“Thank you,” said Jonathan.
“How’s Marjorie settling in?” Leo asked Dwayne, thankfully changing the subject before Jonathan’s wolf decided it wanted to come out and play.
Dwayne blew on his cup of tea. “Not great. She’s not loving Detroit any more than she did New York. She liked Grimm Cove and hopes we get sent back there again.” His green gaze fixed on Jonathan as if waiting for approval.
Jonathan nursed a cup of coffee as he sat at the end of the conference table, surrounded by files and folders. “It will happen when the time is right. For now, it might be best to keep Bram and Kellan apart.”
Leo snorted. “Far,farapart.”
“Yeah. You’re right,” Dwayne said with a nod of his head. “It’s just that Marjorie isn’t much cut out for big-city living. Water Valley, the town she’s from, is even smaller than Grimm Cove.”
“Detroit is a hell of a lot smaller than New York,” said Leo.
“And a hell of a lot bigger than Grimm Cove,” added Dwayne. “She was born and raised in Mississippi and had hoped we’d raise Kellan in the South too. That’s another reason Grimm Cove appeals to her.”
Jonathan set his coffee on the table. “Has Kellan heard back from Grimm Cove College yet?”
Dwayne grunted. “Yes. He got accepted. Full ride even. Didn’t matter that it was a last-minute application or that training already started for the football team. Hell, classes start in a week even. I told Marjorie we have to wait to take him to South Carolina until we get the green light from Jonathan.”
“Uh, why don’t you sound happier about the full ride and the college being fine with him coming onto the team at the last minute?” asked Leo.
Reggie chuckled as he helped himself to several snacks at the side table. He popped a piece of cheese in his mouth and spoke with his mouth full. “Because Kellan has had Division I football scouts beating down his door for the past year and a half. They’ve basically wanted to hand the kid the world. You know, all the benefits and perks they aren’t supposed to get but do. Girls. Cars. Money.”
“And?” asked Leo.
Reggie snorted. “The kiddon’twant it.”
Dwayne ran a hand through his light brown hair, clearly annoyed with the topic. “I can’t figure my son out. He’s had a chance to play—to start even—for a Division I university, but he picked a Division III college. I spent my life wanting to be out of Grimm Cove, and he’s hell-bent on going back there.”
“Did Marjorie push for Grimm Cove College?” asked Leo.
“No,” said Jonathan, knowing the situation well since Kellan often confided in him. “She’s been at him to accept the offers from the larger schools, even if it means he’ll be farther away. She thinks there are more opportunities for him there.”
Dwayne stilled. “Kellan told you that?”
Jonathan nodded and stiffened as his wolf jerked within him, suddenly on edge once more. He sniffed the air, trying to detect a possible threat, but there was nothing out of the ordinary. That didn’t change the fact that his wolf was acting as if there was a problem.
Leo glanced at him and raised a brow.
Jonathan cleared his throat, pretending everything was fine as he focused on Dwayne. The nagging feeling that danger was imminent and that he had to protect someone continued.
“I honestly thought she might be telling Kellan differently when I wasn’t around,” confessed Dwayne. “She’s not happy with getting yanked all over the place for my job, so we’ve been on the outs.”
Reggie grunted, sweeping his gaze over the men in the room. “Also known as ‘he slept on my sofa last night.’”
“You did?” asked Jonathan as he tried to keep his wolf under control. It was the first he was hearing of things getting that stressful between Dwayne and Marjorie. From the moment the pair had met, they’d been close. He didn’t like knowing they were having trouble. “I can arrange for a marriage counselor if you want.”
Dwayne snorted. “Nah. It’s notthatbad.”
Reggie glanced at the man. “She pushed you out the front door with your pillow and an overnight bag. I’d say it’s that bad.”
“What happened?” asked Jonathan.
Dwayne swallowed hard. “Imighthave accused her of filling Kellan’s head with Grimm Cove nonsense. I know how much she loves it there. I just assumed she pushed him toward Grimm Cove College.”
“You assumed wrong,” stated Jonathan evenly, his thoughts instantly going to the airport and the events of two weeks ago once more and to the sweatshirt that had been in the young woman’s suitcase. His wolf perked at the thought of the woman.
Danger, his wolf pushed at him, the singular thought seeming to revolve around the young woman. It was as if the wolf was trying to tell him she was still in danger.