Reading Online Novel

Seduced by a Shifter(38)



It was fun. For all of them.

The first song slipped seamlessly into another and Willow, entranced, began to sway, her feet subtly mimicking the dancers’ steps. It wasn’t until the music stopped and she caught Ben grinning at her from the corner of her eye. He was five feet away. One of them had moved. “What?”

That blasted grin only grew wider. “You were dancing.”

Hard to deny that when her knees and elbows were bent out, her hands together, and her body held at a soft angle. Lips pursed she straightened. “Bite me.”

His grin only turned dark and dangerous. “Plan on it.”

Jerking her attention back to the stage, Willow saw Rose speak quietly to the younger girls before stepping to the edge of the stage where she sat, swinging her legs over so that Ben could help her to the floor. “You’re such a dear, thank you, Bennie.” She cupped one cheek and pressed her lips to his other one.

The nickname surprised Willow, but Ben took it in stride, as he did the easy affection. “Anything for you, Miss Rose.”

Moving close, he placed a hand low on Willow’s spine. “Willow, this is Rose Willcox. She was my second-grade and fifth-grade teacher.”

Willow’s brows shot up. “You taught two grades?”

Rose’s smile was full of gentle patience. “I’m working my way back down now. This was my first year teaching kindergarten and I have to say, the older kids were much easier. Are you new to town, dear? I don’t recognize you.”

The question was filled with keen interest and Willow thought, ah, everyone in town doesn’t know who I am.

“No, ma’am. I’m just visiting for a while.”

“You are most welcome.”

“Thank you.”

Rose’s head tilted. “You dance?”

Willow’s rapid “no” coincided with Ben’s “yes.”

Willow snapped her eyes to his and behind a fake smile gritted out, “Ben.”

Ben shot her a cocky and very real smile in retaliation. He seemed to be on the edge of laughing. “Willow.”

Rose raised a brow, clearly bemused by the two of them.

“I used to,” Willow finally, and softly, admitted. “But I, ah, hurt my knee and don’t anymore.”

Rose lifted her hand and touched just the fingertips to the underside of Willow’s chin. “Don’t ever give up what you love. It might seem an impossible task, but if you don’t have what you truly love in your life, well, then, that’s not really living, is it?”

“Ah.” The way Rose’s lips curled into a secretive smile made Willow want to squirm. “I guess not.”

Another squirmy moment passed before Rose nodded and turned her attention back to Ben. “The boys are looking forward to Tuesday.”

“So am I. Just make sure they know to bring warm clothing. Layers are best.”

A small nod of her white head. “They know but I’ll remind them. It was a pleasure meeting you, Willow.”

“You too, Miss Rose.” Because despite the woman’s wacky words, Willow did enjoy their brief encounter.

And loved the music.

Curiosity rode her hard, but she kept a lid on it until she hopped in Ben’s truck. “So whatcha doing Tuesday night?”

“No big. Just some ice hockey.” Ben started the truck and drove out of the lot. It had grown full dark, minus the glow of a nearly full moon, and the blue lights from the dashboard played over his features.

“Ice hockey? For kindergarteners?”

“Never too soon to learn.”

“Hmmm.” Not recalling a skating rink on the Tess Tour, she asked, “There’s a skating rink?”

“No, but the town’s voting next month on it, so we make do. There’s a decent spot of flat land behind the go-kart place. Spray it with water, wait for it to freeze, and voilà. Instant skating rink.” His gaze briefly left the road to look at her. “You skate?”

She wasn’t going to be diverted by the question. She’d seen the way his lips had firmed, the infinitesimal tightening of his hands on the steering wheel. “A couple times when I was a kid. Why does the lack of a rink bother you?”

This time he looked surprised when he glanced at her, but he didn’t answer. Not right away. He turned up the winding road to the cabins. “Last year a bunch of kids were skating on a frozen pond. But it wasn’t frozen through. Three fell in. One on top of each other. The first was trapped under the ice until the others were pulled free.”

“Oh, God.”

Another look. This one suppressed anger. “He made it. They all did. But it was touch-and-go there for a long time, especially when Seth got pneumonia. Now all the ponds are off limits, but I damn well know kids still sneak out on them, so I’m pushing for the rink.” He paused, eyes straight ahead. “And we’ll get it.”