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“I didn’t mean to rush you.”

He just flashed me a little grin, making me wonder if Ihadhurried him along.

While he placed them on the hot rack and they began sizzling, I said, “I’m really glad you joined the band, Wolf. We’re so much better with you there.”

“I don’t know about that. I think you guys were just kind of spiraling—and I’m somehow a calming influence.”

It was far more than that—but I didn’t get a chance to say that much, because, even through the storm door, there was no mistaking that someone was both ringing the front doorbell and pounding on the door.

It felt frantic.

Setting down the tongs, Wolf looked at me. “Stay out here.” And then he rushed inside, leaving me to wonder what the fuck was going on.

CHAPTER 20

Like hell I was going to stay outside where it was freezing—and I didn’t care if it was dangerous. I trusted Wolf, but I also cared about him. What if he needed me and didn’t even know it yet?

So I walked through the storm door just as Wolf was opening the one at the front of his house.

I had no clue what I would do if, say, there was a big guy there to beat Wolf up or something, but I’d figure it out. I’d had to be resourceful growing up and, as I got older, I managed. I could do that here too if need be.

But there was no big bad guy on the other side of the door. Instead, it was a screaming, hysterical woman. I couldn’t understand a word she was saying, so I was impressed that Wolf could.

He led her in the house, turning on the light in the living room, and said, “Go ahead and sit.” When he noticed me in the doorway to the kitchen, he arched an eyebrow as if to tell me he was displeased that I hadn’t obeyed his command. But I didn’t care. He’d have to learn that about me right now—that I wasn’t used to being told what to do, unless your name was Ben and yousigned my paychecks. I wasn’t defiant, necessarily, but I made my own decisions.

“Hayley, would you get her a glass of water, please?”

“Yeah, sure.”

I couldn’t hear what she was saying to him, but I realized I had no clue about where anything was located in his kitchen. Fortunately, I only had to open a couple of cabinets before I found what I was looking for.

I hoped tap water would be okay. One thing I’d say about Charlotte—the water was usually nice and cool and tasted good.

After I filled the glass, I headed into the living room, trying not to walk too quietly. After all, she seemed jumpy, and the last thing I wanted was for her to clock me when I was trying to be helpful. Wolf took the glass from me and I wondered if I should go back to the kitchen—but when I realized she was talking about some man hurting her, I couldn’t make myself leave.

Sitting next to her on the couch, Wolf said, “Go ahead and have a drink.” I sat on the recliner at a diagonal and, although I didn’t smile, I hoped my expression looked kind and compassionate. “This is Hayley.”

The woman looked up at me and that was when I noticed the bruise on her cheek. But there was more than that—her right eye was almost swollen shut. Jesus Christ. Some asshole had taken out his frustration on her pretty face. When she nodded at me, I nodded back, hoping she understood I was an ally.

“So tell me what happened.”

“I live down the road—in the blue house that way,” she said, pointing west. “My boyfriend lost control and started punching me. I hit him in the head with a skillet, but then I ran as fast as I could out the back door. By the time he turned the porch lights on, I was already running across the prairie.” All I could think was thank goodness she was wearing shoes. No coat, but she washere, and Wolf had already wrapped the blanket that had been draped over the back of the couch over the woman’s shoulders.

“What can I do? Do you want me to talk to him? Or would you rather call the police?”

I was pretty sure Wolf didn’t have any love for the cops…but, damn, he was going to do whatever it took to make sure this woman was taken care of.

“No. He’s one of them. Please don’t call the cops. I just want to call my sister and ask her to come get me.”

“Will you be safe there?”

“Yes. She lives in Silver City and John would be a fucking idiot to try to do anything to me there. My sister’s husband is a Marine and lives for shit like this.”

“Do you need a phone?” I asked.

“Yeah. I don’t have mine.”

I unlocked my cell and then handed it to her. Wolf said, “We’ll give you a little privacy.”

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