Wild at Heart - A Shapeshifter Valentine Celebration

BE MY SHIFTY VALENTINE

Laurie opened her front door to find a grinning Digger on her steps. He leaned in and kissed her hard without even saying hello. Laurie relaxed and let him. A girl dating a wolf learned to accept these things. Predator aggression paid off handsomely in other aspects of their relationship. She had no complaints.

They broke when they both ran out of air. “Happy Valentine’s Day,” Digger panted.

Likewise breathless, Laurie stepped back so he could enter. “Did you bring it?”

“Right here.” Digger rooted around in the canvas shopping bag slung over his arm. He came up with a large red cardboard box in the shape of a heart. “Whoa. How’d that get in there?”

“That’s funny packaging for pickles.”

“Cute.” He handed her the box. “I have it on good authority you chicks like this stuff.”

Laurie’s fingers tightened on the box. “Whose authority?”

“Marissa at Java Joe’s. She sent me over to the candy store. That’s where I got this. One hundred percent human made, all natural ingredients.” Digger shook his head. “It was a she there, too. It’s like you human chicks have your own pack or something.”

“Self-preservation.” Reassured, Laurie tugged off the bow and opened the box. The contents sure looked like real chocolates, and smelled like real chocolates. Saliva pooled in her mouth. Laurie swallowed quickly. “Lex didn’t touch these?”

“Lex has never been anywhere near them. They’re safe for human consumption. Whups, can’t forget this.” To the box he added a little wicker basket filled with aromatic sachets. “From my herb garden. I figured you had your fill of flowers, working in the garden center and all.”

“You figured right.” Laurie popped a chocolate into her mouth. The rich taste of butter cream exploded on her tongue. “My god, these are delicious!”

“I thought about getting a box of the racy-looking liquor ones, but … ” His grin widened to wolf proportions. “We can save that for our anniversary.”

“You dirty dog. Wait.” Laurie set the box and the basket aside and darted over to the coffee table. She passed the package sitting there to Digger. “Your turn.”

“Oh. Uh … you know canines have trouble with digesting chocolate, right?”

“I know. Sniff it and tell me what you think.”

Digger complied. His eyes got big. His tongue flashed over his lips. “Is that what I think it is?”

“Open it and find out.”

He ripped off the top of the box. “Holy scat! Where’d you get this?”

“Rattigan’s. Louie’s been making them special all week. It’s like a Whitman’s Sampler, but with meat. There’s venison, beef, rabbit, elk … I think there’s even rattlesnake. Yeah, there it is. See, there’s a guide on the inside lid.”

Digger went right for the Venison Balls. He chewed the first, then gulped the other three whole. “I want to marry you.”

“Prove it. Down on one knee, buster. I want the whole performance.”

“Okay, but you have to show me your throat. With us, a proposal is more a demand for submission.” At Laurie’s expression he quickly amended, “But it’s still a request.”

“Let me think it over during dinner. Then after dinner … ”

From her pants pocket Laurie drew out a handful of shiny foil packets. Digger’s eyes gleamed. “Are those …?”

“You betcha. Breath mints. I figured you’d shoot through your present after dinner, and I’m not kissing a man with raw meat on his breath. Let me keep some for me. I know I’ll be hitting the chocolate.”

Digger dropped his box of meat on the closest chair and hauled Laurie into his arms. “Screw tradition. I’m showing you my throat.”

Laurie smiled. Predator aggression definitely had its advantages. “Good boy,” she murmured into his kiss.