Beauty and Her Beast (Iron Hills Pack, #2)

by Jessica Coulter Smith

  Maggie thought about it. What did she really have to lose? He seemed like a nice man, and while she didn’t know a lot about the wolves in town, she’d heard they would never harm a woman.

  “All r-right,” she agreed. “I’ll d-do it.”

  Zach smiled and stood, holding out his hand. She grasped the outstretched hand, and he pulled her up from the sofa. Maggie expected him to release her once she was standing, but he held tightly as he led her to the spare room, tingles shooting from their clasped palms up her arm. The bedroom was beautifully done in blues and yellows. It was warm and welcoming and would be the nicest room she’d ever stayed in before.

  “This will your room,” he said as he released her. “I’ll get your things, and you can put them away in the dresser or closet. There should be some hangers in there, but if you need more, just let me know.”

  “Th-thank you.”

  “There’s a bathroom across the hall. I’ll make sure you have everything you need. Right now, there’s some generic shampoo and soap in there, but if there are any scents you prefer, I can get them. I want you to feel at home here, Maggie. If there’s ever anything you need, all you have to do is ask.”

  She nodded.

  “I’ll be back in a moment with your things.”

  Maggie watched him go and wondered if she’d made the right decision. If Zach was telling the truth about just wanting to help her, then this was a godsend. For the time being, she had a roof over her head, food in her belly, and a way to earn some money. Maybe she could even save enough to get her own place one day. For the first time in her life, she finally felt like she had some hope for the future.

  Chapter Three

  Zach leaned against the bedroom doorway as Maggie put the last of her things away. He must have lost his mind, asking a woman to move into his home. She was graceful as she moved around the room and he couldn’t take his eyes away from her. Now that she was clean, she was stunning. Her hair, an almost white-blonde, fell past her shoulders. The clothes clung to her curves and made him realize just how desirable she was, and he reminded himself that she was completely off limits. Despite what his wolf wanted, Zach wasn’t going to touch Maggie.

  He’d promised that he would help her, and that was exactly what he was going to do. As skittish as she was, he’d be willing to bet there had been a string of men ready to take advantage of her, and Zach refused to be one more. His cock ached, and her scent was driving his wolf crazy, but he’d keep control of himself no matter what. She didn’t need another man panting after her; she needed a fresh start. She needed a friend.

  Fuck. The last thing he needed was to try and make friends with her. He still wasn’t sure what had possessed him to offer her a place to stay. Except his wolf. The beast was insistent that Maggie stay with them. She was right where the wolf wanted her, and if that’s what it took for Zach to have a little peace, then that’s what he’d do. Maybe having her underfoot wouldn’t be so bad. He wouldn’t have to worry about cleaning or laundry and could focus on his work. He’d just treat her like an employee, and everything would be fine.

  “If you’re finished, we could watch another movie. Or if you’re hungry again, we could heat up your food.”

  Her stomach rumbled, and Zach smiled. At least he knew what to do with her for now. Feed her, entertain her a little, and then send her to bed.

  “Why don’t we get you fed first, and then we can watch a movie,” he suggested. “I know it’s pretty late though, so if you’re tired, you can go to bed. I think Abril put some pajamas in there for you.”

  “C-could I ch-change before eating?” she asked.

  “You can do whatever you want, Maggie. I’ll go heat your food for you. Meet me in the kitchen, and I’ll have everything ready when you get there.”

  She nodded and closed the door behind him.

  Zach pulled her plate from the fridge, removed the foil, and heated it in the microwave. It wouldn’t be quite as good as it had been earlier, but maybe it would still have some flavor. He poured her another glass of sweet tea and set everything on the table. He pulled out a chair and sat down to wait for her. When she entered the kitchen a few minutes later, his heart nearly leapt into his throat. Maybe he should have explained things better to Abril. The pajamas Maggie had on were barely there and made his beast want her even more.

