Chapter 28
Lily
Proclamations.
I’d had enough to last me for a lifetime.
My heart hadn’t stopped beating erratically since the night before.
What I’d heard wasn’t possible. I’d done everything to convince myself that Saint was merely an attention hog.
Yet the more time that slipped by, the more the possibility seemed like reality.
That made me nuts. Right? There were so many aspects of what he’d confessed to that didn’t seem possible.
As strange and mind-blowing as the story remained, something else bothered me even more than facing the possibility he was a shifter.
The thought that he truly cared about me.
An image of a furry creature slithered into my mind, only my visual endeavor was more like the dude out of An American Werewolf in London as opposed to the truth.
What was the truth?
That wolf shifters really existed? What about lion shifters or what the hell, dragon shifters? Oh, that would create a series of nightmares.
Had I really asked Saint to shift in front of my eyes? Better yet. Had I wanted him to and how would I have reacted if he had? Would I have been even more attracted to the fuzzy-wuzzies or run screaming from the house?
And were there really wolf creatures in the woods that would eat me should I disobey Saint’s commands?
Little Red Riding Hood had nothing on this scenario.
“Oh, my God.” My moan was as strangled and twisted as the way my stomach felt. I’d almost pulled over twice to upchuck the limited contents of my stomach.
Being caught vomiting on the pavement would likely get me on the front page of every newspaper in town. That would look great on my resume alongside my debut as a porn star.
The air conditioning just had to be on the fritz. I shouldn’t be as hot and bothered as I was with it being the end of April, but I was sweating like a freaking pig, broiled not grilled.
After he’d stormed off, I’d remained outside for over an hour, not only debating the possibility that what I’d overheard and what he’d told me was truthful but also asking myself why I’d pretended I didn’t care about him.
I’d also been furious about the possibility this Rocco person was trying to derail Saint’s career. I wanted to have a few words with the Italian Wall. Saint had called me kind. Not when it came to the man I…
A giant groan left my throat.
The man I adored.
Maybe because the concept of having a relationship with Saint was completely off limits the ache was so all consuming.
Being with him was forbidden in just about every corner of the earth and likely in the Bible as well.
Saint had mentioned there were other humans who’d had relationships with shifters.
Why not form a group of women who’d fallen in love with a shifter?
While I laughed softly to myself, a lump formed in my throat.
Love was the furthest thing from my mind.
My phone had blown up. The social media accounts had blown up.
My email. I was a goner. After this gig, I’d never be offered another.
Including by my own father. How could the man trust me after I’d ruined everything in a matter of days?
I’d posted some terrific photos. Or so I’d thought. Now I was questioning everything.
It was a good thing my father was paying me so well that I could disappear on some tropical beach somewhere for the rest of my life. I’d dye my hair, wear contacts, and never ever go near a library again. No one would ever recognize me.
Right.
A girl could dream.
Maybe that would replace the raunchy fantasies I’d had about the savage iceman that I couldn’t get out of my mind.
I took several deep breaths but was fearful I would start hyperventilating. That also wasn’t on my bucket list for the day. I had a mandatory meeting with the coach and attorneys, reporters were hounding me for a quote, and the first game of the playoffs was in two days in Tampa.
Where I was supposed to go. With him. My fiancé. My fake fiancé.
My werewolf.
Oh, my God. I was losing my mind. “Shifter,” I repeated softly. Was I really buying into the story? Maybe. Maybe not. I wasn’t certain.
Of anything. No, that wasn’t true. I was certain of a single thing.
I cared about Saint more than I should. Actually, I adored him. Okay, I could admit I was in love with him, but he’d toss me aside when this was over. He was a damn good actor, pretending he was hurt by what I’d said.
Not a chance.
I pulled in front of my parents’ house, peering out the windshield at the bright and cheery yellow door my mother had insisted on.
For about a million reasons I had lead in my feet and legs.
I wasn’t entirely certain what I was going to say to them.
At least the photographs of me lying on the island hadn’t gotten any worse, but I had a terrible nagging in the back of my mind blackmail was on the horizon.
That was something I had no clue how to deal with.
I rubbed my hands on my skirt before opening the door of my car.
