Chapter~32~Truth lies and the in-betweens.

Harley~

Perhaps against his better judgment, Nick leaves me alone in the car again. It's a wonder he looks almost as good going as he does coming. The way his ass fills those jeans starts a fire as I watch him until he enters the Bodega. My soul is singing the song of his admission of love for me as I close my eyes and rest my head on the rest. Although it had been a Freudian slip on Nick's part, I knew he meant it.

Beautiful pinks and yellows claim the sky as the sun sets, and a cool breeze blows off the bay. Not being able to resist, I leaned forward, turned the switch, and rolled down the windows. The pungent smell of diesel fuel from the bay also wafts through the car, silencing my soul song and snatching me back to reality; now I am fighting the door handle for release.

Nick calls my name as he returns to find me leaning out of the car seat and heaving. Only the goddess knows what he's thinking, probably that he's gotten himself in a mess with me. He puts the cupholder and bag on the hood and approaches my side of the car, pulling my hair back from my face as the episode subsides, and I rest my forehead on his chest.

"Deep breaths, baby," he coaches as he sits me upright in the seat. Once I am settled in, he gets back inside himself, sticks a straw in one cup, and hands it to me.

Embarrassment floods over me, and I give him a half-smile. "Thank you."

Nick takes the cup back and secures it in the holder, handing me a napkin. "Was that a memory thing?"

"Have you seen anything?"

"No, Harley, have you ever wondered if the hyperthermia stems from your guardian powers you don't understand?"

"Why would I, since I knew nothing about being a guardian? Do you think so?"

He hands me a French fry. "Eat this; the salt may help settle your stomach; I think it's possible."

The fry didn't stand a chance, and I gobbled it down. "Saturday, I will meet with a good friend of mine, Melinda Dancing Feather. She is a shaman of the Chusmash Native American tribe on the island. I think she can help me find the lake."

"How so?" He fed me another fry.

"Melinda specializes in vision quests; Lauren kept talking in riddles, and I need to understand what she meant."

That got me a curious look and raised eyebrow. "What sort of riddles?"

I hesitated, unsure if I should tell him anymore, but he had seemed to believe me before, so I carried on. "Lauren said all I had to do was follow my heart home and that my power was in the wind."

The look on his face said that my words were significant, but it disappeared. "It sounds like a mystery."

"I am hoping Melinda can help me sort it all out. Rae thinks it's a good idea, and I think it's worth a try."

Nick gets silent as we eat, and I feel his vibes change from easy peasy to on edge. He's thinking hard about something, reaching over, I run my fingers down his face. He smiles at me, and time stops for a moment.

"You look like you're lost over there, Nick."

"Harley, I have to confess something to you."

"Nick, you can tell me anything."

I'm looking at him, and his eyes are straight ahead. That's when I knew this was big.

"I am not an FBI agent. I'm quite the opposite, actually."

"What are you talking about? Of course you are!" I said, but then I didn't think he was kidding. It explained a lot; he knew little about being a cop.

"No, Harley, I was waiting for the right time to tell you, but it hasn't come. I'm a bounty hunter hired by your brother Kyle to keep Ian away from you. And I suspect the guardian came for the same reason. You must believe I did not know you were my mate until the night at McGilleys, or rather the morning after."

A wave of shock overtook me as I stared at Nick, remembering every time he'd pushed me on the family thing. He'd known all along that I was lying to him; I dropped my eyes from his to my lap.

"What's Kyle's gain in this?"

Nick lifts my chin with his fingers. "Nothing, Kyle only wants you to be safe."

Nothing could stop the tears that spilled from my eyes. "So where did you go?"

"Don't cry, Amante." He wipes the tears from my cheeks, only for them to be replaced. "I went to meet with Kyle. He gave me the file on Luccese; he thinks Ian is in deep with Lenorad."

"I'm sorry I lied to you, Nick, but it wasn't out of malice. The guardian told me my father had found me, but I didn't want to believe it."

Our conversation ends as the replacements pull into the spot beside us. Thankfully, they pull in on Nick's side. As he rolls down the windows to exchange pleasantries, I turn my tear-stained face away from them.

"We have seen no perpetrators, officers," Nick said.

Nick grinned at me like he'd just won first prize as we pulled away. "How was that?!"

"It was perfect, Wolfman."

We pulled into the parking lot of my apartment building and parked. "So, where do you want to go from here?"

"My apartment is on the second floor," I gave him a wink.

"That wasn't what I was asking. Your brother would like to hear your voice."

I nodded my head, and Nick pulled out his phone, dialed my brother's number, and handed the phone to me. Kyle answered on the second ring.

"Nick?" Kyle's voice sounds the same.

"No, Kyle, it's me," I say.

"Harley?! Are you ok?"

"I'm fine, Kyle. Nick is taking good care of me."

"That's why I sent him, and I want both of you to come home for a while when it is safe."

"It will never be safe for me in the pack. Do you know what Ian wants from me?"

"Yes, I do, but it isn't important. Just stick close to Nick and let him and me worry about Ian."

"I love you, brother."

"I love you back, sister; tell Nick I'll be in touch."

"Thank you, Nick."

He takes his phone back. "That's my job."