by Haley Jacobs
Wolf at the Wedding
The Lone Pine Lodge, Book 2
Haley Jacobs
Brookside Press
Contents
Wolf at the Wedding
Wolf at the Wedding
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Epilogue
A Note from the Author
Bonus Chapter
Wolf at the Wedding
By
Haley Jacobs
Wolf at the Wedding
Copyright © 2017 Brookside Press
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.
Published by Brookside Press
1
Molly Garcia gazed out of the window just as the cramped little commuter plane broke through the clouds. Molly gasped at the deep green of the trees covering the mountain tops like bristles on a brush. She had never seen anything like it in her life. Growing up in Santa Fe, New Mexico and now living in Phoenix, she had never experienced the deep, wet green of June in Alaska. It felt so alive!
Molly sighed. No wonder her best friend Julia had found the love of her life here. Even from the air, Alaska seemed to hold the promise of rugged romance. And now Julia was getting married here to Dr. Jake Richardson, a research scientist who worked with grizzly bears. Molly was her maid of honor.
I wish I had someone to share this with, thought Molly. A nice, hot ranger, maybe?
The plane touched down at High Mountain Airport with a shoosh as the tires hit the wet runway. The sun was out now, and the water made everything shimmer like it was polished. This airport was really the only access into High Mountain National Park. There were a few roads leading in and out, but you either had to know exactly what you were doing, be completely nuts, or both to drive them from any of the major cities.
Molly’s lungs filled with the cold sting of mountain air as she descended the steps from the plane to the tarmac.
“MOLLY! MOLLY!” Julia was jumping up and down just beyond the fence. Molly smiled and waved. As soon as Molly got through the gate, Julia came running up to her. They held each other tightly. There was nothing like a hug from your best friend.
“I can’t believe you’re finally here!” said Julia.
“I know! And I can’t believe you actually live here! It’s so beautiful!”
Molly got her bags and she and Julia loaded them into the pickup truck. She and Julia had been planning the wedding long distance since Jake proposed. Julia moved here to be with Jake. She was able to fly back down to Phoenix to go dress shopping a few times, but most of their talks had been via FaceTime. Julia drove off down the highway to the Park and its famous Lone Pine Lodge.
“Where’s Jake?” asked Molly.
“He’s finishing up a research project out in the field,” said Julia. “He’ll be here tonight.”
“So…” said Molly. “Did Jake pick a best man yet?”
“He wanted to leave it open for his twin brother,” said Julia. “But Ron’s still on tour with the band and can’t make it. So he picked his best friend Gaston.”
“Please tell me Gaston is a park ranger. A well-built park ranger. A well-built, available park ranger.” Molly always went for the outdoors type.
“Gaston’s a chef,” said Julia. Molly looked crestfallen. “But he is built.”
“And..?”
“He’s not your type. More of an indoors kind of guy.”
“Maybe I could make an exception. Is he taken?”
“Sort of.”
Molly wrinkled her nose. “What the hell does that mean?”
“Let’s just say it’s complicated, and leave it at that.” said Julia.
“He probably couldn’t pass The Test anyway,” said Molly.
“Jesus, Molly! Please tell me you’re not still insisting on that silly Test.”
“Hey, I promised my Grandma that any guy who wanted to get serious with me had to pass The Test,” said Molly. “She always said it was the best way to spot the right man. She was kind of psychic that way.”
“Yeah, but…”
“Listen—the last time I ignored the test was Chase. You remember Chase?”
“Yeah…I do…” said Julia. “Mr. I-Can-Get-You-And-Your-Friends-Sex-Toys-Wholesale.”
“Couldn’t pass The Test,” said Molly. “Just sayin’.”
“Chase couldn’t pass for a halfway decent boyfriend either.”
Molly frowned at her.
“The Test never lies,” said Molly.
2
Molly and Julia had driven for about 25 minutes after passing the High Mountain National Park gates. The road climbed up through dense forests of pine and oak, following the river to their right. They reached a clearing, and at the top of the hill was the Lone Pine Lodge, where Molly would be staying.
The photos of the Lone Pine hadn’t prepared Molly for how beautiful it was in person. The Lone Pine Lodge was old and rustic, a cross between a log cabin and a huge mansion. It buzzed with an energy Molly couldn’t identify. Julia parked the truck, and she and Molly walked up the wide wooden steps to the porch and through the big cut-glass double doors into the giant lobby. The lobby was filled with big, oversized furniture. There was a huge grand staircase that split left and right to the upper level.
“Wow!” said Molly.
“Pretty amazing, huh?” said Julia. “The Lone Pine is a special place. It’s not like anywhere else in the world.”
“Yeah, no kidding!”
A woman in a ranger uniform was crossing the lobby toward Molly and Julia. She was blond and tall. Really tall. She walked with the assuredness of someone who is used to being in charge.
“Hi Julia,” said the woman in a husky voice. She turned to Molly.
“You must be Molly! I’ve heard so much about you. I’m Barbara Gravier.”
