Page 3 of Midlife Wolf Captured My Heart

“No. He graduated from high school here, went to college, and never returned to Angel’s Creek.” Sadie popped the lid back on the empty bowl and pushed it back toward Talia, who packed it up with her bowl.

“I’ve heard the pack members talk about him a few times. My parents talked about him a couple of times when I asked them about him. They said that he had always been extremely shy and kept to himself. He rarely, if ever, joined the pack activities. I’m excited to meet him.”

“He was very interesting to talk to. The passion he has for photography and wildlife was obvious when he told me stories. Even Jade was interested.”

Talia smiled. “Sounds like you have a little bit of hero worship going on.”

Sadie shrugged. “Maybe. I’ve always loved biology. If I hadn’t majored in library sciences, then I would have majored in biology.”

“I’m glad you didn’t. Then I wouldn’t have had a job.”

“I don’t know. Who knows, I might have been the next Jane Goodall, only instead of focusing on chimpanzees, I might have become a world-renowned expert on bears. The only problem is the extensive amount of time one has to spend in the wild. I like beds, flushing toilets, and home-cooked meals.”

The bell rang. Sadie stashed her sandwich in the fridge and headed to the principal’s office. Principal Connie Jones readily agreed to Dakota coming into the school as a speaker. Sadie said she would set everything up.

Sadie smiled as she walked back to the library. She called Dakota to make sure that he was available in two days. A slight tremble flowed through her when she heard his deep voice.

“I will make sure to put it on my schedule. I’ll be there.”

“That’s terrific. I look forward to seeing you there.”

She closed her eyes for a second and inhaled deeply. She could smell his scent, which was a combination of a light citrus scent and pine. That makes sense for a man who spent all of his time outdoors. However, there was just something about it that tickled her cells and ignited tiny flames inside of her.

“Ms. Andrews, are you okay?”

Sadie’s eyes flew open to see Andrew Hutchings in front of her.

“Yes, sorry. I was just thinking about something. How can I help you?”

“Mrs. Garner assigned us a project. We have to pick a career in science and present it to the class. We have to do research, have a slide presentation, create a poster, a tangible productassociated with it, and write a speech. We have to use at least two sources that aren’t online. You know I love Hodgins fromBones.I want to be a forensic entomologist like him. Do you have something I can use?”

Sadie helped him find several sources he could use, thinking that Andrew was a genius. She would bet a million dollars that he’d love Dakota’s presentation – almost as much as she would.

Is it just his presentation I’m looking forward to or the chance to be near him again?

Sadie shook her head, trying to push away the thought.I’m being ridiculous. I just met him. I need to stop acting like a crazed fan who just met her favorite actor.

2

Dakota

Dakota leftHowlers’with a huge smile. Every time he and that red-haired beauty touched it sent a bolt of electricity coursing through his body. He wasn’t a dog but hadn’t been a monk, either. Dakota couldn’t remember the last time he had felt that kind of reaction when touching a woman – if ever. Her scent of jasmine and her essence stayed with him.

He pictured her sparkling green eyes and that beautiful smile she flashed at him. She exuded confidence. Her genuine interest in his work was almost as attractive as her aura.

Shaking his head, he reminded himself that he was old enough to be her father. She might have been slightly flirtatious, but she seemed to have a little bit of hero worship going on. Although he wasn’t nearly as famous as Stephen King, he did have a small following among people who loved science, especially wildlife.

He was still wide awake when he got home so he looked over the photos that would be featured at the art gallery in Albuquerque. All of the animals featured were endangered. All of the money he made from this showing and subsequent saleof the photos would be donated to organizations that worked to help the animals.

His two favorites were the series he did on the black rhinos and Asian elephants. He managed to get photos that no photographer had ever managed to get before. Somehow, he managed to slip in among the animals and, although they were leery at first, they eventually got used to his presence.

Dakota was satisfied with his nomadic lifestyle. He had made a lot of money from his books, photos, and documentaries and had a couple million sitting in a bank account. If he wanted to retire and settle down, he could and live comfortably for the rest of his life. However, he was drawn to wildlife and documenting their lives. Besides, there was no place he wanted to settle.

Angel’s Creek had crossed his mind a million times since he left home, but it had never felt like home. He never fit in. It wasn’t that people treated him badly or that he wasn’t a very strong shifter. The Nightshade Wolf Shifter Pack had never given him a hard time because he struggled to shift and he felt more comfortable in his human form. He was the one who felt self-conscious.

Over the years, he had wondered what it would feel like to go home. His parents had died in a car accident while he was in college and left him the house. He had rented it out over the years. Every once in a while he thought about selling it, but couldn’t bring himself to do that. It was his last tangible hold on the only family he had. Right now, he was between renters so he had a place to stay.

“I wonder if it’s going to be awkward being home. The people I grew up with are adults now with their families.”

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