"Please," she added. "Leave us alone."

Jensen had the feeling that she knew what she was doing. "I can handle myself," she told them.

"It isn't you that we're worried about," Sebastian stated, and even with the lack of lighting, Jensen could

see that he was looking at him like he thought he was a degenerate.

Their reaction seemed a little over the top, given that they knew virtually nothing about him other than

that he'd been interested in Elizabeth, and then he'd showed up with another woman. While that had been stupid, it hardly merited being smashed, repeatedly, against the side of a barn.

He fought the urge to rotate his aching shoulder.

"You don't have to worry about me or him," she said. Then she added in a flat tone, "Both of you

should know, if anyone can handle a situation, it's me."

Jensen studied her, trying to decipher what her words and tone meant. She sounded ashamed. Was she ashamed of what had happened between them? Was she ashamed of her behavior? Because he'd be the first to remind her that he'd gone along with everything very, very willingly. In fact, he'd encouraged it.

Of course, saying anything like that in front of her irate brothers was akin to a death wish.

"Go!" she said again, the one word just a fraction of a decibel from a full-fledged yell.

"Elizabeth," Sebastian said, his tone almost coaxing.

"Don't. Don't do that," she warned him. Apparently that was a tone he'd used with her before. "I can

handle this."

The brothers hesitated, but then Christian finally nodded. "You call me if you need anything."

She nodded, not moving, still watching them as if she knew if she turned her back, they might not leave.

They both gave pointed looks at Jensen. Looks that clearly stated he was a dead man if Elizabeth ended

up hurt.

He didn't intend to hurt her.

As soon as they left, speeding away in a silver Porsche that easily cost as much as the bar Christian

owned, Jensen took a step toward Elizabeth.

She held up her hand to stop him, just as she'd done with her brothers. Again, he wished that the lights from the porch weren't behind her. He really wanted to see her face, to see her eyes.

"Jensen, why are you here?"

Chapter 14.

"Ihad to see you."

"Why? That blond woman seemed like she was nice. She-she suited you."

"She is nice," he agreed. He didn't agree that she suited him, however. Once he would have agreed that

she was his type. Now he realized his type had changed. He waited for Elizabeth to say something more, but she only stared at him, remaining still in a way that was unnerving. "Then I think you should go back to her. She would be good for you. A nice woman is what you need and deserve." "Well," Jensen took a step closer, keeping his movements slow and steady as if he were approaching a skittish animal, "I know another nice woman. And I'd really rather be with her."

Again she stared at him, but this time he didn't need to see her features to know what her expression was-disbelieving.

She spun and headed toward the house, her long legs moving her in a near trot across the gra.s.s. "Just go, too, Jensen," she called over her shoulder, not slowing her pace to see what he was doing. "You shouldn't have come."

He hurried after her, not catching up until she was on the steps to the porch. He snagged her arm, tugged her to a halt. Still she didn't turn to look at him. "Elizabeth," he said softly. "You know as well as I do, we seem powerless to stay apart." She stared down at the worn boards making up the porch stairs. "Please," her voice sounded huskier than usual. Tired. "I asked you to go away." "I can't," he said simply. "I just-can't." She remained still, not struggling against his hold, but not turning to him. Not letting him in.

"Elizabeth. Just tell me why you don't want to give us a chance."

She lifted her head then, and pulled in a deep breath. Slowly, she turned toward him. The light was still behind her, casting her features in shadow, but he could see her. He could see her beautiful moonstone eyes, her lush lips. And he could see she'd been crying. Redness rimmed her eyes, making her thick lashes more p.r.o.nounced. The sight made him feel like more of a cad. More selfish.

"Elizabeth," he said softly, stroking his thumb up and down the soft skin of her wrist. "I didn't mean to hurt you tonight."

Her eyes held his, and he could see emotions warring there.

"You should just go," she said again.

He didn't release her, he just continued to stroke her skin as if she were an agitated animal. She didn't pull away.

"I'm not that nice girl," she told him.

"I think you are."

"How can you possibly think that after the way I've acted around you? The ways I-I pursued you."

He smiled at that. "I found your pursuit particularly nice."

