Page 18 of Wolf's Midlife Baby

“Sort of has that shy sweetness about her,” Rick continued. “At least, that’s how it seems to me, but I can’t say I’ve been around her under the best circumstances.”

Pierce was hesitant to say too much. Holly was amazing, but his relationship with her—if it could even be called that—was complicated. “That’s true, but she’s pretty great in any circumstance, from what I’ve been able to tell. She’s got a quick wit.”

He’d enjoyed more than just her wit a few nights earlier. Holly was warm and sexy. She’d seemed to come alive when they’d gone to Selene’s and were around their own people. As the confidence grew in her, so did his attraction. Pierce hadn’t really intended to bring her out onto the dance floor. He’d just wanted to show her around and make sure she had a good time while she was there, but the music and the atmosphere had completely taken him over. He was fairly certain the same thing had happened to her. Now, thinking about it without the dull thump of bass behind them, Pierce knew it wasn’t the music or the club at all. It was what the two of them had together, a connection that was hard to explain or describe. Something was fascinating about watching the lights from the stage move over her face, casting her skin in tones of blues and purples. His eyes had narrowed in on her hips and shoulders as she moved, her body twisting and writhing in a rhythm that his body already understood. They proved that all over again when they’d gone back to his place and fallen into bed together, where the dance had continued without any music to blame.

“She certainly impressed me by pulling that old photo out of the ashes.” Rick opened his soda, the hiss of the carbonation cutting into the air. “When you’ve been a firefighter as long as I have, you know how people tend to react. They just stand around and gape or completely freak out. She didn’t do any of that. She started looking around, really studying the scene in front of her. I’m sure that’s why she found that photo, and I really am grateful for it.”

“I’ll tell her,” Pierce promised as he polished off his first slice of pizza. He’d have to figure out when he’d see her again, though, or maybe if he would at all. It didn’t seem right to spend such a magical night with her and then just let her fly back to the other side of the country. It might as well be the other side of the world.

Rick pulled in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I didn’t need that photograph to remember what it was like to be with a good woman. It’s the sort of thing that stays with you that you don’t really ever forget. Holly seems like one of them.”

He was trying to push the door further open to get Pierce to come out and say what was happening between the two of them. Of course, there wasn’t much to report. “Maybe.” Pierce could feel Rick’s eyes on him, studying him.

“You don’t really think I don’t know, do you?” the older man asked softly. When Pierce looked up, he continued. “I’m no dummy, son. I saw the way the two of you looked at each other, even at the scene of the house fire. I saw that sense of longing, of belonging, but not quite figuring out how to do it. I’ve been there, Pierce. It’s been a long time, but like I said, you don’t forget.”

Pierce frowned at his soda and wished it was a beer, but he knew no amount of alcohol could distract him from the way he felt about Holly. “She’s special. I’ll give you that.”

“Hoohoo, I’d say,” Rick replied, sounding more enthusiastic than he had since the night of the fire. “It was no accident that you pulled that girl out of the river. You shouldn’t wait too long if something’s going on between you. Our time is precious, and we have to take advantage of it.”

Time was even more precious than his father realized. “It’s not like it really matters. She’s only here on a business trip, and she’ll be going back home soon.”

“It always matters, son. Even the smallest relationships—the ones that don’t work out and that we can laugh about twenty years down the line—matter. It’s all part of who we are.”

“You’re pretty philosophical tonight,” Pierce noted. He knew a lot of that was because his father had lost his home. That gave him cause to get a bit reflective and start thinking about life. He’d done the same thing when their mother had died. “I’m not going to say you’re wrong, but Holly lives all the way on the East Coast. I think she said she leaves tomorrow.”

Rick’s gray brows lowered. “Then why are you here sitting on your ass? If there’s a chance something might work out, you need to go to her. Even if you just wined and dined—and whatever else—with her, you ought to at least be gentleman enough to see her off.”

He was right. The damn old man was right again, just as he often was about everything else. It’d always pissed Pierce off when he was a teenager and was so convinced he knew more than his father, only to find out he didn’t know a thing at all. He was forty-four now, so it wasn’t like he should have many lessons left to learn. But as he chomped down on his pizza, he knew he still had to figure out how to navigate some things. “I wouldn’t mind a chance to say goodbye,” he admitted.

His father gave him an approving nod.

When he’d finished eating, Pierce changed into a nicer shirt, combed his hair, and brushed his teeth. He caught himself in the mirror, wondering what he was doing all this for. She was going to leave. She wouldn’t care if he had a hair out of place or if the pocket tee he’d been wearing had a dot of pizza grease on the hem, yet he couldn’t help himself. She was his mate, whether they’d be staying together or not. He’d at least leave her with one last good impression.

“I’m heading out,” he announced when he returned to the living room. “You behave yourself. No wild parties. The neighbors will complain, so don’t think I won’t hear about it if you try.”

“No promises,” Rick said with a smile.

Pierce headed back to Holly’s Airbnb with his heart in his throat. He’d get to say goodbye, but the thought of doing so was much easier to handle than the reality of it. It just wasn’t right to know that his mate had been right there with him and was now about to leave. He tried to think of what he might say to her, but everything seemed wrong. Tension built in his muscles as he grew closer to her place, creating knots in his shoulders.

Even his legs were cramping as he came up the porch steps and rang the bell. He was there to say goodbye, to let her go. His wolf twisted and raged inside him, telling him he had to think of something else. He had to find some way to make this work, but the more logical side of his brain knew that was impossible.

The door swung open to reveal a tall redhead. Dahlia’s catlike eyes swept up and down his body before she turned to call over her shoulder. “Holly! There’s a handsome firefighter at the door, so it must be for you! Come on in.” This last part was directed at him, and she stepped aside to wave him into the foyer living room just as Holly emerged from her bedroom.

“Pierce.” Her dark hair had been pulled back into a ponytail. She wore a loose T-shirt and knit shorts, and she nervously plucked at the hem of them. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

“I know,” he admitted. “I’m sorry to just drop by, but I know you said you’d be going soon.”

“We’re finally freed from the doldrums of overly enthusiastic meetings about cooperation, learning, and happy work environments,” Dahlia confirmed as she stepped into the kitchen. “Can I get you anything to drink?”

“No, thank you.” His throat was dry, but he wasn’t even sure he had the strength to hold a glass as he stood there looking at Holly. His wolf was going wild, and it would take every ounce of effort to keep it contained. He turned back to Holly. “I know you’re probably busy getting packed up, but I thought I’d at least stop in for a minute if that’s okay.”

“Oh. Sure. Right.” She glanced behind her and then gestured for him to follow. “You can come in here if you want.”

Pierce followed her down the hall. He glanced into the other doorway, which must have been Dahlia’s room. The suitcase was open on the bed. Clothes had been packed inside, and others were waiting on the comforter to go in next. The drawers were open to showcase their emptiness.

He turned away and went into Holly’s bedroom. No, not her bedroom. Just the bedroom she was renting. Still, there was that intimate feeling of being in someone else’s bedroom. Her dark green suitcase was visible through the open closet door, and her makeup and perfume had been neatly arranged on the dresser. Her laptop and file folders were scattered on the bed with a sprinkling of pens and highlighters on top.

“How’s your dad doing?” She waved him into the chair in the corner while she perched on the bench at the end of the bed. “I feel so bad for him.”

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