As she sauntered off, the wolf playfully loped ahead andthen barked at her. When I noticed Mercy wasn’t coming out of the garage, I followed the direction Robyn had gone. Music blared from the far side of the yard, but it wasn’t the sort I listened to. In fact, it was similar to the hard metal stuff that Noah liked, only this music had words and not just screaming.
The first thing I noticed in the backyard was a dirt path that led to a barn and stable. Closer to the house was a covered well, which piqued my curiosity. A nearby lavender bush perfumed the air with a calming fragrance that was slightly overpowered by the smell of freshly cut grass.
I glanced up at the raised deck and recognized a man I’d seen with Archer at the bar. His dark blond hair fell past his shoulders, and he gave a charismatic smile when he caught sight of me.
“You didn’t tell me guests were coming over,” he said to no one in particular.
A Native woman stepped forward, her long silky hair caught on a breeze.
I smiled at her and crossed my arms.
Stop staring at them. Just look normal. It’s too late to wave at them.
Shut up, brain.
My inner voice stilled when I spotted Archer chopping wood at the opposite end of the yard. I almost didn’t recognize him in shorts. With his legs apart, he swung a long axe with his right arm and split the wood down the middle.
What is he doing here?
Enamored of his boundless energy, I swallowed hard at the visual of his taut leg muscles and sculpted rear end. His muscles flexed against his tight shirt, and when he set another log on the stump, he split it with ease. I gingerly touched the base of my throat, unable to strip my eyes away.
The man on the deck started singing “Afternoon Delight” in amelodious voice. After walking out of view, he did a running leap into a handstand on the railing.
The woman flicked a gaze between him and me and then lightly pushed his chest. “Quit showing off.”
The man tipped over, spun in midair, then shifted. His ivory wolf landed feetfirst, and after his clothes dropped around him, he chased his tail. Then he froze, front legs splayed, and looked at me with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. When he started chasing his tail again, I backed up.
“It’s always something,” the woman muttered. “Virgil!” She quickly descended the steps, her baggy pants catching my eye because of the vibrant blue shade. She swatted the wolf’s hindquarters. “You can’t shift in front of guests. If your wolf misbehaves?—”
Suddenly, the wolf named Virgil shifted back to a very naked man.
I spun around, and the heat on my face wasnotfrom the sun. While Shifters who lived in groups were undoubtedly used to nudity, I wasn’t raised in that environment.
“My gosh, Virgil. She just got here. Have you no shame?”
Virgil chuckled and said, “If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard that, I’d be a jillionaire.”
“Sorry,” the woman said, her voice drawing nearer. “I’m Hope, the Packmaster’s partner. Mercy said she was inviting a friend.”
I cautiously faced her. The man called Virgil zipped up his jeans and jauntily whistled a tune as he swaggered toward Archer.
“I’m Cecilia.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Mercy mentioned you’re opening a bookstore?”
I nodded.
She smiled warmly. “I’d love to come by sometime.”
Hope was slightly taller than me, but I was only five foot six, so that didn’t exactly make her an Amazon queen.
“Is everyone ready?” Mercy called while approaching our group. “Where’s Robyn?”
“She had to do something,” I answered. “She said she was coming in shortly but had to change first.” When I glanced around to search the area, all I saw was Archer swinging the axe.
A high-pitched whirring of a table saw made me cover one ear.
“Is that going to be the heat house?” I asked.