  The thin straps of her top slipped off her shoulders, and she pushed them back up. Zach stifled a groan and said a silent prayer of thanks that he was sitting down. Maybe he could get himself under control before he had to stand up. Otherwise, she was going to see the effect she had on him. Zach had a feeling that was the surest way to send her running out the door, and despite the fact he didn’t like women in his home, that was the last thing he wanted. For some reason, the beast wanted Maggie to remain close. He didn’t understand it, but maybe he didn’t have to.

  Maggie sank onto the seat in front of her plate and ate her food daintily. He’d decided she was graceful no matter what she did, and knew he could watch her for hours. Except that would be creepy, so he worked on averting his gaze. There was still a lot he didn’t know about her, like how she’d come to be on the streets. He didn’t want to pry and figured she would either tell him in her own time, or it would remain a mystery. Regardless of how she ended up there, he was determined to make sure she had a roof over her head for the rest of her life. If that meant she stayed with him, then so be it.

  His wolf rather liked that idea as the beast yipped excitedly.

  Maggie finished her food, and he rinsed her plate before putting it in the dishwasher. She might be cleaning his house starting tomorrow, but for tonight he was going to take care of her. Zach led her into the living room and handed her the remote. She stared at it with wide eyes, as if it might bite her.

  “You’ll need to learn how to use all of the electronics eventually, might as well start now,” he told her.

  “What if I pick something you don’t like?” she asked.

  “I’ll watch whatever you want.”

  Maggie hesitantly selected a movie and kept glancing his way, as if she expected him to be angry over her selection. It wasn’t a movie he’d usually watch, but it wasn’t a horrible choice. He was a little surprised she’d chosen a horror flick though. He was slightly amused as she slowly inched her way across the sofa with each scary scene. By the time the movie was half over, she was leaning against him, and he’d put his arm around her shoulders. She felt so damn good leaning against him, and her clean scent made him hard as a rock. His wolf was overjoyed, but Zach wasn’t too sure about the turn of events. She was far more tempting than he’d thought she would be, and he felt both intrigued by her and guilty because of it.

  The movie ended, and Zach looked down at Maggie. Her eyes were closed, her lips slightly parted, as she slept curled against his side. He couldn’t help but smile at how angelic she looked. He’d never watched a female sleep before. He shifted his weight and lifted her into his arms, carrying her to the spare bedroom. Balancing her in his arms, he tugged the covers back and eased her down onto the mattress. Zach pulled the covers up to her shoulders and smoothed her hair back from her face. It was just as soft as he’d imagined it would be.

  Hold. Kiss. She’s ours. The wolf pressed him to action.

  Unable to resist the urge, he leaned down and brushed a kiss across her forehead, then he backed out of the room and quietly closed the door. Zach braced his hands on the doorframe and bowed his head. Having Maggie around was going to be hard as hell on his libido. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so attracted to someone, and it wasn’t just her sweet face or her curves. It was her. She seemed so innocent, despite the life she’d led.

  Zach decided to channel some of his energy into his latest book. Weston had slacked off on writing since finding his mate, not that Zach could blame him. His brother had done the majority of their writing for so long that Zach didn’t mind picking up the slack. He went to his office and flipped on the light b
efore settling into the leather chair. It creaked under his weight, and he dragged his keyboard closer. The document he’d had opened earlier was still staring at him when the monitor woke up.

  It didn’t take long for him to dive back into the story, and the next time he looked at the clock, it was nearly two in the morning. Zach saved his file, shut down the computer for the night, and made his way down the hall to his bedroom. He’d exhausted his mind enough that sleep would claim him soon, or so he hoped. Most nights he still dreamed about Del, waking in a sweat and missing her more than ever. He’d often been told that the pain would ease with time, but he called bullshit. Despite how many years had passed, there was still an ache in his soul.

  As he tumbled into bed, he wondered what the morning would be like. He’d not shared a meal with someone at breakfast in a long time, unless his brother counted. Until Weston had met Abril, the brothers had shared a meal most mornings at the diner. Now that Weston had settled down with his mate, all their lives had changed. Zach wasn’t complaining though. He was happy for his brother. Abril was a wonderful addition to the family, and he couldn’t wait to spoil any nieces or nephews that came along. As often as Weston and Abril were pawing at each other, he doubted it would be long before they made him an uncle.

