Werewolf Sings the Blues (22 page)

“And you don't get to come into my pack and toy with my wolves'
lives, especially when you don't take time to get the full picture,” he practically roars.

I'm momentarily taken aback by his ferocity, even leaning back
on instinct. But only for a moment. I eat bullies for breakfast, and I'm fucking famished. I match his grimace. “Why do I get the feeling we're not talking about Adam anymore?” He doesn't respond. I take a step toward him. “Listen to me, asshole. You know nothing about me, and you sure as hell have no right to judge me or my motives. Not you, of all people. You lost that privilege twenty-eight years ago and you aren't going to earn it back now. So go fuck yourself,
Dad
.”

I twirl on my heels and stalk out. The hall is still full of happy families, and I stomp past them all to the front door. Outside. The moment I slam the door shut, I take a deep breath and let it out. Then another. I shouldn't care what he thinks about me. I really shouldn't. He hasn't earned that fucking right. Then why the hell do I feel like bursting into tears because deep down he thinks I'm a cold-hearted bitch?

Probably because I believe the same damn thing. Just gonna have to keep trying to prove us both wrong.

_____

Even with almost half the pack along for the trip, wrangling the kids proves a feat. It's like herding wolverine/roadrunner hybrids. They've either been sneaking sugar or crack, perhaps both behind my back, I don't know. The hellions sprint down the gravel driveway squealing and laughing in excitement. We haven't even gotten there yet and the activity's already a hit.

Adam takes point, so the majority of wrangling falls to him. We
haven't said a word to one another since the Mona incident as the few times I approached him, he rushed off to grab a wayward child. I'll corner him yet.

By the time we reach the beach, we're already drenched in sweat. So much for looking like a fresh yet sexy daisy for Jason. The
front of the pack dashes straight into the water, giggling and squealing intensifying so they can be heard all the way to Europe. As I watch them splash around while setting up the snacks and chairs, a smile creeps across my face. The barbarians may be at the gate but they can't touch us or our fun here. At least I've contrib
uted that. I wait until a swim trunk-clad Adam returns from
Jason's bungalow with more aquatic equipment before I venture to impose on Blondie's hospitality. Frank's words about meddling sing through my brain, but I flip the volume down as low as it'll go. There isn't an ounce of harm in getting Jason to join the festivities. At least I hope not.

I heard the band saw running when we walked past the bungalow on our way here, so I know he's in there. I let myself in through the patio door, making a beeline to the workshop. This time I knock before stepping in. Jason glances up from the workbench where he's sanding out the edges of the guitar he's been assembling. I wasn't who he was expecting judging from the way his mouth opens and closes but no words come out. God, I love how awkward he always is when he lays eyes on me. The word “adorable” doesn't begin to cover it. I give him a sweet smile as I step in.

“Hi. I've come to recruit you.”

“What?”

“We've invaded your beach. I'm claiming you as a POW and putting you to work, handsome. I've got almost a dozen Energizer Bunnies splashing around down there, including our niece and nephew, and not enough adults,” I lie.

“I don't—”

“Resistance is futile, Blondie. Don't make me pull out the big guns.”

“Big guns?”

“I have two incredibly cute twins on stand-by ready to whine, scream, and cry until their beloved Uncle Jason comes outside to play with them on this beautiful summer day.” Theatrically, I raise an eyebrow. “I'll do it. You know I fight dirty.” The sides of his mouth momentarily twitch up in a smile. Almost there. I saunter over to him, grin intact. “Seriously, though. It's a gorgeous day, the twins really do want to see you, and I could use another set of eyes. I don't really trust three teenage boys to pay attention to anything but a bikini-clad Claire. Please, Blondie?”

It takes a few seconds, but when he actually smiles back, I know I've got him. “Okay. Fine.”

My grin grows. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. You are an absolute prince.” I almost kiss his cheek but slam the brakes. Don't want to scare him off. “See you out there.”

