Page 30 of Wild Card

I nod, struggling against the urge to brush my lips over her temple.

In a sense, it’s strange to have someone so close, but in another way, it’s easy.

Lennox goes full-blown helper elf and decorates the edge of the bar with intertwined garland and lights.

She took over my music controls, and I didn’t put up a fight, even though Christmas music kinda makes me want to claw my own eardrums out.

Apparently, having Lennox around puts me in the holiday spirit.

I would gather it’s the undeniable urge to coax more smiles out of her. Climbing down the ladder to move it to a new spot, I almost miss a damn step because I’m too fascinated by watching her dance around the bar like she’s looking for her next project.

Dammit.

I’ve never been feral before, but earlier, I found myself contemplating ways to burn down The Exchange without being arrested for arson.

That might be a bad sign.

In no universe do I plan to let her escape. If she truly wanted to find another pack, then she shouldn’t have smiled so sweetly or cuddled up in my lap.

Shit.

Maybe I’m as bad as those alphas they tranquilize because they’re about to go rabid.

No, I’m not a danger to her.

Rush and I need to have a meeting ASAP about how to make her so happy she never tries to leave. That way, she can think it was her choice all along.

Dry Dock is officially dripping in Christmas cheer.

Jacky came in a while ago, and her sly smiles are starting to give me indigestion. There’s no reason she should be so chipper. Yeah, we lucked out with a few more employees tonight than we had last night, but it’s never a good sign when she thinks something is funny.

I fight the urge to bare my teeth at her. She’s a damn good employee, who has been around since my dads ran this place, but she’s officially on my last nerve.

Finally managing to staple up the last of the lights, I climb off the ladder.

Hopefully, this is the final time.

I’ve got to get Shera home and Lennox back to the bed-and-breakfast before we open.

I spin around, and my hands fall to rest on Lennox’s hips, since she almost got barreled over by my giant ass. “It looks great. You did an incredible job.”

“Thank you.” She beams, and it makes my heart beat funny. “Jacky mentioned how short-staffed you are because of the holidays.” Her small hands come to rest on my chest, like we’re more familiar with each other than we truly are. “Guess what?”

My eyes fly to find Jacky, but she refuses to make eye contact.

I’m going to have to fire her.

“What?” I ask, offering Lennox a smile, so she won’t think I’m upset with her.

“I’m a waitress. I worked in a club in New York for six months, and before that, I served in a restaurant.” She grins back, bouncing on her toes. “I can totally help out, and you don’t even need to pay me. It’ll be something fun to help me pass the time.”

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from saying something that would come off as rude.

My instincts want me to growl No fucking way is that happening. She garnered way too much attention last night. I barely got any work done because I was too obsessed with where she was.

“You don’t have to do that.” I give her sides a reassuring squeeze.

Her nose wrinkles.

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