Ingrid lifted her shoulders. “And whatever’s wrong with a fumble? Really, doll, I don’t see why there has to be anything quick about it.”

Mila held up a hand. “I don’t feel like being another notch on GQ’s bedpost. That’s all I’d be to him. I don’t think he’s quite the player he pretends to be, but I know he wouldn’t want more than sex. You’re my grandmother. Shouldn’t you be offended on my behalf?”

“Would you want more than sex with him?”

“No.”

“Then I don’t see the problem.”

“Neither do I,” Evander chipped in.

Mila lifted her hands. “And I’m done with this conversation.”

“What conversation?” asked Archie as he came strolling out of the break room.

Leaving the three of them to gossip like little old women, Mila tidied her station.

Archie didn’t push her in Dominic’s direction; he simply reminded her of something he’d been telling her for years: “Dominant male wolves are more trouble than they’re worth.”

Ingrid waved that away. “You say that about every species other than pallas cats.”

“Doesn’t mean I’m wrong,” said Archie.

Ingrid shot him an exasperated look. “Well, I have to get back to the store.” She said her goodbyes, pausing to whisper in Mila’s ear, “Life’s for living, doll. Now you call that boy, and let him help you live it.”

Mila just smiled. “Take care, Grams.” Her smile faltered when none other than Joel and Adele walked in just as Ingrid was leaving. Shit. Mila’s cat stood with a hiss, hackles raised, fangs bared.

As Adele and Ingrid paused to chat, Joel headed straight to Mila. Like Dominic, he was tall and had quite the smile. His shoulders were a little broader, though, and his skin didn’t have GQ’s sexy tan or . . . Why was she comparing them? Ugh.

“Hey, stranger,” said Joel, grinning. “Haven’t seen you in at least a week. I came to pick up Adele from work, so I thought I’d pop in and say hi.”

One thing Mila was grateful for was that Joel, unlike most of the pride, didn’t work on this street. If he had, he’d have probably popped in quite regularly. Adele worked at the pawn shop a few stores down from the barbershop, but she rarely visited. It also helped that they lived in their own house as opposed to Mila’s apartment building where many of the pride resided.

He spared Adele a brief glance, noting she was still engaged in conversation with Ingrid, and then turned back to Mila. “Notice the flowers?” he whispered.

Yeah, Mila had seen the huge beautiful bouquet that Adele was carrying.

His voice still low, he continued, “I went on a night out with the guys and didn’t get back until five the next morning, even though I told her I’d be home no later than midnight. She was pissed.” His brows dipped. “If I’m honest, she was beyond pissed—to the point of overreacting. Seriously, you’d have thought I spent the night at a strip club or something.”

Mila frowned. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Adele anything but happy.”

“Well, she doesn’t hold on to her mad for long, but she sure can yell. She’s had a real bug up her ass lately. The slightest thing sets her off. If it wasn’t for the fact that I didn’t scent pregnancy on her, I’d have wondered if she were pregnant.” He shrugged, his smile returning. “Luckily, she’s a sucker for roses—they always get me out of trouble.”

Mila forced a smile. He often confided in her about his relationship with Adele, and such conversations were never fun.

“Do you think maybe you could talk to her and check that she’s okay?” asked Joel. “There’s something she’s not telling me, and I’m worried about her.”

Oh fuck, he couldn’t ask this of her. “Adele and I aren’t close, Joel. If she has some kind of issue, I’m not someone she’s likely to share it with. I’m sure she’ll tell you when she’s ready.”

His shoulders lowered. “Yeah, you’re right. I shouldn’t ask you to get involved, I’m sorry. Like I said, I’m just worried about—” He frowned, his gaze locking on her hand as she lifted it to push her curls away from her face. “What’s this?” He grabbed her hand, his jaw hardening. “You wrote a guy’s number on your palm? Wait, this isn’t your handwriting.” Joel’s nostrils flared. “Who was he?”

Pulling her hand back, Mila shrugged nonchalantly. “A client. His name is Dominic Something.”

“What is he? Human? Cat?”

She sighed. “He’s a Phoenix Pack wolf. An enforcer.”

Recognition flashed across his face, and Joel folded his arms. “Dominic . . . Yeah, I remember him from the battle. You don’t want to get involved with that wolf, Mila. He reminds me a lot of your ex, Grant. The ultimate ladies’ man. You can do better. And let’s face it, the Phoenix Pack aren’t the kind of shifters anyone should get too closely acquainted with. Their Alpha male’s wolf turns feral during battle, and his mate’s just plain crazy.”

“We’re pallas cats, Joel—we’re really in no position to judge others on their level of craziness.”

“So you’re gonna call this Dominic guy?”

She could tell he wasn’t keen on the idea, but it wasn’t jealousy—just a protectiveness that someone would feel for a close friend. “No, I’m not.”

He exhaled heavily. “Good. It would be just like dating Grant again, so you already know exactly how it’ll turn out—like shit.”

Just then, Adele came toward them, her smile bright. The pretty blue-eyed blonde really had that girl-next-door look going on. “Hi, Mila, how are you?”

“Great, thanks. You?” Fuck, this was hard.

“Never better.” She linked her arm through Joel’s. “We’re just going to grab some Chinese on the way home. Say hi to your parents for me.”

“Will do.” Her cat hissed and spat right up until the couple finally left the shop. Yeah, Russia and Maksim were looking better by the minute.

CHAPTER FOUR

Curled up on an armchair, Makenna sighed at her mate as she placed her mug on the small table beside her. “I’m just saying, it’s bad luck to cut your nails on a Friday.” She held up her hands in a gesture of innocence. “I don’t make up the rules of the universe. I’m just the messenger.”

A muscle in Ryan’s cheek ticked, and his hand clenched tightly around the TV remote. “But it’s not a rule of the universe. It’s a ridiculous superstition.”

“I don’t know why you have to say ‘superstition’ like it’s a dirty word.”

“I don’t know why you can’t just be normal and accept that they’re bullshit.”

“You know what I just heard? ‘Blah, blah, blah, blah, I’m a shithead.’”

Gently patting the back of the swaddled baby sleeping against his chest, Dominic watched the couple argue. Makenna was wildly superstitious, whereas her mate was all about logic and reason, so the two often argued over such things. Since Ryan was ordinarily quite stoic and mostly communicated with grunts, it was always fun to watch the enforcer lose it with his mate. She was literally the only person who could wrench such a reaction out of him.