Lone Wolf

by Tessa Clarke

  “Hey,” Leif said, as they approached the helicopter. “I have to go refuel at the airport. But do you want to go grab a bite to eat after that? I know a roadside diner on the way back that makes a mean burrito, and it has a landing spot right nearby.”

  Delany bit her lower lip. That was sounding dangerously like a date. A date that she absolutely wanted to go out on.

  She let her eyes sweep his taut, muscled body and chiseled face. What the hell? Why would she pass him up, even if all he was offering was a one-night stand? It could be a rock-your-panties-off, once-in-a-lifetime, one-night stand. And she was good with that.

  Of course when she saw him with another woman, it would be a different story. Cause he was more than that. From what she could tell, he was also smart, kind, and funny. He was definitely boyfriend or even husband material.

  But for now, the evening spring air was ever so sweet, and she was getting in a helicopter with the hottest man she’d ever laid eyes on.

  “Sure,” she said. “Let’s go grab something to eat.

  Chapter Four: Leif

  Delany seemed to just get sexier by the second. The air from the rotors had mussed up her red curls in a most disarming way, and as he lifted the helicopter from the ground by the raptor center, Leif couldn’t stop thinking about that gorgeous hair against his white sheets while he plunged his cock into her and made her cry out.

  It was a damn good thing that flying was so second nature that he could to it with his mind on things like how her generous tits would look once he released them from the pink lace bra that he kept getting glimpses of. The way her green eyes had lit up in excitement as they first lifted off the ground had nearly felled him. He’d wanted to fly her anywhere she wanted at that moment.

  Play it cool, he reminded himself. You’re not looking for a mate. Besides, she’d already been a bit spooked by his suggestion that they go hiking. He wondered what else Barry had told her about him.

  Especially about him being a shifter. It wasn’t a completely well kept secret in town, and and as his mother’s second cousin twice removed or some such thing, Leif knew that Barry knew.

  Maybe he’d told Delany. Leif’s jaw tightened. Somehow this mattered to him more than it ever had.

  While a lot of women liked wolf shifters, not all of them did, especially if they thought that being with one meant being with his brothers too. But Leif was a lone wolf. His brothers would have no part of his future mate. His future mate. He wasn’t really going down that path, was he? Suddenly he wanted Delany more than he could put to words.

  She seemed to have changed in the last half hour since they left the raptor center. Her vibrant green eyes seemed to sparkle more and she was meeting his gaze in an almost flirtatious manner, her fingers grazing his thigh occasionally when she made a point. Like she’d made a decision. It was making him hard.

  He made light small talk about life on the ranch, his dogs, his cows, and his horses on the way to the little diner off I-15. It was sometimes hard to take his eyes off her. She seemed to shimmer and glow with life. He tried not to think about Jackson.

  Was she the one he’d been waiting for? He didn’t even want to think it. He’d so conditioned himself against it, in Afghanistan, after Afghanistan. The prospect of dying and leaving a soul mate behind. It was too much. It was better not to have anyone. But he’d done his tour of duty and he was a free man now, if not totally whole anymore, and it felt impossibly like his future had just pulled up in a storm. A good storm. The kind that made you want to go outside, watch the wonder of the shifting sky, inhale the wind, and thank God you were alive.

  A storm he’d never thought would come.

  He touched the chopper down gently a hundred yards from the diner and turned to his passenger.

  “So do you always fly around Montana stopping at diners like this?” she asked.

  His mouth twitched. “When I feel like it.”

  She nodded. He could see that she knew what this meant about his finances. That he had money to burn. And yet since leaving the military and inheriting his share of his parents’ fortune, he’d been careful with his money. But he could now understand men’s temptation to shower women with money, to get them expensive baubles and boots, to buy their love.

  He examined her more closely as he helped her out of the cockpit, their hands touching for just a fraction of a second too long. She wore skin-tight jeans that hugged her generous, round bottom, scuffed riding boots, and a button-up plaid work shirt much like his own. Apart from the gold hoops in her ears and a hint of blue eyeliner, she was unadorned. And she looked divine. He couldn’t see her being one for jewelry.