  It didn’t take long for sleep to claim him, and for once, he didn’t dream of Del. A white-haired sweetheart filled his dreams. His wolf bounded alongside them, happier than he’d seen the beast in years. Maggie seemed carefree, her laughter infectious. Zach’s hand closed over hers as they ran through a field of flowers. His heart felt lighter than it had since losing Del, and for once, he felt like there was hope for the future.

  He smiled in his sleep until a cry jolted him awake.

  Zach listened, trying to determine what exactly he’d heard. When he heard the sound again, he knew it was Maggie. He bolted out of bed and rushed down the hall, flinging open her door. Her brow was furrowed, and she whimpered in her sleep. Zach tried to rouse her, but she tossed her head from side to side and thrashed on the bed. He smoothed her hair and winced when he felt how hot she was. Placing the back of his hand against her forehead, he realized she had a raging fever.

  Feeling panicked, he ran for his phone and called the pack doctor, hoping someone would pick up this late. The clock by the bed said it was after three o’clock in the morning. The phone rang about six times before the doctor finally picked up.

  “Zach?” the man asked, sounding groggy from sleep. “Is something wrong?”

  “I have a guest at my house, and she’s burning up with fever. She is thrashing on the bed and crying out. What should I do?”

  “Let me put some clothes on, and I’ll be right there.”

  Zach hung up and watched over Maggie while he waited. She whimpered in her sleep again and turned onto her side before rolling onto her back once more. Zach sat on the edge of the bed and tried to soothe her. Even her hands were hot. He wanted to pull the blankets away and made her more comfortable, but he’d always heard that it was best to sweat a fever out.

  The doorbell rang about twenty minutes later, and he went to let the doctor in.

  “Where’s my patient?” Dr. Ryder Wolfe asked.

  “She’s in the guest room. Down here,” Zach said, leading the way.

  When they entered the room, Zach turned on a lamp so Ryder could see better. He stood back as Ryder examined Maggie, taking her temperature with an ear thermometer. Ryder winced and looked at Zach.

  “She should probably be in the hospital so they can keep an eye on her. Her temperature is 105.3. If it keeps going up, she could be at risk. Let’s see if we can wake her enough to get some Motrin in her system. I brought a bottle with me that I’ll leave with you. Just follow the directions on the label, and if her fever doesn’t lower in a few hours, take her to the ER.”

  Zach’s brow furrowed. “I don’t own a thermometer.”

  Ryder dug around in his bag. “I have a spare you can use for now. I always keep two in case the battery goes out in one while I’m on a call. I have several at home so I can always put another in my bag when I get back to my house.”

  Zach accepted the thermometer and placed it on the dresser. “I’ll go get a bottle of water so she can take the pill.”

  His hands shook as he made his way to the kitchen and he realized that he was truly scared that Maggie might not make it. Ryder would have sent her straight to the hospital if he was truly worried, and that eased Zach’s mind a little, but not much. He grabbed a cold bottle of water from the fridge and went back to Maggie’s room. Ryder was waiting with the pill in hand, the Motrin bottle on the dresser beside the thermometer.

  Zach sat on the edge of the bed again and tried to wake Maggie.

  “Maggie, I need you to wake up.” He jostled her lightly. Maggie moaned and her brow furrowed, but she didn’t open her eyes.

  Ryder shoved him out of the way and leaned over Maggie.

  “Maggie, this is Dr. Ryder Wolfe. I need you to wake up and take some medicine.”

  She twitched in her sleep.

  “Get a cold, wet cloth,” Ryder said.

  Zach went to the bathroom across the hall and soaked a rag in ice cold water, wrung it out most of the way, then returned to the bedroom. He handed the cloth to Ryder and watched as the doctor wiped off Maggie’s face and settled the rag over her forehead. Ryder tried waking her once more, and Maggie’s eyes fluttered open.

