Werewolf Wedding(24)

“Mmhmm,” Barney drawled, leading me to a sitting room. “Take a seat anywhere you’d like. Mr. Somerset will be around when he’s done with this unexpected bit of business. Would you like any sort of refreshment? A cocktail, a snack?”

I scrunched into a massive leather chair and felt myself sink down deep. “I could get used to this,” I said without thinking. The old man smiled. “One certainly can. May I get you a cocktail?”

“Oh, uh, sure,” I said, feeling thoroughly stupid afterward. “I don’t particularly know much about them, but...”

“Something sweet? Something more bitter?”

“Sweet is good,” I said. “Fruity. I had something that came in a hollowed out coconut once that was really good.”

Unconsciously I folded my legs up underneath myself before realizing with mortification what I’d done and quickly unfolding them.

“Don’t worry, Miss Coltrane. Mr. Somerset sits in the same fashion. I’m not sure if we have any coconuts in the kitchen, but I’ll come up with something. Make yourself comfortable, yes?”

I nodded, still blushing at my terrible social graces. At least he does the same thing, I guess. That’s gotta make it a little better.

When I looked up next, Barney had vanished.

And I’m starting to get used to people zooming around, so that’s another thing, I guess.

Shuffling through the magazines that I didn’t imagine matched anyone’s interest but mine, I started to wonder. I must’ve been enthralled with learning a new technique for buzz-sawing marble in the June issue of Sculpting Times, or maybe I was caught up in the results of the dolphin ice statue carving world championships that were held, apparently in May, in Rochester, New York.

“He’s very nervous,” Barney said, placing my bright blue drink on the table beside me, and adjusting the napkin underneath it. “He wanted to make a good impression.”

I laughed softly. “He’s nervous? I had so much lipstick on that my friend had to gently urge me to get rid of it. And there’s this, too,” I curled my finger around my single coil of hair. “Forgot a curler. He doesn’t have anything to be nervous about.”

“Neither of you do,” Barney said with a reassuring smile. “I apologize, I couldn’t find any large fruits to hollow out. “I think you’ll like it though. Oh! I almost forgot.”

He plunked a toothpick umbrella into the drink. “It’s called ocean water. Coconut water, creme d’menthe, and four different rums.”

“Four?” I asked. “Is this a good idea?”

Barney chuckled. “I’ll make sure he’s equally inebriated. Regardless of how much he can eat, his tolerance for alcohol is roughly the same as a sorority girl’s.”

The mental image of Jake Somerset, CEO, billionaire, and whatever else, doing a beer bong and screaming like I had done, oh, once or twice in my life, was just too much. To keep myself from doing anything embarrassing, or opening my giant mouth and inserting my giant foot, I took a drink. “Oh my God!” I said, “this is incredible! I can’t even taste the—oh there it is.”

What began as a wonderfully sweet boat drink quickly turned warm as it slid down my throat and settled into my belly. That, along with the wine I’d had a bit before, began to work its magic almost immediately. My fingers tingled, my toes tickled, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Actually, it was a lot like the first time Jake touched me and the warmth from his fingers made its way all the way down my back.

“Anything else you need? Mr. Somerset has asked me to prepare the dining room. I’m hoping you enjoy the arrangement. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the food – Mr. Somerset is—” he cut himself off. “I shouldn’t say too much. But if there’s nothing else you need, I’ll leave you to your magazine.”

“That was cryptic,” I said with a laugh. “Are you trying to tell me that the urgent business Jake is on is that he’s making dinner?”

All I got for an answer was a cryptic, Cheshire grin. “Mr. Somerset is very excited to show you his talents. I’m sure you’ll enjoy what he’s got coming along. But if that’s all...”

“Are you werewolves?” I asked, blurting out the thing that had been on the tip of my tongue since I first started thinking about it. “That sounds really stupid, it’s just that Jake was joking about it the other day, and I read a few books, I—ugh, sorry. How dumb can you get, huh?”

Another Cheshire grin. I was really making a great first impression. First with the stupid boat drink and now asking someone if he’s a werewolf? Jeez, Dilly, I chided myself. Boat drinks are excusable, but asking stuff like that? Get a grip woman, just get a grip.

“Sorry,” I said again. “I’m just excited, so I’m yammering.”

“Happens to the best of us, Miss Coltrane. Try not to worry. Enjoy your drink, please, and the magazines. He picked them out especially for you, if there was any question. It may sound difficult to believe, but he’s been planning this since years before he met you.”

With that, he turned and left.

His parting words – that Jake had been planning this for a long time – got me thinking. Did he just mean that he’d be waiting for anyone? Or was it just me? Was it somehow fate, or was I just heading into legit crazy town?