“Oh! I know someone who could help!” Wynona’s eyes lit up. “My niece Daisy. Her mate is Ryker Harrison, that former boxer who manufactures a line of sportswear? They could give her all the work that she could handle.”
Zane smiled at that. “That would be much appreciated.”
Then it hit her. “Wait, you said once you and I are married.” She stared at him. Was she hearing him right?
He laughed. “Well, of course. Now that I’ve finally got you civilized enough that you won’t embarrass me in public.”
That earned him a smack on the arm. “Zane Shepherd, you did not just say that.”
“I mean, given how feral you are, it took a lot of training and patience, but— Ow! I give! I give!” He laughed, dodging more blows.
“Of course,” he mused, “Aunt Christine will be annoyed once she realizes that she let an unmarried couple stay in the same bedroom on her property. She’s old fashioned that way. But we’ll worry about that later.” Then his brows drew together in a scowl. “I should have come up with a more romantic way to propose. And I shouldn’t presume.”
“True.” But she was grinning ear to ear. She felt a warm glow filling her as she looked up into the face of the big, handsome lug who was going to be her husband.
He reached out and took her hand in his, his expression earnest. “So…let’s say I were to actually propose in a proper fashion…do I have a good shot at getting a yes?”
She tried to look stern, but couldn’t completely hide her smile. “Fair to middling. Depending on the time of day, my mood, and any alternative offers I’ve received in the meantime.”
“Fair to middling.” He nodded. “I like those odds.” He set his empty coffee mug down in the sink, then added “And anyone who even thinks of making offers to you had better be able to run very fast.” His grin was fierce, and he bared white teeth, and she didn’t think he was kidding.
She glanced out the window again. “We’re supposed to be gathering eggs now, aren’t we?”
“That we are.”
After they’d gathered the eggs, they took them to the house and helped to make pancakes.
Right after they’d finished breakfast, a car pulled up. Zane tensed and went to look out the window, then he relaxed again. It must be someone he knows, Wynona thought.
A man was pulling a lawnmower across the lawn, and Frederick left the house to go take a look at it.
Wynona and Zane put the dishes into the sink and then went outside.
“Randolph, that’s the second time you’ve bent those blades this month,” Frederick was saying to the man, shaking his head. “You’re going to have to be more careful.”
Randolph gave Zane a look, and Zane nodded slightly as Dean helped Frederick to drag the lawnmower off to his workshop to tinker with it.
Wynona got the message. The neighbors could only keep up this pretense for so long; Frederick would figure out that they were breaking stuff on purpose to give him work, and his pride would be hurt.
“We should go somewhere there’s cell reception and see if there’s any news,” Wynona said. There was no cell phone coverage at the Wileys’ house. She was hoping they’d get good news; if Sergio had been captured, it might be safe for them to go home.
As they drove, she said, “Let me guess. You’re sending the neighbors money to cover all the extra repairs they’re paying for, aren’t you?”
He grinned at her. “I’m glad I’m marrying a smart woman. That is, maybe I will, if I get lucky and you say yes.”
Once they got close enough to the only cell phone tower in the area, Zane pulled over so that they could make their phone calls.
Zane called the police department and Rex, while Wynona called Gillian. She got a text message back from Gillian saying, “I’m on the phone with a client. Everything is going well at the office and Zane’s friends, while their grammar is atrocious, are otherwise very nice. Also, thank you. You shouldn’t have.”
Thank you for what? Wynona wondered. Also, that was so Gillian; she’d sent a text that was longer than most people’s emails.
Zane was shaking his head as he hung up.
“Well, the police have made some progress,” he said. “The good news is that the owners of the asylum have been arrested, and it’s been confirmed that Sergio is in North Carolina.”
Alarm shot through her. “How is that good news?”
“Because he’ll probably be somewhere in the area where he thinks we are, which will make him easier to catch.”
He turned the car around, and they headed back to the Wileys’ house.
“So, here we are trapped in the countryside, with all this time on our hands,” he said. “We’ll help out around the house, of course, but other than that, we’ve still got so much free time. What to do, what to do?” He grinned wickedly and, keeping one hand on the wheel, stroked Wynona’s arm. He left little doubt as to how he planned to fill up those empty hours.
Chapter Sixteen
Zane and Wynona spent the next several days lying low and helping out around the Wileys’ house. Wynona helped in the garden, and Zane and Dean repaired a fence and the chicken coop. The Wileys owned their property and had an interested buyer, so when they moved onto Zane’s property, they could use the money from the sale of their house to pay off medical bills and send Dean to college.
At the end of the week, they drove to Fox Hollow and parked in front of the tiny convenience store and gas station. Zane called the police, who finally had good news. The police had tracked down the Shark, who was well known to Interpol and who was wanted for several other homicides. To avoid the death penalty, he was cooperating. Sergio Molfetta was hiding out in the woods south of Cedar Park, and there was a full-on man hunt, with tracker wolf shifters leading the charge.
“That’s great news for us,” Zane said to Wynona. “Apparently, Sergio’s been spotted running through the woods, and they know exactly where he is. They should have him captured by the end of the day. We can go back and start planning our wedding.”
