Page 13 of Good Luck Charm for the Wolf

“That’s Doug. You met him at Horace’s.”

“Oh,” I reply noncommittally.

He’s slouched in the chair, and I frown because he’s a big guy. Athletically built.

But he must be accident prone as all get to be sporting that many fresh bruises. Or maybe he’s just really unlucky.

Either way he looks miserable, and the very angry hives on his skin must be itching him like hell.

“He’s in trouble and Horace is trying to help,” Carina fills me in.

I nod, but I am already moving to the soda fountain where, instead of making myself a tall glass of delicious iced green tea, I grab a plastic baggie and fill it with ice.

The poor guy is trying to act like everything is cool while a woman and some beefy, scowling dude stare him down like he’s about to be served medium rare.

“Uh, so is Doug molting or something?” I murmur, arching a brow and tying the ends of the baggie together.

Carina snorts, but it’s tight.

“Dina! You are so bad! But no, he is not molting. He’s a Wolf, not a Parakeet. And he’s meeting with a former client—she’s a Witch. See, Doug caught her husband cheating on her. But you know how it goes when you interfere?—”

“Right. She’s pissed at him now, isn’t she?” I conclude correctly.

“Yep. Apparently, she cursed him after the job and now he’s having the world’s worst luck. He’s here to try to make peace with them and Horace and Uncle Uzzi are moderating.”

I blink.

“Wait, so this is, like, a magical truce summit over pizza?”

“Pretty much. I mean Uncle Uzzi was coming to meet Horace about Date to Mate, anyway. It’s good he offered to mediate the whole thing. With conditions, of course.”

I frown. “Conditions?”

Carina rolls her eyes, though there’s amusement under the worry.

“If Doug wants Uzzi’s help to break the curse, making peace, he has to sign up for Date to Mate. Uncle Uzzi’s logic? If you're cursed and unlucky in love, maybe it’s time you stop dodging fate and let the app help.”

I stifle a laugh.

“So, the Big Bad Wolf is basically being magically blackmailed into online dating? That’s hilarious and tragic all at once.”

Carina shrugs.

“Honestly, he’s been a grump about the whole thing, but from what Horace says, Doug’s been through it lately. Hornet attacks not being the worst of it. This morning he tried to use our microwave, the one over the oven range, and it fell on his head. Then he tried to drive, and his car broke down.”

“Yikes. Poor guy.”

Poor, grumpy, very-bruiseable guy.

I glance back over at Doug.

He shifts in his chair, flexing his shoulders with a grimace like even sitting hurts.

Despite the disaster vibes radiating off him in waves, there’s something positively attractive about him.

Tall.

Broad shoulders.

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