At least I was trying to present myself professionally when I’d been caught fucking the hockey star.
Thankfully, most people believed we were engaged.
Sadly, there’d been one headline, a reporter calling our engagement a stunt.
That meant we’d need to kick up the cleaner heat between us when we were in public.
That was going to be tough since I had no clue if he’d ever consider talking to me again and vice versa. What did I have to say to him? Oh, this was so bad. So very bad.
I threw my hair over my shoulders, plastered a smile on my face, and headed for the door.
As soon as I walked in, I was struck by how much Saint’s question had troubled me.
I did feel close to him, so much so that when we were anywhere close there was a tremendous reaction.
When we were apart, I hungered to be with him.
Was that some insane infatuation or was there more to the story?
I found my parents in the den. It was obvious they were waiting for me. What the heck? I might as well jump in with two feet.
“Mom. Dad, I know you’re unhappy with the way I’ve handled Saint Masters, but there are several anomalies that I didn’t expect.
I’m not certain anyone could have anticipated them, to be honest with you.
I’m dealing with the ramifications, and as you’ve seen on the news there are plenty.
However, in doing so, it brought up some questions that I honestly couldn’t answer. ”
They said nothing, my mother politely sipping her iced tea. Even my dad was uncharacteristically quiet, which was both disconcerting and annoying and I wasn’t certain why.
“Saint and myself… I mean Mr. Masters and me… Anyway,” I huffed, blowing a strand of hair from my face.
My palms were still sweaty. I was even perspiring under my breasts.
“What I’m trying to say is that anyone who meets Saint for the first time is either in awe of the man or can’t stand him.
I couldn’t stand him from minute one. So arrogant.
So full of himself. Just disgusting. But as required, we started spending some time together.
I guess I noticed something entirely different.
He seemed sweet, like a Golden Retriever kind of sweet you hear about in romance books. ”
Now I was babbling on like some idiot. Great. The day was just getting better and better. What was I saying? My life was just going to hell in a handbasket. I paced the floor, constantly rubbing my hands on my skirt. By the time I made it to the arena, I was going to be a sweaty mess.
“We’re drawn to each other. Maybe like a moth to a flame, but it’s crazy how much I can’t stand being away from him.
I don’t get it and no, the way I feel has nothing to do with how hot he is or his savage personality.
So…” My hesitation was like a grandfather clock ticking away in an old house.
“I’m just going to toss something out there that’s crazy.
Certifiable. I’ve heard some things, most of which are disturbing to say the least.”
You can do it. Just ask and be done with it.
My parents were still looking at me blankly. Now my entire body began to crawl.
Here goes.
“Any chance I’m a wolf shifter?”
I took a deep breath and held it while trying to calm my raging pulse. As I slowly blew out, I felt somewhat better that at least I’d had the courage to throw out the most ridiculous question of the year.
Maybe I was riding on lack of oxygen, but it took me a full minute to realize neither one of my parents had said anything. Not a word. No laughter. No guffawing. Nothing.
Tick. Tock.
Tick… Tock.
“Um, Mom. Dad. You’re worrying here a little bit.
Don’t be too concerned. I’m not crazy enough to think it’s the truth, but my goodness, there are some nutty pictures out there that seem real.
And yes, I know how people can doctor them.
” I laughed, surprised that the sound echoed in the room.
“Supposedly this other player, the one Saint got into a huge fight with is also a shifter. How crazy it that? To think there are two? Or more. Maybe a pack. That’s why I’m here.
Just checking to see if you’ve anything about this. Or if… by chance I’m furry.”
I regretted opening my mouth.
My father cleared his throat. My mother, still very politely or maybe I should say genteelly placed the glass on the coffee table without making a sound. She offered a sweet smile and patted the couch. “Sit down, sweetheart.”
The sound of my mother’s voice was similar to the tone she used when prepared to lecture me on what an idiot I’d been, but… distinctive in an entirely different way.
Daddy wasn’t looking me in the eye nor did he offer a single word. He was staring at my mother with utter love or maybe lust in his eyes. Eeww. Not right now. Not when I was in the middle of a crisis.