Cindy nodded. “That was probably very distressing. Where have you settled?”
“She sent us to Chicago,” Olivia said, visibly trying to suppress her annoyance. “We don’t like the snow.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Even if you don’t choose to join our pack here, you can petition the National President to join another.”
“He’s said that he won’t be making any changes to the Mesa Pack members until they’ve been in place twelve months,” Tasha interjected, putting a hand on her mother’s arm.
“That makes sense,” Cindy mused. “Gives everyone a chance to try and settle in before making any further moves. To ensure they give their new pack a fair try, and the new pack gives them the same.” She felt for the girl, who was clearly embarrassed by her mother.
“It means my daughter would be uprooted again. Nobody seems to be considering the children in this mess,” Olivia argued.
Cindy didn’t really see how that would be different if the Keogh’s moved now, or after the year was up, but it didn’t seem like the right time to argue the issue. “That’s a good point. If you decide you’d like to join us, feel free to mention that to Myra and Adam, I’m sure it would be an important consideration. If you’ll excuse me, it looks like we need more chips.” She gestured to the table laden with food, gave an encouraging smile to Tasha, and walked to the kitchen.
Okay, maybe she could have handled that better, but she’d liked the girl and wanted to give her a chance.
She opened the pantry and pulled out a bag of tortilla chips, ripped it open and stuck one in her mouth as she headed back out. And nearly walked into the man she’d seen entering the house not long ago.
“Mmph, sorry,” she mumbled around her food, managing to stop just short of his chest.
“No need.” His voice was deep, and it sent a tiny shiver down her spine.
She blinked up at him and stared. His eyes were grayish-green with a dark green circle around the iris. She blinked again, blushed at having been staring at his eyes, and managed to swallow her chip without choking on it.
He smiled at her, and she was pretty sure her heart skipped a beat. His dark brown hair flopped over his forehead in messy curls that she wanted to brush through with her fingers.
“Any idea where a guy might find a bottle opener around here?” he asked, holding up a dark ale.
She frowned, having left two of the darn things on the drinks table. “Yes, they should be over here somewhere,” she said, leading the way back to the table. She found one underneath a damp napkin and held it out for him, then searched out the second one, which had somehow ended up behind the tub of ice and beer.
“Thanks, you’re a life saver. My name’s Jonas. Jonas Toland.” He held his hand out to her after wiping the dampness from the bottle onto his jeans.
“Cindy McCarthy.” She took his hand—and felt a burst of warmth deep in her belly.
He squeezed gently, then rubbed at her hand a bit with his thumb. A move she’d found gross from another man years before now felt like just the thing she needed to know that this guy was as interested in her as she was in him.
The sound of someone clearing their throat next to her startled her. She pulled on her hand, but he didn’t release it, merely turned his attention to Adam and Myra, who’d walked up to them. Adam introduced Myra, and only when Jonas had to shake the alpha’s hand did he release his hold on Cindy.
“So, Jonas. You’re thinking about moving packs?” Adam asked. “You didn’t mention anything when I was in Mountain View.”
“Well, no, I wasn’t. My parents are thinking of leaving New York, though. I met them here, wanted to introduce them to you, give them a chance to take a look around.” He motioned to the older couple he’d come in with, in deep conversation with someone on the other side of the room. “Where are you from, Cindy? Are you thinking of joining up with this lot, too?”
“Actually, I already have.”
“She’s our first official member. And my best friend,” Myra told him.
“New Mexico’s charms are growing on me,” Jonas said, his gaze on Cindy filled with a heat that she felt like a brand.
“Well. Okay then,” Adam said. “We’ll just go introduce ourselves to your parents.”
“I would love if we can get some elders to join,” Myra said. “A pack needs the right balance of experience and youth, wisdom and energy.”
Jonas nodded, but didn’t say anything. Didn’t take his eyes off Cindy.
“Maybe you’d like a tour of the house,” she suggested.
“Absolutely, if you’re the one giving it.”
She offered her hand, girlishly pleased when he took it without hesitation and followed her out of the room.
