Page 17 of Bloodbane

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Instant Karma

{ R U B Y }

Standing beside the truck, I eye the farmhouse apprehensively. There’s been ample opportunity to turn back, but now, suddenly standing here, uncertainty nibbles at my courage.

My leg keeps time to the silent beat of nervous energy pulsing through me as I twist Thayne’s scarf between my fingers. I stare down at the fabric as if it’s a magic eight ball, waiting for it to extol arcane, dime-store wisdom that will set me on the right path. But no signs are forthcoming, and the thought that Thayne could find me loitering outside starts me down the familiar road to a panic attack and forces me into motion.

I’m being ridiculous. I’m already here—on official police business, no less. Well, with a side of personal business, but two birds, one stone. I wrap the scarf around my neck and stride purposefully toward the front door. The lingering scent of Thayne that teases my nose is worth the extra heat to my skin.

The icy trim on the faded crimson roof of the sprawling farmhouse paints a beautiful picture, but after a night spent pacing and then perched on the world’s most uncomfortable chair, I’m tired and sore and could do without the picturesque view. The fresh snow makes the trek more difficult on my already aching limbs, and by the time I reach the house, my body is heavy with fatigue.

It’s almost enough for me to regret not choosing bed instead.

I stamp my feet as I ascend the wooden steps, doing my best to loosen the packed snow from my boots before I get to the landing. On the last step, the door swings open before I can knock.

“Ruby.”

I gape up at Thayne. “Were you just hanging out at the front door hoping for visitors, or did my stomping give the game away?”

“Would you believe a little of both? I was waiting for someone else, but I can’t lie and say I’m not happier than I should be that you showed up instead.”

Thayne’s dazzling smile makes my breath catch. I cough to cover the reaction as he ushers me inside.

With a grateful smile, I sag into the chair he pulls out for me. “Sorry, I should have called before showing up on your doorstep. If this is a bad time—”

Thayne waves the question away before I can finish it. “You’re welcome here anytime. I was going to call you, but I only have the station’s number. It didn’t feel appropriate to use it for a personal invitation.” He shrugs a broad shoulder casually and sinks into the chair beside me, but there’s a hint of pink emerging from the V-neck of his shirt.

“Is that your subtle way of asking me for my number?”

I fish a business card from my pocket and slide it across the table. When warm, calloused fingers land on mine, I freeze. My eyes snap to Thayne’s face, but his gaze is on our joined hands. The feather-light touch sends goosebumps shivering up my spine. An eternity passes in a minute before the large hand slides off mine, nudging my fingers apart and pressing into the newly created space between them. There’s another pause before he slides the card from under my hand. He lifts the glossy card, frowning as he examines it.

“Mechanic?”

“Ah, yeah. My day job. It’s a long story, but my personal number is on the back. Now you can get a hold of me whenever you like.”

Thayne runs his thumb over the sharp edge of the card, his eyes narrowing and tracing the number scrawled on the back slowly, as if committing it to memory. “Thank you.” He finally meets my eyes as he slips the card into his shirt pocket. “I’d offer you one in return, but…” he splays his hands wide.

“But there’s little point when I could run a full background check?”

“Haven’t you done that already?”

“Why would I? You’re not a suspect. Besides, I prefer to get people’s stories from the source, not read them on a printout, Mr. Smith.” I wrinkle my nose. “You know, that really doesn’t suit you.”

“Yeah, I remember. Not Lumberjacky enough,” Thayne recalls with a chuckle. “You never did say what you were expecting it to be, though.”

“I don’t know… Pine?”

Thayne’s smile crinkles his amber eyes. “Solid choice. I definitely should have gone with that instead of Smith.”

I lean forward, cupping my hands on the table. “Wait, you picked Smith? It’s not a family name?”

Thayne’s smile fades. “The orphanage saddled me with Doe. It was a constant reminder of a time I’d rather forget. When I came of age, I wanted a clean slate. Smith seemed a fitting choice.”

