I blow out my cheeks; apparently, there are small mercies left in the world. “Well, that’s just…horrible,” I murmur, but my brain is whirring. It would be a terrible thing to do to them, but if they can’t find me, they can’t stop me.
I walk out onto the jetty and find Mack and Devon standing on Devon’s boat talking. Devon has been a fixture in my life forever. He’s virtually like a brother and is Sebastian’s best friend. Mack grew up in town but went away when his parents died and came back as soon as he was old enough, searching for Sofia. It’s very romantic.
“Devon, Mack.”
They look up and hop off the boat, their smiles getting just a little wary when they see Fox.
“Hey, I’m Fox, and I’m Cordie’s match for the Light Knot Night event.”
He is charming and somewhat innocent. I’m not sure what it is, but as soon as he starts talking, whatever threat people perceive him having vanishes. He really is unlike any alpha I have ever met, and we get a fair few come through Sunshine Cove.
“Nice to meet you, Fox.”
I hand over the bag that Yolanda gave me. Devon’s eyes light up.
“The new flares and life jackets are in,” he purrs happily.
That explains the awkward size of it, and who gets that excited over life jackets, anyway? What is that about? I’ll have to ask Sofia why life jackets rev Devon’s engines.
“Have you got that book for Gwen?” I ask, distractedly. I’m trying really hard not to stare at Fox. He’s making it really hard.
Devon blinks owlishly, and I wonder if he’s ever picked up a book; he’s such an outdoorsy kind of guy.
Mack pulls it out and hands it to me. “You sure you don’t mind running it back?”
“Not at all, I have to go over for the swim lessons.”
I can feel Fox’s eyes staring at the side of my head, but I ignore him until I look down to see what Gwen is anxious to read.
I choke.
“Oh, would you look at that, it’s the new Lynn Marino novel,” Fox says with a curious lack of enthusiasm.
“Did you read this, Mack?” I ask, trying not to die.
“Oh, yeah. Sofia brought me a copy home last night. It was great. Romance, love, the banter. It was the most adorable thing.”
I half turn away, caught between a gag and a choking, hysterical giggle.No, please don’t tell me my book inspired- no, I can’t even think the thought.Kill it, kill it quickly.
Mack trails off, looking at Fox with wide eyes.
“Are you Wolf?”
Fox grumbles.
I snap my head around, staring at Mack, my mouth open wide, shocked. What. The. Hell?
I look back at Fox and try to be objective. I mean, sure, I’ve somehow managed to get his description bang on, but there has to be something different about him.
That’s it. I’ll find the differences and help these alphas understand that they have nothing in common other than surface things with my characters.
“I’m not Wolf. We’re here to find out how the author has gotten our descriptions so accurate, though.”
“What?” Mack almost shouts. “You’re kidding me. Here? In Sunshine Cove?”
“The author lives in this town, yes. We’re here to find them.”
Mack’s eyes get huge. “You want to find the person behind the pen name? What if it’s little old Aubergine Samuel?”
