Wolf on Board (Wolves of Willow Bend Book 14) (3 page)

Though she’d meant it in jest, his actual horror spread not only across his face, but his scent. “No, I’d never call you a dog. I just thought it was cute that you were nibbling your lip. Adorable, even.”

“So, now I’m adorable?” She paused at the exit to check the oncoming traffic, then glanced at him. “Like poodle or a Pekinese.” Not laughing proved difficult. Returning her attention to the traffic, she floored the accelerator when she saw an opening and swung them back out onto the road. Jake’s frantic gripping offered even more entertainment than his appalled reaction.

“Holy crap, where did you learn to drive?” The words burst out of him.

“Evading the dog catcher 101.” She spotted the coffee stand she’d missed earlier, the coffee cup-shaped sign was a dead giveaway. Shifting gears, she slid into a spot as another car pulled into traffic. A perfect parallel parking job, another perk of her mini. Pulling the safety brake on, she killed the engine and glanced at her passenger. He had his mouth open and his lips moved, but no sound escaped. Smiling, she let herself out and waited outside the vehicle for him to recover.

It also helped that she wasn’t drowning in his scent out here, the ocean breeze vied with the land based one to clear her nose. She drew in a deep breath at the same moment he exited her car, and the wind ruffled his still damp hair. The man should smell like wet wolf, not sunshine, salt, coconut and woods. It seemed a weird, yet heady combination.

While California had its share of forests, they didn’t smell like home to her. The Hudson River wolf shouldn’t either. Jake squinted at her, cocking his head to the side much as he had when she’d found him squatting in front of her on the beach. It was a wholly innocent yet deceptively attractive pose that left a curious number of butterflies fluttering in her belly. “You’re not really mad about the gnaw comment, right?”

“No,” she said, letting him off the hook. Then again, maybe she shouldn’t. “I’ve always enjoyed being compared to toy canines because no one ever remarks on how short I am.”

His eyes widened a fraction, and she couldn’t help it. Her laughter burst free.

“Oh my God, you’re easy.” Clapping her hands together, she continued chuckling. “And now I really do want coffee.”

The relief overtaking him was practically palpable as he followed hot on her heels. A handful of people made up the line to the cart and more continued to drift in their direction. The scent of Arabica beans and sugar filled the air. “What do you want?” Jake glanced down at her, and it was looking
down
. The man was easily as tall as her brother, and Owen was over six feet.

From her five-foot vantage point, she couldn’t even argue for almost the five foot one inch she usually tried for. “Just regular coffee is fine, though that looks good…” She pointed to the whipped cream laden mochaccino the woman at the front of the line carried away with her. “If it didn’t have way too much sugar.”

“So? It’s early, and if you want something sweet, you should have something sweet.” Jake pivoted when someone bumped her from behind. A man muttered an apology then left the line entirely.

Elbowing her erstwhile escort, she hissed in a sub vocal. “Don’t scare off the locals.”

“I’m not,” he replied, all relaxed and easygoing once more. “Just some people should watch where they are going.” He nodded as the line moved, but didn’t nudge her forward. It was a sweet gesture, one she liked even more than his earlier shaking out of the blanket. He didn’t give her a push or try to put a hand on her to guide her forward.

“Still, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.” Her mother said that all the time.

“Why the hell would you want to catch flies?” Jake made a face and she laughed. It was almost comical how he could go from fierce and sexy to goofball and sweet. If she were being honest, and she didn’t have to be…she actually preferred goofball.

“I don’t know. It was just something I heard when I was growing up. Be nice.” It was their turn, and Jake raised an eyebrow at her when she didn’t order immediately, but studied the menu instead. “Go ahead, I still need to decide.”

“Large latte,” he said, surprising her again. “Extra hot, no foam.”

“You got it, Jake.” The man greeted him by name. Apparently, Jake was a regular. It was her first time at this beach, so that explained why she hadn’t run into him before. “What would you like, little lady?”

“She prefers just Lady,” Jake told him. “I’ll be Tramp.”

Fighting the insane urge to laugh again, she forced her twitching lips to stay together. Then a snort escaped… and a second. Finally, she gave up and giggled. “Tramp. It suits you.”

Jake gave her another one of those stunning grins, and her heart did a little flip flop. Her wolf rubbed along the inside of her skin, as if she wanted to rub against Jake. The realization dried up her humor.

“How about I go for that mochaccino? A big one, with extra whipped cream.” Yes, she could feed one bad habit. Maybe a little indulgence was all she needed to get herself back on track. Playing with the other wolf wasn’t on her agenda.

