Werewolf in Seattle: A Wild About You Novel by Vicki Thompson

for sure later on.”
    “All right.” He left the subject with relief. “Are you planning to make Henry’s library available to guests?”
    “No, I’m not. This room will be my office and guests won’t be allowed in here, but they should have books available. I was thinking Geraldine’s sitting room might make a nice library.”
    “And it has a wet bar. I assume you’re planning to schedule happy hour every evening?”
    “I think Geraldine would haunt me if I didn’t.”
    That made him smile. “Aye, she would, at that.”
    “Picture me registering guests and saying,
Drinks will be served at six in the library
. It has a nice ring to it.”
    “I agree.” Her sweet scent beckoned to him, and he realized he’d unconsciously moved closer. “You’re going to be a natural at this, Luna.” Guests, especially male guests, would be drawn to her, too. Sooner or later an eligible Were would express interest. Colin didn’t fancy that concept at all.
    “I hope so. It feels right. Anyway, the sitting room already has bookshelves. It just needs more books. I could browse the used shops in Seattle, and pick up a few board games while I’m at it.”
    “That sounds like fun.” He had a sudden, appealingimage of strolling around musty old bookstores with Luna and stealing a kiss in a narrow and secluded aisle. “Maybe we could do that before I leave.”
    “And when are you leaving? I don’t remember a time being set.”
    He sighed. “I won’t be here long, I’m afraid. A week is all I’ve allowed myself. My father’s health isn’t great, and my brother, Duncan, is something of a loose cannon.”
    “Then we need to prioritize.”
    He knew what would rise to the top of his priority list, but he didn’t say that. Later.
    She surveyed the shelves in Henry’s office. “These books all belong to you now. I suppose it would make sense to sell some of the more valuable ones instead of just letting them sit here.” She didn’t sound particularly enthusiastic about it.
    “I’d rather not sell any.”
    Her smile was warm with approval. “I’m glad. These books have become special to me. I look up from my desk and there they are, lined up in colorful rows, waiting for me to choose one. I’d hate to see any of them leave. And old books smell so good!”
    “Yes, they do.” He’d never met anyone who’d mentioned that, but it was one of his favorite scents. From now on he’d also associate it with Luna. “I used to spend hours in here. Henry let me read anything, even if it was a first edition worth a great deal of money.”
    “Geraldine said he was generous.” She laughed. “Well, obviously he was if he built her a
castle
.”
    “But I’ve always wondered why he made it so big, with so many bedrooms.”
    Luna cocked her head. “She never told you?”
    “No, and I didn’t think to ask until now, when it’s too late.”
    “Well, she told me, one night during happy hour down on the beach. I suppose I can say, now that she’s gone.”
    Colin found himself feeling jealous of the closeness Luna had enjoyed with Geraldine, but he could have had that, too, if he’d made more of an effort. “You don’t have to, if you’d rather not.”
    “I don’t think she’d mind. But first of all I have to ask, were Henry and Geraldine considered truly mated?”
    “I’m certain of it.” Colin had fond memories of watching them hold hands and steal an occasional kiss when they thought he wasn’t paying attention.
    “Then I don’t understand, because they tried and tried to have children and couldn’t. Why not?”
    “Being truly mated doesn’t guarantee pregnancy. But you can’t have a pregnancy unless that condition is met.” He thought about all the bedrooms in Whittier House. “I can’t believe they planned to have enough children to fill the place.”
    “No, but they wanted a bunch. They added the extra space so that any who chose to stay on the island could do so, even after they mated. I think