Carl paced the kitchen floor while Jordan unloaded the groceries. "Jordan, Diana smells dangerous."
Jordan gave him a disgusted look. "That's rude, Carl."
Carl paused and looked up. "No, really," Carl rubbed his hand through his golden hair. "I can smell things in a way I can’t explain, ever since that first transformation."
Jordan shuddered and stopped with the groceries. "You mean to tell me that you can smell me, too?"
"Yes, of course, I can." Carl stopped pacing for a moment. "I didn't know what it was at first, but now it's part of you, like your face, or your voice."
Jordan pressed the heels of a hand against his forehead and turned away. "Jesus, Carl! Why did you have to tell me! That's... unnatural. I don't suppose showering helps?" He glanced at Carl as he lowered his hand.
"For a minute or two." He walked over and put a hand on Jordan's shoulder. "Come on – it's not all that horrid. Actually, you smell quite... well, good, I suppose. Not so much as a woman does, but much better than the horse!" Carl grinned.
"Well, that cheers me right up." Jordan swung out from under Carl’s hand and left abruptly, passing Diana on his way out.
Carl frowned and began to pace again, shaking his head, averting his eyes quickly as Diana walked in the door.
Diana looked behind at where Jordan had been a moment ago. "What's wrong with Jordan? He looks sick."
Carl looked up at her with his most charming smile. "I couldn't tell you." Which was true, technically. "He's not in a pleasant mood very often," he said, dismissing the incident.
Diana focused her long-lashed eyes on Carl. "That's strange. He's got quite a... dry sense of humor."
Carl considered her words for a moment, then shrugged. "So, tell me more about your task here." He leaned back against the counter and crossed one ankle over the other.
Diana started opening and closing cupboards.
Jordan won't be too happy about that, Carl thought as he watched her.
Diana answered blithely, "I made your father an offer he couldn’t refuse. I can turn $500,000 worth of property and an equal investment in cash into millions of annual revenues by developing the property into an eco-tourism resort.”
Carl watched her methodically search through the kitchen. “Why would wealthy people drive all the way up Highway 2 when they can go to Aspen and have prime shopping with their nature experience?”
“Where they drive all the way up Highway 82 and don’t get the chance to feel like they’re making a positive difference.” Diana’s lucid blue eyes measured him with condescension. She had found a bag of pretzels and pulled them down. “Mind if I have some?”
With a nod at the pretzels, knowing he'd receive several rounds of verbal abuse from Jordan, Carl answered, "But there’s already infrastructure there.”
"There wasn’t when it was built." Various locks of her hair brushed her shoulders as she shook her head, a wry smile forming. "Carl, trust me, I’ve researched the feasibility already. It will work. I’ve checked it all out. I just need more specifics, like an inventory of the species that can be seen on the property, some quotes from local construction companies, things like that."
Carl watched her fingers and lips almost tease the small pretzels into her mouth, then realized he was staring. "Why don't I take you to the library.” He led her, the bag still in her hand, toward the far corner of the house. “That’s as good a place as any to start. You’ll probably want to go into Seattle tomorrow to meet with local businesses. And with traffic being what it is, it would probably be best if you just stay there in a hotel tonight. Why don’t I have Jordan take you in? I’ll get you a room.”
Diana grabbed his arm and pulled him around, frowning. “Don’t be ridiculous,” she chided. “I’ve got to check out the lay of the land first and have my numbers ready before I ask for quotes.”
“But surely…”
She gave him a calculating look. “You don’t want me here.”
“No, no, that’s not it. I just have some business to take care of tonight.”
“And I would be in the way?” She frowned.
“Well, to be honest, yes, you would,” Carl tried to think of a more compelling reason to get her out. He would be transforming again tonight, and he and Jordan would have to change the routine completely if he couldn’t persuade her to go.
“Live with it. I told your father I’d get here, get the job done, and get out. That’s what I plan to do. If you have a problem with that, talk to your father.” She turned away from him and walked into the library, where she stood seemingly stupefied for several moments as she gazed up at row after row of books from all eras and subjects. Her jaw dropped.
Carl stepped just outside the library and opened the back door where he found Jordan blanketing the car with a heavy cover that defended it from windblown objects. He called to him. "Could you bring some..." he turned back in Diana’s direction and suggested, "Coffee, tea, brandy?" She shook her head as she chewed pretzels, still looking up at the books. He turned back to Jordan, "One coffee. A French roast if you would."
