Page 33 of Crow Me A River

She tried really hard to keep a straight face, but couldn’t stop the smile spreading across her face. “Yes, I know. I just didn’t want you to think I was a loose woman.”

Vin threw his head back and laughed before picking her up and carrying her toward one of the bedrooms. “Honey, I don’t know a man alive who wouldn’t want his woman to be loose as long as it was only with him.”

“Then make me yours, Vin,” Misty whispered with a smile as the bedroom door closed behind them.

CHAPTER 13

Vin leaned against the wall, his eyes scanning the bar. It was packed, pretty much standing room only, and Rafe had made him bouncer for the night, which he didn’t mind. So far everything had gone smoothly, everyone was having a good time, and he got to watch Misty, which was payment enough as far as he was concerned.

His gaze moved through the crowd until he spotted her talking to the people signing others up for karaoke. So far, he’d watched three raccoons, a rabbit Shifter who happened to be the town therapist, and a handful of others get up and sing. He had to admit the damn raccoons could carry a tune, even if they kept fighting over the microphone. That had been entertaining as hell. During one of their arguments, Misty had glanced his way, rolled her eyes and flashed him a huge smile that had made it damn hard to look anywhere else.

They’d spent most of last night awake, talking and getting to know each other in more ways than one, and Vin couldn’t remember ever being happier in his life. He’d been a fool not to listen to his Jaguar, who had known without a doubt that Misty was their Mate. She’d admitted she’d felt it too, but had fought it out of fear. After everything she’d been through, he understood why. Vin also knew there was still a hell of a lot he didn’t know about her, but he would. He had the rest of his life to learn every damn thing he could about his Mate.

“So where did you disappear to last night?” Rafe asked, leaning against the wall next to him.

“Don’t start,” Vin grumbled, keeping his eyes on the crowd and Misty.

“Start what?” Rafe tried to sound innocent, but there wasn’t a damn thing innocent about his friend. When Vin didn’t take the bait, Rafe laughed. “I just figured you’d find Misty and bring her back to the bar.”

“Guess you figured wrong.” Vin glanced toward the stage as Bruce took the microphone with another cat who’d been introduced to him as Fat Bastard.

“Would I also be wrong if I guessed you’re sticking around?” Rafe asked, cocking an eyebrow when Vin turned to glare at him.

“If I tell you, will you leave me the fuck alone?” Vin asked, knowing damn well his friend was loving every second of this.

Rafe nodded, the grin breaking across his face telling Vin he was full of shit.

“Yes, I’m staying around...asshole.” Vin shoved away from the wall just enough to glare at him. “Now go do something and leave me the hell alone.”

“There he is.” Rafe laughed outright. “For a minute there, I was afraid some woman had turned you into a pussy.”

Vin swung at him for throwing his own words back in his face, but the bastard knew it was coming and moved out of the way.

“Dick,” Vin called after him, laughing when Rafe flipped him off without bothering to turn around.

“The next act requested is Bruce and Fat Bastard, who apparently requested themselves,” Misty announced into the microphone before looking down at the song they’d chosen. Her eyebrows shot up. “Singing ‘The Boys Are Back in Town.’”

She handed Bruce the microphone and headed away from the stage, rolling her eyes as the music started. Bruce hadn’t gotten far into the song before Misty came to a dead stop, her mouth dropping open as she slowly turned around.

Vin’s eyes widened.

“Holy shit.” A grin spread across Vin’s face as he stared at Bruce. “The fucking cat can sing.”

Misty turned back around and headed toward him. Vin opened his arms, and she walked right into them, turning in his embrace to watch Bruce and Fat Bastard put on one hell of a show.

“I have to admit, this is great for the bar.” Vin leaned down to speak close to her ear over the music. “But I never thought I’d see three raccoons on a stage singing ‘Friends in Low Places’ and doing a damn good job of it. Then the whole fucking bar joined in.”

“They were great.” Misty laughed, nodding as she looked up at him. There was a sparkle in her eyes that Vin hadn’t seen before, and he absolutely fucking loved it. Right then and there, he swore he’d spend the rest of his life making damn sure nothing ever dimmed it. She looked back toward the stage with a shake of her head. “And that damn cat can sing.”

“You know you’ll never hear the end of this, right?” Vin chuckled just as Bruce and Fat Bastard finished to loud applause.

“Yeah, I know.” Misty snorted.

“Okay, we’re taking a break,” Bruce announced as soon as the applause died down. “Make sure you sign someone up and pick their song. Let’s keep this going, and remember, at the end of the night you’ll vote for your favorite.”

Bruce hopped off the stage then made his way toward them with a cocky swagger that had Vin shaking his head.

“Looks like you aren’t the only one with chops, Crow.” Bruce tilted his head proudly as if he’d just won a fucking Grammy.