Morgan slid into the back of the dark limo and nodded his head in greeting to the beautiful woman sitting across from him. “I’m surprised to see you here. I expected a phone call.” He eyed a well-dressed man in a sharkskin suit and black sunglasses seated beside her. Morgan wondered briefly if he was Cyan’s lover or her body guard or both.

“Monterey is lovely this time of year. Of course, it is always lovely. Delivering this gives me a chance to take a much needed, long weekend. Visit my properties.” Cyan del Fuego’s sultry good looks and accent hinted of exotic locations.

She handed Morgan a thick envelope. “Your investigator has been most thorough. These are copies of the financial documents he requested that he could not access online. You were right, Bryce Maplecourt is a fool. Not only is he transferring funds offshore, he thinks we’re Mafia of some kind. And he has a file of questionable—” She flipped her fingers in air quotes around the word questionable. “—business dealings of ours. I’m not going to ask how your investigator, your cousin, I think he said, no…?”

Morgan nodded.

“Well, I won’t ask how your cousin is finding his information. As he said, it’s not admissible in court. But we won’t be using lawyers in our dealings with Mr. Maplecourt.”

Morgan gave the contents of the envelope a cursory glance. “You know this information could have been delivered to my office. There was no need for you to drive all the way down here.”

“But then, we couldn’t have had this little chat. I thought you would like to know that my father is taking this threat of Lazarus returning very seriously. He was a dangerous man before his supposed death, especially to our kind. He did political damage that vampire councils are slowly recovering from. He set us back decades.” Cyan shifted, crossing her legs.

“My father has a network in place. We will soon know about any movements Lazarus plans to make even before he does.”

“Have your father’s contacts located Lazarus?”

“Not yet. We know where he has been. It is only a matter of time before we know where he is. From what I gathered, Lazarus’s intent is to start an all-out race war.”

Morgan nodded. “He’s not going to get it. My sister has been reaching out to all the wolf families she can identify, alerting them. Needless to say, we tend to stay hidden even from our own kind.”

“I am sure it is a daunting task, but one your sister is well capable of handling. I have met her. There is a place for her at Cyan Group if she ever grows bored with handling your family’s business affairs.”

* * *

Calliope mewed at Honey when she opened the door to her apartment.

“Hi, Calliope. What now?”

Calliope only greeted her when she wanted something—either more food or when the litter box hadn’t been cleaned to her requirements.

The cat followed Honey into the living room, vocalizing her discontent. Honey sighed. She placed the large box she carried on the couch then looked at the cat. She didn’t want to play twenty questions with her pet. It was always a frustrating game that usually took more than twenty tries to find out what the cat wanted. A hiss as Honey reached for the cat’s ears indicated that Calliope did not want to be scratched behind the ears. One down, nineteen to go. Honey cleaned out the litter box, still Calliope mewed. She made sure the cat had fresh water and a freshly-opened can of food. Honey found a few of Calliope’s mouse toys, picked them up, and replaced them with other mouse toys from the toy box. Just as Honey was about to scream with frustration, she eyed the container of catnip. Honey poured out a small pile of the dried herbs in the middle of the kitchen floor.

“That’s all I got, cat. I have no idea what you could possibly want.”

Calliope rubbed against Honey’s ankles and began purring. “Really, cat? You just wanted to see me jump through hoops for you?”

In reply, Calliope rolled over in the pile of catnip.

Honey shook her head. The cat drove her crazy, but she couldn’t imagine life without her.

Realizing she stood in the middle of the kitchen, she decided to fix herself a quick bowl of noodles. She checked her phone again. No messages from Morgan all day.

Then again she hadn’t texted him either. She decided she didn’t want to play games with him. She didn’t need to wait to see who would text first. She typed out a quick message while the noodles boiled.

She stood, draining hot noodle water into the sink when her door buzzer sounded. Stepping over the cat, blissed out in the middle of the floor, she reached the opening buzzer by her front door. She opened her door and watched Morgan stride in.

Tension and tiredness left her body when she saw his smile.

He slipped an arm around her waist and kissed her. “Hello, beautiful. Did you like your present?”

“My present?” Honey asked, leading Morgan into the apartment.

“You should have gotten a delivery today. Didn’t you get it?”

“This box? I still haven’t managed to open it.”

“You need to come here and open it.”

