Gwen sighed and shook her head. “No one ever wants to try writing.” They all laughed as Gwen pushed off the railing. “And speaking of writing. I know I said I was done for the day, but this break has given me a few ideas. I want to try to get them down before I forget.”
“You’re welcome to drop over later if you want,” Cherise offered. “I can show you some basics in drawing. It would be better if you had some idea about that before you attempted painting.”
Rina was moved by her offer. “Thank you. I might do that. If not today, is another day okay?”
“Sure.” Cherise went down the stairs and fixed Amy’s tiara, which was tilting to one side. “Come over anytime. Gray will help too. She’s in the middle of a deadline for her next gallery showing, but as soon as that’s done, I know she’d be more than willing to give you lessons if you’d like.” She turned to her daughter. “Come on, sweetie. It’s almost naptime.”
“Can I wear my tiara?” Amy asked.
“Of course you can, but it might hurt your head or get broken.”
Amy shook her head. “I’ll take it off.” She slipped her hand into her mother’s.
“That’s probably a good idea.”
Sue pushed out of her chair. “If you want to try your hand at sewing, I can give you your first lesson sewing seams for the sachet bags I need for the market.”
The idea of playing with fabric intrigued her, but fear held her back. “What if I mess them up?”
Sue’s smile was gentle and understanding. It was easy to see why Sage loved his aunt so much. “You will mess up. We all do at first. Even now I still make mistakes. It’s part of the learning process.” She walked down the steps. “Come on. Let’s go over to the craft room at Sylvie’s and get set up.”
Rina knew this was the next step she had to take if she was going to stay here and be a part of the pack. She followed Sue and the older woman wrapped her arm around Rina’s waist. “It’s going to be okay,” Sue promised. “Just give it time.”
Rina wished Sage was nearby. She always felt better when he was around. But this was her challenge. While he could give her emotional support, he couldn’t do it for her. Nor would she want him to.
Her fear dissipated under a growing sense of excitement as they entered the other pack house. Sue didn’t bother to knock. Rina sniffed the air and could tell there was no one at home.
Sue led her to the sewing room, walked straight to the closet, and opened the door. Shelf upon shelf was filled with fabric and trim and thread. “Take your pick.” She also motioned to several large plastic bins stacked in the corner. “And if nothing on the shelves appeals to you, you can have a look in those.”
* * * * *
Sage stretched and rolled his shoulders. It felt good to be back in the garden, to be tending his plants and harvesting herbs and vegetables. He missed Rina. He liked having her work alongside him, but it was good that she was resting.
He finished pulling the weeds between two rows of carrots and tossed them into the nearby wheelbarrow. He pulled off his work gloves before turning to face the wolf who’d come up behind him.
“Anything I can do for you?” He was still trying to figure out Rina’s brother. Mikhail didn’t say a whole lot and kept to himself. He was always observing the pack.
“Where’s Rina?”
Sage jerked his head toward the houses. “She’s with Sue. Don’t worry, the women will keep an eye on her.”
“Want something to drink?” Sage ambled over to a large cooler that sat under a tree. He tugged off the lid, dug into the melting ice and pulled out an oversized thermal jug. “Lemonade.” He poured some into a plastic cup. “I’ve got water too, if you’d prefer.” He went through gallons of the stuff when he was working. Sue made the lemonade fresh for him everyday.
Mikhail shook his head. “I’m good.”
Sage downed half the drink in a single gulp and wiped his hand over his mouth. “Something on your mind? Or should I say someone?”
Mikhail wandered alongside the raised beds. “You’re really a farmer?”
“I really am,” he answered before finishing off the rest of his drink. He popped the lid back on the cooler and set his empty glass on top of it. “I don’t make a fortune, but I can support Rina.” Sage knew that’s what her brother really wanted to know. He also had some money invested that was doing rather well.
“I have land and am going to build a house just as soon as I can convince her to stay. I want her to have a say in the layout and what goes into it. I want it to feel like home.” He sat on the wooden frame that enclosed one of the gardens. “Look, I know you don’t know me well. I understand that you’re worried about Rina. What you need to know is that I’ll do anything to make her happy.”
“I know.”
Okay, not what Sage had been expecting to hear. “Then what’s the problem?”
Mikhail paused and leaned against a tree, his face half in the shadows. “Rina. She’s not used to trusting people. She may get scared and run.”
Her brother wasn’t telling Sage something he didn’t already know. “If she does, I’ll be right behind her,” Sage assured him.
“Good. She needs to know you won’t give up on her. She might even test that.”
She already had, but Sage had patience when it came to getting something he really wanted, and he really wanted Rina in his life. “You staying?” he asked Mikhail.
“Undetermined as yet. A lot will depend on Jacque, and if I’m welcome.” Rina’s brother looked very alone standing off by himself. The two siblings were more alike than they knew. Sage figured Mikhail was also testing the pack.
“I think you’d fit in quite well around here,” Sage told him. He ambled over to the next raised bed and started pulling weeds. “You want to help?”
Mikhail laughed and shook his head. “Better that I don’t. You’d probably lose half your crop.” He pushed away from the tree. “I’m going for a run.”
