Page 28 of To Challenge a Wolf

“Sure. It’s still early. Not even the twins have gone to bed. No reason you should go now.”

Oh. Right. Notstay for the week and let’s get to know each other again. Certainly notstay forever. Vivian shrugged. Act chill. Be chill. “I guess I don’t have to right this minute.”

His teeth flashed in the dark. “Good.”

Seven

All day long Rhett watched Vivian settle in with his pack, exchanging jokes and stories, never having to ask about pack etiquette and never overstepping with her questions. They seemed to like her. He hadn’t asked a single question about the life she’d built in the last ten years, but his pack did. Kelsey, Willow, April, Trevor, Aaron, and even Ezra turned around her get-to-know-you questions with real interest in her answers. Rhett learned she managed a vintage clothing boutique, had her own condo in a suburb just outside Chicago, still loved kickboxing and live theatre.

By the time they were winding down the weekly cookout, sitting in the dark around the fire, even Malachi seemed satisfied with the measure of her he’d silently taken all day. In fact, Vivian seemed at ease with Malachi too. Which was interesting. Humans outside the pack never settled in Malachi’s presence.

Well, one more way Vivian Rossi was unbeatable and one of a kind.

Maybe that was why Rhett pushed back when she offered to leave. It certainly wasn’t because he hated the thought of losing her the day after getting her back.

He fidgeted in place on one of the long log benches. He needed a task. A distraction from his confusion. He picked up one of the roasting sticks. “Want another s’more?”

With a quiet laugh, Vivian bumped his arm with hers. “If you’re having one.”

That hadn’t been his plan, but he picked up a second stick.

“I can roast my own, you know.”

“Whatever,” he said and kept hold of both sticks.

The essence of black tea spiked with challenge. She’d probably try to wrestle him for the marshmallows now. Sure enough, she snatched up the mostly empty bag and held it at arms’ length away from him. The firelight reflected in her eyes.

Only one thing to do. Deny her the satisfaction. He held her gaze, and the seconds stretched on until one by one, the others around the fire began to notice the stare-down. Rhett didn’t move a muscle. Neither did Vivian. The bag of marshmallows swayed as it hung from her hand. All conversation stopped. Vivian’s scent held anticipation, then surprise, then disappointment. Her gaze darted to their audience around the fire, and her scent shifted to include satisfaction.

“You’re not going to fight me for the marshmallows?” she stage-whispered.

Rhett didn’t move, didn’t blink.

“And you’re not going to respond until I hand them over?”

He maintained the stance of a statue.

“I could keep talking. Indefinitely. I could tell your pack all your most embarrassing moments as a pup. You had more than a few.”

Shoot.

“Hey, you guys, listen up. Once when Rhett was fourteen, he tried to—”

With a low snarl, he moved in a flash and snatched the marshmallows. A few of the wolves laughed.

“I win!” Vivian said.

“Excuse me?” Rhett dangled the bag in front of her face.

“I got you to move.”

That earned a few more chuckles. Rhett rolled his eyes and skewered two marshmallows, then held them over the low blaze. Around him most scents from the pack held a calm mood. Gigi had curled up on April’s lap, and Tori had done the same on Lucy’s. Ember had come in from walking the edge of the fire and now sat beside Aaron in one of the camp chairs, shifting position frequently.

Soon the cookout would end, and then…well, then Vivian would go home to Chicago, and Rhett would get on with his life.

He deliberately set his own marshmallow on fire. The char was delicious to his palate. Vivian leaned on his arm as he brought it to his mouth and blew it out.

“Do that to mine,” she said as she used two graham crackers to remove his marshmallow from the stick.

---