kiss?â
âCertainly not because of the kiss. Who knows whether he will or wonât be?â Lori shrugged as nonchalantly as she could. âMaybe.â She had secretly hoped so for years. Not that he would mate her or anything. Butâ¦they needed a cohesive pack, and everyone had agreed that Paul should take charge in his parentsâ place.
âWhat if he decided to take over the pack? Would you consider mating him?â Rose persisted.
Loriâs cheeks grew hot again. âRose, how many years have we hoped heâd decide his home is here? Same with your brother. When theyâre ready, theyâll settle down. But in the meantime, if either of us finds a suitable wolf mate and we decide to take over the pack, so be it.â
âYou donât really mean that,â Rose said. âPaulâs it. Weâve always known it. But I have to admit, I loved it when you smacked him in the head with the broom. You ought to do that more often. See what it got you this time?â
Lori chuckled. âA lot more than I expected.â Then she sighed. She knew something was going on with Rose, but though they were best friends and had been forever, Rose wouldnât tell her what was wrong. âAre you sure nothingâs the matter?â
Roseâs expression turned from lighthearted and amused to worried in a flash. She shook her head adamantly. âNo, Iâm fine.â She shrugged. âWhy do you keep asking?â
âYouâve canceled on me for lunch and movie dates when you never do. You seemâ¦well, on edge. Not yourself. Yourâ¦anxiousness started after the Cooper brothers were up at the lake with us last week. Are you still bothered about that?â
âNo, of course not. They were being jerks. I doubt Dusty will hassle you any further. Or that Howard will bother me.â
âYou havenât wanted to go to the lake with me since then.â
âIâve been busy with the Howling Wolf. Iâve gotten a whole new shipment of art and gifts made by local artists, and you know how it is. Making room for them, changing displays, pricing everything. Even Michael brought in four new paintings. His wolves really sell well. And your grandmother has been sewing up a storm. The beaded moccasins, belts, and boots she creates are great sellers. And Momâs been having me help her design labels for the new line of salsa, spice rubs, and vinaigrettes sheâs started making in addition to the huckleberry jam.â
âOkay.â Lori had scrutinized every excuse Rose had given her, and they all held up. Yet the fact her friend was giving them made Lori suspicious. âYou know you can talk to me about anything.â
âYeah, of course. Well, Iâve got to go and get ready to open my shop soon. And youâve got martial-arts classes to give.â
âRight.â Lori loved her dojo and was glad sheâd finally opened it three years ago. She had a steady clientele and made enough money to support herself and her grandmother, if her grandmother had needed supporting. All the training Lori had taken in Bigfork had prepared her for having her own place, and she couldnât have been happier. Well, sheâd be even happier if Paul would decide to settle down.
âSee you at the auction tomorrow night,â Rose said, smiling and looking her usual happy self.
Lori could see through the deception. She had every intention of discovering what was truly going on.
* * *
The clerk repeated the checkout price for Paul and Allanâs groceries as Paul was trying to figure out this business with the auction.
âWhenâ¦â Then Paul saw the date on the poster. âTomorrow night,â he said, answering his own question.
âYep, six sharp, Town Hall,â the clerk said, smiling.
âThanks.â Paul paid for the groceries, the clerk promised to see them there, and he and Allan hauled the bags out to his
Dick;Felix Francis Francis