A Dangerous Moon [Tales of the Werewolf Clan] (3 page)

"True. So true," Ray agreed. "But, the moon affects us all. It sounds to me like Teresa was holding a grudge, and when she saw Ritchie was back in town, she snapped."

Rick sighed. "Well, it's not exactly what I expected in my first few hours of being back in town, that's for sure."

Ray reached out and gave him a light squeeze on the shoulder. "You just be careful from now on, bro. Take it from me, she-wolves can be dangerous when crossed."

The serious expression on his twin brother's face reminded Rick that his brother spoke from experience. He recalled that, not too long ago, Mary Lynn, a waitress and
sithech,
had attacked his brother's fiancée in the woods during a winter snowstorm. A dark thickness filled the room as tense emotions emanated from both his brother and Bruce.

"Well, I'm not pressing charges, Bruce." Rick changed topics, trying to steer their conversation back on course. "I think Teresa should be let off with a warning too…if she agrees to leave me alone and doesn't try to attack me again."

"That's fine by me," Bruce nodded, putting away his notepad and pen. "We have another full moon coming soon and, from what I've heard, it's a strong one. You just play it safe, okay? I don't want to have to scrape you off the ground again."

Rick gave a heavy sigh and rolled his eyes. "Yes, sir, officer."

* * *

"What are you still doing here?" Doctor Michael Cary asked as he walked up to Allison's desk.

She glanced up and smiled at the older man. "I'm almost finished with the paperwork on Rick…I mean, Richard McShaw. He'll be fine, so I'm releasing him. How's the other patient?"

"Nothing broken, but she was in a foul mood. Her brother's come to pick her up, but I think Officer Taylor just went in to see her now."

Allison let out a long sigh and shook her head. "This is going to be a strong full moon."

The older man chuckled. "Aren't they always around here? Now, I want you to go home and get some rest after you're finished. Okay?"

"Alright. I'll be out of here after I release McShaw."

"Good. See you soon!" He flashed a smile, and then left the office.

Allison sat back in her chair and glanced over at the telephone on her desk, then over to the clock on the wall. She wanted to call her Aunt Jean to ask her about what she'd experienced during her healing session with Rick. The visions had been so clear and vivid, yet the women in her family had never mentioned anything about such a phenomenon.

But, if I call her before sunrise, she'll be cranky. I'll just wait until I get home and call her…
after
she's had her coffee.
Allison concluded with a smile, recalling her favorite aunt's mild caffeine addiction.

She rose from her desk and picked up the paperwork, placed it neatly on a clipboard and headed for the door. As she strolled down the hallway, she couldn't help but notice a petite blonde with her arm bandaged heading for the exit door with a tall, darker blonde man. It was Teresa Owens and her brother, Sam. Neither one of them looked too happy.

Bruce Taylor stepped out from another one of the unit's examination rooms and smiled over at her. "Are you releasing McShaw too?"

Allison nodded. "Yes. He's good to go. Well, after I get him to finish these." She tapped the clipboard with her pen.

"I'll go with you, if you don't mind." Bruce fell into step beside her. They walked down the short hallway to the door of the next examination room and stopped. A muffled voice could be heard from behind the closed door.

She gave a light rap on the door, then pushed it open and walked in. Rick was seated on the edge of the examination table with a cell phone pressed to his ear while his brother, Ray, paced the floor behind him.

"Yeah, but, come on, Ernie, just one room. That's all I need." Rick was speaking into the thin receiver with an exasperated look on his face. He paused, holding up a finger to her and Bruce. "I know, but I didn't think –"

Bruce leaned closer to her, speaking in a low tone. "This doesn't sound good."

"Fine. No, no problem. We'll work out something." Rick spoke again into the phone. "See ya around." He flipped the cell phone shut and handed it back to his brother with a heavy sigh.

"What's wrong?" Allison asked, glancing back and forth between the two men.

"It seems I lost my room at the
Starlight
because of a burst of tourism here in Heather Grove," Rick grumbled.

"Well, these renovation tours have really helped the town's economy and it means more business for everyone," Ray explained with a shrug. "You should've made a reservation with Mr. Campbell for a room."

