“Stretches. Just don’t overstretch. I have to go. Ruth is bringing the Wolf pups to HGR as a field trip to learn about bookstores and the proper way to behave when you’re in one, and I’m working the checkout counter today.”
As soon as Merri Lee left, Meg bent forward. In Quiet Mind class, she could touch her fingertips to the floor. Today her fingers dangled just below her knees.
The Crows who were perched on the shoulder-high wall that separated the delivery area from Henry’s yard started cawing moments before Nathan quietly arrooed a warning that another delivery truck had pulled in.
She grunted when she straightened up and walked into the front room. Then she frowned as she pulled out the clipboard and wrote the name painted on the side of the small delivery van. “Blooming Blossoms. That’s a new one.”
It was nothing more than a comment, but Nathan moved closer to the counter.
The man opened the door but didn’t quite enter the office. He gave Meg a nervous smile. “I’ve got a delivery for Theral MacDonald. Am I in the right place?”
The pins-and-needles feeling swept over Meg’s ribs, then felt like it wanted to burrow into the bones.
Nathan looked at her, then growled at the deliveryman.
“I can sign for that,” she said, struggling to stay calm.
“So she does work here? I was told to confirm that before handing over the delivery.” He held up the flower arrangement.
The prickling filled Meg’s hands now as well as her ribs. “She’ll be able to pick up the flowers here.”
“I guess that’s all right as long as I get a signature.” He strode to the counter, keeping an eye on Nathan. “That’s some pet.”
“Uh-huh.” She glanced at the man’s shirt as she signed for the flowers. The dark green shirt had the Blooming Blossoms logo on the left side. No name tag, though.
“You should keep your dog on a leash.”
She gave the deliveryman a vague smile and wondered what kind of employer would send someone to the Courtyard and not tell the person anything about who lived there.
Put a Wolf on a leash!
Of course, Sam used to wear a harness and leash when he came to the office with her. Could the man have heard about that from another deliveryman? Or did he really not know the difference between a dog and a Wolf?
The deliveryman studied her, and she studied him. He had blond hair and blue eyes. Nothing unusual about that combination. She couldn’t recall a training image that would fit his overall look. Not handsome. Pleasantly attractive?
But something about him made her skin prickle. Go away, go away, go away! she thought fiercely.
The mail truck pulled up.
“Busy place.” He sounded annoyed about that.
“Yes, it is.”
“Well, you have a nice day.” He walked out and held the door for the mailman.
“Anything going out?” the mailman asked as he set a mailbag on one of the handcarts that was used for larger packages.
“Not today, thanks.”
She waited until he’d walked over to retrieve the mail from the blue mailbox positioned outside the consulate. Then she bolted into the sorting room. She wasn’t surprised when Nathan leaped on the counter and came in right behind her. But she was surprised when he shifted to his human form.
His naked human form.