Frost & Bothered Read Online Free Page A

just trying to figure us out, and that’s fine.” He scratched his chin. “What’s our next stop?”
    “It’s Friday night and we have a club to check out. Next stop is Mom’s. I’ll change and then we’ll go to your place so you can do the same.” The wipers and defroster had done their job, clearing the last of the ice.
    “Sounds like a plan.”
    I glanced in the rearview to discover Ginger was gone once more.

    E ven though the trip was business-related, I decided to dress up for the occasion because I hadn’t been to a club in ages. Thanks to some advice from Sal, my fairy godfather—heavy emphasis on the “god” part—I’d learned to build a better mental shield. It cut way down on the energy drain of keeping other people’s thoughts muted.
    Telepathy wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.
    When I returned to the living room where Dane waited, he whistled. I sucked in my cheeks, put my hands on my hips, and did a catwalk turn with my head high, to show off the clingy black and green dress. Long-sleeved and low-backed, its hemline ended just above my knees. It was made to go clubbing in. I’d chosen a pair of black pumps with two-inch heels.
    “You’re really going to freeze in that.”
    “I’m going to wear a coat.” Actually, I kind of needed his opinion on the one I had in mind. “Be right back.”
    Back in my room, I pulled out the second of my thrift store finds. Mom’s eyes had bulged when I’d first shown it to her, until she’d realized it was fake fur. Slipping it on, I hurried back to the living room, watching Dane’s face when he saw me.
    “Terra’s going to want one,” was the first thing he said. I relaxed. “Where’d you get it?”
    I stroked the soft lapel. “Thrift store. Isn’t it cool?”
    The coat was white tiger skin. The interior was lined with black Sherpa, adding weight to the outer, acrylic shell. I’d locked and targeted on it the second I’d spotted it, and held my breath while trying it on. The coat was fitted to the waist, with a full skirt, and it had buttons up top, but tied at the waist.
    “Very cool,” Dane assured me. “But be prepared for Danielle to hate it.”
    I hesitated, my fingers on the buttons. She already didn’t like me very much. According to Alanna, Danielle had her eye on Logan, and our few interactions definitely supported that theory. Danielle didn’t like that he and I were friends, and she was probably going to completely flip her lid when we did go on that future dinner date. “Maybe I should I wear a different coat.”
    He grunted. “I wouldn’t change.”
    I stroked the coat’s skirt, trying to decide. There hadn’t been a chance to wear it before now, and I really wanted to. “Are you sure Terra won’t be offended or something?”
    “I’m sure she’ll love it, and it looks great on you. Come on, I have to have time to clean up, too.”
    That was persuasion enough. “Okay.”

    R ush hour traffic had died down, allowing the falling snow to collect on top of the refreezing slush. End result: We barely made it to the tiger clan’s building. Small sports cars weren’t made for winter traveling.
    Someone had salted the walk and wide drive that led to the garage section’s bay doors. Teague responded to Dane’s knock on the metal front door of the apartment side. “It’s laundry night. Hi, Discord. Nice coat.”
    The tall, lean man with rusty black hair was a lion shifter, on loan to our clan as a bodyguard for Terra. “Hi, and thanks.”
    “There’s room if you want me to pull your car in.”
    “We should take one of the trucks,” Dane said, and I nodded.
    “Yes, please.” After handing my keys over to Teague, I added, “Thanks.”
    “Is Alanna up or downstairs?”
    “Your sister’s in the laundry room.”
    Dane looked at me. “I need to talk to her before I get ready.”
    I hadn’t known the two were related. Teague chuckled. “What he really means is that he’s going to beg her to do his