The Werewolf Meets His Match (Nocturne Falls Book 2) (20 page)

“No.” Ivy gave Birdie a sharp look. “I want this to be a quiet, simple affair. Our parents aren’t even going to be there.” She turned her attention back to Delaney. “I’ll compromise and say twenty, but that’s it. Is that even doable?”

Delaney wiggled her brows. “I don’t have Corette’s magic, but yes, I can swing that. Especially if you like simple. But complicated is fine, too. As long as I have the time, I can do just about anything.”

“That’s the thing,” Birdie said. “We need this cake by tomorrow.”

“Wait, when?” Delaney leaned forward like she hadn’t heard correctly.

Ivy sighed. “Tomorrow. I know it’s super short notice. We’re getting married the day of the full moon. It’s a traditional werewolf thing.”

Delaney made a face, then nodded. “Okay, forget complicated. Simple is going to have to work.”

Ivy let out the breath she’d been holding. “I’ll go you one better. The cake design is completely up to you.”

“In that case, I can definitely do this.” Delaney squinted. “You don’t want to have
any
input? Colors? Flavors? Anything?”

Why should she? She hadn’t had any say in the marriage. Ivy shook her head. “I can see by the stuff in the cases you do beautiful work. Whatever you come up with is fine. Chocolate, vanilla, I don’t care.” She held up a finger. “Actually, there is one stipulation.”

Delaney smiled like she’d been expecting something. “What’s that?”

“Budget. I don’t have a lot to spend on this so—”

“Oh, please. I owe Sheriff Merrow a big thank-you. Cake’s on me. It’s my wedding gift to you guys.”

“Really?” The people here were so nice. Too bad they were all going to end up hating her when they found out she was pulling one over on their beloved sheriff. Ivy tried not to lose it right there. “That’s just…thank you.”

“Yes, thank you. That’s lovely of you, Delaney,” Birdie said. She pointed toward the note pad Delaney had pulled out. “You can deliver the cake to Howlers.”

“I’ll have it there tomorrow afternoon.”

Birdie and Ivy said their goodbyes and added another round of thanks before heading out.

Ivy put her hand on Birdie’s arm as they left. “Birdie, I appreciate all your enthusiasm for the wedding, but I’m exhausted. I’d really like to go home.”

“Of course. You’ve had quite a day. I’ll stay with you until Hank returns.” The older woman raised her brows in a very motherly fashion. “I’m sure you’re capable of taking care of yourself, but I’d rather not hear it from him because I left you alone.”

Ivy dropped her hand and nodded. “I understand.”

“He loves you, you know.”

Ivy stared straight ahead as they walked to Birdie’s car. “We’ve only known each other two days.”

“Doesn’t matter. That’s how it is with the Merrows. When you know, you know. And he knows.”

Ivy hiked the wedding dress box a little higher. Thinking that Hank might be in love with her was amazing. Although it only made things worse. “I’m not sure Hank feels that way. I know he likes me, but love…love takes time.”

Birdie squinted at her but didn’t say anything else about it the rest of the way to the car. As Birdie was pulling out of the parking lot, Ivy’s phone chirped with an incoming message. She pulled the phone out and saw a message waiting from Hank.

Mission accomplished. See you at home.

She smiled. “You won’t have to wait with me. Hank just messaged to say everything’s taken care of and he’d see me at home. Or he’s headed home. Either way, you won’t have to wait long.”

“Glad to hear it.” Birdie drove with both hands on the wheel, firmly planted in the ten and two positions. “I mean, glad to hear he took care of those hoodlums. Not that I won’t have to stay. I’d be happy to do that.”

“I know.”

But she didn’t have to. The squad car was parked outside the garage.

Birdie dropped Ivy off in the driveway. Ivy thanked her, scooped up the wedding dress box and went in. As sweet as Hank’s aunt was, it was a relief to be away from the constant wedding chatter.

Hank met Ivy at the door with a smile, but his eyes held an endearing amount of concern. “Did she wear you out?”

A little, but Ivy wasn’t about to disparage the woman who’d just gifted her with a wedding dress. “No. Your aunt is lovely.”

He snorted as he stepped out of the way to let her inside.

“Really, she is.”

“Looks like you did some shopping.”

“We did.” If only he knew what was in that box.

“So did I.”

She frowned at him. “You went shopping?”

He dug a little velvet box out of the pocket of his jeans and handed it to her. “See for yourself.”

She set down the box she was carrying and opened the one he’d given her, even though she already knew what was in it. The ring. She sucked in a breath when she saw how wrong she’d been. It was a ring all right, but not the little one she’d picked out. It was the expensive one she’d loved but known was too much. “You crazy man. You bought the big one.”

He nodded. “You like it?”

She swallowed and swiped at her eyes, feeling the heat of building tears. “It’s beautiful. But it’s not the one I pointed to.”

He took the ring from the box and slipped it on her finger. “It’s the one I thought you should have. You seemed to like it best.”

She had, but it had been so expensive she hadn’t dared let him know. Apparently, she’d failed at that. She glanced at the ring, but her gaze came up to stare at his handsome face a second later. “You’re really something, you know that?”

He smiled. “So are you.”

She leaned in and kissed him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.

“I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“I’m so glad you caught those guys.” She leaned her head on his shoulder. There was so much pleasure in being in his arms, safe and protected. It was such a rare feeling in her life that she almost started weeping for real.

