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morning when Dale sat on my desk. Day two and he’d already started
making a habit of it. He cleared a space and plopped his wide rear end on the
edge of it then leaned down to talk to me.
    “Field trip today,” he said, plastering a smile on his face.
    “Okay?” Just yesterday he’d warned me this job would involve hours of
staring at my computer screen. Which it had. I wondered why the sudden change.
    Dale pulled a thick brown envelope wrapped with a rubber band from
beneath his arm. “The congressman is working on the draft of a new wetlands
conservation bill. He’s had some input from some of the local landowners around
here. Which he values, of course. But, some hold more sway than others, and
that’s just a fact. One in particular requires special handling. That’s where
you come in today?”
    “Special handling?” I did not like the near smirk on Dale’s face
when he said it. Smarmy seemed to be his default mood.
    “In person,” Dale offered by way of explanation. “We’ve got some
reports and the congressman’s notes on some of the language. We need them hand
delivered.”
    My mouth went dry. In person delivery. I hoped this VIP constituent
could be found within walking distance. He never asked, and I’d never found the
occasion to tell Dale Thorp I rode the bus.
    “Wild Lake Corporate Headquarters off of Exit 19. You know where that
is? At the base of the water tower. You can’t miss it. Look for the giant
bronze wolf statutes.”
    “I, uh. I’d be happy to do it. It’s just, I don’t have a car today.”
    Dale gave me a quizzical look then reached into his jacket and pulled
out a single key. “You do have a valid driver’s license though?”
    “Of course.”
    Dale lobbed the key at me and I caught it one-handed. “Silver Town Car
on the first floor. My parking spot is marked. Try not to take more than an
hour. When you get back, I need you to sink your teeth into an eminent domain
memo we need by early next week. Grace has all the particulars.”
    I grabbed my messenger bag and slid Dale’s file into it. It strained
the straps to close it, but I managed.
    “Who do I ask for when I get there?”
    Dale gave me that shit-eating grin again. “You’re seeing Lanier.”
    My fingers froze on the buckle of my bag. I pasted on a bright smile
and tried to keep moving so Dale wouldn’t notice my reaction. Sebastian Lanier.
It seemed quite literally, Dale intended to feed me to the wolf.
    “Is Mr. Lanier expecting me?” I asked, though my tongue felt like
sandpaper. My heart thudded in my breast. God, what was wrong with me?
    Dale’s eyes raked over me and I swear they settled on the pulse beating
near my temple. I wondered how much his werewolf senses told him about my inner
turmoil.
    “Relax,” he said, reaching out to grasp a strand of my hair. I’d worn
it down today, holding the thick mass of it back with a black headband. He
rolled it between his fingers, and for a second, I expected him to lean down
and sniff it. If he had, I’d already done the mental calculations about how
hard I could smash him with my bag. Something bad was brewing with Dale Thorp.
I just prayed this wouldn’t go down the path I feared. He had creep vibe oozing
out of every pore. I needed this internship, but not that badly.
    I slung the strap over my shoulder, pulling my hair out of Dale’s
grasp. He straightened his tie but didn’t leave his perch on my desk.
    “Do I just ask at the front desk or is there some special entrance I
need to know about?” I asked, keeping my voice toneless and flat.
    “What? Oh. Right. Just ask at the front desk. Bas knows I’m sending
someone over.”
    “Is there anything else? I mean, am I just handing him these files, or
was there some message I’m supposed to convey or take back?”
    Dale finally stood and shrugged. “Just the files. I’m sure Mr. Lanier
will let you know if he wants to send any message back.”
    Great. After what I saw yesterday, I couldn’t