Page 2 of The Vampire in the Potting Shed

A few minutes later, Sloane returned wearing a tight expression. “Do we call the cops?”

For insurance purposes, probably not the worst idea, but nothing had been damaged.

And that note. That damned note.

“No.” I shoved the card in my pocket. “We wait and see who comes to pick up the dog.”

Give her your best, or I’ll show you my worst.

As far as threats went, I had received better, but the penmanship was nice.

“How do you know someone will come back for it?”

“Oh.” I smoothed a hand over the thin square tucked in my jeans. “I just have a feeling.”

And if the owner tried jailbreaking their dog without first squaring up with me, they would learn fast I wasn’t Carmichael Sartori’s daughter for nothing.

two

While we waitedon a full-scale Sartori invasion, Sloane and I resumed our daily routine. Pets still needed their food topped off, their water refilled, and walksies. Then there was cleanup in the runs for her while I got grooming.

After the hard work was done, we had to get started on cuddle time, one of our most popular add-ons and the bright spot in my day. Who didn’t love snuggling animals? Crazy how I got paid to do it.

As I was trimming Robespierre’s nails, debating on a new polish color for him to wear during his vacation to Orlando next week, the front door banged open on a bellow that startled a yelp out of the chihuahua.

“Peanut?” a painfully familiar voice boomed through the lobby.“Peanut?”

“Wait in the lobby,” I called back, not wanting him to spook the animals. “I’ll be right there.”

I set down my tools, scooped up Robespierre, and crated him until after I had dealt with the drama.

The drama being six feet of muscle crammed into a bespoke pinstripe suit, the expensive fabric groaning at the seams as he struggled to contain his inner wolf. As soon as he set eyes on me,the wildness in him ebbed a fraction, and he opened his arms to me. Heat burning my cheeks, I walked into his embrace.

“Do you have any idea who could have done this?”

“I’m not even sure if this qualifies as a crime, honestly.”

“That big heart of yours will get you in trouble one day. That’s why I worry so much.”

“They didn’t cause any property damage.” I wasn’t sure why I was defending the note writer. “It’s okay.” I pulled back to smile my bestdaddy’s little girlsmile at him. “I’mokay.”

The dark-chocolate eyes that studied my face were darker than my hazel ones. He always wore his wavy, coal-black hair slicked back, but I got Mom’s stick-straight golden-blonde hair. The uncanny resemblance to a mother I couldn’t remember had always been a sore spot for me. I wouldn’t have minded it so much if I had inherited the single most important thing from Dad.

A wolf spirit of my own.

Heightened senses were nice, and the extra strength was a lifesaver in my line of work, but without a wolf, I was more superhuman than shifter, and the pack never let me forget it.

“You’re in danger out here.” He slid his grip onto my shoulders. “You should come home.”

“Home is forty-five minutes away,” I reminded him. “Thirty if I push the speed limit.”

A low growl revved up the back of his throat, his eyes flashing gold, and I took a healthy step back.

“Not thatIwould ever break the law or endanger my frail human self, but that’s what I’ve heard.”

A masculine snort blew warm air across my nape and tempted me to break character and snarl at Bowie, who must have sneaked in through the back, but I behaved myself.

“You’re not a human.” Dad leaned in to kiss my forehead. “You’re a shifter, the same as anyone else.”

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