Chapter Four
It was a typical night at The Boar’s Tusk, the tavern located at the edge of town nearest to the Magister Pack’s lands. There was country music on the jukebox, and werewolves mingling freely with humans, flirting and laughing. The Devil sat at the bar, downing a frosty mug of beer.
Women were eyeing him appreciatively. The bartender looked as if she were about to drool down the front of his shirt as she leaned over and attempted to flash her cleavage at him while she asked him something. He gave her a short, sharp shake of his head and turned away from her, resuming his conversation with Craig, his best friend and Beta.
Mary stomped across the room and slapped her hand down on the bar to get his attention, glaring.
“You!”
“Me?” Jarrod swung around and grinned at her, setting down the mug.
“We need to talk.”
He leaned against the bar, raising his voice to be heard over the jukebox. “Any time.”
“Outside, please?” she yelled back. “I can’t hear a thing in here.”
He nodded at Craig, set his beer down on the bar, and followed her out. Mary could feel the envious gazes of women burning into her like lasers as they headed out the door.
Nothing to see here, folks,she thought grimly.
The night air was humid, and crickets chirped a creaky chorus in the trees nearby. An ivory sliver of new moon hung behind wisps of ghostly cloud. Jarrod looked appallingly cheerful, and she was torn between wanting to smack him and wanting to sink into his arms and press against his broad, muscular chest.
“It’s great to see you. I’ve never seen you in here before,” he observed.
So he’s noticed?she thought, with a trace of wistfulness.
“I called up the pack secretary to see where you’d be,” she said, trying for a casual shrug.
“I’m flattered.” He flashed that winning smile at her. She’d been prepared for it – he’d been beaming that charm-ray at her ever since she’d moved back to town three months ago, and she’d known it was coming. And she still felt her knees go weak.
“Don’t be,” she said sternly. “I had no choice. You’re on the verge of getting me fired.”
“I am?” He seemed genuinely surprised at that.
“Of course you are. This bridenapping has been pre-arranged. Your uncle agreed that you would marry Regina. Regina’s even agreed that it will be a marriage of convenience. You guys can both have whatever arrangement you want on the side.”
“Generous of her.” Amusement twinkled in his whiskey-colored eyes. He leaned forward and sniffed. “You smell delightful. Is that bergamot?”
“What?” She flushed, momentarily thrown off. How had he suddenly moved so close to her? She could feel his body heat, smell his earthy, masculine scent.
She glanced nervously at her watch. It wasn’t moonrise, was it? No, she had a few hours. Mature male Alphas gave off a special pheromone around moonrise, which lasted about an hour and made them irresistible to any female within scenting distance. Or so she’d heard.
She shook her head angrily. “Anyway. Regina’s all about appearances, and you’re making her look bad.”
“Am I really, now? I think she does a pretty good job of that all by herself.”
Mary was surprised. Regina was stunningly beautiful – on the outside, anyway. She was also spoiled and bitchy and prone to wild mood swings, but she didn’t think Jarrod would care about that. Regina was exactly the type he’d gone for in high school.
And marrying her made perfect business sense. Her family owned a chain of department stores. His pack made furniture. It was a great match.
“Tell me,” he said, folding his arms against his broad chest and surveying her with an idle glance that made her whole body heat up, “What kind of mother do you think she’d be?”
“Regina? Mother?” she squeaked, trying to stall. Regina was incredibly self-centered; she couldn’t imagine her paying attention to babies. Or cubs.
“Exactly.”
“I didn’t say anything!” Mary protested.