Laney and Hunter (4th in werewolf series)

Chapter Four

Two days had passed since Hunter had last seen Laney and he was more miserable than he could ever remember being in his life. He couldn't close his eyes without seeing her beautiful smile or hearing her gentle laugh. Fate was a cruel thing. He had come here to try to make peace with a part of his father's past and had instead met a woman who had him so tied up in knots he couldn't even think straight.

He was glad that she had not contacted him since that day at the park. He didn't know if he would have the strength to stay away from her if she came after him.

He was laying on the bed with the curtains drawn to keep the morning sun off his face when the phone beside his bed rang. He sat up quickly and looked at it warily.

Answering that phone was like playing Russian roulette. Sure it could be a wrong number. Some complete stranger who had dialed his number on accident but there was one person who knew he was here. And if it was her on the other end of that line that would be like a bullet straight through the last of his defenses.

It rang ten times before whoever was calling hung up. Hunter cursed himself for being a coward and laid back down. His head no sooner hit the pillow and the shrill ring of the phone filled the room again.

He stood up, grabbed his hat of the dresser and walked out the door letting it slam behind him.

888

Laney hung up the phone and fought the tears that were threatening to pour from her eyes. She had always seen tears as a waste of time and energy. They never solved anything and yet for the last two days she had done little else.

She heard a knock on her bedroom door and ran her hand through her dark curls.

"Come in." she said. The door opened and she smiled when her grandpa walked in carrying two cups of cappuccino. He walked over to the bed and handed her one before sitting down next to her.

Laney knew he was going to talk to her about Hunter. Over the last two days it seemed like everyone in her family had tried to offer advice or sympathy. Her father had even asked her if she wanted him to kill Hunter and she had hugged him tighter than she had in years.... Coming from her father those were words of love.

"How are you, Laney?" Charles asked. Laney offered him a smile. She could tell he was unsure of what to say or how to act but she loved him for trying.

"I'll be ok." she replied. He nodded.

"I don't doubt that. You are a tough girl." he said. She took a drink of her cappuccino and he picked at the comforter on her bed.

"So what is going on with this Hunter guy?" he asked. She sighed and gripped her cup with both hands.

"He wants me. He might even love me but he says that he can't be with me." she said.

"Well why the hell not?" Charles asked. Laney knew that he had probably already heard the story several times but she was blessed with a grandpa who cared enough about her to want to talk to her.

"I don't really understand it myself. Something about he is a good man now but his father was an evil vampire and he's afraid that one day he'll turn into what his father was." she replied. Charles nodded.

"And being your mother's daughter you are determined to save him from himself." he said.

"Mom helped you a lot didn't she? Back when you were lost." Charles smiled.

"Yes she did. She likes to tell me that she didn't do much. She says she just cut through my bullshit. And I guess that really is what she did. She made me open my eyes."