Page 119 of Black Willow Witch
‘Because you’re not a person who’s ever made a habit of letting anyone escape the consequences for things they’ve done to offend you.’
‘I’ve made exceptions.’
‘Really?’
‘No.’ She switched on the engine. ‘Seatbelt.’
‘What are you going to do?’
‘Drive back to the manor.’
‘I mean, what are you going to do about CeCe?’ he asked, clicking on his seatbelt.
She pulled out onto the road. ‘I don’t need to do anything. You handled it.’
‘You don’tneedto, no, but you’re going to anyway. Aren’t you?’
She smiled. ‘I just love how paranoid I make you.’
‘That’s not an answer, Emberlyn.’
It was the only one he was getting.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Admiring the skirt on a fashionably dressed mannequin, Emberlyn spared her friend a quick look. ‘You’re muttering to yourself again.’
Paisley huffed. ‘I can’t help it. I love my mom, I do, but how hard can it be to respect a “Thanks for the dinner invite but I have plans” response? I already had dinner with her twice in the past week. The damn woman seems to hear the word “no” and feel compelled to change a person’s mind.’
‘Kind of like Ripper.’
Paisley waved that away. ‘No, as a member of his clan, I can confirm he respects boundaries. He just doesn’t acknowledge thatyouhave any.’
Emberlyn snorted. Ripper was someone who kept a relative distance between himself and others; someone who liked personal space and alone time. But it seemed that once he attached to a person, that changed in a very big way. And over the past six days, it had become apparent that he now thought himself exempt from her boundaries.
All of which should technically irritate her but didn’t.
The guy might havebargedinto her life and planted himself firmly in it, but she wouldn’t want him to be anywhere else.
‘Retail therapy usually improves my mood,’ added Paisley, ‘but it’s not working today.’
Yes, Emberlyn had noticed. They’d been to two other stores before this one, and Paisley had had a face like a smacked ass the entire time.
A few clothing stores could be found in Chilgrave. This particular one was run by, and catered to, werewolves. Thelighting was gentle and the background music was low, accommodating their enhanced senses. Also, every material was softer than normal so as not to aggravate their slight skin sensitivity.
Street sounds drifted through the door that had been propped open, as did the magnetic scents coming from the neighboring coffeehouse. A few other shoppers were browsing the store. Salespeople wandered about, doing this and that. Clothes of all material were spread around – some clothed mannequins, others hung on racks, the rest could be seen on shelves and tables.
‘At least she wants to see you,’ said Emberlyn, her heels clicking on the faux oak floor as they ambled further into the shop. ‘It’s good that she’s over her snit.’
‘Totally, but I can’t sit through another awkward family meal this week wherein she sporadically cries and my dad fails to look me in the eye. Besides, I don’t want to miss our double date.’
‘Ripper still isn’t impressed that you and Crew invited yourselves along toourdate.’ Emberlyn edged her way through a narrow gap between racks, frowning as a hanger got caught on her sleeve. ‘He’ll probably chase you away.’
‘No, he won’t. Though he likes having you to himself, he also likes seeing you surrounded by his clan. It eases his protective instincts. He wants you to have that circle of safety.’
Emberlyn felt her brow pinch. ‘Says who?’
‘Crew, Kerr and Logan. They talk about you two a lot.’
