The bar rang with the clamor of patrons packed into the main floor. We hadn't been that busy in months. Our new chef slung orders left and right in the kitchen, and even Natalia, seated at the bar, looked impressed with the girl's attitude. Maybe there was a new challenger for iron chef. I pulled my last pint for the night, and folded my apron behind the bar.
Carter squeezed behind me to take my place, though his hands settled on my waist and I bumped my ass into his crotch just to get his attention. I did, enough that he almost jumped me right there, and Natalia covered her eyes. "Dude, you guys. Seriously."
I laughed and untangled myself from Carter's grip, though I jerked my chin at Logan, right next to her. "He doesn't mind."
"He doesn't get morning sickness," she said under her breath. "I can barely keep toast down and you guys canoodling around only makes it worse."
"Morning sickness?" Carter rolled his eyes and handed menus out to the few people who squeezed through the crowd at the other end of the bar. "It's almost midnight."
"It's morning somewhere," she said, and mustered enough dignity that I almost bought it.
But Logan finished his beer and hugged her against his side to kiss her forehead. "I'm with you, babe. Watching Carter kiss Ruby is like watching a kitten kiss a bulldog."
I looked at him, arms folded over my chest, and Nat looked horrified. "Logan."
"What?" He looked at Carter, who was shaking his head and saying, "Dude" over and over, then at me. I wanted to rip his throat out, and it felt like the vein in my temple might burst. Logan scowled. "I meant fierceness, not looks. Jesus. Take a compliment, Ruby."
"Calling a woman a bulldog, for any reason, is grounds for an immediate ass-kicking," Eloise chimed in, as she and Benedict made their way to the bar. The half-gorgon leaned her elbow on the bar and waggled her eyebrows at me. "Want me to stun him for you? I could paralyze him. Just a little."
"Don't," Carter said, even though I was tempted. Carter kissed me again and patted me on the butt to send me on my way. "Not until after the Alphas Council. You both need to be…capable, if you're going to face off with Evershaw."
"Not a problem." I smiled at him as Rafe came out of the office, shrugging into his jacket. "The coyotes are not behaving themselves, so Evershaw is having to dig them out of trouble one hefty fine at a time. He's less and less interested in taking charge of all wolves and coyotes in the city. Hopefully at this meeting he'll retract the motion, and we can all figure things out."
"Besides," Logan said, breaking away from the scolding Natalia gave him. "We have bigger issues. The Auction is coming up and none of us want to see it go forward like it did last year. There are always a few cases of women offered against their will. The bears think they have a strategy for how to deal with it."
"A strategy?" Rafe snorted as he glanced at his watch. "Their strategy is usually to crush everything in sight. Period. End of story."
"They are not known for subtlety," Benedict said. The lawyer also checked the time, then scanned the bar once more. "Is Edgar coming?"
Conversation around us hiccuped, and I held my breath. Something hadn't been right with the Pride second-in-command since Nat and Logan's wedding, but no one would say exactly what. Logan just shook his head. "He needed a break. I'll fill him in when we're done. Are we ready?"
I nodded and turned to get my coat, but found Carter holding it for me already. As I shrugged into it, he wrapped the coat and his arms around me. Carter kissed the side of my neck as the rest of the family headed for the cars, Natalia talking loudly about watching teenagers make out, and Carter murmured, "I'll stay here to keep an eye on things. If you call me when you're on your way back, I'll meet you at the apartment."
"We're really busy," I said, a little doubtful. "Wouldn't it be better…"
"I bought strawberries today," he said. He kissed the other side of my neck and I closed my eyes, let my head fall back on his shoulder. "And I think you're in desperate need of a hot bath. And probably a spanking."
I laughed, slow and lazy, as desire kindled. "Really?"
"Really," he said. His palm slid over my stomach to hold me tighter against his chest. His voice dropped and grew husky, a hint of a purr in each syllable. "Wear your high heels to the apartment. Leave them on. Clothes off before you walk into the bedroom. Hair down."
"Whatever you say." I wanted to ignore Rafe gesturing at me from the door, but he looked impatient. We couldn't afford to be late. I started to untangle myself, even though Carter's purr grew louder. He loved it when I mostly pretended to obey him. Of course, he loved it even more when I didn't. I shivered.
He leaned his elbows on the bar as I shouldered through the crowd, and I didn't have to look back to know he watched me leave. Just like I knew he would be waiting with a hot bath, the strawberries, the spanking, and at least a couple of surprises. I smiled as I got into the car and we headed for the Council building. Turned out I really enjoyed the surprises.