guy, but a werewolf couldn’t have everything. He supposed country music superstar meets narcissistic jerk took most of her energy − no time for a life of crime.
“So, how are we going to get Risa Ostrov alone?” he asked, after he and Colin had explained their findings to the others.
They were driving to meet Blanc at yet another interview. Radio this time. Judd had forgotten radio still existed. Technological evolution was so weird – when he was born, cars barely existed.
After radio, she wanted to go shopping.
“Is it our responsibility?” wondered Colin. “I mean shouldn’t we just tell the SBI what we know?”
“Should we, though?” wondered Kevin. “I mean, this is way more fun.”
“What’s more fun?” Isaac arched both brows.
Judd followed Kevin’s reasoning. “Us knowing what’s actually going on. The feds in ignorance.”
Isaac tilted his head back and forth, considering. “Colin?”
Colin nodded. “Yeah, it’s more fun.”
Isaac shrugged. “Okay. But I’m telling Alec next time we see him.”
“That’s fair,” agreed Kevin.
Judd let his lips twitch. That gave them most of the rest of the day. And a sense of truancy, don’t tell big brother Alpha.
“So are we gonna catch us a thief?” wondered Colin.
Judd grinned at his mate, feeling fierce. “We absolutely are.”
Colin clapped his hands. “Goodie. Will there be mayhem?”
“Maybe a little mayhem.”
“And will there be blood and guts?” wondered Isaac.
“Probably some blood. Hopefully no guts.”
“It’s like it’s your birthday, Judd. All your favorites, in one place.” Colin really was cheeky once he got sexed-up.
Judd wondered if every time they fucked his baby would get snappy. Like Judd had snark-inducing jizz or something. He would like to encourage all of this. “Exactly. Lucky me. And it’s all your doing, Gingersnap. Look at you, taking care after your man.”
Colin went bright pink at the teasing – but also at the praise.
They hadn’t talked about their morning misunderstanding, but it had pushed Judd to a decision. He was all in. He was too old for Colin, but he was also too old to care. Frankly, he was likely to be too old for any man who interested him at this point in time. Judd wasn’t the oldest werewolf left in the world, but sometimes it felt like it.
Colin had been, without question, hurt at Judd suggesting more. Judd had meant more as in deepening their relationship. Colin, it appeared, had thought he’d meant more as moving on to other people – done with lessons.
Judd’s first instinct was to run away. Give Colin space to figure himself out, determine what he wanted. Hope what Colin wanted was Judd. Until Judd remembered that everyone who should love Colin had left him and run away, absented themselves. So that would be exactly the wrong move.
Then Judd realized that if Colin really was into him, he’d react exactly as he had – with pain and a sense of unworthiness. Colin always thought the worst of himself and his appeal. There was only one way to fix things with Colin. Judd might talk until he was blue in the face, but Gingersnap needed action. He needed to be shown that Judd wanted badly to take this beyond teaching and friendship. Fortunately, Judd was good at action. One might even say, it was his only skill in life.
So Judd was going to act like Colin belonged to him, with him. Judd was going to pretend that he belonged to Colin. Maybe then his mate would get it. Maybe then he’d decide that Judd was worth it – too old, too big, too fierce, and too much, though Judd might be. Perhaps Colin also might realize that they were perfect together. Judd just had to prove to him that the possibility was there.
Colin had them draped with ear-buds – small, yellow buttercups today. They were back in the stripper pants and fancy logo polo shirts again. Maybe if they got Risa behind bars, they’d get to keep the pants indefinitely.
Was that the best reason yet?
Probably.
The radio station visit was painless, although no one seemed to know Blanc was even scheduled to visit – including the radio station. This put Lexi Blanc in a very bad mood. But at least they didn’t have to kill anyone.
Then Blanc insisted on visiting some fancy clothing boutiques. All eight of them had to go with her. Then they had to stand around, bored out of their minds, while she tried on the entire shop. Risa, Jojo, and the nameless manager told her how fabulous she looked. How that was absolutely her color, because