“A dog?” Staggered and far from convinced he wasn’t about to have his throat torn out, Alan shifted his gaze to her. “You have a dog?”

“Yes.” The lie was starting to twist around her tongue. “Um. And as you can see, I couldn’t be safer here. With him.”

“What kind of dog is that?”

“I don’t precisely know.” Oh, she was a miserably poor liar, she thought. “He’s been wonderful company, though, and as you can see I don’t have to worry about being alone. If I hadn’t called him off, he’d have bitten you.”

“It looks like a damn wolf.”

“Really, Alan.” She did her best to laugh, but it came out thin and squeaky. “Have you ever heard of a wolf leaping through a window, or taking commands from a woman? He’s marvelous.” She leaned down to nuzzle her face against his fur. “And as gentle with me as a Labrador.”

As if in disgust, the wolf shot her one steely look, then walked over to sit by the fire.

“See?” She didn’t let her breath shudder out in relief, but she wanted to.

“You never said anything about wanting a dog. I believe I’m allergic.” He dug out a handkerchief to catch the first sneeze.

“I never said a lot of things.” She crossed to him again, laying her hands on his arms. “I’m sorry for that. I’m sorry I didn’t know what to say or how to say it until now.”

Alan’s eyes kept sliding back toward the wolf. “Could you put him outside?”

Put him outside? she thought, and felt another shaky laugh tickling her throat. The wolf came and went as he pleased. “He’s all right. I promise. Come sit down—you’re still shaken up.”

“Small wonder,” he muttered. He would have asked her for a brandy, but imagined she’d have to leave the room to get it. He wasn’t risking being alone with that great black hulk.

As if to show the wisdom of this decision, the wolf bared his teeth.

“Alan.” Rowan sat on the couch beside him, took his hands in hers. “I am sorry. For not understanding myself soon enough or clearly enough to make you understand. For not being what you’d hoped I would be. But I can’t change any of that, and I can’t go back to what was.”

Alan pushed his heavy hair back again. “Rowan, be reasonable.”

“I’m being as reasonable as I know how. I do care for you, Alan, so much. You’ve been a wonderful friend to me. Now be a friend and be honest. You’re not in love with me. It just seemed you should be.”

“Of course I love you, Rowan.”