  “So what do you advise ordering,” she said lightly to break the tension that touching seemed to have generated between them.

  “The Butter Chicken burrito with habanero hot sauce,” he said, wondering if he could take her hand while they walked into the restaurant, but deciding against it. If this were one of his regular dates, he’d already have his hand in her pocket.

  Betty Anne wore a broad smile when he entered, her tanned, creased face and old pink uniform always a welcome respite.

  “I put the order in for your usual as soon as I heard the helicopter,” she said with a wink. “But you’ll have to tell me what your lady friend is having.” Betty Anne gave Delany a once over, and Leif could tell she approved.

  Delany was taking in the diner—its counter with a row of round stools, fountain drinks, checkered floors, and booths. It looked untouched from the fifties. So did Betty Anne for that matter.

  “I’ll have whatever he’s having,” Delany said.

  “You got it, honey.” Betty Anne turned and spoke through the pass through to Ralph, her husband, who was working the grill. The diner was comfortably full, testament to its reputation that people drove for miles to come and eat at a restaurant in the middle of nowhere.

  Leif took one of his usual seats at the counter and Delany followed suit. Belatedly he realized he should have requested a booth so he and Delany could have some privacy, but he wasn’t used to bringing his dates here. This was his place, and he could tell from the faint arch in Betty Anne’s eyebrows that she was assessing the significance of Delany’s presence.

  “So, tell me where our Leif rustled you up?” Betty Anne said to Delany in her usual direct way as she served them their root beer floats.

  Delany glanced at Leif, who made himself look as studiously at the ketchup bottles as possible. Betty Anne was the closest thing he had to a mother now that his parents were dead, and he hadn’t really thought too much about the fact that he was bringing Delany here. He’d wanted a burrito, and he’d wanted to spend more time with her. But perhaps his subconscious had played into his decision.

  “We just met,” Delany said, darting another amused, but slightly exasperated, look at Leif. “I’m a veterinarian, and I came to help him with an injured eagle. We just dropped the eagle off at the raptor center in Bozeman.”

  “And you live in Raven Ridge?” Betty Anne’s eyes were sharp.

  “I do. I just moved there.”

  Betty Anne smiled and moved away to serve other customers, but she kept her eye on Leif and Delany, her mouth curved in a satisfied little smile.

  “So you come here often, then?” Delany said.

  “Once a week or so,” Leif replied. “There’s lots of things I don’t miss about the military, but flying regularly isn’t one of them. There’s something about being able to see the world from above that I can’t seem to get out of my system.”

  Delany nodded. With their stools turned to face each other, their knees were almost touching, and Leif could feel the heat emanating from her body. If he leaned forward just a few inches, he could press his lips to her lush pink ones. Delany had her green eyes fixed on his, and he leaned forward fractionally. She did too.

  “Dinner’s up,” Betty Anne said, materializing out of nowhere with two heaping plates just as the bell above
the door tinkled, signifying the arrival of a new customer. Betty Anne jerked her eyes up at the newcomer as she set the plates in front of Delany and Leif.

  “Look,” Betty Anne said. “It’s Wyatt.”

  Wyatt. His older brother. Leif swung around in his stool to see his handsome sibling heading in their direction with his usual intense look. Wyatt was the last person he wanted to see right now.

  “It will be good for Delany to meet some of your family members,” Betty Anne murmured before scurrying down to the other end of the counter.

  Wyatt had already checked Delany out, and a familiar hungry look had crossed his lupine features. Leif felt a well of anger in his gut. There was no way he was sharing Delany with his brothers. It may be the way of his family, and that was fine for them. But not for Leif. Not anymore. It would bring back too many memories, and it wasn’t the same.

  When had Wyatt started coming to Ralph’s Diner? Leif shot a look at Betty Anne. There was something too innocent in the composed set of her features. She’d called Wyatt. She’d been troubled by his rift with his brothers. He knew she wanted to help fix it. But not this way. Not with Delany.