* * *
Carl didn't notice that Jordan had entered with the coffee until he realized Diana was staring intently at the weightlifter. He waved Jordan in, and Jordan stood by while Diana walked out. She turned at the doorway and her thick black lashes lowered as she asked Jordan, "Can you come up and help me in a few minutes?" when he nodded, she left. Carl watched the exchange with mixed feelings.
Jordan turned to face Carl. "What?” he asked.
Carl clenched his hands on his hips and stared at Jordan's implacable form. "I trust you aren't thinking about getting involved with her. She has to be out of these mountains before I alter again."
Jordan put one hand on his hip, the other still holding Carl's coffee as his eyes became slits. "No, really? Tell me, is the sky blue? Fucking moron." He put the coffee down. "If that's all, I should get dinner started," he lowered his voice and it cut sharply as he finished, "and Diana wants me."
Carl cursed silently, then picked up the mug and paused, trying to get a grip on his emotions. He was beginning to think he’d have to go through this transformation phase with her in the house, and it terrified him. The last thing he needed was to imagine her working Jordan over for information while he was indisposed.
"God, Jordan, if I had your nerves I'd be a surgeon. Is there anything in this world that moves you?" He took a shaky sip of coffee before setting the cup down, then pulled a slim wallet from his pocket. "Take this," he spat, as he drew a card out of the wallet for one of the more expensive stores on the more expensive end of town, "and get yourself some clothing tomorrow. Oh, what the hell; redo your wardrobe – say, $700. Some slacks, jeans, definitely shirts, maybe a tie or two..."
Diana strolled back into the room. "You're going shopping?"
Jordan jerked around to face her, his attention seemed to be drawn like a magnet to the way her blouse clung to the S-curves of her shape.
"Could you take me with you?" she continued.
Jordan turned back to Carl who gave him a hard look. "Sure," he said, staring at Carl. "I don't see why not." He turned to Diana. "What did you want?"
"Oh, a few sweaters, some jeans..."
"I meant now!" He said sharply.
"Oh! I'm sorry…" Diana leaned back slightly, looking confused for a moment, then replied, "I need you to bring my suitcase down here for me, if you could. It's quite heavy, and the wheels don't work right."
Jordan walked out before she finished, and her eyes followed him as he went.
"He’s kinda weird,” she observed, turning back to Carl, her big blue eyes widening. “Jordan mentioned wolves that are being relocated. How far away are they doing that?"
Carl was still off balance, trying to analyze the body language. Jordan was enough of a challenge alone, and Diana was a problem not only to interpret, but to avoid being interpreted by. If she was in sales, she was likely to be very perceptive.
"Oh, perhaps 150 miles as the crow flies," he finally answered.
She looked puzzled. "With this kind of country, you shouldn't be seeing wolves anywhere near here. They wouldn't go toward civilization, and I understand that the mountains become less and less inhabited as you go north, so that’s where they would head. The animals in this region shouldn't be affected by wolves, really."
Carl was at a loss. Apparently, Jordan had started the subterfuge, but he didn't understand wolves as well as Carl, and apparently Diana, did. Carl could tell her about the bite, but if the news got back to his father, he'd have to explain why he hadn't said anything in the first place, which could unravel his carefully woven deceit. “You have an interest in wolves?”
“Oh, absolutely,” She answered as a sensuous smile spread across her face. “I’m interested in turning your father’s property into an eco-tourism resort, with viewing towers and high-powered telescopes. I hadn’t dreamed of wolves, though. That would clinch it. Are you sure they’re that far away?”
To cover his alarm and gain some time, he turned and slid open a drawer in the end table, lifting a sheet of paper from it. "Maybe you’ll be interested in this," he said, holding it out to Diana. It was the book inventory of his current library on wolves and wolf-like creatures that Jordan had put on his desk this morning. She studied it, and her eyes opened wide. He took a long swallow of coffee as he watched her.
Jordan was back shortly with the suitcase. She opened it, provoking an exclamation from Carl. It was packed almost entirely with books, primarily on wolves. Diana watched him when she spoke. "This might interest you. It's all the books on the upper part of my own list. Oh, here," she handed him a piece of paper and he scanned it intently, catching his breath at one of the titles.
"You brought the entire lupine series?" he asked, eyes wide in disbelief.
She shrugged as she leaned a delicate arm on a shelf.
"Not the whole thing. I have 'Vocalization', 'Gestures', and 'Scenting'. I’m still tracking down the others. I’m looking for nature books, with a focus on wolves. I didn’t dream of being so close to them…” her voice trailed off as she looked intently at him. Was she trying to ask him something? Analyze him?
