Page 6 of Wild in the Woods
Ryker slapped him on the shoulder and followed him into the office. He laughed with a good-natured, “come on, man,” as Fox pushed him out of the office and shut the door.
“We need to find you a woman to love as much as you love that dog!” He teased as Fox locked the door.
Not. Happening.
The Lab put her front paws on Fox’s thighs as he sat behind his desk and lay her head in his lap. Patting her soft fur, he turned on his computer and pulled out his paperwork.
Osprey was the only girl he needed.
Chapter Three
“I’vemissedyousomuch!”
Lulu stood from her booth inside The Lucky Ace to hug Olive as she approached. They squealed and did a little hug-dance.
“I’ve missed you, too. You look amazing, as always. Wow, Lu!”
Olive made a spin motion with her finger, indicating Lulu should turn around. Which she did with a cheeky grin. Her chic fall outfit was on-point, yes. She would have chosen something a bit more understated had she known the caliber of this bar—very low—but that was on her for not checking ahead of time.
Her light gray cashmere oversized turtleneck was tucked into a super cute black thigh-high pleated skirt, gray wool blend blazer, and knee-high leather boots were perfect for Chicago this time of year. But maybe not so much for a bar in Colorado that had three layers of wallpaper peeling from the same wall, apparently from a water spot that continued to leak if the bucket on the floor was any indication.
Her hair was pulled into a perfect French braid to better show off her Cara Neal Designs earrings and necklace set. She couldn’t resist wearing the gorgeous jewelry. Everyone in Chicago fangirled over the brand, and here her best friend from college was working for Cara Neal herself.
Olive grabbed her cellphone, and they instinctively pressed their heads together for a cute selfie.
“Hashtag besties back together!” Olive typed it up and posted it to her Instaface account. They hugged again and sat.
“I was so excited when you called and said you wanted to come to Estes Park.”
“I was so excited when you said you could help me out with my story. It was a win-win. I get to see you, and I get some work done.”
Olive looked great. This part of the country was agreeing with her. They’d been roommates all four years at the University of Chicago where Lulu had studied fashion merchandising, kind of, and then switched to journalism when her father demanded that she make better use of his money than studying clothes. Olive had gotten a degree in business and moved to Missouri while Lulu had stayed in Chicago to be close to her family. They’d stayed in touch routinely, and though they hadn’t seen each other in person in three years, it felt like not a single day had passed.
“I still can’t believe you’re here,” Lulu said. “Colorado! I mean, I thought you were nuts for moving to Missouri until I found out you were taking a job with CarafreakingNeal.”
Olive made an excited face. “I know. And then she met the love of her life, here, of all places, we had a near-death experience being hunted down by some rogue bear shifters; her now husband, and Fox Mitchell saved our asses, and here we are. Starting a brand-new branch of Cara Neal designs, with me as executive assistant.”
Olive had called her with the terrifying story of being kidnapped and forced to reveal Cara’s hiding spot after a band of rogue shifters began hunting the jewelry Queen for money. That’s when she’d first heard Fox’s name. He’d been part of the rescue. But she hadn’t put two and two together until her boss came up with the story idea.
“Sounds like a great promotion.”
“Oh, it is! So great, that the first round is on me.”
Olive caught a waiter’s attention. He plopped a basket of pretzels onto the table. “Can I get you something from the bar?”
Looking for a drink menu on the table and not finding one, she figured she’d order her standard. “Can I get a Moscow Mule, but with Grey Goose vodka. Do you have that?”
“Ah, I’d have to look.”
“Can you verify that, please? And the ginger beer needs to be sugar free.”
The waiter looked at her with one eyebrow hitched and a blasé set to his lips. “Grey Goose, sugar free. Got it. Do the limes need to be from a certain tropical region, or...?”
Her cheeks heated. “No. Mexican limes are fine.”
Clearly annoyed, he turned to Olive.
“I’ll have stout from the tap. Thanks.”
