“No if about it.”
“Since she’s your mate, are you willing to risk burning the bond out during the amber moon? I don’t think I could bear it if you did.”
Milly was always thinking about others and this was no exception. She was dead right. He and his friends knew it. But not coming to Christy when the lust was greater than at any other time? That was like asking him to change into a bat instead of a wolf.
“We have to try and stay away.” Lance’s hangdog expression was the perfect reflection of the sadness engulfing him.
Duncan didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t argue the point other than to say that he wanted her so badly his body felt like molten lava deep inside a volcano. And the eruption was near, far too near, to stay pent up much longer.
“I need to get back inside with her. I’ll try to smooth things over and make her feel more comfortable. Of course, I won’t tell her what’s really going on, but I’ll do my best to keep her inside for the next couple of days. Damned if I know how, but someone’s got to try. Until she can get back on the road, we have to keep her safe. Not only from you three, but from any other wolf that picks up her scent.”
“Back on the road? We can’t let her leave. Not ever.” He was stunned that Milly would even suggest that they let her drive out of their lives.
“Take it easy. You know you can’t force her to stay here forever. And you won’t have to. But she’s got to have the option. You get that, don’t you?”
He did. Not that he liked it any. Still, he had to believe she’d felt the connection and wouldn’t want to leave. Not in the next few days. Not ever.
Lance and Grant stared at the front door. Grant growled low, his inner wolf close to the surface. Lance clenched and unclenched his hands, the fight to stay outside showing.
“We have to stay nearby to make sure she doesn’t run off before we can make our case to her.” He was reaching for straws, but that was all he could do right now.
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on her. I’ll make sure she doesn’t hightail it out of here without you guys knowing. Do we have a deal? You stay away while I play guard?” She stuck out her hand.
Duncan stared at her outstretched hand. He hated giving his word when he wasn’t sure he could keep it. Instead, he ignored her hand and gave her an abrupt nod. “We’ll do our best.”
She dropped her hand and gave him a suspicious look. “That doesn’t make me feel any better, but I guess it’ll have to do.” She pivoted toward the door. “Now let me back inside so I can do my thing. Back to the ranch for you three.”
* * * *
Christy pressed her ear so hard against the front door that it started hurting. Still, it hadn’t done her much good. She could hear Milly’s voice and the men’s, too, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying. Their tones, however, were another thing. At first they sounded angry, even Milly. Then the sounds softened, and at the last, right before Milly pushed the door open, she could tell that they’d come to some kind of agreement.
She hurried to the couch. Before she could fling her body onto the cushion and pretend that she’d been sitting there the whole time, Milly came in. She paused, a knowing smile on her face, then walked toward her.
“Would you like a tour of the place? It’ll only take a minute.”
“Sure.” Christy hoped the heat rising up from her neck then into her cheeks wasn’t showing. She’d been caught eavesdropping, but having to admit it would be even worse.
She followed Milly around the small apartment, into the kitchen where she told her where to find everything and then into the tiny, but neat, bedroom. Although she nodded as Milly told her where to find towels and toiletries, she found it hard to concentrate on anything but all the questions racing through her mind.
Once they’d returned to the living room, she couldn’t hold back. “Milly, I really do appreciate you letting me stay in your place.”
Milly settled on the couch beside her. “You’re welcome, but I think I hear a big old but at the end of that sentence.”
“Not about the apartment or your generosity. But about this whole town celebration being dangerous. That I don’t get.”
Christy would never call her on it, but it was clear that Milly hedged for time by dragging in a long breath and brushing her hands through her long, golden mane. As anxious as she was, she wouldn’t push her new friend into talking.
“Is that what the guys called it? A celebration?”
“Isn’t it?”
“Yeah. I guess you could call it that.”