SIX MONTHS (A Seven Series Novel)

Okay, a little weird. “You don’t want me dressing up?”

 

 

“You looked… damn sexy in that dress last night, April. Couldn’t take my eyes off you. But that’s you trying to look good for a bunch of strangers. I just want you to be yourself around me. Got it?”

 

Hmm, my inner voice thought. Then pink lace panties and a black bra it is!

 

“How come nobody knows you guys exist?” Still skeptical, I folded my arms and refused to believe any of this could be real. Perhaps if I buried my head in the sand like an ostrich, the logical side of my brain would win. I used to pretend when I was little that we lived in a world of magic, but finding out Shifters were walking around Austin, Texas? Yet how could I dismiss what I’d seen with my own eyes?

 

“What do you think? You’re a smart girl, April. Think about what it would mean if we came out to humans. I can’t explain why I exist, but here I am,” he said, briefly raising his heavy arms before dropping them again. “We live longer than humans, but we’re not immortal. I’ve served in three wars, traveled outside the country seven times, watched this world change in the blink of an eye, and I’ve witnessed a lot of senseless shit. It’s why I got into PI work. I feel like I’m on the right side of the law and I can make a difference. Whatever happened here last night had nothing to do with your friend, and I’m gonna find out the story whether you tell me the truth or not. Now get dressed because I’m taking you to work.”

 

“Wait, what? It’s my day off.”

 

“Not anymore.”

 

My hair looked like scrambled eggs and he wanted me to go to work on my day off?

 

“I don’t feel good.”

 

“Then you’re going to drink water and sit down a lot, but you’re going to work. That’s the Shifter way; you dust yourself off and move on.”

 

“I’m not a Shifter.”

 

Reno’s face flushed with anger. “I’m not leaving you alone knowing that asshole who almost killed your friend could be coming back for seconds. I’ll pick you up from work, so grab a change of clothes,” he said, sitting in a tiny kitchen chair that creaked beneath his weight.

 

I turned around and stormed down the hall.

 

“Princess?”

 

When I peered over my shoulder, Reno had his fist tucked against his cheek.

 

“Anyone ever tell you how pretty your hazel eyes are when you’re mad?”

 

I blushed, and that made me even madder. “Are you goading me?”

 

“No, just sweet-talking.”

 

“Don’t be nice to me, Reno. I’m not in the mood for nice.”

 

“Music to my ears,” he said with a chuckle as I yanked the curtain closed.

 

***

 

When Reno walked in the Weston house after dropping April off at work, a sigh of disgust blew past his lips. There were muddy paw prints across the floor, scuffed-up rugs, and scratches on the doors. Guests had left their plates everywhere, so the girls were frantically trying to clean it up before Lynn returned from her vacation. That woman wouldn’t just have a cow if she saw this mess—she’d have a herd.

 

“Shoes off!” Lexi barked as she hiked up the stairs. Reno kicked off his boots and followed behind her.

 

“Where’s Jericho?”

 

She didn’t bother to turn around. “After the shit he pulled last night? Austin is having a little chat with him. You know what he actually said? He said that our peace parties were lame and all he was doing was livening things up.”

 

“Your friend knows about us now,” Reno confessed.

 

Lexi gracefully spun around, a mixed expression of anger and relief on her face. “Well, maybe that’s a good thing. Although now she’ll think we’re all batshit crazy and will probably turn in her resignation at Sweet Treats.”

 

“Not likely,” he said with a soft chuckle. “She’s up there now.”

 

“I gave her the day off.” Lexi swatted at a fly buzzing around her leg, then turned around to climb the stairs.

 

“Long story,” Reno said. “Any damage?”

 

“Uh, besides our reputation?”

 

Yeah, that was going to be problematic. Not keeping a peace party under control in front of the Packmasters wasn’t a shining example of Austin’s leadership skills and dependability as an ally.

 

Denver emerged from the game room wearing knee-length cargo pants and a threadbare T-shirt. He held a white kitchen trash can filled with beer bottles and paper plates.

 

“You could stand there or help out,” Denver said, setting the bin by the wall.

 

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