Adams, Cara - Calling Doctor Wolf [Shape-Shifter Clinic 1] (16 page)

Ambrielle. How he loved her and wanted her. And he knew that love was returned. He’d seen the half-hidden glances, the looks filled with lust, the secret smiles. He’d heard the gentle tone she used only with him and Oscar. Yes, Ambrielle loved them, even if she didn’t know it yet, or possibly hadn’t admitted it to herself yet.

Well, the first step was to feed them. The picnic they’d shared together out by the lake had been successful, so he could build on that idea.

Danny went to Ambrielle’s office. “I’m going into town to pick up some stuff.”

She didn’t question it. He often had to collect lumber and supplies. However this time he went to a deli where he knew he could choose items to turn into a picnic. He began with cold cooked chicken breasts, added a tub of coleslaw, and a tub of potato salad. His next purchase was three cobs of corn and some sauce to dip them into. A small box of blueberries was added to his purchases and he was done.

He stopped at another store to add a chilled bottle of dry white wine to his shopping, and spent the drive home working out what to say to make his partners realize the time for procrastination was over. They all needed to admit they cared for each other and commit to moving in together and giving their relationship a genuine chance to become permanent.

Danny put the wine and picnic food in a cooler carrier. One thing about working in a clinic, there were all kinds of odds and ends available whenever he wanted them. He added plates, glasses, and cutlery and a picnic rug, and he was ready. It was already after five o’clock. He’d just finished in time.

“Ambrielle, I’ve planned a picnic for this evening. Is that good with you?” he asked.

“It sounds a lot more exciting than the pot of yogurt sitting at home in my refrigerator,” she said.

“Good. Is Oscar in?”

She nodded, her eyes hooding themselves a little. He missed the bright sparkle of her dark brown eyes. Dammit, he needed to straighten Oscar out right now.

“Is he fussing over the clinic again?”

“I don’t know, but perhaps. It means everything to him.”

“Well, it shouldn’t mean everything. The three of us should be equally as important as the clinic. We need to get him talking again and see how we can help,” he said.

“We could do that on your picnic. Unless you had other plans?”

“I do have other plans, but we’ll do both.”

She grinned at him and he marched through to Oscar’s office.

Oscar looked up as he walked in the door.

“Sierra has suggested a bear shape-shifter as the private detective. A man named Harry Harrison.”

Danny had to stop and think for a second about this abrupt introduction of a new topic. “Oh, you mean to find out whether or not your cousin is smuggling arms to third-world countries or importing drugs or something?”

“And to find out why he suddenly hates me. I can’t think of any reason why he should. Except for me getting this house.”

“People don’t always act logically, you know,” Danny said gently.

“Yes, I do know that.”

“Good. Well, I’ve planned a picnic so log off your computer for now and let’s go.”

“A picnic? Now?”

“Yes, now. Come on.”

Danny backed out of Oscar’s doorway and looked at Ambrielle. “Are you ready to leave now?” he asked.

“Two minutes,” she promised, her fingers flying over the keyboard. Danny watched her. He wished he could type like that. Her hands were almost a blur they were moving so fast. There was just a flash of green as they flicked over the keyboard. Green. He checked her blouse. Yes, today’s shirt was green and so was her nail polish. Amazing.

It was just one more thing he loved about her. She had so many layers, so much depth to her personality. Every day it was a new journey unpacking another spicy tidbit of knowledge about her. He wanted to do that every day forever.

Oscar appeared. He’d unbuttoned the neck of his shirt and changed his shiny black dress shoes for a pair of loafers.

Ambrielle and Oscar followed Danny to the back of the building where he’d left the cooler and rug. He picked up the cooler himself and handed the rug to Oscar, then they walked through the backyard toward the lake.

“We’re going to the lake? I like it. It’s very peaceful there,” said Ambrielle.

“I used to play there a lot as a child. It was often too cold to swim, but I paddled and climbed on the rocks and sat in the sun. It’s almost like one of my friends,” said Oscar whimsically.

Danny smiled. Ah, that was good. Oscar was letting his feelings out. This would be a good time for him to relax as well as face the need for the three of them to commit together. “That’s right. You came here each Easter, didn’t you? So it would have been spring.”

“Is the lake deep in the middle?” asked Ambrielle.

“It seemed deep to a child. Certainly I couldn’t stand up there, but it’s not really deep, likely not even ten feet, and that’s only in the middle. Most of it would be shelving down to maybe four feet deep. There’s plenty of shallower water if you just want to paddle,” Oscar replied.

Ambrielle nodded and Danny started to think about how to find out what was worrying Oscar. “Tell us about the bear shape-shifter. Are you going to hire him?”

“I expect so. He’s Sierra’s recommendation. She’s worked with him before and said he’s very thorough and efficient, so he sounds like what we need.”

“What about your cousin’s attorney? Has she said anything more about him?”

“Oh, yes. Does he work for the crime syndicates?” asked Ambrielle.

“Sierra said he’s not well known. She’s looking into his credentials.”

They arrived at the lake and Danny chose the place he wanted them to set up the picnic rug. He asked that it be placed on an angle so they could look at the lake but still see if anyone was coming toward them from the house. The kinds of things he wanted them talking about, he didn’t want to be overheard.

Danny opened the cooler and passed around the plates then the containers of food as everyone served themselves. Finally he gave everyone a fork and they started eating.

“Yum. This is really lovely, Danny,” said Ambrielle.

“Better than yogurt,” he teased her.

