Page 46 of Midlife Wolf Captured My Heart

“I know, right. Pretty awesome idea, isn’t it?”

In mock seriousness, Dakota said, “I appreciate your kind offer to further my career choices. However, I must respectfully decline your offer.”

“Party pooper.”

She put her hand on his chest and looked him in the eye. “I was wondering if you would like to stay the night.”

He smiled at her. Dakota knew that he would like nothing more in this world than to hold this beautiful red-headed woman all night long. “That’s an offer I can accept. However, unless you’re the one who is going to sleep on the wet spot, I suggest we change the sheets.”

“You’re the big man who protects the princess. Aren’t you supposed to endure the discomfort to take care of his princess?”

“Not tonight, Princess. This old man needs to sleep in comfort. Rest is important for older people.”

Laughing, she swung her legs out of the bed. She turned on the shower and dove in, cleaning up. She tossed him a towel when she got out. “You’re turn. There’s soap and a washcloth in the shower.”

He quickly washed up. Dakota closed his eyes as the water poured over him. He leaned against the cool tiles and thought about how much he cared for Sadie. Groaning, he wished that he could talk her into going with him. However, he understood that her need to stay was as strong as his need to go.

Sadie already had the sheets changed when he came back out. They lay on the bed and he pulled her into his arms. The fan blew a breeze over them. He loved the contrast of the cool air and the body heat they produced. She pulled a sheet and blanket over them and she snuggled against him, her head tucked beneath his chin.

“I love you,” Sadie whispered as she fell asleep.

He kissed the top of her head. “I love you, too.”

They got up early the next morning since Sadie had to go to work. He made coffee and she warmed up the leftovers from the night before.

“I have an afterschool professional development meeting today. Then, we have a clan meeting. I don’t know how late I’ll be.”

“We have a pack meeting this evening as well. I suspect it’s about the hunters. They could just send an email, but I understand the gravity of the situation and that he wants to emphasize what is going on.”

“That’s my guess. I’m just not sure we’ll have time to hang out tonight once everything is said and done.”

He was disappointed but nodded. “Probably not. Maybe tomorrow.”

They quickly ate and took care of the dishes. He leaned against the counter and smiled at her as she put her computer in her bag and got ready for school. Sadie stopped what she was doing, walked over to him, and wrapped her arms around him. She laid her head on his chest and sighed. Dakota hugged her tightly.

Those same words that they whispered in the darkness threatened to spill out of his mouth, but he bit his tongue. Nothing good could come from telling her that he loved her in the light of day. It wouldn’t change anything.

“I have to go. Dakota, I…” She smiled and shook her head. After a brief kiss, they went to their vehicles and went their separate ways.

He worked on the collage until lunch. “She’ll love it.” On the back, he wrote, “To Sadie, with love. Dakota.”

“I guess I’ll either have to find a large gift bag or some wrapping. I’ll give this to her right before I leave. It’ll be something to remember me by.” He said this but knew she wouldn’t need anything tangible to remember him.

His stomach started to rebel. Sandwiches just didn’t sound good and he had to go out, anyway, so he went toHowlers’.He took his computer, deciding it would be a working lunch.

Although it was busy, as usual, he managed to snag a table in the back. The waitress took his order and then Dakota opened his computer. He had most of his book outlined. In the next week or so, he was going to have to really think about heading up to Montana. He wanted to get pictures of wolves in the different seasons. Although he had a few of them in late fall, he wanted more. Then, of course, he would need some for winter. Wolves were great for adapting to the cold mountain winters.

Dakota was so focused on his work that he didn’t notice the two men approaching his table until one of them cleared his throat. Looking up, he found himself face-to-face with Sadie’s father and brother. The looks on their faces and their tense posture told Dakota that they weren’t members of his fan club. He gestured for them to sit and closed his laptop.

Sadie’s father, James, spoke first. “We need to talk about Sadie.”

Keeping his expression neutral, Dakota asked, “What about her?”

Eric leaned forward with his jaw clenched. “We don’t want you hanging around with her anymore. You’re the same age as her father and it’s just wrong.”

“On top of that, you aren’t going to stick around. You’ll be gone soon enough, leaving Sadie with a broken heart. We can’t allow that.”

Dakota felt a flicker of anger ignite inside of him. The words “We can’t allow that” as though Sadie was a child instead of an adult woman irritated him.

---