“Thank you, Fairy Godmother,” Clarice replied. “My pumpkin is waiting!”
18
BRUNO
“Thank you so much for taking Gil,” Bruno said, already feeling guilty for the additional chaos he was bringing to Vivian’s house. There was a young golden retriever trying to climb up his leg, Shane was shrieking for the puppy, and Tara was watching the action with a disapproving frown from behind the edge of the couch.
“IT’S A PUPPY!” Gil crowed.
“It’s my puppy,” Tara protested quietly. “His name is Lucky.”
When Bruno pushed Lucky gently down, he did a rambunctious lap of the room and nearly bowled Gil over on his return trip.
“A PUPPY!” Gil abandoned his backpack and tackled the dog.
“It’s my puppy!” Tara whispered, near tears.
Shane yelled for attention and Vivian said loudly, “Who wants to take the puppy outside to play?”
“You are a saint,” Bruno said. “I owe you.”
“Shifter parents have to look out for each other,” Vivian said serenely as half of the household tumbled out the back door. “I understand you’re going out with Veronica’s assistant. Do you think that’s…wise?”
“I’m not dating Veronica,” Bruno pointed out defensively.
“No, of course not,” Vivian said. “I didn’t mean to pry. She’s just asked a lot of uncomfortable questions about shifters. It’s possible that she’s setting Clarice up to spy on you.”
Bruno had considered that possibility, very seriously. It was hard enough dating as the single dad of a very active boy. The fact that he had secrets to protect, both his and Gil’s, complicated things even more. But instinct continued to insist that this was fine, that Gil was safe, that everything was happening like it was supposed to. Sometimes, the longest line at the store moved the fastest.
“I’ll be careful,” Bruno promised. He wasn’t sure if he should tell her that his instinct was on board. Vivian wasn’t a shifter herself, and Bruno didn’t know how much sheunderstoodit. He remembered all over again why he’d sworn he wouldn’t date someone who wasn’t a shifter.
She suddenly swiveled, as if supernaturally aware of the toddler behind her reaching for the back doorknob. “Shane, honey, you need boots to go outside!”
“Thanks again!” Bruno latched the door behind him as Vivian chased down the toddler with footwear.
He took a deep breath and got into his truck to drive to the restaurant.
Clarice’s car was already parked out front, but Bruno didn’t recognize her at first when he went inside.
She wasn’t wearing glasses or a sweater. Her hair had been curled and styled, held back by invisible pins instead of colorful barrettes. Her dress was a shimmery dark greenthat made her hair look more golden than before, and her eyes, when she turned to greet him, looked hazel.
Even the planes of her cheeks were unfamiliar, and Bruno had to search her face to find the Clarice he had come here to meet.
She was still there, in the hesitant smile and the self-conscious, apologetic way that she handed the white wool coat she’d taken off to the hostess.
“Hi,” Bruno said, feeling rather bowled over and underdressed wearing jeans and a button-up shirt.
“Hi!” she said eagerly back. “You look great!”
“You look…amazing.”
Only Clarice’s ears colored, suggesting that she was wearing makeup over the rest of her face. “Thank you. Veronica helped me get ready.”
Veronica. Bruno remembered Vivian’s gentle concern, but it was hard to believe that Clarice could possibly be a part of her machinations.
“Your table is this way,” the hostess said, leading them into the restaurant.
Bruno wasn’t surprised that they attracted a certain amount of notice from the other diners; Clarice looked like a curvy celebrity on a red carpet.
