Page 82 of Pack Choice

“You couldn’t smell it on her?” he says, bringing the bottle to his lips and pausing, “couldn’t smell him inside her?”

“Shit,” I say, wiping the water from my eyes. “I mean the dude is a tank and he rescued her from the car wreckage last night–”

“So did I.”

“You’ve seen that movie, though. The one with Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner. They always fall for the bodyguard.”

“She says she wants a pack.”

“I don’t think that little thing knows what she wants. The way her cheeks get all pink when she’s around me and her breath goes all flustered and she smells … she smells so damn wet.” I close my eyes, sinking into the water. I’m getting hard just thinking about it. “You think we should have taken her up on her offer last night. Taken her home … together.”

“I don’t do that, River. I don’t share.”

“You used to,” I say for the second time this evening.

“Yeah,” he says, “but things change.”

Not for the first time, I wish they hadn’t.

20

Molly

“How do I look?”I ask Silver as we reach the door to Papa Joes. He insisted on Ford taking the night off and bringing me himself – which I hope is more to do with the long hours Ford’s been working and nothing to do with any suspicions he has about the two of us.

“For the hundredth time Molly, you look beautiful.”

“No lipstick on my teeth?” I pull back my lips and tip my face up in his direction. He shakes his head. “No flyaway hair?” I smooth down strands on my head.

“Nope, you look stunning.”

“Even with the …” I gesture my head towards the bandage on my arm.

“Even with that.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. It had taken me half an hour and an emergency call to Ava to choose my outfit. We opted for flirty but respectable, a light summer dress with capped sleeves and a knee-length skirt. It isn’t my sexiest outfit, but it somehow seemed appropriate for Pack Sensible.

“Are you going to wait outside?” I ask hopefully. There is nothing – nothing – like my brothers’ pack members to scare away would-be suitors.

“I will, but I’m coming in first to give the place a look around.” I groan. “If they’re put off by me taking your safety seriously, then they are not the pack for you, Moll.”

Like I haven’t heard that one a million times before. “Sure, but we don’t have to shove it in their faces, okay?”

“I can be subtle.”

I let my gaze fall down his giant form. “Like an elephant on a chicken farm.”

Silver ignores me, pushing the door open and I step inside. Immediately I spot Pack Sensible waiting for me at a table near the back. They see me too and stand. I plaster on my best friendly smile, weaving their way, and leaving Silver to do his Silvering thing.

As I draw closer, I get the first whiff of their scents. Pleasant, welcoming, unobtrusive. Nothing that stands out. Nothing to offend. I suppose that’s a good thing. A first plus in their favor.

I also notice that they are all pretty handsome with neatly clipped haircuts you’d find favored by your average bank employee. Two wear matching pairs of wire glasses, another a plaid shirt and the last a cute collection of freckles.

They are all in good shape.

So, well, that’s good, more pluses.

“Hi,” I say, “I’m Molly.”