Chapter 17

The next morning was the start of a glorious day. Nothing but miles of blue sky and sunshine. While Naya watched over the store, I decided to pay Asia a visit and find out which way the decision had gone with the household. More importantly, I wanted to make myself available to resolve any unanswered questions.

The wind tunneled through the open windows of my car while an old Tori Amos song played on the radio. When I drove past the spot where I'd first met Tak, I thought of him. I wondered if I should visit his motel room to see if he'd changed his mind and left town. Was he thinking about me? Did he have any desire to pursue me once he settled matters with Lakota? My mother had taught me that a woman shouldn't be too easy—that she should be the ever-elusive catch that every man dreams of, and no great catch pitches herself into the fisherman's boat.

Did I want to be caught?

And more importantly, did I want Tak to be that man? We'd only just met, and yet every time my thoughts drifted to him, I wanted to know more. Did he always braid his hair? Did he like to cook, or was he just trying to impress me? What were his hobbies? How many women had he slept with?

What did he look like in the shower?

I laughed and adjusted my visor. Tak was probably napping in front of the television without a single thought of me crossing his mind. Once Lakota returned and they settled their dispute, Tak would be out of here. No doubt his wolf was going stir-crazy in the city.

When I reached Asia's homestead, I parked my car in the circular driveway and spied a woman off to the left, chasing a cat with a broom. It must be difficult for a bird Shifter to roam freely without worrying about predators.

Asia rounded the corner on the right side of the house, a straw hat on her head. "Hey, girl!" Her flip-flops slapped against the soles of her feet as she hurried to greet me. "I wasn't expecting you today. Why didn't you call? I would have made lunch."

I raked my fingers through my tangled hair and squinted. "I don't like talking business over the phone if I don't have to. Do you have a few minutes? I have news."

"Oh, I love news! Come inside. We have sweet tea in the fridge. I like hot tea better, but I'm the only one around here who drinks it." She led me through the house. "Go sit out back, and I'll bring it to you."

I ventured out to the back patio, where the overhead ceiling fans spun in lazy circles. The shaded concrete had wet spots that were already drying out, and water glistened on the feathery blades of a hanging fern. I took a seat at the round glass table, the cushioned chair rocking back and forth.

"Here we go," she sang. Asia set down green plastic cups and then wiped the tabletop with a kitchen towel. "So dirty. I clean this table every day, and it still gets a film of green gunk."

"Probably pollen," I said, sipping my drink. "It doesn't bother me."

"Well, it bothers me." The rag squeaked against the glass as she polished a dirty spot before finally sitting down. "Whew! I picked some fresh vegetables from my garden this morning, so remind me to send a bag home with you." After a gulp of tea, she tossed her floppy hat on the table and looked at me with excitement stirring in her eyes. "So? What's the big news?"

Condensation dripped down my glass and over my fingers. "Your feathers sold out the first day."

Asia gasped, her mouth agape. "Shut up!"

"We sold everything I had before noon. People were leaving their names and numbers on a waiting list for the next shipment."

She slapped her knee. "Hot diggity! And they're paying full price?"

"Don't be silly. Of course they are."

She traced her finger around her lips, eyes looking upward as if deep in thought. Her shoulder-length hair shone like moonlight over black waters. In normal conversation, I would have complimented it. But not wanting to derail the topic, I stayed focused on my goal.

"You wouldn't happen to have any extra feathers lying around, would you?" I asked hopefully.

"Some aren't good enough to sell. Sometimes they're broken, or the vane separates."

"I'll buy whatever you've got that looks clean. That might take care of those on the waiting list. I hate to pressure you, but you've had a few days to think it over, and I don't want to keep taking preorders if we're not going to do business together. It's not fair to the customers. They're excited about the jewelry, Asia. It's going to be a huge success, and you won't regret it. I need to know by tonight if we can enter a partnership, but I'm not able to draw up a contract unless you can secure the inventory with your suppliers."

"Suppliers," she pondered aloud. The ice clinked in her glass as she gulped down her tea. "These girls… I don't know about them. But I have a few good friends who are interested in selling me their feathers. Doesn't that make me a middleman? How do I know you won't go around me and deal with them directly?"

"Because, Asia, I'm not that kind of person. Sure, it would cut you out, but that's not how I do business. Do you think they would trust a wolf? It's easier to do business with Shifters who are your own animal; there's a level of trust already established. Aside from that, my guess is you'll have many sources, and that's too much for me to manage. I can't afford to give up more time when I've already got my hands full. That's the same reason I do business with Shikoba instead of traveling the country, negotiating deals. Then I'd have to travel, review the quality, organize shipments—that's not a smart move for me."

"Ahhh. I see now. You send me that contract tonight, and I'll look it over and let you know. Sound good?"

A weight lifted off my shoulders. "There's a lot of Shifter love when people wear those earrings. I'm so glad you confirmed that the avian community wouldn't take offense. It's not the same as the illegal practice of selling pelts or claws, but you never know how people will react. We had several hawks come into the shop, and they were so proud to see people wearing them, especially when we showed them the certificate. I'll give you a copy of one so you can get an idea of how I package everything. Since we have different species contributing feathers, I include basic facts about the type of bird they came from and their traits. It also certifies that the feathers were acquired legally from Shifters, that way nobody thinks there's something malicious going on."

