Heart of the wolf (25 page)

Th
e
noontime trade at
Francey's
Diner consisted mostly of tourists, and for that Sarah was grateful. She didn't want locals who worked for
Summers
to see her with Wolf or possibly eavesdrop on their conversation. As it was, she and Wolf were seated in a vinyl-covered booth at the rear of the diner, as far from the other patrons as possible, and they kept their voices low.

Wolf sat opposite her, their knees brushing beneath the narrow table. Sarah was hungry, finishing off a hamburger platter with relish, but she noticed that Wolf had left his hot beef sandwich practically untouched.

"What's bothering you?" she asked, blotting her mouth with a paper napkin.

Wolf shrugged. "Not much." He'd told her about the incident with Noonan, but not about Philip Barlow. There was no sense in making Sarah suffer because the sheriff hated her. She'd had enough nasty words flung at her.

Tilting her head, Sarah smiled. "You're brooding. You look like a thunderstorm ready to split open and pour down rain."

Wolf attempted to return her smile. "Good analogy," he told her. Moving his fork absently around the table- top next to his plate, he added, "It's nothing." It was something, all right, and Wolf was becoming angry with himself, because it seemed that he could hide nothing from Sarah's perception. Jealousy ate at him, although he knew it shouldn't.

"Oh." Sarah sat back and picked up her mug of coffee. "I thought friends could share problems and concerns."

"They can."

"I'll listen if you want to talk," she said softly.

Wolf glanced up at her, on the verge of asking about Philip. He knew he was behaving like some immature sixteen-year-old kid—and it was making him mad. Swallowing, he shook his head. "It's nothing," he repeated.

"For once, I'd like to help you," Sarah whispered. "I'm not a world traveler, and I don't have more than a high school education, but maybe all you need is a set of ears."

"Sarah," he said, scowling, "stop putting yourself down."

"Was I?"

"Yes. You've got so much going for you. You've got drive, energy and brains. You handle a career like gem mining all by yourself. And," he said, "successfully. I've seen college grads and Ph.D.
s
who were worthless at running a business."

Grinning, Sarah said, "Okay, so I'm a good businesswoman. Thank you."

"You're welcome." Wolf saw a slight flush come to Sarah's cheeks. What she needed was a little care, a little pampering—a focus on her strengths.

"So," he said, moving aside his platter of uneaten food, "how did you manage to get half this town angry at you?"

With a laugh, Sarah said, "It wasn't hard, Wolf. My dad bucked
Summers
, and after he died, so did I."

"You had a reputation as a troublemaker even back in high school," he said, baiting her.

Frowning, she agreed. "Yes, I did. As my mom said, I don't suffer fools gladly." Sarah brightened. "My mom was always quoting different passages, things that made sense to me." Her happiness faded. "That's one of the things I miss about her since the stroke. She always had the right saying for any occasion."

Wolf hurt for her. "At least she's alive, and there's a part of her left," he said gently. Maybe he should take Sarah to the nursing home to see her mother. "And you love her. She knows that."

Sarah shrugged unhappily and sipped her coffee. "Maybe she does, maybe she doesn't. I just wish. . ."

"What?" Wolf said softly, absorbing her sad, pensive face.

With a sigh, Sarah forced a slight smile. "I just wish Mom was still here. I really miss talking to her and getting her advice. She sure helped me get through some tough times."

"Such as?"

Sarah gave him an arched-eyebrows look. "My reputation in this town was bad news after the FBI investigation, Wolf. A lot of locals wouldn't have anything to do with me—of course, a lot of them work for
Summers
. But even those who don't are afraid of him." She gave him an apologetic look. "See what happened to you because you've sided with me? They almost beat you to death."

Raising her hand to his lips, Wolf kissed her fingers gently. The need to give her some solace burned hotly through him, and he watched as her eyes widened at the touch of his lips on her skin.

"I wasn't beaten to death, Sarah. You have a tendency to blow things out of proportion."

Sarah's fingers tingled pleasantly. For a moment, she sat in shock from Wolf's unexpected kiss. Scrambling to find words, she said, "I know."

Smiling, Wolf reluctantly released her hand. "That's one of the many things I like about you, Sarah Thatcher."
How much heartbreak Sarah had endured.
The look in her eyes was one of warmth mixed with desire. Wolf wondered if it could really be desire for him.

Sarah's heart wouldn't settle down. She had watched his strong mouth gently graze her hand, and the sensation had shone like sunlight through her until she ached to love him. But did he like her enough to want her? She sat digesting those thoughts as she finished her coffee.

Wolf pulled his platter back in front of him and began to eat the now-cooled beef sandwich, potatoes and gravy. Sarah smiled.

"What brought back your appetite?"

"Talking with you."

She gave him a rueful look. "Noonan must have mentioned my name when you went to see him."

