Chapter 36
JULIET
I stare down at the invitation in my hand with cautious hope. The card consists of a creamy parchment with a golden shimmer, strategically placed maroon leaf tissue paper, and script I painstakingly lettered with my best fountain pen.
I know some people would find how long I spend crafting a single greeting card ridiculous, especially when paired with how short of a time the receiver appreciates my work.
But that’s never mattered to me. I find the craft fun, and I have the sense that my messages carry more weight and vibrancy when conveyed by a handcrafted card.
So, maybe this one will result in an acceptance to my invitation.
As I walk down my street, I waver between asking her in person or placing the invitation in her mailbox, like I originally planned. I still haven’t decided when I reach the end of Hester’s driveway.
“She might be asleep,” I mutter, resigning myself to the mailbox.
It’s seven thirty in the morning, and just because she has a law practice in Pine Falls doesn’t mean she keeps normal working hours. How much legal defense do the folks of this town even need?
Still, with Thanksgiving in two days, I want my friend to know she has a place to go if she doesn’t already have other plans.
I’m reaching for her mailbox when the sound of a door opening has me twisting toward the front of Hester’s house.
I almost choke on my own tongue.
A naked man strolls out. And not naked in the he’s-still-wearing-briefs way. This guy is as bare as the day he was born.
A lot more tattoos than what he had that day though.
I might be able to recognize him if I could tear my eyes away from his dick. The thing is just hanging there, in the cool Pine Falls morning air.
This isn’t the first time I’ve seen a penis. Not by a long shot.
But I never expected to glance the way of Hester’s front porch and find myself confronted with a man’s dangling bits.
But here we are.
Finally, using an amount of self-control I didn’t think would be required of me before my workday started, I drag my eyes upward.
The man has his face turned away, staring back inside the house, as if listening to someone.
A second later, Hester appears, dressed in a velvety green robe, holding a piece of toast that she offers to him.
The naked guy consumes the bread in two bites, then tugs my neighbor into his arms and kisses her thoroughly.
And through the whole display, I stand as if snared in some embarrassment trap. I should sprint back to my house while the two are occupied, but I can’t seem to move.
Why is he outside naked?
When the couple breaks apart, I finally get a look at the man’s face and start in surprise.
Moose. The monosyllabic bartender at The Rabbit Hole.
He doesn’t seem the least bit surprised to see me. Or embarrassed that I now know he has a tattoo of Marilyn Monroe on his left ass cheek.
Instead, he gives me a nod of acknowledgment before walking out into the middle of Hester’s front yard among her plants and flowers.
Despite his confident, unconcerned pace, I can’t help noticing he doesn’t smash any of the growth.
As if he knows exactly where to step in order not to disturb anything.
In the bright, early morning sun, shadows fold in around Moose. The dark mass caresses his skin before adhering to it. Soon, I lose sight of him in the mass. A series of sharp pops sound out, along with a few pained grunts and growls. A moment later, a wolf stands, panting in the yard.
After giving his massive body a shake, the werewolf lopes off into the woods.
All as if this were an everyday occurrence.
Roderick must have told the rest of the pack I know about them.
“Good morning, Juliet.”
At the sound of my name, I return my attention to the front porch, where Hester stands, smirking down at me. Even first thing in the morning, wearing nothing but a robe and a halo of slightly mussed blonde hair, the woman is glorious.
She just saw him transform, I realize.
“Are you a werewolf?” Maybe my radar was off.
But my neighbor gives a haughty chuckle. “Me? Of course not. I merely enjoy their company from time to time.”
Can’t say I blame her. If Moose is anywhere near as good as Roderick is in bed, then she’s probably a satisfied woman.
A furious blush streaks across my skin as I realize I’m pondering my neighbor’s sex life. She gives another rich chuckle, probably reading my thoughts on my face.
“Come, dear. Why are you lurking in my yard so early?”
“I wasn’t spying,” I feel the need to point out.
“I would hope not.” She flicks a piece of lint off her sleeve. “Because I would have to inform you of how abysmal you are at it.”
There’s nothing I can do to stop my face from darkening in another round of blushes. This morning is not going how I planned.
“I came by to leave you this.” Approaching her, I hold out the invitation as proof of my innocence.
Hester plucks the paper from my fingers and stands in all her regal glory, reading my homemade attempt at formality.
Juliet Adair invites Hester Willowborne to accompany her as a guest to the Jameson Family Thanksgiving Gathering on Thursday at five in the evening.
“If you have plans already, I completely understand.”
Clearly, the woman has a more active social life than I imagined.
“Are you inviting me to be nice?” Hester asks in a tone that says the worst possible answer in the world would be yes.
Maybe the idea started off that way, but now, especially after discovering my neighbor is aware of the furry secrets of Pine Falls, I’m able to admit the biggest inspiration behind this gesture.
“No. If anything, this is completely selfish on my part.”
“How so?” Hester appears happier about the possibility of me being selfish.
“I need backup. This is going to be Roderick’s whole family.
Well … minus his mom. But still. A lot of wolves, and wolves that are important to him, and holiday intensity.
” I suck in a deep breath, trying to stem the flow of words.
“It’s just … this seems kind of stressful and hectic, and you never seem rattled by anything.
” My hand automatically gestures toward her front yard, where I witnessed her naked supernatural fuck buddy depart.
Hester didn’t appear bothered in the least that I was suddenly aware of a lot of her business.
The woman has an unflappable air about her. I expect a bomb could go off next to her house, and she’d merely tsk in annoyance.
Hester doesn’t answer right away, turning the invite over and over in her hands and appearing to consider my words. Finally, she nods.
“I will be your backup. This isn’t one of my holidays, but it is always good to mingle with more of the Pine Falls wolves. Remind them I exist.”
My urge is to ask why anyone would want to remind wolves about themselves, but I keep my mouth shut. Hester could always change her mind and leave me to deal with the Jamesons alone.
“Thank you,” I say, hearing the relief in my own voice. “I can give you a ride.”
“Hmm. No. I’ll drive myself. That way, you won’t be responsible for returning me home if you wish to stay with your alpha.
” She studies me, but I don’t pick up on any judgment.
“Relationships with wolves are always interesting roads to walk. I believe it is best never to let them have too much control of a situation.”
Her words ring a painful sort of truth. Cory controlled every aspect of me.
Until he didn’t.
Is that what I’m doing now? Taking away some of Roderick’s control by changing his plans?
Whatever the driver for my choice is, this is a different approach than I took in Bear Valley.
Hopefully, I’ll get different results.