Two
Monday night, Gillian showed up for work in a damned good mood.
Phil noticed.“Well?”
She grinned.“I’m certain I aced it.We get our grades later this week.”
He held his hand up for a high-five.“Atta girl.”
The evening was a little slow so she pitched in with back-of-house chores when Phil sought her out.“Table eight requested you.”
She washed her hands.“I hope it’s not the parents from the other night with the sundae-slinging brat.”The weather was still hot and sticky, but at least had dropped to highs in the mid-90s.
“No.Older guy.Here by himself.”He leaned in.“Kind of haggard looking.If he gives you any trouble, signal me, and I’ll step in.”
“What?”She walked toward the kitchen doors, passing Phil.
“Yeah.One-eyed guy, sounds like he’s from England or something.”
Gillian nearly fell over she stopped so fast and backed up a step.“Scottish?Red hair?Scar down his face?Looks like a fireplug and a bulldog had babies?”
He cocked his head.“Yeah!You know him?”
It wasn’t like any other shifter fit Badger’s description.She took a deep breath.“I do.He’s an old family friend.Don’t worry—he’s harmless.”
But I’m going to KILL Mom.
Technically it was the truth, although she might have intimated a closer personal relationship than she really had with the guy.
She stalked out to the table, which of course was a booth in the back, giving him a little privacy.She forced a smile as she pulled out her notepad to look like she was doing her job.
“Hi, Mr.Williams,” she whispered, barely making any noise.A human wouldn’t have heard her but she knew the grizzled old Prime Alpha wolf shifter did.
“Now, what’sthatnonsense?”he whispered back.“Ye can call me Badger.Most do.”
“Let me guess, you got a call from my mom?”
He smiled and softly chuckled.“Aye, lass.She seems to think Jack the Ripper camps outside yer apartment door an’ Ted Bundy is yer neighbor.Oh, an’ ye might be workin’ for the Zodiac Killer.”He held out a hand, indicating she take a seat in the other side of the booth.
With Badger, saying “no” to him was not an option.
Returning her notepad to her apron, she slid into the other seat and leaned in.“I’mreallysorry,” she whispered.“I talked to Mom Friday night and she was on my ass again about living out here.”
“Ye can tell me to mind my business, if ye like, but is there a reason yer workin’…” He looked around before returning his single blue-eyed gaze to hers.“Here?”
She didn’t know how to talk about this, especially with him of all people.
HIM!
Charles Bleacke’s best friend and his second in command of the pack.Formerly the best friend and second to their previous Pack Alpha, Duncan Lister, who’d been Chelsea Bleacke’s father.Gillian didn’t know for sure how old Badger was but she suspected he neared 300, if not older.
Now Badger’s primary job was raising little Dewi Bleacke, Peyton and Trent’s sister.Gillian had met Badger Williams plenty of times at Musters and other pack events, but never interacted with him in a personal way like this.
Sensing her discomfort, he held out a hand.
Steeling herself—because she knew he was a Prime Alpha—she laid her hand in his.
Then she could have the conversation with him mentally, explaining everything rapidly with no worries of clueless humans overhearing.
