Chapter Seven
“Hold up! The guy almost breaks Sam’s fingers which, I whole heartedly support, and tells you he won’t hurt you, and you’re just like, ‘cool’?”
Greer laughed at Jill Myers’s dramatic interpretation of her day’s events. She was used to Jill’s over the top theatrics. Jill had been a child star, and a successful. Luckily, when she quit acting to have a normal childhood, her money had grown thanks to her father’s smart investments, and she didn’t have to work. She liked to though, and after she’d gotten her teaching certificate, had become a substitute teacher.
But she had never quite left her former persona behind.
Jill sat cross legged on the couch so she was turned to face Greer. Her light brown hair was tossed up into a messy bun, her aquamarine eyes outlined with thick, black lashes. Greer often joked that Jill looked like a Japanese anime character with her big eyes.
“No, I mean…I was freaked, but there is just something about Xander…I trust him.”
“Yeah, I saw him. I can see why you would want to. Guy is a grade A hottie with a slice of delicious, but still, you don’t know anything about him. He could be a charming sociopath like that movie The Perfect Guy.”
Greer knew Jill was right, but still, she had this strange pull toward Xander and it wasn’t just that he was hot. She couldn’t explain it except it was almost a physiological response; in her heart, she trusted him. As dopey and romantic as that sounded, there it was.
“I don’t think it’s like that. If he was really a creep, he could have done me in while I was unconscious in the woods.”
“Maybe he thinks you have money and he’s one of those Black Widower types.”
Greer rolled her eyes. “You need to stop watching all of those Lifetime movies.”
“Oh, speaking of compelling TV, there is a new show on HBO about the paranormal. They are actually going to go around interviewing shifters, vampires, and other creatures for a documentary. Maybe the wolf you saw was actually a shifter and that’s why he didn’t attack. You did say he had strange eyes.”
Greer thought about the wolf in the woods and shivered. She had been to Vegas once with a few girlfriends and they had wanted to check out this vampire club. Greer had passed and gone back to the room with In and Out and pay-per-view. She wasn’t phobic about paranormal creatures, but that didn’t mean she wanted to mingle with them. The fact that they even existed blew her mind, but she wasn’t curious enough to want to meet one.
“I’m sure it was a wolf of the regular variety. Maybe he was one of those hybrids with a Husky for a mom. That would account for the eyes. I’m pretty sure he was a pet, and that’s why he didn’t turn me into Kibbles and Bits.”
Jill grabbed the bag of Smokehouse Almonds on the coffee table and pulled out a handful. “What the heck was your hero doing back there anyway?”
“Hiking? It’s not far from his house.”
“Hmmm, he looked like he would be good at…hiking.”
Jill’s suggestive tone and eyebrow wiggle left Greer groaning. “You are gross.”
“Whatever, I’m hilarious. Are you going to see him again?”
Greer picked up her glass of water and took a sip. She’d wanted to get Xander’s number, if only so she could take him out to dinner as a thank you. But he’d seemed almost eager to get away from her and she hadn’t wanted him to get the wrong impression, like she was looking for a post break-up hook up. “We didn’t exchange numbers or anything, so I doubt it. I probably scared him off with all of my drama.”
“Please, you don’t have drama. You had Sam and now that he is dunzo, you are good to go.”
Just thinking about Sam left a bad taste in her mouth. She’d thought he was such a great guy and had been afraid of hurting him. How could she have been so blind?
“I still can’t believe I thought he was going to ask me to marry him. How naïve could I be?”
“You always see the good in people. Which is awesome for a flawed individual like me, and Sam the Ass, but you end up getting the short end of the stick.”
Greer nudged Jill’s knee with her toe. “Come on, you know you’re the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you.”
“Ugh, you’re grossing me out!” Jill grabbed one of Greer’s throw pillows and launched it at her.
“Hey, watch it! I am injured and I happen to like all of my knick knacks not broken.”
Jill tossed whatever almonds were left in her hand into her mouth and scooted closer. Before Greer knew what she was about to do, Jill was hugging her gently.
“I love you and I’m glad you’re okay,” Jill mumbled around her mouthful.
“Thank you, my disgusting friend,” Greer said, squeezing her back.
When Jill pulled away, Greer caught her sly grin. “Hey, if you’re feeling up to it this weekend we can go out. Maybe hit the dollar longneck night at Howlers Bar and Grill.”
“Howlers is a meat market.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
Greer laughed. “It is a bad thing!”
“No, you see, we show up looking smoking hot and men pull out their wallets and buy us beers! That is what is awesome about it.”
“Okay, you are making my head ache again. You’re supposed to be making me feel better.”
Jill sighed as she stood up. “Alright, whiner. Your choice…” she picked up two DVD’s from the entertainment center and flipped them around so Greer could see them. “Swayze or Bacon?”
Normally, she’d go with Swayze, but Kevin Bacon’s blond hair and blue eyes was really appealing right now.
“Let’s hear it for the boy.”