“What does Hester have to do with my security?”
Tanya goes to open her mouth, but snaps it shut at her brother’s stern look.
Huh. Sounds like Hester might be a werewolf. I didn’t get that vibe from her, but as a human, my radar likely isn’t one hundred percent accurate.
Doesn’t matter. Wolves take care of their own. I’m not one of them. I’m outside the pack, new to town, and I’ve got a dark shadow in my past I’d like some warning about if it ever catches up to me.
“Does Pine Falls have a police force?” I stare Roderick down.
“Yes,” he admits after a second of hesitation.
My guess is, most of the officers in this town also get hairy during the full moon.
Great.
Even more of a reason for me to take charge of my own security.
“Mr. Jameson”—I keep my tone formal in an attempt to mask my annoyance—“you may feel safe as a bug in a rug here, but I am a single female, living on my own in a new place. My house will have a security system, even if that means I have to rig up someHome Alone–style booby traps.” More likely, I’ll call the next closest town to see what offerings are there or order a bunch of gadgetry off the internet, but I also like the idea of bludgeoning Cory’s deceptively handsome face in with a paint can.
“Can I help?” Tanya clasps her hands under her chin, a maniacal glimmer to her eyes.
“Fine,” Roderick growls. “I’ll email you options and a quote for the installation.”
“You install security systems?” And he wasn’t going to mention it?
“Not normally. But I’m the closest thing you’ll find in this town.”
After a moment of deliberation, I sigh. “Fine.”
Once again, it seems I’m leaving my safety in the clawed hands of werewolves.
7
JULIET
There isa formal invitation waiting for me in my mailbox when I arrive home from work on Friday evening. I’m talking gold lettering and paper too heavy to be blown away by a mild breeze. The embossed card stock—which my greeting card–loving heart drools over—informs me I am invited to Hester Willowborne’s abode for tea at two in the afternoon on Sunday.
Though framed as a request, I get the sense turning down the olive branch would end up with me getting whacked over the head with it.
Not that I want to skip the tea. I’m intrigued. And after Tanya’s comment, I wonder if I can pick up any wolf vibes from Hester.
But I have a conundrum.
What dress code is required for tea at a neighbor’s house in small-town Colorado?
Having seen the way Hester dresses, I’m assuming more than just jeans.
Worried about making a bad impression, I venture into town to buy myself an ironing board and do my best to make one of the few skirts I own look presentable. But shopping for an ironing board turns into shopping in general, and by the end of the day, I’ve treated myself to a few armfuls of new clothes.
I need to fill the closet in my new bedroom, I reason.
And it’s not as if I’m hurting for money.
When my grandparents passed away, they left me their house. Not wanting to stay in Delaware, I sold the place for a decent amount and stuck all the cash in my savings. My cross-country traveling used a little bit of that money, but since I camped out most nights and ate at cheap diners or bought my food to cook over a campfire, the majority of the funds from the sale of the house remained by the time I reached Bear Valley.
There, I got a job as a library associate and simply lived off my salary. I used some of the inheritance toward earning a master’s degree in library science, but that was the only time I touched it.
On the whole, I just saved the money, letting interest accrue and figuring maybe I’d want to make a larger purchase at some point. Or if I met the right man and decided I wanted a kid or two, the cash could be used toward their future schooling.
