She shrugged, doubting that. “Fine. But your guys are going to get superbored. I live a quiet life.”
His smile transformed his face, making him less intimidating, and kind of cute. Covertly, she checked his hand, disappointed to see a gold wedding ring on his third finger.
One by one, she glanced at the three other men. Two of them had ringless hands. Still, they might be involved with someone. She’d never know unless she asked.
“Listen, are any of you gentlemen...” clearing her throat, she pushed past her embarrassment “...single and unattached?”
Colton’s expression went blank, then he turned to look at one of his men, a husky blond with Viking legs and shaggy hair. Maria smiled at him, approving of the speculative way he eyed her. She wouldn’t have been surprised to find out his name was Thor.
“Um, I am,” he told her, his tone almost apologetic. “But you’re not my type.”
Stunned, she wasn’t sure how to reply to that.
Colton laughed. “James prefers men,” he said. “Sorry.”
What could she do but throw up her hands and laugh. “Ah, well, at least I tried.”
The other men all laughed with her, making her feel marginally better.
“Colton’s a widower,” James threw in, earning a death stare from his boss. “Though he still wears his wedding ring.”
“I don’t believe in mixing business with pleasure,” he told her. “Now, if you don’t mind, ma’am, we’ll be getting to work. By the way, we’ll be screening all phone calls, so I’m going to need to ask you to let them go to voice mail.”
Immediately she shook her head. “That will never work. This is our busiest season.”
“Your receptionist can check each message the instant it has finished recording, as long as she doesn’t delete it. We just need to be able to access every call.”
Maria considered, well aware Kathleen wasn’t going to like this. “Fine, I’ll give it a try. But I’ll tell you right now, if it messes with my business, I won’t be continuing it.”
“Fair enough,” Colton said. “We can see ourselves out. I promise you won’t even notice we’re here.”
* * *
Ryan felt marginally better after letting his wolf run free. He ran until all four of his legs ached, hunted until his hunger had been sated and even indulged in a bit of howling at the moon. His melancholy had even carried over after he changed, though logically he had no idea why.
He decided, after sleeping on it, that he’d introduce Maria to the two men who were Shape-shifters, as he felt they’d be better candidates to be with a Drakkor. Never mind that his insides twisted at the thought. He’d told her he would help and so he would. Now all he had to do was set things up and see what happened. As soon as Timothy let him know he had a new house, Ryan would bring them to a company retreat and begin the introductions.
Then he’d make himself scarce. There was a limit to how much he could take. The idea of watching another man put his hands on Maria would be way past it.
Timothy phoned him shortly past noon. Apparently dangling cash in front of a seller had worked. “It’s a much more luxurious place. Even better, you close in three days,” he said, naming a title company in Houston. Ryan promised to be there.
“Perfect. I even got the seller to leave the furnishings for a nominal fee. I really think you’re going to love this.”
Though Ryan didn’t really care, he thanked Timothy and agreed he probably would. After he hung up he got busy setting a date in a week for a mini-retreat with the two men he’d selected to meet Maria.
After the closing, Ryan drove back to Galveston, to the address on his paperwork, and eyed the beach house. Located within the Enclaves of Pirates Cove, the place had cost him a little over two million, but it was worth it. This place actually had land and multiple decks. He made a mental note to thank Timothy again. He might actually enjoy spending his summer here.
And Maria would love it. As the thought occurred to him, he realized he still wasn’t over her. Which he didn’t understand. Acting like a lovesick boy wasn’t in character for him, not at all. More than anyone, he knew he could never give Maria what she wanted from a man. Yet he couldn’t stop thinking about her.
It had to be the way she’d brushed him off. He wasn’t used to that and maybe his pride had been pricked, just a little. He’d get his mojo back in time.
After thoroughly exploring the house, he unpacked his ice chest, opened a beer and carried it out onto the patio, enjoying the view of the sun setting over the ocean.
The next morning, he phoned the wedding chapel. While he found it odd when he got the answering machine rather than a live person, he figured this must be their busiest season, so he left a message.
Maria didn’t return his call.
That afternoon, he phoned her cell. Again, he got voice mail, so he left yet another message.
He waited two days, then on the third he finally admitted to himself that she wasn’t going to let him make contact. Which might be for the best. At least he could say he tried. Despite his offer to help her find another man, every time he pictured her with someone else, his gut clenched. Still, since she’d been completely honest with him, and he couldn’t give her what she needed, finding someone else had seemed the least he could do. Maybe now he could go on with his summer, relegating her to his memories, like any other past fling.
Except she wouldn’t go. He still wanted her.
To ease his restlessness, he went out to Corps Woods and changed into wolf again, all the while watching for another sight of the beautiful dragon. He saw nothing, and more importantly, smelled nothing. The constant sea breeze had washed away any trace of a scent.
This time, the edgy feeling refused to leave him, no matter how long he remained wolf. Finally he admitted to himself that he had to see her.
He called her cell once again. This time, she answered, which so surprised him, he found himself at a momentary loss of words.
“Hello?” she asked, a trace of impatience in her voice. “Are you there?”
“I am.” He spoke just as remotely. “Just a bit surprised you answered, since you never called me back.”