“Molly Garcia,” said Molly, offering her hand. Barbara gripped Molly’s hand with surprising strength.
“Barbara’s the Park Superintendent.”
“It’s great to meet you!” said Molly.
“Molly’s hoping you know some available rangers.”
Barbara laughed. “There are a few out there.” Barbara turned to Julia.
“Any word from…”
“Ron?” said Julia. “No. He’s on tour as usual. Gaston’s going to be Jake’s Best Man.”
Molly couldn’t tell if Barbara was disappointed or relieved or both.
“Do you want to join us for lunch?” asked Julia. “We’re headed for the Redwood Grill.”
“No thanks,” said Barbara. “I’m swamped right now, and I want to make sure I have the weekend clear. I don’t want to miss a second of your wedding.”
Molly and Julia sat in the main dining room of The Redwood Grill. There was an old-fashioned bar with red leather booths near the entrance. The kitchen was on the opposite side of the dining room. To the left were floor-to-ceiling picture windows with sweeping views of snow-capped peaks. To the right were paintings and drawings of bears and other nature scenes.
“Hey, I recognize those pictures!” said Molly. She knew Julia’s artwork. “The look great! I can’t believe that a year ago you were still slaving away at Millwood-Smith’s accounting office in Phoenix.”
“Thanks!” said Julia. “I didn’t know I could ever be so happy. How are things at— ”
“
The Blue Crab? Awful!” Molly cringed. “I mean, seriously, who wants to buy crabs in the middle of the Arizona desert? One of these days, I’d like to manage a real restaurant with real food. Local food!”
“You should open your own place, Mol,” said Julia.
“On my salary?”
“What about your folks?” said Julia. “Couldn’t you just take over their café? You practically grew up in their restaurant!”
“I could, but my sister’s running the place now and she’s doing great.”
Molly looked at Julia.
“Speaking of family,” said Molly. “How are your parents with all of this?”
Julia’s parents divorced when she was fourteen. She had been a pawn in the middle of a drawn-out custody battle. Julia loved both of her parents, but the bitterness between the two of them ran deep.
“Honestly,” said Julia. “I just have to keep them separate long enough to make it through the ceremony.”
“And Jake’s family?”
“His parents are great, but they’ve never met my folks. And then there’s his brother, Ron.”
“Oh, I know all about Ron Richardson,” said Molly. “I have all his songs on my phone, and everybody knows he’s a trainwreck.”
“Yeah,” said Julia. “But what you don’t know is that he’s married to Barbara.”
“Wait…WHAT?!” said Molly. “You mean the Barbara chick I just met?”
“That’s the one,” said Julia. “But they haven’t spoken in years. They had some big falling out, and Jake says that’s why Ron went off the rails. I’ve never met him.”
Lunch arrived. Julia had a Caesar salad and Molly had a hamburger. Molly took a bite and froze.
“Are you OK?” asked Julia.
“Oh my God! It’s perfect…” said Molly. “This burger is fucking PERFECT!”
Molly took a bite of a French-fry. “That’s the best French-fry I’ve ever had! How in the hell…”
Julia smiled. “Gaston. He’s kind of amazing.”
“Okay! Okay! One stupid question,” said Molly. “How does a chef like Gaston wind up in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness? You sure he’s unavailable?”
Julia looked nervous. “There’s something I haven’t told you about this place. About Jake.”
Molly looked concerned. “Nothing good can come after that. Spill it, girl!”
“It’s nothing bad. It’s just that…The Lone Pine…High Mountain…it’s not like other places in the world. The people here are…different.”
“What do you mean?”
Julia lowered her voice. “Have you ever heard of a shifter?”
“Other than on a 68 Buick, no.”
“Shape shifters are people who live between two worlds—the animal world and the human world. They have a foot in both. The Lone Pine is a haven for shifters. Gaston, he’s a like a wolf. Barbara’s a Puma.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” asked Molly.
“It’s why Gaston is here. He doesn’t fit anywhere else.” Julia took a deep breath. “And my Jake? Well…Jake’s like a bear.”
“A bear?” Molly raised one eyebrow and shot Julia an evil grin. “Is he a big bear? Seriously, Julia—TMI.”
Julia looked exasperated, and was about to continue when the sound of crashing plates shattered through the dining room. A tall, thin woman with white blond hair and grey eyes burst through the kitchen door. She was followed by an even taller man in a chef’s coat and hat. Both their faces were red. The diners did their best to look away as the couple screamed at each other.
The man threw his hands up, pointed at the woman and bellowed something in French.
“BUT YOU ARE MY FIANCÉ, GASTON!” yelled the woman in English with a French accent. “I AM PROMISED TO YOU!”
She held a dinner plate over her head, threatening him.
“Larissa…” said the man. Larissa hurled the plate at Gaston. He ducked and it smashed against the kitchen door.