“Okay, fine.” Honey wiped her hands on a dish towel and using a steak knife, slit the tape where the box had been sealed. Inside the delivery box was another smaller, thinner box. Honey slipped a gold ribbon from the new box and opened it to reveal a pile of teal fabric and white tissue paper. Carefully, she found the top of the fabric and lifted. Sheets of tissue paper fell away as a full-length, elegant gown emerged from the box.

“Oh, this is gorgeous.” Honey held the dress up to her figure. The bust line was pleated and twisted, allowing the gown to flow like a column of aqua silk. Honey lifted her gaze to Morgan. “This is designer. Thank you! Why?”

“You’ll need it this weekend. Those meetings I said I have are a family wedding. It’s formal.”

“But how?”

Morgan chuckled. “I got a lot done that day you left me here to clean up the kitchen.”

“Wow,” Honey twirled, looking down at the dress she still held against herself. “But I can’t go.” Honey felt like crying. She knew she had started whining. She was tired, and the thought of having to miss a weekend alone with Morgan because of work broke her. Tears escaped her eyes. “I have to work, Lana won’t let me off.” Honey swiped at her tears. “She’s being a real bitch about too. Oh, Morgan, this dress is beautiful, but I don’t think I’ll be able to wear it. I can’t accept this.”

Morgan pulled out his phone, tapped in a number, then handed it to Honey.

She glanced at the phone. “Hello?”

“Gotcha!” Lana’s voice cackled at the other end.

“Lana?” Honey was confused.

“I had you work extra so you could take off. Morgan already arranged for you to have the time. I front-loaded your schedule so that you didn’t have to worry about losing hours. Everything is all set. I’ll swing by in the morning to pick up Calliope. You go have a fun weekend.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously. Make sure you come back to work next week, okay?”

Honey laughed. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

She handed Morgan his phone back.

“You sneak. You planned this” He nodded. “I knew you wouldn’t agree to take off for a long weekend. Lana said you never take vacation time, and you only ever call in sick when you are too ill to move. So I knew I would need a little subterfuge to get you to come away with me.”

Morgan followed Honey back into the kitchen. She handed him a bowl of noodles before filling her own. Honey slurped up the food, hungrier than she realized she had become. “So what’s the plan then?” she asked between bites.

“Long weekend at my family’s home. They are somewhat old fashioned, so you will need to pack a least one nice outfit in addition to the dress for the actual wedding. The rest of the time, what you normally wear is fine. It’s inland, so dress for slightly warmer weather.”

“Were you really looking at apartments today or were you off being sneaky?”

“I took care of a few things, but yes, I looked at apartments.”

“Find anything?” Honey was hopeful. She liked the idea of Morgan staying and not having to leave town when the construction job was over.

Morgan shook his head. “I looked at a few places, but they had no personality and small bedrooms. I wasn’t joking when I said I’m getting a big bed.” Morgan took the now empty bowl from Honey.

“I am so tired right now.” Honey yawned and stretched out on the couch. “When do we leave for this long weekend?”

“Tomorrow. I have a few errands in the morning, then we’re on the road.”

“So not early?

“Not early.”

“I can sleep in?”

Morgan chuckled. “You can sleep in.”

* * *

The front door buzzer sounded. Honey groaned into her pillow. She wanted to sleep. This was early. Too early for someone sleeping in. The buzzer sounded again. Honey secretly hoped Morgan would be up and take care of whatever it was.

Morgan wasn’t there. She rolled over and glared at her alarm clock. It was after ten, not as early as she thought. She slid out of bed and shuffled to the front door. Honey grabbed a sweater to put on over the tank top and knit character pajama pants she slept in.

“Yes? You buzzed?” she spoke into the intercom.

“It’s Lana.”

Honey pushed the unlock buzzer to allow Lana in then leaned out her front door.

“I’m here to pick up Calliope. Is she all packed?”

“Morning,” Honey mumbled. “I don’t have her ready yet. Sorry.”

Honey shuffled into her living room. She paused and chuckled.

“I thought you said she wasn’t ready,” Lana stated, staring at the trunk Honey used as a coffee table.

Set on top of the surface were Calliope’s cat carrier, food dishes, and a shopping tote with cat toys and food.

Honey picked up a note she found on top of the cat carrier. “I didn’t. Morgan must have taken care of this before he left this morning.”