“Why are you calling me?” Her surprise seemed genuine, which rankled him. “You know as well as I do that our fling is over.”
For the first time he realized he might have hurt her with his choice of words. At least he was making an honest effort to make up for it. “Remember I promised to help you fulfill your destiny?” He considered it a minor miracle that he didn’t choke on the words. “Well, I’ve got two candidates for you to meet. Are you up for a meeting, like, maybe this coming weekend?”
“Oh, wow.” Her swift intake of air told him he’d stunned her. “Here? In Galveston?”
“Sure. They work for me. If you’d like, you and I can get together to discuss specifics.”
“Ah. Sure. How about tonight, after work?”
Slightly annoyed at the way she suddenly made time for him now that he had men for her to meet, he nevertheless agreed. Just the thought of seeing her again made him feel dizzy with desire. And wonder what the hell he was doing, trying to set her up with other men.
“See you around eight,” she said, and ended the call.
The rest of the day, anticipation made him impatient. Since his new house had come with a workout room, complete with equipment, he spent a couple of hours punishing his body.
After a quick shower and a protein shake, he still had several hours left to kill.
He went out for dinner, and spent some time roaming the Strand. Finally, he got in his Jeep and drove to her house, parking right in front of it.
As he opened his car door to get out, a tall, muscular man walked up in front of him, blocking him from the house. The man’s aura proclaimed him Pack.
“Excuse me,” Ryan said, attempting to go around.
But the man cut him off again. “State your business.” He flashed an ID badge. Pack Protector.
> Stunned, Ryan shook his head. “I’m here to visit Maria Miranda.”
“No.” The guy glared at him. “You’re not. Best be moving along.”
As Ryan considered arguing, another man stepped out from the shadow of a huge palm tree. “Better do as he says, buddy.”
To his surprise, Ryan recognized the second man. “Colton?”
Colton squinted at him. “Ryan? I thought you and Maria were no longer dating.”
Ryan laughed. “We’re not. But we’re friends. She’s expecting me. What are the Protectors doing here?”
“Guarding her. Some crazy Drakkor snatched another woman. It appears Maria might be in danger. Her father specifically requested she be guarded 24/7.”
Ryan nodded, refraining from bringing up magic. Colton wouldn’t believe him anyway. “Can you call her and let her know I’m here?”
“Sure thing.” The other man turned away and spoke into his cell phone. A flash of jealousy stabbed Ryan in his gut. Unbelievable. Aware of his own foolishness, Ryan shook it off.
A second later, Colton turned to him with a wide smile. “She says to let you go on in.”
Thanking his friend, Ryan hurried up the sidewalk, completely unprepared for the joy that exploded within him at his first sight of her as she opened her door.
“Come on in,” she said, smiling as she stepped aside so he could enter. Instead, he pulled her close for a hug, craving the feel of her body against his.
Her uneasy laugh had him releasing her just as quickly. Hounds, she looked beautiful, especially since she’d clearly washed off her makeup. Without it, she looked fresh, sexy and vibrant, with her long dark hair falling around her smooth shoulders. She wore a tight tank top and formfitting shorts, highlighting her lush curves. His body stirred as he gazed at her.
“Would you like something to drink?” she asked, turning and leading the way into her small kitchen.
“Sure.” He took a seat at the kitchen bar to hide his growing arousal.
She poured them both tall glasses of iced tea. Instead of sitting next to him, she remained standing on the other side of the bar.
“I bought another house,” he told her, more to break the ice than anything else.
“The problems of rich people.” She shook her head. “What are you going to do with the first one once it’s repaired?”
“Maybe sell it. I like this new one better. I wrote the address down in case you ever want to come and see it.” He slid the paper across to her.
She accepted it without a word, putting it inside one of her kitchen drawers. “So, what do you have?”
At first, her question made no sense, until he realized he still held the manila folder with basic info on the two men he’d selected as potential mates for her.
Clenching his jaw, he slid the folder across the counter. He’d done a lot of difficult things in his life, but damned if this wasn’t turning out to be one of the hardest.
Taking it, she hesitated. Meeting his gaze, she sighed. “I’ve got to tell you, this just feels...weird.”
Oh, it felt a hundred times worse than that, he thought, nodding grimly. For a second, he wanted to tell her he’d do whatever she wanted, be whatever she needed, and he wouldn’t make her sign a single document, ever.
But common sense asserted itself, and he looked away. Eventually, some other woman would come along and pique his interest and Maria would get hurt. Plus, Ryan hadn’t gotten to where he was in life by making foolish, sentimental decisions. He didn’t plan to lose everything he’d worked so hard for just because of his infatuation with her.
Because that’s what it had to be. Infatuation. Once he met someone else, he could move on.
This idea—which unbelievably had never occurred to him—rocked him to his core. Of course. Why hadn’t he thought of that? A distraction. Beautiful women always worked wonders. He just needed to find another one.
Immensely cheered, he opened the folder for her and began to tell her about Jeff, the Shifter who also was Pack.