That was easier than I thought. Of course who could turn down
a group of adorable children romping in the sunshine? I step out onto his wooden porch and stare down at the frolicking group. Adults paddle beside their kids, the older ones seem to be having a swim contest, and the few parents on the shore chat with others like we're at a barbeque. Carefree. I'll begin to enjoy it too once I take care of something.

Adam has set himself up as lifeguard sitting on the beach scanning the water. The last line of defense. After helping Mason tie his falling swim trunks, I grab one of the free folding chairs and drag it beside him. I know he clocked me since I started toward him, but he pretends not to notice until I'm right there. “Join you?”

“Sure,” he says with a quick smile. I sit and take off my shirt to get some sun. To his credit, Adam doesn't stare at my rack. “He coming down?”

“How'd you …” Damn I'm transparent. I chuckle. “Yeah.”

“Good.”

“Not gonna lecture me for meddling too?”

“Whatever gets him down here having fun with everyone, I'm okay with. Speaking of …”

He nods toward the path.
Damn
. If I had my way he'd never wear a shirt. Or pants. Or underpants. I'll settle him in blue swim trunks sans shirt, skin and hair literally glowing in the sun and highlighting all the contours of his hard-earned muscles. Once again …
damn
. I'm not the only one who appreciates the view. Claire, Mason's mother Terri, hell every woman takes a moment to drink him in. Of course no one is happier to see him than Dusty, though for an entirely different reason. The boy's mouth drops open and he sprints out of the water right into Jason's arms. It literally warms my heart to see Jason scoop the boy up, pulling him tight into a hug. The love passing between them is almost palpable. And growing thicker. Nicole wades out of the water too. Jason picks her up too as Dusty chatters away, through I'm too far away to hear the words.

“He's great with kids,” Adam says. I tear my eyes from this Rockwellesque portrait of family. “Loves them to death. Adults, not so much.”

“Yeah, picked that up. Any thoughts on how to fix it?”

“I've tried for years. By all means, take over. You got him down here with them. You're a damn miracle worker.”

His words bring another grin to my face. In spite of everything, I think I've smiled more in the past week than the entire month before. “Thank you,” I say.

“I only speak the truth,” Adam says.

“No, not for—well thank you for that too—but thank you for being nice to me, especially after getting you in hot water with
der Führer
.”

“You didn't get me in trouble, I did. I could have left or found an excuse.”

“No, this one's on me. Apparently I shouldn't have put you in that position. You just so obviously liked her, and you've been nice to me. I wanted to be nice back. I never in a million years thought I was doing anything wrong or out of bounds. I'm sorry you got chewed out because of me.”

“You couldn't have known,” Adam says.

“So I've been told.” I shake my head with a scoff. “Even when I try to do good, I fuck it up. No wonder I don't do it often.”

“You didn't fuck it up,” Adam insists. “You just … it's complicated.”

“What's so damn complicated? You obviously like her. She's single, you're single. I don't get it. It's none of Frank's business. He's not a dictator. He can't behead you for going on a date. Wait, can he?”

“No, nothing that severe,” Adam says with his usual quick smile.
I stare at my new friend for a few seconds, my eyes slowly narrowing to add pressure. I want the damn story. When my eyes are mere pinpoints he looks away, shaking his head. Worked on my ex-husband too. “She's a witch, I'm a werewolf. There are … issues, rules that forbid fraternization. If we ever decided to get married, especially have children, I'd have to go rogue. Leave the pack. My mother, my brother, Jace. I'd be all alone. I just don't think I could do that.”

“Jesus, are all you werewolves hopeless romantics?” I chuckle. “Just because you sleep with someone doesn't mean you have to marry them. A tumble in the hay may be enough to get her out of your system. Worked for me a time or two.”

Now it's his turn to stare at me. All of a sudden I feel naked, hell like I don't even have skin. He knows. Of course he knows. I'd be shocked if everyone on this beach didn't. I seriously want to take back those words. I have to look away. My gaze stops at Jason, who now has a line of boys waiting to be thrown straight up then down into the water, squealing with joy the whole time. “But not always,” I add. I square my jaw before turning back with a smile. “Still worth a try, right?”

