Page 40 of Wolf Promise

Nora stood. “Ulf and I will get your car ready.”

They took their leave from the people at the table and went in search of the older man. He had just ordered a glass of whiskey when they found him.

“I thought alcohol didn’t mix with your medication,” Regie said.

“Stop babying me, Regina,” he answered and from how carefully he formed the words, that wasn’t his first drink of the evening.

She sighed inwardly. Something bothered her grandfather. Why wouldn’t he share with her? “I’m just worried about you,” she said.

“Don’t be,” he bit off and turned toward Bolt. “And why haven’t you caught the stalker? Arek Varg told me the creep came to this party, and you did nothing.”

Regie doubted Arek had used those words, but before she could reply, Bolt answered. “We’re closing in on him, but you’re right, tonight would have been the perfect opportunity to catch him. Unfortunately, he got away, or he’s still here but hides his obsession well.” His calm voice impressed her.

“I hired Heimdall because you are supposed to be the best,” Grandfather railed at him. “Instead, I get mediocre service for inflated prices.”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Regie interjected before the older man could continue his tirade. “You’re not paying Heimdall’s bill, the company does, and I’m very happy with their services so far.”

A nasty expression flitted across Grandfather’s face as he looked down at her hand that Bolt held in his. “Well, you would be. You have a stud in your bed for the first time in ages.”

Anger rose in her chest. Whatever was wrong with the older man, it did not excuse him from being rude to Bolt. “I’m going to credit the alcohol with those words, but don’t ever speak that way again. My private life is none of your business, not now and not in the future.”

Her grandfather muttered something as he took another sip of the whisky.

More anger, and now hurt, swirled inside her. She didn’t bother to say goodbye before she walked away from him, dragging Bolt behind her. He caught up quickly, though, and put his arm around her. “He’s drunk and taking out his disappointment about the stalker not getting caught on you,” he said. “It’s Heimdall he’s frustrated with, not you.”

“That doesn’t give him the right to be rude to you.”

“You were protecting me?” he asked as he handed the coat check their tags.

She frowned. “He treated you very rudely.”

Bolt laughed again. “He insulted you more than me, Babe.” He pushed a tendril of hair that had escaped her updo behind her ear and turned the gesture into a caress as his finger traced the shell of her ear and down her cheek. Her hormones stood at rapt attention. “I take being called a stud as a compliment.”

She laughed to cover up how her libido responded to him as they collected their coats. “You would.”

Bolt tilted his heads, his eyes getting the faraway look they had when he listened to someone through his earpiece. “Nora and the Viking have secured our town car and they’ll follow behind in another vehicle as we make our way home.”

That thrill she’d gotten last time he said the word “home” raced through her body again. Bolt put his hand on her lower back and her hormones tap danced with joy.

Fake, she reminded herself. This relationship is fake.

She kept repeating those words as they got in the car and headed toward the apartment.

CHAPTER 20

Regie put her keys in the bowl on the table next to her apartment’s door. Bolt helped her off with her coat and his hands on her shoulders made her shiver again.

“Are you cold?” He threw their coats on the couch.

She shook her head. “How about something to drink?”

“You go ahead. I don’t drink while I’m working.”

Right, she forgot, again. This was a job for him. She squelched the disappointment rising in her chest, but some of her thoughts must have shown on her face.

Bolt took a step toward her and put his hands on her shoulders. “Hey, what’s wrong? We’ll get the stalker. It’s just going to take some time. But we’re not stopping until you’re safe.”

“It’s not that.”

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