“A friend sounds about perfect. Thank you.”
He tapped her nose with the tip of his finger. “Sounds perfect to me, too,” he said, surprised to find he meant it. “Come on.”
This time she took his hand when he offered it, and he tugged her up from her seat. Her sock-clad feet slipped on the linoleum floor covering, and she skidded into his side. Their bodies collided, and he steadied her with a hand on her shoulder. She smiled up at him, a hint of something in her eyes.
Friends.
Now they’d agreed to it, he wanted to be true to his promise. She was here, in his space, and he could be content with that. He was content with that.
Chapter Three
Clutching Easton’s promise of friendship close to her heart, Sadie took a deep breath and forced herself to relax. She wasn’t a fool; she’d caught glimpses of his wolf lurking behind his pale eyes. There was a claim there, if she wanted it. Having left Washington to escape one, it surprised her how much the idea appealed. She could tumble, and this earnest man would catch her up and keep her close. Easy. So easy to just give in to it and let him be the conduit into a new life. If she did that, though, she would never know if they accepted her for herself. Having never had a home other than in her grandmother’s arms, it felt important to forge her own place. Earn it on her own merits.
The people laughing just beyond the door could be her family. After a lifetime of it being her and Margarete against the world, the idea filled her with equal parts hope and fear. Of the Cedar Crossing pack, but never truly part of it, she’d never found a way to breach the invisible barrier dividing them from the rest of the Washington wolves. One of the other females had told her once it was because she was a King. Kings never stuck, never gave a return on time and love invested in them, so the pack had stopped trying. And haven’t I proved them right by leaving?
It scared her. What if she wasn’t running to something but just running away because things got difficult? Maybe she shouldn’t be here trying to pretend she was a Burrows. What if I’m a King? Another reason to take things slow with Easton. She thought about Margarete and all those years she’d waited for her mate to stop roaming. Her mind touched on her mother and skittered away. Not possessing a stubborn streak like her mother-in-law, Mindy King had pined away, a slow fade until her wolf took final control and disappeared into the deep green of the Cascades. Maybe she’d tracked Sadie’s father. Maybe they roamed happy and free together in the wild. Maybe not.
A child’s high giggle dragged her from the dark shadows of the past. That glorious, open smile lit Easton’s features, and her own lips tugged up in response. It was hard to mope when such sounds of innocent joy filled the air.
“Ready?” he asked.
Yes. No. I don’t know. She managed a nod when the words wouldn’t resolve into a decision, and he swung the door open.
The scene greeting them was something out of a Hallmark movie. Impossibly beautiful people, doing impossibly wonderful things, in an impossibly perfect setting. Apart from the little girl riding on the back of a huge gray wolf, of course. She couldn’t remember seeing that in any holiday special.
The adults turned toward them, their expressions a mixture of welcome and wariness. The only ones not paying attention were the giggling girl getting the wolf ride, and the baby nestled in a carrier on the chest of one of the dark-haired men.
“Come on, Uncle Ven.” The little girl pouted and dug her heels into the wolf’s flanks. He turned his head to snap his teeth in the air, sending her into another fit of laughter. “So grumpy, Uncle Ven!”
A willowy redhead gave a smiling shake of her head and lifted the child down. “Don’t tease him, Jessie. You’re not doing anything for his reputation as the big, bad wolf,” she said, which set off another round of giggles.
The air around the wolf shimmered, resolving itself into six feet something of frowning Native American man. The speed and ease of his shift shocked Sadie, as did the fact he appeared in his human form fully dressed. Her own transition between her two halves was a good five minutes of sweating, joint-cracking horror followed by a wash of bliss which made the pain worth it every time.
“Now you know what happens when you poke the big, bad wolf, don’t you, Little Red?” Ven mock growled and the redhead dashed away, Jessie shrieking in her arms. The big man pounced, sending them all tumbling into the snow in a flurry of tickles and laughter. He made sure to hit the ground first, Sadie noted, cushioning their fall.