“Not in this case.”

“Come on. Don't let Frank bully—”

“She's my mate. It wouldn't work,” he says with finality.

“So she's your mate. I don't …” I shake my head. I'm missing something again.

“I keep forgetting you're new here,” he chuckles. “Feels like I've known you for years. A mate …” He clears his throat. “It's like soul mates, I guess. The person you're meant to mate with. We don't know if it's pheromones or a magical psychic link, but when a werewolf meets his or her mate, they
know
it. And that desire, that knowledge does not go away no matter how much we fight it.”

I do a double take. “Why would you? It slashes through all the bullshit. You're meant to be. End of story. And there's no chance you'd tell the love of your life to fuck off like most of us probably do. Probably cuts the divorce rate down too.”

“Unless, like me, your mate is someone you can't be with,” Adam counters. “There have been others whose mate was already married, a … close family member, or someone couldn't overlook the werewolf factor and all it entails. If they find them at all. You know what it's like to be in love with someone and not be able to be with them? Not be able to touch them? Wake up next to them every day? To be around them when they barely know you exist? A carrot dangling forever a millimeter out of reach, and even if you grab it, you fall into the abyss below with no guarantee you'll reach the ground safe? Hell. It's pure hell.”

“I'm sorry,” I say, because what else can I say? “But … I don't know. If it's important to you, if
she's
important to you, and it's meant to be, you'll find a way. It may require sacrifice, compromise, but hell if true love isn't worth those things, what is?”

Those eyes of his study me for a few seconds. I'm getting sick of people not believing I'm being straight with them. “What if he lived thousands of miles from you? What if you had to leave your entire life, your friends, job, the whole shebang? Would
you
do it?”

“Me, personally?” I chuckle. “I live in a shithole apartment, I have no true friends to speak of, my career is going nowhere, and I have over fifteen grand in credit card debt and all that was before I was a wanted fugitive. Shit, there's nothing to leave behind.” A quick smile passes across Adam's face. “I'm sorry, does my miserable life amuse you?”

“Sorry, it's just … never mind.” He nods to the right. “Incoming.”

I turn to find Nicole sprinting toward me. “Aunt Vivian, I have to potty.”

“Okay,” I say, rising. “To be continued.” Adam smiles as Nicole slips her hand in mine and we start walking. “You having fun?”

“Uncle Jason threw me up in the air. It was cool. He's strong like Daddy. Mason was scared and wouldn't do it,” she says, super-seriously, “and he's a boy.”

“Well, I'll let you in on a secret, kiddo,” I say, matching her tone.
“Boys are always more scared than girls. That's why we have to do everything. We're a lot stronger than you think, and a lot stronger than them.”

“Okay,” my niece says as if my word is gospel.

When we return from answering nature's call, everything remains well in hand. Claire holds sentinel duty as Adam now officiates the swim race, and Mason and Dusty are sitting on the shore making a sandcastle. Jason stands a few feet away watching the boys as he dries his body. Even Claire is close to slack jawed as
he caresses his taught muscles with a towel. Blondie's oblivious
as always. Nicole toddles over to her brother and his activity, and I to mine. I retrieve two waters on the way. Being that gorgeous must take it out of a man.

“You look thirsty,” I say, handing Jason a bottle.

“Thank you.” He downs the water, even dribbling some on his chin. I watch with a raised eyebrow as he wipes his chest and chin with a towel again. Damn, just looking at this man makes my g-spot tingle.

“Remind me to bring drool buckets tomorrow.”

“Why?” he asks.

“Because every woman within eyeshot needs one right now,” I chuckle.

“Why?” he asks, genuinely confused.

I shake my head. “Never mind. Are you having fun?”

“I am. Thank you.”

“Well, the kids adore you, that's for damn sure. Should have recruited you earlier.”

“I'm not needed. You have more than enough help,” he says, face neutral though he's calling me out on my lie.

I keep my smile plastered on. “Can always use more, that's the God's honest truth.”