T
he next morning as I opened the shop, wearing the same clothes as yesterday with my hair a complete mess, I couldn’t have been happier. I was sore along my ass, thighs, and backside. If I walked funny, it was a badge of honor.
Jack had kept me up all night, save a few blessed hours of sleep really early. He should be a bunny shifter with how fast he recovered for more rounds.
“What’s got you humming this morning?” Frostine, a two tailed moon fox shifter I knew by proxy, had come in while I had been distracted.
I about jumped out of my skin and on top of the counter. Frostine stood in front with her hands in her front pockets. She had her hair up in a bun on the side of her head. That was kind of cool, actually. I didn’t know her very well.
“Was I humming?” I pushed my hair out of my eyes, flustered. I turned around to grab a mug and started making a drink.
“Loudly and a little off key.” Her smug tone was soft,
belaying that she wasn’t being mean, just teasing. “Who's the lucky guy?”
I finished making her a hot chocolate that I named ‘Malik’s Delight’ since I added a splash of vodka to it and served it in a see-through red cup. It might be morning, but who cared?
As I turned, pushed it across the counter to her, I couldn’t help the grin.
“Jack Frost.” I knew that he would be grumpy if random people started talking to him about us. So, it was perfect.
Frostine’s eyes widened slightly as she blew on the hot chocolate. “Really? That cold hearted grumpy pants?”
I didn’t like him being called cold hearted. He was far from it. But, he liked to appear that way. Hell, he’d been a jackass to me before Titus put his face into a table.
“He’s actually quite passionate.” I waved my hand in my face remembering how he’d held me up in his arms against the wall and screwed me into yet another happy ending.
“Obviously.” Her sassy reply could have made paint dry. “Well, if he makes you happy, who am I to judge?” She shrugged as she sipped at Malik’s Delight. “I wanted to come in to talk to you because early this morning, I noticed Samuel skulking around here, like he was looking for you. That guy gives me the creeps.”
My good mood instantly dissipated. What had Samuel wanted? This guy seriously just wasn’t giving up. I made the decision to confront him later today during a break and let him know that I wasn’t folding to his demands. He was going to lose this war that he set out to win.
Frostine finished her drink. “Thank you for the hot cocoa. I’ll see you later. Let me know if you need any help with this guy.” She waved as she left.
I pulled out my phone and sent off a text to Billy.
Samuel was seen around my store again. I haven’t seen him yet.
The three little dots appeared.
I’m getting tired of this guy. I’m coming over.
Well, that’s not what I planned but hey. I’d get to see Billy. Worked for me. Maybe we could make out in the back. I hadn’t christened the back room yet with sexy times besides that quick session with Titus.
The clock above the door chimed just as Billy walked into the shop. That was fast.
“Uh, how’d you get here so fast?” I met him around the counter and returned his kiss.
“I thought you might like a change of clothes so I was already on my way here.” Billy handed me a bag. “I take it your date went well.”
“You’re my favorite.” Hugging the bag to my chest, I had him bend so I could kiss his cheek.
“Damn right I am.” Billy patted my ass as I went to the tiny restroom to change. “I’ll watch the shop.”
He’d packed my favorite lounge pants and one of his hoodies I stole. By the time I finished getting dressed, Billy had moved behind the counter and was handing a bag of popcorn to a couple of kids who’d come in.
I leaned against the wall and watched him. I was so lucky. I didn’t know how it happened, but I was thankful that we were mates.
“So, I spoke with Titus.” Billy gestured for me to sit at the counter. “Told him how you’ve wanted to go to his lodge for a long time. Does this weekend sound good?” He handed me a bag of popcorn.
Mmm. Buttery salty goodness.
“Popcorn is life.” I took another handful. “I’m sure I could get Igor to watch the shop. Let’s do it.”
“I don’t think we’ve had a vacation in awhile.” Billy offered me the sweetest smile that made my heart skip a beat. “It will be nice, even if it’s just one or two nights.”
“You’ve not taken a break from your landscaping company since you started it three years ago.” I finished the popcorn.
“Well, starting a business takes time and sweat. You’re learning that.” Billy moved to sit next to me.
“It hasn’t been so hard.” I bumped our shoulders. “It has actually been fun. After getting rid of my ex, the prank wars, and now Samuel? Other than that stuff it’s been great.”
I shuddered thinking about the chickens in my shop. Billy had been the one I’d called to come catch the little fuckers.
I was a red fox that was terrified of chickens. The irony of that was not lost on me.
When I was a little kid, I’d been exploring the woods near our house and roamed into our neighbors yard. I was used to helping out around the farm so I didn’t think much of it. I’d been in my fox form when I ended up next to the chicken coop.
Me, being the smart and responsible child that I was, had decided to pop in to say hi to them since I was friends with them in my human form. I hadn’t known that they wouldn’t know it was me.
When I’d gone in, it was like the world had ended. Most of the fur on my tail and neck had been pecked away by the time I’d made it back outside.
I still couldn’t see a live chicken without hyperventilating.
I enjoyed eating them immensely in a sick revenge type of way.
“You’re just getting the hard stuff done early. It’ll be smooth sailing after.” He scratched his beard. “I’ve been thinking about shaving and doing a goatee.”
That was a change of subject.
“Um. Billy. You’re an ironic enigma. You’re a goat shifter named Billy. You eat grass for a living, and now you want a GOAT-ee?” My shoulders shook as I held back my laughter. “Really?”
His brows furrowed as he frowned. “Well, crap.” His shoulders slumped in disappointment. “Guess I shouldn’t.”
“Honey,” I swung my arm around his waist. “You want a goatee? Do it.”
His arm went around my back. “You know it’ll drive Maya nuts.”
I giggled. “Now you have to do it. Annoying your sister is top priority.”
