No one should get shot in the shoulder while attending a family barbecue. After giving her statement to Donnie, Lorena's ex-husband, Rowena stared at a water stain on the hospital's ceiling. Cross was sitting at her bedside, holding her hand like a real boyfriend would.
"Are you trying to Stockholm me?" Rowena asked, her eyes still on the water stain.
"Stockholm?"
Her eyes flickered to their clutched hands. "You know, you kidnap me and then try to make me fall in love with you. It's like some sort of brainwashing thing creepy kidnappers like you do."
"Maybe."
Five letters strung together to form a single word and it had the power to rock her world. She didn't want her world rocked. Did she? She shook her head slightly.
"I lied. You're not creepy. Not really," Rowena admitted. She could feel her eyes watering.
"Okay."
"You know, they didn't even ask me about my black eyes."
"What?"
She felt the whisper of his touch against her cheek. "My family. None of them asked me why I had two black eyes. I look like I went one on one with Rocky Balboa and lost but no one cared. I was all ready to explain about the truck getting shot at and the airbag exploding in my face. No one even askedânot even my Abuela. She just wanted to look at our palms. My parents and aunts cared more about you and your presence than the state of my face. Why don't they care?" Her voice cracked in emotion.
Cross grabbed her hand again.
"All my life I've felt like an outsider. Like I was unwanted because I was an oops baby and then because I didn't have a gift like the rest of them. It didn't even have to be something major. It could've been something stupid like Carmen's hunches that help her win a few hundred bucks on lottery tickets. Is it too much to ask my family to care about me?"
"No."
"It must be, Cross. Because if they cared, they would've been aghast at my black eyes. Yes, I just used the word aghast. The moment warrants it. Anyway, they should've asked how it happened and if I was okay...but they didn't and that sucks. I'm sorry for complaining. It just makes me sad."
He squeezed her hand.
"Maybe they're right and I do feel sorry for myself too much. I'm just...tired. Tired of feeling this way."
"Baby," he whispered.
She felt that flutter in her stomach again and her brown eyes gazed at him.
"Why do you call me that? I've never had a boyfriend call me baby before. I've been called darling, honey, and once I went on a date with a guy who called me squirt. That was weird and made me uncomfortable. He didn't get a second date."
"Yeah?"
"Are you purposely only speaking in one-word sentences?"
"Yeah." The corners of his mouth tipped up slightly.
"Weirdo." She was now biting back a smile.
He looked down, laughing, shaking his head. "You're the first woman I've dated who called me a weirdo."
"They may not have said it, but they were probably all thinking it," Rowena said, still trying not to smile.
"Maybe."
"And we're not dating. Not really, anyway."
Cross didn't respond. Rowena wasn't sure if she wanted him to contradict her or not.
"Has anyone ever called you a creepy kidnapper before?" Rowena asked, desperate to fill the silence.
"No, I can honestly say you are the one and only person to hold that title."
"To be fair, I'm probably the only person you've ever kidnapped." Rowena tensed while waiting for his response. She hoped she'd be the only person he'd ever kidnapped. Was that weird? Probably. Dang Stockholm Syndrome.
"That is true." Cross nodded. His thumb was stroking her knuckles.
She felt herself relax. "It's a good thing I am. I demand exclusivity if you're trying to Stockholm me."
"Trust me, Rowena. You're the only woman I'd ever want to kidnap."
She grimaced. "See? That's something only a creepy kidnapper would say."
"I know."
Another bout of silence filled the space between them. Finally, Rowena addressed what was really bothering her.
"My parents aren't here."
Cross sighed. "No. They went home after the medic checked them out at your cousin's house. Lorena was here but went home after finding out you were okay and that visiting hours were over."
"If visiting hours are over, why are you still here?"
"I'm rich, remember? I bribed one of the nurses," Cross admitted. "They're keeping you overnight because you've been through so much today. I want to take you back home once you're released."
"We really need to find out who wants me dead, Cross."
"We do."
"Do you think we'll catch them before they kill me?"
