Page 111 of Howlin’ For You

She glares at me until I break into a smile.

“Also, most people just call my personal cell.”

She sighs heavily. “Well, that is wildly unhelpful. Can you tell them to start calling your work number so I can handle it?”

“Ask me nicely and I’ll try.”

“No.”

God, I love the way she doesn’t shrink into herself. She’s strong and confident, and even when she’s not, she’s still undeniably Izzy.

“Fine, you’ve convinced me.” I lean back in the armchair, unable to help my gaze from sweeping down her form. The way she’s wrapped in those jeans should be fucking illegal. “I’ll do whatever you want.”

I’m rewarded with yet another light flush of her cheeks. “Good.” She clears her throat. “Now, we need to talk about the festival.”

“What do you need from me?” Event planning isn’t my thing, and to be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever planned a birthday party before. But I want to be helpful. I want to show her that someone in this town has her back.

She pulls out her laptop, leaning over in a way that further highlights the supple curves of her body. “I have most of the vendors lined up, actually, thanks to Clover. I just need to schedule some time for you to build out the stage and some of the booths.”

I chuckle at Clover’s name. The old woman is a talented seer, but tends to go overboard with visitors and those new to town. It’s more fun for her than messing with the locals, who are used to her antics.

“Sounds good,” I finally reply once she snaps her forest-green gaze back up to mine. “I’m happy to help out in any other way you need, too. You just need to ask.”

Her returning smile is genuine. It reaches up to her eyes and crinkles the corners just a tad.

It’s a smile I could easily fall in love with.

“Actually…” She smirks. “How good are you with a paintbrush?”

CHAPTER NINE

ISABELLA

After Nick and I finish breakfast, I’m out on Main Street once more. While it’s true that Clover has most of the vendors lined up, I still want to get to know Lunamois. I can’t create an event tailored to a town I’m unfamiliar with.

I walk along the storefronts, looking in the windows and people-watching. There’s a bookstore called One Page More that I definitely want to go to at some point, but the place that’s calling to me is a small boutique called Home. It’s on the corner of the street, right across from Clover’s Market, and has big, beautiful bay windows in front.

I’m a collector of knick-knacks. Unique items that you can’t find in a regular chain store, and this looks like the motherlode.

The speaker over the door twinkles a little tune as I open it, alerting whomever inside that there’s a new customer. The only customer, in fact, but that’s not completely surprising considering it’s the middle of the workday.

“Be with you in a sec!” comes a voice from somewhere in the general vicinity of the back.

“Take your time!” I reply.

The shelf-covered walls burst at the seams with all sorts of random oddities and clutter. I love clutter.

I’m a maximalist to the extreme.

A small, ceramic cat calls to me. It looks just like my pet when I was a kid. My fingers close around the cool surface, and I know I’m not leaving here without this.

“Hello there. You’re a new face!” I turn to find a woman with raven-black hair and gray eyes standing at my side. “I know everyone in this town.”

Long teeth glint in the sunlight pouring in from the windows. Despite her smile, the woman is naturally giving off predator vibes. That might also be because she’s tall and lithe. She’s not a werewolf—she doesn’t have the same energy as Nick and Georgie—but considering it’s the middle of the day…I’m not sure what she is.

I swallow back a gulp, trying to muster up my courage. “I’m the event planner working on the seventy-fifth anniversary event.”

“Ahhhh, you’re the woman Cole hired. I’m Polly,” she says, sticking out her hand.