“Perfect.” Approval radiated through Jake’s voice, but she let it go because he already had his wallet out and slid some bills to the vendor. Minutes later, they had their drinks and he pointed toward some picnic tables overlooking the beach. It was rockier there, and birds called to each other as they swooped in and out looking for treats from the others having coffee or snacks at the other tables.

“I should go,” she told him as she followed him toward the table. The one he’d picked was away from the others and gave them a sense of isolation. Instead of sitting on the bench seats, he climbed up to sit on the table itself and she took a seat on the opposite side, but ended up sitting cross-legged.

“Why?” Artless and without guile, he watched her with open curiosity.

“Why should I go?”

“Yeah.” He nodded, took a sip of his latte then stared expectantly.

“Because we’re not supposed to engage in, you know…dalliances.”

“Dalliances…?” He gawked then laughed. The rich masculine timbre sent a wave of goosebumps over her. “What, are we in a Jane Austen novel?”

Try as she might, she couldn’t help it when another wave of giggles escaped her. He had a point. They weren’t anywhere near Jane Austen territory…maybe
Baywatch
or
90210
or even
Sweet Valley High
, but definitely not Jane Austen.

“
Y
ou have
my number in your phone, now,” Jake said as he walked her back to her car. “The burning question is… will you use it?”

“You do know burning is usually the sign of needing to see a healer, right?” The tartness in her response didn’t disguise the hint of bewilderment gleaming in her eyes. She opened the driver’s side door, sliding it neatly between them.

Chuckling, he braced his arms along the top of the door and leaned against it. “Too far away to visit, but if I need to consult one, I could always call your brother.” He’d meant it as a tease, but irritation replaced surprise in her sweet gaze. Anger seasoned her scent, and Jake raised his hands in surrender. “Kidding. I swear.” The last thing he wanted was for her to drive away and never come back.

Suspicion edged the anger in her scent, and her eyes narrowed. “It’s not funny.”

“Noted.” Sober and serious, he raised his chin to bare his throat. The action flew in the face of dealing with a she-wolf they wanted to impress; yet neither he nor his wolf rejected the concept. He’d made a misstep, and he wanted to prove his sincerity.

“Apology accepted.” The forgiveness validated his action, as did the fact she her remained where she stood rather than climbing into the vehicle.

“So, will you call me?” If she didn’t say yes, he’d have to find a way to keep her around.

Resting against the side of her car, she canted her head and studied him. The assessment in her gaze told him she took his measure and still couldn’t box him into a neat category. “You do realize we’re Lone Wolves, right?”

“I am. You’re on sabbatical.” Or so she’d indicated during their time on the picnic table. “You’re roaming, going to school, and having a break. That’s not quite the same thing as being a Lone Wolf.”

“You’re splitting hairs.”

Grinning, he tapped a thumb to his chest. “Rule breaker, baby. Besides, there’s no law against hanging out or having fun.”

Sucking her lower lip against her teeth, she shook her head slowly. “Breaking rules is
not
cool. They are implemented for more than just our personal safety, but the sanctity of the packs.”

Surprised, he raised his eyebrows. “Do you really believe that reasoning?” The laws came down through the generations, yet they lived in an ever-changing world.
Evolve or die.

“Why wouldn’t I believe it? My father was a Hunter, my brother is a Hunter, and my other brothers will likely head along the same path. My mother is a teacher, she leads instruction in our history and the consequences we’ve faced.”

All fair points, but…
“Didn’t your Alpha find his mate while a Lone Wolf?” He’d met Mason, years before, when the then Lone Wolf hung out in Hudson River. As an angry teenager, he’d formed a surprising friendship with Brett, the Alpha of Hudson River.

“Just because he found his mate while a Lone Wolf, doesn’t mean he broke the laws…well, not much.” Countering her own argument, Mimi made a face then shook her head. “That’s not the point.”

“Of course it is. He broke the rules then he took over Willow Bend and mated the woman of his dreams. At the end of the day, your pack is better for it.” He might not be interested in the drama of it all, but he definitely understood the politics.

Her nose wrinkled, and her pink tongue appeared between her teeth briefly. Oh, he’d gotten to her.
Time to go in for the kill.

“Come on, you have to admit, your pack is better for that little bending of the rules, right?”

Folding her arms, she regarded him with a troubled expression which eventually dissolved into consternation. “I can’t argue that point, but exceptions are not the rule. Three Rivers violated every rule we have and created a problem we’re all still dealing with.”

