Page 18 of Kin of the Wolf

I not only dragged mypersonal Christmas tree out of storage but put up the big outdoor one for the complex. The decorating included draping strings of lights all over it and the lampposts. While I worked near the parking lot, I eyed the entrance every time a car drove in, dreading the arrival of the police. Surely, the store owners had shared the video footage of me—in both incarnations of myself—with the authorities by now.

Instead, Duncan’s Roadtrek turned in and presumptuously parked in one of the staff spots next to my truck. Since he stepped out with a box of groceries containing more than cartons of eggs and packages of bacon, I didn’t berate him.

“We were interrupted earlier,” he said as he walked up with the load, “so I didn’t get to acquire your supplies.”

“I still have your hundred.” I dug into my pocket and held it out, glad it had been in the jacket that I’d removed before changing. One of my favorite pairs of jeans and a super soft hoodie had disappeared into the ether. Fortunately, I’d made a Goodwill trip earlier in the week and had picked up a few things.

Duncan eyed the bill. “I’d tell you to keep it, but I suspect I’d later find it on my dash with your gas money.”

“That’s right. This was your money to start with.” I waved it toward the box. “What’s all that? More than bacon and eggs.”

“Yup. I heard you’re going to have another mouth to feed. And we all know how bigmymouth is.”

“I’m not sure that’s a bragging point, buddy.”

“Perhaps not.”

“You were listening to my phone call?”

“Not intentionally, but my hearing is excellent, and you didn’t wander far before answering it. Will you allow me to meet your son or hide me away like an embarrassing foot wart?” Duncan smiled as he asked, but there was an intentness in his brown eyes, as if my answer might matter.

Did hewantto meet my son? When he’d met the rest of my family—the werewolf side of my family—they’d tried to kill him. All except my niece Jasmine, who thought he had a sexy accent. Admittedly, Mom hadn’t attacked him, but she was old and had cancer. I needed to visit her this holiday season too, even if she’d informed me on numerous occasions that werewolves weren’t Christian and didn’t celebrate Christmas. She hadn’t been amused when I, as a rebellious teenager, had draped tinsel over her tail.

“I’m not sure how I’llexplainyou,” I said, “but Austin will probably love you. You live in a van full of geeky tech equipment.”

“Itisa posh setup.”

“So posh that I had to sit on your gear shift this morning because there was so much crap in the seat well that it overflowed.”

“Next time, you can sit in my lap. You know, for your comfort.”

“I’d still get pronged by something.”

He grinned wickedly as he took the hundred and nodded in the direction of my apartment. “May I put these items in your fridge?”

“Yes, thank you. Oh, and there’s a stack of clothing on the table for you.”

“Clothing?”

“We’ve both had a few unexpected changes of late. I used some of my clothing budget to pick up a few things for you.”

“That’s very thoughtful.” Duncan looked a little bemused—maybe women didn’t buy him clothing that often—but bowed and said, “Thank you.” After taking a couple of steps, he paused. “After you’re finished there, do you want to use some of the geeky equipment in my van to examine your case?”

I glanced at the time on my phone. Darkness had fallen, and it was after five. The calls from tenants and prospective tenants had dwindled, and I was technically off for the day.

“Okay.”

“I have a special treat waiting for you in there,” he called as he carried the groceries up the walkway.

“I’m not sitting in your lap,” I called after him.

He grinned back over his shoulder at me. It was a handsome grin, and I couldn’t help but return it. I tried to rub the expression off my face and tamp down my feelings. There was too much to do—too many problems to solve—and now, with Austin coming soon, I had a deadline.

I didn’t truly know if I would introduce Duncan to him since my sons might see it as a betrayal if I dated someone besides their father. But, after all the help Duncan had given me, I also didn’t want to shoo him away and tell him not to park here until after the holidays. Since he was a visitor to the Seattle area, he probably didn’t have any other friends or family here that he could celebrate with. Of course, if he followed my mom’s beliefs, he would be indifferent to Christmas—unless I draped tinsel over his tail.

My phone rang, a number I didn’t recognize, and I answered it warily. “Hello?”

“Hello, is this the werewolf?” a woman with a stern voice asked.

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