Werewolf Wedding by Lynn Red Page B

guessing myself? Why would the monolog in my head just be a constant string of me wondering if I really am good enough for him, or if this is all an idiot dream?”
    “Because,” she took the bottle back and then another swig, “you really like this guy. This isn’t a little playing around, and it’s obvious from the way both of you act like lovesick teenagers that it isn’t just a little game for either of you. He’s really into you, too, Dilly, and you want to know something?”
    I arched an eyebrow, which she took to mean that I wanted the bottle back. I hadn’t intended that, but I wasn’t going to say no. “Go on,” I finally prompted her, when she didn’t start talking.
    “I don’t think he’s quite as comfortable in his own skin as you seem to think he is. There’s something about him that is constantly on edge, like there’s something inside that he’s hiding... like there’s something he’s trying to keep under wraps. Or maybe – you said he took over that company from his dad, right?”
    I nodded. “Not long ago, I don’t think.” I handed her the bottle.
    “Maybe he’s just not into the whole thing. Maybe he’s not the captain of industry you think he is. I dunno, there’s something about him that’s just aching to get out, you know what I mean? Some secret he needs to let go of, but can’t quite do it. Maybe he’s a failed poet.”
    I sighed. “Are you still stuck on the werewolf business? You may as well start talking in animal puns – he loves you beary much, he wants to wolf you up – and talk about how he’s roaring all the time.”
    “I said bear,” she corrected me, “but no. You know what I’m talking about. You can tell he’s holding something back. I mean come on – his crazy ass brother? What the fuck was that? There’s gotta be more to it than he’s letting on.”
    We fell into a comfortable silence for a few moments. She was on to something, that much was certain. What is it though? What crazy secret can he be holding onto so tightly? He’s got a brother who wants to take his father’s business, but has no real right to it. That’s a little soap opera, but not exactly rare.
    “What are you thinking?” Jeannie finally asked when I started chewing on my lip so hard that it sorta started to hurt. “Something’s rattling around in that big empty skull of yours. And don’t sigh again or you might fill the room with a dangerous amount of carbon dioxide.”
    I started to sigh and then caught myself with a snorted laugh. “It’s just... yeah, I mean I can see that there’s something he’s keeping close to the chest. At the same time, I also feel a little ridiculous because we’ve been out once, had one round of oral sex and—”
    “ Yes !” Jeannie squealed. “I finally get you to admit it! You did have a billionaire between your legs!”
    I blushed furiously, but knew there wasn’t any way to back out once I’d go so far in. “Well really it was more like he was above me, but yeah, I guess I did, huh? He gave me an orgasm without anything going in me. I swear to God.”
    “No. Way.”
    “Honest to God. He just kinda breathed on me, pressed a little. Didn’t even take my panties off. It was the craziest thing in the world. Every time he kissed me, I felt like I was gonna... never mind, you don’t want to hear about this.”
    Jeannie’s eyes were wide open. “Do go on,” she said. “And do you think his brother can be brought back from crazy land? Because I so need some of that.”
    We giggled for a second, I finally getting over the fact that I’d just admitted my sexual escapade... funny thing is, every time I admit one, I get the same pointless embarrassment. “What time is it?”
    “Uh,” Jeannie flipped on her phone. “Eight. You better go!”
    “How do you know?” I asked, gathering my handbag and wiping the lipstick off, which leaved a tremendous red splotch on the napkin I used. “And you were right about the