feisty again. “It’s not like you could miss it.”

He laughed when she snarled at him, swiping at him half-heartedly with her claws. “You just wait until Ican feel my legs again, you bastard.”

He smirked. “That good, was I?”

She rolled her eyes as she accepted the pain pill he held out. She sipped the water, swallowing the Ibuprofen. “Uh-huh.” She sighed dramatically as she snuggled down into the bedding, her breasts jigglingunder his delighted gaze. “But you know I’m the best you’ve ever had, so I think that makes us even.”

He had no intention of telling her she was right. She was smug enough as it was.

Belle listened in as Rick made a few phone calls. He thought she was asleep. She had been, up until the

Ibuprofen wore off.

“Yeah, Gina tried calling last night. Like I was going to answer the phone on my mating night.” He paused, obviously listening to the person on the other end. “No, I want you to show her every aspect of the restaurant.” He sighed. “Chela, just do this for me. No, I don’t give a flying fuck what Gina thinks.” He chuckled. “Good girl.”

Maybe I should bring a Milk-Bone for Rick’s friend.Belle tamped down the unreasonable jealousyshe felt over his call to another woman.

“Just remember, Belle is in charge. Any changes she wants to make are pre-approved by me.”

What?Belle sat up slowly as what Rick was saying filtered through the haze of pain that had woken herin the first place.

She could see him slowly pacing, a slight frown on his face as he listened to whatever Chela had to say.

“Uh-huh. No, I took care of the paperwork two weeks ago.”

What paperwork?She felt her heart trip as possibilities, good and bad, ran through her mind.

“This is her dream, Chela. Help me make this happen.”

Whose dream?She was practically screaming in her mind, wondering what the hell her mate was up to.

She totally hated not knowing what was going on.

Rick froze, his gaze darting to the open bedroom door. “I’ll see you in a bit.” He hung up the phone andwalked into the bedroom, his eyes turning brown as he saw her sitting up. “You should be asleep, my Luna.”

She bit back a smile. “You think I can sleep through big clumpy feet stomping around the dining room?”

He slid beneath the sheets, one hand coming to rest on her bare stomach. “I was quiet.”

She tapped one of her ears. “Cat hearing.” She sniffed. “Muchsuperior todog hearing.”

She giggled when he growled and nipped at her breast playfully. “Doghearing?” He started to tickle herbut stopped as soon as she grunted. “You’re in pain, aren’t you?”

She nodded, biting her lip to keep from screaming. Her hip hurt like a son of a bitch, no offense to theman next to her.

Rick practically ran for the bathroom. She could hear him slamming open cabinet doors and runningwater. He came back and helped her take the pain pills, frowning until she’d finished the glass of water.

Mumbling to himself, he left the room, returning with two graham crackers. “Eat.”

She looked up at him suspiciously. “The doctor told you about my stomach, didn’t he?”

Two imperiously raised eyebrows demanded she eat.

“Fine.” She nibbled the crackers as his expression relaxed. He was right, anyway. The amount of Ibuprofen she’d been taking had done some damage to her stomach, but they’d caught it before it

became a full-blown ulcer. “Thank you.” She batted her lashes up at him. “You’re my heeero.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “I’m sure I am.” He sat on the edge of the bed, gently brushing herhair back from her cheek. “I want to be.”

She gulped. The yearning in that normally hard face had her reaching up. His beard, soft as silk, grazedher palm as she stroked his cheek. His eyes closed in pure bliss, his head leaning down until she wasscratching at the top of his head. “Typical canine.”

“Hmm?” He was barely lucid, turning into her hand. If he’d been a cat he would have been purring.

“You have a happy spot.”

He grinned, his eyes never opening as she continued to scratch. “Give me a few minutes and I’ll petyour

‘happy spot’ until you purr.”

He leaned down to kiss her. Just as their lips met, the doorbell rang.

Belle looked over at the clock. It was seven in the morning. “Expecting someone?”

“Yes.” He grinned wickedly. “Get dressed. I have a surprise for you.”

Belle stood, wincing as she put weight on her abused hip.

“Here.”

She took the underwear he handed her, pausing to watch him pull on his jeans. She nearly groaned asshe realized he’d be walking around commando all day.

She looked down at the panties in her hand, then looked back at him. With a smirk she tossed themonto the bed, then pulled on her own jeans.

His groan was music to her ears.

She pulled on the lacy bra and reached into her bag for her favorite shirt. It was a men’s style button upin a pale blue pinstripe with wide collars and cuffs. She covered it with a low scoop sweater in sapphireblue.

By the time she was pushing her feet into her low heeled boots Rick had the door open.

“Chela. What’s wrong?” The worry in his voice was barely audible, but it let her know something wasn’t

quite right.

“Sorry, Rick. Rumor has it Gina’s planning on starting trouble at the restaurant today. If you want me to

introduce the Luna as the new manager, we’d better make it quick.”

Belle stumbled, pulling up short against the doorjamb.

Manager?

Rick looked over his shoulder and started towards her. “Where’s your cane?”

“Um…” Belle looked behind her into the bedroom, still dazed.

He shook his head, gently lifting her aside. He went in, got her cane, and handed it to her on his way out. “I want you to meet Graciela Mendoza, Chela to the Pack.” He followed Belle’s slow progress into theliving room, his gaze riveted to her white-knuckled grip on the cane’s handle. “Chela, Belle.”

The woman bowed and bared her throat to Belle, something that would take some getting used to.

“Luna.”

Belle nodded back, uncomfortable in a way she hadn’t been yesterday. Rick was watching her, his gazesharp. “Chela.” She put out her hand, expecting Chela to take it.