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Still, that didn’t excuse wanting to make love to the bear who didn’t much like him. And in his friend’s house at a holiday party. What the hell had he been thinking?
He spotted Julia and smiled through his teeth at her.
She blanched and tried to get away, but he cornered her by the tree. “Ah, my gracious host. The one who stuck me with an angry deputy for a rescue.”
“I hear you’re mating,” Julie said brightly. At his snarl, she cringed. “I mean, uh, dating. With a D.” She let out a soft whine. “I was only trying to help.”
“Yeah? Well now everyone’s poking their noses into my business.”
She knew he’d hate that. Put him in a courtroom and he thrived on strutting and winning. But his love life? No thanks.
“I’m sorry.” Julia dragged him to a stocking hanging on the mantle. “Maybe this will help.” She turned and fiddled with it while he ran a hand through his hair.
“How will this help? Whatever ‘this’ is?”
His cousin, Ben, stopped by and sneered. “Well, well. Our legal eagle has been holding out on us. Got his hooks into the hot deputy.”
A passing wolf from a rival legal firm chuckled. “Yeah, he got real handful.”
Before the wolf could move on, Gerald yanked him to a halt by his tie. “What did you say?” he snarled low.
The wolf blinked, must have seen that Gerald wasn’t kidding, and sunk into himself. “I was just teasing. I think it’s great you two paired up.”
“Get lost.” Gerald glared at him.
The wolf gave a soft chuff of regret before hurrying away.
Ben watched Gerald with a knowing grin.
“What are you looking at?”
“Nothing, Cuz. Just impressed you’re defending your mate.”
“She’s not my mate. Hell. We’re not even really da— I mean, we’re not that serious yet.”
“Uh-huh.” Ben didn’t sound convinced.
Julia shoved a piece of folded paper into Gerald’s hand.
“What—?”
“You’ll thank me later.” She stepped away and yelled for her mate, and the room quieted while she handed the stocking to him.
Well, after being outted for mating outside his clan, what else could possibly happen to make his life complicated?
Chapter Nine
Ty held the stocking high over his head. “Everyone, settle down. Thanks for coming. Now for the fun part. Secret Santa has come to Cougar Falls!”
Some groaned, others hooted, excited by the surprise.
He lowered the stocking and rummaged around in it. “Keep your secret pals to yourself. And make sure to have your gift wrapped and set under the tree at the town hall by the 23rd. Santa’s elves will deliver them all by the 24th, so make sure the name tag is visible on your present. Nothing over twenty bucks, folks. Make sure you don’t leave without picking someone. And yeah, I’ll know.” He growled and looked around the crowd with warning. Then he smiled again. “Now continue to mingle while Julia comes around with the stocking.”
Gerald snuck a peek at his secret name then shoved the note into his pocket.
Some time later, nursing his fourth cider—this one with alcohol—and having turned away more than a dozen nosy fox clan members, he found Laura standing by his side.
“What do you want” —he started in a deep voice then lightened it when Vanessa and a few of her friends frowned at him— “my dearest honey bear?”
