his eyes to find his nephew bending over him. Wyn’s face was pale, his features creased with deeply-etched lines of worry.
“It’s morning, Caleb. No more full moon for another twenty-nine days. Here.” He held out a blue robe. “Put this on. I have some water for you.”
“I–” He couldn’t get anything further past his lips, his mouth dry, soiled by blood. Somewhere during the night he must have bitten his tongue. Dazed, he glanced around the room needing to assure himself there was no evidence of destruction. Bruises and scrapes he could live with, but harming someone else was unthinkable.
Wyn helped hold a plastic water bottle steady while he took a greedy swallow, the splash of cold liquid against his parched throat pure heaven. Another night had passed, the full moon claiming his soul. And still the barrier of steel, silver and limestone had held. Shakily, he latched onto his nephew’s forearm. “Winston–”
“It’s over. Let me help you upstairs.”
Too weak to protest, Caleb consented to the aid, pulling on the robe. After three years it had become a familiar routine, but he still felt shamed by his nakedness and vulnerability, grim reminders he wasn’t wholly human.
He was tainted. Debased.
“I’ll be fine after I sleep,” he mumbled.
Sleep gave him strength, reasserted his humanity. It put everything in perspective for another twenty-nine days until the next full moon. Caleb knew he was going to be hard pressed to appear natural to Arianna later that night. Agreeing to a date so soon after his transformation hadn’t been the brightest thing he’d ever done.
But there was no going back.
Chapter 8
Arianna frowned at her reflection. Why was she making such a fuss over her appearance? It wasn’t like she wanted to impress Caleb. She’d only agreed to the date as payback for his arrogance over the tire. If she had any sense at all, she’d show up looking like she’d just crawled out of bed.
Except, if she were honest, she wanted him to find her attractive if for no other reason than to refuse his advances. Which was why she’d taken care to match a form-flattering pair of periwinkle capris with heeled sandals and a flirty butternut blouse. She left her hair loose, flowing to her shoulders, gold hoop earrings her only jewelry.
Snatching her brush from the bedroom dresser, she gave her hair a final sweep. The outfit would do. She was halfway to Weathering Rock before she admitted she was nervous. The last three days had passed in a breeze of planning for Lauren’s party, leaving little time for much else. Now, as she drew closer to the ancient home, she fixated on Caleb, wondering what it would be like to kiss him.
God, she was such an idiot!
Where the hell did that thought come from? So what if he was good-looking and had a smoldering old-fashioned personality? He’d told his brother to slash her tire. What kind of sick, controlling person did that?
The sun was sinking toward the horizon when she pulled up the drive at Weathering Rock. The fading light cast long shadows over the grass and drew eddies of tangerine and gold from the front windows. The house looked different during the day, its three-story height imposing. She hadn’t considered it closely when she’d left Saturday morning, but now realized a series of lightning rods jutted from the roof. They varied in size, some ornate and engraved with elaborate scrollwork, others plain. It made her think of the ball lightning she and Caleb had seen and how reluctant he’d been to acknowledge it.
She parked at the top of the drive and left her car under a leafy maple. The air was ripe with aromatic scents of summer and evening. Squelching her anxiety, she walked up the steps to the front porch and pressed the doorbell.
“Arianna.” Caleb smiled when he answered the door, his silver-blue eyes kindled by natural warmth. “It’s good to see you.” He stepped aside, making room for her to enter. “Please, come in.”
“Thank you.”
She brushed past him, catching the subtle hint of his aftershave, and the cleaner, lighter scent of soap as if he’d recently showered. He was dressed rather formally in gray trousers and a black button-front shirt open at the throat. The contrast against his white-gold hair was a striking combination of shadow and light. However much she wanted to pretend otherwise, she couldn’t deny her attraction.
“Is Wyn joining us?”
“No. He had business in Sagehill and won’t be returning until late.”
Caleb shut the screen door, but left the interior open for ventilation. She’d noticed on her first visit that central air was one amenity Weathering Rock lacked; the old home probably was not structured for ductwork.
“Something smells goods,” she commented, catching a tantalizing blend of aromas wafting from the kitchen.
“I’m afraid I’m not a very good cook. Fortunately Winston has a dinner service.” Caleb slipped his hand beneath her arm and escorted her down the hallway. “I thought since the weather is pleasant, we’d dine outside. I hope you don’t mind. I, uh…” He grimaced. “Have been feeling closed in lately.”
She studied him and realized his face was drawn, creased with shadow and heavy lines of fatigue. Another headache?
“Outside is fine.” She secretly enjoyed his presence beside her, and the feel of his fingers around her arm. She thought about drawing away, but what was the harm in accepting the attentions of an attractive man? And there was no question that Caleb–sick or not–was attractive. Damn attractive.
“This way.” Caleb held the rear door, allowing her to step onto the back porch.
She blinked, startled by the sight that greeted her.
White wicker furniture with overstuffed pillows had been grouped around a coffee table of glass and rattan to form an inviting sitting area. Potted plants and hanging baskets overflowing with colorful blooms added a touch of whimsy to the sprawling veranda. Further away, a glass table with a white wicker base had been set with a dinner service for two.
“This is…” Arianna paused, looking at the blush-colored china, elegant stemware and white taper candles in crystal holders. There was even a vase of freshly cut roses, the creamy pink blooms likely snipped from the bushes on the side of the house. “Lovely.” She had not expected him to do anything so elaborate and wasn’t certain if the romantic setting had been intentional or merely the result of his old-fashioned gentility.
“I hoped you’d like it.” Caleb moved to a small table where a bottle of wine nestled in an ice bucket. He worked a corkscrew into the top of the bottle. “Can I offer you a drink?”
“Please.” She set her purse aside. Part of her was tempted to ask why he didn’t bother with one of the newer bottle openers available, but decided the antiquated corkscrew fit his personality. She liked the way it exaggerated the play of muscle up his arm and across his shoulders as he yanked the cork free.
Noticing her interest, he grinned. “See something you like?”
Arianna flushed. “What makes you think I’d be interested?”
“I don’t know.” He turned away to pour wine into two long-stemmed
