CHAPTER SEVEN
The chef’s smile grew as I scarfed down another pancake. He asked, “So you like?”
“I do,” I answered. I took a big gulp of my apple juice. “These are amazing. Secret recipe?”
“Yep.” Cass snorted, eating a piece of bacon. “Straight from the box.”
Alaric rolled his eyes. “Don’t let him fool you. He has a secret recipe for everything. He’s just like his dad, Theron. He loves to cook.”
Silver eyes narrowed. “Okay, okay. I might put a pinch of cinnamon in the batter. But, I swear, that’s it.”
I piled one more pancake on my plate, trying not to blush at my appetite. Normally, I ate so much at New City Orphanage it was distressing. It was no less humiliating at this table. But I was going to eat no matter what. Embarrassment, be damned.
Alaric merely smiled as I poured syrup all over it. “Faith, excuse my memory loss about last night, but can you remind me how you came to be at my house?”
I placed my fork down and gave him my full attention, my—hopefully—last pancake could wait. “Actually, that may be an issue.”
“Such as?” Cass cocked his head.
“Well, I think there was a glitch at Marriage Match. I believe I went to the wrong house. So, I’m at the wrong house with the wrong man. Someone did bid and paid a lot for the match.”
Alaric sat back in his chair and crossed his arms.
His jaws ground together, not speaking.
Cass cleared his throat. “We’ve read your file, so you don’t need to explain that to us. New City Hall keeps many records on the children brought to New City Orphanage. So you went to Marriage Match because you need to be married soon. You arrived at the wrong address, and some man is still out there waiting for you?”
I nodded once…very slowly.
Alaric’s eyes were flicking back and forth between red and brown, red and brown. He shook his head hard and groused, “We’ll call them today. I’ll pay double what the other person paid to get them off your back. Does that sound all right to you?”
I glanced at Cass, and then back to Alaric. “Um, that’s fine. But I still need to be married in a week. I’ll be twenty-five then.”
Cass snorted. “My dad is the law. If you don’t want to marry anyone, then I’m sure it can be handled—”
I held up a stopping hand. “No. No one is above the law. If the individuals that created the law can’t abide by it themselves, then they should rethink their principles.”
Alaric’s brows rose, his words extremely calm—and measured. “You do realize by saying that, it means you will marry me. Within a week. You know what you are to me.”
I took another drink of my apple juice. My hand didn’t even shake under his direct scrutiny. I lifted my chin up, and stated evenly, “Yes, I’ll marry you in a week. Thank you for the best proposal any man has ever made.”
Cass choked on his bacon and began banging on his chest. His eyes darted back and forth between us, unsure whether to leave or to stay.
Alaric simply grinned. It was a tiny bit feral, enough for me to push back against my seat while he stared. He lifted his hands into the air, palms up, and stated, “As you wish.”
Cass snickered, eyeing his friend. “Congrats.”
My fiancé flipped him off.
* * *
“Why are we at the Corporate Army headquarters? I thought we were going dress shopping?” I asked, standing a little closer to my future husband. I stood up on tiptoe, and whispered, “These people are scary.”
Alaric snorted and glanced down at me. “You don’t find Cass and me this frightening, and we’re a hundred times worse than they are.”
Yeah, but even when he went berserk, he hadn’t hurt me. And Cass had been nothing but kind to me. These people clad in their black CA uniforms were studying me with curiosity—and distrust. Lots and lots of distrust as I stood next to one of the leaders of New City.
And they kept staring at Cass’s bare feet.
How the fox shifter managed to keep his feet so clean was beyond me. Not a speck marred his cute toes. Each little toenail gleamed as if he had just had a pedicure recently.
Cass wrinkled his nose at the CA officers. “She went back to work full-time, didn’t she? That’s why we’re here.”
Alaric regarded his friend patiently. “Yes, Poppy’s back to work now.” His brown eyes turned to me. “And I need Poppy to run a check on any friends that you want to invite to the wedding. Since you’re so dead set on this decision, we’re going to have to delegate some duties, especially with only a week to plan.”
“Okay,” I mumbled. “I’m not changing my mind. So quit trying to get me to. I may not like it here, but I’m not going to run away either.”