The connection twisting me up in knots tightens as empathy floods me. “Makes sense. I didn’t grow up in an orphanage, but I know what it’s like to have… an alternate childhood. It’s one thing to survive it, but escaping it is harder than just running away.” Thayne’s fingers twitch on the table, reaching out before curling back in on themselves, as if wanting to reach out but changing his mind. I fold my hands into my lap, trying to convince myself I’m not disappointed. “I’m glad you decided to keep Thayne. It suits you. If you’d changed it to Chad or something, I’d have to deduct cool lumberjack points.”

Thayne’s laugh mixes with mine before shared amusement gives way to comfortable silence. We sit like that for several moments until Thayne’s deep voice finally fills the void.

“Your emergency from yesterday… did it turn out alright? You seemed pretty distraught when you left.”

“It was touch and go there for a bit, but I think everything will be okay.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, there’s a sinking sensation in my stomach, and I have the irrational fear that I’ve just tempted the universe into proving me wrong. I drum my fingers on my thighs. “Thayne, this may be an unusual question, but have you noticed any sick wolves around here? Or wolves displaying any odd behavior at all?”

Thayne shifts in his chair, sitting up a little straighter.

“Define odd.”

“Different to what is usual or expected: strange, peculiar, bizarre,” I rattle off before stowing my innate nonchalant facade. “There was an attempted attack last night at a residence not far from here. With you being so close to the forest, I thought you might have noticed something out of the ordinary.”

“Last night?” Thayne’s shoulders relax slightly. “No, I haven’t seen anything like that. Attacks on humans are rare, but not unheard of. Maybe it was just a case of wrong place, wrong time?”

“Generally, I’d agree with you, but this is the second occurrence in under a week. I had a run-in with a few myself out on the lake.”

“There were wolves involved?” The confusion clouding Thayne’s face clears as he reaches out to grab hold of my arm. “That’s how you got hurt, isn’t it? You were there. Did you see anything?”

My focus is momentarily fixed on the burning heat of Thayne’s hand, and it takes me a full minute to process the rapid-fire questions. “Uh, yes to the first two, unsure for the third. It was lights out not long after I arrived, so your cousins were either there and I didn’t see them, or they arrived after I was knocked out.” My fingers itch to rub at the wound on my temple, but no longer protected by a dressing, I know it’s best left untouched.

“Who knocked you out?”

“Less who, more what. Somehow my head met my truck door and came out on the losing side.”

“And you think the wolves…“

“I don’t know how it happened. I wish I did. Maybe I tripped? I am clumsy. Or maybe I was pushed…“ My mind conjures an image of Arlo shoving me into the truck, but it feels less like a memory and more like a mental construct. I shrug. “In any case, given my experience with the wolves is no longer an isolated incident, we have to investigate. They could be rabid, but—”

“Infected wolves usually travel alone,” Thayne finishes, lifting his hand from my arm to prop it under his chin as he cocks his head, considering.

I nod, delighted by the keen interest filling his eyes. It’s a world away from the glazed-over expressions I typically receive when I start analyzing things out loud. “Exactly. So it could be a different contagion, or problem with their food source—humans must look like soft, squishy snacks to a starving wolf.”

“When are you going out to try and find them?”

“First thing in the morning if the weather holds.” I twist my fingers together on the cool tabletop. “But, ah, the thing is… I’m not all that eager to repeat the three-on-one wolfy showdown if it comes to it. So, I was thinking, given the size of you, you’re certainly worth at least one, maybe even two of our Canis Lupus friends, and, uh, I wouldn’t say no to some quality lumberjack company if you’re up to it.”

Thayne straightens and gives me an assessing look long enough to make me squirm in my seat. His free hand falls to the table where his fingers draw lazy patterns on the polished wood. “Are you looking for a bodyguard or asking me on a date?”

“Umm… Either? Or both?” I fumble spectacularly, all at once incredibly flustered. Having been unprepared for anything other than a polite acceptance or soul-crushing rejection, I’m suddenly off-balance. “I, um, I guess it would depend on your answer.”

“To give a considered answer, I’ll need clarification on the question,” Thayne counters carefully.

