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“I wanted to call you,” she admitted with a shaky sigh.
He rested his forehead against hers and purred to her. “Baby, you always call me. Not your cousin or anyone else. Me. Do you understand?”
She nodded, and he hugged her again, rubbing her back as she took a few deep breaths. He admired her courage when she stepped back, but he took her hand anyway, gripping it tightly as she glanced around the store. “Where’s your nan?”
“She’s at home. Chase is with her.” He squeezed her hand and picked up the grocery bag at her feet. “C’mon, let’s go home and save Chase from Nan’s flirting.”
She smiled shakily at him. “Thank you, Boone.”
“You’re welcome, sweet lamb.”
* * *
“Are you all right, human?” Althea said.
Hedra smiled at her before handing her a glass of water and straightening the quilt on her bed. “I’m fine.”
“You don’t smell fine,” she said with a sniff in Hedra’s direction. “Your anxiety is getting my cat worked up something awful.”
“Sorry,” Hedra said.
Althea scowled and caught her hand when she started to walk away. “I don’t mean it like that. I’m worried about you.”
Tears pricked at Hedra’s eyes, and her throat got tight. The tiger shifter’s obvious concern made her a little weepy. She cleared her throat. “I’ll be okay. It’s been a long day.”
Althea squeezed her hand. “You should be relaxing in a hot bath, not bringing me my pills and water. I’m Boone’s problem in the evenings and weekends.”
“You’re not a problem at all,” Hedra said. She sat on the side of Althea’s bed. Not nearly as concerned about her as Althea, Alfie bared his teeth at her and growled softly from his spot on Althea’s second pillow.
“Hush, Alfie,” Althea said. “Chase told me about the cheetah shifter who’s after you.”
“He’s not after me,” Hedra said. “He’s just sad.”
“I know you’re not dumb, human, so why are you pretending to be?”
Hedra sighed. “People make mistakes when they’re grieving and not thinking straight.”
“Boone is worried for you,” Althea said. “Why won’t you let him help you?”
“I am,” Hedra said. “He arranged to have my car towed to a garage owned by his friend to get the tires fixed. He also arranged for Chase to take me to pick up my car tomorrow afternoon.”
“That isn’t what I mean, and you know it. Give Boone this guy’s name,” Althea said. “Let him speak to him.”
Hedra shook her head. “I’m not asking Boone to be more involved in my drama than he already is.”
“So, instead, you’ll just let some crazy cheetah shifter threaten you?” Althea said with a low growl.
“He’s not crazy, he’s just -”
“If you say sad one more time, human, I’ll let Alfie bite you,” Althea said grumpily.
Hedra laughed and leaned forward to kiss Althea’s cheek. “Good night, Althea.”
“Good night, Hedra.”
Hedra left Althea’s room, pausing in the hallway outside. She could hear the low murmur of Boone’s voice and another man’s in the kitchen. Frowning, she walked to the kitchen. “Grayson? What are you doing here?”
Grayson smiled at her. “Hey, Hedra. How are you?”
