CHAPTER 13 MANNY
MANNY
In the end I’d gone with a boring purple button-down and a pair of jeans that made my ass look perky. And now I was pacing from the couch to the bedroom hallway while Oz messed around in the kitchen. I should probably go help him, but I was worried about Arch.
Even if he was willing to date us, how long would it be fair to go out with him before telling him about my healing abilities?
Oz said it was up to me, which didn’t help at all.
Ideally, especially because Arch was Ellis’ brother, I’d prefer for the three of us to date for a while, make sure we’d all work together in a relationship.
Then I’d feel comfortable revealing my secrets.
But that felt like lying to Arch, and if he was around this house for any length of time, he’d run into one or two of my patients.
And would Arch even want to date me and Oz?
I was awfully invested in the outcome of that question for someone who hadn't even considered the idea until last night, not to mention someone who hadn’t thought I should be dating anyone up until Oz forced me to reconsider.
Oz emerged from the kitchen and deposited a beautifully arranged charcuterie board on the coffee table in front of the sofa. He had a bottle of wine breathing in the kitchen, and we were stocked up on soft drinks and other types of alcohol in case Arch wanted something else.
“That looks delicious, Oz. Thanks for putting it together.” I tugged at the sleeve of my button down. “Am I dressed okay?”
“You look amazing. Arch won't know what to do with himself.” He glanced around the living room. “The house is clean, and he won’t care if something is slightly out of place. Try not to dwell on what Arch thinks, or on telling him about your healing. Tonight’s for having fun and getting to know each other.
That’s it. If it’s worrying you, plan on telling him about your magic on our second date.
Let’s just get through the first one, okay? ”
I wanted to lean my forehead against his chest, but I was wearing makeup and it might smudge on his white shirt.
“I know you're right. I don't know why this is stressing me out so much.” I smoothed the front of his shirt with one hand. “If we’d had any time apart before our first date, I'm pretty sure I would’ve been just as much of a mess then as well.”
He cupped my face and kissed me. “You’re the best kind of mess.”
The security app buzzed. Arch was at the gate. I took a deep breath, willing myself to relax, and Oz and I exchanged smiles. “Let’s do this!”
But when I opened the front door, it was not Arch at the gate. Geordie was there, his phone out ready to call me, and with him were Ramon Fortuno and Andrew.
“Hi!” I tried to make my voice sound like I wasn’t cursing in my head. I walked down the steps, Oz at my heels. “Geordie, this is Ramon and Andrew. Andrew lives down the street.” Which Geordie probably already knew.
I opened the gate, and, after I reminded him that Arch was coming in a few minutes, Geordie gave me and Oz a jaunty salute before heading back to the black sedan he was using today.
I turned to my guests. “Andrew, hi, I’m Manny, in case you don’t remember.
You look a lot better than the last time I saw you.
” His magical core wasn’t at full strength, but it was about halfway there.
Not bad for two days after almost dying.
He flushed, and Ramon put his arm around his waist. Andrew smiled a little nervously.
“Thanks to you. I... here. This is for you.” He wiggled free of Ramon’s hold to extend the arm that had been hidden by their embrace.
He was holding a bottle of wine. “I know it’s not much, but you saved my life. Thank you.”
My throat felt tight. “My pleasure.” I took the wine and made an impressed face when I looked at the label, hoping to hide my absolute ignorance.
Based on Ramon turning his head and pressing his lips together, I wasn’t too successful.
“But Ramon already sent pizza over the other night. It was delicious, by the way. Thanks for that.”
He smiled and pulled Andrew under his arm again. “It was nothing. I am also working on a plan to supplement your security.” He tipped his head toward Geordie’s car. “Would you mind exchanging phone numbers with me?”
“Sure.” In the event someone tried to break into my house, it’d be faster for some of Ramon’s guys who lived on the street to come help me than for more of the wolf pack to arrive.
And, of course, Arch pulled into the driveway in his massive SUV just as Ramon was handing Oz’s phone back to him. Ramon glanced at the vehicle, then lifted his eyebrows. “It seems your guest has arrived, so we’ll let you go. Please, don’t hesitate to call either of us if you need anything.”
Andrew nodded. “For sure, Manny, and you too, Oz. I can’t thank you enough for what you did.”
I never knew how to handle gratitude like this, so I just smiled and shook my head.