“Yes!” Wynona said happily. And then, “Oh.” Because she still couldn’t tell him about the deal with Cecily and Hubert, and now she was screwed. And probably going to jail for several years, unless her lawyer could perform miracles. Would Zane be okay with conjugal visits?
“What?” He looked at her face closely.
“Nothing,” she murmured.
“Liar. Wynona, we’re going to be married. Something’s been bothering you. I’ve shared everything with you now, told you all the secrets of my past. Tell me what’s wrong.”
She swallowed hard and looked away.
“Damn it, Wynona!” Zane was so angry that his face actually went furry, and the bones shifted and rippled under his skin.
“I can’t,” she said, tears burning her eyes. “I mean, I really can’t. Legally. And just by saying that, I’ve probably said too much.”
She turned and stalked into the convenience store, her heart pounding in her chest. She heard a roar of anger behind her; Zane didn’t follow her in.
Breathing hard, she walked through the store and out into the back parking lot.
This was probably it, then.
Of course Zane would want to call things off. How could he be married to a woman who kept secrets from him?
He’d refuse to mate Tiffany, at least – thank God for that. That would have been a disaster.
Cecily and Hubert would press charges against Wynona, and it would be near impossible for her to prove that she hadn’t participated in the scam.
Her phone rang, with Gillian’s ringtone, and she grabbed it and answered it.
“Hello, there!” Gillian’s voice was unusually chipper.
“Hey, you. What’s up? How is business going?”
“Business is excellent. Our clients have been very patient. Do you have any idea when you’re coming home?”
“It might be as soon as tomorrow. By the way, what were you thanking me for?”
“Y
ou know,” Gillian said cheerfully. “You really shouldn’t have. Was it an early birthday present?”
“Was what an early birthday present?”
Gillian’s voice took on a tone of hushed reverence. “The first edition Roget’s Thesaurus. The flowers were nice as well, but…this was a real first-edition Roget’s Thesaurus. From the 1850s. It must have cost a fortune.”
She sounded so touched that Wynona really hated to break it to her. “Gillian, that wasn’t me. There was no card or note with it?”
“No, it was just sitting on my desk when I arrived at work in the morning. That was why I thought you’d had it delivered.”
Wynona felt an odd ripple of unease. “I thought you were going to be working from home.”
“Oh, it’s all right – Rex and Tara and Panhead accompanied me. The alarm was still on when we arrived, and Rex went in while Tara and Panhead guarded me in the hall. I had to fetch some files.”
“I wasn’t the one who sent you the book, Gillian. That’s very odd. That sounds like it would be worth thousands of dollars.”
“I wonder… No, that seems unlikely.”
“What seems unlikely?”
“There is a gentleman who’s been coming to the coffee shop that you and I frequent. He and I had a conversation the other day, after he correctly pointed out the poor grammar in the New York Times article I was reading. And…” She paused, then continued in a confiding tone. “I actually had feelings when I spoke to him. I should be more precise. I had a different type of feeling. It was a feeling that I have never experienced before. It’s possible that it was…” she lowered her voice “…physical attraction.”
A grammar freak who could get past the alarm system in her office? “What did he look like?” Wynona asked, her heart sinking.
Gillian described him. Tall, lean, military haircut. Yukon wolf shifter.
Leander.
“Don’t worry, Sprinkles liked him, so he must be of excellent character,” Gillian said confidently.
No, Sprinkles needed his damn like-o-meter checked.
“All right then,” Wynona said with forced cheer. “What time are you going to lunch today?”
“Noon. The same time I always do. Don’t worry – Rex or Panhead will accompany me to the coffee shop.”
“Just make sure they’re with you at all times,” Wynona said, trying not to reveal the worry in her voice. “Okay, talk to you soon!”
Wynona hung up and rushed back into the convenience store – where Zane, shirtless, with his pants shredded, was looking around frantically. He must have partially shifted and ruined his clothes.
“Where did you go?” he demanded. “I couldn’t find you. I thought Sergio got to you!”
“How? He’s in North Carolina. And I was out back for, like, five minutes.”
“I’m sorry I snapped at you. Would you mind just smacking me upside the head or something? It would make me feel better.”
“Maybe later,” Wynona said, heading out the front door. “We need to be back in Cedar Park before noon. I don’t care how we do it.”
As they climbed into Zane’s car, she told him about Gillian’s mystery admirer.
“So you think it’s him?” he said.
“I’m sure it’s him. I want to confront him and ask him what the hell he’s doing.”
“All right.” He nodded. “As long as I’m with you. I don’t think there’s too much danger back in Cedar Park anymore. Sergio’s got so much heat on him right now that he’s not going to be able to hire another hitman; not like he could pay any of them sitting in prison. There’s a private airfield near here. We’ll head there right now, and I’ll call the Wileys and let them know.”
Zane paid for a charter flight, and they flew back to Cedar Park. It took them about an hour and a half. They rented a car at the airport and drove straight to the restaurant.
They headed straight to the café, arriving early. Wynona had a quick word with the waitress, who was a friend of hers. She let them hide in the kitchen and watch the door until Leander walked in.
