How to Flirt With a Naked Werewolf - Molly Harper [27]
It took a couple of stops and starts to explain what happened, but it took Buzz only a few minutes to arrive on my doorstep with his official law enforcement hat in place. He tried to stay calm and professional as he asked me those first few basic questions, then threw his arms around me in a crushing hug. Despite the horrific events of the night, I found myself chuckling into Buzz’s polyester uniform coat. I hadn’t realized he cared.
A pajama-clad Evie, who was supposed to be waiting in the truck, gently pushed Buzz aside and wrapped her arms around my neck. I blew past the lump in my throat, burying my good cheek against her warm skin, and felt better for it.
“Did you check the alley?” I asked Buzz when I finally came up for air.
“There was a little smear of blood, but you said you popped this guy in the nose pretty good, right?” He paused, and I nodded.
“But the wolf attacked him,” I said, my brows furrowing. “There should have been a lot of blood. And maybe some . . . parts.”
Buzz looked a little uncomfortable. “Mo, I didn’t see any tracks in the mud, anything to show that a wolf was there. And they don’t normally go all the way into town . . .”
“I’m not crazy,” I told him. “The wolf was there.”
“No one’s saying that, Mo. If you say the wolf was there, it was there,” Evie said gently, giving Buzz a stern look. “But why were you there all alone? Where was Ben?”
“Ben got sick, so I covered the rest of his shift. And Lynette was there, or at least she was until I looked up around ten and realized that she and Leonard had disappeared,” I grumbled. “I didn’t want to bother y’all, because I wanted to prove I could handle it. Obviously, I was wrong.”
“Next time, you call us,” Buzz said. “There’s a reason we don’t let people close up alone.”
I nodded, knowing that this wouldn’t be an issue, as I wasn’t going to think about closing alone again.
“I stopped by the motel. The clerk said one of the guests, a trucker named John Teague, matched your description. His stuff’s still in his room, but his rig’s gone,” Buzz told me. “He probably just took off. I called the state police, gave them his name and vehicle info. I’m going to need to send them your statement. And I’m going to need to take some pictures of those bruises and your face.”
I nodded, silent. Buzz was exceedingly gentle, asking Evie to take me into the bathroom with his Polaroid and get pictures of my face and neck. It was over in a few minutes. Evie quietly handed the pictures to Buzz, who put them in a sealed black plastic bag.
“A trooper might be stopping by tomorrow to talk to you,” Buzz said. “I can sit in if you want.”
I smiled, grateful.
“I’m going to call Dr. Gordon and have him drive in to the clinic to check you out,” Buzz said.
“I’m fine,” I protested. “Just a couple of scrapes and bruises. There’s no reason to wake him up.”
Evie shook her head. “Mo—”
“I said I’m fine,” I insisted.
Something in my voice must have convinced Evie that I was close to snapping. She sighed and pushed my hair out of my eyes. “I can stay with you tonight if you want.”
“No,” I told her. “Besides, Buzz needs you at home in case he has to brush his teeth or something.”
Laughing now, Buzz made a rude gesture with his bandaged hand.
“Well, take the morning off,” she said. “Believe it or not, we can run the place without you.”
“No, you can’t.” I laughed.