Page 95 of Hoofin’ It

Mom was right. I needed to marry Marian before she got away. “Since we’re going out of order anyway, maybe we should skip the white dress part and go straight to the marriage part, then we can do the white dress part later?”

“I’m going to put my foot down and say a wedding is non-negotiable. It’s the only day I’m legitimately allowed to pretend I’m a pretty princess. For the clueless man in this relationship, it’s the one day you get to pretend to be the handsome prince. The white dress part is happening.”

“You won’t have to pretend. You’re already pretty. Maybe I should take courses on how to act. I may need them. Handsome prince is going to be a stretch for me.”

“Shane!” Marian thumped my chest and her scowl deepened. “You’re plenty handsome.”

“There has to be an eye doctor in this mall somewhere. We should make you an appointment.”

“You aren’t the judge of your looks. I am, and I say you are. That’s final.”

No wonder Dad liked goading Mom so much. I enjoyed Marian bristling over something I’d accepted long ago. “I think we’re going to have to investigate this matter very carefully.”

Marian put her hands on her hips and glowered, then she sucked in a breath. “You’re trying to get me to prove it by wearing sexy dresses for you, aren’t you?”

In reality, I was testing her temper to see how far I could push her, but I liked her idea a lot more. “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to get you to try on every sexy dress I see so I can buy the one I like best for you. And if it’s sexy enough, I may have to win the bet so you’re forced to wear it often when you aren’t wiggling into tight jeans.”

I ruined my ploy by laughing, which earned me a solid smack to the chest.

“You have everyone fooled, don’t you? You play this shy, good cop who doesn’t bother anyone, when in reality, you’re a clever little weasel who prefers halos over horns.”

While I would have preferred to be called a wolf, I liked weasels. “Most people would be offended if you called them a weasel.”

“Are you?”

“Don’t tell anyone I said this, but weasels are rather cute, and most people wouldn’t think to accuse me of being clever.”

“Weasels are also vicious.”

“I don’t have much of a reputation for being vicious,” I confessed. “I obviously wouldn’t be a very good weasel.”

“You’re a hell of a shot, though. That makes up for it.”

“I should introduce you to Ed. He helped me go from being a passable shot to a decent one. My godfather taught me the basics growing up, though.”

“Not your parents?” Marian made a thoughtful noise in her throat and pointed down one of the hallways. “I think I saw a clothing store that way.”

I’d never understand why other men found shopping such a chore. I didn’t want to be the one trying on the clothes, but I appreciated the inclusion. I blamed Mom for my opinion; if a woman took a man shopping, she wanted to spend time with him doing something she enjoyed.

I’d make the most of it and enjoy the view the entire time, even though I wasn’t much of a shopper.

“Lewis is a better shot than they are, and he liked his godfather duties. I think it’s because his wife isn’t ready to put up with the hassle of conception with a werewolf.”

“I’ll admit I don’t know why it’s a hassle.”

“Trust me, that was a sex education lesson I didn’t want. If you really want to know, research wolves. I’ve been informed lycanthropes share certain characteristics with real wolves, and they don’t stop until they’re certain of pregnancy, which isn’t not a short process.” My face flushed. “I was informed it was twelve uncomfortable hours for my mother, something she’s in no in any hurry to repeat.”

Marian’s eyebrows shot up. “Twelve hours.”

“Apparently.”

“Should I be worried?”

“I don’t know. Do you want kids?”

“Eventually.”

I thought about that. Then I thought about it some more. I got so distracted thinking about it I almost plowed over a couple standing in the hallway.