When he entered, he looked around the whole room and took a seat at the counter facing the door. A few minutes later, Gillian walked in.
Wynona and Zane hurried out of the kitchen and stalked up to him just as he approached Gillian to say hello.
“Leander, what do you think that you’re doing?” Wynona demanded furiously. Zane folded his arms and glowered at Leander.
For the first time, Leander’s confident demeanor wavered.
“I am…drinking coffee?” he suggested.
“I can see that. What an amazing coincidence that it happens to be here. Why are you stalking my office manager?” Wynona pressed.
“I have no bad intentions toward her,” he protested. “In fact, I want to court her.”
Wynona remembered him asking if Gillian’s husband would be nice to Sprinkles. He’d been fishing to find out if Gillian was single.
“You want to court me?” Gillian’s face lit up. Then she looked at Wynona with concern. “Wait. How do you know him and why are you here?”
“He’s the person I told you about – the one I met in the parking lot who was hired to assassinate me.” Leander visibly flinched at that, and glanced nervously at Gillian to see her reaction.
Gillian’s eyes were huge behind the thick lenses of her glasses. “Is this true?” she gasped.
Leander’s face fell. He swallowed hard, then looked her in the eye.
“It is,” he said. “I have retired, and I was very lonely. Wynona described you in such a way that I found you irresistible.”
“Insanely detail oriented, constantly nagging, obsessive-compulsive grammar Nazi?” Wynona stared at him.
“Who rescues animals,” Leander added, nodding approvingly.
“I had no idea you thought so highly of me,” Gillian said to Wynona, without a trace of irony in her voice.
Then she looked at Leander. “As for you,” she said severely, “I was not aware that I even possessed a heart in the romantic sense, and now you have broken it. Not literally, of course, or I would be deceased, but figuratively. You were contemplating the murder of my dearest…well, my only friend. You must leave at once and not return.”
“But I saved her life by warning her that Sergio was after her.”
“Not enough.” She was pale but resolute. Leander went pale, but he nodded.
“I understand,” he said mournfully. “But just so you know my intentions are sincere, my real name is Terrence Marshall, and my address is 3720 Rural Route 20 in Finsterville, New York. I am putting my life and my freedom in your hands. I came here for an assignment, but I would move here if you wanted me to. If you ever wish to see me again—”
“I won’t,” Gillian said, tears brimming in her eyes. “Come along, Sprinkles.” As she walked away, Sprinkles let out a mournful yelp and looked sadly at Leander.
Chapter Seventeen
Zane and Wynona spent the night at a hotel under an assumed name, and the next morning, Sergio was captured by game wardens. This time, he’d be standing trial for attempted murder. The nightmare was over. Well, one part of Wynona’s nightmare was over. She still hadn’t dealt with Zane’s clan. Her attorney had run into a dead end trying to track down her ex, and couldn’t dig up any proof that the contract had been forged.
She had a temporary reprieve, because Hubert and Cecily and most of Zane’s clan had decided to take an emergency vacation to Switzerland when they’d first heard that an assassin was gunning for him. They left several threatening messages for Wynona, telling her that if Zane wasn’t ready to marry Tiffany when they got back, they were immediately going to press charges.
Over the next few days, Zane didn’t say another word to Wynona about the secret she was keeping from him. He slept at her house and acted like the perfect bear – sexy, thoughtful, mildly crude, and very attentive. He was still paranoid about her safety; he drove her to work each morning and picked her up when she got off
at night.
Rare, first-edition books of love poetry kept showing up at the office addressed to Gillian, who indignantly refused their delivery. Wynona had never seen her so gloomy. That was why she insisted that Gillian come with her, when Zane invited her to lunch mid-week.
Wynona and Gillian walked into the restaurant, where Zane was waiting for them. To her surprise, she saw that Cecily and Hubert had walked in ahead of her. They must have just gotten back from their vacation. They stood in the lobby of Hamilton’s, scowling and looking at Wynona as if they’d just smelled something bad.
“What is the meaning of this?” Hubert demanded of Zane, looking at Wynona with annoyance. “Why is she here? You’re spending far too much time with this woman. Tiffany’s father is starting to complain. You haven’t been in touch with Tiffany in at least a week. You should be courting her, sending her gifts and—”
“While you’ve been away, I’ve been taking a closer look at our family’s business,” Zane interrupted him coolly.
Hubert and Cecily started, and glanced at each other with worried expressions.
“I wasn’t aware of that,” Hubert said uneasily. “You should have come to me first. I am the CEO. Any questions you have to ask, I could have answered. What were you looking for, specifically?”
“Well, it started because it was pretty obvious to me that you were blackmailing Wynona,” Zane said. At Hubert’s furious glare, he added, “Oh, she didn’t tell me about it. She couldn’t. I saw the non-disclosure agreement in the contract you forced her to sign.”
“You went through my file cabinets!” Hubert balled his fists, and Cecily sucked in her breath in outrage. “You went into my office! That’s trespassing. I’ll have you arrested. Too bad they don’t have co-ed jails, or you two could have adjoining cells,” he said with a scornful glance at Wynona.
A Grizzly Kind Of Love (The Mating Game Book 3) Page 10