Reluctantly, she broke the embrace and picked up the wedding dress box. “I’m just going to run upstairs and put this away, then I’ll be back down and I want to hear all about how you took down the Jenkins brothers.”

“You want a beer?”

He really was the man of her dreams. “More than words can say.”

With a grin, she jogged up the stairs to her bedroom and shut the door. She put the box on the bed and freed the dress from the wrappings, her heart fluttering a bit as she shook it out. Up until Hank had given her the ring, it had been the most beautiful thing she’d ever owned.

She hoped neither one became the symbol of a horrible day. The ring could be returned, but the dress, she wasn’t so sure about. She sat on the bed and clutched the gown to her, the lace soft and perfect in her hands.

Hank was amazing. So much more than she’d dreamed of. Maybe…more than she deserved, although after life with her father, maybe Hank was her reward for not killing Clemens.

Whether or not Hank loved her, Ivy knew she loved him. How could she not? For all his gruff exterior, he’d warmed up fast and shown her a side of himself that was caring and concerned and fiercely protective.

One thing after another and he’d proved what kind of man he was.

When she’d almost died at the hands of the Jenkins brothers, Hank had gone after them and taken them out of the picture.

She’d told him about Charlie and he hadn’t blinked an eye. She could only imagine what kind of amazing father he would be. Someday.

He was a generous lover. He’d made her breakfast. Bought her flowers. And then there was the ring he’d picked out. The ring he’d thought she should have. She stuck her hand out and splayed her fingers, not quite able to enjoy the glitter of the diamond now seated there.

All that when she’d expected him to judge her for her last name and treat her like something to be endured.

He did not deserve the trap Clemens was setting for him. Nor did the Merrow pack deserve the war that would follow if Hank refused to marry her, which would be perfectly within his rights if he found out the truth before they were married.

Her cell phone rang, snapping her out of her head. She let the dress fall limp over her lap as she checked the screen. Her mother’s number. Which meant Charlie. Her heart leaped. She swiped to answer. “Hey, baby! It’s so good to hear your voice.”

Sobs answered her. “Mom, you gotta come home.”

Pain stabbed her in the heart. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

The crying increased, and all her son could manage was, “Grandpa.”

Rage rose up in Ivy. A lifetime’s worth. But it was her mother’s instinct that drove her to her feet. The dress fell to the floor, forgotten. Enough was enough. Whatever the consequences, she was
done
abiding by her father’s rule at her son’s expense.

She stared out the window, seeing nothing but her own, golden-eyed reflection. “I’m coming, baby. I’m coming.”

Hank popped the top off Ivy’s beer, set it next to his, then leaned against the counter while he waited on her. He’d changed into a fresh shirt and tossed the old one out as soon as he’d gotten home. He might have healed from Wade’s nails slicing him, but his T-shirt was a lost cause.

He also didn’t want Ivy to worry that he’d gotten hurt. Shifters healed fast, but if she’d seen the dried blood and the torn shirt, it would have upset her. Poor woman had enough to deal with after nearly being poisoned to death.

Those damn Jenkins brothers should be counting their blessings she hadn’t died. It was the only reason they were still breathing.

He glanced out toward the street. The sun was about an hour from setting. Maybe they’d sit on the back deck and have their beer out there. It would be nice to unwind with someone like that every day. Especially someone like Ivy. He smiled. Thinking about her did that to him. Thinking about life with her made it impossible not to smile.

Ivy stormed down the steps, her saddlebags over her shoulder. His smile vanished at the anger dancing in her eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

She didn’t stop moving. “I have to go.”

“What?” He stopped leaning and stood up straight. “Where?”

“I have to get Charlie. He just called me crying. I don’t know what my father’s done, but I’m not leaving my son there a second longer.” She bit the words out, her emotions visible in her face and stiff movements.

“It’s almost a seven-hour drive.”

“I’m not asking you to go.” She headed for the garage.

“Hold on a second, will you?”

She paused, her hand on the door handle. “Why? My father is terrorizing my son. I’m not waiting another second. I’ve already waited long enough.”

“Because I might have a better solution.” He pulled his phone out and dialed.

Her mouth opened, but she said nothing and closed it firmly, popping her jaw to the side. Visible tension held her ramrod straight as her lips thinned to a hard line. She was trembling the slightest bit. Hank guessed that was rage.

Hugh Ellingham answered on the third ring. “Sheriff Merrow, what can I do for you this fine evening?”

“I need a favor.”

“Name it.”

“I need the Ellingham plane.”

Less than two hours later, they’d landed at McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport. Ivy had thanked Hank profusely before they’d left, but had gone quiet on the flight, pulling into herself. Introspective, but never without losing the fire in her eyes. He’d seen that in soldiers about to go into the field.

He understood and left her alone.

She was preparing to go to war.

He just hoped she understood she wasn’t going alone. He wasn’t about to let his fiancée face Clemens Kincaid by herself, even if the man was her father.
Especially
since the man was her father. Ivy didn’t seem to have much love for the man, and Hank had a pretty good idea of why that was, based on what Ivy had told him and what Hank had inferred.

Clemens ruled his pack and his family with an iron fist and an outdated sense of place. None of that made too much difference, except for how it affected Ivy and Charlie. And if the man had hurt Charlie, Hank was going to kick his ass. Alpha or not, consequences be damned, Hank was not going to let the man harm the child who was about to be Hank’s son. No way in hell.