Free Shopping Showdown by Buffi BeCraft-Woodall

Shopping Showdown
    By
    Buffi BeCraft

    (c) Copyright by Buffi BeCraft, January 2012
    Smashwords Edition
    Published by new Concepts
Publishing
    Lake Park, GA 31636
    www.newconceptspublishing.com
    This is a work of fiction. All
characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and
not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or
events is merely coincidence.

    Dedication and Forward

    This story is dedicated to all the fans
of the Blue-Collar Werewolves.

    Finding this stuck in an old file was a
fun surprise. This piece was written just after Weremones came out.
I wrote several scenes with the intention of a book about Diana’s
adventures as she establishes herself as the alpha female of the
Anderson County Pack.
    I’ve edited it up just for you
guys.

    Enjoy!

    - Buffi BeCraft

    “Adam!”
    The furry jerk was in the house
somewhere. Diana Ridley knew it. A combination of her empathic
abilities and the new metaphysical connection she now possessed,
gave her a lot of insight to the local werewolf pack. That and the
scent of coffee she had not brewed wafted from the
kitchen.
    Besides, where else would a werewolf
pack hang out, but at her house? Never mind that they hated to be
referred to as werewolves. They were wolven, more powerful and
among and socially superior to their were-cousins. At least, that
was Adam Weis’s stand on the matter. Furry elitist jerk.
    Diana stormed down the hallway leading
to the kitchen. Her bare feet slapped against the hardwood floor,
announcing her entry and her churning emotions. Her scent probably
preceded her. By whatever means, the three men, muscled prime
beefcake material were forwarned and watched her entrance in
various states of wariness. Ha! She thought. They should be more
than wary. Letting themselves into her house. Sucking down her good
mail-order coffee.
    Diana ignored the golden blond god and
the African-American version of Adonis and slapped the crumbled
letter in front of the alpha leader of the pack, the Canis Pater,
Adam Weis. A sexy dimple emerged with his killer smile and Adam
held out a mug. His pale blue, husky colored eyes met hers with a
special warmth reserved especially for her. Her fingers itched to
touch the white blond strands of hair that escaped the tie at the
back of his neck and fell across a high cheekbone. Oooo. He was
good and he knew it. The man was sexy. Diana tried unsuccessfully
to smother the heat that unfurled in her belly. She narrowed her
gaze and met his without flinching.
    “Coffee, my sweet?”
    “Don’t try to butter me up.” Adam
grinned at her comeback, full of suggestion. Amusement danced in
his eyes. She knew exactly where his male, one track mind was
heading and headed him off before he tried to weasel his way out of
this mess. “I mean it buster. You knew everyone thought we’d done
that mate thing.”
    Diana slapped a hand on the paper and
glared harder at him. He grasped her wrist and slid the paper away
from her abuse. Gently he smoothed the sheet with both hands,
glancing over the formal gold lettering. His expression was
inscrutable while he considered the contents. When he looked up all
trace of amusement was gone. In its place was a look of profound
patience. That irritated her more. Her sound of frustration was not
a growl. Humans didn’t growl at their boyfriends. Still the other
two slouched into their seats with the most non-threatening
posture, bordering on sloppy, that they’d ever had and buried their
noses in their coffee cups.
    “Sweetheart, you are the Matra Canis.
Pack Mother.” Adam practically sighed. “We’re dating. Of course the
other packs are going to think you are my mate. Usually, the two go
hand in hand.”
    “Or paw in paw.” Chase was the only one
laughing at his humor. He cleared his throat and slunk to the
coffee pot to suck down more of her gourmet beans.
    Diana crossed her hands under her
breasts and tried not to feel defensive because she’d refused him.
She