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The sunsetwasbreathtaking tonight, but she was more so. He found himself watching her more than the sky. She didn’t seem to notice, or didn’t mind if she did. And as she worked, she got chatty—asking him questions, throwing out fun facts about the park, reminiscing about other photo shoots. He responded when appropriate, but mostly he just watched and listened, enjoying her obvious delight. For a few moments, at least, she was her old self. Sparkling and bubbly. And, oh, so beautiful—not that she’d ever ceased being that. But her unbounded joy combined withthe kiss of the setting sun on her fiery hair made him more aware of it than he’d ever been before.

He slipped his phone from his pocket and aimed it at her, clicking a few photos as she turned toward him, a radiant smile on her face.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing.” He grinned and slid the phone back into his pocket.

“Uh-huh.” Her lips twitched as she returned her attention to her camera.

When the last remnants of the sunset’s brilliance had faded to the somber blue of twilight, Allye turned to him, wistfulness in her expression. “I guess that’s that.”

“You took a lot of pictures.”

“Yeah, I always take more than I think I’ll need. Especially with the changing colors of a sunset, you never know which will be ‘the one.’” She shrugged and gave him a sly grin. “Of course, I’m not limited to just one.”

“How can you even choose?”

“It’s not easy sometimes,” she admitted. She turned her gaze back to the darkening sky. “Looks like it’ll be a clear night. Wonder if we’ll have a full moon. That would make for some excellent photos too—a bright shining moon reflecting off the water.”

“You aren’t scared of werewolves?” He tilted his head.

A mischievous smile lit her face. “Not with a big strong detective by my side.”

“You trust me to protect you? Against werewolves?”

“Of course.” She tapped her camera. “And I’d take lots of pictures. Think of what the newspapers would pay for those kind of photos.” She stepped toward him and mimed tracing a headline. “Man Defeats Werewolf in One-on-One Fight.”

“Oh, so you’re not even going to try to help me?”

Her eyes widened, and she blinked in mock surprise. “You’d need help?”

He threw his head back and laughed. Her giggle turned into a snort and made him laugh harder.

When his eyes fixed on hers again, only a hint of merriment remained there. She was staring at him with an intense longing and ... sadness?

He closed the remaining space between them. Tucked a wayward curl behind her ear. She placed a hand over the spot he’d touched, her eyes never leaving his.

“For you, I’d fight off an army of werewolves.” The words were ridiculous. But he meant them. And she didn’t laugh. Her eyes fluttered shut, her lips parting as she swayed toward him.

And then he was kissing her. She was kissing him.

It was sweet and beautiful and terrifying—all wrapped together.

When their lips parted, her wide-eyed gaze met his. Neither of them had been expecting that.

“I, uh—” He took a step back, hoping the distance would help him clear his head. “I should get you home. It’ll be dark soon.” Something flickered in those big green eyes, but she only nodded. She readjusted her glasses with trembling hands, then turned to collect her equipment.

A gunshot split the silence.

Eric dove for Allye as her camera exploded mere inches from her fingertips.

27

Allye screamed.

Before she had time for any other reaction, Eric plowed into her. She hit the ground hard. The breath whooshed from her lungs.

Eric covered her body with his. “Stay still,” he whispered.