So I Married a Werewolf (Entangled Covet) Page 3

  There was no going back.

  “If I did this, I’d want it to be over as quickly as possible. The council meeting is Sunday, so this thing could be over Monday,” he said. “Tuesday, at the latest.”

  “This thing? It’s an engagement, Casanova.” Faith whacked him with the remote and accidently changed the channel. “No wonder you’re single. You really think they’ll buy that?” Frantically punching remote buttons, she accidentally turned the TV off. Instead of figuring out how to turn it back on, she first narrowed her eyes at the screen, and then at him. “Won’t they think it’s strange that you’re with someone for the weekend, but are single by the start of your first shift?”

  Never thought about it.

  “So you think it’s got to extend beyond the week?” His throat scratched. “A long engagement…a month?”

  She shoved a chip in her mouth and shook her head.

  “A year?” he offered, his throat drying to sandpaper.

  “I thought you said the council thingy wanted a mated pair,” she said, finishing off her drink. “You might have to actually marry her.”

  Stars danced in front of his eyes and his vision zoomed in and out. Where was a paper bag when you needed one?

  “If you end things too quickly,” she said, “couldn’t they just fire you?”

  “They could, but I’ll prove them wrong. I’ll be an asset to the bureau on my own.”

  As thunder rumbled outside, the lights flickered. Oh yeah, a power outage would top the cake on this perfect day. Then they wouldn’t be able to watch the movie, they’d have to call it a night, and he wouldn’t get his Faith Fix. He couldn’t explain how it happened, but she made him feel that an impossible situation was possible. He felt…relaxed around her. Like he could conquer the world and this insane plan would actually work.

  “Worst-case scenario,” he said, swallowing hard, “would be a long engagement that turns into a wedding to prove I’m serious with this chick. How long would I have to fake it?”

  “Mmm…” She made a sweet little sound in the back of her throat, and something in his gut twisted. “Not sure. Six months? A year?”

  Images of wolves in the wild gnawing off their legs to escape traps flashed through his mind.

  “Okay, if I did that, the bureau would have to let me keep my position. Divorces happen. They’d have to understand. By the end of a year I’d be firmly rooted in their ‘family.’ But if whoever I pick gets greedy—”

  “Or spiteful about the way you broke it off with her last time,” Faith interrupted, stealing his drink and taking a hearty swig.

  “Right,” he continued. “I could lose everything I’m doing this thing for.”

  “I don’t know what you’re going to do, or what I’m going to do.” She hiccupped and patted her chest. “If I don’t figure somethin’ out, all of this could go pfft!”

  He tried to piece together her meaning, but her words were fuddling around. “What?”

  She closed her eyes as she spoke. “Dawson got into Yale. Yale! Can you believe it? Yale is a weird word. Say it. Yale. Yale. Yaallleee.”

  He laughed, watching her say the word over and over again, her lips puckering in and out like a fish.

  He liked drunk Faith. A lot.

  “Yale!” he said, nodding. “That’s great. And that’s a good thing, right?”

  “Noooo.” She wagged her finger, and he imagined her in wolf form, tail swishing back and forth, her ears perked up playfully. “Not a good thing.”

  Now they were getting down to the reason she’d been so upset yesterday…

  “I don’t understand,” he said, watching her features turn solemn. “Why is Dawson going to Yale a problem?”

  She leaned forward, planting her hand on the coffee table for balance. Her eyes were coffee brown and getting glossier by the second. “He’s my responsibility. Ohh, that’s a tough word to say when your tongue’s numb. Re-spon-sibil-ity.” She grinned when she got it right, all traces of sadness gone. “If he wants Yale, I’ve got to pay for it.”

  Carter felt his brow furrow. “Doesn’t he have a job?”

  “Full-time one. I got three.” She fumbled to hold up three fingers. “Still not enough. Our dad went to Yale. Did I tell you that?”

  He shook his head.

  “Yup. Dawson wants to be just like him.”

