Queen Bitch of the Callowwood Pack (Siren Publishing Classic) Read Online Free PDF Page A

good. I’m so cold.
    A comfortable rumble pushed against her ear where her head pressed against his shirt. It took her a moment to realize he spoke to someone, but the sounds didn’t make sense. She ignored the words as she gave into the comfort of resting in this man’s arms. It felt right, settled, as if all the pieces of her life finally fit together properly. She finally fit in somewhere. She belonged here, with this male.
    “Is she going to be all right?” Her mother’s worried voice penetrated the comfortable, settled feeling.
    “I think so.”
    Julianna knew that gravelly voice. It sent little bullets of excitement and arousal shooting through her. The arms around her squeezed gently.
    “She’s just a little overwhelmed with all the recent events,” the Paiute woman’s voice soothed, and a warm hand touched Julianna’s arm. “She’ll come out of it soon.”
    “She is west of left field, isn’t she, Sebrina?” the gravelly voice asked beneath her ear.
    That’s Jeff’s voice. Recognition dragged her further out into reality, and she realized she lay in his arms.
    “Yes, my son, but we must give her time to understand it fully,” the Paiute woman replied firmly.
    West of left field? Understand it? What are they talking about?
    Julianna struggled to sit up and get a hold on herself. Chagrin washed through her. How embarrassing to faint at her father’s funeral in front of everyone. And now she lay in Jeff’s arms.
    Not such a bad place to be, her Sister remarked.
    Oh, shut up, you’re not helping . She had to pull herself together.
    “I think I can sit up on my own now,” she stated firmly as she pulled out of Jeff’s embrace.
    He let her go reluctantly as if unsure of her steadiness, shifting his body over so she could sit on the cold booth bench. She told herself it was better this way. Jeez, she’d swooned like some silly damsel in a Jane Austen novel at the first sight of him. She gritted her teeth and squared her shoulders before she looked at anyone.
    Gathering her courage, Julianna forced herself to stare up into Jeff’s green-gold eyes. “Thanks for making sure I didn’t hit the floor. That would’ve been really embarrassing.”
    He grinned at her, stealing her breath. “Couldn’t have that.”
    “You don’t have to sit with me. I think I’ll be okay as long as I don’t get up.”
    Jeff stared at her for a long time with an intensity that made her nervous.
    “What?”
    Before he could respond, Beth appeared at the table with a tall glass of ice water and a small plate of Lily Waters’ thumbprint cookies. They were Julianna’s favorites, particularly filled with Lily’s famous apricot jam, but Jeff’s delicious scent overwhelmed them. Beth slid deeper into the booth, effectively sealing Julianna to Jeff’s side. She tried not to enjoy it too much. Her mother took her hand.
    “I think it’ll be okay for us to sit while everyone mills around,” Beth said in a no-nonsense voice. “That way everyone can find us and you can rest. It has been a hard year for both of us, hasn’t it? Are you going to be all right now, dear one?”
    “I will.” Julianna tried to ignore the shivers lacing her body where it contacted Jeff. She took a long drink of water. “I didn’t sleep well last night and I’m not used to how dry it is here compared to Fresno. I’ll be okay.”
    “It’s just as well,” Beth muttered. “I didn’t want to stand there the whole time everyone goes over and over how wonderful your father was. I don’t think I have the stamina for that.”
    Julianna felt Jeff stiffen in surprise as she looked at her mother with raised eyebrows.
    “What? Why?”
    “Because I know how wonderful he was. I was married to him for forty-six years. Hearing everyone else say it only reminds me that he’s gone.”
    “Oh, God, Mom. I didn’t even think of that. Did you want to go home?”
    “No, no, it’ll be fine.” Beth laid her hand on Julianna’s arm. “I can take it