Page 56 of Broken Moon

She sighed. “Fine. I can’t havethe delicious Mr. Walker, who seems…” She shivered. “So dark and dangerous, andI can’t have the delicious detective, who is just plain hot. Which leads me toa question I probably should have asked sooner. Is it okay to bring a guy homewith me for the night sometimes? I’m not sure of the rules and there were nohandbooks on my bed when I arrived.” She smiled but stared at me as intently asAsh did.

“It’s your house too,” I toldher. “You can do whatever you want.” But as she squealed with delight, Iquickly added, “but you have to be safe, Lucy. No strangers, and if I’m home,you’ll keep it quiet.”

“Oh absolutely.” She beamed.“Thanks, Kait. Oh!” She put Ash into the floor and jumped to her feet. “Thatreminds me. I’ll be right back.”

She rushed from the room andAsh trotted over to sit in the floor and stare up at me with his most earnestexpression. I snorted and tossed him another bite. “You’re such a good baby,” Itold him.

He pretended like he thoughtI’d just said, “Get up here on the bed so I can give you all the food.” Hesettled in at my feet, his stare glued to my dinner.

Lucy hurried back into theroom, an envelope in her hand. “Here. My half of the lease and the full deposit.When the bills come due, let me know so I can pay my half of those, as well.”She stood back after I took the envelope, her hands clasped, her smile proud.

I knew she didn’t make muchworking at the bakery. The envelope probably contained a good chunk of hersavings. The girl needed her own restaurant—she was that good.

I leaned over to open mynightstand drawer, then pulled out my own envelope. I stacked it beneath hersand held them out to her.

She frowned, reachingtentatively for the two envelopes. “What do you need me to do?”

“I’m not taking money from you,Lucy. And my envelope has some cash in it because I want to pay you for takingcare of me. You’re doing the shopping, the cooking, tending Ash, doingerrands…” I shook my head. “And this house has never been so clean. You don’towe me anything.”

She peered into the fatenvelope I’d given her, her eyes widening. “Kait. This is…I can’t…”

I waved my hand, frowning. “Getout of here so I can finish this amazing food in peace. And take the dog withyou.”

She ignored my ferociousnessand flung herself at me, nearly knocking the tray into the floor. She hugged mehard, and when she pulled away, there were tears in her eyes. Then she turned,called for Ash, and rushed from my room.

I finished eating, and when Iwas so full I could barely move, I thought I’d get up and do some putteringaround the house before the night came and with it, the alpha. Instead, I setthe tray in the floor, dragged the covers over my head, and fell back into adeep, dreamless sleep.

Lucy woke me three hours laterwith another tray, as though she knew how important it was that I refuel today.She studied me. “Even better.”

I nodded. “Sleep and food, allI need right now.” She’d put a thick, gooey, warm slice of chocolate cake formy dessert, along with a tiny dish of ice cream. I scraped the ice cream ontothe cake and ate it before I even looked at the main dish. “Lucy,” I said,after I’d finished it. “Seriously fucking good.”

“I love cooking and baking morethan anything,” she said, then pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes,reconsidering. “Well, not more than sex, maybe. About the same.”

“Tonight,” I told her, “Jaredis coming to pick me up. I don’t think I’ll be back tonight. In the morning,maybe.” I lifted my stare to hers. “I need you not to worry about me. Andwhatever you do,” I interrupted, as she started to argue, “donotcallthe detective. And don’t call my mother.”

She chewed on her bottom lip,studying me with a worried frown. “I would be happy for you, Kait, but itdoesn’t sound like you’re going off to spend the night in the hot man’s bed.You’re going hunting again, aren’t you?” She shook her head, got to her feet,and began pacing. “I just don’t think you’re well enough for that. You may bebetter, and you may look better, but that doesn’t mean you look good, Kait. Youlook like—”

“Lucy,” I said, gently. “I’mnot a child, and I know what I’m doing. Tonight, Jared will take care of me,and I promise you there is nothing to worry about.”

“Still,” she murmured, “I willworry.”

I relented. “Remember how youdreamed about me screaming? Remember how you said that when you’re quiet youcan see the screams?”

She nodded, her lip trembling.“I feel your agony, but I don’t know what it’s from. Are you…are you dying?”

I set my empty tray on thefloor and patted the bed. She slid in beside me and Ash jumped up behind me,and snuggled between their warmth, I told her as much as I could to keep herfrom being afraid. “When I return, the agony I’ve carried with me for twelvelong years will be gone. You won’t dream of me screaming, and you won’t hear,see, or feel my pain. It will no longer be inside me.”

She stared up at me, wanting tobelieve, but not sure she should. “But how? What’s happening tonight?”

I blew out a breath, stirringher blonde hair. “There are things I can’t tell you. I just need you to trustme.”

Finally, she nodded, and herexpression eased. “I do. And if you tell me you’re going to be fine—better thanfine—then I believe you. You’ll be back tomorrow, and whatever you do tonightwill take away your pain. That’s reason to celebrate. I’ll make you the biggestcake…”

She flopped over and scooped myphone off the nightstand when it began to ring. “It’s the hot detective,” shesaid. She climbed out of bed. “Come on, Ash. Let’s get the kitchen cleaned up.”When he didn’t move, she said, “Huh. Okay then. I guess you don’t want atreat.”

He left the bed in a hurry andtrotted from the room, and she grinned and shut the door gently behind her,leaving me to the detective.

“Detective Moreno,” I answered.