"Hey, how was I supposed to know that a senior citizen's group was coming to town for the next couple of weeks? I've been on the road for a while, bro, remember?" Rick shot his brother a sharp glance.

"Hey guys, let's discuss this later," Bruce chimed in. "Like Rick said, we'll figure something out. Okay?"

The two men both turned to face them, but her attention was drawn entirely to Rick. Allison's heart skipped a beat as her eyes swept over him. Despite looking a bit tussled and bruised, he was still a very good looking man. Too good. She smiled over at him and handed him the clipboard. "I need you to fill out a few things here, and then we can release you."

"Thanks, doc." His frustration had dissipated and the warm timbre of his voice sent a shiver down her spine. His eyes sparkled beneath the florescent lights and his mouth curled up into one of the sexiest smiles she'd seen in a long time. After a few moments, he handed the clipboard back to her and rose from the table. Allison pulled her gaze away from his and glanced down at the form. Her cheeks felt warm again, but she was doing her best to stay calm and professional.

"Now, if you have any dizziness or disorientation, please don't hesitate to come back in, Rick. I don't think you'll have any problems besides a few bodily aches or pains, but I think you'll heal up fairly quick." She raised her eyes again and smiled up at him.

"Hey, Allison," Bruce spoke up. "Didn't I hear that your roommate recently moved out?"

"Um, yes, she did." She turned her gaze to him. "I was going to place an ad in the
Gazette
soon, but really haven't got around to it. Why?" Allison raised an eyebrow.

Suddenly there was a shimmer in the air. The hair on the back of her neck rose as her
sithech
senses detected that the male alphas were mind-talking, a special gift between closely bonded members of their wolf clan. Yet her mind was blocked from their conversation.

Ray was the first to speak up. "Ritchie needs a place to stay since the
Starlight
is all booked. And, since you have a vacant room, could he stay with you while he's in town?"

Rick's eyes cut over to his twin brother as a low growl escaped from his throat. "I don't think I should impose. I can find somewhere to stay on my own."

"Don't be so difficult," Ray cut him off. "You could stay in Allison's vacant room and pay her instead of driving all the way back toward the highway."

"Yeah," Bruce added. "The only other hotel is not in town. Besides, her house is close by. Periwinkle Drive, right?"

Speechless, Allison merely nodded.

"Well, that is, if
she
doesn't mind." Rick glanced back and forth between the two men, and then turned his gaze to her. His face softened, yet anxiety shone in his eyes.

Her stomach gave a nervous flip at the thought of Rick McShaw staying under the same roof as her. When they were a couple, they'd talked about moving in together, but it had never happened.

"Well, what do you think, Allison?" Rick asked in a low, husky voice. "I promise I won't get in your way. Besides, it's
not
permanent. I'm just staying for a short visit, only about two weeks, and then I plan to leave town for another job. What do you say?" He gave her an imploring gaze.

"Well…" She sank her teeth into her bottom lip, deep in thought for a moment. "The room is partly furnished. Leslie left a bed and a dresser. It's sort of Spartan, but I've made sure it's all clean and ready to rent. Okay, I don't see why not."

The intense pressure inside the room instantly dissipated.

Allison glanced over at Rick, holding the clipboard tight to her chest. "Well, we're all done here. So, when can I expect you at my place?"

"Ray's going to take me to pick up my truck at
The Red Lion
, then I'm heading over to my sister's for breakfast, but I can come over to your place after twelve. Is that okay with you?"

"Sure," Allison nodded, then turned on her heel and headed for the door.

However, after she left the room, she stopped in the hallway and drew a deep breath to clear her head, stunned by what she had agreed to.

"Oh goodness, just what in the world have I gotten myself into?"

Chapter Three

By the time Rick had picked up his truck and was heading to his sister's house, the sun was over the horizon, promising another hot day. He was grateful Megan let him grab a hot shower and a couple of hours of sleep before diving into a delicious home-cooked breakfast. They sat at the kitchen table together while he ate.

"I can't believe you've got so big," Rick commented, taking another bite of his scrambled eggs with cheese. "It seems like only yesterday, you and Derek were getting married."

