But she knew it was the truth. “So what do you do?”
“Cats.”
“Like what? Meow-meow kitties that—”
“Tigers.”
Of course. No soft and friendly little cats for him.
“I found my connection with Shaman, a white tiger who used to be housed at the zoo, when I was a kid.”
The man talked to tigers. Her head pounded so hard that Smith was a bit afraid of passing out, and she refused to humiliate herself that way in front of him. “Get out, McNeal.”
Another step toward her. This time, the move put him close enough to touch. “We’re not all bad, babe.”
She stiffened at the endearment and the touch that had her wanting to lean closer to him. “I can’t deal with this” you “right now.”
There was a flash of torment on his face. “I am so f**king sorry about what happened to you. I never, ever wanted anything or anyone to hurt you—”
“But you just didn’t want me, right?” The words she’d held back for so long burst forth and she was glad. She was tired of pretending everything was fine and that she wasn’t human enough to feel pain.
Because she was human, even if he wasn’t.
The saddest smile she’d ever seen curled his lips. “No, baby, that wasn’t it at all.”
Liar. She knew her eyes said what her mouth didn’t.
“I was afraid if you found out the truth, you wouldn’t want me.” He glanced down at her, eyes narrowed.
She realized that she was all but flinching away from him. Her body recoiling, knees shaking.
“I guess I was right.” He dropped his hand. Stepped back. Then turned and walked away.
Before she found her voice, the door had swung shut behind him and she was left with the sting of memories and the bitter taste of fear on her tongue.
“Brooks.”
Colin’s gruff voice stopped him just as Todd reached for his Vette. He tensed at Colin’s approach, really not in the mood for a pissing match.
But when Colin stood beside him, the guy hesitated. Colin drove his hands into the deep pockets of his jacket. Glanced around the all-but-empty parking lot.
“What is it, Gyth?” Maybe something had come up about the case or about Cara or—
Colin’s bright stare turned slowly back to him. “I couldn’t tell you.” Stark.
Todd didn’t speak, just waited.
“When I was in Illinois, my partner—he found out what I was.” A pause. “He tried to kill me.”
Well, shit.
“I couldn’t take the risk that you’d—I just couldn’t risk another partner turning on me.”
Yeah, Todd could see where an attempted murder would make a guy hesitate. “I’m not your old partner. I’m not gonna reach for my gun just because you’re…different.” Too tame of a word for a werewolf.
“Good to know.” Colin’s eyes held his. “Why didn’t you say something, after you saw—”
Because at first, he’d been too damn stunned. Then he’d tried to convince himself it hadn’t happened, then he’d gotten so furious and then—“I wanted you to tell me.” But now, knowing what Colin’s last partner had done, Todd understood more about the guy—and he knew that Colin probably would never have told him.
He tried to kill me.
Shit. No wonder it had been hard for Colin to trust him.
Colin exhaled. “So what happens now? Are we gonna keep working together, or—”
“Hell, yeah, we’re gonna keep working together.” Like he’d really go to the trouble of breaking in anybody else. Besides, Colin was one damn fine cop.
With a few peculiarities. What had shocked him weeks ago, now just, okay, still shocked him. But he was dealing with the situation—or at least learning to deal with it.
Todd narrowed his eyes. “But no more secrets, man. You trust me, and I’ll trust you.” Simple.
A grim nod. “Agreed.” Colin held out his hand. The shake was brief, strong.
“Now get the hell out of here,” Todd said, jerking his thumb toward Colin’s old Jeep. “You don’t want to leave that sexy doc of yours waiting too long.”
A smile broke Colin’s lips. “No, man, I sure don’t—my doc’s not exactly the waitin’ type.” He turned away, then hesitated. When he glanced back at Todd, his smile was gone. “Be careful with your lady, Todd. A woman like her, she’s got a lot of secrets, too.”
Yeah, he knew she did. And he also knew those secrets weren’t going to stand in his way. He wanted Cara—and he intended to have her.
Todd heard the soft knock at his door just as he was about to head into the shower. He paused, sent a quick glance at the clock.
Midnight.
His steps were swift as he hurried from the bedroom. He knew the identity of his caller even before he opened the wooden door.
He’d smelled her.
Cara stood just past the threshold, dressed all in black with her hair pulled into some sort of sexy twist. Her eyes were lined with dark shadow, her lips tinted red.
“You missed my first show tonight,” she said. Then stepped forward.
He fell back, knowing she’d come fully into his apartment and wanting her there.
Needing her there. “It’s still early. Shouldn’t you be at Paradise?” The woman usually played at least three sets.
“I told Niol I had business tonight.”
“Business,” he repeated the word softly. “Is that what I am?”
A slow shake of her head. “I looked for you in the crowd, but you weren’t there.”
There was something in her voice. “Missed me, did you?”
A faint frown appeared between her brows. “Yes, actually, I think I did.”
Well, damn. He hadn’t been expecting quite that level of honesty from her.
“We need to talk, Todd and—” Her gaze darted behind him, landed on the pile of books he’d tossed haphazardly onto the sofa. A golden brow arched. “Doing some light reading?”
Shit. “Just some books I picked up. Nothing important.”
But she brushed around him, heading straight for the sofa, those delicate hands reaching down and—
“Demonology: A Hunter’s Guide.” She grabbed another heavy volume. “Unmasking the Demon. ” As Cara reached for the third book, the one he’d made the mistake of leaving open, a gasp tore from her lips. “And what the hell is this?”