* * *
Maria watched Ryan closely as he sat in her kitchen discussing her dating another man. At first she’d thought he’d actually come to tell her he had a problem with procuring dates for her. To her dismay, he now appeared genuinely excited about the prospect.
As she should be. Heaven knew, if she ever intended to get pregnant, she needed to meet someone. Work had kept her so busy she hadn’t had time to put any of her ambitious plans to socialize into play.
She thought she made appropriate noises of approval at the first candidate, a handsome guy named Jeff. Not her type at all, if she went strictly by the photograph, but she was entirely willing to meet him in person and give him a chance.
The second man, David Morrison, looked like a nice guy, too, if a little more rough around the edges than Jeff. She heard herself agree to back-to-back dates, the first one this coming Friday night, the other on Saturday.
Once she’d agreed, Ryan closed the folder and drank his tea. With his dark hair longer and shaggier than he normally wore it, his strong features and the confident way he moved had her aching to touch him. He looked even more handsome and virile than she remembered, and perversely she was glad she hadn’t tried to look her best for him. Even now, it took every bit of self-control she possessed not to go around the bar and kiss him, right there in her own kitchen. Especially since she knew how combustible the two of them were together and that they’d end up in her bed.
With every fiber of her being, she wanted this. She even took a step forward, as though his presence compelled her. Yet she managed to stop and remind herself she had duties and responsibilities. The time had come to take them seriously.
So she smiled and nodded and sipped her tea. She agreed to meet two men in whom she had no real interest, all the while aching for the one man she could never have. She’d even gone so far as to make a list—with bullet points—of the reasons. Billionaire playboys had never been in her future.
Finally Ryan left. She followed him to the door, locking up carefully once he’d gone. When she turned to go back to her kitchen, she felt as if all the oxygen had left with him.
Shaking her head at her own stupidity, she went to her room to reread her list, hoping if she did she’d feel better about letting him go. She fell asleep with the list tucked under her pillow.
The next morning all remained quiet at her little house. Despite Polacek’s threats, he didn’t appear, which didn’t help cut through Maria’s unease. Some small voice kept warning her of danger. One of the things she’d learned in Eyrie had been to pay attention to her own instincts.
She called the number Colton Richards had given her and, despite feeling slightly foolish, warned him to tell his men to be ready. Just in case.
To his credit, he didn’t sound patronizing when he told her he would do so immediately.
The rest of the day, she jumped at every little sound, so much so she was driving herself crazy. Though she longed to call Ryan, she finally sat herself down in her chair and reminded herself she had enough control over her magical abilities to defend herself.
The day ended without incident, as did the next. Finally, Friday dawned, the day she’d agreed to go on a date with Jeff. She’d always hated blind dates, though she viewed them as a necessary evil considering her situation. The fact that Ryan had set this one up made it worse.
Still, she was nothing if not a trouper. Ryan had told her he’d have Jeff call her so they could discuss where they wanted to go.
* * *
Ryan hadn’t realized Maria would go with Jeff to the same bar where Ryan had first met her. When Friday night arrived and he knew they’d have their first date, he’d promptly taken himself there to drown his sorrows. Though he’d initially planned to try and meet someone else, he’d been stunned to find out that the idea held no appeal for him. He wanted Maria, not any other woman.
This time, he’d taken a bit more trouble with his disguise and no one recognized him. He’d also
tried to make himself as unattractive as possible to ensure he’d be left alone.
Jeff had driven down from Austin that morning and hung out with Ryan at his new beach house. Ryan had kept his jaw clenched and his mouth shut while the other man waxed poetic over how lucky he considered himself to be going on a blind date with someone as gorgeous as Maria Miranda.
Ryan fought the urge to open his front door and push Jeff out of the house.
Instead, because he’d given his word to Maria, he’d gone through with it. For whatever reason, he hoped the two of them didn’t hit it off.
Either way, they’d gone on a date. Realizing he couldn’t remain alone in his new house while Jeff was with her, Ryan had come here.
One drink, he’d told himself. He’d have one drink, maybe two, then he’d slip out and go take a walk on the beach.
Fighting his way through the crowd to the bar, he’d ordered a Shiner and paid. After taking a deep drink of the ice-cold beer, he turned and surveyed the room, already regretting whatever impulse had made him step inside.
And then he saw them. Jeff had his arm around her slender shoulders, which made Ryan immediately want to knock it off.
Maria looked gorgeous, as always. She’d chosen a formfitting, black minidress that showcased her ample curves. Her exotic, lush beauty made his mouth go dry.
Desire slammed into him. The lure of her beauty made him realize how foolish he’d been. His. Every primal instinct inside him woke. Even his wolf self, dozing until that instant, sprang awake and alert.
What kind of fool had he been, letting her go so easily?
Taking another pull on his beer as he seethed, Ryan watched while the two of them, unaware of his scrutiny, found a two-top on the other side of the crowded dance floor.
Jeff got up to fetch them drinks, and the instant he left, several men appeared at the table, drawn to her beauty like moths to a flame. She handled them like a pro. Though he had no idea what she’d said, it worked. Her would-be suitors melted away as if blasted by the heat of the hot Texas sun.
Billionaire Wolf (The Pack 17) (Nocturne) Page 15