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Tawny had hired Julia at the rescue center to help with office work and occasionally exercise the animals, even though that was Alan and Brett’s job.
“I’m good. It’s just that my twin brother, Zach, hasn’t been in touch for a few days, and we were supposed to go out this evening. I’m sure he’s just doing his job, or else he forgot about our date.” So what if they went out every Thursday?
She nodded. “I’m sure he has a good reason for not keeping in touch. Let me know if I can help in any way.”
Tawny leaned back. “Maybe you can help. Since my date stood me up, do you want to grab a drink and get a bite to eat at the Double G Bar?” Julia was fairly new in town, and she might not have been there. Not only that, it would be good to learn more about her new employee. “My treat.”
“Sure. That sounds great. Doesn’t your cousin own that place?”
“Will Granger. Yes, he does.” Tawny was surprised Julia knew that. “How about we leave in half an hour? I want to make a few calls and check on the animals before we head out.”
Julia smiled. “That works for me.”
As soon as Julia left the office, Tawny called Zach’s good friend, Mike Halperin, a wilderness guide and part-time ski instructor.
“Tawny, this is a nice surprise.”
Since he sounded cheerful, he must not be aware that Zach hadn’t answered his phone in a while. “I’m calling because Zach and I were supposed to go out tonight, but I haven’t been able to reach him. Have you heard from him recently?”
“I spoke with him two days ago. He received a call that some hikers were in trouble on East River Rock. I believe he said one of them was injured.”
She blew out a breath. “That’s why he didn’t get back to me. Thank you, Mike.”
“You know, Tawny, if you ever need a drinking buddy, I’m here for you.”
She smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind.” She disconnected before he could try to convince her to go out with him again.
Mike was a great guy. He just wasn’t the great guy for her. Ever since Alex Carter and Liam Zano showed up to town a few weeks ago to teach the Granger family men to fight in both their human and werewolf form, she couldn’t keep her mind off of them. Too bad she wasn’t the type to ask one of them out. She’d been tempted though, especially after Alex stopped by to make sure no one had bothered her after the werewolf showdown at her uncle’s house. There had been a massive fight in which two shifters had died.
She thought Alex had come by to ask her to have a drink, but he didn’t even hint at it. Tawny should probably move on—and would have—except from the way he avoided looking directly at her, she had the sense he liked her. A lot. As strange as it sounded, she’d caught sight of his eyes changing color from whisky brown to an amber-gold. Every werewolf female knew what that meant—the man had found his mate.
Normally, Tawny would have been ecstatic to have possibly found the man she was destined to be with, except for the fact she’d experienced the same stirrings when she was in the presence of his friend Liam Zano. While ménage relationships were commonplace in Wildwood, it wasn’t for her. She’d have to choose. Was Alex the one? Or was it Liam?
When things slowed down at the center, she’d find a way to be around them to help her figure things out. Since they were running their business out her uncle’s soon-to-be torn down barn, she could casually check them out without appearing too obvious. But which one was her fated mate? That was the question.
Tawny pushed back her chair. If she didn’t check on the rescued animals, she’d never make it out tonight, and she needed the break.
Alan Lipman was cleaning out the last of the cages. “Is everyone behaving?” she asked.
“All’s good. Butler had a little go with Duffy, but Duffy showed him who was the alpha. Other than that quick skirmish, the animals are fine.”
“Thanks. Since you seem to be done, go on home. I’m about to lock up anyway.”
He smiled. “Thanks, ma’am.”
Tawny stood up straighter. She’d told both of the men that she was Tawny, not ma’am. “My mother is ma’am.”
He lowered his gaze. “Sorry.”
There was no use bugging him about it. When she’d hired an ex-con, she understood it would take some adjustment on both of their parts, and her father being the sheriff didn’t help. Alan acted as if he was afraid she’d turn him in for not cleaning the cages thoroughly or something.
After she finished her rounds, she went back to her cramped office that was in serious need of some reorganization. It was a miracle she could find anything in there. It was why she’d hired Julia in the first place, but that was no excuse not to buy another file cabinet and install some shelves. Then she’d be able to move the stack of file folders off the floor.
She grabbed her coat and keys and went out front to tell Julia she was ready. Her assistant was at the reception desk, hard at work on the computer. When Julia spotted her, she slipped off her glasses, and smiled.
“Ready?” Tawny asked.
“You bet.” Julia turned off the computer, straightened her desk, and gathered her things. “I’ll follow you since I live on the other side of town.”