"We will." His reply was confident.
"I know in all the paranormal shifter books Gina made me read, the heroine was fearless but I'm scared." Her voice shook. "I didn't kill Casey. If this is her brother, Flint, we have to find the real killer and let him know I'm innocent. Coming after me is a waste of time. I'm not some witch he can burn at the figurative stake."
"No one is going to burn you at the stake, figurative or otherwise, Rowena. I imagine it's Flint Sloane behind all this but we still need to follow up on some leads. We have to go to that dog racing event, remember?"
"And Bodies by Bobby. That's the gym Jeremiah told me about while I was in the clink. He said there are women who had a support group because Casey had affairs with their men. Bobby worked at some recreational center before it was trashed by Casey. He could give us more information about the women in that group. Any one of them could also be Casey's murderer."
"There are a few things you're not factoring in here. One, he may not be willing to share information about Casey with you since you're a human."
"That's discrimination," Rowena pouted.
"That's reality."
"I could pretend to be a client who needs a personal trainer," Rowena suggested. "I could try to seduce him into giving me information. If he's a wolf-shifter, won't he think I smell good as well?"
"You will not," Cross growled. "If you're going to seduce anyone, it's going to be me."
"Whoa...keep your alpha demands to yourself, Cross."
"Not when it comes to this. You wanted exclusivity. So do I."
"I was joking! Besides, you and I aren't really dating. That was just something we said at the barbecue. It wasn't real."
"Keep telling yourself that."
"Cross," she said his name with a warning in her tone.
"Rowena," he mocked her.
"I can seduce whoever I want," she insisted, her brown eyes flaring.
"Agreed. As long as the person you're seducing starts with a C and ends with a Ross." Cross had a smug expression on his face.
"Why are you being this way? Guys like you..."
"Guys like me, what?"
"Don't make me say it."
"If you don't say it, I can't tell you how idiotic you're being," he said.
"Wow, that's really the best way to win a woman over. Insinuate she's an idiot."
"I don't think you're an idiot but if you think you're not worthy of me, your words and your thoughts are idiotic. I meant what I said to your grandmother. You're beautiful. You're funny. You keep me on my toes."
"That's not verbatim of what you said," Rowena corrected him.
"No? Well, I was thinking it. I'm always thinking it. Want to know what else I'm thinking about right now?" The look he was giving her was both hot and possessive.
Rowena felt her cheeks get warm. "No, that's okay. Can I tell you a secret instead?"
"If it's about seducing another man, then no."
She rolled her eyes. "You realize I was just kidding about that, right? I have a swollen nose, two black eyes, and a gunshot wound. He'd be a total jerk-face if he fell for my seduction."
"I don't care. If you approach him, it'll put him on guard. More importantly, it brings me to my second point."
"Which is?"
"It's dangerous to approach Bobby alone. I'm tired of watching you get hurt, Rowena. It needs to stop now."
"How do you think I feel? I don't want to get hurt but I need to talk to Bobby. What's the alternative?"
"The alternative is we talk to Bobby together. I can get Liam and Matt to come with us. Can you agree to that?" Cross asked. He gave her hand a light squeeze when she didn't answer right away.
"I suppose so." She bit her bottom lip before tugging his hand. "Cross? There's one other person I really want to talk to about Casey and her murder."
His brows rose as Cross genuinely seemed confused. "Who?"
"Reed."
"Why? He had an alibi."
"There are things I want to ask him. What if he didn't tell you everything?"
"I'm his alpha. He had no choice but to tell me everything."
He was going to be difficult. Rowena tried again. "I still want to talk to him."
"No, I don't like it." It was the alpha's turn to pout. "There's no reason you need to talk to your ex-boyfriend. If you have any questions, you can write them down and I'll get Matt to ask him. Knowing Reed, he'll try to guilt you into dating him again."
Rowena cleared her throat. "Do you know why I dated him?"
Cross gave her a frustrated sigh in response.