The older redhead smiled at their antics then stepped forward, holding out a pair of padded snow boots. “Hello, Sadie dear. Ven mentioned your own boots were ruined, so I thought you might need these.” She turned to look back over her shoulder. “She’s definitely one of ours, Stefan. I’d know those eyes anywhere.”
Stefan, one of the two older men, approached. “Welcome home.”
“As easy as that?” Sadie cursed herself for looking such a wonderful gift horse in the mouth.
“If you want it to be.” He took the boots from his mate’s hands and passed them to Sadie. “We’ll be here when you’re ready.”
The pair strolled away, arm in arm, and the rest of the family took it as a cue to turn their attention away. A man of similar age and looks to Stefan bent down, forming a quick snowball in his hands. He threw the icy missile at a broad, brown-haired man—not the one with the baby—hitting his target with impressive accuracy.
“Hey!” the man sputtered. “That’s cheating, Uncle Sander.” He scooped his own handful of snow and returned fire. Unfortunately, his aim proved less successful and the small, blonde woman next to Sander caught a face full. In seconds, the scene before her dissolved from an idyllic postcard to all-out warfare.
Sadie clutched the boots to her chest, filled with longing. As though he sensed her hesitation and her need, Easton tugged them from her grip and bent to help her put them on. Trying to disguise the way his casual care made her heart flip-flop, she grinned down at him. “You’re always messing with my feet. Do you have a fetish?”
His heartbreaker smile stretched wide, showing off his dimples to devastating effect. “One of these days, I might be holding a glass slipper.” He clattered down the steps, leaving her gawking in his wake. What kind of man made a Cinderella-esque romantic declaration then ran off to frolic in the snow?
Our kind, whispered her wolf.
A snowball thunked against the side of the trailer, sending a shower of icy flakes over her, and she ducked instinctively. A curvy, dark-haired woman flashed her a cheeky grin, and Sadie shook off the last of her nerves. The cumbersome boots were a little big, but they didn’t stop her dashing down the steps to plunge into the middle of the laughing group. Wolves loved to play, after all.
Her cheeks glowed, and her sweater clung to her skin, damp with perspiration and from being rolled in the snow by her cousin Connor and his mate, Bailey. The pair of wolves were a ruthless team—selecting, isolating, and subduing their chosen prey without mercy. Laughing, Sadie held up her hands in surrender, uncaring about the wet snow soaking through her jeans.
Connor whooped and high-fived his mate. A flicker of movement caught her eye, and she let him celebrate his victory, willing herself not to glance past the big, gloating wolf. “You win, Connor. You win!”
“Say it. You’ve gotta say it!” He planted his hands on his hips, looming over her, though the grin on his face negated any threat to his stance.
She sighed. “You’re the best wolf in the world, Connor Burrows.”
“Damn right, I— Oof!” Easton hit him low, a bruising crunch of a tackle that would make any linebacker proud, and sent them both into a thick drift of snow. The two men wrestled, growling and snarling in a mock battle.
“Come on. Margie’s got a flask of hot chocolate in the car.” Bailey shook her black bangs out of her eyes and held out a hand to help Sadie up.
She let the other woman lead her away, casting a concerned glance over her shoulder
as the growls became fiercer. “Shouldn’t we stop them?”
Bailey didn’t bother to look back. “Hell no. Connor could do with a good ass-kicking most days, and if Easton is willing to do it, then it saves me a job.” She looped her arm through Sadie’s and tugged her closer. “These Burrows men will steamroll you flat given half a chance. They’ll do it with a smile and enough charm to weaken your knees, but if you don’t take a stand, they’ll walk all over you. East might not be blood, but he’s a fast learner, and they’re a bad influence on him.”
“Who’s a bad influence, Bailey-girl?” Stefan offered them both steaming mugs of chocolate as they approached. Bailey loosened her hold on Sadie’s arm to take her drink then tucked herself into Stefan’s side.
