“Does a bear shit in the woods?” I ask. If it were Trey, I’d ask if the pope shit in the woods or if the bear wore a pointy hat, because we like to mix our stupid sayings to crack each other up.
“Good. How about your packmates?”
“I’m sure they’d all be in, but I’ll ask around. How many do you need?”
“At least four. We can bill it as California vs. Arizona for the first one. My fighters against yours.”
“Perfect. I’ll round it up. Thanks, Parker.”
“We’ll be there this Saturday to touch base,” Parker says.
“Sounds good. We’ll be ready.” I hang up. I have to admit, I feel more than a little dirty organizing cage fights in Angelina’s car. It’s like I’m sullying her just by thinking about violent business. Which is exactly why I’m bad for her. I climb out and head into the building.
I know Angelina doesn’t want me to go in, and I want to give her space, but I also need to keep an eye on her. Not that I think she’s going to tell. Oh hell, who am I kidding? I crave contact with her. I want to know everything about this girl-including who she visits in this nursing home.
A grandparent, presumably. But why doesn’t she want me along?
Oh right. Because I’m not the kind of guy you bring home to mama. I knew that all along, and yet remembering it in this moment hits me like a right hook to the jaw.
A sweet-looking older receptionist stops me at the front desk, so I turn on the charm. “I’m just here with Angelina Baker. Do you know which way she went?”
“Oh sure. She’s visiting her grandmother in room 115.” She smiles and points down the hall.
I smile back and give her a little wave as I head that way. I’m not going to bother Angelina. I’ll just wait outside.
When I get to the room labeled Pearl Baker, the door is open and an elderly woman-presumably her grandma-is yelling at her. “I’m not taking those pills. They’re trying to kill me here! Those pills make me lose my brain power. Haven’t you noticed how it’s diminished since I moved in?”
Angelina says something soft and placating, and thrusts a spoonful of what looks like applesauce at her grandmother.
“I said no!” The old woman bats the spoon to the floor and splatters Angelina with applesauce.
Even though she’s not in danger, I start forward involuntarily.
Must protect. My wolf gets so fucking antsy around her.
“Grandma.” Angelina jumps up, grabbing a napkin. She sees me in the doorway before I can pull back, so I walk in.
I might as well try to help if I can.
I dial my charm level up to ten and beam it straight at the old woman. “Who’s this beautiful lady?” I saunter in the room, hands in my pockets so I don’t look threatening.
The old woman glares at me for a moment, but her face clears as she takes me in. Then-I swear to the fates-she beams at me. “Well, hello there, young man.”
It doesn’t matter what age-I recognize the flirt.
“Hi, Mrs. Baker.”
“Jared.” Angelina says my name in a grumble.
“Do you know this young man, Angelina?”
“Yes, Grandma. He’s a… ah… friend of mine.”
“Are you ready to take your pills?” I pick up the tiny plastic cup filled with various colored pills. “I’ll get another spoon.”
“Well-” the old woman looks from me to Angelina. “I don’t like to take them.”
“I have a spoon,” Angelina chirps. She picks up the pill from the floor and cleans it with a napkin.
I take the spoon and the pill from her and scoop another bite of applesauce. “Here you go, Mrs. Baker.” I hold it up to her mouth and give a wink, like I’m offering something secret and fun.
“Oh,” she giggles-yes, giggles. It’s adorable. “Call me Pearl.” She takes the bite without another protest and swallows it down. “Sit down with me, young man. How do you know my Angelina? You don’t look like one of those boy dancers.”
“Grandma!”
I sit down beside the old woman and scoot her chair closer to me. “No, I’m not a dancer. I’m a bouncer. Do you know what that is?”
She actually reaches out and squeezes my biceps. “Oh yes. I’ll bet that’s how you met my granddaughter, isn’t it? Were you protecting her from the nasty boys?”
Angelina stifles a laugh.
“Yes, ma’am. That’s my job, but I’d do it even if it wasn’t. Your granddaughter is special to me.”
Angelina goes still and her grandmother’s face blooms into a wrinkled smile. She pats my arm. “That’s right. She is. I’m glad you’ve seen it. You’re the first boy she’s brought around in a long time, and the only one who’s worth his salt.”
“Grandma,” Angelina admonishes.
I throw her a wink. “Now, tell me something, Pearl. Do you have any more pills to take?”
“No, I-”
“Yes, you do. You have one more, Grandma.” Angelina fixes another spoonful of applesauce and tries to feed it to her grandma. When the old woman turns her head away, I take the spoon.
“Come on, Pearl.” I infuse a gentle command into my voice.
She obediently opens her mouth.
Angelina gives me an eye roll from behind her shoulder.
“Well, Grandma, we should probably go.”
“Not yet! You just got here. Don’t we have time for a walk?” The elderly woman sends me a hopeful look.
I unfold my large frame from the chair. “Sure we do. Only if I get to push, though.”
Pearl beams. “Big strong man like you-you’d better be the one pushing!” She shoves the table in front of her wheelchair aside.
I lift it out of the way and take charge of the chair. “Lead the way, beautiful,” I murmur to Angelina.
The old woman catches my words and beams up at me. “Such a charming young man,” she says quietly, folding her hands in her lap. “Finally, Angelina’s on the right track.”