When I get downstairs to the kitchen, Alisha takes one look at me and lets out a big sigh. "I remember looking that good."

I remember when she did too. Alisha used to have meticulously streaked blonde hair, flawless makeup, and clothing I loved to borrow. While she's still adorable in a natural way, I do have to wonder what her sorority-girl self would think about her new look.

"Me too," says Jayden. "You're smoking hot, Chelsea."

"Thanks."

I glance around at my friends. They're all beautiful women whom I love dearly, and maybe it's because they're married or mated or whatever, but they aren't giving any effort to looking good. It makes me want to give them an ego boost. I recall a maternity boutique I noticed near a coffee shop I frequent at home, and I get an idea. When I got my job, it came with a salary way beyond what I could make teaching, and I'd love to share my good fortune with my friends.

I ask, "You know what would be fun? What do you all think about a shopping trip in the city? As a thank-you for all of you entertaining me this summer, I'd love to buy you each a maternity outfit."

"Ah." Alisha scowls, and her gaze darts between Jayden and Juliet.

Alisha was never good at hiding her emotions, and her facial expression makes me realize I've just insulted all of them. I hold up my hand as I backpedal. "If you want. It was just an idea, because I was remembering how much fun we had when we shopped for Jayden's wedding gown and our bridesmaid dresses."

Jayden, my former college roommate, jumps in to smooth over the awkward situation. "I love the idea, Chelsea. What a sweet offer. Let us all check our schedules and see if we can fit it in."

"Great," I say, knowing that the shopping trip is not going to happen. I change gears, and a stool creaks under me as I sit on it to lean on the kitchen counter. "So, who's due first? Because it seems to me you all got pregnant the same week."

Jayden laughs, making my other two friends join in. She says, "We probably did. And to be honest, the werewolf and human factors make it difficult to pinpoint when Alisha and I are going to deliver."

"But you must know," I say to Juliet. "You and Roman have got to be excited."

She smiles as she places her hand on her stomach. "We are. But it's a little daunting to think I've got the next alpha in here."

"Alpha. Right."

It's so easy to pretend my friends are just humans, because that's how they are with me. I've only seen Juliet as a wolf, so I think that's why it's hard for me to imagine my friends are all going to have babies who are also wolf cubs. And...

"My god. Am I going to be here when you all deliver?"

Jayden grins at me. "Yes! Isn't that awesome?"

I must not be doing any better at hiding my feelings than Alisha did earlier, because Jayden frowns.

"You don't think so."

"It's not that. I think it's great I'll get to see your new babies. It's just— “ I search for a tactful way to say I'm not thrilled with the wolf aspect. "I guess I don't know what to expect."

"I get it," says Alisha. "I'm really nervous about this too. But it'll be just like regular childbirth. While Juliet's babies are going to be able to shift sometime after they start walking, Jayden and I don't know when it'll happen with ours."

I wonder if normal for werewolves means home birth, and I have to force myself not to cringe. "Oh, so they don't come out as pups?"

"No." Jayden chuckles. "I already know the first time my kids shift, I'll be someplace where people will see me freak out and laugh at the newbie werewolf."

"They won't laugh," says Juliet. She walks over to the fridge and opens it up. "And you won't be freaking out. You'll be like all the other new mothers who think their child is a shifter genius."

"I have another fear," says Alisha. "What if my babies hate my singing voice?"

Juliet grins as she sets cans of seltzer down on the counter. "They're the only people who will ever love it."

"I'm serious." Soda fizzes when Alisha pops the top of her can. "Jackson has a wonderful voice, and once they hear it, they'll never want me to sing them lullabies."

"I never thought about that," says Jayden. "I'm not tone deaf, but I didn't get the singing voice when I was changed either."

"Hold on," I say. "A good singing voice is a werewolf trait?"

"Sure is," says Juliet. "Some of us are better than others, though."

I smile, because it occurs to me that I couldn't be in a better place to get my up-and-coming star for Rita than right here in Smokey Falls. Now all I have to do is find a way to see and hear all the eligible men. Not only do they have to be able to sing, but drool-worthy looks are a plus. It makes me think the best place to start would be checking out the guys in the calendar Quinten gave me. The song he was singing when he changed my tire plays in my head.

"Hey, what do you guys know about the Smokey Falls firemen calendar?" I ask. I take a quick sip of my soda so my expression doesn't give away the fact that it's not an idle question.

"Oh boy," says Alisha. "We saw the one you’ve got on your passenger seat."

My heart stops for a moment as I wonder if they opened it up and found Quinten's signature. And the number I am not going to call. I try to dismiss its importance. "Yeah. I noticed it at the gas station and got it for a friend who'll love it."

"It was quite the production," says Jayden. "Remember Byron?" I nod. "He's in it."

