Free The Wolf Prince by Karen Kelley Page A

sure?”
    She stepped closer, and his arms automatically went around her, settling on her hips.
    “You’re one of the good guys because I’d know if you weren’t. I have fantastic instincts. Besides, remember what you said? You’re here to protect someone, not hurt them. What kind of bad guy would protect someone?”
    He sighed, knowing she was probably right. “I don’t feel like one of those killers in the movie.”
    She leaned back and looked him in the eye. “Exactly.”
    Her lips were too soft and inviting. He lowered his mouth to hers, then pulled her closer as he deepened the kiss. She was sweet and hot all mixed together, and he wanted her again. But he wasn’t sure he could go through another episode where it felt as though something was trying to possess him. He ended the kiss.
    She took a deep breath, stepping out of his arms. “Wow, you’re a good kisser.”
    He smiled.
    She shrugged one shoulder. “Well, you are. I have a tendency to speak what’s on my mind. Unfortunately.”
    “I like that about you.” He studied her for a moment. She was beautiful, sexy and very tempting. “Why did you need me to pretend to care about you? Men should be falling all over themselves to be your boyfriend.”
    She abruptly turned and went to the machine that had played the movie, removing the disk. “Most of the men I’ve dated seem only interested in my money. The ones who haven’t been, well, they didn’t work out.” She put the round disk into the case and snapped it closed. “My parents will be joining me here in one month. I told my mother I had a boyfriend.”
    “And this is important to your mother?”
    She walked back over to where he stood. He liked the way she walked—smoothly, gracefully.
    “Oh, yeah, it’s real important. My mother wants me married. She wants me to be a social butterfly.”
    “You don’t want this?”
    She shook her head. “I want to get my hands dirty. Do you know what I’m saying?”
    He didn’t, but her expression said she hoped he would agree. “Yes,” he lied.
    She exhaled a deep breath. “I’ll find out your identity, too. It’ll be the first real job I’ve ever had.” She glanced at her watch. “Ms. Abernathy should have lunch fixed. Let’s eat, then we’ll run down to the sheriff’s office.”
    “You enjoy running?”
    She smiled. “An expression. I’ll drive us in my car.”
    He followed her out of the room. “What is at the sheriff’s office?”
    “Jillian’s brother works there. She’s one of the maids. She called her brother and he said we could drop by this afternoon. He’s going to run your prints. If you’re in the system, we’ll know who you are.”
    He gripped the railing on the staircase. “I need to keep my identity a secret.”
    She glanced over her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Eddie will be discreet.”
    His world felt as though it was unraveling around him. He wasn’t sure discreet would matter.
    If he was supposed to keep his identity a secret, he was doing a great job. Even he didn’t know who he was. He had a feeling he needed to fill in the blanks as quickly as possible. Maybe Darcy could make it happen.
    Darcy glanced at Surlock from the corner of her eye. He was hesitant when he got out of the car. Right now he looked at the sheriff’s building as if he was about to go to jail. She only hoped that she was right, and that Surlock was one of the good guys.
    “It’ll be okay,” she told him. “I’ve known Jillian and Eddie a long time. Her brother will be careful when he runs your prints.” Of course, all bets were off if Surlock was wanted by the law. Eddie would have Surlock picked up and behind bars before she had a chance to get him out of the country.
    She missed a step and stumbled. Surlock grabbed her elbow to steady her. Crap, would it come to that? Would she end up just as much a criminal?
    No, that wouldn’t happen. She refused to even think about it as a possibility.
    “It’ll be okay,” she said, more