"So you left without seeing him?"
"Yes," Kyla replied, flipping over the welcome sign at the door after her last customer left Morey's salon.
"Why?" Gretel Daniels cocked her head and studied her friend from where she sat.
"Why not? Should I be the one running after him, just because he's supposedly the best thing to ever happen to Glasgow Creek?"
"That's not what I meant." Gretel clarified, hollering as Kyla went into the back room for cleaning supplies. "You both shared a dance or two, I just assumed that things were great between you two."
She returned with Lysol, an old rag, and a broom. "You weren't at the party yesterday, so if you know about the dance, I'm guessing it's because the gossip got to you."
"Why do you think I came?" she smiled mischievously. "It's all some of my loyal customers could talk about at the restaurant today."
"So you came for a first-hand recap of the story."
"Yes. I'll need additional information to properly ship you and Mr. Tall, Dark, and Completely-Focused-on-work." Gretel grinned. "My dream man."
She rolled her eyes. "Your dream man has been pissing me off."
"I figured that's the reason you left the precinct without seeing him." Gretel mused. "Why did you visit the Chief anyway?"
"As I said," Kyla began cleaning up. "He had something personal to discuss."
"After which he sent you off to find the Agent. I think he's a shipper too," she concluded with a smile, then her eyes drift away, to look out the glass door.
Kyla sees it too.
Delano's mustang, slowing to a stop in front of the salon.
"Ugh," she groans. "What now?"
"Delano pulling up in front of Morey's, after news of your romantic dance with the dashing detective hits towns? Sounds par for the course."
They watch him, alight from the vehicle, and Kyla turned to Gretel. "I think you should leave."
"What? Leave you alone with him? Hell no."
"It's fine." Kyla insisted, knowing whatever they'll be discussing would be confidential.
"No." Gretel crossed her arms, unwilling to leave.
The bell at the door jingled as he stepped inside, casting Gretel a fleeting glance before focusing on Kyla.
"We need to talk."
"You need to leave." Gretel got up, glaring down at him.
"In private," he added, entirely ignoring her.
"Please allow me speak with Delano, Gretel. I'll be fine."
Confusion gnawed at her. She was worried for her friend's safety and confused. Kyla had complained, time and time again, about how much she hated Delano. About how entitled he felt, and also about how possessive he was. This new desire to have a word with him confused her.
"Fine." she succumbed. "I'll leave, but I'll be at your house. You have a lot of explaining to do."
"Thanks. I'll see you off."
"That won't be necessary." she picked her purse and fished out her car keys. "I'm really leaving."
"Right." The doorbell jingled again, as she stepped outside.
Delano waited until she got into her vehicle and drove off, before speaking again. "We can figure out something to tell her before I leave."
"That's my business." she grits. "What brings you here?"
"I like what you've done with your hair."
"What brings you here, Delano?" she inquired again, patience ebbing thin.
"I came to personally find out why you think it's okay to keep me waiting."
"Keep you…." she blew out a breath and frowned. "Not this nonsense again."
"I wasn't referring to that."
"What then?" she was exasperated.
"The pack meeting by 8 am, goddammit! You were supposed to be at the pack house, not frolicking with that Agent. I know you were at the precinct today."
"I wasn't there to see Agent Torino, and although I could have, I didn't see him. Chief McCarthy requested to see me."
"Whatever for?!"
"Don't yell at me," she warned. "After what he discovered, don't you think it's only normal that he wants answers?"
"And after the meeting? Why weren't you at the pack house?"
"For fucks sake, I forgot, okay." she sighed.
"You need to start taking your responsibilities seriously, Kyla. If you're not equal to the task, you might as well step down for someone who is."
She held back her tongue and only glared at him.
"I should get back to the club. I have important business pending."
"Wait," she stopped him. "There's something you should know about my meeting with the Chief."
"What?" he cocked a brow. "Is it about what your grandfather wanted to discuss?"
"No. He came home and went straight to bed. It's about the police investigations."
"What about it?"
"I requested to officially be a part of it."
"Why?" he demanded.
"Because it helps with my personal investigations and secures our alliance with the authorities."
"Bullshit." he scoffed. "You're doing this for him, aren't you? This isn't about the investigation, the murderer, or anything. You are warming your way to him, the same way you did with me!"
"Fuck you, Delano!"
"You already did, Kyla, but I love the prospects of a do-over."
"You're freaking infuriating." she shook her head at him. "I'm working with the Agent--who also happens to have been chosen for me by the moon goddess--and there's nothing you can do about it."
"Really?" he chuckled, then switched to his alpha voice. "You will not work with that man, Kyla Odin."
She resisted the compulsion to cower at his authority. "You're going to stop me from going about my investigations, just because of your foolish desires?"
He pointed a long accusing finger at her. "You did this to me."
"I don't care, Delano, but I'm sure the Emril would be happy to know that your libido is in the way of our progress."
"Are you threat--" what could only possibly be the sound from a short gun, blasted through the air and cut him off.
They ducked quickly, but recovered a second later, running out of Morey's to see what's going on. They looked around but saw nothing on the streets, aside from the few shop owners in the area hurrying to seal off their establishment and scurry off to safety.
Then they picked up a new scent and looked up where they should have been looking all along.
****