later. A wolf geneticist had confirmed that the packâs shifter longevity was at stake when he dropped by to take blood samples from pack members to learn if he could do anything to stop the shifter aging from mimicking the human aging process.
âBe sure to wear that teal dress that looks so pretty on you.â
Lori raised a brow at her grandma. âI was going to wear jeans like everyone else.â She wasnât about to dress up to try to catch Paulâs eye.
Emma let out an exasperated breath.
âIâm wearing jeans.â And Lori wasnât changing her mind about that.
âAll right. You young folk donât know how to dress when you go out.â
âWeâre not going out. Itâs just an auction. And everyone will be wearing jeans. Well, except for you.â
âIâll be the best-dressed gal there.â
Lori laughed and took the dirty dishes into the kitchen. âYou will.â She just hoped her grandma wouldnât be disappointed if she didnât win. But also, Lori had to find a way to get Paul to open up to her.
* * *
The next day, Lori taught martial-arts classes and scheduled herself to be off from teaching classes for the next weekâthough sheâd have to slip in and do some that her assistant didnât have time forâso she could see Paul and learn what had happened on his last mission.
She had an early dinner with her grandma before they had to go to the auction. When Lori began clearing the table, Emma glanced at the clock on the stove and said, âOh, oh, weâre going to be late.â She rushed to help Lori put stuff away.
âWe have another hour and fifteen minutes before we need to be there.â
âI want to sit right up close to the front. Iâll never see over the other peopleâs heads, and what if no one sees my number?â
Emma had never been this interested in any kind of auction. Sheâd never even bid on anything in the past. Which again concerned Lori. She was going to have to really watch her grandma.
They arrived an hour before the auction started, found several chairs right up front, and saved a couple of seats for Catherine and Rose.
The place filled up fast and Lori was glad she and her grandma had come early, if only to show their support for their pack members. When the men walked single file to the stage, the women all whooped and hollered. What really caught Loriâs eye was Paulâs Hawaiian-style palm-tree shirt. Sheâd gotten it for him as a joke three years ago.
Sheâd never expected him to still have it, figuring heâd gotten rid of it right after she gave it to him. At the time, heâd jerked off his T-shirt right in front of her and his SEAL team members, and put on the Hawaiian shirt. Then heâd gotten a whole lot of teasing from the other men. Now to wear it to the auction?
Emma patted her knee. âHeâs got your shirt on. I told you he cares for you. Itâs like heâs wearing your favor in a jousting match. Heâs one brave man.â
Lori loved that shirt, but she especially loved it on him. It was all because of a big discussion Hunterâs SEAL team members had been having at Allanâs familyâs house. Everyone, except for Paul, agreed that no man in his right mind would wear a flowery pink shirt. Well, she couldnât find a menâs shirt that featured just pink flowers, but the Hawaiian shirt had pink palm trees and green flamingos. Even better. She had been surprised when he wore it in front of the other guys to prove to them he would.
Rose and Catherine finally arrived, slipping down the aisle to sit with them. Rose hurried to take a seat next to Lori. Catherine sat on the other side of Emma.
âHeâs wearing your shirt. I told you he wouldnât give it up, if only to prove a point,â Rose said. âOr because he wants to show you how much he cares for you.â
Lori folded her arms.
Dick;Felix Francis Francis