Shan cleared his throat. He still wasn’t looking at her. “They would want proof.”
Was he worried that he’d have to take off his sunglasses in front of the kids? Not that the campers would care in the slightest, but Shan himself was obviously sensitive about his appearance.
“That’s easy enough. Rufus can vouch for us. He’ll be able to tell we’re not lying.” She stopped, belatedly realizing the real issue. “Oh. There’s a problem. If they know we’re not mates, they don’t have any reason to try to keep you at camp.”
Shan opened his mouth, then paused, as though needing a moment to readjust whatever he’d been about to say. “You believe they would confess to inventing the ghost sighting?”
“Beth and Finley are both honest kids. They must both be eaten up with guilt about lying in the first place, even if they thought it was for a good reason. The instant they can come clean, they will.”
“And then they would expect me to leave,” Shan said slowly.
“And when you didn’t, they’d realize you’re here to investigate something else. It wouldn’t take long for them to figure out the details. And then we’re right back at the situation we were trying to avoid, with kids haring into the woods in search of ghosts.”
“Could we ask them to keep it to themselves?”
“I know Archie and Estelle. Those two can’t resist an adventure. If thereisanything in the woods, you can bet they’d go looking for it.” She hesitated, face heating. “Um, given the circumstances, would you be willing to, ah… let the kids think they’re right? About you and me, I mean.”
Shan stiffened. “I cannot pretend to be your fated mate.”
“No, no! Nothing like that.” Oh God, she must be bright red. “I’m not saying we actually have to fake date or anything. But could you just… I don’t know, watch me whenever I’m not looking, or make a point of standing as close as possible? Itwouldn’t take much to make the kids think you’re secretly pining over me.”
Shan didn’t answer straight away. He stared into the dying fire, flames reflecting from his sunglasses. She couldn’t interpret his expression at all.
“Yes,” he said at last. “I can do that.”
CHAPTER 11
The next morning passed in a blur. Most of the kids went down to the lake to swim, but Spencer refused, muttering that he didn’t have goggles with his special prescription. Shan was grateful, as it gave him an excuse to stay at the cabin to keep the boy company, and thus avoid the sight of Leonie in swimwear.
They passed the time playing chess. After thrashing him three times in quick succession, Spencer retreated to read a physics textbook in offended silence. There was no way Shan could explain to the boy that he had not, in fact, been letting him win. It was hard to concentrate on even simple strategy with a far more difficult problem occupying his mind.
It should have been so simple. All he’d had to do was avoid Leonie and live the rest of his life in unrelenting misery. How had things gone so wrong, so quickly? How was he supposed to pretend to pretend that they were mates, without either her or the kids ever suspecting the truth?
By the time the rest of the pack came back for midmorning snack break, damp and smiling, he was no closer to an answer. He brooded over the problem as heherded them all to a picnic table and distributed cookies and juice.
Estelle eyed the two cookies still left on the plate. “Don’t you want yours, Shan?”
He shook his head. “I am not hungry.”
It was true. There was no hint of the usual raking cramps in his abdomen. No distracting emptiness; no aching need.
That worried him most of all.
His monster lurked at the bottom of his soul, silent and still. It wasn’t precisely satisfied—it never was—but he had a sense of watchful ease. It was the calm patience of a predator waiting at a watering hole, secure in the knowledge that the prey would come.
He only had himself to blame for that. He shouldn’t have told Leonie the kids knew who he was. For her own protection, it would have been far safer to let her continue to puzzle over their motivations for inventing the ghost story.
But she cared for those kids, deeply and fiercely. He couldn’t let her worry. Not when he could ease her mind.
He clenched his jaw, trying to ignore his monster’s smug anticipation. He’d have to be more careful in future. He couldn’t afford any more mistakes.
His gaze strayed to where Leonie was talking with a few other counselors out of earshot of any kids. As if sensing his eyes on her, she glanced over her shoulder. He quickly turned his head, pretending to be focused on the campers so she wouldn’t catch him staring?—
Except… hecouldstare at her now, couldn’t he?
Cautiously, he let himself turn back to her. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Estelle nudge Beth, jerking her chin in his direction. There was a distinct outbreak of muffled giggles.
Leonie must also have noticed their covert audience,because her smile widened. She gave him a tiny nod of approval before turning back to her conversation.