My eyes were on a large man who had his head down, staring at his silver bracelet. I slid to the side, bumping against Alaric. I wasn’t quick enough. The man stepped on my damn right foot.
“Ow!” I griped. “Watch where you’re walking.”
He glanced back. “Get out of the way next—”
The man stopped dead in his tracks, staring.
Alaric put his arm around my shoulder, pressing me against his side. “What were you saying?”
He blinked. “Sorry. I was saying sorry.”
Cass stepped around from behind Alaric.
The man’s eyes widened comically…then the man was gone, running away so fast I knew immediately he wasn’t human.
“Fucking rabbit,” Alaric snarled.
Cass chuckled—more than a little evil in his laugh—and began to rub his chin. “I think I’m going to see why he felt the need to run from me.”
The fox put one foot forward.
Alaric took his arm off my shoulder and grabbed the back of his friend’s neck, yanking him back in place next to him. “I know what you’re doing. Quit avoiding her. You two need to work out your shit.”
“Like hell we do. I’ve got a rabbit to chase.”
“What are you boys squabbling over this time?” Poppy Carvene asked loudly, her arms opened wide. “Roughhousing will get you put in the penalty box here.”
Silver eyes closed in defeat, and then he turned around to face the tiny redhead almost upon us. “Hello, Ms. Carvene.”
She snorted, her eyes narrowed. “Cassander, how nice to see you again. It’s been a good month since I saw your ugly mug last.”
I didn’t miss the flash of hurt in her eyes.
But she hid it well, her gaze on my husband-to-be. Her expression softened. She smiled and walked right up to him, gifting him with a big hug. “It’s weird to say, but I’ve missed you haunting my hallways.”
Alaric wrapped his arms around her tight, glancing at me quickly over her shoulder. I don’t know what he was looking for, but he relaxed, holding her close. He whispered, “I’m glad you’re feeling better, Poppy.”
“I’m as good as I can be.” She released her hold on him and patted his chest once. “Work’s helping. I’m keeping busy.”
Alaric nodded, smiling, truly happy for her. He reached over and grabbed my hand, pulling me directly next to him—and right in front of her, keeping me between them. The bear shifter stated, “Poppy, I want you to meet Faith Peyton.”
“Hello.” I dipped my head to her. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” she said. Her eyes wandered to our hand-holding, and then her red brows rose ever so slowly. Again…a flash of pain…then she blinked and peered up. A smile adorned her face, and I wasn’t sure if it was real or fake. She was trying to be happy for her friend though, despite her loss. She leaned forward, whispering, “Let me guess, Alaric. Another woman to add to our ever-growing list in the group.”
He snickered under his breath. “Correct.”
Cass broke his silence and stepped forward. He bumped his hip against hers, muttering quietly, “And guess who’s getting married?”
Poppy froze. Completely and simply…froze.
A choking noise erupted in her throat, and her hand went to the back of her neck in a jerking motion. She began rubbing her muscles, staring wide-eyed at the fox shifter as confusion and misery both swirled around her head, so potent I could almost feel it.
More confusion. And more confusion.
The redhead took a step toward him.
She finally garbled, “You met someone too?”
Cass’s mouth opened and closed, like a floundering fish caught in a net. His cheeks flushed so suddenly it was like someone had stamped him with red ink. He sputtered in a hurry, “No. I…no… Fuck no. Just no. I meant—”
“Alaric and I are getting married,” I cut in, saving him from whatever the fuck that was. “Cass isn’t marrying anyone. Not that I know of.”
Her brown eyes flicked back up to the man standing next to her, a silent question in the tilt of her eyebrows.
“No,” Cassander growled adamantly, finding himself again. He straightened his sagging shoulders and crossed his arms over his chest, hovering over her like a pissed off…predator. “I’m not the marrying type.”
She stared for another beat and then turned her back on the most dangerous shifter there was. With her back to him, she flicked her gaze between Alaric and me as a gradual smirk curved her lips. “So when’s the date? I need to buy the perfect gift.” Poppy tapped her pointer finger against her lips, mumbling so quietly that only we could hear her, “What to get for a fuzzy-wuzzy bear…”
I snorted with a laugh, and then quickly coughed over it.
A little guilty, I peered up at Alaric.
But he was grinning at the redhead, too. “You’re such a bitch. And if I have to get married, you better get us something amazing.”
