She looked up. “He was protecting you?”
I nodded once.
Her fingers flew over her bracelet with her eyes steadfast on her work. “And now your guest no longer has a criminal background.” She tapped once more on her bracelet, and lowered her arms, looking back and forth between us. “Her wedding guest is approved.”
I blinked. Blinked again.
Then I leaned forward, and whispered, “Was that legal?”
Her eyes held mine for a long moment, then she stated, “Yes.”
I couldn’t tell if she was lying or not.
Alaric grabbed my hand quickly and pulled me away toward the front door. “Poppy, we’ll see you soon. Before the wedding. We’ll go out to eat.”
She nodded, a smile flirting on her lips. “Don’t get yourself into too much trouble out there before then. I’d hate to embarrass you in front of your fiancée by having to save your ass.”
“Never happening.”
Poppy snickered. “Never say never.”
“Let’s go, Cass,” Alaric called. Ordered.
The brooding fox glided around the redhead, not glancing back at her as he followed us outside, his fur coattails pushing back from his feet as he walked at a fast clip.
Cass glared at my future husband when we were on the sidewalk—a good half block away from the building. “That went well.”
Alaric snorted. “That was all on you, buddy.”
I sighed. “How about you guys have this conversation in that store…,” I pointed a finger across the street, “…right there. I need to buy something.”
Alaric peered into my eyes. “What do you need?”
“A winter coat. It’s colder than shit out here!” I shrieked, my body instantly lifted into Alaric’s arms. I gasped. “What are you doing?”
He looked both ways before crossing the road. When it was completely clear, the man finally crossed. Dark brown eyes stared down into mine, his words soft—but hard, “You aren’t doing anything even remotely dangerous until we’ve had sex. Then…I won’t have to worry so much.”
I blinked and then wrapped my arms around his neck. “I’ll be immortal then.”
“Exactly. But I’m not rushing it. It’ll happen when it happens.”
Cass strode next to us and snorted. “Expect to be put in bubble wrap until that blessed day arrives.”
I turned my head in his direction. “What’s bubble wrap?”
Cass simply stared straight ahead where he was walking. “Damn, I feel old.”
Alaric grunted, not at all winded carrying me into the store where he gently let me down on my feet.
I snickered quietly. “Well, you both are. We’ll have to have a big birthday bash when you guys turn two hundred.” Then my eyes caught on all the pretties inside the store. “Oh, I’m going to have so much fun in here.”
Cass laughed loud and clear, attracting many lovely women who observed him with interest. “She’s a shopper. That’s an added bonus.”
“Fuck you. I don’t hate it as much as I used to when we were younger. I only hate it…a little…now,” Alaric griped. Then he turned his attention to me, lifting his arm toward the clothing selections. “Have at it, Faith. My treat.”
I squealed and disappeared into the clothes.
Free clothes? Hell yes.
