Laughing, Lucy pulled back. “It’s so good to see you. Video chatting just isn’t the same.” She had almond-shaped eyes, high cheekbones, and dark, straight hair—traits she’d inherited from her Native American ancestors.
Lucy gestured at the two indomitable-looking males behind her. Like Lucy and Riley, they had a slight blue tint to their hair that was typical of raven shifters. “Hugh and Duncan are my assigned bodyguards for the day,” said Lucy. As the daughter of the Exodus Flock Alphas, she never went anywhere without protection.
Riley smiled at the Beta and his son as they each gave her a brief hug. Drawing back, she asked, “How are you?”
Hugh patted her shoulder. “Good, thanks. Mad at you for staying away for four years, though.”
Duncan’s mouth curved. “I’ll be better when I’m home.” He’d never much liked leaving his territory. “But it’s good to see you, Riley.”
“Good to see you both too.” Her raven was also glad to see them; she’d missed the flock, especially Lucy, who’d been a close friend since childhood. Riley slipped into the booth and gestured for Lucy to sit opposite her.
“We need a little privacy,” Lucy told Hugh and Duncan. The males took a booth that was out of earshot, but they didn’t look happy about it.
Before Riley could speak, the waitress appeared and asked, “What are you having?”
“Just coffee, thanks,” replied Riley. Any other time she would have found the meringue pie inside the glass dome mighty interesting. But thanks to the aftereffects of the tequila, the smells of meat grilling and onions frying were churning her stomach rather than giving her an appetite.
“I’ll have the same,” said Lucy.
The waitress disappeared with a nod, the soles of her shoes squeaking on the checkered tile floor.
“So . . . what’s it like living with wolves?” Lucy asked.
“Fine, I guess. You’d like them. They’re good people.”
“But you’re coming home at some point, right? Dammit, I promised Mom and Dad I wouldn’t pressure you. Honestly, I’m not here to bug you to come home . . . though I won’t lie and say I wouldn’t do it if I thought it would work—peer pressure doesn’t work on your stubborn ass.” Lucy rested her elbows on the table. “As I’m sure you know, the anniversary of your uncles’ mating is coming up.”
Riley nodded. She’d already bought them a gift and a card, fully intending to post them soon.
“My parents have organized a last-minute surprise party for them to honor it,” Lucy continued. “It would be great if you could come. Your uncles would be overjoyed.”
Riley tensed, feeling mentally cornered.
As if sensing that, Lucy leaned back a little to give her space. “They miss you, Riley.”
“And I miss them.” Riley absolutely adored Ethan and Max Porter. Ethan was her mother’s brother and had mated Max before Riley was born. After her parents’ death when she was just four, her uncles had taken her in and raised her. She’d kept in contact with them since leaving the flock. They did a lot of video chatting and even met up occasionally, but she hadn’t seen them in over ten months. Her raven missed them as badly as Riley did. “The surprise party is a good idea, and I’m sure they’ll be thrilled about it.”
Lucy smiled, as if assuming Riley was consenting to attend.
“But I’m not sure my being there would be the best idea.”
Lucy’s smile faded. “Why not?”
“A party should be fun and exciting. If I waltz in there, it would stir up old memories.”
“Yeah, but not in a way that would ruin the party. Everybody’s missed you. They’ll all be ecstatic to see you.”
Riley shot her a skeptical look. “Everybody? Really?”
“Look, four years ago, when emotions were running high, there were a few people who blamed you for what happened—no, they wanted to blame you; they needed someone to take out their grief on. But a lot of time has passed; they realize that they were wrong. Shirley will probably always blame you purely because it relieves her son of any wrongdoing, but I don’t think she truly believes you’re at fault. Not really.”
Riley wasn’t so sure about that.
“The only other person who won’t be particularly welcoming is Cynthia. You two have never seen eye to eye and she might worry that you’re back for Sawyer.” Lucy snorted, adding, “As if. But this isn’t about them. This is about you and your uncles.”
The waitress appeared with their coffees, and the smell thankfully didn’t upset Riley’s stomach.
Once they were alone again, Lucy lifted her cup. “Come to the party, Riley. Come for the weekend and have a proper visit. If you were honest, you’d admit that you miss all of us too. Not only that; you miss home.”
Shaking the packet of sugar, Riley sighed. Like her raven, she did miss her flock, and she did miss Sedona; the flock’s territory had been Riley’s sanctuary, her safe place . . . right up until the end, anyway.
“Just a weekend. Then you can come back here to be with the wolves if that’s what you want.”
Riley sprinkled the sugar into her coffee and stirred it. “I don’t know, Luce.”
“I talked to Sawyer. I told him I was coming to see you today.”
“And?”
“He said he figured someone would invite you and that I shouldn’t take no for an answer.”
Well, that was a surprise. “Did you point out that his girlfriend wouldn’t like it?”
“I wouldn’t go as far as to say that Cynthia’s his girlfriend. One of the things that made you and Sawyer eventually gravitate to each other was that you were both the most dominant unmated ravens in the flock. Without you around, Cynthia’s the most dominant; I’d say that’s all the appeal she holds for him. But Cynthia’s set on keeping him because she knows he’s next in line to be Beta. She’s always wanted to be Beta female.”
Riley blew over the rim of her cup. “Does she know you’re here?”
“Hell no. If she knew, she’d tell your uncles and ruin the surprise just to be a bitch. I haven’t told many people because I was worried your uncles would find out and get their hopes up that you’ll come. I’ve sworn Sawyer to secrecy—he won’t break a promise.” Lucy put down her cup. “Did you plan to never come back to Sedona?”
“Of course not.”
“Well, then, if you would have returned at some point, what better time than for your uncles’ party? They’d love it. It’s been four years since you were home, Riley. That’s too long to stay away.” The sticky fake leather cushion squeaked as Lucy leaned forward and grabbed her wrist. “Please come.”
The bell over the door rang once again. Riley looked up and stiffened as none other than Tao strolled inside. Motherfucker. He flicked Hugh and Duncan a brief assessing look, and then the son of a bitch stalked straight to her. He didn’t speak. He bent down, curled a hand under her chin . . . and kissed her. Kissed her kissed her.