How to Howl at the Moon (15 page)

“Okay then!” Janine left Lance’s peripheral vision. The air lightened perceptibly. Lance’s heart was pounding.

Say something nice. Come on.

“I, um, take it you’ve met my mother. Lily? Lily Beaufort?”

A smirk turned up Tim’s lips, and he lifted his eyes. “Yeah. She’s something else.”

“Truer words. Can I get you something to drink?”

Tim looked down at the Coke can in his hand. “I have something.”

“Something else? Beer? I brought Sam Adams. And there’s Dos Equis in the fridge. Or wine. Red or white. I don’t know what kind, though. Or if it’s any good. I think the bottles have a cork. Some people care about that.”

Tim gave him a tentative smile. “Thanks, but I probably shouldn’t drink. I have to drive home. Wouldn’t want the sheriff getting on my case.” He tittered nervously.

“I can drive you,” Lance said firmly.

“Um… but then my car would be here?”

“I can pick you up tomorrow and bring you back here to get your car.”

Tim just blinked at him.

Okay. Too much. Back off, big boy.
It was hard. His dog was incredibly excited to see Tim, as if he hadn’t seen him in
ages
! He was jumping around inside making Lance feel crazy. Add in the natural possessiveness that had swamped him seeing Tim talk to Janine, and Lance wanted to
pounce on Tim and drag him home. Or… or something.

He wanted Tim to like him—for him. Or at least not despise him. That would be a start.

Lance swallowed. “Or… you can drink Coke. Whatever you want. It’s your choice.”

Tim arched an eyebrow. “It is, huh? Thanks.”

Lance sighed. “So. How are you settling in to Mad Creek?”

Tim shrugged, but his mouth tugged downward. “I’ve been working hard, but I’m not seeing a lot of progress, to be honest.”

Lance could feel the waves of unhappiness coming off Tim. It seemed his dog was still in tune with Tim’s moods, even when he was in human form.

“Sorry to hear that.”

“Well, ya know.” Tim held up his can with a wry smile. “I figured a chance to party hard was a nice break.”

“I meant it earlier. If you want to drink tonight, I’d be happy to take you home, and make sure you get back to your car tomorrow. I do patrols around town all the time, so it’s not any extra driving for me.”

Lance’s voice had softened now that Janine was gone, sounding less demanding, and Tim seemed to soften with it.

“Really?” He
bit his bottom lip and regarded
Lance as if he was trying to make a decision.

Lance made a cross on his chest. “Dog’s honor.”

Tim frowned a little in confusion but laughed. “Okay. Yeah. I wouldn’t mind drinking.”

“What can I get you? Beer or wine? Or if you like mixed drinks, I can make you a rum and Coke.”

“I’ll take a Sam Adams.”

Lance felt a smile spread across his face. He felt stupidly happy that Tim had chosen the drink he’d brought to the party, as if that meant anything. “I’ll go get it.”

*                          *                         *

By the second beer, Tim was in a much better mood. It
’d been a good decision to come out
tonight. He wasn’t exactly a social butterfly, and he hardly knew anyone in town. But Lily had been convincing. And he needed a change of scenery, a break from the depressing, incomprehensible failure that was his greenhouse.

Having the hottest guy in town talking to him made Tim feel like he’d won a temporary visa to leave his pathetic life for a single night, like Cinderella. It was nice not feeling like a wallflower. And more than that, it felt… good. Being physically close to Lance. Which was weird. Apparently, Tim’s hormones were way ahead of his brain. Maybe because they were at a crowded party, Tim could allow himself to be attracted to the alpha male without fear of what he might do if they were alone.

Sheriff Lance Beaufort wasn’t the greatest talker in the world. But then, neither was Tim. They made awkward small talk. They talked about hiking trails in the area. Lance told Tim he’d lived in Mad Creek all his life, and he pointed out his various relations. He had a big family, and they were all stupidly good-looking and equally intense. All of them had blue eyes and black hair. Tim admitted he was an only child, but said no more about his less-than-Leave-it-to-Beaverish childhood. He was envious over Lance’s big family, but they were also overwhelming, even from a distance. He was glad Lance wasn’t as openly exuberant as his brothers.

