Page 31 of A Dash of Wolf

“Sure.”

“Why PADA? Why undercover work? That’s years of your life with no roots, no home.”

He was quiet for a long time. Long enough that she thought he wasn’t going to answer. “I wanted to make a difference. Take down the bad guys and protect the innocent.” He took a sip of his coffee. “But the truth is, I think I was hiding. It’s easy to disappear when that’s literally your job description. You don’t have to build anything permanent. You don’t have to stay.”

“And now?”

He smiled ruefully. “Now I find myself thinking about a certain kitchen witch who likes to get arrested a lot.” He reached over and brushed his hand across hers. “Now I’m sitting in a marsh at midnight with said kitchen witch, her equally quirky friend, and a talking cat. Oh, and I also have a goldfish waiting for me at home.” He turned his head and looked into her eyes. “I’d say I’m done hiding.”

For a second, she forgot to breathe. His words were still floating around in her head. What was he saying? Was he saying he wanted a relationship of some kind with her? She didn’t plan what happened next. She just closed her eyes and leaned forward. She felt his warm hand cup her cheek before she felt his lips on hers.

The kiss was soft at first. Gentle, even. Like he was just as afraid of the kiss as she was. Taking the initiative, she wound her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. She felt his hand slide into her hair as he deepened the kiss.

When they finally pulled apart, she was breathing hard.

“Baby, you’re a firework!” Princess Muffin Top’s voice rang out from somewhere in the trees.

Mason blinked. “Is that ‘Firework’ by Katy Perry?”

Adeline dropped her head against his shoulder and laughed. “She listens to whatever I listen to. Human music is a guilty pleasure of mine.”

He chuckled, causing her head to thump against his chest. “Good to know.” He lifted her face and gave her a quick kiss. “Come on. I’ll take you home.”

“What about the stakeout?”

“I can always come back later.”

“It’s technically Sunday,” she said. “I don’t open the bakery on Sundays. I could stay out later.”

He smiled. “Good to know that as a grown woman, you don’t have a curfew.” He stood and offered her his hand. She took it, and he pulled her to her feet. “Maybe another time we can stay out a little later. Tonight, I’m ready to call it a night.”

They packed up the blanket, the thermos, the snacks, and booze. Emory emerged from the trees with Princess Muffin Top trotting smugly beside her.

“How was the walk?” Adeline asked, unable to keep the grin off her face.

“Very informative,” Emory said, eyes sparkling. “I heard fireworks.”

“You heard Katy Perry,” Princess Muffin Top corrected.

Once the area was packed away, they said goodnight to the squish-quids and piled into Mason’s Tahoe—Emory and Princess Muffin Top in the back, Adeline in the front passenger seat.

“You know,” Adeline said. “This is the first time I’ve ridden in your vehicle without being under arrest.”

He chuckled. “Feels good, right?”

“I don’t like it,” Princess Muffin Top said. “Makes me feel like I’m cheating somehow.”

13

The Beaumont estate sat at the top of Lantern Hill, set back from the road behind a wrought-iron gate and a long drive lined with live oaks draped in Spanish moss. It was a sprawling three stories of white clapboard with black shutters on all the windows, tall marble columns across the front, and a deep wraparound porch. It had looked the same on the outside for as far back as Adeline could remember. And if she had to guess, the estate probably looked the same back when Adeline’s great-great-great-grandfather had it built about two hundred years ago. The only things that had been added were the electricity and plumbing. The Beaumonts didn’t exactly embrace change.

Adeline parked the Beetle Bus in the circular drive, right next to Grandmother Lavinia’s pearl-white Cadillac. She must have gone into town earlier because usually the car was in the three-car garage. Either that, or she wanted to remind Adeline what a proper Southern witch should drive around town.

“You could just drive away,” Princess Muffin Top suggested from the passenger seat. “I wouldn’t judge you.”

“Yes, you would.”

“You’re right. I absolutely would. But I’d do it quietly.”