“Right, yeah, of course,” I stall before hedging my bets. “I would appreciate the extra set of eyes, and I’m happy to cut you a check for your services if you could spare the time. And if that’s all you’re interested in, that’s fine, that would be great—super helpful, actually. But, uh, maybe we could spend a little more time together after, I mean, if you want to, that is…” Despite my racing heart, my tongue feels stupidly sluggish in my mouth. “I might be able to rustle up some muffins from the cafe, and if you wear your plaid shirt, you could take it off for us to use as a blanket so we can have a little post-investigation picnic when we’re done…”

Thayne’s mouth tugs down at the corners, and panic sends icy fingers wrapping around my throat, choking off my babbling. He looks exactly three seconds away from declining my invitation with ‘ It’s not you, it’s me .’ I have obviously, completely, and idiotically misread this whole situation. Thayne is probably asking me to clarify my intentions to let me down gently. And isn’t that instant karma? This is the universe chastising me for almost kissing Grayson this morning and asking Thayne out on a date only hours later. The looming rejection has my cheeks burning in anticipation. I open my mouth, to say what, I have no idea, but Thayne’s answer saves me from myself.

“I’d like that.”

Shock freezes my mouth open—and I bet that’s an attractive look—for a good five seconds before I manage to snap it closed, swallow my surprise as discretely as I can manage, and remember how to form words. “Y-you would? Which part?”

“Don’t worry about the check, the picnic will be payment enough, though I think you’re overestimating the size of my shirt.”

Relief rushes from me in a shaky laugh. “I think you’re underestimating the size of you and the sheer yardage required to cover all of—” I gesture to Thayne’s chest “—that.” I dart my tongue over suddenly dry lips. “Listen, Thayne…”

“Smith, your stupid truck is refusing to start again.” The melodic voice enters the room before the redhead it belongs to. “I tried to—ah.” The woman pauses, her shrewd gaze narrowing. “Sorry to interrupt, Tee. I didn’t realize you were having a play-date.”

“Ash,” Thayne growls, though the gruff edges are softened with long-suffering affection that I recognize well. It’s the same tone I reserve for Coop.

“Where are your manners, Smith? It’s customary to introduce people after awkward interruptions.” The redhead leans against the door frame, a smirk twisting the corner of her lips.

“Ash, this is Ruby. Ruby, this is Ash; best friend and biggest pain in my ass.”

Ash’s head whips toward Thayne, sending her curls dancing prettily. “Ruby? The Ruby?”

The fresh flush creeping up Thayne’s neck—much more vibrant than earlier—shouldn’t be so attractive, and I shouldn’t be fighting the urge to reach out and check the temperature of it. I clear my throat and turn to Ash. “I don’t know about the Ruby, but definitely a Ruby.”

“I was telling Ash about your attempted murder yesterday,” Thayne explains, eyes resolutely fixed on the table.

“Mhm. Among other things, like how good you—” Ash breaks off as Thayne’s head jerks up, staring at her with stormy eyes full of silent threats. She has the good grace to look slightly contrite.

A thrill runs through me. I’m not sure anyone’s deemed me worthy of being discussed in that way—at least, I hope it’s in that way, even if it means Thayne’s discomfort is so extreme it’s almost another physical entity in the room. I duck my head while I wrangle my lips back into a neutral line.

“How good you are at your job,” Thayne finishes pointedly.

Face suitably reset, I meet Thayne’s gaze. “Speaking of jobs, you know temperamental machinery is my bread and butter. I’m happy to take a look at your truck if it’s giving you trouble.”

“That would be so amaz—” Ash starts.

“So unnecessary,” Thayne cuts in. “But thank you for the offer.”

Ash rolls her eyes. “I’m sure you’ve learned this already, but our boy here is terrible at accepting help. But Thayne, don’t you think Ruby would look so pretty bent over a hood? All greasy and sweaty and ready to—”

Thayne’s sudden surge to his feet interrupts Ash’s playful ribbing, and before I can say a word, a large hand wraps around my wrist, and I’m pulled to my feet as well. My body follows the forward momentum as Thayne tugs me out of the kitchen, through the family room, and out the back door. It slams shut, cutting off Ash’s musical laughter chasing us from the room.