Wild Instinct (15 page)

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but Lisa sent me over to let you know Megan’s taking a nap and she’ll bring her by in a couple hours when she wakes up.”

There was no hope for it. Sarah Anne was going to have to turn around. She took a step back. Garrett allowed it, but he didn’t let her go far. His hand on her stomach kept them connected, kept the fire burning. Before her stood a pretty woman with long brown hair. She looked a lot like Heather but there was an innate softness about her. And her smile guaranteed the recipient wanted to smile back. As if she wasn’t blushing hot enough to start a bonfire, Sarah held out her hand. “I’m Sarah Anne.”

Amusement danced in the woman’s eyes as she took her hand. “I’m Kelon’s wife, Robin.”

Automatically Sarah breathed her scent. Robin wrinkled her nose. “I’ll save you the effort. I’m human. Heather is my sister.”

She knew that. Somewhere in the depths of her beleaguered brain she knew that Wyatt, Donovan and Kelon had married human sisters.

Robin tilted her head to the side and put her hands on her hips. “If you have a problem with that, we can have a chat.”

Garrett’s hand pressed warningly. “She has no problem with that.”

Robin cut Garrett a glance. “It’s nice to know you don’t think so, but your opinion is not the one I’m looking for.”

“My opinion is hers.”

Robin rolled her eyes and shook her head. “I do not understand how werewolf women put up with this.”

“Kelon doesn’t tell you what to do?” Sarah Anne asked.

Robin waved her hand. “Oh, he tries, but I just listen to what pleases me and negotiate the rest.”

Sarah Anne could just imagine the negotiations that serious, dark Kelon got into with this cheerful sprite of a woman. It was the first time she was happy her face was already red.

“You’ll like this about this pack. Women have a lot of say in a lot of things. Heather insists on it.”

“She does?”

“Yep. And I’ve got to tell you, the woman is in her glory. She’s finally got enough to manage.”

Robin put her hand on her full hip and pushed her hair back. “For ten years, you see, she only had Lisa and I to rule.”

“From what I hear, she could’ve been stricter.”

With a wave of her hand, Robin dismissed Garrett’s reprimand. “You heard about the waterfall incident.”

“No Protector hasn’t.”

Robin sighed. “One skinny-dipping session and a woman’s branded a troublemaker for life.”

“It wasn’t the skinny dipping that got you in trouble.”

“There was no way to know Donovan would be training the new soldiers over there that night.”

“Had you told your mate, you would have been informed.”

Robin rolled her eyes again. “And guarded. Which would have totally defeated the point of a girls’ night out.”

“You endangered yourself.”

Robin sighed and glanced at Sarah Anne, clearly looking for support. “That single-minded devotion to protection gets old fast.”

“I used to think so.”

She felt a surge of Garrett’s energy that indicated surprise. Stepping out of his arms, she held her hand out to Robin. She had a feeling they were going to be good friends.

Robin shook it. “But you came back?”

Sarah nodded, and stepped back. “I had this crazy idea it could be managed.”

Across the compound, she could see Kelon approaching. Robin’s gaze followed hers. A lovely soft smile touched her lips. “It can, but it’s a delicate balance.”

“Woman, you were told to wait for me,” Kelon growled as soon as he got close.

“I knew you’d be along shortly and Heather asked me to deliver a message.”

“It’s not safe for you to be out alone.”

Robin rolled her eyes. “Could you excuse us?”

Kelon reached for her arm. Before he could grab her, Robin slipped her arms around his waist, kissed his chest through his open shirt. “Not here.”

His big hand anchored in her hair. Sarah Anne would have feared for her except for the fact that no scent of tension flowed off Robin. And when she thought about it, Kelon wasn’t throwing stress, either. “I think here would be very appropriate. You have been very defiant of late.”

Robin whispered against his chest, “I totally lack discipline.”

Behind her Sarah Anne felt Garrett’s start. Wolf hearing was extraordinary, something Robin had forgotten.

Robin pressed her body closer to Kelon. Her smile as she looked up was total seductive amusement. “You might even need to take me in hand.”

Kelon’s face didn’t change, but his scent grew muskier with desire. “I was thinking the same thing.”

Robin’s sigh was exaggerated. “Of course, you know how I get when you discipline me, but if you don’t mind others seeing . . .”

Kelon swore and swung her up in his arms. She looked very small there, but very at home. “You have no shame.”

She linked her arms around his neck. “I’ll work on it.”

As he turned, he smiled. “Don’t bother on my account.”

Robin’s laugh trailed behind them as Kelon carried them toward the big blue house next door.

Sarah Anne watched, a smile tugging her own lips. Human or not, there was an aura of invincibility about Robin. She looked at Garrett. “Maybe I wasn’t so crazy after all. Maybe you can be managed.”

SARAH Anne thought she could manage him. Garrett watched the swish of Sarah Anne’s hips as she preceded him down the sidewalk. She was in a strange mood. He didn’t trust it. Something had happened in that room with Teri. Had Daire said something to the other woman over the course of her care? Something that scared Sarah when Teri repeated it? A frightened woman would have reason to cozy up to her Protector. The idea didn’t sit well.

