What This Wolf Wants(40)

Dean shifted uncomfortably in his seat and so it was Kaylie that answered. “You might have only been the doctor until the incident at the bar Tuesday night. You know how rampant gossip is in this town, Jackie. By noon today, you and Zan were all but engaged. And according to my mom, three male tourists were eating lunch at Dolen’s Cafe this afternoon. There was no way they could have missed hearing about you and Zan. One of the men went so far as to inquire where the clinic was, saying he’d brushed up against some weeds during a hike and now had a rash on his leg.” Kaylie air-quoted the malady as if she didn’t believe it, which none of them did. And no one had come into the clinic today with a rash. “If they followed you to the church, they must have followed you home from work.”

“Oh my God.” Jackie whispered in shock.

“And if they trailed you from the clinic, they saw me leave your house.” Zan looked ready to chew nails.

Jackie covered her burning face with her hands. “Shit.”

“And a hunter will generally go after the weaker prey.” Dean was kind enough to add.

“Thanks a lot.” Jackie let out a mirthless laugh and then dropped her hands. “I can’t just leave. I have patients to see. Why can’t you do something about this Shider now?” She asked Zan.

“Like what?” Zan cocked a brow. “Sneak into their motel rooms and slit their throats as they sleep?”

“No! Of course not. I meant get Caleb to arrest them or something.”

“On what charges? For being ugly? I might know he’s guilty of committing multiple crimes, but without evidence, the cops can’t arrest him. As far as I know, he’s not on any wanted list other than those of several non-existent military groups. No. He needs to be coaxed into an attack and in a place where he can’t easily hide or escape.”

“Of which I’m going to be in the middle of?”

“I’m sorry, angel.” For a moment she thought he was going to reach out for her, but something in her face must have screamed no because he looked away, his hands back into fists. “I can’t leave you here without me. Scott?”

Scott looked up from his phone. “There’s a plane leaving Denver at 9:15 tomorrow morning going to Richmond with a layover in Dallas.”

Zan nodded. “We’ll be on it.”

“Oh no.” Jackie waved her hands. “I told you. I can’t just leave at a moment’s notice. I have a full day of patients tomorrow and Friday. It’s too late today to cancel them all, plus I can’t ask Dr. Jenner to work through his weekend to cover my shifts on Friday and Saturday.”

Dean rubbed the back of his neck. “Surely you have a backup plan when one of you is sick.”

It wasn’t a question and Jackie’s shoulders slumped. “We ask Henry Wiggins if he can fill in.” Stick-thin, gentle, myopic Henry Wiggins was the human doctor that started the clinic over thirty years ago, finally retiring only two years prior. And while he’d enjoyed his first year as a man of leisure, he claimed his free time was now filled with frivolous nonsense. Evidently his wife, whom he adored, was driving him nuts and he’d told Jackie that he needed to work again, even if only part-time, to save his marriage.

Scott, in an attempt to be helpful, but really only demonstrated the evilness of his nature, flashed her a sly grin. “Same flight on Friday and we’ll still get home a day ahead of the full moon. You can use tomorrow to get the rest of your week covered, get packed, and for us to make a very public goodbye.”

“We’ll leave after you get back from work and stay the night in Denver.” Zan’s tone clearly stated he’d broker no argument from Jackie.

“Sounds good.” Dean said. With her Alpha concurring, Jackie had no choice but to obey. But she did make her displeasure known by slouching in her seat and crossing her arms in a display of petulant disgust. “I don’t like any of you.”

“I know it sucks, Jackie,” Kaylie reached an arm across the table as if to give comfort. “But at least you’ll be going back...”

Jackie gave her friend a frantic shake of her head and Kaylie paused, adjusting quickly, “…in the company of three gorgeous men.”

Leave it to Kaylie. Jackie pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration while Scott and Joe immediately began arguing at who was better looking. Dean glared at his mate and threatened to tan her hide while Zan narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

Oh yeah, the next couple of days were going to be fun all right. Sarcasm intended. And not because of this Shider character, the possible threat to her life, or how Jackie was going to be able to keep Zan at a distance given their upcoming inevitable proximity. No. At that moment, Jackie was more worried about the appearance of one General Chavez.