“No. Not yet. It’s too soon.”
Lindsay shook her head. “Honey, believe me, I’m torn apart for you. But you also know that Donovan, of all people, would never expect you to put on sackcloth and ashes and grieve the rest of your life. He understood that Shifters have to produce as many cubs as we can. He wouldn’t be that selfish.”
“I know that. I also know you’re rationalizing to get me to go out catting with you.”
Lindsay laughed and gave Cassidy a half hug. “Oh, come on, I gotta try. Let’s go out after the party and dance until dawn. You can’t tell me a night on the town wouldn’t be a good thing.”
“It would be.” Cassidy felt restless and itchy, needing to work off some heat. “Can’t. I got confined, remember?”
Lindsay rolled her eyes. “You aren’t taking that seriously, are you?”
Cassidy glanced at Diego again. He wasn’t looking at her, but she could feel the awareness stretching between himself and her.
She knew damn well she could avoid the cops and Diego and go about as she pleased. But for some reason, she wanted to keep to her probation, wanted to show Diego she could be trusted. “Yes. I think I am.”
Lindsay sighed. “Ah, well, we have better celebrations right here in Shiftertown anyway. The night’s still young, and as I said, Donovan always liked a good party.”
“Yes,” Cassidy said. “Go on, enjoy yourself.”
Lindsay saluted Cassidy with her beer bottle. “Let me go see if I can land me some Latino cop.” She laughed again as Cassidy’s tension returned. “Don’t worry, Cass. Xavier. I’m going for Xavier.” She licked her lips. “Damn, what a great name.”
Cassidy watched her go, feeling the tightness in her body. All over the common, Shifters celebrated the life of Donovan Grady, the Feline Shifter who’d made friends with everyone. He’d been funny, stubborn, impossible, wild, and well loved.
Maybe Lindsay was right. Donovan had always laughed at Cassidy whenever she moped. That had irritated her a little, as though Donovan couldn’t acknowledge that sadness was important. But he’d tickle her or tease her, or take her out to Coolers and tell her to dance like a maniac until she felt better.
What the hell?
Cassidy upended her beer bottle and took a long draught. Then she ran back into the house, changed into her favorite dancing dress, and went out again. She’d push down her guilt about her fight with Donovan the last night she’d seen him alive, let loose, and party as hard as Donovan ever had. She’d been his mate, and she’d honor him.
She pretended not to acknowledge her little shiver when Diego’s gaze went to her in her slinky blue tube dress. Looking away, she stepped into the middle of the dancing Shifters and let out a wild whoop.
“Cassidy, I swear to the gods, you have the best tail in town.” Shane danced up behind Cassidy a few crazy hours later, beer bottle in one hand.
“You should know, Shane,” Cassidy shouted over the noise. “You chase enough tails.”
Music continued to blare through the trees, and Shifters were dancing, drinking, laughing, shouting. Diego was spending his time talking to Eric and Jace, though Lindsay had enticed Xavier into dancing. Cassidy drank beer after beer and danced with male after male, but Diego didn’t seem to notice.
Shane laughed at her. “You put on a tight dress and shake it, sweetie, you gotta expect every male to come running.”
Cassidy lifted her hands over her head and swayed to the music. She’d discarded her heels to dance. She could move better barefoot.
Shane wanted to mate, Cassidy scented. But Shane always wanted to mate, so that was nothing new.
Nature made female Shifters as horny as the males, more sometimes. Cubs were few and far between, so females in their fertile years had the drive to go for it as often as they could with as many males as were available, in order to search for the most viable seed. Mr. Viable Seed got to be the permanent mate, blessed under sun and moon.
At least, that’s how it had been centuries ago in the wild. Now Shifters were more civilized. Right?
Biological urges didn’t explain the mate bond, however; that almost magical twining of hearts. Mate-bonded mates would live and die for each other-literally.
Thoughts of mating-casual and otherwise-conjured the dark eyes and handsome smile of Diego Escobar. How he’d looked at her out in the woods, how he’d felt against her body when she’d hugged him before the ritual started.
“Sorry, Shane,” Cassidy said. “I just want to dance.”
Shane moved in close behind her. “Oh, come on. You never heard of the horizontal bop?”
Cassidy burst out laughing. Shane was a shit and never changed. “You only like to do it as a bear. My wildcat’s not letting a bear on her back. No way.”
“I’d make an exception for you, Cass.”
“Sure, for me. And for Lindsay. And Sadie, and Michelle…”
“Hey, I’m a bear in his prime.”
“You’re a bear whose mom is looking for him.”
Shane jerked around. “She is? Where?”
Cassidy laughed harder. “Goddess, you’re easy. Your mom’s the sweetest woman alive.”
“Shit, Cass, don’t do that to me.” Shane blew out his breath. “She might be sweet to you, but Mama can be one mean grizzly.”
Cassidy laughed. She’d been baiting Shane for years, and he’d been teasing her back.
Lindsay came whirling in between Xavier, who looked like he was having a fine time, and Kyle, Eric’s Lupine tracker. “Great party!” Lindsay shouted. She whooped as she let both men lift her and carry her back under the lights.
Cassidy looked back to where Eric stood, and she stopped. Diego was no longer with him. Where was he?
She scanned the crowd but nowhere saw the tall human with midnight hair. His brother was still dancing with Lindsay, his body moving with rhythmic grace, but no Diego.
Shane bumped into her. “What’s up, Cass?”
Cassidy shrugged. “I don’t feel like dancing anymore.”
“Fine by me. My room’s empty. Brody will be out all night, and that’s good, because you know how he snores…”
“Sorry, Shane. I can’t.”
“I get it.” Shane embraced her from behind, the gigantic man giving a gigantic hug. “Donovan was a great guy, Cass. We all miss him.”
Cassidy’s heartache came back. She wiped her eyes as Shane released her and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Good night, Shane,” she said.
“See ya, Cass.” Shane sounded downhearted, but let her go.
Cassidy walked away from him, unsteady after all the beer she’d had, and sought the house. She was drunk, she was sad, and she’d do nothing but make a fool of herself if she stayed outside and kept obviously searching for Diego.
She blundered into the lightless house, the music blasting away on the porch. It was pitch-black inside, but Shifters could see in the dark, right?
Cassidy ran smack into the tall, hard body of a man walking through their kitchen. His scent was all over her in an instant.
“Diego,” she said, her breath gone.
Her emotions, her need, and way too much beer rocked through her. Staying pressed against Diego’s chest, Cassidy twined her arms around him, rose on her tiptoes, and kissed him on his hot, smooth lips.
CHAPTER SEVEN
