Chapter 5
In summer, crepe myrtles adorned the property like giant purple and pink bouquets.
Many locals didn’t bother landscaping. Tak liked a tidy yard to keep ticks, snakes, and other wild things at bay.
He preferred native plants but agreed to the crepe myrtles since they weren’t invasive and spruced up the place.
Krys wished more of them lined the roads. Sometimes he got tired of looking at the same rolling hills and oak trees on his rides. He missed the mountains of Oregon, especially since the Texas sun baked into his skin like lava.
He rolled up to Moonglow and parked sideways in front of the main door.
Hope and Melody owned a flagship store in Austin, and a couple of employees kept that one running.
This location had abbreviated hours, and everyone in the pack took turns manning the counter.
Well, not everyone. They thought Krys’s demeanor was too abrasive.
Lucian wasn’t much better in that department.
At least Krys had enough intelligence to remain quiet, whereas Lucian handed out unsolicited opinions like candy at Christmas.
Lately, Joy had been taking more days. While her affable personality made her ideal for the job, she was likely seeking a break from parenting.
Violet was a handful, since she was always shifting, and parents needed time to themselves.
Atticus had the restaurant, so Joy needed a separate life of her own.
Two women whirled out of the door with shopping bags swinging from their wrists.
“I cannot wait to show everyone this skirt!” one of them gushed. “She said it’s a one-of-a-kind pattern and they’re not making them anymore. I love that she tailors clothes to fit if the size doesn’t work. It’s worth the extra money.”
They weren’t from Hamish’s pack, the wolves next door who acted like they owned the town.
In fact, his pack never shopped at the store that Krys had noticed.
Hamish had beef with Tak because he used to own Arrowhead land until the Council forced him to surrender it.
Being the spiteful asshole he was, he did his damnedest to make sure his pack’s money never landed in Tak’s hands.
Over time, it became impossible, since Mercy worked at the bar and Atticus owned the club.
Hamish was a certified prick, and he kept a tight rein on his pack. According to Deacon, his new beta, people didn’t leave the pack. They supposedly had everything they needed.
Obviously not everything. Hamish was known to approach single attractive women for a spot in his pack. That made Krys wonder about the male-to-female ratio.
After setting the kickstand, he caught his reflection in the windows and swept back his long hair. As much as he liked leather pants, it was too damn hot today, so he’d picked breathable black jeans and a sleeveless shirt.
When he opened the glass door, three teenage boys flew out like a squall line of tornadoes.
“Watch it,” he snapped at them.
One kid turned beet red and scowled at his friend before snatching a shoebox from his hands. “Gimme those! They’re mine.”
“Let me see them!”
Once inside, Krys pushed his dark sunglasses onto his head and stalked through the shop. It smelled like a mixture of perfume, new fabric, and lemon-scented cleaner. Cleo was sitting on top of a ladder behind the counter with her nose in a book.
“Hey, kid. What are you doing up there? Shouldn’t you be helping your aunt mind the store?”
Joy appeared from the back hall, and even without makeup, she was the definition of a blonde bombshell.
Her off-the-shoulder blue top was snug enough to make Krys uncomfortable for noticing.
“Leave our little sunshine alone,” she said, admonishing him by narrowing her sky-blue eyes.
“Cleo stocked the shelves and finished taking inventory. Isn’t that right? ”
“Uh-huh.” Cleo closed her book. “I’m trying to study for that stupid test Uncle Lucian’s giving me. He likes trick questions, so I need to study twice as hard.”
“Up there?” he asked.
“Think of me as security. A kid tried to steal something earlier, but I caught him, since I can see everything.”
Joy occasionally brought her kid to work, but Krys didn’t see any sign of her.
That poor girl had a rough childhood ahead.
Kids always found any little thing to tease one another about.
Even in nature, animals singled out those who were different or smaller.
The fact that she could shift out of the womb was pretty damn cool, but Krys knew it would either scare other kids or make them envious.
That was why it was smart that Joy was socializing her early. Once people got to know her, only a monster could hate her.
And heaven help anyone who did. Atticus was fiercely protective of his girls.
Krys rested his arms on the counter. “You didn’t bring the baby up here today?”
Joy zipped up the money bag. “Gracious, no. She’s at home. Didn’t Hope mention what happened yesterday?”
His stomach knotted. If someone said something to hurt that little girl or Joy, Krys was going to pound their ass into the ground.