I’ll let you capture the cat. I’ll be back around noon – Morgan

Honey smiled then folded the note. She glanced up to look at Calliope’s favorite spot in the window. She wasn’t there. “Okay, now I just have to find Calliope.” It wasn’t a large apartment, but she was a small cat and had many hiding places.

“I’ve got her.”

Honey turned to see Lana holding the cat, scratching her behind the ears. She shook her head. The cat that liked no one loved Lana.

Lana eased Calliope into the cat carrier with skill and dexterity. The cat curled up on the blanket and lay down contentedly.

“Seriously, cat? She fights me on everything, and you show up and she’s sweet as pie.” Honey looked at the cat. “You do this on purpose, don’t you? You want people to think I’m crazy. I’m on to you. I know your game.” Honey poked a finger through the crate door. Calliope rubbed against her and purred. Honey sighed and scratched her cat.

“She knows she’s going to Camp Lana and not the vet.”

“Yeah, but the vet is Maggie, and she loves Maggie.”

“All animals love Maggie, except when she has a needle in her hand.”

Honey laughed and picked up the cat carrier. She picked up her keys before following Lana out to her car.

“So do you know where Morgan is whisking you off to?”

“No. Do you? All I know it’s his family’s home and a wedding.”

“You’re meeting the parents?”

“I’m meeting his sisters, I know that much. His parents died a few years ago. So this is probably the same thing. Meeting the family. I hadn’t really thought of it that way. Oh crap.”

Lana patted her on the shoulder. “Oh crap, nothing. You’re awesome, Honey. Besides, it doesn’t actually matter if they like you or not. It only matters that Morgan likes you and you like him.”

Honey nodded. But she knew that the support of family could really help or hurt a relationship. Her parents had loved Bryce. Her mom had even talked her out of leaving him more than once. She actually hadn’t told her mother where she went when she ran away from Bryce, just in case her mother passed that information along. It wasn’t until she had been able to tell her parents why she left Bryce that she trusted them with where she had settled.

How would they handle Morgan? Honey knew that some of her superficial bad habits were the result of how she was raised. Her mother would probably think he was nice enough, but she might not accept him as being good enough for Honey because of his job. Her father might be a little more accepting, simply because he came from a blue-collar background and grew up around uneducated, but skilled laborers. Then again, that might actually count against Morgan. She knew that uneducated part had been a big reason they had been so set against her modeling.

As if she could read Honey’s mind, Lana said, “Just because you’re meeting his family doesn’t mean you have to introduce him to yours until you’re ready. Besides, they live out of state. It’s a valid excuse to put it off for a nice long time.”

Honey nodded in agreement.

“Have fun at Camp Lana.” Honey said into the cat carrier, as she slid it onto the back seat of the car. She leaned in and ran the seat belt through the handle and buckled the cat in. “Thanks again, Lana. How much time do I have off work?”

“You aren’t on the schedule until Wednesday at eleven.”

“Nice.”

Honey waved as she watched Lana pull away. She started climbing the front steps making a mental list of what she needed to get done and approximately how much time she had. It was probably eleven by now. Morgan would be coming back for her soon. She needed to shower and dress and pack. Her stomach grumbled. “And eat. I need to eat,” she said out loud.

* * *

Honey stepped into the shower when the front door buzzer sounded. Crap! She wrapped a towel around herself and padded into her hall.

“Morgan?” she asked into the intercom.

“It’s me, Honey.” His deep voice sounded funny through the speaker, but it still gave her a thrill to hear him say her name.

She buzzed him in and opened the door. She waited for Morgan inside the door, not keen on having any neighbors see her with a towel wrapped around her.

He stepped in carrying a black suit bag.

“You’re not dressed.”

“No, but I am packed. Just jumping into the shower now.”

“Hey, I’m not complaining. Only observing.” Morgan followed Honey into her room. She continued into the bathroom.

Morgan glared at the bed which was covered in bags and clothes. He shook his head, his idea of taking advantage of Honey’s state of undress thwarted by the state of the bed. In a large sweeping motion, Morgan scooped the items from the bed and made a pile on the floor. He heard the shower water turn on. Honey was not yet in the water. “Come in here a second, Honey.”

She stepped into the bedroom holding the towel in front of her. “Yes?”

Morgan reached for her and tugged the towel from her grasp. “You don’t need this right now.” Morgan pulled her to him and claimed her lips with his.

