Wolf Prey (Wolf Cove Book 3)

by Nina West

  He shakes his head. “Stubborn woman.”

  “I know. There’s nothing I can do. I’ve tried to reason with her.” I can’t tell anymore if her pigheadedness is borne of her being hung up on having her daughter married to the Reverend’s son, or that she simply wants me within arm’s reach until the day she dies, and she won’t have that if I’m with a man like Henry.

  “They’re releasing Daddy today, though. Isn’t that great?” I lean against his body, letting my fingers slide over all the hard ridges and contours of his beautiful back, his shoulders, and his arms. I stretch onto my tiptoes, wanting to go back to the part where he kisses me.

  Henry’s attention is not easily swayed though. “Does he know you’re not his anymore?”

  I sigh. “Yes. He’s trying to convince me otherwise, but I’ve told him many times.”

  I skate my lips over his. He finally takes the hint, his hands gripping the sides of my waist, sealing his lips over mine and kissing me with a level of skill that I might consider being concerned with, if I wasn’t so head-over-heels infatuated with him.

  A tiny moan escapes me and he instantly deepens the kiss, forcing my mouth open wide to make room for his tongue. My hands wander over his chest, molding over his curves. “I’ve been thinking about this moment for weeks,” I whisper against his mouth. My daydreams always end with my hands moving south, into his jeans. If we weren’t out in the open, it’s exactly what I’d be doing already.

  “Phone calls aren’t enough, then?”

  “Not even close.”

  One of his hands slips beneath my shorts to push my bikini bottoms aside and grip my ass. I can feel myself growing wet, with how close his fingers are. Just an inch to the left and a curl and he’d be inside me, making me feel as good as only he can, whether it’s with his fingers or his tongue or his—

  “Randy’s guy is on his way, Abigail,” Jed suddenly announces behind us, the gravel crunching noisily beneath his feet. I break free with a small huff, spinning around to find him standing there, his shirt hanging freely off one shoulder, his shorts still drenched.

  A glower on his brow.

  He has no right to be upset. I haven’t led him on about there being something between us. He’s known about Henry since the day I came home.

  Sure enough, a tractor is rumbling up our long, winding driveway. Right behind it, I see the baby-blue Parisienne. That’s Peggy Sue’s, one of the hens. She reveres it, calling it a classic. I think it’s just plain old.

  I don’t know that I would have even noticed anyone coming up the driveway before Henry had me naked and in the back of his pickup, so I guess I have to thank Jed for that, at the very least. “Thanks, Jed. Um… Jed, this is Henry. Henry… Jed.” They never did officially meet at the hospital, Henry hanging back to talk to the chief of staff.

  Neither man makes a move to greet the other, Jed glaring at Henry in what I’m guessing is supposed to be an intimidating way, and Henry standing a little taller, his face taking on that intimidating stoniness he has mastered.

  I have no idea where this will go, but when I spot our two workers trudging back up the path from the pond, I’m relieved for the interruption. “Okay, then. Henry, would you mind moving your truck over there, next to mine, so we have room for these guys to maneuver.” I point toward the green Ford. “Jed, if you could help me get Randy’s guy sorted out with this wagon—”

  “The boys can do that. I’ve gotta get the rest of the things set up for your dad’s welcome home party, remember? They should be home real soon, so….” Jed lets his voice drift and folds his arms over his chest, his gaze shifting to Henry. It’s obvious what he’s trying to say: that Henry should leave. Mama won’t be happy if he’s here when they roll in after being by Daddy’s side for three weeks.

  I groan, because as soon as I saw Henry, I forgot about the party. I’m desperate for some more time with him before he has to leave but I’m not going to get it. His timing couldn’t be more terrible.

  Henry’s warm hand slides over the small of my back and then, hooking his fingers around my waist, he pulls me against him. “What still needs to be done, Abbi?” he asks me smoothly, ignoring Jed.