Asia giggled. "We always sweep them up or let the wind take care of them. I never thought anyone would want our old feathers."

I swiveled around in my chair and admired her yard. Despite the Texas heat, she managed to keep all her plants green, and the ones on the patio were overflowing from their planters and pots. Most were annuals, like the purple vincas and green coleus, but the vast majority were perennials. It made me miss having a homestead. Even though I loved living in the city, land was in the heart of every Shifter.

Asia gave me a sly grin. "So what's a nice girl like you doing without a pack?"

"Discovering myself."

She laughed blithely. "Once you find yourself, let me know. Sometimes you just have to settle. That's what I did here. There's safety in numbers. It's not safe for a girl to be out there on her own," she said, wagging her finger. "Too many people want to take advantage, and you don't have a leader to stick up for you. They have legal authority to go after anyone who messes with you. Don't get used to solitary life. You need to find yourself a nice wolf and settle down in a pack. If the business goes under, who will take care of you?"

I gulped down my tea. "You sound like my father."

She lifted her chin. "Smart man."

"Well, this is a rite of passage for wolves who want to find themselves. The modern era has changed the way we live, and most of us want to get out there and prove ourselves before settling down with a pack. It's not forever. Hopefully." I chuckled and watched a butterfly dance on a breeze. "The store is doing well now, and I don't want to jinx it by making any big life decisions."

The hinges creaked when the back door opened, and a grey-haired woman poked her head out. "Asia, I saw that damn wolf again."

Asia crossed her legs and folded her arms. "And what do you want me to do about it? I'm not the gatekeeper around here."

"No, but you're the one growing all the damn vegetables that're attracting the rabbits and mice, and they're attracting the cats and wolves."

"Guess you'll have to flap your wings a little faster, Marie."

The door slammed.

"She's so bossy," Asia complained.

"Do you have any hesitations about doing business with a wolf?" I asked. "Be honest."

"It's a perfectly symbiotic relationship. I learned that word today in a crossword puzzle," she added.

I stood up and finished my tea. "Maybe I should go before your roommates chase me off with a broom."

"I'll get your veggies and meet you out front." Asia rushed inside the house, leaving our glasses behind.

Using the stone pathway, I headed around the side of the house, the scent of fresh-cut grass heavy in the air. I waved my hand to break up a cloud of gnats, a soft breeze calling to my wolf. She was restless, and the desire to shift became stronger with each passing minute. I had a feeling coming out to see Asia had something to do with it. The intoxicating scent of green trees and earth called to my animal.

"Not today," I said to her under my breath. "Remember what happened last time? Naked on the side of the road. I bet you think that's funny, don't you?" I plucked a yellow petal off a sunflower and twirled it between my fingers as I neared my car. My thoughts drifted back to when I'd first met Tak by the sunflower patch. Never had I imagined he would be tethered to my memories forever.

Why was I being so coy about visiting him? My mind toiled over consequences more than my heart did. He'd shown me real passion and that sex between unmated couples didn't have to be a shameful act. The least I could do was take him out to lunch. Tak made me want to be open about my sex life, and I couldn't stop thinking about sharing the news with Melody. And why not? I'd learned my lesson about secrets and lies the first time around. Every book has a new chapter, and it was time for me to start mine.

Then again, Tak and Lakota might never mend the rift between them.

Not that it mattered. I leaned against the car and laughed quietly, wondering why I was planning my future with someone I'd only just met, a man who'd revealed his innermost secrets to me but hadn't mentioned anything about staking his claim. I had too many things on my plate to be worrying about some silly man.

"Your veggies!" Asia cried, jogging out the door with a small paper bag. She reached me, out of breath. "Send me that contract, and we'll talk it over tonight. Don't let my vegetables go to waste."

"Oh, I won't," I promised, hefting the bag. "I'll be enjoying these for dinner."

"Alone?" She cocked her head to the side. "Not to be nosy, but I'm just curious. That's a lot of veggies for one person. Homegrown food is a natural aphrodisiac, you know. That's why I gave you extra."

I snorted. "Bye, Asia."

"I know a nice man," she said as I got in my car. "You like tigers? He's handsome but doesn't have too much going on up here." Asia tapped her finger against her temple. "I can give him your number. I bet he likes big, juicy tomatoes." She waggled her brows and cupped her breasts playfully.

"I don't need a man in my life right now."

She pinched her chin and stared at me through the open window. "I don't know. You kind of have that look I've seen before."

"Of desperation?" I laughed and started the engine.

Asia arched her brows. "No, but if you were dating someone, I'd say you looked like a woman in love. Bye now!"

I blinked in surprise as she jogged back to the house.

Love? Impossible. I barely knew Tak, and I'd never been in love to know the feeling.

Yet as my mind began overanalyzing everything, the answer nestled in my heart just as peacefully as the butterfly landing on my shoulder.