“Do they live nearby?”
“Cognito.”
I listened to the soft jazz music and a pocket of laughter from a nearby table.“You must be lonely out here without them.”
He flicked his eyes up.“Are you kidding?I live in a house full of howling wolves.Two of my packmates go at it every night like they’re in a porno.”
I laughed brightly and reached for my wine.“Well, it’s nice to hearsomeonehas a healthy sex life.”When I realized how that sounded, I grabbed the reins on the conversation before we plummeted off a cliff.“Is there any special reason a Chitah joined a wolf pack?”
He ran his hand over his head, something I used to see him do when his hair was shaved.Only now, it rumpled his locks and gave him a sexy bedhead look.“It’s complicated.”
“Isn’t it always?Are you not close to your family?It happens all the time.”
“It’s not that.I needed a change.”
“Living with wolves—that’s quite a change.”After swallowing my wine, I set down the glass.“I thought cats and dogs didn’t get along,” I quipped.“Why a wolf pack?”
“I’m Lakota’s uncle.”
“I wondered about that!You have the same last name, but I assumed it was a coincidence.You don’t look remotely similar.”
Lucian took out his phone and checked it.“That’s because he’s adopted.There weren’t any good genes left for me anyhow,” he added while swiping through his phone.
“I’d care to disagree,” I murmured.
He swung his eyes up.“What?”
“Nothing.”
Lucian’s nose twitched.I could tell he was sampling the air, reading my emotions.
“Important call?”I asked.
“Just checking the security cameras.That’s my job.”
I loved a man who was passionate about his work.It reminded me what a procrastinator I was about setting up security in my own home.
Mercy Breedlove—a petite woman with a sassy attitude and a country accent—popped into view.“Lucian, I’ve been looking high and low for you.”
He put his phone away.“I know.”
When she recognized me, she flashed her pearly whites.“Hi, Miss Thompson!Is Lucian bothering you?”
“On the contrary, he rescued me from a rather sticky situation.”
She put her hands on her narrow hips and gave him a scrutinizing gaze.Mercy’s silver pixie cut, big eyes, and narrow features reminded me of a fairy, and she definitely had the energy of one.
I decided to rescue Lucian.“We were catching up since we haven’t seen each other in what—nine months?Work keeps me busy.I bet Joy’s new baby has been keeping everyone on their toes.I thought they would’ve brought her in public by now.I’ve seen Joy and Atticus on separate occasions, but not the baby.How’s she doing?”
“Oh, Violet’s a doll,” Mercy said with a comical rotation of her eyes.“Between all the diaper changes and midnight feedings, she sure as heckfire knows how to keep us from sleeping.Mind if I sit?”Mercy stole the empty spot next to me and fanned her face.
“Is Joy here tonight?”I asked.“I’d love to say hello.”
“She stayed home with the baby, but some of us wanted to go out and do our last-minute scheming.”
I twisted to face her.“Scheming?Do tell.I love a juicy secret.”
“Atticus invited us here to iron out the details for Hope’s baby shower.”
