Savage Urges (The Phoenix Pack, #5)(70)

Yes, that was exactly what he did.

“Me . . . I’m a browser.” She kissed his chin. “I will drive you insane.”

Then it wouldn’t be much different than any other day. “I’m coming with you.” Until the Remy situation was over, she wasn’t going anywhere alone.

She exhaled heavily. “If you’re sure.”

“You’re not going to argue that you don’t need my protection?”

“I never did understand those book and movie heroines who insist on facing danger alone. There’s being capable of protecting yourself, and there’s being plain stupid. In a one-to-one fight, I wouldn’t need you to step in. But against a group of extremists, I could do with a little help.” Their prior attack on her had quite clearly shown her that. “And I know being away from me while I’m a target would make you crazy. I don’t want to do that to you.”

She understood him well.

“And, hey, maybe we could pick you up some stuff too.” His “no thanks” grunt made her smile. “I’ve seen your wardrobe. It’s comprised of three brands at most, and you wear the same stuff over and over.”

“Because I know they fit and they’re comfortable.” That was all Ryan required from the things he wore.

“But you only wear dark colors.”

“I only like dark colors.”

“Whatever. It’s clear that you can’t be helped. Now, are you positive that you want to come along? Because you will be bored, and you will become exasperated, and you will want to cry. I could ask Jaime and Taryn to come along instead; then I wouldn’t be alone.”

“I want to go with you.”

“All right, but don’t say you weren’t warned.”

Four hours later, Ryan was fast losing the will to live. At first, shopping with his mate hadn’t been so bad. He liked seeing her enjoying herself, liked seeing her relaxed and carefree. Also, he’d foolishly thought that she wouldn’t take too long, even though she’d told him she was a browser. Why? Because just before they left, he’d caught her scribbling things on a sheet of paper. When he’d asked what she was writing, she’d replied, “I always make a list of the things I need. Then I promise myself I won’t deviate from that list. It’s stops me from buying shit I don’t need and then spending too much.”

The practical rule had surprised and impressed him. What he hadn’t considered was that her determination to not waste money would make the shopping trip even longer. If she were on the fence about anything, she’d leave it. If she weren’t 100 percent happy with the color, texture, fit, and price, she wouldn’t buy it.

So off they’d go to another store. And he was the mule.

He’d quickly learned that his mate loved bargains. If there were a sale on, she was right there. Not that she bought things just because they were on sale. No, she didn’t buy something unless she would have bought it if it hadn’t been a bargain. That didn’t stop her from checking every rack, every shelf, and every floor. And where did she get all these coupons?

Then there were the times she asked for his opinion. Didn’t she understand he didn’t have the credibility to comment on clothing that all looked the same to him anyway? Didn’t she see the sweat building on his forehead at the prospect of saying the wrong things and hurting her feelings? And why ask his opinion when it was clear she’d already made up her mind on what she wanted?

There were no guarantees that she would buy something even if she were 100 percent happy with it. No, she’d check a comparison price website on her cell phone. If the item were cheaper elsewhere, she’d drag him to that store instead.

She tried on everything. And she wasn’t fast about it either. What irritated him was that when she finally walked out of the fitting rooms, it was often to tell him she didn’t want the damn things or that she’d come back at the end-of-the-season sale and get it cheaper. Ryan never tried on anything. He just bought it and took it home. If it didn’t fit, he’d hang it up in his wardrobe even though he’d never wear it.

As such, he was now hungry, thirsty, bored, and tired. But he couldn’t be pissed at her. He’d brought this on himself. Makenna had warned him. Several times, in fact. She also regularly suggested he should go home.

When she finally announced she was done, Ryan couldn’t help but burst out, “Thank God.”

She laughed. “Come on, let’s go eat.”

It was the best idea she’d had all day. Fearing that his stomach was eating itself out of desperation, he pretty much hauled her into the nearest restaurant. Just as they were finishing dessert, her cell phone rang.

Makenna smiled as she greeted, “Hey, Dawn, how are you?”

“I have good news and bad news.”

As a sense of foreboding came over Makenna, she put down her spoon. “Hit me with the bad first.”

“One of our sponsors called to report that a wolf tried blackmailing him into withdrawing his funding.”

Makenna cursed, and her wolf snarled. Ryan, who would be able to hear every word, didn’t outwardly react, but she knew he would be pissed. Then something occurred to her. “Wait, you said ‘tried.”

“That’s the good news.” There was the slightest smile in Dawn’s voice. “Not only does he refuse to be intimidated, he’s agreed to testify about the blackmail attempt to the council.”