With a slight lengthening of stride, he reached the door to their house before Sarah Anne did. A hand on her arm stayed her.

“I’ll check it out first.”

She smiled calmly as if every other time he’d insisted on checking the house she hadn’t rolled her eyes. A quick mental and physical scan of the interior revealed no one waiting.

“Okay.”

That “okay” was entirely too easy, increasing his suspicions that something must have gone on in that room with Teri today. He couldn’t imagine what it was. But whatever it was needed to be dealt with. Sarah Anne had enough stress waiting on word about her son.

“Did you have a good visit with Teri?”

Her immediate frown confirmed his suspicions.

“It was enlightening.”

Enlightening. There was a broad term. He’d begun to understand how she protected herself. While she thought in terms of absolutes, she shielded herself with vagaries. He could probe her mind for the information he wanted, but he rejected the idea as soon as he had it. He wanted her to give to him on her own.

With a motion of his hand, he waved her into the house. She stepped past without her usual care. Her shoulder grazed his chest. The door closed behind them with a soft click. His eyes dropped naturally to the gentle swish of her rear. Inside, the heat rose. Despite his suspicions there was nothing tense in her posture. Sarah Anne picked up the day’s mail, sorted through the letters. He already knew there was nothing of import there, but a couple pieces of junk mail had been forwarded. She tapped the envelopes against her arm.

“Looks like my mail is beginning to be forwarded.”

“That’s good.” Though in reality he’d prefer that all contact with her past was severed.

“It still makes me nervous.”

“Why?”

She waved the envelopes. “They know where we are.”

“They’ve always known where you were.”

He’d made sure of it, announcing far and wide his claim on Sarah Anne. If any more wolves wanted a chance at the widow, they needed to know they were going to have to go through him and Pack Haven first.

“It just seems . . .”

“Obvious?”

“Yes.”

She’d been living among the humans too long. Werewolves always dealt in the obvious, always dealt in absolutes. He studied her, feeling the flux of her energy. Scenting her nervousness. Again it struck him she was different from other females. But for once the sense of dissatisfaction didn’t follow, because he was coming to realize her differences gave his differences a certain acceptance that he might not have found with a traditional werewolf woman who dealt in absolutes.

“Sometimes obvious is good.”

She glanced past him out the window bordering the door, her hair falling over her shoulder in a rich swath of brown, and frowned. “Maybe.”

They were back to whatever happened in that room to alarm her.

“Did Teri say something to upset you?”

“As I said, it was enlightening.”

He took one step forward and then another. Expecting her to retreat. She didn’t. “So you said before. I’m just not sure what that means.”

Her head cocked to the side and her face took on that expression he was used to seeing on others’ faces. A mix of fear and uncertainty that said they were searching for the words to break bad news.

“Whatever it is, just spit it out.”

“What?”

Garett sighed. “Whatever it is you think I’m going to take wrong.”

Her sigh echoed his. “You’re always expecting the worst.”

“Habit.”

Sarah Anne cocked her head to the side. “For a pessimist you have some amazingly optimistic tendencies.”

“Like what?”

“Like thinking this between us is going to work out.”

“It will.”

“Because you won’t accept any less?”

Garrett shook his head. “No. I’m not fool enough to think I can force feeling where there is none.”

Her mouth opened, then snapped closed. She tossed the mail on the table. “What
are
you fool enough to think?”

It was just like Sarah Anne to challenge when she should back down.

“I think I have a mate.”

“Even if I was forced on you?”

That stopped him in his tracks. “You were the one that was forced.”

“I’m not blind, Garrett. I’ve seen how much you value pack. A full-blood mate would suit your ambitions more.”

“The thought had crossed my mind, but . . .”

“Then why did you mate with me?”

He took the two strides that closed the distance between them. Reaching out, he cupped her cheek in his hand and stroked his thumb across her lips, catching her gasp against the pad of his thumb.

“But that was before I met you,” he finished.

“You wouldn’t have looked at me twice if the circumstances were different.”

Was she trying to convince him or herself?

The image of her in that cave, so determined to protect her children, so ready to throw her fragile body into a battle she couldn’t win, stuck in his head. She was brave, resourceful and loyal. Any man would be proud to have her. “What makes you say that?”

“Your distinct lack of enthusiasm for my company outside the bedroom.”

He blinked again, absorbing that. “I didn’t think you wanted my attention.”

She shrugged. Her gaze skirted his.

He rubbed his thumb across her lips. “Seelie, rest assured, had I met you anywhere, I would have set to courting you immediately.”

“Courting?”

She didn’t have to say it as if it were the most unlikely event on the planet. “Yes, I would have courted you.” He bent, moved his thumb to the sensitive corner of her mouth and pressed until her lips parted before teasing the seam with the tip of his tongue. Another gasp kissed his lips. “What’s more, I would have enjoyed it.”

Her tongue came out and touched his. “Prove it.”

“What?”

“Court me.”

“We’re already mated.”

She took a step back, her gaze locked on his, a very feminine smile on her lips. “Then you’ve got some catching up to do.”

With a toss of her head she turned and headed for the kitchen. As he watched the sassy twitch of her hips, he smiled. “I guess I do.”