  “That’s not surprising. He was a great man.” Carter remembered Faith telling him about the way their parents had died. They were non-shifters, killed during a home invasion gone wrong. Their dad had tried to protect them, but he didn’t stand a chance against a werewolf. “Dawson probably feels closer to your dad when he walks in his shoes.”

  “Oh, I know that,” she said, rolling her eyes. “You’re right, you’re right, of course you’re right!”

  Oh yeah, she was drunk. Well, two drinks and half of his made her more tipsy than drunk. But still. No woman told a man he was right three times in a row—or at all…ever—without being a little out of her mind.

  Gazing far off, Faith brushed her hand over the scar on her neck. As if the mere mention of her father had brought the memories of the tragic event to the surface. In the attack, Dawson and Faith had been bitten, turned into wolves, and left for dead. Joining the Seattle Wolf Pack had saved them. Carter had no idea Faith had been supporting her brother financially. No wonder she worked three jobs and didn’t have much to show for it.

  “So you need Yale tuition.” He dropped back into the couch cushions, stroking the condensation dripping off his glass. “You’re in a pickle.”

  “You want one?” Her eyebrows perked up, though her eyes weren’t tracking well. “I think I have a jar in the fridge.”

  “What? No. Faith, I meant…never mind.” He scraped his hands through his hair.

  An idea sparked.

  “You still not dating anyone?” he said. It wasn’t a question. He kept a close eye on her love life, though he didn’t know why the interest was so intense.

  “Me?” Laughing, she scooped up another chip full of salsa. She missed her mouth. “What do you think?”

  Men were stupid. Faith was a sweetheart and pretty in a natural, classic kind of way. Perfect for any man who didn’t turn relationships toxic. Plus, she was loyal and honest and would never stab her lover in the back.

  He slid to the edge of the couch, his path suddenly clear. This was his only chance. Sunday was two short days away.

  “Faith, I have a proposition for you.”

  Chapter Four

  “Marry me,” Carter said.

  Her smile fell. At least, Faith thought it did. Her lips had gone numb.

  “What? Me? No!” she backpedaled. “You don’t want to do that. Let’s go through the list of your gazillion ex-girlfriends.”

  Jealousy soured her stomach. Every Friday night, she listened to stories about his werewolf girlfriends, how beautiful and successful they were. He didn’t talk about them to make her feel inferior, but she did. Their skin was probably milky white, smooth, and perfect, from face to foot. She bet they weren’t marred like she was…

  “Yeah, we already exhausted that list.” Carter grinned from the side of his mouth, causing a tiny dimple to form on his right cheek. She poked at it, but he dodged and tapped her hand away. “The bureau caught me at a bad time. But I have a solution.”

  Her pulse raced. “Marrying me is not a solution.”

  “Sure it is.”

  No, it’d be crazy. And exciting. Something she’d dreamed about on more than one occasion. But this wasn’t how she’d envisioned a proposal. Not even close. He should’ve been on bended knee, in front of their friends and family (at least, that’s how she’d always pictured it). He should’ve been declaring his undying love, not talking about a phony-baloney engagement and sham marriage.

  And what about her Luminary? Werewolves could fall in love and marry whomever they wanted. But once in a lifetime, they met their soul mate and were forever changed. They became stronger and faster,
and their sense of loyalty increased for that one mate. Some wolves never found their one and only fated mate, and others refused to marry until they did.

  Faith was open to both falling in love and waiting until she found her Luminary, but this went against everything. This wasn’t even love. This was a business arrangement.

  “Don’t worry, Faith. It would be in name only,” Carter said, grabbing for her hand. “It wouldn’t be real.”

  Oh yeah, that made her feel better.

  She was going to be sick. “Carter, I want to get married. But I want it to happen with someone who loves me. Where’s the romance in this?”

  He blanched. “You want romance?”

  “You really don’t know women at all, do you?”

  He shrugged. “I know you. And I know you love your brother more than anything. You’d do anything to see him succeed.”

  He had her there.

  Carter scooted to the floor and knelt, leaning over the seat cushion next to her. “I’ll pay Dawson’s tuition. The whole thing.”

  Holy shit.

  The offer floored her.

