Jupiter (Were Zoo Book 2) by R. E. Butler Page A

hang out in the house all the time, or
with me in the garage.”
    “ I’d like to do that
sometimes, but I really love doing nails.”
    “ It’s just like your dream
of having your own place,” Celeste pointed out.
    “ I know. It’s all because
of my sexy mate,” Adriana said.
    Jupiter parked in front of the Mexican
restaurant. Zane commented that the VIP tour program was a
success.
    “ I agree. My brothers are
eager for next weekend and the chance to see more VIPs. There’s
talk of increasing the number of tours so more females are coming
through.”
    Jupiter got out and opened Celeste’s
door, holding out his hand for her. She took it and walked with him
up to the sidewalk, where they waited for Zane and
Adriana.
    “ I’m so happy you came on
the tour, sweetheart,” Zane said after kissing Adriana.
    “ I’m glad I did, too. It
was the best decision I ever made.”
    “ Um, excuse me,” Celeste
said. “It was my brilliant idea to come here, so you should thank me. A lot.
With chocolates and that body wash I like.”
    “ Thank you for your most
amazing idea,” Adriana said. She turned to Zane and said, “I
wouldn’t have found my other half without you.”
    Celeste looked up at Jupiter. “I
didn’t think my other half would be so furry.”
    He chuckled and kissed her.
“Or mine so fur- less .”
     
    * * *
     
    Jupiter sat on his dad’s couch with
the other pride members, except for Jenni, who was talking quietly
with Celeste in the kitchen about shoes or clothing or something
else girly. He was thankful she and Jenni got along so well,
because he’d worried about her not having any females to talk to
except Adriana.
    Turning his attention to his dad, he
said, “She’s going to call her parents tonight and tell them that
she got a new job here at the zoo and it comes with living
accommodations.”
    His dad nodded. “That explains
quitting her old job and moving. But what about your
relationship?”
    “ Tonight she’s going to lay
the groundwork that she met me and really likes me. Then we’ll plan
to meet them at their house for dinner in a week or two, and she’ll
explain about our relationship moving forward. She said her parents
would be skeptical if she simply showed up with me and said we were
getting married.”
    Xavier snorted. “Shifters are so much
easier. They understand soulmates and instant connections, and
would think it was strange to not be with each other right
away.”
    “ It’s not a hardship to
deal with this because of her. I honestly don’t mind. I just want
her to be happy, and I want her parents to like me and trust that
I’m the right male for her.”
    “ Man,” Mercer
said.
    “ What?”
    “ Man. Humans don’t call
each other male and female, they say man and woman.”
    “ Right, right,” he said,
sighing. “Anyway, hopefully this will work.”
    “ What’s the worst-case
scenario?” Amadeus asked.
    “ They could disown her.
Although it would seem like that’s ideal because we wouldn’t have
to deal with them, it would disappoint her, so I’m hoping they
don’t.”
    “ They’ll want to come see
her place, right?” his dad asked.
    “ She thinks they will. When
we went to lunch with Zane and Adriana, Zane reminded me of an
empty barn where the petting zoo used to be. He thought we could
convert it into apartments, and that way whenever her parents want
to come visit, they can actually come into the park and see a place
that appears to be hers.”
    His dad hummed in thought as he lifted
his cell phone from the coffee table. “That’s a good idea. This may
be an issue we have to deal with going forward, with mates’ family
members wanting to see where they live and work. It’ll be easy
enough to figure out jobs for the mates to say they’re taking in
the park, but living arrangements where family members could come
and visit are an entirely different situation.”
    Jupiter sighed in relief. He’d been
very hopeful to have his dad’s support,