Dunc had tried to deny it since she moved in. But he had settled into a state of comfortable happiness ever since Amanda moved to the neighborhood. He did not want her to move. Just having that feeling nearby, even though he could never act on, it was comforting. As long as she lived next door, there would always be a tiny sliver of opportunity. Yet he knew he should not cling to it if her life ended up being in danger. She needed to be safe. That was more important than being happy.
Dunc sighed and sat up, running a hand over his face. He was far too ugly to be loved by a human. This was also what terrified him about Amanda. That certain rejection. She wasn’t serious. She was playing with him.
But she had felt so warm in the brief moments she was in his arms. Amanda had touched him without hesitation. She had hugged him. She smelled so good. Then he remembered his shirt. Dunc bounced up to retrieve it off the dresser and pressed it to his face, inhaling. Scent held so much information. Being able to smell her after all these months shot an unusual sensation down his spine. The best part of it was that the shirt had been off of her before that Joseph jerk showed up. There was no fear scent. It was all relaxed and a few other perplexing scents that were exciting. Lycans lived by smell, and Amanda was an open book.
Chapter 3
A manda couldn’t help but cry herself to sleep that night. Every night afterward was the same. She didn’t tell Dew or Sallie what had happened. She called her contact in the police department to let them know that Joseph knew where she lived. As usual, they recorded the incident and told her to call if he got into her house.
For days she was on edge. She hid in her house and tried to go on like everything was normal. She was too embarrassed to talk to Dunc. She began working out again, preparing for the inevitable. Amanda could defend herself, but Joseph was more physically imposing than she was. He was stronger, faster, and vicious. His bloodline gave him physical enhancements that normal men did not have. He was a coward, but he chose the battles he had to fight and surrounded himself with more capable men.
Yet Amanda had far more abilities than he had. She possessed untold power within herself, which needed to keep in check unless under extraordinary circumstances. They were best used out in the open, not in the confines of her home.
Dew and Sallie spent a lot of time next door when they weren’t working. They always told Amanda that Dunc asked about her and that she was welcome to join them. In the back of Amanda’s mind, she knew she couldn’t take the chance of Joseph spying on her and seeing her at Dunc’s house. Staying away from him was the safest for both of them.
It was an overwhelming thing to have so much power and feel so vulnerable. Amanda would defend herself with everything she had. The bigger problem was when the attack would come. Joseph knew what she could do, and he would come prepared. This might even be part of his plan. Amanda was exhausted.
***
Dunc was sulking more than usual. Dunc’s mother smiled and sat across from him, drinking a cup of tea. Usually, when she called him to join her, he would converse about work and this or his latest book idea. Sometimes he would bring his mother some cute little piece of fan mail he had received. He usually used it to suggest she had grandchildren all over the world.
“Dunc, why don’t you go over to Amanda’s house and invite her over for dinner tonight?” His mother was smiling at him like she was up to something. It was a familiar smile. “I think she likes you.”
“No, mother. Not a good idea.” Dunc dismissed the suggestion. “I don’t even see the point in it.”
“You’ve had a crush on that girl since she moved in.”
“I have not.”
“I saw the way you were looking at her.”
“Mother. Please.” Dunc buried his head in his hands. “She’ll find out.”
“You can go your entire life without her finding out, and you know it.” His mother was persistent and had a point. “I kept it from your father.”
“Oh yes, until I ruined that.” Dunc groaned and threw his arms and legs out to sink further into his chair.
“You did not ruin anything, Dunc.”
“Dad died because of me.” Dunc mumbled.
“He did not. I don’t know why you keep telling yourself that. That’s not what happened.”
“That’s how I remember it. Please drop it, Mom.”
“Go invite her for dinner, or I will.” There was a hint of threat in his mother’s voice. “And I’ll do it on your birthday and tell her what day it is so, so she’ll be sure to fuss over you!”
“Mother!” Dunc sank further into his chair.
***
“My mother would like to know if you would come over for dinner tonight. She’s making lasagna.” Dunc stood on Amanda’s porch in front of her closed door, talking to himself. “Would you like to come over tonight for dinner? We’re having lasagna?” He repeated it several more times.
***
“Hey, Amanda. Dunc’s standing on the porch talking to himself. He’s so weird.” Sallie glanced through the side window and was watching him through the blinds. Amanda was sitting