"Yes.
And not in very pleasant terms."

"I'm sure." Sarah fingered her sweat-beaded water glass. "I'm not a mean person, Wolf, although part of this town may paint me that way. I'm a fair-minded person. And I'm easily touched by sad stories." She gave a little laugh.

"You bluster a lot, but underneath you've got a soft heart, honey," he agreed.

Sarah blushed at the endearment, drowning in the burning gray of his gaze. “Mom always called me feisty," she admitted wryly with a widening smile. "I'd get my hackles up at the drop of a hat, but then, I'd cool down just as quickly."

"You're a woman of fire. I like that."

The words, gritty and low, made Sarah quiver with a hunger she'd never experienced. "Y-yes, I guess you could say I am." The powerful intimacy that had sprung up between them frightened Sarah badly. Each time she held Wolf's tender gaze, more of her trust reached out to him. It just couldn't happen! Inwardly she began to panic. When she was around Wolf, she automatically surrendered to him, to the emotions that blossomed in his presence. Summers posed a physical danger to her, but Sarah felt the danger of being around Wolf becoming even more frightening.

"After lunch I'll take you to see your mom at the nursing home, if you want."

Desperate, Sarah jerked her chin upward and met his gaze.
"I—No.
I called the nursing home when you were gone, and she's doing fine. She really doesn't miss me." Nervously she moved the water glass around between her hands and tried to prepare herself for the explosion she knew was coming. "Wolf, I want to go back to the cabin today."

Her pleading tone tore at him. Frowning, he muttered, "You're not ready to go back there, Sarah."

"I have to! You know I've got to mine enough sapphires to pay the bills coming up."

Wolf stopped eating and again pushed his plate aside. Sarah had both elbows on the table and was leaning forward, her eyes intense and stubborn-looking. "I can't protect you if you're up there, Sarah."

"I can protect myself. Wolf, take me home—please." Sarah had other reasons for leaving. She knew that if she remained with Wolf she might do something embarrassing and stupid.

Leaning back in the booth, Wolf held on to his patience. "Why can't you work at the house?"

"It's impossible," Sarah said, spreading her hands. "I've got to dig more sapphires."

The conversation was getting too heated. Wolf looked around and dug money out of his billfold. "Come on," he growled. "We'll talk about this on the way home."

Sarah glanced around, realizing she'd become a little too loud. Wolf was right: The diner was no place to discuss the situation. She remained silent until they were on their way home, Skeet sitting between them.

Wolf broke the silence. "Look, if it's the money worrying you, I'll give you whatever you need, Sarah." Holding her pleading stare, he added, "I'll pay your bills. I'd rather have you safe than out on that mountain alone."

Desperation filled Sarah. "No, Wolf. I've never taken anyone's money, and I'm not starting now. Thanks, but-"

"Make it a loan, then."

Tensing, Sarah whispered, "No."

His mouth tightening, Wolf lowered his voice as he pulled into the driveway of the house. He slammed the truck into park and turned to Sarah. "All right, level with me. Why do you suddenly want to leave?"

Blinking, Sarah whispered
rawly
, "Because I'm drawn to you, Wolf, that's why." She watched him rear back as if he'd been struck, surprise written all over his harsh features. "Well, you don't have to act like that," she said bitterly. "Don't worry, I'll keep to myself." She climbed out of the truck and nearly ran into the house, Wolf following close behind.

Once they were in the living room, Wolf gripped her by the shoulders. "We need some straight talk," he rasped. He realized how tightly he was gripping her, and eased his fingers a bit. "You're afraid if you stay around me that something will happen?"

Hanging her head, Sarah nodded. Wolf's hands were like brands on hers. "I can't trust myself. It's not you
_____
"

Wryly Wolf said, "Don't kid
yourself
. This is a two- way street, Sarah. But we can deal with this like adults. You don't have to run away from me, from the protection I can give you." He watched Sarah's head snap up, her eyes huge.

Sarah forced herself to meet and hold Wolf's gaze. There was such tenderness in his eyes that she felt her breath escape in response. As a lover, Wolf would be cherishing with her, Sarah realized instinctively in that moment.
AU
the more reason to leave. But she saw the set of his jaw and knew that Wolf wouldn't let her go—at least not yet.

Driven to a point of desperation she'd never thought she'd feel
,
she twisted out of his grip. Taking several steps back, she lied to him. "I need time to think this over, Wolf. I—I want to go see my mother and think about it."

Wolf raised his eyebrows. She'd said she didn't want to visit the nursing home. Sarah's face was flushed, and there was fear in her eyes. Wolf wrestled with the knowledge she'd shared with him. He knew that she was scared. He nodded. "Maybe that would be better," he agreed thickly. Inwardly he breathed a sigh of relief that Sarah was going to remain under his roof.