The Lying, the Witch, and the Werewolf (Down & Dirty Supernatural Cleaning Services Book 4) by Kate Quinn (uplifting books for women .txt) 📗

too much. I don’t want him giving me a lecture about the dangers of going undercover in a cult, so I tell a little white lie.

Yep! Going for a few days at a spa. Figure I could use some de-stressing.

That’s great, Kiddo, McGinnis answers. Have fun and see ya next week!

When I finally make it downstairs it’s evening and Darron and Shauna are fighting.

“It’s disloyal!” Shauna screams. She’s really in his face.

“What is going on here?” I ask. Shit runs past me and barks at them, running around their legs, and glancing at me for permission to do more. He does not like the energy in the room and neither do I—but I’m not going to give the nod that means someone loses their face, either.

“Oh, look who took a break from masturbating long enough to grace us with her presence,” Shauna turns her ire on me.

“I wasn’t just…” I sigh and put my hands on my hips. “Shit, heel,” I command and he begrudgingly stops barking and slinks to my side.

“Ignore her,” Darron tells me. He’s dressed sharp, which is pretty much standard for him. Right now he’s very masculine, in a slim cut suit, black but with a bright blue pocket square for a pop of color. He really is a silver fox.

“Darron is a despicable, disloyal, unfaithful, cheating…poop head,” she sputters.

“What did you do to her?” I ask him.

“Nothing!” He throws up his hands. “She asked where I was going so I told her I have a date…”

“You do?!” I ask, my eyes widening. Darron’s wife disappeared in the Great Ghosting nearly three years ago. So far as I know this is his first foray back into the dating scene. “Congrats. That’s really huge. And great.”

“It is NOT great!” Shauna stamps her foot. “He’s married!”

I look at Darron, really feeling for him. “It’s a huge step for Darron to get back out there,” I tell Shauna. “We should be supportive.”

She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. “Unless you and your wife are polyamorous, it’s cheating.” She opens her eyes and glares at Darron. “Are you guys poly?”

“No,” Darron admits, “but honey, not everyone thinks about the Ghosting the way you do. I think Lorelai is gone. And she’s not coming back.” I can see how much it pains him to say it. I really feel for him and the huge leap he’s taking by putting himself out there—but he’s made a slip. If he’s going to believe that his wife is gone, that implies that he thinks Shauna’s is, too.

“Tina is not gone,” Shauna says, her face going stony. “You may wish that your wife is dead, but mine is coming back.”

“I wish I had your faith,” Darron tells her, his tone cool. “But my wife wouldn’t want me to be alone for the rest of my life.”

Shauna deflates and collapses onto the chair. “Whatever. Go out. Be a whore. I don’t care.”

“Don’t slut-shame Darron.” I go to the chair and kneel next to her. “This is huge for him. You’re making it about you,” I tell her. “How many times has he supported you when you needed it? How many times has he been there for you?”

I’m trying to shame her into not being a total dick, but she just shrugs and then begrudgingly says, “Sorry, I guess.”

I pull Shit up and place the Dalmanther on Shauna’s lap. “Here, cuddle him until you feel better.” She gives him a squeeze and Shit makes a wheezing noise with the pressure of her hug, but licks her face. He’s a good boy. He knows she needs him right now.

I walk Darron to the door. “Don’t pay attention to Shauna. She’s...intense.” I remember my convo from earlier with the vampires. “Vampires are very loyal to their spouses And Shauna is a hybrid.”

“Maybe I am being disloyal,” he says, the ramrod strength of his spine evaporating once he’s no longer in Shauna’s sight. “Maybe I should cancel.”

“Don’t you dare!” I tell him. “At least not because of Shauna. It’s Shauna, she doesn’t know her ass from her elbow, and she’s selfish by nature. That’s her fae side. She sees you moving on, and she can’t. This has nothing to do with you, or how you’re leading your life. This is all about her not having one without Tina in it.”

He laughs nervously. “It might be moot anyway. I met this woman at my job, so she’s never seen me as femme, not that I keep it a secret.” Darron works as a lifeguard at an elderly living community. He mostly wears his bathing suit/lifeguard shirt combo to work, which shows off his excellent physique. A pair of high heels and ass-rise leggings does too, but apparently this woman hasn’t learned that yet.

“She’s one of the nurses there. I've dropped a few hints, told her I was gender-fluid, but I’m not sure she really gets it. Tonight I’m going to take her to a drag club I like. Show her the world. Make it clear that’s who I am. If it goes well, for our second date, I’ll be dressing as a woman.” He laughs shakily, and my heart squeezes. Usually Darron is the most confident and self-possessed person I know. “I met my wife when I was in drag, so it was never an issue. She loved me for who I was—all of me. This woman…I don’t know what will happen when I’m my true self with her. She might run for the hills.”

“Not if she has any sense!” I tell him. “I’ll calm Shauna down, let her know she was out of line. You, go have fun,” I order.

He smiles nervously. “How do I look?”

“Hot as hell!” I assure him.

Pushing his shoulders back, Darron lifts his head high. Then he ruins the image by gulping. “Let’s see if any of my moves still work,” he says and sashays out the door.

I go back to Shauna, hand on hips. “I’m very disappointed in you…” I start to lecture,