Runner's Moon Trilogy Megabook Series by Linda Mooney Page B

have tried to keep his human disguise, but in the past when he had, he had awakened to find himself back 100

    in his true form. It was a possibility he could not risk as long as Hannah was unaware of what he was. So he trusted the chemicals in her system to help keep his secret safe.
    Shaking her head as she took the casserole dish out of the oven, Hannah gave him another warm look. "Let's eat before it gets cold," she suggested with a smile.
    Jeb rolled his eyes, an affectation he knew meant exasperation, and took his seat.
    The first time Hannah had cooked for them, he had been both surprised and grateful. By not eating out as much, he would be able to stretch their current monies until his first paycheck. He really didn't want to hit any of his bank deposits unless he was forced to. In the meantime, she tried to make the bungalow as cozy and homelike as possible.
    "Now ... tell me all about your new job," she demanded playfully.
    Briefly Jeb told her what he did. It was all manual labor, but he preferred it that way. What he didn't mention was his Ruinos strength allowed him to lift and haul objects that many times would have required a mechanical loader. Although he would sometimes resort to pulling on a particularly stubborn tree trunk with his bare hands, he did so only when he was certain others would not be able to see him. Needless to say, it was the end results that made an impression with his new boss.
    "Mr. Mallon told me if I stayed on until the end of the year, he would see that I got a bonus, plus an increase in pay."
    101

    The scent of vanilla came to him. He looked up from his plate to see Hannah staring down at her own half-eaten meal.
    "Hannah? What's wrong?"
    A single minute stretched into eternity. Jeb remained patient, knowing she would tell him why her need swirled around her like a pungent cloud. When she swallowed, it was almost a dry, brittle sound. "You're thinking of staying?" she finally whispered.
    "I might. I don't know yet. Depends."
    "Depends? On what?" She raised her eyes at him. "On me?"
    The door was opening. At any moment Jeb would have no choice but to walk through it and confront her with the truth.
    He wasn't ready for it. Not yet. Certainly not now. He wanted a few more days to bathe in her lemonade scent when she knew he was nearby. He wanted to come back to the cabin, which had become the closest thing to a home in more than eleven years, to find her there.
    He wanted to come back to find Hannah waiting for him with a smile in her eyes and tenderness shining from her face. To find her lying in bed, asleep but aware of when he joined her because she would instinctively cuddle against him.
    Or to find her in the kitchen fussing over whatever she was cooking.
    It wasn't the right time to tell her about himself, but he could tell her the other truths.
    "Jeb?"
    "Yeah, Hannah. It depends on you."
    102

    She lifted her quivering chin. Despite her disfiguration, the sight of her drawing her courage about her like it was a solid entity sent a rush of protectiveness through him. She was trying to find the words and the strength to be honest with him. The thought made him smile. It was time for him to take her fears away. All of them. Finally.
    "This is a good place to live, Hannah. I can already tell I will be happy here. But will you be happy here as well?" He cocked his head at her and gave her time to absorb what he was asking her.
    Her jaw dropped as she began to understand what he was saying. "You want me to stay with you?"
    Her scent had gone from vanilla to the freshness of clean, spring rain. Jeb took in a lungful, tasting it. Wanting more of it.
    "Yeah. I do."
    "Why?"
    This time his eyes widened. Why? That was a question he hadn't expected. Or maybe he had and didn't want to admit it. Again he tried one of those inconclusive shrugs, hoping it would conceal his growing nervousness. "I already told you. I can't bear the thought of someone hurting you again."
    The air sparked with a