  “You can’t.” The blood drained from her face and her hands went all tingly. “It’s too much. Not right.”

  “Look what you’d be giving up for me,” he said, his tone turning tender. “You’ll be going to council dinners and putting on a show that we’re a couple. We’re going to have to spend more time together.”

  “I don’t mind spending time with you, Carter.” She leaned in close. “I like you.”

  Way more than she should.

  “I like you, too. That’s why this is going to work. I’ll get the detective position,” he said, his light eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, “your brother gets to go to Yale, and you don’t go broke paying for it. All you’d have to do is go to the party with me on Sunday. I’ll introduce you as my fiancée. We’ll stay engaged for a while, and if they start pressuring me about the wedding date, we’ll just get married at city hall. You won’t even have to move in with me since we live so close. You can stay here and I’ll stay at my place. When I convince the council that I’m just as valuable on my own, I’ll say we split. We can get a quickie divorce.”

  Married at city hall? Quickie divorce?

  Swoon.

  She fell back against the couch and tried to slow her thoughts. She wanted Dawson to go to Yale, more than she’d ever wanted anything…and she liked Carter. He was her very best friend. He worked hard, and had been dreaming of this promotion since she met him.

  The two leading men in her life needed her. But what would she be giving up to do this? Her dreams of a fairy-tale wedding?

  How much did she really want that?

  “I’m dizzy,” she said, zoning out on the television. She needed a distraction. Fumbling about, she found the remote and clicked the TV back on. “What movie did you bring?”

  “Please,” Carter whispered, resting his hand on her thigh. “Faith?”

  She looked at him, and her heart pinched. Why couldn’t he touch her like this and mean it? Why couldn’t she have been his Luminary? All of this would’ve been so easy. But he’d already found his fated mate and had lost her. That loss must’ve been devastating for him. She couldn’t imagine finding the one you love only to lose them, and then have to walk the world alone.

  She couldn’t imagine her life without Carter, whether he was a lover or a friend.

  Suddenly she realized, between her dreams of a fairy-tale wedding and being with Carter, that she wanted the latter more.

  “I need this,” he said. “I need you.”

  Ah, hell. How could she say no now?

  She held his gaze. “Again, what movie did you bring? I might not want to hitch my wagon to a star with no taste.”

  He grinned slowly, keeping his hand on her thigh. Her skin warmed, blooming into a tingly blush.

  “It’s So I Married An Axe Murderer.”

  “Good pick. Love this guy.” She fell over and clutched a throw pillow against her chest. She sighed and said, “Fine. I’ll marry you.”

  Carter slid onto the couch and dragged her legs over his lap. The dynamic between them was comfortable. As if she’d just told him she wanted butter on her popcorn. But the emotions running through her body were hot and jumpy, on high alert. Her thigh was tingly where his hand touched it, her stomach was spinning, and she couldn’t feel her lips at all. Beyond that, a hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach warned that this wouldn’t work out how she hoped it would.

  Maybe the pit would go away with some food. Now that she thought about it, popcorn with butter sounded amazing.

  “So, um, when you said you’d marry me,” Carter said as the movie started, “were you talking to me or Mike Myers?”

  “Both.” She giggled into a hiccup. “But you asked first so you get dibs. Lucky you. I’m quite the prize.”

  He laughed. “Thanks, Faith. This means a ton.”

  “I know.” She rested her head on the back of the couch, feeling as if every pound of the ton he spoke of was weighing heavy on her heart. “I know.”

  Chapter Five

  Faith woke up to the sound of her Keurig coffeemaker spouting heavenly syrup into a cup. Rays of morning light broke through her blinds and shone in her eyes, blinding her. She peeked around her living room through partly opened lids. Even though Carter wasn’t in sight, her heightened senses picked up his scent. Had he left his coat behind when he went home last night? Was that the scent she was picking up?

  “Hello?”

  Nope. Carter was actually in her cabin. She looked up to see him peek his head around the wall separating her living room from her kitchen. He looked rested, his light eyes bright, every hair falling in place. God, she probably looked like a troll.

