Edge of Night Read Online Free Page B

siblings,” Erin replied. “You’re the business whiz, you do the math.”
    Angela had been married before Darren, when she was still a Normal, and her son, Jack, was from her first husband. As far as Erin knew, Jack’s father had been an only child too, so Angela wouldn’t even have any leftover nieces or nephews from that marriage.
    “Where’s Uncle Darren?” Holly enveloped their aunt in a tight hug.
    “Busy with the usual stuff.” Meaning werewolf pack business. Darren was making a bid to be the next pack Alpha. “But I’m meeting Jack and my grandbaby here. My day will be more fun than my hubby’s, I’m sure.”
    As if on cue, the little bell over the entrance rang and Jack walked in, his infant daughter cradled against his chest. He grinned at them as he approached and popped a kiss on his mother’s forehead. “Hey, ladies.”
    Erin couldn’t help but notice how much the baby looked like Jack and Angela. Well, and Erin, herself. Same dark hair and blue eyes. She wondered if the munchkin would have her mother’s petite elfish build or grow to the impressive height of this side of the family.
    Something had to come from Mom’s genes, right? Erin had inherited her riotous curls and too-generous curves from her own mother. She squelched the small stab of envy that Jack still had his mom. Hers had died before Erin had ever had a chance to know her—it had been just her dad and her when she was growing up. After he’d passed, she’d come to Seattle looking for connections. She’d found them. A whole wolf pack of them.
    “Pfft.” Her aunt waved an impatient hand. “Forget the pleasantries, kiddo. Hand over the baby.”
    “Oh, that’s nice.” He transferred his daughter into Angela’s arms, casting an aggrieved glance at his cousins. “She used to enjoy seeing me .”
    “Sorry, cuz. You’ve been replaced by someone much cuter.” Holly’s dimples flashed and she plopped down at Angela’s table.
    “I think we’re going to need some coffee.” Erin turned to get it herself, but found one of her waitresses behind her, a tray loaded down with coffee mugs and a carafe.
    “You, sit. Visit with your family. I got this.” Tina jerked her chin toward an empty chair at the table. She’d been with them since they’d opened the bakery four years ago, then had become their head waitress at the bistro, so she felt free to order them around. In under a minute, she’d distributed the cups and dispensed the caffeine. After tucking the tray under her arm, she whipped out a pad of paper and pen. “What can I get you guys?”
    “You don’t have to wait on us.” Erin had waited tables through high school, which had gotten her interested in restaurants and cooking in the first place, but it meant she was never quite comfortable being the one sitting and letting others fetch and carry for her.
    “I got this.” Tina shot her a quelling look. “Waiting on people is my job, Chef Bates. You guys work too hard as it is.”
    Holly lounged back in her chair. “You’re not gonna win this one, E.”
    “I’ll have the special.” A dish Erin had created. She sipped her coffee and gave in as gracefully as she could.
    “The special sounds good to me.” Jack handed his menu to Tina. “Mom?”
    “Sure, the special for me too.” Angela bounced the baby in her arms, who gurgled, her arms flailing.
    “Me, too.” Holly leaned in to look at the tiny girl bundled in a purple blanket. “She gets more adorable every time I see her.”
    “You should have one of your own.” Angela spoke in a singsong reserved for babies, dangling her granddaughter in the air and making her crow in delight. “There are a lot of eligible men in the pack for you to choose from.” The babble of people in the dining room was loud enough that no one would overhear her mention the pack. If they did, they wouldn’t understand the context anyway. “We’re having Barney Litz to dinner tomorrow, and you’re coming. Just so you