Judd charged down the stone steps. Colin followed close on his heels.
Colin was going to be the death of him. But what a way to go. Of all the things Judd expected to happen that night, seeing the mate of his heart trotting about flirting with tech dudes wearing stripper pants, a cowboy shirt, and lip gloss was not one of them.
Colin smelled and looked bloody edible. Judd had a hard time keeping his hands to himself. It was worse than before. Somehow mutual blow jobs had given Judd’s heart permission to want. His body always had, but the heart getting involved made it worse. Judd had to force himself to pay attention to his surroundings and not his lover, watching for threats to their client, and not threats to his burgeoning relationship. It was already a difficult task since, as far as he was concerned, they could have her.
When they’d arrived at the amphitheater, he was glad Colin focused elsewhere. Pert little ass wiggling about as he tested tech, adjusted cords, and consulted about sound distribution. Then Deputy Kettil made it perfectly clear that others probably thought Colin was edible too. So Judd had to go metaphorically pee on the kid. Because Judd was a stupid jealous wolf-man who’d never learned to share. And because it was Colin – scared, broken Colin – and men were pigs. Well, some men, some were wolves, and some were bears, but the point stood. Grrr.
Lexi Blanc had a special reception room set up to one side backstage. It was all gold brocade and fine wallpaper. There she held court.
Apparently, a handful of VIPs paid thousands of dollars to arrive early and meet Blanc up close and personal. Shake her hand, take a photo, pluck her nose hair, or something equally thrilling. Since Judd wanted never to be in the same room as the woman for the rest of his life, he thought this a profound waste of money. Celebrity was weird. Humans with lots of dough were even weirder.
When he and Colin arrived at a run, Kevin and Isaac were squared off against a large round man and three bodyguards. The man didn’t look familiar. Two of the bodyguards did. They all sure smelled familiar. Also, they were all wearing double-breasted pinstriped suits with no shirts underneath.
Judd said to Colin, “I know I just ran him off, but you should go get Deputy Kettil.”
Colin’s eyes looked even bigger than normal with whatever the makeup artist had done. “I’m on it.” He scuttled off.
Judd joined his pack mates. “Fancy seeing you here.” What had Colin called them? Oh yes. “Blubber Bozo One. Blubber Bozo Two.” He nodded. He liked to be cordial before he beat someone into a pulp. “You gentlemen don’t seem like country music fans.”
The four selkie regarded him sullenly. They were much less posturing and aggro than they’d been in the café. Either because the extremely fat man with the extremely large mustache was their Alpha, or because Isaac was having a beneficial effect on them, or both.
“And you must be Blubber Bozo Three and the King of the Blubber Bozos?” Judd grinned at the other two selkie – showing all his teeth. “I see you’ve met Isaac.”
“I have ticket.” Blubber King showed his VIP pass. He had a strong accent, which Judd couldn’t quite place. Greek perhaps?
“Yes, but your bodyguards do not.” Kevin kept his expression bland and his arms loose and ready. “One pass per person. They can wait outside. If you like.”
Judd glanced into the VIP room. Blanc was batting huge fake eyelashes at an elderly couple drenched in fringe and jewelry. The ubiquitous Risa was the only one who’d noticed that the selkie had arrived. She was looking less icy and more surprised. These weren’t the usual types to show up to a Lexi Blanc meet and greet. They seemed vested in a 1930s mafia don look, not country music. Big Bad Voodoo Blubbers. Judd supposed the selkie spent most of their time at sea, they probably didn’t realize fashions had shifted.
He saw Risa press Blanc’s bare shoulder and whisper something too quiet for even his supernatural hearing. The stylist gestured backstage.
Blanc nodded without looking at her.
Risa disappeared. She emerged a short while later with the heavy gold beaded jacket. Blanc put it on and continued with her line of sycophants.
The King of the Blubber Bozos was up next.
Apparently, he really was a fan. He left his guard as instructed and approached a known Alpha