Joy set the money bag on the counter. “I can’t watch her every second, especially now that she’s walking.
Yesterday, I unlocked the jewelry counter to pull out a bracelet.
Well, I left it open, since the customer was ready to check out.
After ringing up their purchase, I turned around, and Violet had pulled out all the feather earrings and chewed on them.
It was awful. I had to check each one to make sure she didn’t swallow the hooks or anything else.
The feathers were ruined. I felt terrible! Hope’s beautiful creations.”
Krys chuckled. “At least she didn’t get in here,” he said, knocking on the glass with all the expensive shit.
Cleo climbed down the ladder, and instead of her usual baggy shorts, she had on long jean shorts tapered above the knee. They were rolled up and tight. She preferred hoodies and wore thin ones in summer, but this one was short and revealed her stomach.
“Are we leaving?” she asked.
Krys straightened up. “Yeah. Go wait outside.”
Cleo strutted through the empty store. Every time he turned around, she was growing up, and it made him sad.
Krys caught Joy’s attention after Cleo walked out. “Who the hell dressed her?”
“That’s her new outfit. Don’t you dare say anything mean. It’s all I can do to get her to try new things.”
He glanced over his shoulder at Cleo putting her book in the saddle bag. “And that’s what you helped her pick out?”
“What’s wrong with it? She looks cute.”
“It’s too fucking tight. And that shirt barely covers her stomach.”
Joy locked up the register. “Have you seen what girls her age are wearing these days? Gee whiz, you act like she’s walking around in a bikini. Melody designed those jeans with her in mind. Did you see the little cat faces stitched on the back pockets?”
“I don’t care about stitchwork. Nobody should be looking at her ass.” He lifted a pair of baggy pants off a rack. “This is what she needs to be wearing.”
Joy gave an infectious laugh. “Now you’re being obtuse. Those elastic pants are for older ladies, and you know it. Cleo doesn’t have any friends, so we should help her fit in.”
“She barely fits in those pants.”
Joy disappeared behind the wall and returned with the mop bucket.
“Do you want me to stick around until your Vampire gets here?” he offered.
Since Atticus worked down the road, he picked her up most days. Sometimes Bear offered a ride. No matter what, the pack looked after one another, and nobody was forgotten.
Joy rolled the large bucket into the main room. “Atticus is taking me out on a date tonight. Cecilia’s watching the kids.”
That didn’t track. “What about Hope and Tak? Don’t they normally watch Violet when you’re out?”
Joy pulled a scarf from her pocket and secured it over her hair. “They’re having a private date in the heat house.”
“She’s not in heat again, is she?”
“They’re having a romantic evening, so avoid shifting tonight.”
“Why?”
She wrung out the mop and slapped it on the floor. “Nothing kills the mood like wolves pawing at the door while you’re being intimate.”
He chuckled softly. “Then stop screaming. Maybe they think you’re in danger.”
While Joy mopped the floor, he noticed her vacant stare. Krys didn’t like prying into people’s personal business, but there was no way in hell he was leaving without making sure someone hadn’t messed with her today.
“You okay? Seems like something’s bothering you.”
She held the mop handle close to her chest and cast her gaze toward the door. “It’s nothing important.”
“Maybe you should talk to Atticus.” He backed up against the counter, arms folded. “Isn’t that what couples do? Talk and shit?”
“Do you ever feel like there’s nothing special about you? I don’t mean about you personally, but seeing the other women’s accomplishments has me jealous. Isn’t that silly? I spent most of my life in the spotlight and hated it, and now I want back in.”
“Go back to performing.”
She adamantly shook her head. “Never. I don’t mind helping out here, but I wish I had a skill. Maybe my looks were all there was.” She glanced down at her hourglass figure with disappointment. “Now look at me.”
He strode over and gave her a one-armed hug.
“Cut that out. You hear me? You’ll figure it out someday.
A smart girl like you has more to offer the world than someone like me does.
All I’m good for is cleaning horseshit out of the pasture and hauling heavy rocks,” he said on a chuckle.
Before walking away, Krys raised her chin with the crook of his finger.
“Chin up. Whatever’s got you down, shake it off.
Go have a beer with your man.” He put distance between them while heading to the front.
“Sneak into his office after dessert. Bend over his desk and make him prove his love.”
“Krys Kelso! You’re absolutely dreadful.”
He stopped at the door. “Well, it put a smile on your face.”