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that?”
    “Well, not everyone can, but
I’ve done well enough. It’s paid the bills and left me with a little extra
spending money. I’m not clearing six figures by any means, but I’m
comfortable.”
    “Are your books in
bookstores?”
    She shook her head. “My eBooks
are more popular than my paperbacks.”
    “I may be able to help you
with that.”
    She looked at him in
curiosity. “How?”
    “I know the owner of one of
the local bookstores. I’m sure she’d carry your titles if I asked. At the very
least, on a trial run, then we could renegotiate later. I know my
sisters-in-law would buy them. They’re always reading those things. I’m more
into thrillers, personally. But then, I’m a guy.”
    She smiled. “Men read romances
too. They just don’t necessarily advertise it.”
    “Maybe I’ll read one of yours
then.” He bounced his eyebrows up and down. “Are there lots of naughty scenes
in them?”
    “A few.” She laughed. “If you
seriously want to try reading one, I have a paperback copy of everything I’ve
had published on a bookshelf in my apartment.”
    “I’m serious.”
    “Then I’ll get my favorite one
for you the next time I’m at the apartment, or after my things are brought
here. Not that I know where I’m putting everything. My room is lovely, but I
have no idea how I’m fitting an entire apartment worth of stuff into one room.”
    “We’ll figure it out. If we
need to store some things, there are two storage rooms at the garage across the
street. One is usually empty or, at least, mostly empty.”
    The doorbell rang before she
could respond. She rose to answer it, but Gabriel waved her back as he got up
and headed that way. She stood in the living room doorway and watched as he
opened the door, his eyes sharp, his body tense, as if expecting trouble. If
she’d known she was going to acquire a watchdog when she came here yesterday,
she may have ignored the order and stayed home. It had been bad enough when
Perry had wanted an accounting of her every move. She didn’t want to go through
that again, even if Gabriel did mean well.
    He swung the door wide open
and smiled. An attractive woman stepped inside and he closed the door.
    “Autumn,” he said, turning her
way. “I’d like you to meet my sister-in-law, Marin. She’s Cole’s wife.”
    Autumn shook hands with Marin.
“I remember you being introduced at the first pack meeting I went to, but we
didn’t get a chance to speak.”
    “I thought I’d stop by and see
if I could steal you away for a while,” Marin said, smiling. “It’s a gorgeous
day. Too pretty to be cooped up inside all day.”
    Gabriel looked uncertain.
“Where exactly are you going?”
    “I thought we’d have lunch at
the little Mexican place over on Grand, then maybe head to the mall for some
shopping.” Marin looked at Autumn again. “I heard you’re Kiera’s cousin. I
thought, as family, we should get to know one another better. If you’d like to,
that is.”
    “That sounds like fun.” Autumn
bit her lip and looked at Gabriel. “I know you wanted to watch a movie, but do
you mind if we do it later?”
    “I thought you wanted to
write?”
    “I do, but…I haven’t had any
girl time since I moved here. I told you I was making myself as unnoticeable as
possible, so I didn’t really get out and meet the pack members. I haven’t made
a single friend in the weeks that I’ve been here.”
    “You won’t let the males
harass her?” Gabriel asked Marin.
    “You think they will? Like she
said, she’s been here for several weeks and no one has bothered her. I think
she’ll be perfectly safe with me, Gabriel. Maybe you could use the time to have
a chat with Kinley?”
    “I spoke with her after dinner
last night. She looked a little bummed, and more than a little curious about
Autumn, but I promised to help her find another job. So if you hear of
anything, let me know.”
    “So you don’t mind if I go?”
Autumn asked. She didn’t like