Finally, using an amount of self-control I didn’t think would be required of me before my workday started, I drag my eyes upward.
The man has his face turned away, staring back inside the house, as if listening to someone. A second later, Hester appears, dressed in a velvety green robe, holding a piece of toast that she offers to him. The naked guy consumes the bread in two bites, then tugs my neighbor into his arms and kisses her thoroughly.
And through the whole display, I stand as if snared in some embarrassment trap. I should sprint back to my house while the two are occupied, but I can’t seem to move.
Why is he outsidenaked?
When the couple breaks apart, I finally get a look at the man’s face and start in surprise.
Moose. The monosyllabic bartender at The Rabbit Hole.
He doesn’t seem the least bit surprised to see me. Or embarrassed that I now know he has a tattoo of Marilyn Monroe on his left ass cheek.
Instead, he gives me a nod of acknowledgment before walking out into the middle of Hester’s front yard among her plants and flowers. Despite his confident, unconcerned pace, I can’t help noticing he doesn’t smash any of the growth. As if he knows exactly where to step in order not to disturb anything.
In the bright, early morning sun, shadows fold in around Moose. The dark mass caresses his skin before adhering to it. Soon, I lose sight of him in the mass. A series of sharp pops sound out, along with a few pained grunts and growls. A moment later, a wolf stands, panting in the yard.
After giving his massive body a shake, the werewolf lopes off into the woods.
All as if this were an everyday occurrence.
Roderick must have told the rest of the pack I know about them.
“Good morning, Juliet.”
At the sound of my name, I return my attention to the front porch, where Hester stands, smirking down at me. Even first thing in the morning, wearing nothing but a robe and a halo of slightly mussed blonde hair, the woman is glorious.
She just saw him transform, I realize.
“Are you a werewolf?” Maybe my radar was off.
But my neighbor gives a haughty chuckle. “Me? Of course not. I merely enjoy their company from time to time.”
Can’t say I blame her. If Moose is anywhere near as good as Roderick is in bed, then she’s probably a satisfied woman.
A furious blush streaks across my skin as I realize I’m pondering my neighbor’s sex life. She gives another rich chuckle, probably reading my thoughts on my face.
“Come, dear. Why are you lurking in my yard so early?”
“I wasn’t spying,” I feel the need to point out.
“I would hope not.” She flicks a piece of lint off her sleeve. “Because I would have to inform you of how abysmal you are at it.”
There’s nothing I can do to stop my face from darkening in another round of blushes. This morning is not going how I planned.
“I came by to leave you this.” Approaching her, I hold out the invitation as proof of my innocence.
Hester plucks the paper from my fingers and stands in all her regal glory, reading my homemade attempt at formality.
Juliet Adair invites Hester Willowborne to accompany her as a guest to the Jameson Family Thanksgiving Gathering on Thursday at five in the evening.
“If you have plans already, I completely understand.”
Clearly, the woman has a more active social life than I imagined.
“Are you inviting me to be nice?” Hester asks in a tone that says the worst possible answer in the world would beyes.
Maybe the idea started off that way, but now, especially after discovering my neighbor is aware of the furry secrets of Pine Falls, I’m able to admit the biggest inspiration behind this gesture.