“Hell, yes.”

Once everyone had finished their chicken and salad, Danny handed around the little box of blueberries and said, “Okay, Oscar, tell us why you’re so uptight.”

“I’m not uptight.”

Danny just stared at him and Oscar grinned, rubbed his hands through his hair, then said, “Okay, maybe I’m a little uptight. I just can’t help feeling somehow this situation is all my fault. That I’ve let George down in some way or…I don’t know. Failed him maybe.”

“He’s the same age as me, right? Twenty-five? So he was well and truly legally an adult when your grandmother died?” asked Ambrielle.

“Yes, but—”

“And you were never his legal guardian? His parents cared for him until he became an adult. You’ve never had control of his finances, or of his person in any way?” she continued.

“No, but—”

“So how is he your responsibility now?” she asked.

Mentally Danny applauded her. As she so often did, Ambrielle had cut straight to the main point of the discussion. No person was ever able to make decisions for another person. Each and every one had to accept responsibility for making their own mistakes.

“I guess I remember back to when we were children and when I was supposed to look after him, to make sure he didn’t hurt himself or anything. I’m a lot older than him and—”

“A lot? Get real, Oscar. Eight years may be a lot when you were twelve and he was four, but it’s not much at twenty-five and thirty-three. He’s been legally able to fight and die for his country for years. He doesn’t need you to kiss his boo-boos better now.”

Danny couldn’t help himself. He laughed. Ambrielle was forceful but accurate, and just what Oscar needed right now. He needed her clarity of mind and thought, and her steady grip on reality. She was perfect for them both.

Oscar looked up and stared at them both. “That’s right. Soldiers as young as twenty-one have died on active service, haven’t they?”

“Eighteen. I know at least one US soldier who died in Iraq who was only eighteen years old,” said Ambrielle quietly.

Danny cleared his throat. “Oscar?”

“Yes, that does put things more into perspective. I am not his guardian and he isn’t a baby. You know, I almost didn’t recognize him when I walked into court this morning. He looked so much older, fatter, and more tired than at our grandmother’s funeral. He didn’t seem ill, though. In fact, I almost categorized him as a little Buddha, but then I realized I was being unkind.”

“Maybe you weren’t being unkind. Maybe he is a spoiled brat,” said Danny.

“Did his folks overindulge him?” asked Ambrielle.

“I don’t know. He always had plenty of toys, but I don’t recall anything outrageous.”

“What about a job? What does he do?” asked Danny. This conversation was taking a lot more of a roundabout route than he’d planned, but it was no use him steering the conversation back to their relationship until Oscar had gotten Cousin George out of his system.

Danny watched as Oscar creased his brow, obviously thinking. “He’d just quit a job before the funeral. When he said that, I didn’t like to seem inquisitive, but I think he was in insurance.”

“That could be anything then,” said Ambrielle.

Including crime, especially with importing and exporting goods, but Danny wasn’t going to say that. “I’m sure your detective will find out. Meanwhile we need to be talking about us. The three of us. I love you, Ambrielle, and you’re my best friend, Oscar, and I think it’s time we committed to a relationship together. No more pussyfooting around. We move into our apartment together, with the intention of being a united threesome as an ongoing relationship.”

Danny tried to watch both Ambrielle and Oscar at once. Deep inside himself he was certain it was what they wanted, too, but they had to verbalize it. Only by saying it out loud would it have true meaning for all of them.

“Ambrielle?” he asked.

“Oh, yes. I want you both so much. I do love you both, too. The thought of us breaking up has been a terrible feeling for me. I’ve dreaded the possibility. I hate the thought of not being with you anymore. And I love the prospect of being your joint sub.”

Her face was fiery red and her voice was a little wobbly, but Danny knew she spoke from the heart. It was just one more thing to love about her, that she was prepared to wait until they wanted to make a decision instead of trying to push them into doing what she wanted.

“I guess you’re right in that my head hasn’t been on straight lately. I’ve been so much concentrating on trying to develop the clinic to fulfill my dream, and I’ve been overwhelmed with guilty feelings about George. It’s only just now you’ve made me see that George has to live his own life, and I have to let you both help me with the clinic. Ambrielle, I do appreciate you and love you. You’ve added so much to our lives. I couldn’t manage without you in the office or in bed. You are very special indeed to me. And Danny, man, I wouldn’t want to lose your friendship either. You’re the best. Thank you for pulling me back in line and making me see how stupidly I’ve been acting.”

Danny breathed deeply. Oscar had done it. He’d faced his fears and stomped them back into the ground.

“We’ll both help you make Thorne House Clinic the best shape-shifter clinic in the world,” said Ambrielle.

“Because it’s the only shape-shifter clinic in the world,” joked Danny. But he knew she was right. Together, as a threesome, they could conquer the world. Cousin George wasn’t going away anytime soon, but maybe this bear shape-shifter, Harry Harrison, would find out what the problem was.

Or maybe Sierra would pull another rabbit out of her hat, like with the financial records. But either way, he, Oscar, and Ambrielle would be happy together and that was certain.

Danny carefully put all the remnants of their picnic back into the cooler. He pulled the other two down onto the rug until they were all lying flat. “How do you feel about sex in the great outdoors? I just happen to have brought condoms and lube with me.”

“Here? Where anyone can see us?” asked Ambrielle. Her voice was high and shrill, but it was also full of excitement. Well, that was interesting to know. The thought of public exhibitionism turned her on at least a bit.