“You might want to check with Jacque to see if there’s a perimeter that hasn’t been patrolled today.” That would do two things. It would let the alpha know what Mikhail was doing and also show Mikhail’s willingness to step in and be a part of the pack.
Mikhail started down the path toward the houses. “I just may do that.”
Sage went back to work knowing he couldn’t force the older wolf to do anything. All he could do was suggest. “You can come out now,” he called to his brother.
Reece stepped out from behind several large pines. He was in wolf form and trotted over. Sage rubbed his hand over his brother’s head. “What’s on your mind?”
Reece shifted, his body contorting and changing. Fur receded and skin appeared. His jaw shortened and his muzzle disappeared. Naked, his brother pushed to his feet. “I figured I was better off not interrupting.”
“You were protecting me.” Sage knew his brother like no one else did. Reece was a born protector.
“That too.” Reece went to the cooler and helped himself to the large jug of water. He unscrewed the cap and tilted the container until water flowed into his mouth and over his face. “Damn, that feels good.” He shook his head, sending water droplets flying. At times, his brother was all canine.
“Is she going to stay?” Reece asked.
Sage decided to call it a day. He grabbed the handles of the wheelbarrow and moved it off to the side. “I think so.” He hoped so.
“If she doesn’t?”
“You know the answer to that,” he told his brother. “She’s it for me.”
Reece caught him by the back of the neck and they touched foreheads. “Then I pray she stays.”
“Me too.”
“Just like old times,” their uncle said as he strolled up to them.
Sage reluctantly pulled away from his brother. “Everyone wants to talk, but I notice no one wants t
o work,” he complained. He propped his tools against the wheelbarrow. He could leave it all there for tonight as he planned to be out here again early tomorrow.
Elias slapped Reece on the shoulder. “I didn’t raise any fools.”
Sage cocked an eyebrow. “What does that make me since I’m the only one working up a sweat?”
“Dedicated,” his uncle told him. “Hardworking and responsible.”
“Damn, I sound boring as hell.”
Uncle Elias shook his head. “No. That’s something to be proud of.”
Sage’s heart swelled at the pride in his uncle’s voice. His parents couldn’t be here, but Uncle Elias had helped fill the void in his life. “Thanks.”
“Your woman is with Sue. I think they’re nearly done for the day. Thought you might want to go up to the house with me to collect them.”
Sage grabbed his tank top off the branch he’d slung it over earlier and tugged it on. He desperately needed a shower, but it could wait until he had Rina by his side. If he was really lucky, maybe he could talk her into a shower too.
Elias turned to Reece. “You here for much longer?” Sage hated to think about his brother leaving, which was why he hadn’t asked him.
“I have to leave tomorrow.” Reece rubbed the back of his neck. Sage frowned, not liking the vibes coming from his twin.
“You don’t want to go back, do you?” Sage was suddenly positive he was right.
Their gazes met in understanding. “I don’t want to, but I have to.”
Whatever Reece felt he had to do in Chicago, he wasn’t done yet. “Any idea when you’ll be back again?” Better to concentrate on that instead of his brother leaving.
“Hopefully, soon. If not for Thanksgiving, then Christmas for sure.”
Sage hated that it might be months before he saw Reece again. Sure, they talked almost every day and their unique connection made sure they always knew how the other was feeling, but it wasn’t the same. Not in the slightest. He wanted Reece back living in the pack.
“Maybe you can come visit. Bring Rina with you,” Reece suggested.
“Maybe.” He didn’t know what was going to happen with Rina and couldn’t make any promises.
Uncle Elias slapped them both on the back. “Let’s get going. I think I heard Jacque mention a barbecue again this evening. No one wants to cook inside because of the heat.”
Worked for him. Sage didn’t care what they ate as long as there was food. That was the beauty of being part of a pack—you didn’t have to do everything on your own. There was always someone there to help or to do a job you weren’t especially good at.
“You coming?” he asked his brother.
Reece shook his head. “You two go on. I’m going home and hitting the shower. I’ll join you later.” With that, he shifted back to his wolf form and trotted off.
“I worry about him,” Uncle Elias muttered.
“Me too.” He could only hope that whatever was driving his twin to stay away would end so Reece could come home.
“Come on. Let’s go find the ladies.” Sage followed his uncle but took one last look over his shoulder in the direction his brother had gone.
He was still worried about Reece when he followed his uncle into the sewing room. Then Rina smiled at him and all his worries fled.
“Look what I made.” She held up several colorful squares. Her eyes sparkled, and she looked not only pleased but happy.
“Let me see.” He went to her side, and she immediately began to show him all she’d done. Sage glanced over Rina’s head and found his aunt. “Thank you,” he mouthed the words instead of saying them out loud.
She nodded and smiled. “Rina is a very fast learner.”
Rina beamed at the praise, and Sage dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Show me everything.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Rina was tired, but pleasantly so. It had been such a good day from start to finish. She’d enjoyed spending some time in the gardens with Sage, but she’d had an absolute blast sewing with Sue. She still wasn’t quite sure that she liked either of those things enough to want to do them full-time, but they were both definite possibilities. And the barbecue with the pack had just capped off the day.
