Page 20 of Obsessed Wolf Daddy

"Well, only if Saffy says it’s okay. We don't want to get in her way." Cole looks at me and shrugs. I get the feeling he'd never say no to his daughter, and the thought makes me smile. I wonder how many people see this side of him.

"How about you help me stack these boxes?” I say to Annie. “I'll get you a hot chocolate from the machine with some of our special marshmallows to say thank you." I hold my hand out to the little girl. She nods enthusiastically and rushes to the counter to help me.

I must admit, the job goes much quicker with some help, and we soon have all the boxes filled with food for the homeless shelter neatly packed on the pallet. Cole steps forward to take the last box from me, our fingers brushing slightly as he does. Every touch, every subtle glance, every word he says has the same effect on me. It's like molten lava running through my veins.

Seeing how he is with Annie throws me off-balance, too. Is he the wild CEO partying in Vegas with Jonah, the sexy shifter who dominates my thoughts and kissed the life out of me in his office, or this playful and caring father currently spinning his daughter around? I feel so painfully inadequate as I look at them. I nervously straighten my apron, suddenly wishing I wasn't wearing it at all.

"Let me get you that hot chocolate, Annie,” I say. “You've certainly earned it.” I’m grateful for an excuse to do something other than stand there, gawking at Cole.

I step behind the counter, and my hands are deliberately slow as I retrieve a large takeaway cup. The machine comes to life as I press the buttons, releasing a rich stream of steaming hot chocolate into the awaiting cup. Annie watches me with wide eyes, her small body vibrating with anticipation.

As the liquid fills the cup, I take extra care to ensure that each layer is just right. I add a generous portion of cream to the top so it billows like a fluffy cloud. With practiced precision, I sprinkle a handful of mini marshmallows on top of the cream, the white and pink contrasting against the velvety brown of the chocolate. For good measure, I add a few extra marshmallows into the lid of the takeaway cup, sensing how much Annie loves them.

Cole took a call while I was making the drink, but Annie's excitement draws him back toward us. He chuckles softly, amusement dancing in his eyes as his daughter enthusiastically takes the drink. "Thank you, Saffy," he says, his voice filled with genuine appreciation. "I think she's enjoyed helping out here more than she would have if we'd just gotten the marshmallows."

"This place just has that vibe,” I say. “Besides, Annie is the one who helped me, so I should really be thanking her." And I mean every word.

Annie beams at me with a mouth full of hot chocolate. "This is thebesthot chocolate!" she exclaims. "I don't know why anyone doesn't like hot chocolate. My mom doesn't like it. She says it makes people fat."

My eyes go wide at that, and I look at Cole, who cringes slightly. "Well, your mom has some pretty strong opinions," he says, and I think he's trying to be diplomatic.

"I guess she's not wrong,” I say. “If you had hot chocolate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you might get a little fat after a while. But maybe not if you run around lots."

Annie nods, looking serious. "I'll get Mom to try your hot chocolate when she comes to visit soon. I think she'll like this one." She tips her cup dramatically to drink the remnants of the beverage.

I didn’t miss Cole's eyes flicking to his daughter as she spoke. "Did your Mom mention when this visit is happening?" he asks, his voice steady. I find myself wondering what kind of mother only visits her child, then shake the thought. I don't know Annie’s mother, and I really shouldn't judge.

Annie simply shrugs, swinging her legs against the stool.

“Come on, honey,” Cole tells her. “Let's get out of Saffy's way now."

"Aww, do we have to?" Annie whines, but a look from Cole has her jumping down from the stool.

"What do you say to Saffy?" Cole instructs his daughter, and I smile as she huffs lightly, obviously still put out about leaving.

However, when she turns to me, it's with a big smile on her face. "Thanks, Saffy," she says, and rushes into my arms for a hug. Her small body folds into mine as I return the embrace.

I look up to see a strange look cross Cole's face. His eyes on me are dark, reminding me of the look he had right before he kissed me in his office.

I shiver slightly as I release Annie. "You are very welcome."

I wonder briefly how to say goodbye to Cole. I don't want to make things even more awkward between us. Before I can dwell on it, though, he steps forward, his presence crowding me for a moment. I instinctively hold my breath, wondering what he's going to do. His masculine, slightly woodsy scent envelopesme, and I almost step back before he leans in lightning-fast and kisses my cheek. His stubble brushes my skin, sending a shockwave straight to my belly.

“Thank you, Saffy,” he murmurs. “It's been interesting."

His eyes linger on mine for a moment before turning away and leading Annie out of the store. She waves to me as they pass the window outside, and I wave back before sitting on the stool she just vacated.

What the hell?I brush my fingers against my cheek, the tingle of Cole’s touch still dancing on my skin.

Chapter 11 - Cole

I watch like a hawk as Saffy studies her monitor closely. I can practically hear the cogs turning in her mind as she looks at the data on the screen.

I'm glad the project is going so well. I'm always glad when a new product is nearing launch and my teams are successful. But this time, I'm more invested in watching Saffy. I'm captivated by how her tight pencil skirt hugs her curves, emphasizing every contour of her body. It's as if the fabric was tailor-made to showcase her exquisite curves. My breath catches in my throat as she shifts in her seat every now and then, causing the hemline to ride up slightly.

Heat surges through my veins as I imagine tracing the path where the fabric meets skin with my fingers. The sight of her exposed thigh sends a shiver down my spine, awakening the most primal of desires. I can feel the familiar ache growing between my legs, igniting a hunger I know only she can satisfy now.

I can't help thinking of our encounter at the general store just days ago. The memory keeps resurfacing, almost taunting me. Her presence there had been so unexpected. Clad in simple overalls and a plain white tee, she radiated an innocence that was both captivating and unnerving to me. Honestly, the scene would have normally put me off. Standing in the general store of a small mountain town with my daughter and a woman packing charity items is a far cry from my usual pursuits with women. But somehow, this encounter has only made me want her more.

---