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“I wish I could get sick just so she’d take care of me like that,” Wesley murmured before taking another sip of coffee. Kaden had secretly been thinking the same thing, but to hear the words come out of another man’s mouth made him want to lash out.
And say what exactly? Paws off, she’s mine would only lead to a discussion he wasn’t ready to have.
Fresh faced even after a long day in the kitchen, he’d watched every movement she’d made since she’d arrived with supper an hour ago. Her enchiladas were the best he’d ever eaten. The men had tried to bribe the recipe out of her but she’d remained mum. Smiling, serving, fitting so seamlessly with the ranch hands. Gently keeping them in their place.
Despite her promise to call her father and request a helicopter come pick her up, she was still here. Several times throughout the day he’d wanted to go to her, but he’d stopped himself. If she needed time, he’d give it to her, but that hadn’t stopped him from listening for the distinctive whir of helicopter blades all day long.
When had she become the incredible woman in front of him? A ready smile with an easy going nature that balanced her ability to lead and solve problems…she was so different than the spoiled little girl who’d followed him around a decade ago.
He’d written her off as the Alpha’s daughter.
Too young.
Too inexperienced.
Too much trouble.
Now he saw all of those things…and more. She was still young. Still inexperienced in the ways of the world. She’d been sheltered much of her life, even if she didn’t realize it. But she didn’t let that hold her back. Though she’d never delivered a foal before, she hadn’t hesitated to step in and do what needed to be done.
She was still trouble to his peace of mind. But to her credit she’d kept everyone on the ranch at an arm’s length.
But at the end of the day, she would always be the Alpha’s daughter.
That complicated things. He’d always tried to look at her as he would a kid sister, but Wes was right. She made a wolf want to fake an illness to gain her attentions. She was a helluva cook.
How had he never known that?
Sure, he’d accused her of planning parties and doing girly things, but she was more than that. More than a pretty face and a great ass. She fixed disasters, soothed ruffled feathers, delivered foals. And she did it all with grace and very little support.
That was going to change.
“Need anything else?” Ava asked stopping in front of Wesley.
If Wesley’s thoughts were running along the same vein as Kaden’s he wanted to ask for something that wasn’t on the menu. But Wesley was a true gentleman-wolf. He gripped his mug so tightly, obviously fighting hard to resist Ava’s allure, Kaden expected it to shatter any second.
“You’ve outdone yourself, Ava. We’ve got everything we need.” Wes gave a friendly nod but didn’t meet the shewolf’s gaze.
Speak for yourself, buddy. Kaden wanted to go back to yesterday evening and change everything that happened after they’d arrived at the river. But there was no going back.
“All right, then I’m gonna turn in. Morning comes early,” she said with a smile.
How the hell had she slid so seamlessly into ranch life? She was a city girl. If a shewolf could ever be considered a city girl. It was hard to reconcile the young girl she’d once been with the capable woman she’d become.
She tugged the ties of her apron and lifted it over her head before loosely folding it. Dammit if he wasn’t losing the battle with himself. Right now he wanted her more than any job. Any position within the Pack.
That scared the hell out of him.
Was it the heat? That was certainly part of it. But if he were honest with himself, he’d wanted her before the cycle began. He would still want her after it was over.
“I’ll walk you back,” Kaden said, standing. He made sure to keep his hands wrapped around his mug so he wouldn’t be tempted to wrap them around her waist and haul her close like he had in the wee hours of the morning. Though that’d been almost twelve hours ago he could still feel the impression of her body against his.
The cold shower he’d taken this afternoon had done little to cool his libido. Nor had it completely wiped her scent from his memory. Her closeness now only fanned the flames.
Tucking the apron beneath her arm, she stacked two of the empty casserole dishes. Kaden caught himself admiring her backside and quickly turned for the door. Several of the men were back on the job which meant he only needed to stay another day. He prayed he could control his baser instincts for that long.
Distance wouldn’t make the feelings inside him go away. He was prepared for that. They just needed to get past the full moon — then he was going to claim his woman.
After the events of the morning, especially their kiss, Ava wasn’t sure of anything. Least of all herself and her attraction to the man at her side. Attraction was supposed to be simple. Easy. Basic. You either acted on it or you didn’t.
Pack business made everything so complicated.
The wolf inside of her said “screw business and take your pleasure.” Life must have been so much simpler when packs had been smaller, family only, without the need for entrepreneurial skills to fund and feed everyone.
Years ago, her father had made it a goal to provide for the pack. At the time, his dedication to building businesses, using technology and developing an urban pack had been unusual. Over the years, his vision had grown. Now they owned several businesses, a cattle ranch and put away millions each year thanks to investments.
Ava wanted to see to it that his hard work and foresight hadn’t been in vain.
“How’s the colt?” Kaden asked as they walked back to the main house.
The sun hung low in the sky. Another ten minutes and twilight would be upon them. It was one of her favorite times of day. Something about the light made her think anything was possible.
Even becoming Alpha of her pack.
But if she became the Alpha at the end of the week, what would happen with Kaden? She’d always assumed he’d just go on being the pack Beta and maybe one day in the future he’d know she was alive.
If this morning’s kiss was anything to go by he knew she was alive, all right. But that kiss had put a giant kink in everything. Not to mention her cycle. Add to that the fact she was questioning the goal she’d worked toward for almost a decade.
No wonder she was in a lousy mood.
“The vet said he’s doing well.” She changed direction, and headed past the barn to the far paddock where Wesley had let out Chipper and the foal.
Seeing the little colt prance around would bring a smile to her face in no time.
“Don’t try to tell me you’ve haven’t been checking on him all day,” he said, his voice softer, deeper.
“Keeping tabs on me Kaden?”
He stopped and she turned to look back at him. A frown curved those kissable lips downward.
Heavens help her, she knew just how kissable those lips were. It’d be so easy to step toe-to-toe with him, slide a hand up his chest and raise her lips to his.
Woman’s intuition said he wouldn’t deny her. He hadn’t been the one to halt progress this morning as darkness had shrouded them. What would have happened if Chipper hadn’t needed her?
Scratch that…she knew what would have happened.
Nothing had changed. At least for her. Seeing him standing there, hands on his hips, covered in dust with the sun at his back made her want to drop the casserole dishes and leap into his arms. Wrap her legs around those lean hips and kiss him until they were both out of breath.
But what if he changed his mind? Not tomorrow, but six months from now. Could she survive another heartbreak?
Could she resist?
Damn his animal magnetism. Damn her hormones.