  “A ton. All the tables and chairs need to be set up, the coolers filled with ice. We’ve got a banner and balloons. The guests will start arriving within the hour and Abigail and I will be greeting them and getting them settled,” Jed answers, not taking the hint, insinuating himself into my life. “It’s a lot of work, especially in this heat.” Again, it’s not hard to read between the lines. Jed’s making it clear that he doesn’t think Henry has lifted a finger in manual labor—ever.

  I purse my lips to keep the smile from escaping, thinking back to the sight of Henry swinging an axe, his muscles straining beautifully. This isn’t the time to be thinking of that though, because Jed’s making it look like there’s more going on between us than there is and that’s the last thing I want Henry to believe.

  “If you could just please take care of Randy’s guy, since that’s why you’re here,” I grumble. And give me at least a few more minutes alone with Henry before he has to leave.

  Jed’s jaw hardens with frustration. “Peggy Sue needs help, too. And the others will be following in the next ten minutes. You better go and get ready before you run out of time. We’re already behind as it is.” His eyes flash to Henry before settling on me, weighing me down. “My mom asked if you’d be wearing that blue dress that she made for you.”

  I stifle my groan. Last week, Celeste surprised me with a modest cornflower-blue frock, telling me how happy my parents would be to see me in that on my dad’s homecoming. That it would bring out the color in my hair, now that it’s finally—thankfully—back to its normal, natural dull ginger.

  They’re all doing their best to get their pre-Alaska version of Abigail back—the one who smiles and agrees to everything asked of her, who does things to please others, who never yells or argues. Who’s going to marry Jed, have a dozen babies, and then die on this land after a long life of caring for her husband while he keeps the Mitchell legacy going.

  I sigh, feeling defeated because, while I’d love to throw the dress in the bottom of my closet and deny them even that small, passive level of control over my life, it would be rude to do that to Celeste. She has never been anything but kind and generous to me. It’s not her fault her son cheated on me.

  Henry steps between us, his giant body blocking out Jed. “Why don’t you show me what needs to get done, then go and get ready.”

  It sounds like he’s offering to help. “When do you have to leave?”

  He smirks. “The beauty of being the boss is that people work around my schedule. Have you already forgotten how easy it is to reschedule a meeting? Especially the early morning ones with China.” Heat flares in his eyes as he reminds me of the morning he canceled his call and stretched me over his desk. It was the first time I’d ever had a man’s mouth on me down there.

  But he said this New York meeting was important. “You’ve already done so much to help us.” Especially for a woman who is entirely ungrateful.

  “Do you need help?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “Abigail….” My full name sails from his lips smoothly, even with the warning in his tone. His brow raises in that stern way of his and I get a flash of those first few days when I was just working for him and unable to read him at all, thinking he was two seconds from firing his idiot assistant.

  Now I know it just means not to argue with him, because he’s going to get his way no matter what.

  My stomach flips. “Okay. Well, we were going to set up in the shade between the two barns because that’s the coolest spot.”

  “Can I talk to you for a minute? Alone?” Jed interrupts. I’d forgotten he was there.

  I roll my eyes at Henry. I already know the scolding I’m going to get from Jed.

  Henry leans in and plants a slow, but modest, kiss on my lips. “I’ll go move my truck and then come
back and help you deal.”

  Deal with setting up or with Jed, I can’t be sure which he means, but either way I’m grateful. This side of Henry—where he’s willing to jump in and get his hands dirty, so to speak, is bizarre.

  And a turn-on.

  “Okay,” I whisper softly. I catch the mischievous flicker in his eye a moment before his hand slides down over my ass to give it a tight squeeze as he’s shifting me away from the driver door.

  Jed’s waiting some ten feet away, glaring at the shiny new truck—a rental, I assume—as the engine roars to life.

  “Randy’s guy is ready for you.” I gesture at the tractor that’s backing up toward the trailer hitch.

  But Jed’s attention can’t be broken. “What’s he doing here?” he hisses. I don’t miss the accusatory tone in his voice, like I’ve done something wrong.