I recall the crazy werewolf who loved the limelight. He's a definite contender in the personality and looks department for what I need. "How well does he sing?"

My friends glance at each other and shrug. Juliet says, "He's a great dancer, but I don't know about his singing."

I jiggle my foot as excitement builds in me. Dancing is a plus, since he'll need the skills on stage. Byron is promising.

Juliet squints at me. "Why are you asking?"

"Oh." I don't dare mention my interaction with Quinten, so I say, "Just curious. I'm always looking for story ideas and thought I could use it somehow."

Alisha chuckles. "You probably could. Too bad you weren't here when they were shooting it. It was fun to watch."

"Hmpf," says Juliet. "The whole thing is embarrassing. Do you know we get women coming to town now looking for those guys?"

I surprise myself when a surge of jealousy rises in me as I imagine girls looking for Quinten. And it begins to simmer when I realize he's the type who probably loves it.

"I believe it. You should see the crazy stuff that happens to the stars of our show. One of the actors had a woman follow him into a dentist's office and ask him to take a selfie with her when he was getting a filling."

"Whoa," says Jayden. "But you know, Juliet, it's not a bad thing that women are coming to Smokey Falls. In fact— “ She looks at Alisha, and they both smile slyly. "It increases the chances of the single werewolves finding a true mate."

"I don't know why you two are so insistent on bringing more women into this pack. Don't you love your status as two of the few women who are having babies?" asks Juliet.

"Of course we do," says Jayden in a calming voice. "But don't you want tons of kids for your children to grow up with?"

Juliet’s brow knits as if she’s considering the idea of lots of children running around.

Alisha pipes in. "Exactly. I can't wait for play dates and birthday parties."

"We really need to get you two something productive to do with your time," grumbles Juliet.

Jayden winks at me. "If you hadn't thrown out our idea to organize another calendar, we would."

"What I said was you needed to find another project, since that calendar has only created a security issue for the pack with all the humans flocking here now. Besides, you two are far too interested in trying to find our eligible men true mates." She looks at me. "I swear, if I let them, they'd have their own dating site for them."

Jayden exchanges a glance with Alisha. "Don't think the idea hasn't crossed our minds. Just say the word."

Alisha laughs, and a thought comes to me. I'll need help if I'm going to run auditions. I look over at Jayden and Alisha. "So you two need something to do with your free time?"

"We do," says Alisha. "Jayden and I are making our mates crazy with our nesting, and I'll admit our ideas for things to do are getting a little crazy. I'm not sure Juliet's going to survive us until August."

I smile as I look at my friends. "I might have something. My boss called earlier, and for next season, she wants to create a rock star. She asked me— “ I lift my hands up to do air quotes “— to find him."

"Oh my gosh!" gushes Jayden. "Are you ever in the right place. You need to hold auditions."

"Yes, and I need your help." I look at Juliet, who is scowling with instant rejection, and I say to her, "Hear me out. She wants a guy in his late twenties, early thirties, and the idea is to show the process he'd go through to become sucessful." I quickly add, "But it doesn't have to bring attention to Smokey Falls. Nobody would have to know he's from here. We reinvent people all the time." I chuckle as I think about Rita's steamroller ways. "Chances are good Rita won't like his given name anyway."

"You want one of my werewolves to be a rock star?"

Juliet’s growly tone is pure werewolf, and I step back. I let out a sigh. "Me finding someone isn't optional if I want to keep my job, and since you have such a great talent pool here, it would sure help me out. But it's totally your decision, Juliet. The last thing I want to do is step on your toes."

Alisha looks at Jayden. "I bet we could do the auditions in the high school auditorium."

"And the music guy, Eric. He'd be thrilled to help us," Jayden says.

She and Alisha look at Juliet with puppy dog eyes but manage to keep silent instead of begging.

Juliet studies me for a moment as Alisha and Jayden bounce in their seats like little kids who are waiting for permission to jump into the pool. Juliet looks over at them and shakes her head in amusement. "Fine. If it'll keep Lucy and Ethel out of trouble, it'll be worth it."

Jayden lets out a squeal. "Really?"

Juliet smiles. "Go for it, ladies. But— “

"We know," Alisha interrupts. "No more matchmaking."

"Thank you," Juliet says to my friends.

"No." I reach over and touch Juliet's arm. "Thank you. You're really helping me out. If I find Rita her guy, it'll make my career."

"This is so exciting!" says Alisha. "I can't wait to get started. You can count on us, Chelsea. By morning, we'll have a location and guys ready to go." She looks at Jayden. "We need to make a list of prospects."

The memory of a sexy werewolf's song plays in my mind, and I get excited too. Alisha's right, we do need a list, and the name that should be on top is Quinten.