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

anger kindled once again, and she wanted to bare her teeth at them. What the hell is their problem? She hadn’t stolen a boyfriend or something equally as heinous. She’d only been in town for a month, and she’d barely been out of the house. The scent of their enmity nearly gagged her, but she focused on the next speaker and sipped her whiskey stoically after each toast.
    At last the speeches ended, and the mourners shifted toward the buffet.
    “Glad that’s finally done,” her mother murmured with a sigh. “Are you hungry? I’ll get us something to eat, shall I?”
    “Oh, Mom, I—” Julianna began, but Beth slipped out of the booth and walked away. “Well, crap.”
    “Sorry?” Jeff asked in surprise.
    Julianna laughed in spite of herself. “Nothing. I just need to use the ladies’ room.”
    He raised his eyebrows, but he released her hand, and she scooted to the edge of the booth before she rose to her feet. The hand he’d held felt cold without his warmth, but she told herself she was being ridiculous. Still, she felt his gaze on her back the whole way to the restroom, and it only encouraged her inner romantic.
    I really am pathetic. I should let him go. He’s only being nice to me because I’m grieving. I shouldn’t read too much into it.
    When she returned to the table, Jeff was chatting with Sebrina, the Paiute woman, and some of the other mourners who’d stopped by the table. He never paused in his conversation as she slid in beside him again, but he recaptured her hand, sending excited delight skittering along her nerve endings. She glanced at him with wide eyes, but he just smiled at her absently and continued to discuss the likelihood of a decrease in property taxes in Pershing County.
    Julianna’s attention wandered around the bar as her mother returned with some food, searching for someone she knew to distract her. A striking woman with white-blond hair, pale blue eyes, and the figure of a well-endowed fashion model stood beside the bar. Her stylish black dress fell to just above her knees with a neckline showing enough cleavage to remind anyone else they were of lesser stature. Many men in the bar looked after her wistfully, even some of the married ones.
    “Mom, do you know who that is?”
    Beth nodded slowly. “Oh, that’s Brenda Solaris, Lily Waters’ niece from Los Angeles. She’s an ad executive, I think.”
    “Why is she here? Did she know Dad?”
    “I don’t think so. I think she’s here for Lily, really.”
    Julianna remembered Lily had been Gerry’s high school sweetheart. “Lily’s broken up over Dad, even after all these years?”
    Beth just gave a sharp nod. “They stayed friends.”
    “And that was okay?”
    “It was after I made it clear he was mine for good. We even became friends after a fashion. I think she always loved your dad, but she accepted his choice in a mate.”
    The word mate ricocheted through Julianna. It seemed an odd word choice for her mother to use. She wanted to ask about it, but by then the blonde woman stood before the table, displeasure in every line of her body.
    The scent of anger and overwhelming disdain flooded over Julianna, and she resisted the urge to wrinkle her nose with distaste. Brenda focused on Jeff, and her expression softened into sympathy. Julianna’s temper rose again.
    “I am so sorry for your loss,” Brenda cooed at Jeff, as if he’d lost someone. “I hope your sorrows will pass soon.”
    Before Jeff could comment, Julianna stated, “Thank you. I’m sure they will.”
    The light blue eyes hit her with a bolt of pure outrage before the emotion was smothered by pity, and Brenda smiled tightly. She returned her attention to Jeff. He nodded just slightly, as if acknowledging her efforts. She inclined hers and smiled sweetly before sashaying toward the bar.
    Rival bitch! her Sister’s voice snarled. Julianna couldn’t agree more.
    She suddenly felt tired and stretched out, like taffy being pulled apart. God, she was so