Okay, she’d brought up an issue he couldn’t deny, except… “Really? How are you dealing with it? You’re here in sunny California. You’re going to school and hanging out with the ridiculously charming and attractive me. How bad can it be?”

Laughter burst out of her and pride swelled in his chest. He wanted to fist pump at the delighted sound she made. “Very proud of yourself, aren’t you?”

“Oh yes, but then I’m worth it.” He told her, almost confidentially. “Call me, and you’ll get the opportunity to know me more and I promise, it will be worth it.”

“Oh my God.” She tilted her head back and stared at the sky, but her surrender trembled right there at the edge of her tongue. “You’re impossible.”

“It’s all part of my charm.” Confidence growing, he decided to close the deal with his best puppy dog eyes. “Call me, pretty please with chimichangas on top?”

“Fine,” she said, spreading her hands wide. She gave his arms a light swat. “I’ll call. Now go away, I have to get to class.”

Satisfied by the honesty ringing in her voice, he withdrew. “I’ll be waiting for the call.”

Instead of responding right away, she slid into the car and started the engine then opened the passenger window and glanced at him. The heat in her gaze licked over him, as did a hint of devilment. “I said I’d call, pretty boy. I didn’t say when.”

Then she peeled out into traffic with an expert skill he almost envied.

True, she hadn’t said when, but she had called him pretty and he’d texted himself from her phone so he had her number, too.

Tossing his phone into the air, he caught it and then strolled toward the beach to head back to his van, whistling all the way.

He killed the next few hours by driving to a job down south along the beach to repaint the interior of a home. He stopped along the way and picked up the primers he’d need, as well as the paint order the owners had pre-purchased. Painting houses wasn’t his favorite gig, but it paid well.

At the beach house, he prowled the exterior then the interior and got a feel for the place. It had been stripped of all furniture and professionally cleaned. The only scents he detected were a hint of the cleaning crew and way too much ammonia. After throwing open all the windows to let the ocean breezes clear out the stench, he fetched his equipment inside and stripped down to only his shorts.

Starting on one side of the house, he primered his way to the other. The monotony of sanding and priming the walls for their fresh colors relaxed his mind even as his muscles burned from the repetitive action. When he’d finished the first primer coat, he took a break and grabbed food from a truck parked along the public beach a quarter of a mile away—two fully loaded burritos, chips, and a jug of sweetened ice tea. He carried his bounty back to the deck and hopped up to sit in the sun. The food tasted good, and the breeze off the ocean called to him.

Still, the waves were too sluggish and not enough to make him throw in the towel on the painting. The owners gave him a week to get it all done. The floors were next on their list, then furniture. Jake didn’t care much; he’d have the painting done in plenty of time.

When he’d finished his burritos, he pulled out his phone and called his brother. He hadn’t forgotten Mitch’s advice or the warning about foreign wolves encroaching within the North American territories. Most of California remained unclaimed, despite the size and scope of the state. Not his question or problem.

Luc answered on the first ring. “If not for voice control on phones, kiddo, I’d worry your finger was broken.”

“You do know when we cut the apron strings, they previously attached us to Mom and not each other, right?” Despite his earlier grievance with Luc’s texts, Jake had to admit it was good to hear his brother’s voice. “That’s why I expect nagging from her…”

“Watch it.” The friendly growl in Luc’s voice served as a playful warning. If he did it again, play was over. “I’m not nagging.”

Jake snorted a laugh and didn’t comment on Luc not defending their mother’s habits. “Fair point. So, as requested, oh great older and allegedly wiser brother of mine, I’m checking in. Mitch showed up to let me know you were wringing your hands in absolute distress, beside yourself for the sound of my voice.”

“Punk.” Affection salted the word. “Did he also alert you to the Russian issue?” So, teasing time was over.

“Yep. I’ll keep my eyes open and my alert high, but I can count on one hand the number of wolves I’ve run into in the last year. You’d think California would have way more, but they tend to avoid the place. I’m betting it’s because Julian has that boat in San Diego.”

A little tit for tat. The Chief Enforcer’s living arrangements weren’t a classified secret, but not many knew where he hung his hat. In fact, if half the tales Jake had heard over the years were true…very little was known by the average wolf about the biggest, baddest boogeyman in a Lone Wolf’s life.

“Niiice, I hadn’t heard that one.” His brother’s neutral tone didn’t betray whether he meant the sentiment or not. “Who else have you run into?”

Chugging back a long drink of the sweetened ice tea first, Jake let the cool flavor whet his whistle. He should probably have grabbed a second one, but he’d make do with water from the tap when he finished the jug. “Luc, how long did you go Lone Wolf?”