Lance brought Tim a third beer and still didn’t leave, standing closer to him than before. They ran out of things to say, so they just stood next to each other. It was comfortable, being quiet with Lance. And Tim was able to study him surreptitiously. Lance was a manly man. He had the shadow of stubble on his jaw even though he was clean-shaven, like his beard was so dark it was visible under the skin’s surface. His black hair was neatly trimmed at the nape of a tan and attractive neck, and he had a small, dark birthmark on the tip of one ear. He seemed to get more attractive the more Tim looked. He had a kind of sexy glow. Sometimes Tim found Lance watching him with those blue eyes that seemed to speak more fluently than his mouth.

When that happened, the whole room got a little warmer. Honestly, the butterflies in Tim’s stomach had pretty much started the moment he’d seen the sheriff approach and hadn’t quit since. There was no denying Lance Beaufort was a very,
very
attractive man who hit all of Tim’s buttons. But Tim was starting to feel more than an aloof appreciation of his looks, probably
because Lance was showing him attention. It’d been a long time since Tim had felt interested in a man like this, a hopeful stirring of
groin,
brain
,
and heart. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to be alone with Lance. Maybe.

When Lance still hadn’t left his side
through three beers and a dinner plate,
Tim couldn’t take it anymore. He was imagining all sorts of things about Lance Beaufort and those beautiful eyes. And he was setting himself up for a major fail if he was wrong. So he blurted it out.

“So… are you involved with anyone?”

Lance licked his lips and seemed unsure of the answer. “No. Not really.”

“Oh. Are you gay?” Tim inwardly groaned.
Smooth. Way to ease into it.

“I wasn’t before.”

What did that mean?
Tim waited, but Lance said nothing more. “You weren’t before, but you are now?”

Lance shrugged. “I don’t think gender is that important.”

“Really? Do you mean you’re bisexual?”

Lance looked him in the eyes. “Yes. I guess that’s what I am.”

“Oh. Okay.”

A frisson of excitement shot though Tim. So this was what it appeared to be. Lance wasn’t just hanging out with him to be a good host. But did Lance really
like
him like him? If so, why? And would this go anywhere? There was probably at least a one-night stand in it. But even though Tim’s anatomy was a hundred percent on board with the
idea
of having sex with the tight-bodied, strangely intense man looming next to him—he had a crazy urge to run his fingers through all that black hair—the reality of it made Tim hesitate. It wasn’t so much that Lance frightened him, the way some men did, but… he didn’t really know Lance. And even if Lance wasn’t cruel, what if it was just a one-night stand? Honestly, Tim couldn’t face any more rejection.

He didn’t move away, though, and neither did Lance. After starting his fourth beer, Tim didn’t even question it. At some point, he realized most of the people had left. He and Lance were standing in the hallway to the bedrooms, each of them leaning back against an opposing
wall, staring at each other across the space, saying nothing.

“You two still here?” Lily sounded both surprised and pleased with herself as she passed them. “’Scuse me. Bathroom.”

“Oh. Wow. It’s probably late.” Tim blinked. How long had he been just standing there staring at Lance? Four beers was too much, clearly.

“I’ll drive you home.” Lance took Tim’s elbow and steered him gently to the door.

“Good-night, Lily! Thank you!” Tim called out as he was herded from the house.

*                          *                         *

Lance was happy as he drove Tim home. Tim hadn
’t rejected his company at the party. In fact, there were tantalizing wafts of interest coming from him that had increased over the course of the night, small tells of arousal and curiosity. His hazel eyes had darkened to liquid brown. His earthy scent warmed and turned heady and musky. Lance had edged closer little by little, and Tim hadn’t pulled away. Tim
liked
Lance. He liked him, as a man!

