His whole body reacted with a jolt.What awoman. At last he’dfound someone brave enough to stand up to him, to challenge him,and he liked it.
Grayson looked to hisdaughter and shook hishead in despair, his heart melting at her ingenuity, albeitmisplaced and disobedient. He’d taught her well. He hadn’t oncepicked up her scent. “I’m sorry I shouted at you, Luna.” His facecracked into a smile, his concerns washing away with the downpour.He picked up his darling girl and clung to her like he never wantedto let go. “You’ll be the death of me, little pup, you knowthat?”
Luna returned his embrace, and all was rightwith the world.
After a few moments, not long enough,Luna wriggled free. Shestroked Cujo, still tucked under Jamie’s arm. “Aww, poor Cujo, he’sshivering. Can I hold him to keep him warm?”
Jamie gave her dog to Luna. “He’s soaked,too. We all are. How about we get back to the manor and dryoff?”
“Sounds like a great idea. I’ll text Alice first to let her knowLuna is okay,” said Grayson. “I’m sorry the picnic gotruined.”
“It might not be ruined.” She looped herarm around Luna’s shoulders and walked along the track that ledback to the manor. “Come on,” she called back at him. “I have an idea.”
He followed—why wouldn’t he?
They reached Beckett Hall in less than twentyminutes, but they were all soaked to the skin.
Alice came hobbling out of the manor, herexpression full of relief when she saw Luna. “Where wereyou, you naughty pup? You hadme so worried I couldn’t think straight. Your tutor’s gone home,and he wasn’t happy, I can tell you.”
“Sorry, Auntie Alice.”
Alice flapped her arms. “I’m just gladyou’re all right. Now come on in and we’ll get you dry, andJamie too, the poorwoman looks frozen to the bone.”
Alice was right. Jamie was human and theywere more susceptible to the elements, but the cold and rain neverbothered him, or Luna either, thanks to the wolf half of hergenes.
Some perfect date thisturned out tobe—not. The downpourhadn’t helped, and neither had the drama with Luna. He wouldn’t besurprised if Jamie insisted he took her home right away.
“I’ve lit the fire in the lounge, and I’llbring some towels and a hairdryer,” Alice continued,“Then I’ll boil somemilk for hot chocolates all round.”
Jamie smiled. “That sounds wonderful. Thankyou, Alice.”
Maybe she didn’t want to go home afterall.
Grayson took Luna and Jamie into themanor.
“Hold it right there, you lot!” Aliceyelled. “Get those muddyshoes off. You too, Jamie.” She winked at her. “I’m not having mylovely clean floor ruined, thank you very much.”
Jamie’s smile widened. “Yes, ma’am.” Sheslipped off her shoes and placed them neatly on the mat by thefront door. Luna put Cujo down and did the same.
Alice grinned. “Oh, you cheeky scamp. I’mgoing to like you, Jamie, better than that awful gold-digger,Imogen, with her bleached hair and fake fingernails.”
Grayson toed off his boots and left themon the mat too. He threw Alice a glare as they all headed towards the lounge, little Cujofollowing behind them.
His aunt smiled sweetly then scuttled off tograb the towels. He placed the ruined picnic by the loungedoor.
Jamie made her way straight to the roaringfire and rubbed her hands in front of it.
Alice soon reappeared, carrying towels and ahairdryer. Grayson handed Jamie and Luna a towel before taking onefor himself.
“Thanks.” Jamie rubbed the ends of herdripping hair, the glow from the fire picking up honey-colouredhighlights in thetresses.
He slipped off his sodden T-shirt, threw thesoaking garment on the sofa and dried himself with the towel.
“Grayson, what have I told you about puttingwet clothes on the sofa?” Alice scolded him like he was a childagain. “It’ll stain the fabric.”
Jamie stopped dabbing her hair. Her cheeksreddened as she gawped at him. She snapped her mouth shut, much tohis amusement. He’dmerely removed his top to dry off quicker, but if he’d have knownit would have caused such a reaction, he might have done it sooner.He had a sudden urge to take her in his arms and kiss her until shegasped for air.
Grayson reprimanded himself; Luna was here.
He yearned to make Jamie his, but he hadto be careful—it had to be on her terms or nothing. If she waswilling to consider entering a relationship with a dangerouswerewolf, then he’d happily oblige, but he would not forceanything on her that shedidn’t want.
“If you’re trying to impress me with allthose bulging muscles, Mr Beckett, it’s not working.” Themischievous smile that graced her lips implied the opposite.
He suppressed a smirk. How did he get solucky to find a woman like her? Who would have thought he’d fall for anotherhuman, like his dear wife Piper?
“You can take yours off too if you like.” Heoffered Jamie a cheeky wink.
“Dad!” Luna exclaimed, her eyes wide.
He feigned innocence. “What? Wolves haveno place for modesty; weget used to being naked when we shift.”
Jamie’s cheeks turned crimson, to hisdelight. “Well, I’m not a wolf, so I’ll pass, thanks.”
Grayson chuckled.
She squared her slight shoulders andwalked over to the picnic basket. “So, I had this ideathat we could have ourpicnic inside. What do you think, Luna, would you like to join us?And you too, Alice.” She lifted the hamper and brought it in frontof the fire.
Luna clapped her hands. “That’s a brilliantidea, isn’t it, Dad?”
He grinned. How could he refuse?
Jamie got down on her knees and took out theblanket. “It’s soaked. Do you have another blanket?”
“We could use this.” Grayson fetched a throwfrom one of the sofas.
She laid it on the carpet and undid her wethoodie.
“Let me hang that up foryou, Jamie,” said Alice,picking up his soaking tee from the sofa too. “I’ll go and make thehot chocolates, but I’m not sitting on the floor. With my hips,I’ll never get up again.”
Jamie laughed. “Okay, you can sit on thechair.” She patted the throw beside her. “Luna, sit next to me. Some of the food’sgot a bit damp, but an indoor picnic is fun. I used to
