He snorted. “Seriously, Isabelle?”
When he pulled his head back to look at me, I shrugged. “It’s no secret what kind of women you date. Blondes who are well-endowed and inked.”
He threaded his fingers through my hair. “First of all, you’re the only redhead I’ve ever knowingly been with for a reason. And on a side note, I think your tits are spectacular. Candy-red nipples,” he whispered against my ear, “and more than a mouthful.” His fingers grazed along the feminine curve of my chest. “As for the tattoos, I don’t want you getting one because you think it’s a requirement on my checklist. Some ink is invisible, and I know all the stories that mark you.”
“Not all,” I said.
“Yeah, we got some catching up to do. Look, I’m sorry, Isabelle.”
“For what?”
“For being such a dick and leaving you on the street that morning wearing a paper bag.”
“You were just being your usual cocky self.”
He was quiet for a couple of beats and working something out in his head. “I want you to stay here; I’ll be back in a little bit.”
“Where are you going? Do you have to go onstage again?”
“I need to run a quick errand. There’s a toilet in here, but the shower is questionable. You might have to take a bath in the sink.”
“Super. Be sure to pick me up a rubber ducky before you come back,” I said through our kisses.
“Maybe I’ll just lick you clean, Sexybelle.”
“Mmm, sounds good,” I said, tasting his bottom lip.
“Hey, what are you doing?” He glanced down at my palm where I held one of his chunky rings, the one that depicted a vicious wolf’s head.
“I want a piece of you with me while you’re gone,” I said, sliding it on my fattest finger. “Plus, I like this ring.”
Jericho blew a burst of air against my neck, making a terrible sound. I lifted my shoulder and squirmed away from the ticklish effect. It was so easy to fall back into our friendship—the way we were before it all fell apart. After a minute, he hopped off the bed and pulled up his jeans. “Be back in two shakes of a stripper’s ass. You have a change of clothes by the bed, and there’s some junk in the bathroom to brush your teeth with.”
“Super. I love brushing my teeth with junk.”
“Stay sexilicious, and don’t go anywhere. I’ll keep my phone in my pocket if you need to call.”
“Oh,” I said, looking around. “My phone is by the lawn chairs. When I fell, it dropped in the grass.”
“I’ll grab it on my way back.” He headed down the hall and turned on a low lamp. “I’m going to lock the door behind me. Don’t let anyone in unless they’re holding a six-pack.”
“What if they’re wearing one?”
“Then you’ll know it’s me and you can open the door.”
Chapter 18
Damn if Jericho didn’t walk out of that trailer whistling.
Whistling!
After grabbing a plain black tee, he drove away from the campsite. As much as he wanted to stay behind and hold Isabelle, Jericho couldn’t put off this deal any longer. Since he didn’t have the right connections, he called Wheeler as soon as he sped onto the main road.
Wheeler had a contact, so with reluctance, he arranged for Jericho to meet with him. When Jericho pulled up to a large glass building, he parked the truck halfway on the sidewalk and got out.
A gentleman puffing on a cigar dropped his stogie to the ground and smashed it out with his brown cowboy boot. He was a robust man with a silver beard and blue dress shirt. “My name’s Tony,” the man said with a brisk nod. “Wheeler’s a friend of mine from way back. He tells me I need to fix you up.”
Jericho slammed the truck door and wiped his nose. “I don’t have much time. Show me what you got.”
“Come inside and we’ll make a deal.” Tony jangled his keys and unlocked the door. Jericho moved to the center of the room, hands shaking, feeling jittery.
Tony’s gait was slow as he went to the left side of the dark room. “Looks like you got it bad. Come over here and I’ll set you up.”
Jericho moved toward the counter and watched anxiously as Tony flipped on a few lights.
“What’s your poison?”
Jericho cleared his throat. “Engagement rings.”
Rings weren’t really the Shifter way because jewelry sometimes got lost during the shift unless you were careful to take it off first or remembered where you’d left it. But Jericho couldn’t help himself—he wanted Isabelle to have the whole damn fairy tale.
Tony chuckled. “You had that look in your eye; I figured as much. Do you have something in mind? Platinum, white gold, marquise, princess cut?”
“I don’t know.” He leaned over the counter and eyed all the glittering jewels.
“Well, tell me about your woman. Is she one of those shy girls?”