Page 37 of Howling Mad
When the door closes, Finley and I look at each other for a beat before dissolving into laughter.
“I’m so sorry.”She gasps between giggles.“She’s been like this all morning.”
“I don’t mind.”I pull her onto my lap, wrapping my arms around her waist.“Though I draw the line at matching sweaters.”
“Spoilsport.”She plays with the hair at the nape of my neck, sending pleasant shivers down my spine.“What about the moonlight shifting photos?”
“That’s negotiable.”I kiss the sensitive spot just below her ear.“Especially if you’re there.”
She sighs, melting against me.“I’m beginning to think Red was right all along.”
“About what?”
“About you being my perfect match.Against all odds.”
“Not against the odds,” I correct her gently.“Just against expectations.Theirs and ours, but my wolf knew from the start.That’s why none of those dates worked.”
“Because you were waiting for me,” she whispers.
“And you were waiting for me.”I claim her lips in a kiss that feels like the beginning of something extraordinary.
Outside the window, the midday sun shines on a city that suddenly seems fuller of possibility than ever before.For the first time in my life, I’m not torn between two worlds.With Finley, I can simply be myself—wolf, human, financial analyst, and mate—in a harmony I never imagined possible.
Some investments, it turns out, pay dividends far beyond what the market can measure.
Chapter 13
Finley
Thatweekend,myphone’sshrill ring cuts through a delicious dream involving Michael, moonlight, and considerably fewer clothes than socially acceptable.I fumble blindly, knocking over a glass of water before my fingers close around the vibrating device.
“‘lo?”I mumble, still half-asleep.
“Finley!Good, you’re awake.”
I bolt upright, suddenly wide awake.That cheerful, overly energetic voice can only belong to one person.“Mom?”I check the time: 6:47 a.m.on a Saturday.The day Michael and I planned our full moon run.“Why are you calling so early?”
“Early?The sun’s been up for ages, sweetie.Your father and I are downstairs in your lobby.That nice rabbit girl… What was her name?Anyway, she let us into the lobby on her way out.”
“Penelope,” I supply automatically, my brain struggling to process this information.“Wait, you’rewhere?”
“In your lobby, dear.Surprise!We thought we’d visit our city girl to see how you’re doing at that...dating agency.”The pause before “dating agency” speaks volumes about my mother’s opinion of my career choice.“Buzz us up.We brought breakfast.”
I stare at my phone in horror.My parents are here on the morning of my full moon run with Michael.The run that’s basically an unofficial commitment ceremony between wolves.The run that will very likely end with us having sex in the woods because we’ll be too worked up to make it back to either of our apartments.“Um, can you give me ten minutes to make myself presentable?”
“Of course, sweetheart.We’ll wait.”
I hang up and immediately dial Michael.He answers on the second ring, sounding considerably more awake than I feel.
“Good morning, beautiful.Excited for tonight?”
“Michael, emergency.”I pace my bedroom, frantically searching for clean clothes.“My parents are here, downstairs…right now.They’ve made a surprise visit.”
A brief pause.“Okay.Do we need to reschedule the run?”
“Yes.No.I don’t know.”I pull a sweater over my head, nearly strangling myself in the process.“They don’t know about you.I mean, they know about you as my client if they listened to anything I said about work, but not as my...whatever we are now.”
“Boyfriend seems inadequate, mate seems presumptuous, and gentleman caller is archaic...”His calm humor settles my panic slightly.
