above and beyond my budget, and I hadn’t seen any car rental places in the tiny town—even if I felt like walking the miles of wooded track to wander around the streets in hopes of finding one. Mr. Cassidy might let me use his phone, but I’m sure he was none too pleased with the Sunstriker party, and the rest of the Cassidy family were probably not feeling too charitable toward their guests just now.
After a sleepless night, still in my bloody clothes, I wasn’t feeling brave enough to face the day. It stung when I remembered destroying the coffee pot in my efforts to stave off Dillon’s attack; even that simple pleasure would be denied me this morning.
Fighting tears, I collected some clean clothes and shambled into the bathroom, losing myself in the warmth of a shower. It woke me up a little, swept the remnants of last night’s fight from my skin, and gave me a chance to relax despite knowing I’d have to face the inevitable and speak to one of the Cassidys about finding a way home.
When I stepped out of the steaming bathroom wrapped in a towel, I very nearly screamed when I saw a hulking, menacing shadow hovering in the doorway.
Chaz stepped inside, holding up his hands. “Please, don’t start that again. I came to talk to you.”
He looked so earnest in the early morning light, dressed in someone else’s clothes. They didn’t quite fit him; the jeans hugged his hips and thighs too tightly, outlining the strong play of muscle beneath. In contrast, the shirt was too big; his fingertips dangled below the cuffs of the soft gray oxford sweater, a light sprinkle of chest hair peeking above the collar. His golden skin was perfectly smooth, his blue eyes radiating warmth and sincerity even as his lips turned in that babyish pout that I’d once found so very kissable and attractive.
It took every ounce of willpower I had not to retreat into the bathroom and slam the door in his face. Every moment he hesitated gave my anger time to reheat, the dying ashes flaring up with newfound life and purpose. It took a great deal of effort to stand there, dripping and cold, waiting for him to spit out whatever he wanted to say without screaming at him to get out and leave me the hell alone.
“Shia, I really don’t want to fight with you this morning. I know you need to get home, so I wanted to offer you a ride. All I ask is that you promise to let me talk on the way. No interruptions, no fighting, just let me have my say. Agreed?”
“I’ll find a ride with somebody else,” I snarled, backing into the protection of the bathroom. Before I could shut the door, his voice cut through my angry haze, stopping me in my tracks.
“No one else will take you. I already asked. And unless you want to rent a moving truck, there are no car rentals for twenty miles. Do you really want to make Sara or Arnold drive all the way out here to come get you?”
I closed my eyes, baring my teeth as I fought the urge to shout something decidedly uncomplimentary back at him in response. He was right, of course. I knew Sara’s schedule; even if I managed to reach her, she was supposed to be on a surveillance gig this afternoon until midnight. She would miss her mark, and a big paycheck, if she didn’t stick to her agenda. There was little doubt that Chaz was right about no one else being willing to take me; he must have already investigated ways to get me home without causing a scene if he’d looked into car rentals.
“Fine,” I said quietly, unclenching my fist when I realized my nails were cutting into my palms again. “Give me a few minutes to get dressed and pack.”
He inclined his head graciously, smiling like there was nothing wrong between us, like he hadn’t destroyed every last salvageable facet of our relationship last night. “I’ll get the car warmed up. Meet me in the parking lot.”
The bathroom door slammed shut behind me.
Chapter 22
I didn’t pay a lot of attention to what Chaz said on the way back. He talked nonstop for half an hour, explaining as I stared out the window at the passing trees and houses that being changed into a werewolf did something to your hormones, made you need sex and violence like drugs. All