Page 53 of A Wolf in the Garden

“Ellie, you can’t.”

“I can. Tell me what I need to know, Boss, and make it quick.”

He doesn’t even fight me on it, which shows just how bad it is. “Okay. Talk to Tevita; he’s the bar manager for the day. He’ll get you an apron. I owe you big time for this, baby. I can’t believe—”

“Shhh, it’s fine.” I step between his legs, cradling his head against my chest, and he groans, biting gently at the curve of one breast. “Let me take care of it, and then tonight I’ll take care of you.”

“What?”

“Don’twhatme. I know what you werewolves are into,” I say, only half joking. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed how the moon has been affecting you.”

He huffs against my cleavage, his tongue darting out to taste my skin. “Thank you.”

* * *

The crowd at Lost Moon begins to thin not long after I start helping out. I hear the odd‘Where did he go?’and‘Do you really think he turns into a monster?’as I pass by tables, but by time four o’clock rolls around, there’s only a handful of groups that we need to usher out. I help Tevita phone a few taxis to come pick up the drunk stragglers, and then head out with him to comb the grounds for any leftover glassware. We chat about our backgrounds — he was born in Tonga, but grew up in Auckland — and how strange things have been since the Unravelling occurred. Basically, it’s the same conversation I have with new acquaintances all the time; these days, it’s the Unravelling we all talk about, rather than the weather.

“So, you’re designing the new outdoor stuff here?”

“Yeah. We’re getting the contractors in next week to start.”

He nods, placing another empty glass in the cardboard box we’ve been carrying between us. “And you know Evander… personally?”

Tevita has a very likeable air about him, and I can definitely see us becoming fast friends. Still, I can feel myself blushing. “Ah…”

“Forget I asked.”

“Nah, it’s okay. I’ve known him since I was three. His family used to holiday in my hometown up in Northland.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously. He only just arrived back in New Zealand, so we’ve been reconnecting.”

“Reconnecting, eh?”

I duck into the neighbouring row of vines so he can’t see how red my face has gone. “Something like that!” I yell out, and hear him laugh from the other side.

Once I’ve cleared my current row — there were just a few napkins, blown about — I rejoin Tevita. He reaches for another wine glass, fallen on its side under the curling tendrils of a grapevine, his sleeve rolled up, revealing the traditional tattoo on his forearm. When he stands, he nods at something over my shoulder.

“There’s the boss. Hope he's feeling okay, he was looking pretty tense before.”

I turn to see Van cross the deck of the outdoor bar, a fair distance away from our spot halfway down the first block of vines.

“He’ll be fine, he’s a big boy.”

Tevita snorts, and I cringe. “I didn’t mean it like that!”

“Sure, babes. Has he got any brothers?”

My laugh is loud, and I see Van's head turn in our direction. I wave to him, and Tevita nudges me, warm brown eyes crinkling with his smile. “You go see your man, and I'll finish up here. Thanks for your help today, we were slammed with all those unexpected customers.”

“You won't be hanging around too long, right?”

“Nah, he made it pretty clear we had to all be gone by six. Fair enough.” He pauses, concern flitting over his features. “You're gonna be okay here, eh? I hate to ask, but with the moon, I mean, you hear stories…”

Anticipation skitters up my spine. “I’ll be fine. No need to worry about me.”

Twelve

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