Darkest Powers Bonus Pack 2 by Kelley Armstrong Read Free Book Online Page B

grandpa’s probably looking for you.”
    He didn’t rise to my bait, just kept smiling, his gaze swiveling back to Chloe. “I think I’ll wait and say goodbye. She’s really cute. I’d like to get to know her better.” That grin swung back to me. “I’d really like to get to know her better.”
    I leapt to my feet.
    “Whoa,” Carter said. “Something wrong, Derek?”
    “Back off,” I growled.
    His gaze hardened, but he kept smiling. “Is that a warning? It sounded like—”
    “Carter!”
    We both looked over to see a man standing by the McDonald’s counter. He didn’t look old enough to be Carter’s grandfather—maybe fifty. And he didn’t look like Carter, either. He was huge, at least my height, with broad shoulders, graying dark hair and a broad, bulldog face.
    The man looked at me and I felt a jolt, like recognition. I didn’t know him, but he stared at me for at least five seconds before turning his gaze to Carter and waving for him.
    “Better run along,” I murmured. “Gramps is calling.”
    Carter scowled at me and hesitated, but his grandfather called again, his voice harsh enough to make people look. Carter muttered something and stalked off.
    His grandfather stayed where he was, feet planted, fixing Carter with a glower as he walked over to join him. When Carter was close enough, the man grabbed his upper arm, leading him away like a five-year-old who’d run off.
    “You eating my fries?” a voice asked behind me.
    I turned to see Chloe approaching, tray in hand. She put it in front of me.
    “Got your own,” she said. “Fries, burger, milkshake.” A blaze of a grin. “Good enough for an afternoon snack?”
    “Perfect. Thanks.”
    As she sat down, she whispered. “Everything okay?”
    I nodded and reached for her french fry container. She laughed and slapped my hand away, and I smiled and relaxed. When I looked over again, Carter and his grandfather were gone.

Four
     
    We didn’t spend much time at the mall. Chloe seemed eager to get going and I wasn’t keen on staying. Chloe suggested we take the forest route back while Simon and Tori went by road. I sure as hell wasn’t arguing. Before we started dating, I’d gotten the impression—from movies and stuff—that the guy was usually the one suggesting things like a private walk in the woods, and the girl might want to sometimes, but not as often as the guy did. But half the time, Chloe was the one suggesting it, which was nice. Really nice.
    When Chloe told them we’d take the forest route, Tori rolled her eyes. Simon grinned and shot me a thumbs up, which had Chloe rolling her eyes. In the beginning, she’d get embarrassed about stuff like that, and she’d change her mind, but I’d put a stop to that fast. We were going out; no one expected us to just walk around holding hands. No one other than her aunt, that is.
    Once we got to the forest, we did hold hands, Chloe sliding hers into mine, twining our fingers, and if there was any knot still left in my gut, it slid away. When we’re alone like this, I know everything’s okay and I feel like a moron for worrying.
    “Straight home then?” she asked as we walked along the path.
    I snorted.
    She looked over. “Ah, so you have other plans. I bet I know what they are, too.”
    “I bet you do.”
    “Yep. A long, peaceful walk in the forest. Fresh air. Exercise. What more could you ask for?”
    “I can think of a few things.”
    Her brows lifted. “Like what?”
    “What you brought me into the forest for. This.”
    I grabbed her by the waist and swung her around to face me. As I bent, I closed my eyes . . . and kissed air as she ducked out of my grasp. I opened my eyes to see her dancing backward along the path.
    I made a noise in my throat.
    “Don’t growl,” she said. “Aren’t you always complaining that you don’t get enough exercise?”
    I lunged. She backed away.
    I let out another growl and crossed my arms. “Better watch out. I might decide the prize