A Wolf's Mate by Vanessa Devereaux Page B

that she catch one of
the guys on the most wanted list but this could be her scoop.
    She
looked up at the ceiling. But what if Nick and his friends were rounded up?
Locked up, experimented on? What if she never saw him again? She bit her lip
not wanting to think about them being herded up and ridiculed. She knew what
humiliation was like.
    An
image of Nick sprang to mind. She grew wet just thinking about him and before
she realized it, she was stroking her clit. She caressed it harder, thinking
about him touching her down there. The wonderful orgasms. Her climax washed
over her. Not a satisfying one like the type Nick gave to her, but it would have to do.
    She
rolled onto her side. She’d dig a little deeper tomorrow when she went to the
shower, and then when she went to his cabin. Deep in her mind she knew it might
come down to one of two things—her career and a possible promotion, or Nick.
    There
was no such thing as a woman having it all.

 
     
    Chapter Thirteen
     
    Ava
had rushed out to buy a last minute gift
for the shower. The snow had turned to sleet and she followed behind Maisey as
she made her way to a house whose front door had a paper stork attached to it. It was open and both of them
headed inside and wiped their feet. A pretty young woman with a little girl
sticking close to her side greeted them.
    “Hi,
Maisey.”
    “Hi,
Lilly. I’d like you to meet Ava Spencer. Ava, this is Lilly Renner, Charlotte’s
sister-in-law. She’s married to Christopher Renner. And this is their cute as button daughter, Kaitlin.”
    “Hi
Lilly, hi Kaitlin.”
    The
little girl smiled at Ava but then hid behind her mother
    “I
think she’s a little overwhelmed with so many people in our house at one time.
Come on through. We’re waiting for a few more guests and we’ll get this party
started,” said Lilly.
    Ava
followed behind the two women as a man
and a Pomeranian passed by them.
    “Christopher,
this is Ava. Ava, Christopher Renner.”
    “Hi,
Christopher.”
    “Nice
to meet you. And this is Barney.”
    The
dog barked twice.
    “We’d
love to stick around and chat but we’re going for a run while you ladies take
over the house.”
    “Daddy,”
said Kaitlin tugging on his jacket.
    “Honey,
you want to come with me or stay for the party?”
    She
looked at her mother and then to her father. “I want bear cake.”
    “Then
you have to stay with us,” said Lilly.
    “Save
some for me,” said Christopher, attaching Barney’s leash to his collar.
    He
headed out the door as Ava continued walking until they got to a room at the
back of the house that overlooked a huge yard with lots of playthings including
a slide, swing, and playhouse.
    There
had to be at least fifty women either sitting around talking. Others were in the kitchen drinking, and even more were outside
on the patio. Ava hadn’t expected the shower to be this big of an event.
    “This
is Ava. Ava, these are some of the most wonderful people you’ll ever get a chance to meet,” said Maisey.
    Ava
lifted her hand and waved.
    “You
want to put your gifts on this table and we’ll have Charlotte open them once we
get started. Speaking of which there she is,” said Lilly.
    Charlotte,
who’d she’d seen at Downward Facing Wolf many times, headed out from the
kitchen with three other women.
    “You’ve
met Melanie but I don’t think you’ve been introduced to Emily Burgress yet? Or
my mom,” said Maisey.
    “No,
I don’t believe I have,” said Ava.
    Ava
immediately recognized the woman from the photos at the house.
    “Ava,
Emily. Emily, Ava.”
    “Nice
to meet you all.”
    Two
more women arrived and hugged Charlotte before rubbing her belly.
    “Okay,
we’re all here, so Charlotte you sit in our special chair over there, and we’ll
get underway,” said Lilly.
    They’d
decorated a rocking chair with pink and blue streamers.
    “You
changed your mind about knowing what you’re having?” asked Maisey’s mom.
    “Nope.
Aiden keeps bugging me