  Leif leapt to his feet, his towering, bulky form matched equally by Wyatt’s.

  Delany had swung around too, and her luscious mouth had fallen open at the sight of Wyatt and Leif staring at each other like a couple of estranged dogs.

  But Wyatt extended his hand, and Leif took it. Then they exchanged shoulder slaps and smiles as if there was nothing wrong. Wyatt turned to regard Delany.

  “Wy, this is Delany, the new Raven Ridge veterinarian. She’s taking over Barry’s practice with Sam.”

  Wyatt politely shook Delany’s hand. She’d donned a slightly wary expression, as if sensing the surge of tension and emotion that ran between he and Wyatt.

  “You two are a ways from home,” Wyatt observed.

  “We had to drop an injured eagle off in Bozeman,” Leif said. “Join us?”

  “Of course,” Wyatt replied, taking a seat next to Leif. “How come we haven’t seen your face lately?” he said.

  Leif shrugged. “You know… I’ve been setting things up at White Raven. How are things at the ranch?” He still called their parents’ massive ranch, which his four brothers ran together, “the” ranch, even though he now had his own ranch. He couldn’t bring himself to call their ranch by its proper name—Seven Winds; that brought back too many memories.

  “You could come and visit,” Wyatt said. Delany had started eating her burrito, and Leif picked at his, his appetite suddenly diminished. Betty Anne placed a plate of tacos in front of Wyatt as if she’d been expecting him. “Why don’t you and Delany come for dinner this Saturday?”

  Leif’s stomach tightened. He knew well what this invitation implied. He wanted to reply that he and Delany were just friends and that there was no need for her to come to dinner. But he didn’t want to say that in front of Delany in case she took it the wrong way.

  “No thanks,” he said evenly. “The boys and I are branding on Saturday.”

  “Come Sunday, then,” Wyatt said, just as evenly.

  Leif flicked a nervous glance at Delany, who was watching the exchange with a raised eyebrow.

  “Thanks for the invite, Wyatt. You go ahead, Leif,” she said. “I’ve got surgeries on Monday, and you don’t need me in order to spend time with your family.”

  “Sunday it is then,” Leif said, his jaw tight.

  Wyatt’s face had grown a bit stormy. Of course he didn’t just want Leif to come for dinner.

  “You’ll have to come next time then,” he said to Delany. “My brother Silas makes a mean barbecued chicken.”

  “Sure,” Delany replied weakly.

  Wyatt shoved the last of his taco in his mouth and dropped a twenty on the counter. He clapped Leif on the shoulder again. “See you Sunday. It’s time, Leif.” He gave Delany that hungry look again… a look that made Leif want to rise from the table and pound his brother, who he loved. “Nice to meet you Delany. Please do come for dinner. I know the rest of the family would love to meet you too.”

  Then he turned and strode out of the diner.

  It’s time. Leif knew exactly what his brother meant. Wyatt thought was time for them, the five of them, to find a mate. Wyatt thought that would help Leif. And Leif could tell by the way that Wyatt had stared at Delany that his brother approved of his choice.

  But Leif didn’t want to share with his brothers. He was a lone wolf now. Afghanistan had separated him forever from Wyatt, Silas, James, and Brett. He loved them, but he wasn’t connected to them in the way they were connected to each other. They could find their own mate.

  Betty Anne returned to the counter to collect Wyatt’s plate, and Leif cast her a dark look, frustrated that she’d obviously called Wyatt. That she’d betrayed him. But the older woman placed a veiny hand on top of Leif’s and flicked her eyes to Delany. “You need to talk to your brothers,” she said. “It’s time. It will be okay.”

  It was time. Leif thought he’d given his brothers a clear message by moving away and buying his own ranch. But maybe not.

  “Thanks BA,” he said. “The food was great as always.”

  “Any time, honey.” She turned to Delany “I hope to see you again. This guy here, he’s something special. I’m not giving you any advice or putting any pressure on you. But if there ever comes a point in time when that information matters, just remember that old Betty Anne says you can’t go wrong with Leif Pierce, and don’t let him fool you, he can make a mean burrito too. Just as good as Silas.”