Then again, Tim was also more than a little drunk.

They pulled into Tim’s driveway. Lance put the car in park but left the engine on.
Now what? Don’t blow it.

“Thanks for the ride.” Tim rolled his head on the headrest to look at Lance. His hand was on the door handle, but he didn’t seem eager to get away. He looked relaxed from the alcohol and… expectant.

The low-level excitement that had been running through Lance’s body all night blossomed hot and heavy in his stomach. And suddenly it was achingly clear. Shit. He did. He liked Tim
that way
. He loved being with Tim, and now that he was in his human form, and Tim was looking at him all open and wanting, the affection slammed into physical desire so hard it was like a kick to the balls.

Lance swallowed. Should he try to… kiss Tim? Or…?

He hesitated too long, unsure what was best. Tim suddenly blushed, as if embarrassed, and opened the door. “Right. Good-night,” he mumbled. He headed for the cabin, weaving a little.

Lance considered chasing after him, making sure he got inside okay, maybe trying the kiss after all. But was that the right thing to do? He knew he could be overbearing. The last thing he wanted was to scare Tim away, not when he’d made such progress tonight. So he just sat and watched while Tim let himself inside, closed the door, and turned on the lights.

Lance put the truck in reverse and pulled out. He paused at the end of the driveway, then turned right and continued up the hill to the lookout point at the top of B
road
Eagle Drive. He hesitated, telling himself he shouldn’t. But he couldn’t resist. He took off his clothes and shifted. Soon he was at Tim’s back door, barking and scratching on the wood.

“Chance!” Tim threw the door open. He’d already changed into his pjs. “Where’ve you been, buddy? Did you come earlier and I wasn’t here? Sorry. I left the greenhouse door open and a bowl of food in there, but I guess you didn’t see it.”

Chance wove past Tim’s flannel-covered legs, brushing his coat against them.

“I went to a party tonight. Can you believe it? This town is really nice. And guess who hung around me all night long and drove me home? The sheriff!” Tim looked at Chance with wide eyes, as if he expected him to respond. Chance gave an enthusiastic, thumbs-up of a bark.

“I know! Crazy, huh? God, he’s so good-looking.” Tim’s happy
, and somewhat drunken,
retelling faded
. A
perplexed, worried look came over his face. He stared off into space. Chance barked.

“Come on, buddy. I need a snuggle.”

Tim went into the living room, and Chance followed. Pretty soon Tim was lying on the sofa with Chance tucked against his side, the blanket over them. He didn’t turn on the TV, seemingly content with whatever scenes were playing in his own head. He petted Chance idly.

“He didn’t make a move or anything. But he did say he was bisexual. I wonder if he’ll ask me out? I want him to but….” Tim sighed and snuggled closer to Chance.

But what? Don’t stop there. Come on
. Chance stared at Tim, panting and silently urging him to keep talking.

“I’d rather be alone forever than let someone hurt me again.” Tim spoke fiercely. Then he rolled his eyes. “God, I’m such a reject. You’re not scared of anything, are you, Chance?” Tim
rubbed Chance’s ears with both hands and made an exaggerated pouty face.

It occurred to Lance that Tim wasn’t talking about ‘being hurt’ the way most people meant it, getting his feelings bruised. He was talking about
being hurt
. A low growl erupted in Lance’s throat. The idea of any man hitting Tim made Lance insane. Had there been someone else who did that, besides Tim’s dad? Someday, Lance was going to find anyone who’d ever hurt Tim and bite
their cowardly asses so hard they’d never be able to sit down again.

Tim laughed. “No one’s hurting me right now, Chance. Chill.”

Lance growled louder, upset.

Tim buried his face in Chance’s chest. “You’re right” came his muffled voice. “I can’t go through life being held back by fear.” He looked up, smiling. “Hey, maybe that’s why you’re in my life, huh? To teach me to take chances? I took one with you and look how great that turned out.”