She stopped brushing her hair, set her brush down on the top of the bathroom vanity and studied her reflection in the mirror. She was wearing a light blue nightgown with thin straps. Her face was slightly tanned from her time in the sunshine. Mostly, she looked content. Happy.
Her comb, lotion, and toothbrush were set out next to Sage’s personal grooming gear. She knew her clothes were tucked into several dresser drawers he’d emptied out for her use. And several items hung in the closet alongside his shirts.
For all intents and purposes, she’d moved in. For the first time in her life, she was even considering a career.
Sage had given her a home.
“Rina?” Sage stood in the bathroom doorway, his hands gripping the top of the doorframe over his head. He looked so big and handsome wearing only a pair of jeans and nothing else. His chest was bronzed from the sun and heavily muscled. He was so solid and dependable. This was a man who wouldn’t run at the first sign of trouble. Not only would he stand and fight, but he’d also put himself in front of her and defend her with his life.
He’d already done that for her. From the moment they’d met, he’d been protecting her. She knew it plagued him that she’d gotten shot. But that was on her, not him. She knew he’d have taken that bullet for her in a heartbeat.
This wasn’t a man who’d change his mind on a whim. He’d told her he loved her and he meant it.
“Baby?” He hesitated before entering the room. He stopped in front of her and cupped her face. She turned her head so her lips grazed his palm. “I know I keep asking, but is everything okay?”
Everything was perfect, and it was time for her to accept the gift that had been given her, time to stop letting the past control her. She nodded. “I’m fine.”
“You must be tired after today?”
“Not too much. I had fun.” She walked into the bedroom and went over to stand in front of the patio doors. They were open but the screen was across. Insects buzzed and chirped, their calls creating a symphony of sound.
Sage turned off the bathroom light and came to stand behind her. He slipped his arms around her waist, and she leaned against him. He kissed her temple. “I love the night.”
“It’s different here than it is back in Alaska.” She couldn’t really call it home. Not anymore.
Sage’s arms tightened slightly. “I imagine it is. Not as many trees.”
“No, not as many trees. The mountains are jagged and majestic. The ones here are beautiful but not as stark. There are so many different kinds of plants.” She turned so she was facing him. She put her hands on his chest. He was so warm and hard. “I like it here.”
He relaxed, and when he did, she snuggled closer, feeling the firm ridge of his arousal though his jeans. She leaned inward and ran her tongue over his flat nipple. His skin was salty and warm.
“Rina.” He slid his hands down to cup her butt. “Maybe we should talk.”
“Why?” She ran her hand down over his washboard abs and he sucked in a breath. She took advantage of the opportunity to slide her fingers past the waistband of his jeans. As usual, he wasn’t wearing any underwear. Most werewolves didn’t. Made things easier if they needed to shift in a hurry. Sage couldn’t shift, but there were other benefits.
The tips of her fingers grazed the damp head of his cock.
He grabbed her wrist and eased her hand out of his pants. She tilted her head to one side. “Is there a problem?”
He shook his head and led her over to the bed. He sat on the edge of the mattress and pulled her between his spread thighs. “I know I’ve been rushing you.”
Love fo
r Sage swelled up inside her. Sometimes she still had to wonder if he was real. He was always worried about her. That made him do stupid things sometimes—like now, for instance—but she couldn’t complain because she knew she was just as guilty of the same crime. As imperfect as they could both be on occasion, they were perfect together.
She tugged her hand, and when he released her, she walked around the bed to the nightstand and turned on the lamp. The light illuminated the bed, leaving the rest of the room in shadows.
Sage swiveled his head to watch her but stayed seated. His eyes were dark with worry. She was about to change that.
Rina walked back to the end of the bed to stand in front of him. Satisfied she had his full attention, she slid her fingers under the straps of her nightgown and eased them down her arms, exposing her breasts to him.
He swallowed heavily and his chest expanded.
She shimmied her hips and the loose garment fell to the floor. A muscle ticked under Sage’s left eye, and his gaze narrowed as he skimmed it over her body.
Her breasts felt heavy and swollen. She lifted her hands and cupped them. Sage gave a low growl, but he kept his hands resting on his thighs. The muscles in his shoulders bunched with the efforts of his restraint. She wondered why he was holding himself back.
She didn’t doubt that he wanted her.
“Why?” she asked.
“I’m too close to the edge.” He rubbed the side of his neck, the spot where she’d bitten him. The mark had mostly faded. It was almost impossible to tell she’d marked him. His werewolf healing powers had kicked in. It wasn’t fair that when a male claimed a female, the mark remained, but it obviously didn’t work the other way around.
“You want to claim me.” It wasn’t a question. She knew that’s what he wanted.
“Yeah.” He dropped his hand back down to his lap. “It didn’t last.” She heard his underlying fear. The mark hadn’t lasted so maybe her promise to remain, to give their relationship a chance wouldn’t either.
“I wish it had.” She’d liked the idea of him wearing her mark.
Wolf in his Heart (Salvation Pack) Page 26