Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Boyd waved in return but smiled at me, like he recognized me, and tipped his hat. He led his wife over to the bar, and they settled in the empty stools beside me.
“Hey there.” Boyd stretched out a hand. “Boyd Wolf.”
The doctor stretched out a hand as well. “I’m Audrey.”
We shook. “Riley Abbott.”
“Right, Deputy Abbott’s daughter.” Boyd grinned.
“Yes,” I agreed. “And Cody’s girlfriend.” Girlfriend. There, I said it, and it felt good. No, better than good. I was proud of being Cody’s mate, and I wanted to show the other shifters that I was one of them now. Or, kinda one of them.
“Boyd, get down here and settle a dispute about rodeo belt buckles between these two yahoos.” Cody pointed to two men who seemed to be at odds with each other.
Boyd grinned and moved down the bar to referee while Cody made drinks.
With him gone, Audrey turned my way. “I’m so glad things are working out with you and Cody. He’s a great guy.”
I wondered if she knew that I knew. “Yes, he’s a keeper.”
“Listen.” Audrey leaned in closer, laying a hand on mine. Looked me square in the eye. I felt like she was going to tell me I needed my appendix removed or something. “I know how overwhelming it can be to find out your new boyfriend is also a different species.” She dropped her voice to almost nothing on the word species.
“You know,” I said, wide eyed.
She laughed, then whispered, “I’m married to one, so it’s pretty hard to miss when your husband–mate–is not only growly by nature but can turn into a wolf.”
I gnawed on my lip, wondering if I should ask. “So… um, you’re not a wolf, too?” I lowered my voice to match hers. The band was tuning up, so the sharp twangs from a guitar cut filled the air, so it would be hard for anyone to overhear. Still…
She shook her head. “No. I was the doctor at the rodeo when Boyd got gored by a bull. Imagine the shock I was in when his wound seemed to heal before my very eyes!”
I gaped in surprise. “Wow.”
Cody had said he would heal if he got shot, but gored? I cringed just thinking about the horrible injury.
My brain started skidding around. Was it pack protocol to mate anyone who found out? Maybe this mate thing with Cody wasn’t biology so much as a mandate. That usual flicker of doubt lit like a match on flint. Wait. No. I needed to stop doubting Cody’s intentions. Worrying that I was too young for him. Or that players never settled down. Or waiting for him to leave. That was the big one, and I blamed my dad for all that and other worries in my head.
“Anyway, I just want you to know that I’m here to talk about it. How to keep a secret from your family. How to manage integrating into a new world. I’m here anytime you want.”
“Thank you.” I smiled at the older woman although probably still a few years younger than Cody. “I really appreciate that. I do have a million questions.”
Audrey fished a business card out of her purse and handed it to me. “Here.” She wrote her cell phone on the back of it. “Call me anytime. My sister also mated a Wolf brother, and she’s closer to your age. Maybe the three of us could get together to hang out.”
Really? Two women I could talk with who knew about shifters? And nice, to boot? “I’d love that.”
The crowd had thinned out around the bar, and Audrey and I shifted closer to where Cody and Boyd were now chatting. Another man had joined their conversation and was talking and gesturing loudly. He’d obviously had a few beers already.
“How can I compete on the dating scene with Cody, though?” The man’s voice boomed as if his preschool “inside voice” was broken. “Every woman here has either hooked up with him or wants to hook up with him.”
Some of that glowy warmth that had been in my chest leaked away.
“Well, you’re in luck.” Cody was genial–obviously adept at handling drunk guys. “I’m off the market now. The ladies are all yours, Hank.”
The guy, Hank, lifted his glass to him in salute. “Show me your ways, oh great one. You’ve scattered your seed far and wide, Mr. Player.”
Cody caught my eye and sent an apologetic look. “Nope. No seed scattered. You’ve got me wrong, big guy.”
“Riiiiiight,” he said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “You learned that lesson the hard way with Tyler, didnya? Wrapped it up good after that.”
Wrapped it up… oh.
“One was plenty,” Cody agreed. “I’m definitely done.”
He’s definitely done.
My stomach dropped out. Cody didn’t say the words with that placating tone used with a drunk guy to shut him up. He said them like he meant them. Like there was no doubt in his mind. Like he was definitely done with having kids.