“Listen, I think I’m giving you the wrong impression. What I’m trying to do is give you a heads-up. When the amber moon is out, people get to do anything and everything they want. It’s understood that if you don’t want any part of it, then you either leave town—”
“Which isn’t an option for me.” She tried to keep her spiraling alarm from breaking free.
“Or you stay holed up somewhere until it’s over.”
“So you’re telling me to stay in the apartment until this amber moon thing has passed. Is that it?”
“Yeah. That’s it.”
“And when is that?” Although she’d given consideration to sticking around to see more of Grant and the Thorne cousins, she wasn’t so sure it would be worth it.
Oh, yeah it would. I’ve never felt anything like what I felt when they touched me. Damn, when they just looked at me.
“Everything should calm down by Sunday morning. Until then, I’ll bring you food and anything else I can get for you.” Milly took her hand. “I know this is all freaky sounding, but you’ll be safe here. I’ll give you my cell number. If you need anything, you just call, okay?”
“Wait. So you’re not going to be around? At the diner or nearby?”
“I’ll be at the diner for some of it. For the rest of the time, one of my men will handle everything while I stick to home. Their names are Dan and Matthew Hudson.”
“You mean you have two boyfriends?”
“I consider them my husbands.”
“So they’re like common-law husbands?”
“Something like that. Plus, I have a stepdaughter who I’ll be keeping close to my side for the next couple of days. She’s too young to have any part of an amber moon.”
“Wow. Two men.” She didn’t add that she thought Milly was lucky to have two men to love her. If she ever found one man, she’d be grateful.
“If you hang around after this is over, you’ll find out that it’s not unusual for one woman to have more than one man. At least not in Forever.”
“Is Forever a polygamist community? And isn’t it supposed to be one man and lots of wives?”
Milly turned her hand loose and laughed. “I’m not sure if that’s the right word for it. We don’t really put a label on our relationships.”
She had to ask. Had to know if what she’d felt earlier with the men had been real. “Milly, can I ask you something personal?”
“Sure, hon. Fire away.”
“When the men were here and I touched first Grant, then Duncan, I got this really strange sensation. I know this sounds stupid, but it was like a huge electric current that zipped between us. But it didn’t hurt. In fact”—she dropped her gaze, embarrassed but needing to say it all the same—“it felt really good.” She looked into Milly’s gaze. “Really good. If you know what I mean.”
The sparkle of tears in Milly’s eyes threw her. She’d expected her to laugh, not cry. “Yeah, I know what you mean. I felt the same way when I met Dan and Matthew.”
“You did? Are you serious?”
“As serious as I’d be with a rattler chomping on my leg.”
“What is it?” She almost shouted at Milly when she hesitated. She had to tell her and not hold back. “Please, Milly. Tell me.”
“It’s an attraction. A major one, for sure, but an attraction.” Milly stood, signaling the end of their conversation. “Just know this. It’s up to you whether or not you want to act on that attraction. And that’s all I’m going to say for now.”
“Milly, you can’t leave me hanging like this.” She hurried after her as she moved toward the front door.
“I don’t mean to, but I can’t tell you any more than that.” She swung the door open. “I’ll check back in with you tomorrow morning and bring you a fresh cup of coffee and more food. Maybe a few books, too? Do you like romance novels?” She winked. “The hot, hot, hot kind?”
She wasn’t going to get any more information out of Milly. Not until the woman was ready. “If you’re talking about paranormal erotic romances, then yes. I’m a real sucker for a romance where the woman falls in love with a sexy werewolf.”
Milly’s smile grew. “Now that’s a girl after my own heart. You hang in there.” With that, she spun around, not giving Christy another chance to question her.
* * * *
“I’m not taking any chances. We have to keep her here.” Lance leaned over Christy’s car.
“Cuz, you’re getting worried over nothing.” Duncan put a hand on his cousin’s shoulder, only to have him shake it off. “She can’t go anywhere without a car.”