  Leif felt his face redden. Were Betty Anne and his brother going to screw things up with Delany? “Only because you taught me, Betty Anne,” he said.

  Delany was smiling at Betty Anne’s speech, and she didn’t seem totally weirded out. Or she was polite.

  He paid for the burritos while Delany used the ladies’ room and then they walked back to the helicopter together.

  “So what happened with you and your brothers?” she said as he was about to open the door to help her in.

  Leif sighed. There was so much he did and didn’t want to tell her. “It’s nothing, really. Just a little family disagreement. They’re more about family tradition. I love my brothers, but I want to live a separate life.”

  Delany nodded and bit her lip. Leif pondered the inadequacy of what he’d just said. How could he tell this woman who he was falling in love with that his brothers wanted him to share his mate with all of them?

  Betty Anne thought that Wyatt, Silas, James, and Brett would accept Leif’s decision to go it alone. But he wasn’t so sure.

  Chapter Five: Delany

  Although the burrito had been delicious and she was still as attracted to Leif as ever, the arrival of his brother and exchanges with Betty Anne had been a little strange. Now, outside the helicopter, Delany regarded Leif’s shadowed face carefully. He seemed like he’d wanted to say more about his brothers, but he drew his lips into a thin line and broke eye contact.

  She let him help her back into the cockpit, which was completely unnecessary—she could get in herself, but she liked the feel of his hands on her skin.

  Back in the pilot seat, Leif seemed more himself and cracked a few jokes as they lifted into the air.

  Delany laughed, of course, trying to recover some of the giddiness she’d been experiencing before.

  “Have you known Betty Anne for a long time?” she asked.

  “All my life. She and my mom were friends. I think she and Ralph are rich, but they love running that diner so much that they just won’t quit.”

  “She seems fond of you.”

  “She loves us all,” Leif said. His voice was a bit gruffer than it had been before and Delany decided to change the topic.

  “Did you mean it when you said you would rehabilitate Aquila?” she asked.

  “I don’t say anything I don’t mean,” Leif replied. “Did you mean it when you sai
d you’d help?”

  “Touché,” she replied. “Of course I’ll help. Just let me know whatever you need.”

  “Those are dangerous words,” Leif said with a grin. He let his eyes fall to her thighs tight in her jeans. For a second, Delany regretted eating her entire burrito. She didn’t usually worry about her weight, even though she was a curvy girl. Her body suited her just fine, but she wondered what Leif thought of it. He was probably used to girls with perfect bodies. But when he lifted his eyes to hers, she couldn’t mistake the intent of his look. “I can think of a lot of needs right now, Delany.”

  “Barry said you were dangerous,” Delany replied, her voice a little thin and high. He unnerved her, in a good way, in an electrifying way. And some of her body parts were definitely feeling more electrified than others.

  “I am a bit dangerous,” Leif said. “But I don’t bite.”

  “What do you do, then?” she said lightly.

  “In my bed, anything you want.” Leif ran his pinky down the seam of her jeans and Delany could feel the wetness gathering between her legs. This was definitely dangerous.

  “But only if you want that, Delany.” Leif said. His voice was raspy and low, almost a purr, almost a growl.

  I want that, her body screamed. But her mind was in turmoil. If he was just a player, she’d end up hurt and in love. How could one not fall in love with a body like that?

  Twilight had fallen, and the landmarks beneath them had become dark shapes. They’d passed over a stretch of rangeland where lights had winked on in houses, and were getting into some low hills. Delany stared out the window, watching the ground pass beneath them.

  All of a sudden, Leif started to descend over a flat-topped hill. Delany jerked her head to Leif in alarm.

  “Everything’s fine,” he said. “I want to show you my favorite butte.”

  They dropped lower and Leif set the helicopter down on the rocky top of the mountain. The hills around them were fading to silhouettes, and the sky was a wash of dark blue—that precious moment before true darkness emerged, and stars dotted every inch of the Montana sky. Delany opened her door and breathed in the fresh, cool air.