Free Hidden Crimes by Emma Holly Page A

cocked her head to
the side. “Do I know you?”
    “I don’t believe so,” he said as Evina
quietly sighed oh God .
    “I do,” the woman insisted. “You bought a
baby blanket in my shop just the other day. Elf-spelled in white
velvet.”
    “Oh,” he said, the strength of his relief
shocking him. “Yes. Rita’s Treasures on Tenth Street.”
    Evina’s mother offered him her elegant long
hand. “I’m Rita, of course.”
    “Nate Rivera,” he returned automatically.
    She kept her hold on his hand, not flirting
so much as not letting him get away. “I trust the present was a
success.”
    “Very much so. My alpha’s wife loved it.”
    “Your alpha’s wife.” Rita’s slight smile
deepened. “So . . . you have no children yourself?”
    Nate fought a smile of his own. He rather her
liked her playing the mother card, checking him out for her
daughter. “No children, no wife.”
    “Ah,” she said, “and you such a handsome
man.”
    “He’s a handsome wolf ,” Evina broke in
sharply. “I think even your plate is a little full for that
adventure.”
    Rita’s expression was startled for a second,
after which it turned delighted. “Oh darling, that’s sweet of you,
but I wasn’t vetting him for me.”
    Evina’s cheeks turned the red of Nate’s
favorite pie filling. Seeing mortification had struck her
speechless, her mother took pity. She dropped his hand to give her
daughter a quick hug. Then she undid whatever good she’d
accomplished by whispering that she was glad Evina was finally
letting herself have fun.
    “It wasn’t fun!” Evina said. “I mean—”
Flustered again, she shot Nate an apologetic look. “You were
wonderful of course, but, Mom, I’m helping him on a case.”
    “A case?” Concerned, Rita turned her gaze to
him. “Are you the reason my daughter came in late last night?”
    “I’m afraid I am, though she wasn’t in any
danger. In truth, both of us were hoping you might be of
assistance . . .”
     
     

CHAPTER FOUR

    UNABLE to resist the one-two punch of Nate’s
charm and Evina’s determination, Rita Mohajit agreed to set up a
meeting with her producer friend later that evening. She made Nate
promise he wasn’t endangering her baby girl. Nate gave his word
solemnly, endeared by Rita’s behavior. Evina was less
enthralled.
    “Mom,” she finally said. “You do remember
what I do for a living.”
    “Of course,” her mother soothed, bending
slightly to kiss her cheek. “But this is different. This could
involve criminals.”
    Her walk as she departed was a different
kettle of sexy from her daughter’s. Nate would have bet good money
Rita had been practicing being slinky all her life. Her sway in her
high-heeled sandals was too deliberate. Being who he was, Nate
admired the performance. Evina’s crew appeared to as well. More
than one male nose twitched at the trail of tigress and patchouli
Rita left behind her.
    “You can pull your tongue back into your
mouth,” Evina said sourly.
    Nate grinned, happier with her than he could
explain. “When you get snippy, it makes me want to kiss you.”
    “Snippy!” The way she pursed her lips
suggested she was remembering kissing him. That was fair, he
thought, since he was doing the same thing.
    The next order of business was bringing Evina
to meet Nate’s favorite street artist. They argued over taking one
car or two, but Nate’s Goblinati was more reliable. Converted
Outsider cars like her Camry never ran on ambient energy as well as
those that were built for it.
    “Stop smirking,” she demanded from the
passenger seat, where he’d been appreciating how nice she looked
with her legs curled up. “It’s not a sign of weakness to do
something sensible.”
    “Should I offer to let you drive?”
    “I’m not as good as you,” she grumped. “I’d
be terrified of scratching your paint job.”
    Nate showed respect for her honesty by
letting a short silence pass. Then, because the rebel wolf inside
him couldn’t