Midnight Moonrising (Moonrising #2)(15)

"Are you all right, Mena?" he asked, concern for my well-being clear in his voice, but I still couldn't speak.

"Mena, put your sunglasses on," Katie whisper-shouted at me, and that snapped me out of my daze long enough to realize that shit was about to get really real on the corner of Park and 3rd.

I shoved my shades back over my eyes and quickly stood. "Alex."

He took a step toward me, his arms flailing out at his sides awkwardly, and then he paused. Did he want to hug me? Quick thinking, my right hand shot out in between our bodies to grab his for a handshake, but, of course, my wolf had other plans, and threw me up against his hard chest. Alex closed his arms around me—I was almost certain, to help me catch my balance. It didn't look romantic, like I'm sure she was hoping it would. She was making me look like an idiot!

I pulled away from him, and he kept his hands on my arms for a moment more before letting me try this standing thing on my own again. Smoothing my hair back away from my face, I gave him a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry. I must have tripped. I haven't slept much the last few days."

He nodded, and put his hand on the back of the chair I had been sitting in. "Here, sit down, Mena."

"You know what?" Katie interrupted. "I've got a couple of errands to run in town before everything closes for the day. Have the waiter put my food in a to-go box and I'll get it when I get back. It shouldn't take me more than fifteen minutes, thirty tops."

My head shot around to glare at her and my mouth opened, but my wolf quickly shut it for me. What the hell was she doing? She couldn't leave me here alone with the homicide detective that was working Marc's case.

Katie reached down to grab the purse by her feet and winked at me over the top of her sunglasses.

No! What is she doing?

"If you have things you need to take care of, there's no need to rush back. I can take Mena home," Alex said, and I nearly choked on the words my wolf wouldn't let come out of my mouth.

I felt that weird energy again, and goosebumps covered my entire body. "Thank you, Alex." The words left my mouth, but it hadn't been me who had said them. I was no longer in control of my body or my words. It was as if I was just along for the ride, like I was a spirit in someone else's body. I could only imagine what a catastrophe this was going to turn out to be with her in charge. "Alex can drive me home, Katie. I'll bring your food with me when we leave."

I wanted to cry as I watched her leave me there alone with only my wolf and Alex Rhodes. I desperately wanted to pick up my phone and text Daryn or Phoenix or even Jaxon and have them come get me and put me in a cage until my wolf gave me back control over my body, but I couldn't do anything except stare at the man who was going to put us away forever when he found out I was a murderer.





Chapter 9



Alex





Alex sat down in the seat the girl who had been dining with Mena had vacated, and pushed the plate of food to the empty spot to his left.


"Would you like something to drink, sir? A menu, perhaps?" the waiter said.

Alex shook his head. "I'm not eating, but I will have a water and," he pointed to the plate of food beside him, "a to-go box for that."

The waiter smiled. "Right away, sir." He looked at Mena. "Everything fine with your meal, ma'am?"

"Yes, it's delicious. Thank you," she said, and Alex watched as a genuine smile crept across her face. As far as he could tell, she hadn't even touched the food yet.

The waiter nodded then left.

"So… Alex… are you not working today?"

He realized that she was looking at his chest, and gave her a sheepish smile. "I work every day, Mena. I just left the gym. Working out helps clear my head, so I can focus on whatever case I'm working on."

"I see. Any leads on Marc's case?"

She didn't seem upset to talk about Marc. He studied her for a moment. Her long dark hair was tied to one side, and the wind made a few soft-looking curls caress her pale skin at the top of her dress shirt. And he hated that she had put those sunglasses on over those gorgeous light green eyes of hers. Christ, I need a distraction before I start imagining her out of business clothes and in something a lot more comfortable, like my bed. Focus, Alex! Focus! She's a widow, not the girl you've had a crush on since high school! Not today. Not ever, dumbass! You're not good enough for someone like her. He cleared his throat. "Are you sure you're ready to discuss this?"

"I don't see why not."

"You did just bury him yesterday, Mena. If you were anybody else I would have already talked to you, but you are…" Alex ran his hands over his face and sighed, "…you are you, Mena. I know you, and I knew Marc. I wanted to wait until you were ready before saying anything."

She shrugged. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be, I suppose."

He huffed and leaned back in his chair as the waiter sat the glass of water in front of him, then he took the empty Styrofoam container for Mena's friend's food, and the guy left without a word. "I don't have any leads to Marc's death—yet. I can't figure out what he was doing in that part of town."

Her body went still for a brief moment, and then she seemed to realize it and relaxed. "Well, maybe he was trying to find me."