Page 45 of Must Love Mistletoe

Cal decided that was probably a very good idea.

The puppy demanded pats from Sam next, and then with one last lick headed for the wolf pack. This time the alpha wolf acknowledged him. The pup’s response was immediate and ecstatic.

Hey, Dad, hey. I missed you. Where you been?

Even so, Cal tightened his finger on the trigger of his rifle. No telling which way this was going to go next. In human terms, it seemed as if they’d stumbled in on divorce proceedings and a custody battle. That or a search and rescue. He was all for doing what was best for the kids.

Silently, the wolves began to withdraw, and the pup went with them, melting into the twilight and the cover of the trees until only the alpha wolf was left. The wolf stared at the German shepherd mix named Chessie, and Chessie stared back.

Slowly, Cal lowered his rifle, backing off on the threat he represented so that the dog could choose more freely.

He wondered if Beth would lower her firearm.

And then Sam looked at him, gave a small nod, and then stepped up beside his mother and put a hand on her arm.

He didn’t hear what was said but Beth slowly relaxed her stance and lowered the gun until it pointed at the ground beside her feet.

What’s it going to be, Chess? Stay or go? Make up your mind.

They stayed like that for what felt like an eternity. And then the big wolf turned tail and left.

Not Chessie, though. Chessie headed back to Sam, who dropped to his knees and buried his face in her still-patchy coat.

“Did you see that?” Sam said when Cal reached their side moments later. “That wasintense.”

Very.

“I think Bo was more wolf than dog,” Sam said next. “Mom, stop hugging me. Can’t breathe!”

“I love you,” Beth told her son. “Don’t ever do that again, or I’ll tie you to your bed until you’re a hundred and one. You ran off by yourself and you promised you wouldn’t. Promises mean something, Sam! Next time you make a promise, youkeepit. And you!” She pointed an ungloved finger at Cal, and Sam’s eyes widened in alarm.

“Mom, you can’t do the cranky explode at Cal. You promised, too. He’s a hero.”

“Exactly! He’s a smart-arse hero. Look at that grin he’s trying to hide, and hekeepshis promises, Sam.” Beth huffed out alaugh, but she stabbed her finger in Cal’s direction some more. “He’s going to show us how it’s done. For the rest of our lives.”

His grin widened. “You have my word. Sam, your mother and I are getting married. I hope you approve.” So much forasking. But Cal was all out of patience and practically incandescent with the need to claim them. Both of them. And never let them out of his reach again.

“Woohoo!” Sam yelled.

Somewhere in the distance, a wolf howled back.

“Mom. Mom! You don’t think I can, like, talk to wolves, do you?”

“No.”

“Because that one just talked back.”

“No, it didn’t.”

“And they didn’t try to attack me or anything. I was communing with them.”

“No, you weren’t.”

“But—”

“Sam, I speak with many years of experience,” Cal interrupted. “Listen to your mother. They know. They always know, and they’re always right.”

“Even when they’re wrong?”

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