Page 121 of Black Willow Witch
They left the shop moments later . . . just as Dez and Ward were heading into the nearby grocery store. Both clocked Emberlyn, averted their gazes and hurried along.
Paisley hummed. ‘It’s a nice change that they didn’t snarl at you or anything.’
‘I suppose neither of them want Ripper to come knocking on their door.’
‘He would, too. He’s in hyper-protective mode right now. Woe betide any who attempt to harm you. If he doesn’t fuck up their shit,youwill . . . and you’ll do a much more dramatic job of it than he would.’
Oh, totally.
Stood on his doorstep, Ripper folded his arms. ‘What part of “It’s not a double date” are you failing to understand?’
Crew gave him an easy smile. ‘Don’t be a grouch, it’ll be fun.’
‘No. No, it won’t.’ Ripper tilted his head. ‘What is it, you want some sort of buffer between you and Paisley? You’re thinking of calling things off?’
‘No, nothing like that.’ Sighing, Crew scratched the back of his scalp. ‘Look, her parents are being a problem, okay? They say they accept the twins’ new situation and that they want to fix things, but then their mom will cry and their dad will act all weird around them.’ He lowered his arm back to his side. ‘Kage isn’t all that bothered by it, but Paisley is. Emberlyn is family to her, and she’s the only person outside our clan who supports Paisley.’
‘So, because you want Paisley to have people around her who make her happy, I should share Emberlyn tonight and let you horn in on our date?’
‘Yeah.’
‘No.’
Crew exhaled heavily, his eyes dancing. ‘You know, you’re a little too greedy with your witch’s time and attention.’
‘As are you with Paisley’s. What of it?’
A snort popped out of Crew. ‘Okay, you got me there. But at least make an exception for tonight. Paisley’s mom has been bugging her all day. She needs cheering up.’
‘No one has ever claimed that I have any way of lifting their mood.’ Ripper didn’t even do well at lifting his own.
‘Maybeyoudon’t, but Paisley thinks of Emberlyn as a sister – having her company will help. And you know something? You have a better chance of making your witch feel comfortable with our clan if she has familiar people around her, such as one of her lifelong best friends.’
Ripper heaved a sigh. ‘An hour. That’s all you’re getting. Then I want my . . .’ He trailed off on hearing the rumble of a car engine. Looking to his left, he saw a vehicle approaching. It wasn’t until the car came close that he recognized it as belonging to the parents of Michael Reed.
Crew frowned. ‘What could they want? Because, somehow, I don’t think they’re here to wish you and Emberlyn the best.’
Catching sight of their somber expressions through the driver’s window, Ripper would have to agree. His arms still folded, he stalked to the bottom of his path with Crew at his side.
The Reeds parked up and then cautiously approached, their expressions unfriendly, their body language standoffish.
Colton briefly inclined his head in greeting. ‘Ripper, Crew.’ He cleared his throat. ‘We’d like to talk to you, Ripper, if you can spare us the time. In private, I mean.’
Actually, Ripper was planning to go pick up Emberlyn in a few minutes. But he figured this wouldn’t take long. ‘I have a little time before I’m heading out.’
‘I’ll wait in the truck.’ Crew strolled over to the vehicle and hopped into the front passenger seat. He also lowered the window, the eavesdropping bastard.
Claris clasped her hands in front of her. ‘We’ve known for a few weeks now that you’ve been . . . spending time with Emberlyn.’
An unusual way of saying ‘sleeping with her’. It was almost as if Claris couldn’t bring herself to speak the words aloud.
‘I suppose it shouldn’t have been too much of a surprise to us, regardless of your reservations about witches.’ Claris gave a tight smile, adding, ‘Our Emberlyn is a fascinating girl, after all.’
The amount of possession loaded into the words ‘Our Emberlyn’ rankled Ripper something fierce, but he didn’t let it show.
‘You appear to be serious about her.’
‘I am,’ Ripper confirmed.