"I know," Megan smiled, running her hand over her extended belly with motherly pride. "Morning sickness was a real bitch, but now, I'm just getting huge! Honestly, I wouldn't trade this experience for the world! I only wish…" her voice trailed off. A bittersweet expression crossed her face.

"Hey, Mom and Dad would be so excited." Rick put down his fork and reached over and took her hand. "I'm sure they're smiling down on you every day."

"Yeah, you're right." Megan glanced over at him and nodded. "You know, I do sense things like that around here." They both looked around the sunlit kitchen. Even though she and Derek had remodeled a good bit of the house, there were things inside which still reminded Rick of their childhood and growing up in the family home.

"The place looks good, sis." He smiled, returning to his breakfast. "I'll bet this house needed some repairs. We put a lot of wear and tear on it over the years."

"It's a good one, alright." Megan agreed. "There are new homes being built on the other side of town now, but nothing quite as solid as this one, that's for sure."

"Ray told me about all the renovation and construction going on and how it's keeping him busy. Heather Grove is growing up, I guess."

"Yes, it's growing," Megan nodded, and then took a sip of her coffee. "So, what's this I hear about you staying over at Allison Browne's place?"

Rick nearly choked on his toast. "How did you—?"

Megan reached into her jeans pocket, pulled out her cell phone and held it up. "Ray called me just before you pulled in the driveway," she explained with a grin. "I don't always use my psychic abilities, bro." She rolled her eyes and laughed.

He gave a deep sigh and pushed aside his empty plate. "Yeah, Ray's the one who asked her, not me. It seems the
Starlight
was booked. He and Bruce came up with the wild idea."

"So? I've always thought Allison's a nice gal and, if she's got a spare room, why not?" Megan shrugged.

"Why not?" Rick repeated, arching an eyebrow. "Sis, since Allie and I broke up, I prefer to keep to myself. Over the years, I've gotten some control over my empathic abilities, but I still pick up on others' emotions – especially hers."

"Oh, go on, give it a try." She reached out and patted his hand. "And if worse comes to worse, you can always stay with us. But, it's been a couple of years. I'm sure you and Allison have some catching up to do. Don't you?"

There was a twinkle in her eye, but, before Rick could reply, Megan's cell phone chirruped. She quickly flipped it open and placed it to her ear. "Hey, Rhonda, could you hold on a moment?" She glanced over at Rick. "I'll be right back, okay?" she pointed to the phone.

"Sure. Go on," he nodded as his sister walked out of the room to chat with Rhonda Morrison, a long-time family friend.

Rick rose from the table to put his empty plate into the dishwasher, then washed his hands.

His sister was right. It had been two years since he and Allison were together. He'd left to go out of town right after their break-up and they'd gone their separate ways. Deep down, he was very proud of her. She was following her dreams. And, now, the whole community relied on her – both as a doctor and healer.

He'd done his best not to get in her way. Not because he didn't care, but because he did. Yet, the mixed emotions emanating from her today had overwhelmed his empathic senses. Rick didn't know quite what to make of it all.

"You're thinking about Allison, aren't you?" Megan stood in the doorway with her arms folded over her chest. She flashed him a soft smile. "You know we'd all love for you to come home and stay. Ray said the other day he wished he could find a partner to help with the construction work, Rick. I think…"

"Oh, no!" He shook his head, giving a low chuckle. "Can you imagine the two of us working together? That's not a good idea. Not at all."

"Well, I'm just saying…why don't you think about it, okay?" Megan shrugged, and then nodded to his empty coffee cup which was still on the table. "Would you like some more coffee?"

"Uh, no, thanks. I need to get going. Allie will be expecting me around noon at her place to show me the room."

"Okay, but promise you'll come by while you're in town." Megan stepped close and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.

"I will," he nodded, then tossed his arms around her and gave his sister a hearty hug. "Thanks for the shower, breakfast…well, everything."

"It's good to have you home, bro," Megan said in a soft, sincere tone.

