Claws & Crochet

Part 24

WARNER

Zoey is wearing a pair of jeans and hiking boots with a large fleece that falls halfway down her thighs. A crocheted hat covers her head, and she grips her beer with gloved hands. She's dressed for warmth, and I'm tempted to tell her just how I could heat her up.

Hell yeah, I want to get in her pants.

But not in the way Juliet is implying. Not some quick, impersonal bang.

And right now, with Juliet and my brother nearby, I can honestly say, "Not at this moment."

"Non-answer!" Juliet proclaims.

Before the librarian can call me out again, I change the subject. "You two having a party?"

"We're celebrating our new friendship. With beer!" Zoey goes to take a sip from her can, but comes away frowning, apparently finding it empty.

"Aren't you worried about animals?" Yellow Pine Lake is a common camp site, but it's still wild.

Zoey juts her jaw out as if she's trying to make her face look heavier, like a neanderthal. The effect is emphasized, and made all the more hilarious, when she speaks in a deep voice. "Women make fire." She waves at said fire. "Fire scare animals."

"Plus, we've got this big guy," Juliet heaves out of her chair to crouch beside Bruce, patting the giant dog on his belly.

"And Juliet gave me bear mace!" Zoey shouts like it's the best gift she's ever received.

Probably not an item I'd offer up to someone when they're drunk.

"How late were you three planning on celebrating?" Damn, I sound like an overprotective parent.

The women seem to agree, sharing a look between them before breaking into laughter. The sound has me grinning. Zoey looks so carefree, clutching her stomach as she leans back, letting her chuckles drift up into the starry night sky.

When she catches her breath, I'm treated to a beautiful grin. "We're camping! Look." She points past the edge of the firelight, and I spot a small tent. "Juliet is teaching me some outdoorsy stuff."

"We are strong, independent women!" The librarian declares before taking a deep swallow of her beer.

"Damn right we are!" Zoey turns to face the lake as she shouts her words. As they tumble into the night, she lets out a happy sigh.

"Why are you lurking, Roderick?" Juliet calls to the shadows behind me. "You're being creepy!"

She doesn't get an answer, but Zoey whirls around clearly searching for Roderick in the darkness. Roots creep over the beach, and she loses her footing. My arms are out to catch her a second before she regains her balance on her own.

"Nailed it!" She crows before glancing back at me and noticing my reach, still there if she becomes unsteady again.

A delighted smile cracks across Zoey's face.

"Trust fall!" And then she's toppling over once more, this time on purpose, and I lunge forward to make sure she ends up in my arms rather than sprawled on the ground. She lands with a gasp, then chuckles. "Guess I have to trust you now, biker boy."

She's soft against me and smells like every delicious dessert I've ever consumed. I want to curl my arms around her. Hold her to my chest.

Instead, I make a joke.

"Can't I at least be biker man?"

"Aww." She reaches up to pat my cheek. "Not when you're so cute."

"Careful, Zoey." Juliet takes another swig from her can before continuing in a mock whisper. "All that cutesy talk might scare these big, tough Dark Moon Riders. Roderick won't even come out of the woods!" She snorts out a giggle.

Zoey trains her curious gaze on me.

"Who's Roderick?"

I affect a rueful grimace. "My older brother. He's a little anti-social."

"That's okay. I am, too." Zoey gives me a sweet smile. Then she boops me on my nose with her forefinger.

"Not tonight!" Juliet climbs up on top of a large rock, holding her beer up to the sky as if toasting the world. "Tonight, we christen our friendship! Two outsiders, taking over Pine Falls. To hell with the bikers! This town will be run by women!"

"You're right!" In the way that drunk people do, Zoey's response to me flips on a switch. She springs from my arms, shoving at my chest. "This is a friend date! No boys allowed! No boys allowed!"

Juliet joins in the chant, and soon the trees are ringing with the sound, each exclamation point emphasized with another push.

Another guy might be annoyed by the manhandling, but I'm having trouble stifling my laughter. She's so fucking adorable with her cheeks ruddy from the alcohol. The heat spills down to her neck and supercharges her scent.

I wish I could bury my nose there, breath in the sweet earthiness. Then lick her.

Instead, I stumble backward as if I don't have the strength to battle her assault.

"All right! No boys allowed. I'll leave you to your camping. And your conquering."

"To conquering!" Zoey climbs up on her own rock, arms held high.

"To conquering!" Juliet thrusts her beer up, then chugs the whole of it down in an impressive display.

I let the shadows of the trees envelop me, shaking my head and chuckling all the while.

"They're ridiculous." It's the first thing Roderick has said since we followed the women's trail.

"They're drunk." I shrug.

"It's not safe," he mutters.

"Well, yeah. That's why I'm not actually leaving."