Gaston yelled at Larissa in French. Molly couldn’t understand a word of what they were saying. If it wasn’t English or Spanglish, they could have as easily been speaking Martian for all she knew. Regardless of the language, she knew an insult when she heard one.
Larissa’s face contorted into tears. “THEN I QUIT! YOU CAN’T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT ME! YOU’LL COME BEGGING AT MY DOOR!”
Larissa stormed out.
“Hoo! Hoo! That was a nasty one! So that’s Gaston, huh?” said Molly. She turned to Julia. Julia’s face was sheet white and her eyes were brimming with tears.
“Uh oh,” said Molly. “What’s going on?”
“Larissa,” Julia sniffled. “She’s the Wedding Coordinator. My Wedding Coordinator just quit!”
3
Julia was finally starting to calm down. Molly had been holding her.
“My wedding!” said Julia. “It’s ruined!”
“Nothing’s ruined, hon,” said Molly. “Isn’t there someone else at The Lone Pine who can do it?”
“She’s the only one. We’re deep in Alaska. There isn’t a town for 120 miles. She was taking care of everything.”
“Okay. Now,” said Molly taking hold of Julia’s shoulders. “What’s my Number One Rule?”
“Never go to bed with anyone who’s crazier than you are?”
“Got me there. What’s Rule Number Two?”
“Never date anyone who gives you a cheap wholesale price on sex toys.”
Molly frowned. “That was unfair.”
“But true,” said Julia.
“Got me there. Rule Number Three?”
“Never use cheap wholesale sex toys.”
Molly shuddered. “Rule Number Four?”
“I have no idea,” said Julia.
“Don’t panic.”
“Seriously? That’s it? ‘Don’t panic?’ Isn’t that from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy?”
Molly thought for a moment. “Doesn’t matter. It’s still good advice.”
“And just how would that apply here?” said Julia.
“Think for a moment,” said Molly. “I’m a restaurant manager. I deal with angry customers, line cooks who can’t show up to work on time, and bartenders with their hands in the till. I’ve catered bar mitzvahs, bat mitzvahs, retirement parties, and—oh yes—wedding receptions. If I can handle all of that, I can handle this!”
“Really?” said Julia. “You’d do that for me?”
“Of course!” said Molly. “That’s what a Maid of Honor is for.”
Molly and Julia made a list of what had been done and what needed to be done. Larissa had to have kept notes or a file on the wedding somewhere. At Julia’s suggestion, she went down to the front desk to ask Ryan, The Lone Pine’s Manager, if he knew anything. Molly knocked on the door.
“Come in!” said Ryan.
Ryan’s office was beyond tidy. Not a paper was out of place and there were no knick-knacks anywhere. He sat comfortably but bolt upright in his office chair. He looked at her through stylish round glasses, and twitched his head slightly to the right.
“What can I do for you, Molly?” said Ryan.
“Wait—how did you know my name?” said Molly.
Ryan twitched his head the other way and blinked. He gave a small smile.
“I know lots of things,” said Ryan. “You’ll find everything you’re looking for with Gaston.”
“Gaston?” asked Molly. “Why Gaston?”
“You’ll find everything you’re looking for with Gaston,” he repeated. He’s in the kitchen.”
Molly left the office confused and a little bewildered. She texted Julia.
Just met with Ryan. Kinda freaked me out.
Her phone chimed.
What did he say?
Gaston is everything I’m looking for.
Fucking autocorrect, thought Molly. She tried again.
Gaston HAS everything I’m looking for.
Molly looked at her phone again. Huh. Her phone chimed.
; ROTLF—Maybe he IS what you’re looking for!
The kitchen.
Shit.
Molly knew you should never, ever go into the kitchen without a specific invitation. Her dad had drummed that into her head from an early age, and she sure as hell enforced that at the Blue Crab. It was between lunch service and dinner, so she knew this would probably be the best time.
Molly walked through the empty Redwood Grill and peered into the kitchen through the swinging doors. Several of the line cooks were preparing vegetables and sauces for the next meal. Molly could smell the odor of caramelized onions. It was so familiar. It smelled like home.
“We’re closed!” yelled a cook chopping carrots.
“I’m looking for Gaston,” said Molly.
The cooks all stopped what they were doing and looked at each other sharply.
“You sure you can handle Gaston, little lady?”
“Listen,” said Molly. “I’ve had five years in the restaurant business and twenty years growing up in the kitchen of my parents’ café in Santa Fe. I can handle Gaston.”
The cooks all burst out laughing.
“You’re one of us! Come on in,” said one of the cooks. “But, er…he’s not in the best of moods right now.”
Molly smiled. “I can handle him.”
Molly found Gaston in his office just off the kitchen. He was resting with his elbows on his desk and his face was in his hands. She could see his shoulder-length, raven black hair. Gaston was wearing a simple, tight white undershirt that did nothing to hide the ripples of his shoulders and arms. Her eyes trailed from his arms to his hands. They were calloused and rough, and Molly wondered what they would feel like caressing her bare skin. She shivered. Gaston looked up at Molly.