Her gaze left his, dropping to the ground, and he knew she was blushing, even though the d.a.m.ned light

wouldn't allow him to see it.

He still held her wrist, but with his other hand he touched her hair, brushing back the short tendrils that

clung to her temple.

"Elizabeth, I realize we don't know much about each other, aside from this strong attraction. But I do know I want the opportunity to find out more about you. Everything, if you let me."

She started to shake her head, but he cut off her motion by stating sharply, "If you decide that I'm not a person you could be interested in, then the next time you tell me to go away, I will. I will leave you alone forever. But I really think we have something here that we should check out."

She didn't respond immediately, and he could tell she was weighing the idea.

"Jensen, I'm not the right kind of girl for you."

She'd said that more than once, and for a moment, he wondered if she somehow knew about Katie.

Except she didn't know anyone he knew. She couldn't know about his deceased fiancee.

"I'd like to be the one who makes that decision," he informed her, then gave her a little smile.

Her gaze dropped to his lips just briefly, then snapped back to his eyes.

"I think you should just trust me on this. It will save you a lot of time."

His smile widened at her glum tone, but more than that, he smiled because he realized he was wearing her down. She wasn't saying, no, outright.

"Come on. We can date."

She lifted an eyebrow at that suggestion. "Can you go to dating after the things we've already done?"

"Absolutely. And we won't do those particular things again until we decide we actually do like each other."

Elizabeth glanced down, staring at the ground but not really seeing it. She had a hard time looking at Jensen, both because of her own embarra.s.sment, and the fact that she found his smile so appealing.

"You have to admit it's a rather backward way to start a relationship."

He shrugged. "Well, I don't think there's any right or wrong way. I just want the opportunity to get to know you."

She wanted that, too. She wanted to know him. But she wasn't sure he could ever know everything about her. Mina's words rang in her head. She couldn't control this. It was too powerful. And maybe he would understand.

She looked up at him, and again she was so tempted to just say, yes, she would date him. She'd do anything just to spend more time with him. And not have to see him with that other woman ever again.

But reality held her back. She could have him for a while. But she couldn't ever offer him anything long-term or permanent. Hiding the fact that she turned into a wolf once a month was feasible with a casual relationship, but she'd never be able to be with him as a wife or even live with him.

Not that she could be his wife, anyway. She was mated to another-that was the fact, even if she wished it wasn't so. And that wasn't fair to Jensen, either.

Still she gazed at him, seeing the hope in his green eyes. Seeing that adorable tilt to his lips, and she felt her own lips moving before she even realized what she intended to say.

"Okay."

Jensen's smile faded, and he narrowed a probing look at her. "Okay?"

What was she doing? She couldn't tell him that she would date him. The whole idea was ludicrous.

"Yes. Okay." Who the heck had control of her mouth and her brain?

Jensen rocked back on his heels and looked for all the world like he'd won the lottery. Which he had, if the lottery winnings were a female werewolf with a mate. That was more like a b.o.o.by prize, really.

Still he grinned at her, and she was lost. Lost and suddenly excited that she'd agreed to see him. Even though she knew it was doomed. What was wrong with her?

"So I think we should start tonight."

His words managed to pull her out of her confused thoughts. "Tonight?"

"Yes, I want to go back to your brother's bar."

"I don't think that is a good idea. My brothers aren't exactly fond of you at the moment."

Jensen rotated his shoulders slowly and stretched his back. "Yes, I noted that."

She frowned, immediately moving to his side, placing her hands on his shoulders to shift him around. He allowed her to, and stood still as she untucked his shirt, peeling it upward.

She gasped as she saw his back. The skin was already mottled with red and purplish bruises.

"Oh my G.o.d, Jensen," she whispered, heartbroken that he'd been hurt. Hurt over her at the hands of her brothers.

"I'm so sorry." She trailed her fingers lightly over the marks as if her touch could erase them.

After a few moments, Jensen stepped away from her, then cleared his throat. "I think maybe you should stop that, if we plan to have our first official date." She frowned, confused at first by his meaning. Had her touch caused him enough pain that he'd have to leave? Did he need medical attention?