Instantly, her eyes snapped down to my stomach. “You have to get married?”
“I am not pregnant,” I clarified. My tummy was nice and flat, full of muscle. “But I am almost twenty-five.”
Her eyes snapped up to mine, growling, “That stupid damn law.”
“Exactly.”
We nodded our heads in mutual agreement.
Alaric held up his hands, joking, “Before a female uprising occurs, we actually came here for a favor.”
“What’s that?” Poppy asked. “I’m at your service.”
Cass was still glaring at the back of her head.
Alaric explained, “Guest list. I need you to check out the people Faith wants to have there.”
My eyes went heavenward in exasperation. “And if he would have asked before we came here, I could have told him. Easy.” I peered back down at the woman across from me. “I only have one. His name is Butch Reynolds. He works down at the docks. He’s a fisherman.”
“Only one?” she asked, already typing on her silver bracelet. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. If I invited anyone from New City Orphanage, I’d have to invite them all. And you don’t want them there. It would be a madhouse.”
She cleared her throat, pointedly not asking me about my past. Instead, she peeked up, and mentioned, “It looks like Mr. Reynolds has a previous criminal background.”
“For what?” I asked bluntly. It could be anything.
“Attempted murder. He was never formally charged, though.”
“On who?”
“A person named David—”
I snickered instantly. “I wondered why that asshole never tried to grab my ass again.”
She looked up. “He was protecting you?”
I nodded once.
Her fingers flew over her bracelet with her eyes steadfast on her work. “And now your guest no longer has a criminal background.” She tapped once more on her bracelet, and lowered her arms, looking back and forth between us. “Her wedding guest is approved.”
I blinked. Blinked again.
Then I leaned forward, and whispered, “Was that legal?”
Her eyes held mine for a long moment, then she stated, “Yes.”
I couldn’t tell if she was lying or not.
Alaric grabbed my hand quickly and pulled me away toward the front door. “Poppy, we’ll see you soon. Before the wedding. We’ll go out to eat.”
She nodded, a smile flirting on her lips. “Don’t get yourself into too much trouble out there before then. I’d hate to embarrass you in front of your fiancée by having to save your ass.”
“Never happening.”
Poppy snickered. “Never say never.”
“Let’s go, Cass,” Alaric called. Ordered.
The brooding fox glided around the redhead, not glancing back at her as he followed us outside, his fur coattails pushing back from his feet as he walked at a fast clip.
Cass glared at my future husband when we were on the sidewalk—a good half block away from the building. “That went well.”
Alaric snorted. “That was all on you, buddy.”
I sighed. “How about you guys have this conversation in that store…,” I pointed a finger across the street, “…right there. I need to buy something.”
Alaric peered into my eyes. “What do you need?”
“A winter coat. It’s colder than shit out here!” I shrieked, my body instantly lifted into Alaric’s arms. I gasped. “What are you doing?”
He looked both ways before crossing the road. When it was completely clear, the man finally crossed. Dark brown eyes stared down into mine, his words soft—but hard, “You aren’t doing anything even remotely dangerous until we’ve had sex. Then…I won’t have to worry so much.”
I blinked and then wrapped my arms around his neck. “I’ll be immortal then.”
“Exactly. But I’m not rushing it. It’ll happen when it happens.”
Cass strode next to us and snorted. “Expect to be put in bubble wrap until that blessed day arrives.”
I turned my head in his direction. “What’s bubble wrap?”
Cass simply stared straight ahead where he was walking. “Damn, I feel old.”
Alaric grunted, not at all winded carrying me into the store where he gently let me down on my feet.
I snickered quietly. “Well, you both are. We’ll have to have a big birthday bash when you guys turn two hundred.” Then my eyes caught on all the pretties inside the store. “Oh, I’m going to have so much fun in here.”
Cass laughed loud and clear, attracting many lovely women who observed him with interest. “She’s a shopper. That’s an added bonus.”
“Fuck you. I don’t hate it as much as I used to when we were younger. I only hate it…a little…now,” Alaric griped. Then he turned his attention to me, lifting his arm toward the clothing selections. “Have at it, Faith. My treat.”
I squealed and disappeared into the clothes.
Free clothes? Hell yes.