Page 30 of The Reluctant Wolf and His Fated Mate
After sharing the development with Rafe and Grayson, Damon’s muscles were tense. He yearned to return to Sophie and ensure she was safe.
Almost an hour passed before he returned to his cabin. When he opened the door and found her sitting on the sofa, he exhaled.
Sophie held a mug of tea in her hands and wore a worried expression. “Everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine,” he assured her and sat beside her. The scent of her soothed him after that ordeal.
“What was it?”
“Nothing,” he lied. What else could he tell her? “Just an animal passing through.”
She didn’t appear convinced. “Why were you so worried? Aren’t you used to animals passing through?”
He ground his teeth and swallowed. “We don’t get along with those who live over on Sacco Mountain. I had to make sure it wasn’t anything more.”
Her questioning expression indicated she still didn’t buy it. “Why does it seem like you’re keeping something from me?”
Damon ran his hands through his hair. “I don’t know. Nerves? I’m sorry if I spooked you.”
She pursed her lips and then carried her mug into the kitchen. “I’m going to go to bed.”
When she entered the guest room and closed the door behind her, the message was clear—she wanted to be alone. Was is because she sensed him altering the truth?
He stared at the closed door and all the longing from earlier funneled within like a tornado. He wanted her, needed her.
Damon stepped over to her door. He raised his hand, ready to knock, but forced himself to lower it. She hadn’t left the door even slightly ajar—she’d closed it.
Still, it took at least two dozen heartbeats echoing in his ear before he summoned the strength to walk away.
Sophie
Although Sophie was still bothered by the sense that Damon was hiding something, her mood improved the next morning.
Questions had tormented her throughout Monday morning while she’d worked on some graphic designs for her company, crawling beneath her skin and rubbing at her bones.
Her boss had grumbled about her not coming into the office, but had relented when she told him how she’d be in New Hampshire for the rest of the week. Besides, he was being ridiculous. With her MacBook and an Internet connection, she could work on her projects anywhere. After connecting her phone to the speakers, she played an easy listening playlist to have some background music. The sound of Chris Isaac singingWicked Gamefilled the quiet room.
She’d set herself up to work at the table where she could have the mountain view. Snowflakes had started to fall, which would delight all the skiers, who’d accept it as an invitation from the ski gods.
Her gaze often drifted to the hot tub where she had kissed Damon and done so much more. She peered out into the woods. What was out there that had spooked him?
She’d had no more luck this morning than she had last night. Something about his tone and the way his face turned stony when he’d tried explaining to her that there was nothing to worry about triggered her bullshit alarm. He was keeping something from her. But what and why?
Since he didn’t want to tell her, she had to put it out of her mind. No point in getting into an argument over something that was none of her business. After all, she was only here for the week. Besides, they only had a couple of hours break to ski together before they had to return to work.
When Damon entered the cabin at lunchtime, he stopped by and kissed her on the top of the head. “What are you working on?”
“A flyer for an open house.”
He peered over her shoulder. “Is this what you typically do for work?”
“Sure. I do all kinds of marketing projects for the company. These are pretty standard, but I like being able to be more creative.” She showed him some of the illustrations she’d designed.
“You’re talented. Have you ever thought about going out on your own?”
“Freelancing?” She arched her brows.
“Sure.”
