A Werewolf in Manhattan Read Free Page A

lodge, surrounded by cozy log cabins, was his favorite retreat in the world, and he had the insane urge to take her there so she could rest. Ah, but they would do more than rest. And there was the rub.
    So instead he made pleasant conversation. “I hear you’re headed off to Chicago in a few days.”
    “Right!” Her enthusiasm didn’t ring true, but if she dreaded the tour, she couldn’t very well mention that in front of her publisher’s representative. She turned to the woman in black. “Jenny, this is Aidan Wallace. Aidan, Jenny Dunn handles PR for the company and was kind enough to come with me tonight.”
    “It’s the least I could do, considering how hard Emma works.” Jenny shook hands with Aidan. “It’s nice to meet you, Aidan. I’ve seen your father a few times in the office.”
    Aidan nodded. “He and Roger Claymore go way back.”
    Emma braced both hands on the table as she gazed at him with a bemused expression. “I didn’t realize your father and Roger were old friends. Your father should have snagged you an advance copy of the book.”
    “He did.” All in the name of research to supplement Emma’s growing file.
    “And you’re still buying one?” She pushed it gently back toward him. “You don’t have to do that.”
    “Yeah, I do.” He gave the book a nudge back in her direction. “The copy I read was one of those softcover deals.” And he’d marked it up looking for clues that she’d hooked up with the werewolf world. “I want an autographed hardback for my bookshelf.”
    Jenny nodded in approval. “Very cool.”
    “Yes, it is.” A soft light came into Emma’s eyes as she looked at him. Then she sat down and picked up her pen. “I’m honored to have a place on your bookshelf.”
    Aidan felt a stab of guilt and quickly reminded himself that he’d been a fan before he’d started spying on her. He really did want an autographed copy for the section of his bookshelf devoted to her, but coming to the reading tonight had been primarily to see whether any werewolves showed up.
    Jenny began gathering bookmarks and flyers from the table. “I hope you two won’t think I’m rude, but my daughter has a cold, and my husband’s home with her. If you’re okay with it, Emma, I’d like to get back and check on them.”
    Emma glanced up, her pen still poised over Aidan’s open book. “Of course! Go! And thanks so much for being here. That e-mail I got late this afternoon freaked me out a little, but I’m fine, now.”
    Aha. Aidan was proud of his casual response, considering the alarm bells clanging in his head. His crew had been monitoring her e-mails several times a day, but since nothing interesting had popped up, he’d told them to cut back to once in the morning. “Crazy fan?”
    “I guess so. Some guy claims he’s a werewolf. Wants to show me what a real werewolf is like.”
    Holy shit. Aidan did his best to stay calm. “Sounds like a nut.”
    “Or some lonely soul trying to get a date.” She smiled at him. “I guess he imagines I actually believe in werewolves.”
    That was news he could use. “I take it you don’t?”
    She went back to autographing his book. “The day I start believing in the fantasy I created is the day they’ll have to chase after me with a butterfly net.”
    Aidan mentally sighed in relief. He was good at reading people, and Emma seemed perfectly sincere. She couldn’t very well have a mole inside the werewolf community if she didn’t believe in werewolves. His job was over except for one thing—she might have attracted the attention of a rogue, after all.
    “That e-mail was sort of creepy, though.” Jenny tucked all the publicity materials into a satchel and hooked the straps over her shoulder. “We can still send somebody with you on tour. It’s not too late, and Roger’s completely okay with that.”
    Send me. Aidan saw a golden opportunity and vowed to take advantage of it.
    Emma shook her head. “That’s a waste of money.