"Yeah, it's good to be back," Rick replied.
For a while anyway…

* * *

"Are you sure you don't mind if I borrow your blouse?" Jeni asked as she took the turquoise and green flowery garment out of Allison's closet. Her co-worker had dropped by her house after her shift to pick the blouse, while Allison was focused on a quick straightening spree to get ready for Rick's arrival.

"No, not at all." She entered the bedroom with a load of books in her arms. "I only wore it once. Just send it to the dry cleaners when you're done, okay?"

"Oh, I will," Jeni promised with a big grin on her face as Allison dumped the books beside her bed. "Why did you bring those books in here?"

"I'm de-cluttering the living room. I don't think my new roommate would approve of my smutty romance book collection stacked up beside the sofa, do you?"

"Hey, who knows? It might give him a few ideas." Jeni waggled her eyebrows. "Know what I mean?"

"It's not like that," Allison dropped to her knees and hastily began to place the books in the cabinet under her night stand. "Besides, Rick will only being staying for a couple of weeks, then he'll be leaving town again."

"Don't be silly. I saw the way he was looking at you when he left the hospital." Jeni smirked. "I think he's still hot for you."

"What makes you say that?"

"Come on, Allie, you're pretty!" Jeni replied. "Not to mention smart, too."

"Well, if I've got beauty and brains, tell me why haven't I had a date in months?" she countered and rose to her feet.

"Do you want me to be honest?" Jeni placed her hand on her hip, cocking her head.

Allison blinked. It was a loaded question – one which she thought she already knew the answer to, but she decided to see if her co-worker was thinking the same thing.

"Okay," she gave a firm nod, folding her arms over her chest. "Tell me."

"Well, for starters, you volunteer to work longer shifts than most of the staff, and when you're not working, you're either working in your garden or staying at home instead of going out."

"Now, Jeni—"

"Wait, I'm not finished." She held up a hand. "And you wind up reading those books, which you stuffed into that cabinet, about hunky pirates and vampires instead of going out, meeting a real man and having hot, mindblowing sex."

"Jeni, please!" Allison rolled her eyes. "I'm not like that, at all. Besides, most of the guys around here are…are…well, not my type."

Jeni raised an eyebrow. "Allie, you don't get out enough. Ever since you and Rick split up, you've only gone out a handful of times. You know what I mean?"

"Okay, maybe you're right." She nodded. "Right now, I need to finish straightening before Rick arrives." Allison glanced at the clock beside the bed. "Oh geez, it's almost noon and I still need to clean up the kitchen!"

"Don't worry. I'll show myself out. Thanks again for the loan of the blouse." Jeni smiled. "I'm planning to wear it Saturday night. Hey, maybe if you're free…?" She winked.

"Yeah, I'll think about it and let you know." Allison smiled. "Hey, you might have better luck in that blouse than I did."

"Maybe I will," Jeni giggled, giving her a quick hug before heading out the door. "Maybe I will."

* * *

Rick was glad to see some things hadn't changed as he drove his truck down Main Street.
Jewel's Family Diner
, a local 24/7 favorite, was packed with hungry lunchtime customers, while the shops and stores seemed to be doing brisk business too.

As he stopped for a red light, a compact Nissan Sentra pulled up beside him and honked. "Hey, man! How's it going?" A familiar male voice called out over the heavy metal music thumping inside his car.

"Ernie! Hey, dude, pull over!" Rick grinned and nodded to a semi-vacant parking lot, indicating for the younger
sithech
male to pull off the road. Both men turned into the lot, cut their engines and jumped out of their vehicles. They greeted each other with a short, firm hug, and then stood back, smiling at each other.

"Hey, man, I'm really sorry my uncle didn't have a room at the
Starlight
for you to stay in this time around," Ernie apologized.

"I know, I should have made a reservation, but didn't. My bad." Rick shrugged. "But how was I to know how popular this little town's become while I was away. Hard to believe, right?"

"Honestly, I'm glad it's come into the twenty-first century. I don't know if they've told you yet, but I'm running a little computer business now, and it's kept me quite busy."

Rick smiled, eyeing Ernie from head to toe. "You must be working out too. You're filling out and looking pretty buff for a computer geek."

