Page 49 of Shadowing Bright
The empty appetizer plates were whisked away, and the mains were set in front of them.
“That sounds like he’s going to be staked out on an igloo.”
Emmers laughed but started eating his very large steak.
Grandma glanced at him.“He’d do it.Anything to find a little fox of his own to cuddle with.Cookie is a huge hugger.The only way I could get him off was to offer him a cookie.”
Amy was tackling a Cornish hen stuffed with stuff that tasted delightful, smooth potatoes, and vegetables that didn’t look like vegetables.They looked like flowers and vines.She was halfway through her plate when she looked around.“Mostly shifters.”
“Most of the northern folk burn a lot of calories.Bigger portions are standard.You have really never been here?”Emmers frowned.
“No.I already said this place is for special occasions or dates, and none of my friends are fans of cold weather, so this would be uncomfortable for them.”She shrugged and kept eating.
Emmers paused.“Did you want to try the steak?”
She paused and looked at him.“Um, sure.”
He held out his fork, and she took the chunk of steak off the tines.It was delightful.“That is really good.”
Grandma was looking with a smug smile on her lips.
Thinking about fairness, Amy said, “Did you want to try some of the tiny chicken?”
He grinned and nodded.“I never bother with it because I would have to order three.I have wondered what it tastes like.”
She loaded a fork and held it out for him.He leaned toward her, and she could feel his teeth scraping on the fork.Grandma was looking delighted.
When Amy returned to her food, she could taste him on her fork.
Grandma was chortling as she took her pork chop apart.“So, Cookie, how have you two been getting along after your outburst?”
“Amhoran has stuck me in the friendzone.She refers to me as buddy, and we do no more than a kiss on the cheek.”
Grandma continued eating and said, “How do you like that particular turn of things?”
Emmers grimaced.“Not at all, but as she has stated, she is not allowed into half of the cities and enclaves up north, no matter her adaptations.”
“Right.About that.Let’s get that settled right now.”Grandma reached into her purse and got her reading glasses, then pulled out her phone and made a call.“Yes, we are near the pillar with the blue roses and icicles.Give us five minutes to finish dinner and join us for dessert.”She hung up, put the glasses and phone away, and smiled.“Your new clan leader is here for dinner, so the formalities will be done by the time we have coffee.”
Amy blinked.“Wait.They are here?You have a clan head ready here?”
“Of course.”
Emmers sighed.“Grandma has a bit of pull with the other clans.”
Grandma finished her main and set her utensils down.“I have alotof pull with the other clans.That is why Cookie has been able to run around out and about playing agent here in Redbird.”
Amy blinked.“His job is serious, and he balances out his team.He’s the shifter representative.”
“And you, what do you do?”
“I keep track of where all the morons put the evidence and make sure that all the tags are in the right box.”
Emmers grinned.His own plate was empty, as was Amy’s.
The servers cleared things out, and then the dessert menu was presented, and Grandma smiled and looked at them both.She beckoned the server, pointed at a number of selections, and then smiled and said, “And coffee and iced coffee for four.We are expecting a fourth.”
The server smiled, “Yes, ma’am.”
