Page 112 of Howlin’ For You

“Nice to meet you. Isabella.” I close my hand around hers, her long, blood-red nails poking slightly into my skin.

“Lovely to meet you, darling. Tell me, what has you visiting today? Just enjoying the town or something more?” She retracts her hand, smoothing it over her pencil skirt in a move that I’m slightly jealous of. The confidence she feels in her own skin is something I’ve only chased after.

“Getting to know the town and the people who live here. Plus, I can never resist a tchotchke.” I waggle the ceramic cat.

She chuckles, giving me an even better view of her fangs. “A woman after my own heart. Let me show you my favorite things.”

Can vampires go out in the sunlight?

I follow her through the store, absorbing the genuinely unique collection of items and the ramrod straight posture of the woman in front of me.

The scent of lavender and something darker, like plum, trails up to the ceiling in little plumes of smoke from the incense burning on the checkout counter.

Intriguing, just like her.

“Take the cat, Isabella. As a gift.” She rounds on me after we’ve made a lap through the store. “A welcome to our cozy town of Lunamois.”

“That’s so kind of you, thank you,” I reply, smiling up at her. Two free things in only a couple of days? I don’t think I’ve felt this welcome in all the towns I’ve ever visited. That kind of camaraderie only makes Lunamois that much more appealing.

All I’ve ever wanted is somewhere I belong.

She smiles. “And if you can think of anything I can do to help with your event, please let me know. My father was the mayor before Cole, so I may have a little bit of insight.”

“He was?”

“Oh yes. I was never destined for a life of bureaucracy, unlike my father. Luckily, my dear cousin was more than happy to take up the mantle. Power-hungry little thing.”

“Cole is your cousin?” I’m going to need Georgie to draw me up a family tree situation for the people of this town.

She nods, fondness bleeding into her expression. “A little bit of a recluse, that one. But he’s a good man.”

“Seems like it,” I agree. I don’t admit that I barely even remember what Cole looks like. Nick seemed to suck up all the air in the room until all I could do was choke on his presence.

Okay, no. Choking on Nick is not the visual I need to be having.

“Enjoy your day, darling.” The cool mask slips back onto Polly’s face, easy as breathing. I wonder what she hides behind all that indifference. “And remember to come back soon.”

“I will. Thank you again!”

And as I push through the door and into the autumn day, all I have is more excited curiosity about Lunamois, about the people, and what supernaturals live here other than werewolves.

I want to peel back the layers.

I want so desperately to know more. I haven’t felt a fire in my gut like this in a very, very long time.

CHAPTER TEN

ISABELLA

Three nights later, I’m sitting at the tiny desk in my bedroom, typing away. Marketing inspiration has never come this easily before, but the beginning of the tiny campaign is flowing out of me like water.

As I work on a small piece for the local newspaper, I find it’s easy to write about life in Lunamois. To mention the kind smiles, the familiarity, the generosity. The good fucking coffee—despite being more of a tea drinker—and the way most of these people would give you the shirt off their back if necessary.

It’s easy to reminisce about how the autumn sun shines on the trees as they change color and the almost artistic way Main Street opens up in the soft morning light.

It’s easy to pretend that this is simply a typical day in my life—not a job. Not temporary.

Nick is a big piece of why this all feels so natural. I’ve known him for basically a week at this point, but it feels like old friends coming together after a few years of being apart. It feels like we’ve been doing this our whole lives, and I don’t know what to do with that.