“Fifteen years, give or take.” No hesitation in the answer.

“How many times did I call you and make you check in like you owed me an answer?” Though he wasn’t particularly looking for a fight, Lone Wolves didn’t answer to their former packs.

“Once.”

Jake paused, trying to remember exactly when he’d done that…

“Mom was on your ass because you wouldn’t take an apprenticeship with the Hunters, didn’t want to visit any colleges and had no plans past what you were doing the following Saturday night.” Luc’s description didn’t help much. For the most part, Jake’s plans still followed a similar pattern. He went where the wind took him, dove into jobs that amused him or at least turned a quick buck, then chased his next challenge.

“Fine, then I’ll give you this call to harass me. But, dude, what I do, where I go and who I see? Not your business or your problem.” Silence greeted his bald statement, so he continued. “That said, I get there’s issues with the packs and security. I already told Mitch I’d keep my head down and avoid confrontation. It’s not really my bag anyway.” He was a lover, not a fighter. “If I do catch wind of trouble, I’ll make sure word gets to you.”

Luc said nothing, then a low masculine voice in the background behind his brother murmured three words. “Leave him alone.”

Apprehension skittered up Jake’s spine and he sat straighter. The voice of their Alpha was unmistakable. So did a single realization. “Thank you, Brett, but I should apologize for giving Luc a hard time. The protection of the pack is paramount.” No matter how much distance he tried to put between himself and the pack, Brett was still his Alpha. He and his wolf both recognized the fierceness of the man they’d left behind, but not abandoned.

“Nah,” Brett’s laconic humor drifted through the single syllable. “Never apologize for giving him a hard time. He needs more of it, not less.”

“Uh huh.” Instead of being annoyed, Luc sounded more amused. “I get plenty right here at home. Surfer boy doesn’t have to play.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Jake grumbled, but he also grinned. “I gotta get back to work in a few, but for the sake of peace, I did meet a sweet little wolf this morning from Willow Bend. She’s here going to school. Name is Mimi Chase.”

“Owen’s sister?” Brett’s question came through loud and clear.

“Yes, sir.”

“Keep an eye on her, be support if she requires it, and don’t let anything happen to her.” The orders rattled off from his Alpha with crystal clarity, each one tightening the choke chain on Jake’s wolf, except—they really didn’t. He wanted to see her and keep an eye on her, so he could do his Alpha a favor and do what he wanted at the same time.
Win-win.

“Can do,” he replied, and didn’t even try to play the game of asking tit for tat. In the two years since he left to go Lone Wolf, no one had demanded his return and Brett hadn’t made him feel bad for the request. If his Alpha asked…
My alpha. Son of a bitch. He really is still my alpha.
Deep in his gut, he’d known he’d go home someday.

“Need any money, kid?” No judgment hung in the question. Brett likely knew his nomadic lifestyle left little room for fund-building.

“Nah, I’m good. Working a job for spending cash right now, but thanks for the offer.”

“Anytime, you need it, just call and I’ll overnight the cards to you.” The pack maintained accounts for travelers to access, but he’d always turned down previous offers. It was too much of a tether.

“Yes, sir.” Luc laughed, whether at him or his formality, he didn’t know so Jake mumbled, “Bite me.” His brother laughed harder.

“Stay safe, dude.”

“Right back atcha.”

They disconnected, and Jake stared at the ocean, but it wasn’t the waves that he focused on. Instead, he saw the real reason he’d avoided the calls from home.

They reminded him how much he
did
miss his pack.

Drama and all.

His phone buzzed, and the message from Brett was only two words.
We’re here.

Yes. Yes, they were. It didn’t matter he was on the other side of the continent; he felt them.

Tucking the phone back into his pocket, Jake cleaned up the remnants of his lunch. Time to get back to work. The sooner he finished the painting job, the sooner he could indulge in better pursuits…like one sexy little wolf from Willow Bend.

T
wo days
after encountering Jake on the beach, Mimi followed her nose into a charming antique bookstore. The cooking class she’d finished focused on making cupcakes. Decadent cupcakes. Goofy cupcakes. Confections galore. The scents of sugar, food colorings, piped frosting and fondant cluttered her senses, but she’d enjoyed the hell out of the experience.

The bookstore, however, boasted scents of dust, leather binding, papyrus, and even better…coffee. Hot, fresh brewed coffee with just the right amount of dark Arabica bite to cut through the sugar coating her taste buds. She’d kill for a large cup. Fortunately, all she had to do was wade through the store and get in line. Three people were ahead of her, so she distracted herself by studying the tiny bookshop.