Page 17 of Triumph of the Wolf (Magnetic Magic #6)
“For the record, if something were to happen…” Duncan glanced at me. “I wouldn’t want anything to occur against your wishes, but as I’ve made your fine acquaintance and re-contemplated fatherhood of late, I’ve found the notion of a child less unappealing.”
For some reason, my cheeks warmed. Maybe because he’d briefly looked at my chest when he’d remarked on my fine acquaintance. Or maybe just because we were discussing things that could only result once we had— finally had—a physical relationship.
“That’s a little surprising,” I said, “given that the kid you’re trying to practice fatherhood on is plotting your demise.”
“Yes, but he accepted the Mickey Mouse canister while doing so.”
“You’re winning him over.”
“I’d like to think so. Anyway—” Duncan waved a vague hand, “—I certainly wouldn’t want to push you into something you’re not interested in, but just know that if you were ever to become interested…
Well, I suppose it’s premature to discuss such things.
We haven’t even… not that I don’t want to…
” He waved his hand again, his eyes focused on the road.
“Duncan, are you flustered?”
“Certainly not. I’m far too mature and self-assured to feel such an emotion.”
I gazed over at him.
He pinched his thumb and forefinger together in the air. “Perhaps, due to the influence of the medallion, I’m the tiniest bit… disconcerted.”
“My mom complicates it all too.” If not for her, the thought of having more children wouldn’t be occupying any nooks of my mind.
“She does seem to be a complicated—or maybe complicating—woman.”
“She’s from another era,” I said. “And devoted to the safety and continuation of the pack. Never mind that she has full-blooded werewolf grandchildren already, thanks to my half-siblings. They just weren’t born of your loins.”
“Terribly distressing for them, I’m certain.”
“Mom is into your old-world blood.”
“Don’t remind me. When I took off my clothes to change into the bipedfuris in her room, she studied me a lot like Abrams always did.”
“Like a scientist, huh?”
“I much prefer the way you study me.”
“Like a randy housewife ogling a pool boy?”
“Well, like a randy property manager longing for a night of wild abandon after dealing with the demands of needy tenants.”
“That’s less of a simile and more right on point.”
“I figured.” Duncan smiled at me before taking the exit for Monroe.
“Why don’t we do our best to tamp down our randy thoughts today?
” I suggested, glancing at his medallion.
“And then, after we deal with Abrams and have another date, sans influential magical artifacts, we can let ourselves fully enjoy each other’s company?
” We could have done that the night before if not for ghost hunters in the parking lot and Abrams’s kidnapping attempt.
No, not an attempt. He’d succeeded in kidnapping a wolf. Just not the right wolf. I also felt obligated to find Izzy before letting myself have another date.
“Must we deal with him first?” Duncan asked. “He’s a pest. It could take days or weeks before I’m able to find him and convince him to leave us alone.”
“If you have a reward waiting for you, then there will be more incentive for you to finish that task quickly.”
“A reward, you say? More mushroom chocolate?”
When he glanced over, I unbuttoned a couple of buttons and let my finger trace the outline of my breast.
“Oh yes, that would be a most appealing reward,” he murmured.
“Even better than a rusty Mickey Mouse tin?”
“Oh my. I might trade both tins for it. For you.” Duncan managed to give me a sultry look while navigating around the first of the potholes on the way up to Mom’s cabin.
“Goodness. You know how to make a woman feel sexy and desirable.”
He started to reply, but something up the road drew his attention.
I followed his gaze, wondering if the pack might be chasing off more real estate agents.
Still a ways from Mom’s driveway, we were approaching the frog pond.
Surprisingly, numerous trucks and SUVs were parked in a queue in front of it, taking up half of the narrow road.
Duncan was forced to slow down.
I scratched my jaw as I peered through the windows and looked at the sides of the vehicles for signs. One Toyota looked familiar, but I couldn’t place it. Maybe a similar one belonged to one of my tenants. It was a common make of car.
Of all the vehicles, only one had writing on the door, and it wasn’t the vehicle of the real estate agent that the pack had chased off. The sign read Sierra Surveying .
“We’re not near the property with the for-sale sign.” I pointed farther up the road, remembering that was around a bend and on the opposite side from the frog pond and Mom’s cabin.
They had to be surveying another parcel, but why would so many people be here for that?
“I don’t sense anyone magical about or see anyone in the cars.” Duncan stopped even with a green truck, the foremost vehicle in the queue.
“Maybe someone has listed another property for sale—without informing the owner—and these people are here to check it out.” I thought of the company Jasmine’s dad had dug up, the outfit planning to put a resort in nearby.
They had to be responsible for this. Who else would be trying to buy up land here?
“Do you want to park and try to find the owners of these cars?” Duncan tapped his nose. “This many ought to be easy to track down, even without changing into a wolf.”
I started to shake my head, figuring we could tell Mom and Lorenzo, and they could send the pack to scare off these guys. But my gaze went back to that Toyota. With a start, I realized why it looked familiar. The night before, Chad had driven it out of the parking lot at Sylvan Serenity.
It was probably a coincidence. There were tons of brown Toyotas. And why the heck would Chad be up here? He didn’t even know where my family lived.
Still…
“Yeah,” I answered. “Park, please.”
As soon as Duncan did, I hopped out and walked to the Toyota. I hadn’t paid any attention to the license plate the night before, so I couldn’t say if they matched, but…
“I think this is a rental car,” I stated.
Duncan had paused to peer into the driver-side window of the surveyor’s car, but he joined me. The Toyota must not have made an impression on him because he didn’t remark on the coincidence. Of course, he’d been the bipedfuris, and cars didn’t stand out as important to wolves.
His nostrils twitched, however, and his head came up. He growled, managing to sound feral and deadly even in his human form, and his eyes slitted with displeasure. “I smell your ex-husband’s scent.”
I nodded. “Let’s track these people down and see what they’re up to.”
Duncan growled again.