Her Werewolf Hero by Michele Hauf Read Free Book Online

that seductive perfume?
    He quickly looked away, finding the remote on the nightstand to look busy.
    â€œThat felt good to wash my face and take a few minutes to regroup.” She wandered to the bed, where she’d dropped her camera bag.
    Damn, he’d forgotten to go through the camera. Distracted by morbid memories. He’d wait until she fell asleep. Her focus was fixed on the LCD screen on the back of the camera.
    â€œWish I had a toothbrush, but a hand towel worked well enough. You want to use the bathroom? It’s all yours.”
    â€œI will. I’m just going to, uh...”
    She eyed him up and down, setting aside the camera. “Stand guard?”
    He nodded.
    She plopped onto the bed and toed off her red shoes. Reclining, she pushed back the coverlet and shoved down the sheets with her feet. Propping up the pillow, she sat back against it. “So, tell me about this Purgatory Heart.”
    Bron exhaled and pulled the curtain back before the window. He didn’t want to do this. But she had a right to know. Maybe if he answered her questions now, that would put an end to them, and he could focus. And be done with her.
    â€œI was commanded to retrieve the heart and return it to Acquisitions,” he offered. “That’s how my assignments work. I get an electronic dossier on the object, a location if available and off I go. I had no idea the Purgatory Heart would be inside someone’s chest. Nor do I believe the Director of Acquisitions knew that.”
    At least, he hoped Ethan Pierce had not known such information. What kind of duplicity would that be if he’d been sent on such a task? No, Pierce had been the director for two centuries. He was solid and trustworthy.
    She pressed her fingers over her breast. Feeling her heartbeats? “So I’ve got to keep one eye out for you and a big butcher knife? Not like I haven’t been through that before.”
    He gaped at her.
    â€œNot like that.” She swept a dismissive hand before her and yawned. “I mean, no man has ever come after me with a knife before. Without my permission. You know.” She shrugged and splayed out a hand. “I had open-heart surgery eight months ago. Got a nasty scar down my chest.” She lifted her shirt just enough so he could see a thick red scar vertically climbing her chest wall. “So I suppose, if when the time comes and you do intend to take out my heart, you can just use the ‘cut here’ line.”
    â€œThat’s...” He didn’t know what to say to that. She was too blasé about the possibility of such a hazard. Truly, her fear manifested strangely. “I won’t do that, Kisanthra.”
    â€œYou don’t sound very sure of yourself. I’m too tired to care right now. And hungry. But I think I’ll fall asleep before I can look up the diner’s number for takeout. So why were you tasked with finding my heart? Is it important? You said you retrieve objects of magical nature. I know this heart isn’t magical.”
    â€œIt’s a portal to Purgatory.”
    She lifted her head from the pillow and gave him a wide-eyed assessment. Deep brown eyes that held such curiosity while at the same time managed to disturb him. Because her gaze compelled him to wonder about her. What made her tick? What did she see through those eyes when she held the camera before them?
    Bron nodded in confirmation. How fucked was it to learn your heart could allow others access to Purgatory?
    â€œThat is so crazy. You’re saying someone can get to Purgatory from my heart? By...using it? How? I didn’t think Purgatory was a real place. I’m not even Catholic!”
    â€œIt exists. And in the wrong hands, your heart could provide an entrance to the place. Should that occur...things could get out.”
    â€œWhat kind of things?” Her wide eyes beamed fascination.
    â€œSouls. Bad things. I’m aware that Purgatory is populated