Hidden Passions (Hidden, #7)(16)

Despite his intent to conceal his private yearnings, his voice cracked the slightest bit. Evina registered the sound. She turned and gave him a bone-deep hug.

"You're my bestest friend," she declared, imitating her five-year-old daughter's favorite exclamation of affection. "Just don't tell Mom or Freda that I said so."

Chris smiled against her veil. "You're my bestest friend," he returned. "For real."

Evina tipped her head back. Her golden eyes glittered with emotion. "I won't neglect you," she promised more seriously.

"I know you won't, but you have to commit to your new life."

She touched his face, gaudy wedding bracelets clinking, shining gaze searching his. He sensed her debating whether she should say more. Why hadn't he ever been in love? Why did he hardly date? In the end, don't ask, don't tell ruled her decision.

"Would you check on Nate and his pack for me?" she asked. "The tiger priest is due here in ten minutes."

"I'll check," he agreed. "No matter what, he'll marry you. If I need to, I'll have Liam sit on him."

A horror he didn't expect filled the tigress's expression. "You think Nate might have cold paws?"

"I meant I'd have Liam sit on the priest. The end of the Pocket wouldn't keep your wolf from being hot to trot to you."

Leaving her laughing seemed like a good idea. He slipped out the door to the outside, the cool autumn air a pleasure against his skin. Three feral cats scampered across the grass to him. Though they weren't pets, they were used to people. Lots of park visitors brought them treats. Chris crouched to pet them for good luck.

"Hello, cousins," he said as they wound around him. "Promise to carry Evina's prayers to the Tiger Queen?"

A gray and white female mewed, tilting her head for more scratches. Chris obeyed her bidding, then rose again. He was putting off the moment he'd have to face Tony.

Maybe the hot gay wolf would be gone. Maybe he'd have stepped out to fetch something.


Maybe the Tiger Queen of the Universe would help Chris win the Lottery.

Annoyed with himself, he closed the short distance to the Groom's Pavilion. He knocked, but no one answered. When he stepped in, the outer room was empty. The door to the inner was open a crack.

"You don't?" he heard Tony say.

Chris knew it was his voice. He'd replayed the message Tony left him a stupid amount of times. I've got that thing you were looking for. Get in touch if you still want it. Chris hadn't let himself compose even a pretend text in answer. He'd have been too tempted to hit send.

Nate said something Chris's roaring blood drowned out.

"Now I really want to marry you," Tony said.

Chris could tell he was joking. Nonetheless, the most extraordinary wave of rage rolled through him. The sockets around his canines heated, the tearing teeth verging on lengthening. Chris clenched his jaw. Tony shouldn't joke about marrying. Tony belonged to him.

The thought shocked him. If he believed it, he'd lost his ever-loving mind.

"Hello, wolves," he called in his steadiest voice. "I'm checking on you for Evina."

Nate stepped into the outer room, bringing his odd alpha energy with him. The wolf seemed relaxed, a GQ model in his tuxedo. The swiftness with which he popped out told Chris appearances might be deceiving.

"Is Evina all right?" he asked.

Chris had braced for Tony to follow Nate. When that didn't happen, he wasn't certain he was grateful. "She's fine. The priest is due pretty soon. Are you and your pack ready?"

Nate twisted his head over his shoulder. "Tony, can you make sure Adam and the guys fixed that flower thing?"

"Sure," Tony said. "I'll get Ari and the baby while I'm at it."

Nate didn't thank him. Then again, Tony didn't seem to expect it. He trotted briskly out, throwing Chris a sideways ghost-glance along the way.

Fleeting though it was, the look sent heat coursing through him for new reasons.

"He's a grouch today," Nate said. His eyes were coffee black, their sharpness going straight through Chris. "He'd have greeted you politely otherwise."

Tony was a grouch today? Had something happened? Was he mad because Chris was here? Chris forced his gaze away from the exit through which his hottest one-night stand ever had disappeared.

"No problem," Chris said to Nate. "Weddings mean changes for everyone."

His words were a wee bit pompous, but Nate broke into a grin. Chris respected and owed Nate already. The wolf won him completely over by bouncing on his heels like a ten-year-old.

"I cannot wait," he confessed. "I don't care if every flower in the park explodes. This is the best day of my life."

~

The flowers in the bridal tent hadn't exploded. The event planner had decided to save time by purchasing a spell to keep the festoons in place, rather than stringing them by hand. He'd also decided to save money, and the bargain basement enchantment expired early. Nate's packmates had snarled at the human until he quaked, but in the end the best solution anyone came up with was to arrange the flowers on the ground. Now a river of orange blossoms flowed from the door of the tent to its altar.

Tony thought the tigress bride looked stunning wading down the aisle through them.