  “He has a meeting in New York tomorrow morning so he had his pilot stop here on the way to surprise me.” I’ve been raised not to covet money, but I can’t help feeling proud when I talk about Henry—of his success and his power. Or maybe it’s because he’s so different from Jed, who’s just a boy by comparison.

  “Your parents won’t be happy about him being here, and it’s really selfish of you not to think about them.”

  “Them? Or you?”

  Jed folds his arms over his chest. “Everyone. Especially your mama.”

  Mama certainly won’t be happy. I’m honestly not sure if my dad will be bothered too much. He hasn’t said much one way or the other in the times I’ve seen him. “Mama should be thanking Henry for all he’s done for our family, including making sure Daddy lived.”

  “He didn’t really do anything,” Jed grumbles like a sullen child.

  “You know that’s not true.” So does the whole town now, thanks to Jenny who talked to Lucy at the feed mill, who talked to, well… everyone.

  “Still…. You can’t have him here. Not with the congregation coming. That’s all they’ll talk about for the next few weeks.”

  “Well, how’s that any different from the last six months? I’m used to the whole congregation talking about me by now, thanks to you. Remember?”

  Jed struggles to hide the sheepish look. “It’s just… this is supposed to be a happy day for all of us. It’d be better if he weren’t here. He doesn’t even have any respect for you, mauling you like that in public.”

  I could point out that I was doing just as much mauling, but I don’t think that would help.

  Jed’s resorted to acting like a sulky boy, glaring across the way. “See? He’s already causing problems.” He throws a hand. “Now Peggy Sue feels like she has to go up and talk to him and you know how she is. We don’t have time for chitchat.”

  I turn to where I sent Henry to park and find him towering over the tiny, hunched-over woman. Peggy Sue looks older and more frail than her seventy years, her white hair pulled back in a wispy bun, her glasses taking up half her face. She’s had terrible eyesight for as long as I can remember, those inch-thick lenses giving her rather eerie bug eyes. But she’s the sweetest, most giving person I’ve ever met.

  Also, the nosiest. I’m sure she’s already grilling him with questions.

  Leaving Jed without another word, I skitter over to where they are in time to hear her ask, “So, you’re going to stay for the party, right?”

  “Hey, Peggy Sue!” I interrupt. “Thank you so much for dropping everything to come and help us with this.”

  “Oh, heavens.” She waves away my words with a wrinkled hand and a chuckle. “I needed a break from crocheting anyway. My fingers were cramping!” Peggy Sue is the town’s newborn baby bootie maker. On any given summer day, you’ll find her swinging in her porch rocker out front of the small clapboard bungalow that she shares with her middle-aged son—Darcy, the janitor at the elementary school—her hands busy filling orders for all colors of her famous boots.

  She peers up at Henry. “Would you be a doll and empty the trunk? There’s some water and pop in there, along with a few casseroles and lots of ice. I had Harvey Laker’s little boy load it up for me at the grocery store.”

  I stifle a laugh. Harvey Laker’s “little boy” is now sixteen, six foot two, and at least 250 pounds.

  Henry flashes that charming smile I’ve seen on him when he’s wanting to impress media people. Still, I know that it’s genuine, and the fact that he’s treating this sweet old lady to it makes my heart swell. It means he wants her to like him.

  “Of course. Where do you want it all, Abbi?”

  I should tell him not to worry, that he’ll be drenched in sweat and I’ve got two able-bodied boys still on the clock to do it. “In the first barn, along the wall closest to where the tables are.”

  Abruptly, he sets to work, hauling cases of water from the giant trunk, the muscles in his arms cording beautifully. I can’t help but stand there and admire them.

  “We’re expecting close to a hundred people.” Peggy Sue interrupts my appreciative gaze.

  “That’s a lot!”

  “It sure is.” She frowns at the road. “The other ladies were right behind me in town. Not sure where they got lost on their way here.”

  Everyone knows that Peggy Sue has a lead foot, made worse by the fact that she drives a tank for a car. Five years ago she rear-ended Mike Bartol, unable to stop in time on slick roads. Luckily, Mike walked away with nothing more than a sore neck. His car wasn’t so lucky.