Carl’s attention was drawn back to the list, trying to suppress his excitement at books he’d been trying to get his hands on for months.
"Where did you find these?" He forgot himself for a moment as his eyes ran eagerly over the page.
"I have a few sources who know I’m looking for scholarly books on nature, with a particular interest in wolves…” her voice trailed off as she stared intently into his eyes. What was she trying to find?
Carl lost himself for a moment as he re-focused on the titles eagerly. Many of the volumes would be immensely helpful in his studies of wolf behavior.
"If that's all you need me for, I have a trout to net," Jordan’s voice broke in on Carl’s thoughts.
"A trout to net?" Diana inquired.
"We have a farm in the back," Carl answered absently, still perusing the list. "We're beta-testing it for an associate."
Carl and Diana started an exchange of information that would have lasted long into the night if Jordan hadn't interrupted them for dinner, which was unusually spectacular. Although Jordan and Carl didn't normally dine together, they decided to do so for the sake of hospitality, and to remain aware of what each of them was saying to Diana.
"Jordan, I never knew you could cook so well," Carl commended after taking a bite of the trout.
"You never gave me the impression you'd appreciate it. Anyway, it's hard to ruin good trout."
Diana nodded, "It must be wonderful having control over the pollutants that wild fish get into."
Carl raised his eyebrows. "I'd never thought of it that way. It does taste better than the average trout, doesn't it?"
Jordan grinned mischievously. "No, it's just my experience as a chef."
"You? A chef? I don't recall seeing that in your work history." Carl looked surprised.
"Prep cook, actually, with the title of dishwasher, but I learned fast."
"It didn't work out?" Diana asked.
"Inferior equipment.” Flexing his biceps subconsciously, he explained, “I can be hard on plastic."
Carl took a bite of the pilaf, chewed then spoke slowly. "Hmm... remind me to have you list all that you can do."
Jordan groaned, putting his head in his hand. "Mother of God, no more lists. I know nothing."
When Diana laughed, Jordan turned to her with a mock-serious look. "You think I'm kidding? This guy would list his unmatched socks, if I didn't hide them from him. I'm amazed at how many things can be listed – I learn something new every day." Carl laughed, finally, and the three of them spent the rest of the meal talking and appreciating Jordan's culinary skills. They had several cups of after-dinner coffee, cider in Jordan's case, before getting up from the table.
* * *
As Jordan cleared the dishes off the table and the other two walked down the hallway, Diana said to Carl, "He's really interesting."
Carl stopped. "Jordan?" He’d learned a lot about Jordan in the past hour.
"Yes. He hasn't had it easy, has he?"
"No, but who has? He's got flaws he managed to hide tonight. There have been times when I'd rather be stuck in a room with a mother grizzly."
"I think the feeling is mutual," she mused.
"Yes, I imagine so," Carl smiled. "But he's certainly the best man for the job." He stopped at the stairs. "Well, this is where I leave you, unless you care to sweat in a small room with me." Diana's lips parted as her dark blue eyes flared open, and Carl held up his hands, "No, no – I apologize, that's not at all what I meant. I lift weights twice a day. Maybe if I get to Jordan’s size I’ll get the respect I think I deserve. Do you work out?" he asked conversationally, wondering for a moment what it would be like to sweat in a small room with her.
"No," she slowly answered. "I probably should, but I get too bored. I'd rather be out with the scenery, riding a bike or a horse or something."
Carl paused, his hand on the doorknob. "I should introduce you to Daisy, then. She can take you just about anywhere up here."
"Daisy..." she paused.
"The horse. She's part Appaloosa. It’s been said they can dance on a mountaintop. That's why we have her."
"That would be fantastic." She gave Carl a pleased look that immediately reminded him he was supposed to be encouraging her to leave soon. "Is Jordan busy?"
"I'm afraid so. He'll be with me for the next two hours, spotting me. But he could take you – no, you'll be in town tomorrow. The next day?"
She beamed. "I think I'll spend the evening in the library, then, if that’s all right. There's a lot to catch up on in there." Carl remained standing at the door as she left, wondering what to do about her. Her company was more than pleasant; she was beautiful and intelligent, as well. The silence of the mountains was no place for a gregarious young med student, and she could brighten the dull hours. Diana’s presence wouldn't change his feelings about Jean, though. Wincing, he walked toward the weight room.