“Like I said, it was my pleasure. Have a good evening.” I waved goodbye with the hand that wasn’t holding the wine bottle, and, after nodding at Arch as he walked swiftly toward us, they turned and headed down the sidewalk in the direction of Andrew’s house.
Arch practically skidded to a stop next to the gate. “That guy looks like Ramon Fortuno!”
I shrugged as nonchalantly as I could. “Oh, yeah, he’s dating my neighbor Andrew.” Oz crowded my back and took the wine out of my hand, but Arch clocked it.
He pointed. “And they’re giving you wine?”
I sighed. “Andrew was in an accident on Friday. I helped him, that’s all.” I forced cheerfulness into my tone. This date was off to a great start. “Would you like to come inside? Oz made snacks.”
Arch visibly swallowed whatever he’d been planning to say.
“Sounds great.” He came through the gate, and as he passed us, he leaned over and kissed my cheek.
I flinched back from the magical flames that erupted, but Arch only paused for a second before kissing Oz’s cheek.
I’d swear the flames between the two of them were even higher.
Arch gave us both a smug grin. “Good call on asking me out, I guess.”
His smile grew wider when looked down at the triangle of magical lines connecting the three of us.
Holy shit. I met Oz’s gaze, and he gave me a delighted grin. He made sure the gate was shut properly behind us, and we all trooped up the porch steps and into the house. I waved Arch toward the couch. “Have a seat. What would you like to drink?”
“Wait.” Oz put a hand on my arm and gestured for Arch to come nearer. Once he was in range, Oz opened his arms wide. Arch’s eyebrows flew up, but he stepped into the hug.
Sighing as he relaxed into Arch, Oz reached out an arm for me, and I joined them, smiling.
Arch was solid, just shy of Oz’s height, but with more lean muscle.
Both of them together was distractingly sexy but also comforting.
I breathed in their combined scents, and my stress eased.
I thought about seeing if I could give them a little boost, like Oz had thought he’d felt from me the other day, but I didn’t really know how. Plus, I didn’t want to freak Arch out.
Arch was the first to let go. He glanced at us before addressing me. “Why don’t we have a drink, and you can tell me how you became a healer.”
Well, fuck.
I took my time pouring wine for me and Arch and getting water for Oz.
Then I fussed with napkins and made sure everyone was comfortable, but eventually I couldn't delay it any longer.
Arch and Oz were sitting on the couch, but I sat in one of the armchairs so I could see them more easily.
Arch probably wanted the entire story from start to finish, but I decided to make sure.
“What exactly do you want to know? And how did you find out anyway?”
He scoffed. “You were acting squirrely, so I just dropped some comments in front of Harrison and Cassandra that made it sound like I knew what was going on. Please don't tell them they were the one who revealed it though; it’s not their fault. I told them none of the other Hunters knew.”
Well, that was something at least. Arch rubbed his hand over his head. Damn, I wonder if he'd let me do that later. A quick glance showed Oz’s gaze was locked on Arch’s head as well. Great minds and all.
Arch met my eyes, his expression serious. “How long have you been healing people? And who all knows about it?”
I sighed. “It’s been since December or so.
I try to keep my name from the people I heal, but it's not always possible. Other than the wolf pack, there's a loose network of Wonders in the Medical Center. Somebody is passing around my address, even though the wolves set up a Google Form for people to make appointments. I’ve had patients show up here from as far away as Louisiana.”
This had the expected effect on Arch. His eyes went wide, and he stiffened in his seat. “I'm sorry, are you saying your address—and the fact that a healer lives at your address—is being passed around enough to get circulated out of state?”
I crossed my arms. “It wasn't intentional. I told you, I have an online questionnaire now. I'm not giving out my address anymore. And after Alpha Rafferty and Alpha Mate Elton came to see me in February, they pretty much insisted on providing round the clock security guards since then.”
Arch pointed toward the front of the house. “You mean like the guy in the black sedan outside, with no line of sight to you?”
I gritted my teeth and looked away from him.
Oz jumped out of his seat and stood in front of me and Arch, scowling.
He made a T with his hands, Time out. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and started typing.
After a minute he stopped, paced back and forth a couple of times, and seemed to erase a bunch of stuff before he typed some more. I didn’t look at Arch while we waited.
Oz held out the phone. Explain why you are upset. He pointed at me.