  “Thank you so much for everything you’re doing.”

  “It’s nothing. We take care of each other, and your daddy would drop everything to help any one of us. I know it because he’s done it before, many times.”

  I smile because she’s right, and there’s something so satisfying about that. As much as this small town gets on my nerves, there’s comfort here in knowing you have a whole army of people to help you when you need it most.

  “Everyone’s just so happy he pulled through.” Her gaze flickers to Henry, who’s already halfway to the barn, his arms loaded. “Your old boss is quite something, isn’t he? I’d heard from Edith’s daughter that he was a looker but….” She waggles her eyebrows.

  Edith’s daughter, Mary Jane, who has been “kind” enough to follow the Wolf Hotel twitter account and update Mama on all things Wolf Cove over the summer. She’s the one who made sure Mama saw that picture of me the night of the grand opening, in the black cocktail dress, my hair and makeup and boobs done by Katie and Rachel.

  I laugh, feeling my cheeks burn. “Yes, he is handsome.” Handsome doesn’t cut it. Henry is basically a specimen of perfection.

  “Awful kind of him to stop by. He said he was on his way through for a business meeting?”

  “That’s right.” What else did Henry tell her? I’m guessing not a lot. He’s a smart guy and I’ve already told him what these people can be like. I know telling Peggy Sue anything will inevitably and swiftly steal the focus from Daddy today. They’ll be talking about Henry stopping by as it is. There’s no point throwing a jug of gasoline on thirsty flames.

  Jed’s voice catches my attention. He’s hollering at the driver of the tractor, flashing a thumbs-up. I guess they’re all ready to go, which is good because the giant hay wagon is blocking a lot of valuable space.

  “And how is that one taking this surprise visit?”

  I shrug noncommittally.

  The old woman’s face twists up. “Good. Let that boy squirm with jealousy. He deserves every second of it. Heavens, if I had a man like that come callin’ on me….” She fans herself with her purse, blatantly staring at Henry, who’s on his way back now, his phone pressed to his ear.

  Oh my God. Even the elderly aren’t immune to him.

  “I met Bradley when I was about your age. I was head over heels right away. We couldn’t keep our hands off each other. My parents didn’t approve of him none though. Said he wasn’t marrying material and would only hurt me in the end. They pushed and pushed for me to marry their friend’s son, this chubby man wi
th bad teeth from three streets down, who I wasn’t in the least attracted to. He worked at a cheese factory and smelled of sour milk.” She cringes and it makes me laugh.

  “So, did they ever accept Bradley?”

  She blinks several times, as if processing my question. “Oh, I didn’t end up marrying Bradley. I married the cheese man. Marvin. We were together forty-two years before he passed.”

  “Oh.” Not the answer I expected. “What happened with Bradley?” Is this one of those, “it’s not all about physical attraction” messages, where she’s secretly trying to convince me that, in the end, Jed’s the better choice?

  She shrugs. “I was stupid. I took the safe route. Don’t get me wrong, Marvin turned out to be a good husband, God rest his soul. But Bradley…. Not a day goes by that I don’t wonder what my life would have been like had I married him.” She clucks. “I respect your mama, but good for you for getting on with your life. I hope that man is teaching you lots. I’ll bet he knows a thing or two.”

  I’m left standing there with my mouth hanging open as the old woman shuffles to her trunk.

  Chapter Four

  I tug at the collar of my dress. It’s too hot to be wearing something like this, even if it is cotton. I can’t even unfasten the top button, given the style. It would make me look sloppy.

  Celeste’s broad smile when I came out of the house in it was enough to convince me I’d made the right call. Still, I intentionally skipped the nylons. There’s no way I’m wearing those on a day like today.

  Henry approaches me now, his brow glistening with sweat from working in the heat. “You look....” His words fade with a twist of his lips.

  “Like I could star on Little House on the Prairie?” I don’t bother hiding the dismay in my voice.

  “Something like that.” His eyes flicker down my front, where a line of white buttons runs from my neck to my knees.