Hmm, pretty name."
"Thanks." A warm glow appeared on her cheeks.
"Mine is Albert Torino." He moved back to load the remaining groceries into the pantry. "I hope you're hungry."
Her eyes darted around the groceries. To be honest, she was starving but desired to get back to the woods before someone else messed up her work.
"So?" Albert probed. "I cook well, don't worry about anything not agreeing with you."
Her stomach chose that exact moment to rumble, and her face turned beet red again as he suppressed another smile. He heard it. She couldn't understand how she constantly embarrassed herself before him. She was also never this shy and girly around anyone. This whole imprinting thing was messing up her game terribly. "Sorry," She smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, I'll have breakfast, but I'll take my leave right after."
"That's fine." Slowly, he came back to the kitchen table where she sat and stared directly into her eyes. "Back to the woods?"
"Huh?" She was alarmed. "What do you mean?"
"I just figured you'll be going back to the woods for your stuff." He narrows his gaze. "I find it hard to believe you wandered in there naked."
"Oh, No. I didn't."
The moment she'd been treading had finally arrived. The point, she had to explain why she'd been roaming naked at a crime scene.
'Tell him you went for a swim. That covers the unclad part.' Layla pipped up. 'Although it's truly none of his business. Humans are so nosy, yet you had to imprint on one.'
'Would you quit whining??' She replied her wolf. 'What's done is done.'
Albert eyed her warily. He could tell the woman was not as naive and as clueless as she was letting on. It was charming though, but he needed answers to the many questions that surrounded their encounter and thus, knew he had to tread carefully if he were to get anywhere with this 'interrogation'. "I think pancakes are in order." He moved to take out ingredients. "And eggs, bacon, coffee…."
"Do you need any help?"
"No, it's fine. Today, you're my guest."
She sent him a small smile and watched as he moved around the kitchen chopping tomatoes, onions, lettuce, whisking eggs, and tossing them into a sizzling skillet. He moved with the efficiency of old hands.
"So, what brings you to Glasgow Creeks?" She asked lightly. "You don't smell like you're from around here."
"I don't smell like am from around here?" He chuckled, turning back to her.
"Err," She cleared her throat. "I mean look. You don't look like a local."
"Yeah." He smiled. "I'm actually from Silicone County."
"That's far. What brings you to here?"
"Official duty. I'm a cop."
'A cop???!' Layla grumbled. 'You imprinted on a belly-crawling bastard?'
'What do you have against cops?!' She replied.
'Oh, you know what I have against cops.' Layla tossed back. 'Don't even get me started on them.'
"Are you okay?"
"Huh?" She directed her attention to him.
"You keep doing this thing with your face. It's weird. Like you're zoning out or something."
"Oh, I'm good. My head just hurts a lot."
He moved to touch her hand and the contact set butterflies in her stomach. "I'll have to get you something for the headache."
"Thanks." She replied, and he withdrew to wrap up the cooking. So far so good, she'd only managed to constantly embarrass herself and slip up once. If she was lucky enough, that's all she'll be doing till she was allowed to leave. A few minutes later, the food was served with a glass of orange juice each, and they dug in. He sat across from her on the kitchen table, and she noticed the constant glances he was throwing her way like he was trying to figure something out but didn't make much of it. They ate in silence and when they were done, he cleared the plates.
"That was very delicious. Thanks for the food." She said.
"You're welcome." He replied, but without his usual smile this time around. He set a cup of coffee before her and sat back before clearing his throat. "So, care to tell me what you were doing in the woods? Naked?"
The question didn't surprise her, as she'd expected it all through the meal. She cleared her throat too. "I went for a swim."
"A swim?!" He scoffed. "I find it hard to believe."
"Well, believe what you must." Her eyes sharpened with simple annoyance.
"C'mon, give me some credit." He sighed. "The place was crawling with cops, and there was a freaking body not so far from where you claimed to have been swimming. It was completely locked down. How did you get through?"
"I snuck in okay," She shrugged
"So let me get this straight," The thick slash of his dark eyebrows pinched together as he continued. "You snuck into a crime scene to swim?"
With folded arms on her chest, she scowled at him. "I usually go there for a swim. It's not the first time."
"How long were you swimming for?"
"I don't know. I lost track of time."
"When did you arrive?"
"I don't know."
"Did you sneak in alone?"
"I suppose so."
"Is there anyone who can corroborate your story? Someone you told about your little swimming excursion?"
"I don't know."
"Did you know the deceased personally?"
"No. I only know she dances at a club."
He lifted a brow. "Did you see the body before the cops did?"
"No."
"Did you see the body after the cops did?"
"No."
"So, how then were you able to identify the body?"
"What?" She was overwhelmed.
"The police hadn't released an official statement on the victim before you passed out on me." He snarled. "How did you know of Lily's death?"
Her mouth opened and closed again. 'He's trying to entrap you. It's a bloody interrogation.' Layla grumbled.
"Am I under arrest, officer?" She rose to her feet.
"No. You're not." He got up too.
"Then I really should get going. I'll have your clothes delivered to you before noon."
"Do you normally go swimming without your clothes?"
"What?"
"I searched around for your clothes but found nothing. Did you sneak into the woods naked?"
"No. My clothes were around there somewhere, and if you couldn't find it, it's probably because you didn't look hard enough." She made her way for the door, but he brushed past her and blocked her exit.
"How did you find out about Lily's death?!"
"It was on the freaking news, okay!" she snapped. "I turned on the t.v while helping myself with your personal effects. It was announced, this morning, now would you get the fuck out of my way!"
'Let me snap his neck!' Layla howled.
"What the hell did you do to me back there?!" He matched her tone.
"What are you yapping about now?"
"Back at the river, before you were passed out cold, you did something with your eyes. I felt it and I know you know what I'm talking about, so spare me the bullshit and start talking!"
She jerked up her chin. "I am done, having this discussion with you! Since I'm not under arrest, I demand that you let me out right this minute, or I'll scream. I'll scream, and I swear I won't stop till you're on your merry way back to whatever hole you crawled out from."
******