Running With The Pack: Big Easy Shifters: Book Four by Knox, Abby (free ebook reader for iphone TXT) 📕

only hitch that remained was the one in Pen’s wavering breath. Bobby’s gaze had left her deprived of oxygen and confused. She stared straight at Rosemary for the remainder of the ceremony, like a dutiful maid of honor. She pretended not to feel the heat of Bobby’s gaze against the bare skin of her neck and shoulders.

The romantic atmosphere—and probably some residual magical voodoo smoke in the air—made Pen feel lightheaded, hopeful, and strangely amorous. Maybe tonight, Bobby would finally kiss her.

Chapter Two

Bobby

Best man Bobby Jordan quietly growled as he scanned the dance floor. Taking in the sight of all of the happy couples having a blast at Ashton and Rosemary Boudreaux’s wedding, Bobby was a mixed bag of emotions. He was happy for his best friend, Ash. Still, at the same time, Bobby would rather take a sharp stick to the eye than suffer another minute of this over-the-top, no-expenses-spared riverboat wedding.

In Bobby’s peripheral vision, someone hovered, holding something out to him. He could smell it before he could see it. Wedding cake. He turned and shook his head. “No, thank you.”

Pen’s voice sliced through his consciousness like a hot knife through butter. “Come on now, eat some of GiGi’s cake, you enormous party pooper.”

He turned some more and saw her standing there, her ghostly silver gown billowing around her in an explosion of luxe silk, satin, and lace. Bobby usually hated the hoop-skirt look. Although his hometown was progressive in many ways, this was still the South. Everyone at some point in their lives was subjected to cotillions, coming-out parties, balls, or historical re-enactments in which white women would dress in antebellum monstrosities and pipe-curl their hair to live out their Scarlett O’Hara dreams. Most of that nonsense had made Bobby sick to his stomach. The dress that Pen wore tonight as a bridesmaid was not that. She looked like a silver goddess from another place and time altogether. Not a princess but a queen. If Rosemary hadn’t picked out the looks for her bridesmaids herself, Bobby might accuse Pen of trying to show up the bride. That would never be the case with Pen. Pen was a queen of taste and decorum, not to mention fiercely loyal to her friends, old and new, wolf shifter, panther shifter, or Normal. Rosemary and her family were panther shifters. Normally, that would not be too much of a problem outside of their tight little wolf pack. Lionel DuChamp, however, had proven to be a handful about his shifter daughter marrying into a wolf clan. Pen had played a considerable part in making sure everybody behaved civilized at this wedding and would undoubtedly be a driving force behind continued shifter race relations.

“You look good, Pen.”

She smiled, took the plate of cake from the server, thanked him, and offered it to Bobby. Even though the scent of the little squares of rum coconut-scented sponge, slathered in GiGi’s gourmet lime zest buttercream, could tempt him, none of that temptation compared to Pen in that dress. Bobby teetered on the edge between claiming the woman he loved and ruining one of the most cherished friendships of his life. One could say Ash was his best friend, but Ash was a groom now. And none of Bobby’s friendships could be considered expendable. Pen would always maintain a special place in his heart.

She looked him up and down, and Bobby suddenly felt silly in the formalwear that Ash had dressed him in. How Bobby had secretly wished that Ash and Rosemary would have called off the old-fashioned reception and allowed Bobby to host a private party at his Wolfpack Tavern. A loud blues band and singing together all night long was more suited to their style.

“You look about ready to break some hearts yourself, big guy,” she said. If only she knew she was the one breaking his heart, just by existing and being so damn perfect.

Maybe the situation wasn’t so dire after all. Perhaps he could act on his feelings, and they would end up in a blissful happily ever after together. What was the worst that could happen if he finally decided to shoot his shot? She’d say no, and the vibe between them would be awkward for a while. Maybe for forever. Worst case scenario? Bobby would imprint on Pen, she could eventually reject him, and he would spend the rest of his life pining for her, watching her move on to someone else. And he would be bound to watch over her from a safe distance. If that happened, he would have to leave the pack.

“I look like a penguin, but thanks,” he chuckled, smoothing his lapel. He watched her gray eyes follow his hands. Those twin pools matched the misty mornings of summer. Tonight, under the party lights, Pen’s eyes were flecked with silver that echoed the silver of her ballgown. Her eyes were the purest and most honest of anyone he ever knew. Pen was incapable of hiding her true feelings; her beautiful eyes always gave her away. Bobby knew she would never forgive herself if she hurt him. If she didn’t share his feelings, and he bared his soul to her, she would carry that forever because that was just who she was. She felt deeply, loved fiercely, and empathized with everyone within her friendship bubble.

She took the piece of cake between her fingers and held it to his lips. “I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, but I’ll make an exception when it comes to you, and…” Bobby’s words trailed off as he bit into the moist cake, Pen’s eyes watching his mouth, a slight tint of pink flooding her cheeks. What he failed to say was, “when it comes to you in that dress and all of that delicious skin exposed to the night.” Some kind of industrial undergarment had lifted her breasts in such a way that no dessert could compare. He would much rather be savoring and tasting her body, ripping off