Free Her Werewolf Hero by Michele Hauf Page B

walked around the front of the truck. Inside the cab, she played with her camera, and when she aimed the lens at him, he put up a palm to block the shot. “I’ll want to know you’ve erased the shots of the harpies. And the vampire, if you got pics of that.”
    â€œI will. I just...want to study them a bit first. I promise you can look at my camera before we part ways. That’s what we’re doing, right? Tonight you’re going to drop me off at my doorstep and run away?”
    He did not run away. But he never stayed beyond need or his welcome.
    â€œI promised you I would protect you.”
    â€œHow do we know I’m safe?”
    â€œWe’ll play it by ear. But I’ll want to recon the place where you’re staying first. When we arrive, I’ll get a room for the night. Then, once I’ve determined all is clear, you can move back in.”
    He navigated the truck across the highway and into the antique store’s gravel parking lot.
    â€œYou don’t need to get a room,” she said. “You can stay on my couch. It’s comfortable. And you don’t actually want to leave me alone for some big bad creature to come after me, do you? I mean, even if the coast is clear, it might be a good idea to hang around awhile to ensure that. Yes?”
    â€œAll right then. Your place it is. But I don’t mind wasting some time this afternoon.”
    â€œYes! Let’s get to the antiquing. I like to look for old cameras, so let me know if you spot any.”
    He followed her into the dank and dark shop, and they spent the afternoon going through the dusty treasures on two levels in the barn. No cameras to be found, but they did have a soft-serve ice cream machine. Kizzy bought a vanilla and shared it with Bron.
    They sat on the truck bed gate, Kizzy finishing the ice cream cone. She’d eaten most of it. Bron wasn’t much for cold treats, but he wasn’t going to refuse when she offered.
    â€œYou should have bought that branding iron,” she said of the iron that had fascinated him. It had a wolf’s head with a bar across the neck. Some kind of cattle brand? Didn’t make sense. But the other option, using it to brand wolves, had made him feel sick. No, it must have been used for decorative purposes. Either way, he wasn’t a collector of things.
    â€œI thought you said you understood the concept of traveling and living light?” he commented as he jumped down and offered his hand to help her down.
    â€œThat’s why I didn’t buy the iron rooster doorstop. My mom would have loved it. But you’re right. Traveling with stuff? Not cool. We spent a long time in there. The sun is setting.”
    â€œIt’s a few hours’ drive back to Thief River Falls. Let’s get going.” They hopped in the truck cab, and Bron steered them out on to the highway. “With luck, whatever is out there can no longer track the vibrations. I’ll stick around through the night to make sure you’re good to go. I’d like to see your work, actually.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œYou said you try for a paranormal atmosphere?”
    â€œYes. I’ve managed werewolves out of tree shadows and mermaid tails out of sun shimmering on waves. I’m always drawn toward the scene, and it either happens or it doesn’t. I guess you could say the picture chooses me.”
    â€œI enjoy playing with all the new devices, though I never find much time to snap a shot of the picturesque places I pass through.”
    â€œNew devices? Are you talking about my camera? Because that so makes you sound like a man from a long-past century. Are you sure you’re not a time traveler?”
    â€œI know for sure I am not. But I do know some witches are capable of time travel.”
    â€œReally?” Attention captured, she turned on her seat to face him.
    â€œI’m going to have to tell you about witches now, aren’t