She glanced up at him and her smile caused a little flutter in his heart. “I saved you the seat next to me.” She tipped her head at the empty chair.
“Where are Alex and Lucas?” Willow asked.
“Right there.” Ronni pointed at a table of teenagers nearby.
Willow glanced at Bodie with a hopeful expression.
“Go on.”
Her smile made his fluttering heart swell.
Before he sat down, Ronni quickly introduced him to their tablemates. Of course, he knew Tristan, and Bodie was happy to finally meet his friend’s girlfriend, Nel.
Rafe, holding his infant daughter Reina, nodded his greeting. Next to him was his perky wife, Grace. Ronni held their twin son, Ryan.
And finally, Brice Walker, who was Gavin’s son, sat with his beefy arm draped over his wife Cassie’s petite shoulders. Their precocious daughter, Brenna, toddled around the table, giving hugs and kisses to everyone.
After the frenetic pace of the past week, Bodie would’ve preferred a quiet, cozy dinner with Ronni, but being included among her family and friends meant more than he could express.
Ryan watched him with big, green, curious eyes, his little nose twitching as he chewed his pacifier.
“Where’s Mary?” Ronni asked.
“She wanted some time to herself.” After spending the entire day listening to his mother and Willow argue about every little thing while house hunting, Bodie had agreed that grandmother and granddaughter needed a break from each other.
“Tiskan!” Brenna lifted up her arms.
Tristan picked up the child, held her for a moment in a giant hug, kissed her cheek, then settled her into his lap. “Brenna is my biggest fan.”
“Who dis?” She leaned over and tapped Bodie’s arm.
“I’m Bodie,” he said, gently shaking her tiny fingers. “Pleasure to meet you.”
“Bobee!” The little girl’s smile lit her face.
“Close enough.” Bodie winked and she giggled. He glanced at Tristan. “How old is she?”
“Eighteen months,” Tristan said. “She was an early talker because her mama wouldn’t let anyone use baby-talk with her.”
“Bobee.” Brenna tapped him to get his attention. “I this many.” She pointed her index finger at him.
“Me, too.” He grinned at her.
She gave him a dubious look, her dark blue eyes searching his face. “Na-uh.” Her head of red-gold curls bounced with the shake of her head. “You this many.” She held up both hands, stretching out all her fingers.
“Between you and me,” Bodie said, “I’m a little older than that, but close enough.”
Laughing, Brenna reached for him.
Bodie glanced at Brice and Cassie, who nodded approval, before welcoming the little girl into his arms. He hadn’t held a child since Willow was little. Sometimes he missed those days. But having a vasectomy shortly after Layla’s death meant the only babies he’d bounce on his knee would not be his own.
Brenna gave him a hug. “You smell funny.”
Bodie’s heart slammed to a halt. He really didn’t want to be outed by a child in a restaurant likely full of wolfans.
“Brenna,” Cassie said sharply. “I’ve told you that isn’t polite.”
“I showered, I promise,” Bodie said to the little girl studying him intently.
“Don’t worry,” Brice said. “She’s obsessed with smells and says that to a lot of people.”
Breathing easier, he glanced at Ronni, who seemed oblivious to his close call. Eventually, he would reveal his raven form to her. When she had fewer worries and he had stronger ties to the Co-op.
“Mmm, bye.” Brenna wiggled down from Bodie’s lap and returned to her parents.
Starting with Brice, the server began taking orders and Bodie hadn’t even opened his menu. He leaned toward Ronni. “What do you recommend?”
“The steaks,” she answered without hesitation. “Rare.”
As the server moved around the table, he noticed that the three women seemed different from Ronni and the three men at the table. It wasn’t a specific quirk or identifiable anomaly; something just felt different about them and he began to realize that they were human.
Until meeting Ronni, he’d never picked up on the subtle differences between species. Never needed to really. Tlanuhwas always intrinsically recognized their own kind. Everyone else, he had assumed, was human.
