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“Thank you.”
Their drinks arrived, and the first sip did wonders for Tawny’s mood—or perhaps it was being in the bar with a newfound friend that did the trick.
Once they ordered their meals, they talked a lot about the center and the usual types of animals that showed up.
“Tell me your favorite memory of Zach growing up.”
Tawny had so many stories about the two of them that it would be hard to choose—but she would pick one. “We were maybe eight or nine, visiting my uncle, who owns the Double G ranch on the outskirts of town. Zach loved to climb trees.” She smiled at the memory. He’d tried to climb them in his wolf form and failed miserably. Of course, she wouldn’t mention that to Julia, who was a human. “We found one with a few low branches, and my brother scurried up the tree as if it was a ladder. When I climbed up, my foot slipped. I fell and broke my arm.”
“Oh, no. What did Zach do?”
He hurried down the tree, shifted, and raced back to the house to find our parents. “He ran for help. I walked back partway, but my arm really hurt. I was in a cast for months.”
Had Zach been injured, he would have healed in days. Werewolf men were so lucky in that respect.
“A lot of kids break their arm.” Julia sounded a bit wistful as if she’d broken a bone or two.
“Tell me something fun about Brad,” Tawny said.
Julia sipped her drink, as if she needed time to think what to say. “I think the best time was when we decided at the age of eleven and ten—I’m the older one—to run away from home. He said it was to prove to our parents how adult we were.”
“How did that work out?”
She laughed. “Let’s say it was the last time we tried that.”
Once their food arrived, they ate in relative silence. Coming here with Julia had taken Tawny’s mind off of Zach for a bit.
Out of habit though, she glanced to the main entrance, hoping her brother would rush in, look around, and race toward her. The apology would be epic.
When that didn’t happen, worry seeped in once more.
CHAPTERTWO
Ariel Williamson,one of the town’s assistant vets, was in the back room of Tawny’s center, treating one of the puppies whose wounds had become infected. Tawny had offered to pay the vet clinic where Ariel worked for her time since she came to the center two mornings a week, but they insisted that charity was good for the soul.
“How’s the pup doing?” Tawny asked as she entered the room.
“I put some salve on the wound. He’ll be healed in a couple of days. Just keep him inside for a while.”
“I can do that.” Ariel had recently found her two mates—one of which was Tawny’s cousin Benson Granger. “Tell me what it’s like to be with Benson and Preston. Being with two men has to be different.” Not that Tawny would ever experience what that was like.
“It’s definitely unique, but it’s also truly amazing. Wonderful and fantastic actually.” She grinned and then sobered. “Except that Preston decided I needed to work out in his gym three days a week. I’ve never been more sore in my life.”
Tawny laughed. “It’s why I never wanted him to train me. I hope he hasn’t suggested you enter any bodybuilding competitions? The dieting alone would be a deal breaker for me.”
“Hardly. He knows I like food too much. Why are you asking about what it’s like to be with two men?” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Do you have your eyes on someone—orsomeones?”
“No. I’m just curious, that’s all. We are friends, and friends talk about those things,” Tawny said.
“Uh-huh.” Ariel faced her, sobered, and then placed a hand on Tawny’s arm. “Since we are friends, I need to say that I’m worried about you.”
“Me? Why?”
“It looks like you’ve lost weight. No one would guess you’re a foodie.”
Tawny shrugged. “I’ve been busy.” She inhaled deeply. “The truth is that I’m worried. Zach hasn’t called in four days, which isn’t like him. Mike Halperin said Zach called him two days ago and mentioned he was called out to help some climber. But it wouldn’t have taken Zach this long to return. That’s what has me so upset.”
“Is it that unusual for him to go off the grid like that and not contact you?”
