“So,” Jo’s gaze dropped to the pavement, her pace slowing as they walked side by side to her nearby apartment, “I was wondering if you still planned on coming to the majority party next Friday?”
Tucker grunted.
“Youarecoming, right?” She stopped in front of her building, eyes remaining on her feet.
“I’ll try.” If they discovered Jeremiah’s location prior to the celebration at Chess, he’d have to leave before the trail went cold.
“But…” Her brows lowered, the smoothie straw pushing in and out of its lid so fast it squelched. Her mouth closed, opened, and closed again. A frown marred her pretty face.
“If I can be there, I will be.” How could he even consider missing one of the most significant milestones in Jo’s life?
She nodded but didn’t look up.
Tucker tilted her chin with a finger, bringing her gorgeous hazel gaze to his. “I want to be there, Jo.”
I want you. Forever.
“Okay,” she said after a long pause, then smiled at him. “I’ll see you later tonight at Mom’s and Dad’s, right?”
He shouldn’t go. It wasn’t fair to act as though nothing had changed when everything had.
“Yeah.” He dropped his hand to his side, his other holding Jo’s bribe. He should start pulling away for Jo’s sake, but he was a selfish bastard. He didn’t want to forfeit these last precious moments as the hunt for his brother might keep him away from his she-wolf for a long time.
They climbed the outdoor stairs to her second-floor apartment, and Jo inserted the key. “Great, we can meet at your house, and you can show me around. I’ve been dying to see it. I can’t believe you’ve made me wait this long.”
She didn’t notice him stiffen.
“I’m coming straight from work.” he hedged, mouth dry. “I’ll show you another time.”
“But I haven’t seen it since they started the renovation.” Jo spun to face him, the pout real this time.
“It’s a mess.” He purchased the home last spring, and it’d taken the entire summer to remodel the outdated house to his specifications. Tucker had only moved from his apartment aweek ago, but none of those reasons had anything to do with why he kept Jo away.
“Mom and I offered to help you unpack boxes, but you turned us down flat.”
“I wanted—”
“Us to see it finished. So you said…repeatedly.” She sighed and stepped into her small rental. “I guess I can wait a few more days.”
“Thanks again for the baklava,” he said, returning to the street, avoiding another half-truth. She wouldn’t be seeing his new place anytime soon.
“Just remember our bargain, Jacob Tucker,” she called after him. “I own your vote.”
Jo owned more than that. She owned him—and always would.
Chapter 2
Johnnie scanned thecrowd for Jacob, taking advantage of the bird’s-eye view from the VIP section of Chess reserved for the evening’s guests of honor. The club’s quarterly majority events were always well-attended, but in the past three months, two other local Fae Touched also reached adulthood status, and the place was jam-packed.
Where was he?
She should have pressed for an explanation as towhythe handsome beta might not be attending the party, but Johnnie promised herself she wouldn’t push Jacob—not in this. Or maybe she was simply afraid to hear the night didn’t hold the same significance for him as it did for her. Maybe—
“You look awesome, by the way.” Noah raised his voice above the volume of the DJ’s current mix.
“Thanks.” Her emerald-green cocktail dress and ridiculously high heels were a far cry from the everyday casual skirts and jeans she usually wore. The messy updo and chic ensemble Abby helped choose for the occasion made her feel sophisticated and a teeny bit sexy. Johnnie wanted to wear something extra special—just in case all the doubts and maybes were wrong.
“Drooling is gonna be his new religion.”