"Thanks," Ernie flashed a sly grin. "Bruce took me under his wing a few months ago and has been training me. But, shit, man. He's been working my ass hard at the gym."

"Well, it shows," Rick gave the younger man's shoulder a playful thwack. "And I'll bet the gals are hanging around you now, for sure."

"Yeah, something like that," Ernie replied, his eyes twinkling in the sunlight, then he changed the subject. "Bruce told me you're staying over at Doctor Browne's house while you're in town. It seems like she's already done her magick on you."

"What do mean?" Rick raised an eyebrow, perplexed.

"You know, she's a
sithech
healer like the rest of her family. And, judging from the look of your face, she's a damn good one. If I didn't know about what happened at
The Red Lion
, I couldn't tell you got knocked square in the jaw the other night. Of course, you've still got a little bruising, but no swelling. Are you sore?"

"A little bit, but nothing a few beers couldn't cure," he winked.

"I know what you mean, man," Ernie chuckled. "I also heard your jaw was Teresa Owens' handiwork. That gal's something else…especially when the moon's almost full."

"Yeah, well, I sure hope we don't cross paths any time soon," Rick said in a solemn tone, then glanced back at the street, watching the traffic roll by for a moment. "Say, Ern, do you know if Allie's been seeing anyone?'

"Allison?" Ernie raised an eyebrow. "Why? Are you regretting breaking up with her?"

"Hey, this is between me and you, okay? I'm just curious. Besides, since I've been out of her life the past few years, I think I ought to know. I don't want to piss anyone else off while I'm here."

"I don't see her around town enough to really know," Ernie shrugged. "She pretty much keeps to herself. Honestly, man, I really don't know."

Before Rick could reply, a young Asian-looking woman passed by in a silver Prius. She tooted the horn and waved as she zipped past. Ernie grinned and waved back, then turned his attention back to Rick.

"Now, that was Doctor Browne's co-worker, Jeni." Ernie thumbed in the direction of the car. "I wouldn't mind getting to know
her
better. But, after fixing a few of the urgent care unit's computers, she just thinks I'm just a local-yokel computer geek." The young man gave a heavy sigh.

A wave of empathy rolled through Rick's gut. "Maybe, one day, she'll see you in a different way, Ern." He gave his friend a consoling pat on the shoulder. "I mean, one day she'll notice that you're more than just a computer geek. And, even though she's human, she might even be drawn to your
sithech
nature too. Sort of like Ray's fiancée, Jac."

"Yeah, maybe you're right." Ernie broke into a grin. "Thanks."

"For what?"

"The pep talk," Ernie replied. "You're one of the few pack males I can actually talk to, Rick. And, while you're in town, I want to treat you to a beer. Maybe we can get together at
The Red Lion
after you get settled in."

Rick returned his smile and nodded. "That sounds like a plan. Call me. Okay?"

"Sure thing, man. Well, Mr. White's spilled coffee on his laptop this morning
again
." The younger man sighed. "I'd better take off, but let's catch up soon."

After saying their goodbyes, Rick stood in the parking lot and watched Ernie pull out and zip down the street. As he stepped up into the cab of his truck, the town hall clock struck twelve.

"Shit," he muttered to himself. "I'd better get a move on, too!" The old truck rumbled to life beneath him and, without wasting any more time, he pulled out and headed for Allison's house.

Fairly soon, he turned onto Periwinkle Drive. It was a lovely, quiet street with rows of nice homes and neat lawns. He'd heard from his sister that she had purchased a house. Rick kept his eyes peeled and, before long, he found the address. Allison lived at the end of the street in a two-story brick home with a lush little garden on the side. He turned into the driveway, pulled in behind a green Honda Civic and stopped the truck.

He sat in the cab a moment. Even though Ray had set up this arrangement against his wishes, Rick was glad Allison had been so generous by letting him stay in her home, considering their previous relationship.

She'd always been this way, he recalled. One of the nicest gals he'd ever known. That's one of the reasons he'd been attracted to her. He smiled, remembering how she'd blossomed into a very attractive and compassionate woman.