Page 14 of The President

I nod, only slightly mollified. “Is that why Zephyr Hills is the way it is?” I query. “I mean, I know there are human residents, of course, but are they like the town secret keepers or something?”

“That’s one way to look at them, Vivi. We want any shifter who is seeking asylum to know they’ll always be safe here. While I don’t anticipate thereeverbeing any issues, trust me when I say that the club is prepared to handle any kind of threat, okay?”

“Okay. Plus, I’m sure your wolf would lose his mind if there was ever one against me.”

A low, rumbling growl comes from his chest and my eyes widen when I see his wolf peering through his own hazel orbs. “Hello, handsome,” I coo. “I definitely get the message. You’ll shred anyone who tries to hurt me.”

Fox shakes his head at me, chuckling. “Babe, really?”

“Yes, really. He’s part of you, Fox, and it might be archaic of me to say this, but I kind of like the fact that he’d show his fuzzy butt and decimate anyone who sought to harm me.”

“Fuzzy butt?” he whispers.

“Yeah,” I reply, my tone sassy. “But I’m sure I’m the only one who will think that way, because he’ll be all gnashing teeth and wicked claws.”

He pulls me closer to him and proceeds to kiss me senseless. I’d say breathless, but that’s a given at this point. Each and every lip lock makes me want to swoon, much like the Victorian heroines of the historic romances I occasionally enjoy reading.

“Okay, and you be sure to pack a bag because you’re staying with me,” he states.

Oh, Ilikeslightly bossy Fox. A lot. “Okay,” I whisper.

“I’ll be sure to touch bases with you later on to make sure your girl and your father arrive safe and sound,” he continues.

“Alright.”

“Babe,” he murmurs, leaning his forehead against mine. “You okay?”

“Mmhm. I’m in a Fox fugue,” I reply.

Pulling away, he grabs my hand as we walk toward my door. “Make sure you lock everything up, Vivi,” he says.

“I will, Fox.”

One more delicious, too-short-for-my-liking kiss later, and he’s gone, leaving me to wait for Angie and Dad to arrive.

Several hours later, I hear the doorbell and stop stirring the pot on the stove to hurry downstairs. Once I make sure it’s them, I open the door and usher them inside. At least they each thought to grab a duffel bag.

“Come in, come in,” I encourage. “The apartment’s straight up the stairs and the door’s already open.”

Once they start up to the apartment, I close and lock the door and reset the alarm, then hurry behind them. “Okay, the five-cent tour is somewhat short and sweet,” I say, after I’m through my front door. “We’re in the living room, and through that arch is the kitchen. Straight ahead, there’s a full bath, then the guest bedroom on the right, my bedroom and ensuite on the left, and the laundry cove behind the doors at the end of the hall.”

“This is really cute,” Angie says, tossing her bag down and engulfing me in a hug. “And what, pray tell, is a laundry cove?”

I giggle then take her hand and practically drag her toward the doors that hide my washer and dryer. Once I slide the doors open, I wave my arms. “See? Laundry cove. It’s not an actual room, of course, and I thought it sounded cute.”

“Here, let me hug my girl,” Dad says, coming up behind us. I turn and fall into his arms, emotion rolling over me. I know that Alpha Dawson tried to push his way onto my dad, so I bear no ill will. Still, I’m glad he decided to come with Angie.

“Glad you’re here, Dad. So, are you two hungry? I have some beef vegetable soup on the stove,” I ask.

“Goddess, yes,” Angie replies. “We’ve been living on energy drinks the past few hours, so I’m jacked all the way up. Maybe some food will help kill the adrenaline.”

“Then let’s get to it because I’m sure you’re both exhausted as well.”

Chapter Eight

Fox

“So, we’re having a cookout this weekend, huh?” Ledger, our club treasurer, asks. “Guess I need to give Nonna the club card to do the shopping?”

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