“I really like Skye’s peach wine, but I’m driving.”
“Okay, I’ll be two-fisted then,” she quips. “She brought some over for us to try and gotta say, I didn’t think I liked wine, but I like this a lot.”
“She and Andy are really good at wine and moonshine-making,” I say, setting the wine glass on the picnic table.
“Real glad they’re going into business with Brody. It should help us get on our feet fast.”
I manage a smile, but I’m not feeling chatty and it seems like she’s a little tipsy. And even if I were feeling chatty, my guard would be up because of that obvious runway strut she just did walking by those alphas, all of which are attached. Except… Jase.
Maybe I should excuse myself from this little party. Slip out and go be alone. The problem is that he keeps looking at me. He’ll definitely notice if I leave. I probably won’t even get out of the parking lot without him on my heels.
“So…” Caroline continues, staring off while running her fingertip around the rim of her glass. “If you’re not interested in that inky-hot hunk because he’s such a man whore, how about if I give it a test run?”
I jolt in surprise. “What?”
I look at Ivy whose mouth has dropped open.
“Oh no she didn’t…” Amie mumbles, eyes bouncing between Caroline and me.
No wonder Caroline came to sit with me, bringing me wine.
She goes on, clearly not reading the room. “I’ll make a pass at him. If he turns me down, you know his man whore days are behind him. If he doesn’t…” she grins, “we both win.”
Looking at her, waiting for her to tell me she’s joking, I’m shocked. Jase is still watching me from the grill where he stands with Brody, who’s flipping burgers.
Stacy and Adelaide are dishing up plates of food for folks who are lined up.
And this chick who barely knows me is suggesting to me that she make a pass at Jase? As a test?
“we both win…”
Wasn’t she just rescued from that massage parlor where they’d been prostituted and abused?
I’m not even trying to hide my annoyance as I ask, “What the fuck, Caroline?”
A gaggle of kids run by, some of them carrying big bubble wands that I gave out last week, leaving a trail of dish soap bubbles behind them as they wave and I get a bunch of helloes from them.
I clear the anger from my face and wave. “Hi everyone! Yay, bubbles!” I clap my hands enthusiastically, hoping they didn’t hear me cussing.
Once the kids have moved out of earshot, I turn my attention to her.
She’s staring at Jase. Blatantly. With lust.
“You do realize that he’s identified me as his mate, so what you’re suggesting is kind of pointless.”
She snickers. “Yeah, and word is that you don’t want him because he’s a man whore.”
“That’s not…” I shake my head. “That’s not it. But bottom line, he’s not gonna go for you while he’s… forget it. Just… you’re gonna make yourself look stupid.”
Like I did. So many times. Though notthisstupid.
She looks at me like I’ve insulted her. Does she not know an alpha who’s identified his mate won’t even look at another female let alone fool around with her?
I get to my feet. “Do yourself a favor and learn a little about this pack’s dynamics before you not only make yourself look stupid, but maybe also earn yourself a black eye.”
I hear Ivy gasp.
Caroline looks at me with challenge. “You’re threatening me?” And she’s kind of loud.