Glory was already shaking her head. “Oh hell no. There is no way Ryan is horning in on my girls’ night out.”
Cyn had an idea. She began rubbing her finger on the glass counter. Something had to be done about Ryan and Glory before they drove her completely insane. “It’s the perfect opportunity to make him crazy.”
“He already is crazy.” Glory was mumbling, but that evil pixie sparkle was starting to appear in her eyes. She probably had a clue where Cyn was going with this, or at least thought she did.
Tabby coughed, hiding a grin behind her fist. “It could be fun. Think about it. You in a short skirt and a teeny top, out on the dance floor, surrounded by men. Dancing with everyone but him.” Thank God Tabby had caught on quickly. She, too, was getting tired of the way Glory was dancing around her attraction to Ryan. She never gave anyone this level of shit unless she was interested. “I don’t think he’s ever seen you in a club, has he? Every time he’s been around you you’ve been in your mystic geek gear.”
Glory frowned and picked at the beads on her skirt. Her head was down, but Cyn could just make out the evil little smirk on her face. “You’re right. I don’t think he has.”
“And nobody says we have to tell him where we’re going.”
Tabby shared a grin with Cyn. “Just because we tell Julian and Alex…” She left it like that, knowing full well neither Julian nor Alex would leave Ryan in the dark about this little expedition.
“Nocturne?” Cyn named their favorite hangout in Harrisburg. It had been months since they’d been there.
Glory looked up through her bangs, her expression at once both innocent and sinister. Glory was the only one Cyn had ever met who could pull that look off and have it be totally believable. “Doesn’t Cyn’s ex-boyfriend bartend there now? The really hot one with the ripped abs and the to-die-for blue eyes?”
Cyn waved her hand dismissively. Her ex-boyfriend wasn’t an issue. He wouldn’t bother trying to start anything with her. And if Glory tried to start something with him Ryan would take care of it. “Old news. I’ll be bringing the latest headline along, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Tabby was practically gnawing her finger through. “You think we should check with Gabe, make sure this is safe?”
“Good idea. Why don’t you give him a call and tell him what we’re thinking of doing.” The bell over the door jangled, and Cyn turned with a smile to greet the customer. “Welcome to Living Art Tattoos. What can we help you with?”
Ryan and Alex escorted Chloe and Heather into the shop, and Cyn grinned. From the chastised look on Alex’s face, it was going to be an interesting visit.
She smiled at the ladies, hiding her wince at Chloe’s shorn hair. When it grew in it would be like a really cute pixie cut, but until it did the thin trace of her scars would be obvious. “What can I do for you ladies?”
Heather and Chloe exchanged a glance and both began talking at once. Cyn leaned back and enjoyed the vivacious chatter of the cousins as both girls became excited over the thought of matching, two-tailed kitsune tattoos.
At least her life was never boring.
Julian stared at the phone as if it was going to reach out and bite him in the ass. “You want to do what where now?”
“Dancing.” The duh tone of Cyn’s voice was obvious. “It’s that thing you do when you move your body to music and pray you don’t look like a total spaz like that woman on the Seinfeld reruns.”
He sighed heavily and brought the phone back to his ear. “Sweetheart, did you clear this with Gabe?”
“I had the Stupid tattoo removed from my forehead a long time ago, Jules. He says we should be all right as long as we bring you guys with us and keep him informed if anything happens.”
He thought over his schedule for the following day and realized he didn’t have to be in work until the afternoon. “Sounds fun then. I’m in.”
“Excellent.”
“I don’t suppose you could wear the Sailor Mars outfit just for me?”
“I’m planning on wearing something even better.”
His heart nearly stopped even as his cock sprang to attention. “There’s something better?” Man, his voice hadn’t cracked like that since he was thirteen.
“Think leather. Tight leather.” She chuckled, low and rough and so very Cyn. “Don’t whimper like that, you’ll get to see it tonight.”
Damn. She’d heard. “But tonight is so very far away.”
“Don’t pout, Care Bear. Maybe tonight I’ll rub your tummy symbol.”
If he were a canine he’d have been panting. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
“You might get to hold something else if you’re really good.”
Did he just whimper again? He was dying to get to second and third base. He figured he really would die if he ever slid home. “Did you tell Alex and Ryan where we’re going?”
“Nope. Tabby might tell Alex, but we’re leaving it up to you to tell Ryan. You’ve never seen Glory in club clothes, have you?”
He groaned. “I’m not going to like this, am I?” If Glory was going to flirt with danger, she was going to get her cute little ass bit. If Ryan caught another man’s scent on her, he’d go ballistic. They’d be lucky if he didn’t kill the man.
It was never a good idea to taunt a Grizzly.
Then again, he might have a way to keep Ryan occupied. “What do you think about bringing Chloe with us? Poor girl hasn’t been out of her apartment for weeks except for doctor trips and physical therapy.”
“Can she handle that level of noise and light?”
Julian was touched by the level of concern in Cyn’s voice. “I can ask her. If she can go it might just cheer her up and keep Ryan distracted at the same time.”
“Much as I might like having her there, the whole point of inviting you guys along is to protect us. If Chloe is there, Ryan will be too busy taking care of his sister.”
Julian laughed. “I don’t think you understand exactly how strong the mate bond is. If he thinks for even one second that someone else is trying to steal his mate that person will be twisted into a pretzel so fast not even Bear himself could stop it. He’s already on red alert thanks to the attack on you. Trust me, he’s going to notice every move she makes.”