Foxy Boxing Day

Excerpt

Foxy Boxing Day
L.J. Hamlin © 2018
All Rights Reserved

“This is your pack’s gathering, right?” he asked. Daisy didn’t want to be rude; he might not be trying to come on to her. A lot of hooking up may go on at the Boxing Day parties each year, but just as important, friendships were made that lasted beyond the night.

“Yes.” Daisy nodded.

He smiled. “Great. I’m Devin, by the way. I wanted to ask for my friend if there are any desserts that are gluten-free. She has a sweet tooth but seriously can’t have gluten. It’s okay if it’s, like, touched it, just can’t have more than traces.”

He pointed across the room and Daisy found a woman talking with some wolves Daisy didn’t know. The woman was beautiful, short and curvy with thick hips and a soft slightly rounded belly showing through her T-shirt. Her midnight-black hair went down to her shoulder on one side and was shaved completely off on the other side. Daisy had to look away so her instant crush didn’t show on her face.

“So, are there?” Devin asked.

“Sorry. Yes there are. I made some. I can point them out for you, and you can take some for your girlfriend,” Daisy said, mentally shaking off the fog she was feeling.

“Oh, Roxy isn’t my girlfriend, just my favorite pack mate. Hey, Roxy, come here!” Devin called out.

The woman, Roxy, excused herself from the wolves and came over. Right away, from her scent, Daisy could tell she wasn’t a werewolf, but definitely a shifter.

“Hi, I’m Roxy. Is he bothering you?” She gestured to Devin.

“When do I ever bother people, foxy Roxy?” Devin’s grin is wolfish.

Daisy couldn’t help but smile. A Fox shifter? That was her scent. Mystery solved. “Buzz off. Why’d you call me over?” Roxy asked in a tone suggesting she was used to Devin teasing her.

“This lovely werewolf here made goodies you can eat,” Devin explained. “Really?” Roxy’s eyes lit up as she looked at Daisy.

“Yes. I bake with all kinds of things, lots of ‘free from’ recipes. I can show you?” Daisy offered.

Roxy beamed. “Thank you, and yes, please.”

“I’ll leave you two to the food. I’m gonna go grab Jace,” Devin said and nodded to Daisy before heading off.

“I didn’t catch your name,” Roxy said as they moved closer to the dessert table. “I’m Daisy. My pack is throwing the Boxing Day party. Did you travel far? I didn’t know of any wolf packs with a fox member,” Daisy rambled as she got a paper plate. She was never good at small talk.

“Nice to meet you, Daisy. I live local now and used to live with my pack, but I went traveling in my teens. Only just came back a month ago, long term. I love your jumper.” Roxy smiled brightly and accepted the plate of a few cookies with a thank you nod.

Daisy plucked at the hem of her jumper. “A wolf with cats on her top. Weird, I know.”