugh, but Duncan thought it was a fine idea. “We do, at that.”

As they left the ballroom with their arms around each other, Kate lowered her voice. “Lean on me if you need to.”

“Nay, lass. I can make it under my own power.” He gritted his teeth. “But it’ll be good to stretch out.”

“We’ll take the hotel elevator to the third floor.”

“Don’t want to be seen leaving like a cripple.”

“No, you’ll be seen leaving like a Were eager to be alone with his lover. An elevator is faster than stairs.”

He was in no mood to argue, so he walked with her into the spacious elevator. She punched a button for the third floor.

Holding her close by his side, he gazed into her upturned face. “Did you mean what you said back there?”

“Did you?”

He was willing to go first. “Aye. It must have been bubbling up in me, waiting to get out. I couldn’t stuff it down another second, and out it popped. I love you, Kate. I think I loved you before I met you, but once I glimpsed you in the airport with that furry hat and your blonde hair peeking out…I was a goner.”

As the elevator creaked upward, she smiled at him. “I think I loved you before I met you, too, Woofer. You and your torch, and the ability with a tire iron, and your…ability with all that you’re hiding under your kilt.”

He laughed. “You’re wondering, aren’t you?”

“I am. It’s part of the mystery of a kilt. On this side of the ocean, we’re told that a true Scotsman wears nothing underneath. Are you a true Scotsman?”

“You’ll find out soon enough, won’t you?”

“I could find out now.” She eyed the drape of his plaid.

“Not yet. I want to preserve the mystery a little longer. Your grandmother said that a kilt made a powerful lure, so I want to make sure I have you well and truly caught before I reveal my secrets.”

As they walked down the hallway toward her suite, their arms still wrapped around each other, he couldn’t imagine a moment when he’d been happier, or more filled with anticipation for the future.

At the door to her suite, Kate paused to dig the card key out of her tiny purse.

Duncan tried not to be impatient. The night was still young, and they had it all to themselves.

She found the key and opened the door. “Did you get anything to eat while you were down there? Do you want something from the kitchen?”

He guided her inside and turned to lock the door behind them. “All I want is right here.” He drew her into his arms.

“Now that’s so touching,” said a voice that Duncan knew only too well. Kate gasped and stiffened in his arms. Dread sent a cold chill up his spine. He pushed Kate behind him as he turned to confront Neil leaning in the archway that led to the living room. His neck was bandaged, but otherwise he looked strong. And he held an ugly gun in his hand.

“Come on in,” Neil said. “I wasn’t sure whether Kate would come back alone or with you, but having both of you here is terrific. You’re earlier than I expected, which is good. We’ve run out of things to talk about and could use some company.”

Behind Duncan, Kate quivered, either from fear or rage. “We?”

“Penny and I. We have a little proposition for you.”