Chapter Four

In Which We Realize Nollaig Isn’t like Other Girls

" B est friends?" It’s such a weird thing to say that it catches me off guard for a moment.

She motions with her head to the two men sitting by the stage. "They're in denial a bit. They have a thing for each other so they come here to pretend."

"Pretend what?" I ask, intrigued.

"You know." She shrugs, turning an adorable shade of pink. "It gives them a chance to say things aloud to the dancer that they really want to say to each other."

"That's incredibly intimate...how do you know? Are they friends of yours?"

She shakes her head and picks up a piece of cheese from the paper plate. "You never asked me."

"Asked you what?"

Amusement dances across her face. "If I was Fae."

“I did so. You never answered.”

She opens her mouth to respond, only to be interrupted by Steely calling out my name as one of the men reaches out for her, his hand sliding up her thigh. I've shifted and am in between them before he can even make it to the waistband of her panties. Eddie's supernatural senses are sharp. He’s there at my side, pulling the guy's friend up by the collar. I check on Steely, but she has the most apt stage name of any dancer I have ever met. She collects the cash at her feet and winks. "Don't leave your lady waiting too long,” she tells me as she heads to the dressing room.

I turn back to find Nollaig watching the scene with wide eyes. "Sorry about that," I tell her once Steely's safe, and I'm back behind the bar.

She studies me closely. "Your ears...can I touch them?"

"My ears? Oh." Partial shift gives me greater strength, but it also brings out many of the wolf characteristics—lots of extra hair and ears that rest on top of my head instead of on the sides. I lean over and let her run a hand along my ears. Her fingers brush lightly against both ears, sending goosebumps across my upper arms.

"They're so soft," she says quietly.

I snort. "I use conditioner every once in a while."

She laughs. "And you move so fast. You were here, and then the next minute you were there pulling that guy off her."

I nod. "Sorry you had to see that. It's part of the shifting. It allows me to do more than my human form."

"Is this what you look like on the full moon?"

I shake my head. "On the full moon, we'll shift completely, but honestly I can shift completely any time. It just takes a lot out of me to do it."

Her eyes meet mine. "I'd love to see that."

"It wouldn't scare you?"

"Nothing you could do would ever scare me."

My mouth goes dry with the look in her eyes. "Full moon's in three days, you should come and see first hand."

She takes another bite of the food in front of her and looks around. We're completely alone. Even Steely and Eddie are nowhere to be seen.

"Oh, shoot, I'm sorry. I'm keeping you now."

I shake my head. "Naw. The earliest my uncle will let me close is ten. Unless you need to get home, then I'll call you a ride."

She shakes her head. "I like it here. If you don't mind me sticking around until you've got to close up. All that's waiting at home is Da, and he's probably passed out by now."

“I’d love it if you stayed and kept me company,” I say a little too honestly. God, I’m failing at being cool. Nollaig just smiles and looks hopefully at my orange.

“You going to eat that orange?” she asks.

I chuckle and peel the second one before handing it to her. She finishes up her gin and tonic and looks around at the empty bar. “You need any help? If there’s one thing I’m an expert at, it’s sweeping and mopping.”

I shake my head. “Absolutely not. I’ve got a little brother for that.”

She laughs. I pull out my phone and dial Zane’s number. He answers after what feels like the millionth ring.

“What?” he demands grumpily. I totally interrupted one of his two-hour phone calls with his girlfriend. “Hey, Gremlin, get off the phone with your girlfriend. It’s time to close up. ”

“Seriously?” his voice picks up.

“Yeah, get in here, and sweep and mop so we can go home.”

“Moving,” he says cheerfully, cutting off the call abruptly.

“Gremlin?” Nollaig asks.

I shrug. “He’s the baby, and it helps keep him in line. You’ll see. He’s eighteen but thinks he’s twenty-eight.”

The door behind the stage opens, and Zane appears. He slips his phone in his pocket and heads toward the bar. His eyes fall on Nollaig instantly. “You need me to call a ride for you?” he asks her.

I shake my head before she can answer. “She’s good. Get your closing stuff done while I clean up and count the till so we can get out of here.”

His eyes fall on her again, and I feel a growl rise in my chest. “Zane, hurry up,” I grumble at him.

“Damn, sorry. I’m moving.”

Nollaig chuckles as he walks away. “Was that a growl?”

For a moment, I think about denying it but then change my mind. “Yes, sorry. It comes more naturally in this form.”

She shakes her head and smiles. “Never apologize for who you are, Zander. It’s kind of cute.”

“My growl…is cute?”

She laughs. “Was that the wrong thing to say? Sorry, hold on, I’ll fix it.” She clears her throat. “You have a very manly growl, Zander.”

Her eyes sparkle at her own joke, and I can’t help but smile back at her. “Better,” I tease.

I finish up behind the bar and start counting the till. There’s hardly anything tonight. I stuff it in the bank bag we keep in the drawer and turn to head back to Randy’s office. “I’ve got to lock this in the safe. Will you still be here when I get back?”

She studies me for a moment. “Do you want me to be here when you get back?”

“Definitely,” I tell her.

Her eyes meet mine and something changes in her expression. “Alright, I’ll wait for you outside.”

I couldn’t tell you how I know, but suddenly I’m convinced that this night is going to end well for the both of us.