Page 17 of Wild Wolf Betrothal

“Mmm, I don’t see that going over too well.” Clara laughed.

The little string of bells on the door jingled and Lucy got up to take the customer’s order. She felt as though her eyes were going to pop out of her head when she saw who had walked in.

“Dean. What are you doing here? How did you know to come here?”

“Micah told me where you were and that he was coming to try to convince you to come home,” Dean said.

“So, why are you here?” Lucy asked.

“I’ve been in love with you for a long time. I need a mate and I want that person to be you. I’ve come here hoping that I can win your heart.”

Lucy simply stared at him, her jaw hanging open.

After a minute, she said, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“You know that I’m not,” Dean said.

“Dean, I love you as a brother. That’s it. There is not the tiniest of romantic feelings when I’m around you. There is no tingling, no butterflies, nothing. Go back to Montana.”

A crooked grin that had won many a woman’s heart spread across his face.

“I’ve got to try,” Dean said.

“Ugh,” Lucy replied, hanging her head.

A customer came in and Dean said, “I’ll see you later.”

After the customer left, Clara said, “Dang, girl, you’re fighting them off like a swarm of flies.”

“I know. I wonder if one of those electric tennis racket looking fly swatters would work,” Lucy mused.

“Doubtful.”

“Dean had asked me if I would go through the mating ceremony with him before I left Montana. I told him that I wouldn’t because I didn’t look at him that way. Yet, here he is. I can at least understand why Micah came.”

“I can see why you needed a break,” Clara said. “I think I would need to get away to escape the situation, too.”

“Maybe I should disable the GPS in my car and just disappear again.”

“You know that running never solved anything. Especially since, eventually, you have to go back home regardless of what you decide.”

“I know,” Lucy said, dejectedly. “But it sure sounds good.”

Clara just smiled and patted Lucy on the back.

7

Micah

Micah was bored and so he decided to go downtown. There were a couple of shops that he thought he would hit up. His mother really loved turquoise and silver jewelry, and there was a shop that promised ornate pieces. He was sure that one of the shops would have something for his two younger sisters as well.

The café was in the same area, but Micah didn’t want to seem like a stalker. It was one thing to follow her to Ivy Springs to get her to fall in love with him. However, he didn’t want to constantly be in her business to the point where she got sick of seeing him.

He saw a general store that looked like it would have something for his sisters, so he pulled into a parking spot. The store was next door to the café, and Micah had to resist the urge to go in for some coffee and a danish.

Micah got out and walked toward the store when he stopped dead in his tracks, completely in shock.

“Dean, what on earth are you doing here?”

---