Page 58 of To Challenge a Wolf

“That I was alone longer than a wolf ought to be, but I had reasons for it. They found out in July I’ve got money. Before that, I was working for the mechanic in town. The owner had to teach me a lot, but he saw I could learn, and I can usually diagnose what’s wrong with a car by scent alone. He started calling me Wizard within my first week.”

“But you quit?” That seemed unlike him, if it left him idle.

“Once I didn’t need the front anymore, I went down to part-time, and he added a guy. I kept the job just so I don’t get too bored with myself. Called in this morning and took the week off.”

The whole week. For her. To see her, to spend time. He was right. She was going to text Kelsey with ayes. “So now that I’veseen your beautiful property and eaten Malachi’s venison, what’s your next idea for a date?”

“Depends. How was this one?”

“Fantastic. You’re a natural.”

“Aha.”

“Yeah, go ahead and smirk, Jamie. You earned the right this time.”

He reached across the table, and when she set her hand into his, he ran his thumb lightly across the back of her hand in a way that made her shiver. “Let’s get out of here,” he said on a low rumble.

“Where to?” She sounded breathless for no reason.

He looked up from their linked hands, and for a moment something deep showed in his eyes. Then it shuttered, and the smirk was back. “Guess somewhere public would be smart, huh?”

“I guess.” She made an exaggerated pouting face, hoping to surprise another unguarded laugh from him, but this time his smirk only grew…well,wolfishin every sense of the word.

Next time their server passed, she ordered a milkshake, and when it arrived, Rhett paid the check. He stood along with her as Vivian slid out of her side of the booth, the paper to-go cup freezing her fingers. With her other hand, she reached for her phone just as it buzzed and lit up. The text showed as a preview on her lock screen, easily read before the screen darkened again.

Blaine:Vivian Leigh Rossi, I will get on a flight if I have to. RESPOND. You have one hour.

A low growl, so deep it shook their water glasses. Then, even lower, Rhett said, “Who is Blaine?”

Fifteen

Explanations could exist. Simple, innocent explanations. But the name was masculine as far as he knew. He felt his brain beginning to melt in the single second between his question and Vivian’s reply.

“Blaine is a friend,” she said.

“In Chicago?”

She nodded, ducked her head to check her text messages while Rhett clenched his fists to keep from breaking the table. “There’s nothing else from him. I don’t get it. He must have… Oh, gosh, we were out on the mountain with no reception. The texts must not have come through at all.”

It could happen on the Lane, if you had the wrong service provider. In fact he’d had to switch companies three years ago when he arrived here. But his teeth were going to crack anyway.

She tapped out a quick text, and he shouldn’t use his height advantage to read it, but he couldn’t stop himself.

I was out of service. This is the first text that’s come through all day. If you’ve been worriedI’m sorry, but I’m fine. Are you breathing? Go ahead and breathe now.

Was the guybreathing? What a stupid question. What a stupid dude, if he had to be told to breathe. Vivian would never be interested in anyone so stupid. The blaze at his core began to bank.

Blaine:Five texts since this morning. Increasingly demanding. I think I said a prayer, if that tells you anything.

Vivian sent a laughing emoji. And a heart.

Pain shot through Rhett’s jaw.

Blaine:Also you’re right. Haven’t breathed in at least four hours. Will resume now. Thank you, Viv.

Some kind of inside joke—not breathing for hours? Obviously this Blaine couldn’t mean that literally, unless…

Unless.

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