“You are, Pa. Don’t think I don’t know Connor learned all his worst tricks from you.” The rich affection in her voice made Sadie’s heart ache, as did Stefan’s answering bellow of laughter.
“She’s got you there, darling,” Marjorie said with a wink. Considering she’d been in the middle of the rough-and-tumble not five minutes before, the matriarch looked immaculate. Her neat bob hung in a shining frame around her face, and her cream sweater showed none of the stains and wrinkles marring Sadie’s own.
Everyone else was in the same state, or worse, so she tried not to worry about the tangles in her hair as she took a muffin from the plate Marjorie offered. She lifted the treat to her nose, enjoying the sweet smell of fresh baking. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, dearest. They’re apple and caramel, one of Caitlyn’s specialties.” Marjorie raised her voice slightly. “And one of Connor’s favorites. Shame he’s too busy being a hooligan to get one.”
“Muffins?” The fight forgotten, Connor loped over, a bruise already darkening the side of his face. “Thanks, Ma!” He grabbed one and stuffed the entire thing in his mouth, not even blushing at his mother’s tsk of disapproval.
Easton joined them, favoring his left leg slightly. “Spoiling us again, Miss Margie?”
“Always, darling boy.” She stretched on tiptoe to cup his chin. “You look tired, Easton. You’ve been working too hard again.”
He shrugged off her frown in a way that suggested it was an old argument. “I’m fine. I’ll catch a couple of hours now. Gee doesn’t need me until lunchtime.”
Marjorie handed him another muffin. “Come to us for dinner.”
“I’m doing prep at Dottie’s for evening service.”
Sadie blinked. How many jobs does he have?
“Supper, then,” Marjorie said in a tone which brooked no argument.
He grinned around a mouthful. “Yes, ma’am.”
Apparently satisfied with his acquiescence, the she-wolf began herding her family together, getting the mugs and plates gathered and packed away in the rear of one of the trucks emblazoned with the name of the family business on the side. Sadie handed over her mug and moved a little away, uncertain what to do next. Easton had been kind enough to offer her sanctuary for the night, but she’d declined. He needed his rest, and his schedule for the day sounded busy.
Ven and Caitlyn headed toward the gas station office after a round of hugs and handshakes, including Sadie as though they’d said good-bye a thousand times before. The man with the baby, Caleb, and his mate, Hannah, loaded their little ones into the backseat and followed them in.
“Connor?” Marjorie called to her son around the truck. “Help Sadie with her things, darling.”
“On it.” The brown-haired man gestured toward the trailer. “Is everything in there?”
Sadie nodded. “There’s a suitcase just inside the door and a wooden box on the table.”
“No worries.” He loped off, leaving Sadie facing Easton.
She scuffed the toe of her boot through a pile of snow. “Looks like I’m going with them.” It made sense—they were her family, her blood—but it rankled a little how they’d presumed without asking. Then again, where else could she stay? She glanced at the scruffy trailer. Easton didn’t have room for her, and it wasn’t his fault she’d landed as his responsibility.
“You okay?” He chucked her under the chin, lifting her head lightly to meet his concerned gaze. “If you’re not ready to go, you can hang here for a while.”
The sweet sincerity in his offer spurred her into action. The Burrows had been nothing but welcoming, bringing the whole family out to meet her. Easton needed rest, and she would feel terrible if he missed work because of her. “I’m good.” She laughed at the skeptical look on his face. “Really. I can’t roll into town and turn your whole life upside down.” His mouth opened, and she rushed on, just in case he said something stupid like she could do exactly that if she wanted. “I came here to meet my family, after all.”
Connor strode up, carrying her things, and she took the chance to put some distance between herself and Easton. Walking backward, she shooed him toward the trailer. “Go and get some sleep. You’re coming over for supper, right?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He flashed his heart-flipping smile then turned to climb the steps into the trailer. Friends. The reminder didn’t help her unglue her eyes from the way his jeans hugged his lean hips and tight rear, and it took her a breath or two before she could school her features enough to turn around.