The same could be reasonably true of Wahyas. As long as no one saw him shifting, they would likely continue to believe he was human. And he hoped to keep up the ruse for a good long while.
The server reached them. Duplicating Ronni’s order, Bodie pointed to the teenagers’ table. “Please put her son and my daughter’s orders on my check as well.”
“Got it,” the server said. “I’ll be back with your drinks in a jiffy.”
“How do you like Maico so far?” Brice asked, looking at Bodie. As Gavin Walker’s son, Brice had the Alpha’s ear. Becoming friends with him could increase Bodie’s chances of being accepted into the wolf pack. When first setting his sights on Ronni, he hadn’t known she was so well connected to the pack’s hierarchy.
Even if she wasn’t, he doubted it would matter. Spending time with her, Bodie had realized that he simply wanted her, not her connections.
“It’s great,” he said truthfully. “Maico is a beautiful town. The people are friendly and Willow loves her new school.” She had blossomed from a painfully shy girl into an outgoing, more self-assured young lady.
“I love it here, too,” Nel said. “I grew up in the city, so I appreciate the coziness and the laid-back lifestyle. Everyone knows everyone so it’s like having a big family.”
That’s what Bodie was counting on.
“How about your mother?” Cassie asked.
“She’s not happy we moved, again,” Bodie replied. “She doesn’t like change.”
“I can sympathize,” Grace said. “My dad is a military man, so we moved a lot. Even as an adult, I didn’t stay in one place for long. Until I came here.” She smiled at Rafe. He put his arm around her shoulders and kissed her cheek.
Bodie noticed wolfans didn’t shy away from public affection, but the display wasn’t gratuitous or attention-seeking. Their touches, gazes and intimate whispers to their mates seemed natural, nondisruptive and a loving assurance toward one another.
Nonchalantly, he scooted his chair closer to Ronni. She gave him a questioning look, but didn’t shoo him away when he casually rested his arm across the back of her chair.
“Willow seems happy,” she said, gazing at the table of teenagers.
“She is.” That alone made the move worthwhile.
“How’s the house hunting?” Tristan asked.
“We looked at a lot of places today. None that my mom and Willow could agree on.” Truthfully, Bodie hadn’t liked them either. None of them made him feel at home the way Ronni’s house had.
Willow had echoed his sentiments, stating she wanted a place in the woods. Bodie agreed. It would be easier to shift and fly without worrying about nosy neighbors. At the campground, his mother had to shift inside their camper and fly in and out of a window to avoid prying eyes. He usually drove to a hidden location near Ronni’s house.
Throughout the evening, the table conversation was amicable and the food was delicious. The married couples took to the dance floor in shifts so that the twins and Brenna always had appropriate supervision. Bodie admired how the wolf pack looked after one another.
“Come.” Taking Ronni’s hand, he stood.
“I’m not much of a dancer.”
“Neither am I.” He gently tugged her to her feet. “Maybe we can fake it.”
On the dance floor, her arms slipped around his neck and his slid around her waist.
“Has anyone told you how
beautiful you are?”
“Not in a long time.” Her soft smile squeezed his heart and he caught a glimmer of vulnerability in her eyes.
“Well, you are.” He inched her closer as their movements synchronized. Her heat warmed him as a feeling of contentment wove through his being. For once in his life, everything was beginning to feel just right.
* * *
“Liar.” Ronni laughed as the music and the line dancers wound down for a break. “You said you couldn’t dance.”
Bodie had hardly broken a sweat. “I believe you said that you weren’t much of a dancer. I merely agreed that I wasn’t either.”
“Well, you’re very light on your feet.”
“And you never missed a step.” Palm up, he held out his hand.
Their fingertips touched. The air charged and crackled. A zip of electricity shot through her arm and her body prickled with awareness.
The crowd jostled around them. Before Ronni could pull away, Bodie’s fingers closed around her hand and gently pulled her toward him. She resisted the urge to snuggle into him until he curled his arm over her shoulder and tucked her against his side.