  “Hey. I’m stealing a cup of coffee.” His voice was so deep and rich, it was nearly a growl. “Hope you don’t mind.”

  “No, I don’t.” She sat upright, and the blanket covering her body slid to the floor. Carter must’ve covered her after she fell asleep last night. That was nice of him. “Help yourself.” She rubbed her eyes and smoothed down her hair. “Want me to make breakfast?”

  “You? Cook?” He laughed. “Let’s not and say we did, and that it was delicious.”

  “What?” she hollered. “I can cook!”

  “Ramen doesn’t count.”

  Damn it.

  She folded her arms over her chest and stuck her tongue out at him as he disappeared into the kitchen once more.

  Suddenly, reality set in. Carter never came over this early on Saturday morning. Bits and pieces of the previous night clumped together in her brain.

  “Why are you…” She turned to peek out her front window. His truck was parked in her driveway. “Um, did you stay the night?”

  “Don’t you remember?” He brought out two cups of coffee in giant Disney mugs and handed her Goofy, then moved a heap of blankets and sat beside her. “Last night was great.” His voice was melted honey, rich and smooth, tingling her in all the right places. But then his words registered and her emotions flipped on a dime.

  If they slept together, it’d been a mistake. No, she corrected smugly. The mistake would’ve been that she was too drunk to remember it. Did she feel different? Wouldn’t she have been able to tell if she and Carter had slept together? She would’ve been sore. Blissfully, wonderfully sore.

  “We didn’t…” How to put it? “Tell me we didn’t…”

  He busted out laughing.

  Of course Carter hadn’t made a move. Of course they hadn’t slept together.

  Not his type. You’re. Not. His. Type.

  Disappointment streamed through her, but she buried it with anger. She smacked him in the chest.

  “Hey! Watch it!” Carter recovered, guarding the Mickey mug with his other hand. “I spilled soda on your couch the day before yesterday. If I spill coffee today, you might make me buy you a new one.” His eyebrows danced. “Or maybe that’s your plan. This thing looks haggard.�
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  Ignoring him completely, Faith sipped the Veranda Blend coffee and moaned when the creaminess hit her tongue. He’d put French vanilla creamer in it. Just the way she liked. She couldn’t help but wonder if he was an attentive lover.

  “You fell asleep,” he said, his words a sexy drawl. “I covered you up and locked the door on my way out.”

  His scent clung to the blanket, to the couch. What she wouldn’t give to have his scent cling to her skin…

  “How’d you get back in?” she asked.

  “Used the key you hide above the door.”

  Okay, he was sweet, but way too observant. Damn cops.

  “Do you remember anything about last night?” he asked.

  Her stomach churned as memories of the night before swam into mental view. Oh, she recalled a few things. How could she forget? She took a solid gulp of her coffee. “I remember vodka, an ax murderer, and a marriage proposal.”

  “Good. The important things.” He nodded. “What do you think?”

  “You’re serious?”

  “Why not?”

  “Because it’s crazy! Hasn’t the light of day knocked some sense into you?”

  She suddenly had the urge to pace. Taking her coffee with her, she pushed off from the couch and headed out the front door onto the porch. The morning air was crisp and cold, typical for January, with a misty rain moving through the trees. It felt better out here—she could breathe easier. Her porch stretched the entire length of her house and wrapped around the side. She walked the length and back, thinking about Carter’s predicament, her brother’s tuition, and her options.

  And why she’d ultimately decided to say yes.

  By the time Carter joined her outside, she felt better about the whole thing. Barely, but the time away from him helped.

  “I want to pay you back,” she said finally, leaning against the railing. “If you cover Dawson’s tuition for now that’s fine, but I want to pay you back when I can.”

  “Deal.” Carter settled onto the wooden porch swing facing her and kicked his feet against the deck to get it moving. He had a kind of powerful grace that struck Faith when he was doing the simplest of things…like pushing a wooden swing. He’d be lethal in wolf form, no doubt. “As long as you know that you don’t have to pay me back for anything. I’d gladly cover his tuition for what you’re doing for me.”