that she’d run a woman off and had already thought about ensuring the lady parked properly. Every single time. Nope. That was petty and she wasn’t going there. She’d done her duty and warned Debbie off her man.
“You’re welcome,” she said with a wink. “You should get up there. Armie’s got his frowny face on.”
“Doesn’t he frown most of the time?” Zep asked.
He needed to get to know the boss. “He has twenty different frowns. That one is his ‘I want to get this over with and get home to my wife’ frown. It’s one of his fiercest expressions.”
“She’s right about that look,” Lisa agreed. She gave Zep a thumbs-up. “You look great. You’re going to do so well.”
Sera had gotten up and worked her way to her brother. She smoothed down the collar of his shirt. “You are going to be so good at this, Zep. You were always good at talking.”
“No, I’m not,” he replied with a grimace.
“You are,” she insisted. “So go up there and convince this town that they won’t be eaten by a werewolf.”
“Wolf?” Luc was staring at his mom. “I don’t want a wolf to eat me.”
Harry immediately picked the kiddo up. “You won’t because Uncle Zep is on the case.”
Zep reached over and tousled his nephew’s hair. “There are no werewolves. I promise, buddy. You’re okay.”
Sera sniffled. “I’m so proud of you.”
Zep looked over at Roxie like she could explain why his sister seemed to have gotten so emotional.
Roxie merely gestured toward the stage. “That frown is getting frownier.”
Zep sighed and accepted a hug from his sister. “Okay. I’m going. You’re all weirdos and somebody needs to explain what this is about later.”
“I think your sister simply realizes how much you do around here and she’s grateful,” Harry said.
Sera stepped back. “Very much so. Go on, Zep. Don’t let Armie scare you.”
There was a puzzled look on Zep’s face as he stepped back. “I won’t. I’ll be far too busy being scared of the audience.” He looked her way. “I’ll see you after.”
“I’ll be here ensuring no other Debbies decide to get handsy with the sexy expert animal guy.” And she would be enjoying the show. He was definitely nice to look at. If Zep was always talking at the town halls, they might be more fun.
Of course, for him to be present and giving reports, he would have to have a place with the parish government.
“You like my brother.” Sera had switched seats with Lisa. “I always thought you hated him.”
“No one can hate Zep.” He was too charming, too smooth. Except he’d shown her he could be something more than a player. When she’d brought the cat home, he’d simply shaken his head and made arrangements to pick up all the things a cat would need. She didn’t think he believed her about taking Sunny to the shelter. She probably shouldn’t have named her. Or watched her completely ignore Daisy, only to get irritated when Daisy stopped paying attention to her.
“You really like him.” Sera was suddenly all up in her business, giving her a hug.
She was getting random hugs from his family members now? Still, no one could resist Seraphina, either. She was too bright and full of life. She hugged her back. “I do. I like him. But it’s still early, so we don’t have to get too emotional about it.”
She kept saying the words because she needed to hear them.
Sera sat back, but she shook her head. “Nope. This is right. This is it. I have a feeling about this. You’re going to get married and we’ll be complete.”
“Whoa,” she said because no one had said anything about marrying anyone.
Lisa leaned over. “Don’t scare off the new girl.”
Zep had made it to the stage, and he took his seat. His eyes caught hers, and he gave her a smile.
God, that smile went straight into her like a lightning bolt. She could get in way too deep with this man.
Or she could realize what was best for her career and go back to New York. Go back home.
Was New York still home?
“My baby!” Delphine Dellacourt Guidry made her entrance with her usual aplomb. She wore a floor-length flowy dress and some chunky jewelry, her hair up in its normal turban, though there was a rhinestone pin in this one. “Look, Marcelle. My baby is up there with your baby.”
Sure enough, Marcelle Martine was standing there with Delphine. She was dressed similarly to her best friend, though her dress was