Chapter 20

"Of course." He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Jamie tells me you were at her book signing on Saturday. That you asked her to lunch."

Lia's pulse trip-hammered. Thank god for her wolf senses that stomped on the apprehension swirling through her. If only she could do the same for these other feelings that slammed her. How could it be possible the man she was so instantly linked to could be here to cause her trouble? She folded her hands in front of her and leaned forward slightly.

"I wasn't aware that inviting someone to share a meal was a crime. Or that sitting here doing research was a problem." She lifted one hand and waved in the general direction of the rest of the main area. "Other people spend time in libraries without getting hassled by the police, I'm sure." She waved at her stack of books. "Like I said, I'm only doing some research. Period."

"Jamie indicated she'd feel more comfortable if I chatted with you a little. We don't get many strangers hanging around in our library."

She wished the smile he gave her wasn't so obviously professional because, for a moment, she was distracted by the dimple winking at the right corner of his mouth. So much so that she missed what he was saying.

"I'm sorry, can you repeat that?"

"Sure. It's pretty simple. Jamie said you approached her at her book signing about taking her to lunch."

"Yes. Yes, I did." Calm and businesslike, she reminded herself. She was sure Riley Morgan would haul her out of there for sure if she told him the real reason she wanted to talk to Jamie. "I wanted to talk to her about her book."

"About her research," he corrected. "I think she explained she really couldn't discuss it with you, for a number of reasons. Yet here you still are, sitting all day in the library, for three days in a row."

"Doing my own investigation." Lia had trouble keeping the resentment out of her voice. If this wasn't so important to her, she would have hightailed it out of the library and Calderwood and left them both in her dust. Screw it. But she needed to find out if Jamie had the information she needed. And there was the instant chemistry or zing or whatever you wanted to call it with this man. Did he feel it, too? "You make it sound like I wanted to attack her or something."

"Listen, Miss Popescue." The man's voice plucked at her nerve endings. And when he leaned towards her, forearms resting on the table, the sunlight from the large windows glinting on the fine hair on his arms, her wolf wanted to lean over and lick him from wrist to elbow. "Try to understand. You, a total stranger, ask her to lunch. You try to get a private meeting about her work, she turns you down, and then you spend three days sitting here, watching her. Does that not say maybe some kind of stalker to you? Can you see why she might be concerned?"

"Stalker? Did you say stalker?" Lia ground her teeth, doing her best to control the sudden surge of anger. "Are you serious here? I'm not stalking anyone. Like I said, I'm only doing some work like other people around me here. I need to talk to Mrs. Volka about something to do with her own background material."

She hadn't realized she'd raised her voice until the library assistant on duty came over to shush them.

"You're disturbing the others," she cautioned them.

Lia wanted to shrink back into her chair.

"And exactly what is it you're researching?" Riley lowered his voice. "Are you a writer, or something? If you are, you should have told Jamie right away. Maybe she could help you."

She frowned. "You mean, if I'm a writer, it's okay to ask her questions, but if I'm not, I make her nervous?"

He laughed, a low, warm sound, and the timbre of it tugged at her dancing nerves. "That does sound contradictory, doesn't it? No, I meant it might have made her feel more at ease with you. This is the first book she has written. The publication and success have been a big surprise to her, and she's still getting used to the celebrity status that comes with it."

"I'm sorry if I made her uncomfortable. That was not my intention. But - " She lifted her hands.

"But you wanted to talk to her," he finished.

"Yes. I still do."

She drew in a breath, and a faint trace of his aftershave drifted in the air. Something that reminded her of the outdoors, of familiar woods and rich earth. Meadows, maybe. She had to curl her fingers into her palms to keep herself from lifting her nose and scenting him. What was it with this guy, anyway, that she responded to him as if he were a morsel of chocolate?

She wet her lips, telling herself there was nothing revealing about her choice of subjects. She hoped. She chose her words carefully, gauging his reaction to them.

"Werewolves," she told him. "I'm investigating the existence of werewolves and the legends of the shapeshifters."

His eyes widened fractionally. "That seems like a rather unusual subject, don't you think?"

"Not any more so than a lot of others." Could she say anything else without giving herself away, and maybe being hauled off to an institution? "My family is from Romania. I'm sure someone like you wouldn't know, but legend has it that's where they originated. And paranormal is a very important genre these days."

Riley Morgan focused his eyes on her intently. "Romania? Interesting." But there was something in his voice Lia couldn't quite identify.

"Yes. I wanted to ask her if she had any personal contacts where she got her information."

"Maybe I can help you," he suggested.

"You?" Her eyebrows rose. "What do you know about what I'm researching?"

"It so happens I'm a student of Romanian history myself." One corner of his mouth quirked up. "Maybe I can answer some of your questions."

"Oh? Do you also study werewolves?"

He laughed. "No, but I'd be happy to share what I know about the country if that will help you."

A tiny thrill ran through her. She got no sense of him that he was wolf, but maybe, if she played her cards right, he would relax with her, and he'd be her opening to Jamie. Besides, if she said yes, it would give her an excuse to spend some time with him. Maybe she could even -

Not now, Lia. You have important things to do.

But Bunica said when I least expected it I would meet my -

She gave herself a mental smack. This was no time for any of that. Not until she had answers to her questions. But, oh god, it was so hard to keep herself under control when he plucked every string in her body and her heart.

"You'd talk to me?" she asked. "Can you tell me what I need to know?"

"We won't know until we give it a try. How about having lunch with me? We can talk about Romania. Then, if you're interested in Calderwood, I can give you a tour, answer questions about it. Maybe point you in the right direction."

"And get me away from Jamie," she guessed.

"If I think she can be comfortable with you, then I might be able to convince her to talk to you. So how about it? Lunch? What can you lose?"

It was crazy to go off with a man she'd just met, even if he was a policeman, but the magnetic pull was too strong. The connection. The instant chemistry that somehow seemed more than the physical. Did he feel it, too?

"Maybe this is the one." She heard her bunica's voice in her head. "The one...the one...the one...."

She blew out a breath and pushed all her doubts aside. "Fine. But will I be allowed to check out these books without getting arrested?"

He actually grinned at her. "I don't know. I might have to be the one arresting you." Then his face sobered. "How about if I check them out for you?"

"Why? I mean, they gave me a temporary library card, so what's the problem?" Why had they given her a card if she couldn't borrow books? "Besides, you don't even know me, and I'm supposed to be a threat."

"The woman behind the desk is the one who issued you the card. I don't think Jamie would have been quite so accommodating until she knew what you were after." He studied her, his eyes virtually eating her up. "I just think she would feel a lot better if we did it this way." A corner of his mouth kicked up in a tiny grin. "Besides, if you abscond with the books, I can find you." Then he winked. "I'm a cop, remember?"

"Okay. Thank you for this."

"Let me tell Jamie we're leaving and that I'll get back to her." He lifted the books she'd stacked into a pile. "And I'll check out your reading material."

"I'm going to prove to you I'm completely harmless. You'll see."