“That was fun,” he said, as they walked toward the kids’ table.
“Too bad the others couldn’t stay, but I remember the days when Alex’s bedtime ruled my schedule. Now he can outlast me.”
“You’re doing a great job raising him. You have no idea how much it means to me that he befriended Willow.”
Ronni felt a rush of pride. Alex was growing into the man she and his father had wanted him to become. Kind, generous, helpful. Those traits were considered weaknesses in their former pack.
“Willow is a sweet girl.”
“She gets that from her mother.”
“I see you in her, too.” Whiskey-colored like her father’s, Willow’s eyes didn’t hold the absolute confidence Bodie’s gaze radiated, yet. But the spark was there.
When they reached the table, the kids were absorbed in conversation and oblivious to them.
Bodie laid his hand on Willow’s shoulder. “Time to head home, chickadee.”
“It’s barely past ten,” Willow said. “Can’t we stay a little longer?”
“Your grandmother has been alone all evening. She’s probably ready for us to come home.”
“But, Dad.”
He held up his free hand, silencing further protests. “I’m working tomorrow.”
Disappointment washed the youthful flush from Willow’s and Lucas’s faces, but Ronni’s heart cinched. The poachers were still on the loose and Bodie worked alone.
“Later,” Alex said to his girlfriend as he stood.
“Bye.” Ella slipped from her seat and rejoined her parents.
“Mom, the keys?” Alex held out his hand.
Ronni dug them from her purse and tossed them to him. “The radio better not be blaring when I get in.”
The trio of teens headed out of the restaurant, Ronni and Bodie trailing behind.
“You’re doing that sassy strut again,” Bodie said as they walked toward her car.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Bodie stopped and turned her to face him. “Who’s the liar now?” He slanted his mouth over hers, silencing her half-hearted protest.
Inching closer, she draped her arms around his neck to make sure he didn’t pull away too quickly and leave her wanting. Bodie’s arms tightened around her, assuring her he wouldn’t.
She sensed no falsehood in his embrace. He was here because he wanted to be with her, holding her, kissing her.
Maybe something good had come of Jeb’s sudden reappearance. After all, she probably wouldn’t have given Bodie a chance if her circumstances hadn’t warranted it, and she would’ve missed out on knowing him.
Bodie was a man who spoke his mind, followed his instinct and stood his ground. And Ronni found it incredibly sexy. His essence filtered through her. Strong, masculine and threaded with desire. Her own responded, entwining with his in an ethereal dance.
So tired of always being on the alert, of being overly cautious, she let it all go, completely relaxing her mind. A sentiment that had been buried beneath a mountain of worry began to worm its way through her consciousness and softly thumped in tandem with her heart. Mine. Mine. Mine.
Not ready to believe the declaration, Ronni broke the sweet kiss and brushed a piece of invisible lint from his shirt just so she could palm his chest.
“Admit it.” His pupils dark and round, Bodie gave her a knowing smile. “Yeah, you can’t get enough of me.”
“I admit nothing.” Except that her entire body prickled with awareness and her judgment was faulty because of the emotional roller coaster she’d ridden the last few days. “It’s been a difficult week. I need a little room to breathe.” And to let her sensibilities unscramble before she did something stupid, like entertain the thought that they could be true mates.
“That’s not part of the deal, beautiful. I’m not going to ignore the pull between us.” His voice dropped to a seductive whisper. “And neither are you.”
Bodie seemed a hard man to resist for long, though it would be prudent for her to try.
He laced his fingers through hers and they resumed their walk to the car.
Alex was behind the steering wheel with the engine running. Standing beside the vehicle, Lucas placed a chaste kiss on Willow’s cheek.
“I have mixed feelings about this moment,” Bodie said. “Part of me wants to hide my little girl away from any potential heartbreak. But I’m also happy to see her expressing some independence and experiencing life as a normal teenager.”