An hour later, Honey walked into the kitchen, toweling her hair. Morgan handed her a cup of coffee. He leaned back against the counter, his hair still tousled from their lovemaking. Honey reached up and brushed it behind his ears with her fingers.

“I am so glad to be here with you and not at work.” She sipped her coffee. “Coffee at work is better, but the company isn’t.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” Morgan wrapped his arm around her waist and held her close. “I’d hate to think that’s a service you offer to anybody.”

“Only regulars who don’t like Lana’s lemon bars.”

Morgan took the coffee cup from her hands and placed it on the counter before he wrapped her in both arms and began kissing her. “I take it I’m the only person who doesn’t like those.” he asked between kisses.

Honey giggled. She leaned into Morgan’s long body. She fit perfectly as if they had been made for each other. “What time do we need to be there?”

“Tonight.”

“So no hurry?”

“No hurry, but we are going to need to get going if we want to get lunch and still get there tonight. I’m tempted to take you back to bed though.” Morgan began nuzzling Honey’s neck.

“Won’t we be able to do this once we are there?”

Morgan gazed into Honey’s eyes. He fingered a stray curl by her temple. “Possibly not. My family is very formal, and there are going to be lots of guests around.”

“Maybe we can run away after the wedding?”

Morgan smiled, showing large even teeth. “I like the way you think.”

Honey kissed him on the chin. Morgan moved his head so she could reach his mouth.

“Ahhh, we need to leave, or it will never happen. And I cannot miss this wedding. JoJo will never forgive me.”

“JoJo is your adopted sister, right?” Honey asked as she stepped out of Morgan’s warm embrace. She would have rather stayed, but he was right. They needed to leave or they would end up back in bed.

“Yeah, she became my legal ward, after my parents’ death. She’s my sister where it counts.” Morgan tapped himself in the chest, over his heart. “She’s pretty much everyone’s favorite.”

“She like you?” Honey asked as she made a claw shape with her hand and curled it like she was scratching at something.

“No, she’s not like me. She’s not wolf. Her mother worked for my family when she died. Mom refused to let JoJo be taken from the only family she’d ever known.”

“Oh, how sweet. So she was raised with you?”

“I was a teenager when all of that happened. She was raised closer to some of my cousins, but I was always around.”

Honey laughed, “I bet you’re the one who helped all the younger kids get into trouble. Instigator.”

“Were you there?” Morgan grinned.

“I’m right. You were a troublemaker?”

“I was a teenage boy. What do you think?”

“I’m right, I’m totally right.” Honey answered smugly.

Morgan picked up his suit bag and Honey’s duffle bag. “Ready?”

Honey slipped on a jacket and picked up the garment bag containing the dress.

She followed him outside towards a parked truck. Morgan had said he was picking up his car this morning. This was a truck. A square, boxy, old pickup truck, color blocked with areas of flat, patternless color. The hood was a pale blue color that created a stripe along the top of the door and along the top of the bed of the truck. The middle section was mostly white with large areas of rust. There were a few areas where the rust had been sprayed over with gray primer. Another stripe of the pale blue ran the entire length along the bottom of the truck. The vehicle had to be at least thirty years old, if not older. Technically, it should be considered a vintage vehicle, but to Honey, it was a rusty, old, beat-up truck. Honey thought a truck is not a car, and this was an old truck. The squared-off cab was large but clearly had no extra room for hanging their garment bags. Honey looked at Morgan and gave herself a mental shake. She was going away for the weekend with him, not his truck.

She glanced into the bed of the truck. More rust.

Without saying a word, Honey turned and walked back into her apartment building. Once inside her apartment, she leaned against the closed front door. “I can do this. I can do this. Don’t judge. It’s just a truck. Don’t judge. Don’t judge. Don’t judge.” Honey talked herself out of a panic attack. “I’m going away with Morgan, not his truck.” She groaned and pushed off the door.

She returned to Morgan holding some towels in her hand.

“I thought you changed your mind there for a second.” His brow creased with concern.

Honey smiled. She couldn’t admit how close to the truth he had come. She held up the towels “To put under the bags. That—” She nodded towards the truck bed. “—doesn’t look particularly friendly.”

“Good thinking.” Morgan smiled as he took the towels and spread them out in the truck bed. He laid the garment bags down first then placed Honey’s heavier duffle bag on top.

“All set. Shall we?”

Honey nodded and climbed into the truck. She reminded herself over and over, Morgan was not his truck. The truck did not define him.