The trucks were all loaded, apart from Stefan who waited by his driver’s door. “Ready when you are, Sadie-girl.”
Her heart lifted at the innocent term of endearment and the steady look in his eyes. You’re one of mine now, that look said.
“I’m ready, Uncle Stefan.” The surprised grin he gave her proved her instincts correct. With one quick glance over her shoulder, Sadie took her seat in the back, squashed up next to Bailey and Connor.
“I called shotgun, Ma,” Connor grumbled, when Bailey smacked his leg for taking up too much of her space.
Marjorie flipped down her sun visor, using the mirror to give her son a withering stare, and Sadie made a note to practice the same expression. “If you don’t like it, you can always use the paws God gave you and run home.” She paused a beat before continuing. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed your spreading waistline, boy. Too many cakes and not enough exercise.”
There wasn’t an ounce of spare fat to be found on his solid frame, but it didn’t stop Connor from subsiding into a sulk, or Bailey from sniggering behind her hand. He turned his affronted face to her. “You’re supposed to support your mate, in all things!”
“I do, honey. I do.” Bailey stroked his cheek then leaned over to press a kiss to it. “I love you no matter how much you let yourself go, baby.”
With their gales of laughter rocking the truck on its axles, Stefan turned the vehicle and followed his brother’s lead toward town.
Sadie’s laughter faded as they rolled down Main Street and every person they passed turned to watch their little procession. Word must have spread about the new wolf in town. Shrinking down in her seat, she whispered a silent prayer that everyone in Los Lobos would be as welcoming as her family.
Chapter Four
Easton carried another crate in from the storage room and began to load the bottles into one of the refrigerators behind the bar. The lunchtime crowd had thinned out, so he left Gee to deal with the last few customers and focused on restocking everything for the evening. He knew every inch of The Den, having worked there for the past ten years in some capacity or other.
At first, he’d run errands for Gee Rivermoon, the bear shifter who ran The Den, carrying messages to various pack members in exchange for a hot meal. As he grew older, Easton became pretty convinced there was nothing of import on those folded pieces of paper he carried diligently, but he never read them, and neither sender nor recipient had ever given him cause to feel like it was make-work. He graduated from messenger boy to washing dishes, to unloading deliveries, to occasional hours behind the bar. Now Gee left the stock management to Easton and favored him with day shifts on the roster sheet t
o leave him free to work nights at the garage.
Straightening the last of the bottles to ensure they all stood with the label facing out, Easton stood up to find his route to the stockroom blocked by several hundred pounds of frowning bear shifter. “All right, boss?”
“Huh? What?” Gee glanced up from the notepad clutched in his huge hand. “Sure, son. Sure. Just wondering whose bright idea this damn scavenger hunt was.”
Easton pressed his lips together against the grin twitching his mouth, knowing Gee had come up with the idea as a fun activity to keep the pack distracted. The lead up to the Winter Solstice often led to fractious behavior as families gathered, and their wolves chafed at being too close. Dominance battles sprang up here and there as those who often roamed in the summer moved closer to town and the population swelled.
He knew Ven would have preferred to stay with his mate out at the little trailer, but he was also selfish enough to be pleased they’d offered their home to him for a few weeks. Caitlyn loved being at the heart of her family again, and Ven would do about anything to put a smile on her face. She’d been the one to offer the trailer, and it worked out well for everyone. Easton’s room above The Den had been given to a visiting wolf, and he got to enjoy the peace and isolation of living on the edge of town for a while.
He’d had a cabin of his own for a while but had given it up to one of the returning families the previous year. They’d contacted him to say Ross Luparell had a new home almost ready for them, so he hoped to move from the trailer back into his own place in the new year. It would be good to have his own space again. Somewhere that belonged to him, rather than relying on the goodwill of others. Gee offset the cost of his room against his wages, so he technically paid his way, but his wolf wanted a place that was just theirs. And if things went as well as he hoped they might, with Sadie….
Stolen Kisses Page 3