“Trust me, I completely understand.”
“Hey,” Bodie growled at the lovebirds, though a smile wavered on his lips. “I saw that!”
Willow’s hand flew to her face and the color drained from Lucas’s face. Still, the teenager stood tall. “I don’t regret a thing.” He said good-night to Willow and slid into the back seat of Ronni’s car to the peals of Alex’s laughter.
“Neither do I,” Bodie chuckled in Ronni’s ear. “I’ll stop by the store for lunch on Monday, but feel free to call, text or even better—sext me anytime.”
“I am not sexting you.” It was difficult to frown at him with an outrageous smile on her face.
“Admit it.” There was a sing-song quality to his voice. “You’re thinking about it right now, imagining how much fun it would be.”
“What I’m thinking is that I want to go home and go to bed.”
“Perfect time to give it a go. Gotta keep up with technology.” Mischief danced in his eyes. “What do you say?”
“Some things are better when done the old-fashioned way.”
“Duly noted.”
They reached Ronni’s car.
“Let’s go, chickadee.” Bodie draped his arm over Willow’s shoulder and they began walking toward his truck. Halfway to the vehicle, he turned back. “Lunch on Monday, don’t forget!”
Already, Ronni was counting the hours.
She sat in the passenger seat of her car. “One mile over the speed limit and you lose driving privileges for a month.”
“At least you let me go the speed limit. Rafe makes me stay five miles an hour under,” Alex grumbled, easing out of the parking space.
Lucas sighed. “Will you put in a good word for me with Mr. Gryffon? I don’t think he likes me.”
“He likes you just fine,” Ronni said.
“How can you tell?”
“You’re still breathing.” Alex laughed.
“I think she’s the one.” Face plastered to the window as they passed Bodie and Willow getting into the truck, Lucas waved at them.
“You’re too young for that.” Ronni watched Alex check for traffic before driving out of the parking lot and onto the road. “So is she.
”
“For now.” Lucas sat forward. “It’s weird how time drags until I see her again but passes in a blink when we’re together.”
“Is that how it is with you and Bodie?” Alex asked quietly.
“It’s a little different for us. I have you, he has Willow. We can’t pine away for each other like young fools in love.”
“You look at him the way you used to look at Dad.”
“Alex, I—” What could she say to make things easier on him?
“Mom.” His grip tightened on the steering wheel. “I’m just saying that I’d rather have Bodie around than Jeb.”
“So would I, Alex.” And with Jeb out of their lives, she couldn’t wait to see what developed with Bodie.
Chapter 16
A foul stench slapped Bodie’s face. Not exactly the best way to start the new week.
“Damn,” Tristan mumbled behind the hand clamped over his nose and mouth.
Trying to breathe as little as possible, Bodie followed him through the somber woods toward the latest poaching site. Brittle pine needles crunched beneath their boots and were the only sounds in the deathly quiet.
In the last few weeks, one Co-op officer had been wounded, and eight deer, two bear, a fox and a dozen black birds had been killed on Co-op property. With their heads, talons and tail feathers removed, the slaughter of the birds had hit Bodie especially hard. He hated violence, particularly violence against animals, who had no defenses against bullets and arrows and coldhearted humans who slaughtered simply for the thrill.
After mentally anchoring himself, he eased around the latest carnage. The deer heads had been taken for their antlers, their bodies left to rot.
“Bastards!” Tristan spat his words. “When I catch these people...” Those responsible, Bodie wouldn’t even describe them as people. They were as violent and cruel as his ancestors. He had to stop the senseless slaughter before any more innocent lives were lost. A break, he just needed a break.
So far, only the Walker’s Run Cooperative’s lands had been targeted. Thankfully, no more incidences had occurred inside the wolf sanctuary or around the members’ private residences. But the Co-op owned a lot of undeveloped property. “Ever thought about setting up an electronic or thermal surveillance system?” Bodie asked.
Captivated by the She-Wolf Page 13
