Page 4 of Wolf's Midlife Baby

“I’m Kevin with Tubular River Tours.” He held out his hand, but his eyes stayed focused on the woman. “She somehow got separated from the rest of us. I got over here as quickly as I could once I saw what was happening, but I never would’ve made it on time. I’m glad you were here.”

“Yeah. Me, too.” The rescue worker inside him had immediately sprung into action, but he knew that wasn’t the only thing that had driven him to run into the river, swim into the rapids, and pull her free from the water.

Kevin was on his knees next to her. “What was your name again?”

“Holly.” She used the edge of the blanket to sweep a drip of water off her temple. “Holly Brigham.”

“Holly, right,” Kevin confirmed, although Pierce doubted the guy ever really knew her name in the first place. “I’m going to have to get you to the hospital.”

She instantly shook her head and pulled the blanket tighter around her. “I really don’t need that. I’m fine. I promise.”

But Kevin wasn’t going to take no for an answer. “It’s company policy, and it was in the paperwork that you signed back at the beginning of all of this. We have to go. They just need to check you out really quick.”

Holly’s eyes traveled up to Pierce’s. Those gray-blue depths were desperate and worried, and he knew exactly why. People like them couldn’t just go to the hospital. A careless nurse or doctor might not notice anything and send them on their way. Anyone who was a bit more diligent, though, who wanted to make sure they checked every little box, might find something significantly different.

“I’ll take her,” Pierce volunteered, giving Holly a subtle nod to show he understood. “That way, you can get back to the rest of your group and let them know she’s safe.”

Kevin hesitated. He glanced over his shoulder at the flotilla of brightly colored tubes where the rest of the tour was waiting.

“I’m with the local fire department, so she’s in good hands,” Pierce assured him.

“Is that all right with you?” Kevin asked Holly.

Though Pierce’s hackles had raised when Kevin had shown up, he had to give the guy credit for making sure Holly was comfortable with the situation before he just left her to it. After all, Pierce was a stranger. Mate or not.

“Yeah, that’s fine.”

“Okay. I’ll be getting in touch to get the hospital paperwork from you.” With a sigh of uncertainty, Kevin headed back to his kayak and paddled back out to the group.

“Holy shit, this is embarrassing,” Holly grumbled.

Pierce looked up at the sound of footsteps and saw that the embarrassment wasn’t over for her just yet. He came from a whole family of rescue workers, and they certainly wouldn’t think anything less of her for having an accident like she did, but this still wasn’t an ideal time to meet her mate’s relatives. “Holly, this is my dad, Rick, and my brother Hayden.” He helped her to her feet, and she instantly yanked the blanket further around her shoulders so that it hung around her like a robe.

She barely lifted her eyes from the ground. “Hi.”

“Looks like you’ve got it all under control, but is there anything we can do?” Rick offered.

Pierce looked at Holly. Now that they were standing, he could see that her head came just up to his chest. It was a detail that meant nothing in the grand scheme of things, yet he found himself enjoying that height difference. Yep. This was definitely not just an ordinary woman. “I’m just going to get her to the hospital.”

The other two men nodded in understanding. “Not a problem. I’ll take Dad home. Just let us know if you need anything,” Hayden offered.

“Sorry I ruined your fishing trip,” Holly said.

“You didn’t ruin a thing, dear,” Rick insisted. “Besides, you’re the prettiest fish Pierce has caught all day.”

“All right, Dad.” There was definitely something between them, but he couldn’t dare bring it up when she’d just regained consciousness. He took Holly’s elbow and guided her toward the parking lot, leaving the other two behind. “It’s not a long walk, but do you think you can make it? I can carry you.”

“I’m good.” Holly walked slowly, with her shoulders slumped and her head drooping. “I think I’ve been enough of a spectacle today.”

“These things really do happen all the time,” he assured her as they stepped onto the asphalt.

“I suppose you would know,” she admitted. “I just wish it hadn’t happened to me.”

Though he wouldn’t wish her any harm, Pierce couldn’t say he completely agreed. He’d just been standing along the bank of the river, happily fishing with his dad and brother. They’d been talking about buying different bait as if it would’ve made any difference and how they ought to prepare the fish that night. Hayden had talked excessively for a while about his son Jack and how remarkable his recovery from his automobile accident had been, as well as how his new blended family was getting along. It’d just been a normal day, and Pierce had been content to watch the water for subtle signs of fish when his attention had immediately shifted. He didn’t even know what had happened to his fishing rod because he was pretty sure he’d dropped it on the bank as he ran toward the screaming woman in the river. It had all happened so fast, and it was only now, as he opened the passenger door of his truck and helped her up inside, that he realized just how quickly he’d been running. It wasn’t just the rescue worker in him. It was his soul, the part of him that knew its other half was missing.

He went around and got in the driver’s seat, realizing that he had his mate right there in his vehicle, and she didn’t even know his name. “I don’t think I’ve even introduced myself. I’m Pierce Westbrook.”

“Holly Brigham, although I guess you know that by now. Listen, I really appreciate you volunteering to take me to the hospital, but I can’t go. I mean, I can take care of this myself, but… I don’t know what I am going to do, but I can’t do that. I don’t even have my phone.” She leaned her elbow on the door and tried to run her fingers through her wet hair. It was tangled, so she pulled her hand back out of the mess.

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