Black Magic (Alpha Pack #1.5)(5)
"Amy," the blonde said, recovering a bit from his blatant rejection of her attentions. "That's Shannon, and it seems you already know Mac."
"Hi," Shannon, a brunette, said shyly.
"Yes, I know Mackenzie," he affirmed, deliberately using her full name, then giving her a warm smile. "We work together. I'm Kalen."
The blonde nodded. "Oh! So you two are coworkers at the research place. Cool."
"Yeah, cool," he muttered. Christ, he hoped he hadn't blundered. He no more looked like a scientist than Criss Angel would. The few locals who knew about the fenced and well-protected compound situated deep in the Shoshone believed it to be a government-run medical research facility. Period.
Only the Alpha Pack's and the doctors' most trusted family and friends knew the whole truth; that the compound housed a team of shifters whose job was to be called anywhere in the world on a moment's notice, to eliminate the world's most lethal human and supernatural enemies. Nor did folks know that the "medical research" facility housed there was actually the Institute of Parapsychology, and their role was to learn all they could about shifters and other paranormal beings in order to keep them mentally and physically healthy.
To his relief, Amy and Shannon seemed to accept his "job" without question and moved on to new subjects, probably because being a "medical researcher" just wasn't that interesting. Soon, Amy and Shannon became engaged in a lively discussion of the available man-booty in the bar, leaving Kalen free to lean over and whisper in Mackenzie's ear.
"We need to go."
Pulling back, she eyed him in concern. "Why?" she asked in a low voice, making sure they weren't overheard. "Has something happened?"
He knew she was referring to an emergency at the compound, perhaps with injuries she needed to attend. "No, nothing like that. It's just this feeling I have." The urgency of his message gave him an excuse to touch her arm, stand so near that her light, floral scent drove him crazy. His c**k threatened to roar to life, and he took a deep breath, fighting to regain control. "Something bad is hanging around. I don't know what it is, but when I heard you'd gone out I got worried. I came to make sure you got back safely."
She glanced at her friends, who weren't paying attention to them, and looked to Kalen again, expression concerned. "You could've called me instead of risking coming out yourself."
Her worry on his account, twice in one night, did something funny inside his chest. "I called, left you a message earlier." He pointed to the purse hanging from its strap on the backrest of her stool. "Guess you haven't checked your phone, so it's a good thing I planned to show up anyway."
Her face colored. "Sorry about that. I know I should look at it more often when I'm out."
"Well, I'm here now and that's what matters. Can you make your excuses? I have this feeling that we need to go now. In fact, if you can get them to go home as well, do it."
Maybe this awful sense of impending doom would vanish after they left. After the unknown entity got bored or whatever, and went on its way.
"Hey guys," Mackenzie said, rising from her stool and placing her purse strap over her shoulder. "Kalen and I are going to head out, call it a night."
Amy glanced between them and instantly got the wrong idea. "Ooh, lucky girl! Wish my knight in shining leather would swoop in and whisk me away! Maybe we'll score, though, now that there's one less in the competition."
Mackenzie gave her friend a pointed look. "You two have to work tomorrow, or did you forget? Six in the morning will come awfully early if you don't get your asses home."
Kalen noticed how she didn't correct her friend's impression of them. He wished he really was here to grab Mackenzie for the reason Amy thought.
Shannon sighed, standing. "Mac's right. I can't stay out late tonight, much as I'd love to. We have a big meeting in the morning."
"Party poopers," Amy said, pouting. To Kalen's relief, she grabbed her purse, too. "Fine. We'll save the real fun for Friday, maybe? Close the place down?"
Shannon nodded. "Sounds good."
"I'll have to see," Mackenzie replied vaguely.
Kalen didn't like the idea of her returning with those two to go on the prowl for a man, as Amy so obviously wanted. Hated it, in fact. But he had no right to voice an opinion, even if it made his stomach hurt to envision Mackenzie in another man's arms.
Made him want to kill somebody.
Kalen escorted the doc to the exit, resting his hand at the small of her back. It felt so damned natural, touching her, keeping her close to his side. He, who normally hated being in close proximity to others. He marveled at the wonderful feeling all the way outside, to the parking lot, where Mackenzie said good-bye to her friends with hugs and light kisses on the cheek.
Watching them, a little shard pierced his heart. He envied the easy closeness, the physical touch that most people took for granted. He yearned for it.
And feared it as he did nothing else.
He and Mackenzie watched as her friends got into their cars, which were parked in the front lot. Once they were safely on their way, he looked at the doc.
"I'll walk with you. I'm parked in the back, just a couple of spaces from you."
She smiled. "My knight in shining leather?" she quipped, echoing her friend.