  The knots in Zach’s stomach eased a little as her unfocused gaze scanned the room.

  “Maggie, I’m Dr. Ryder Wolfe,” the doctor said. “I need you to take some medicine.”

  She nodded weakly and Ryder helped her sit up. Zach opened the bottle of water and helped her take a sip after she’d placed the pill in her mouth. Zach closed the bottle and set it on the bedside table in case she needed it again. Maggie closed her eyes once more and curled onto her side, her hands tucked under her chin. Ryder flicked off the lamp and motioned for Zach to leave the room.

  Ryder pulled the door mostly closed as he stepped into the hall.

  “Keep an eye on her. You might check her fever again in an hour and see if you can get her to sip a little more water. If she doesn’t want to wake up, just let her sleep. It’s really the best thing for her at this point. She may sleep off and on for a few days, depending on when her fever breaks.”

  “Thanks, Ryder. I’ll keep an eye on her.”

  Ryder nodded. “Call me again if you need me. You don’t have to sit in the same room with her, but if you plan to sleep, set your alarm about every hour to check her temperature. Once it starts going down, you don’t have to watch her so closely.”

  Zach walked Ryder to the door and waved as the doctor climbed into his vehicle. He locked up once more and set the alarm before checking on Maggie again. Now that he was wide awake, he decided to raid the pantry for a snack, make a pot of coffee, and get some more work done. If he was going to be awake, he might as well write.

  Chapter Four

  Maggie blinked at the bright light in her room and wondered why her entire body ached and felt like she’d gone five rounds in a boxing ring. Her nose wrinkled as the stench of her body registered. The clock beside the bed said it was nearly ten in the morning, which meant she’d slept far later than she had in a long while. The bottle of water sitting beside it puzzled her. Had she gotten up last night and just didn’t remember?

  She swung her legs over the side of the bed and pulled some clean clothes from the dresser. For some reason, she felt really weak, but she thought maybe she just needed to eat. There was a bottle of Motrin and a thermometer on top of the dresser, which made her frown. She knew those weren’t there when she went to bed last night. Had she brought them in from the bathroom in the middle of the night? If she’d taken something, surely she would have remembered. She picked up the bottle and then set it back down. The last thing she recalled was Zach watching a movie with her.

  Oh hell. She’d fallen asleep on him. How embarrassing! H
er cheeks flushed as she thought about him carrying her to bed. Maybe he’d placed those things here in case she needed them during the night. But why would he have thought she’d need Motrin and a thermometer? The water bottle was nearly empty so she must have drunk it at some point.

  Maggie carried her things across the hall, shut and locked the door, before starting the shower. Steam billowed from the stall as she undressed, and she gave a sigh of relief as she stepped under the hot spray. She was achy all over and hoped the shower would help. If she was going to start cleaning Zach’s house today, she was going to need her energy. Maybe she’d take one of the pills in her room if she was still sore when she got out.

  She squeezed a generous amount of shampoo onto her palm and worked it through her hair. How had her scalp gotten so oily just overnight? If she didn’t know better, she’d swear it had been days since she’d taken a shower, and not just the night before. When her hair was squeaky clean again, she lathered her skin—twice. By the time her shower was finished, and she was dried off and dressed, she felt so much better, if not still a little weak. Instead of drying her hair, she used the brush on the counter and braided it, then tied it off with one of the ponytail holders that had been in her sack of new things.

  Maggie picked up her discarded clothes and opened the door, nearly plowing into Zach, who was standing in the hall with a very worried look on his face.

  “Is everything o-okay?” she asked.

  “You’re up. How do you feel?”

  She frowned. “A little a-achy and weak, but b-better than when I first w-woke up. Did s-something happen to m-me last night?”

  “Maggie, how long do you think you’ve been at my house?” Zach asked.

  “One n-night.”

  He slowly shook his head. “You came down with a fever your first night here. You’ve been here five days.”