The Wolf Prince by Karen Kelley Page A

cell out of his pocket and walked a short distance away.
    “I don’t like him,” Surlock said, continuing to glare at Peter’s back. “Maybe he’s the danger.”
    Oh, good Lord! “I’ve known Peter all my life. His parents’ estate is next to ours. We dated a few months, but he’s always seemed more like a brother to me so I broke it off. Believe me, he’s no threat. You can relax.”
    “Why did you tell him I’m from Sweden?” He turned his attention back to her. “What is Sweden?”
    “Sweden is a country.” She blushed. “I didn’t want him to think you were a freeloader or anything.”
    “What’s a freeloader?”
    “Someone who …” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. You’re not. I just don’t want anyone to know you have amnesia. Remember, you’re supposed to be my boyfriend. It might be kind of tricky convincing someone that we’re dating if neither one of us knows who you are.”
    He studied her face, then nodded. She breathed a sigh of relief.
    Peter snapped his phone closed. His shoulders were stiff as he shoved it in his pocket before turning to face them again. She would have thought he was angry, except for the smile on his face.
    “Sorry about that.” Peter rejoined them. “What did you say you do for a living?”
    “I didn’t,” Surlock said just as easily.
    Peter laughed. “No, you didn’t, and I’m being crass. It’s just that I’ve known Dar for some time now and I’d hate for her to get mixed up with the wrong kind of person. There are a lot of people who would only be interested in her money.”
    “Peter!”
    “Not that you would be, of course,” Peter said. “I never meant to imply you would. No offense.”
    “Of course not,” Surlock said.
    Darcy looked between the two men again. Great, a pissing contest. That was all she needed.
    “There’s a band at the club tonight,” Peter said. “I stopped by to see if you’d like to go. The invitation is open to you both, of course. I’ll bring a date.”
    Darcy looked between the two men again. “I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
    “Yes, I would like that,” Surlock said.
    Now what was he up to?
    “Good.” Peter beamed. “I’ll drop by at eight to pick you both up.”
    Darcy had a feeling nothing good would come of this. AsPeter walked away, she turned on Surlock. “What was that all about?” she whispered, not wanting Peter to overhear.
    “I like to keep my enemies close.” Surlock’s gaze was fixed on Peter’s back.
    “Peter is not an enemy. I told you that.”
    “I think he is.”
    Stubborn, stubborn, stubborn. She was not looking forward to tonight. Not one little bit.

C HAPTER 9
    S urlock didn’t like Peter. He liked him even less sitting in the back of what Peter had called a limo. The man acted as though he were superior to everyone else, and he looked at Darcy like she was a stack of pancakes with syrup drizzling over the sides and he was starving. Peter was careful not to let Darcy see. He didn’t seem to care that Surlock did.
    “Have you ever ridden in a limo?” Peter asked, casually draping his arm around the woman who sat beside him. He’d called her Annette. She seemed unsure of herself, as if she had no idea what she was supposed to be doing. Surlock could relate to the feeling.
    “No.” He had no memory of riding in a vehicle like this. He had no memory of any vehicles, but Darcy didn’t want him to tell anyone.
    “Remember the first time we rode in a limo,” Peter asked, turning his attention to Darcy.
    Darcy chuckled, then tried to cover it with a cough. Peter laughed.
    “You know I have to tell them the story.” He smiled at Surlock, but his eyes revealed something entirely different. They were calculating. “It was much like this one. It was back in the city and our fathers wanted us to go to the prom in style. Theyforgot to ask that the alcohol be removed. We were only going to have a taste.”
    Darcy shifted in her seat. “I don’t think they