"Because I knew it wasn't going to work out. We weren't a match but I was tired of being alone and he was safe. I knew I wouldn't be too broken up about him abandoning me. The fact that he cheated on me was probably part of some self-fulfilling prophecy. If I really can curse others, maybe I accidentally cursed myself into dating people who aren't right for me."
Cross made a scoffing sound. "How can you say you weren't broken up about Reed cheating on you? You trashed his car with a baseball bat. His neighbors Maybelle and Wyatt couldn't stop laughing when they described what happened that day. They called you a one-woman wrecking ball."
"I admit I was angry but it wasn't because of Reed cheating. I mean it was but it was more because I knew something like that would happen and yet I still chose him."
"I'm not following," Cross admitted.
"I self-sabotaged." Rowena began picking imaginary lint balls from her hospital blanket. "It's like when you want to go on a diet but you go to the store and see a brownie and you know you shouldn't buy it but in your cart it goes. Then later, you tell yourself, 'I need that brownie. I paid for it. It'll be a waste of money if I don't eat it.' Finally, you eat the brownie and feel guilty about it because you know you never should've bought it in the first place and all it did was make you feel unhealthy and ashamed for buying it knowing it was bad for you. The temporary joy wasn't worth the damage. It's total self-sabotage."
"Did you just compare Reed Condren to eating a brownie?"
"Maybe." She would've shrugged if her shoulder wasn't in so much pain. The pain pills weren't working.
"I wasn't angry because of Reed but because I self-sabotaged and allowed myself to date him. Then I grew attached and it hurt that he betrayed me. He cheated on me. He proved yet again that I'm not worth staying for."
"That's not true, Baby. I get that you haven't had any luck with good people in your life but that's changing. You have me now."
"I don't have you, Cross. You can't say things like that."
"If you wanted me to, I'd turn you right here, right now."
Her eyes widened. "You can do that?"
"I'm alpha. Of course I can. You want to belong, Rowena? I can give you that."
It was tempting but she shook her head. "I don't think I'm ready for that." She stole another glance at him. "Can I ask you a silly question?"
"You can ask me anything."
"Gina made me read a shifter book where the wolves could heal others by licking them. Is that true?"
Cross smirked. "Are you asking me to lick you?"
"If it'll get rid of these ugly black eyes, yes." She didn't think Cross could actually heal her injuries.
"Then close your eyes."
"Why?"
"I need to do a partial shift and I don't want to scare you. Close your eyes and don't open them until I say so." His voice held some of his alpha authority and Rowena quickly shut her eyes. Moments later, a rough tongue lapped at her face. It felt like Kitty's tongue on a larger scale. She pressed her lips together, trying not to squirm. Having someone lick your face wasn't exactly a turn-on for her.
Finally, she heard Cross put his weight back in the chair he'd been sitting in. "You can open your eyes now."
"Is my face normal now?" She looked around the hospital room for a mirror but didn't see one.
"No, but you're not a wolf so it may not work."
"What? Why didn't you say something before you licked my face?"
"You didn't ask. It might get better overnight. Did you want me to lick your shoulder too? You'll have to take off your hospital gown."
"No! The face was enough for one day. Maybe later. Let's see how the face turns out."
He had bags under his eyes and looked a little pale.
"Are you okay?" Rowena asked.
"I'm fine. Healing feels like you've been in the sun too long. You're sort of drained of energy."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked for your help."
"I don't mind giving it. This will pass in a few minutes."
She nodded before reaching out for his hand again. "So, you'll let me talk to Reed?"
He gave a frustrated groan before muttering his agreement.
"Thank you for letting me do this. I know you could easily ban me from trying to investigate. Howler is your pack and your business. I appreciate you allowing me to help."
He leaned forward, once again rubbing his thumb over her knuckles. "Whatever you say, baby."
A warm feeling spread from her stomach to her chest. For the first time in forever she didn't feel so alone.
"Cross?"
"Hmm?"
"Can I tell you another secret?"
"Yes."
"I like it when you call me baby."
"Okay, baby."