by Tena Stetler
“Oh, hell, this is a setup.” He looked to Kolby for help.
“You’re on your own. I’ll rescue you after work. Have a great time. I gotta get back.” Kolby took the check from the waiter as he paused at the table, glanced at it, and handed him a credit card. “She can sign for it and collect the receipt.” Kolby pointed to Hayley. “See you all tonight.” He rushed across the room and shoved open the door.
“Thank you for lunch. Can we at least leave the tip?” Lathen asked rising from the chair and reaching for his wallet.
“Yes, thanks, that was so nice of you.” Pepper chimed in.
“Nope, it’s taken care of, and you’re welcome.” Hayley’s eyes softened as she glanced from Pepper to Lathen. “We’re so glad you’re here. It means so much to Kolby, and Elijah will be ecstatic.”
“That remains to be seen,” Lathen mumbled.
“Follow me,” Hayley said.
After dropping the car off, Hayley jumped into the rented SUV and gave directions to a department store where they could find a wedding gift. He picked out a gift card to a sporting goods store for his dad. Pepper found a wooden statue of two whimsical moose, arms entwined, sitting on a log holding a wooden sign that said “Our Home” she thought Amy would love and looked to Hayley who agreed.
Next she suggested a visit to the Potter Marsh Bird Sanctuary, part of Anchorage’s coastal wildlife refuge. As they walked across the field, Pepper spotted a moose and baby at the edge of the field. A few minutes later, Lathen tapped her on the shoulder and pointed to a nest with an adult eagle guarding a fledgling teetering on the edge.
“Hayley, didn’t you bring a scope?” he whispered.
“Yep, right here.” She pulled a small scope out of her backpack and handed it to Pepper.
Looking through the scope, Pepper said, “Wow, look at that little guy. I think he’s ready to take off.” The words were no sooner out of her mouth than the eaglet spread his wings and took a short, wobbly flight, landing on a lower limb. The adult bird called to the baby and then joined it on the limb.
“It’s probably time to go home. Kolby should be there by now,” Hayley said. “Tomorrow, how about a hike at Lake Eklutna? The scenery is spectacular. There’re a couple extra kayaks in the garage. The lake is a peaceful place to glide across. Lots of wildlife too.”
“Great,” Pepper said.
“Works for me.”
Kolby had the barbecue started when Pepper and Lathen came trooping in behind Hayley, who gave Kolby a sweet kiss as she passed by him.
“Have a nice afternoon?” Kolby asked.
“Once we got the shopping over, we had a great time.”
“Saw a moose and her baby, and an eaglet fledge at Potter Marsh. I had a great afternoon,” Pepper said, plopping down on a dark brown sofa behind a long glass-topped coffee table. She stared up at the dark beams set across the light wood ceiling and decided it was a nice contrast and went well with the cream colored walls.
Lathen followed Kolby upstairs to the guest room and set down the baggage. “You’ve updated a few things since I was here last. It looks nice.”
“Thanks. We like it. The small bedroom next to ours”—he pointed to the room across the hall from where they were standing—“will be the baby’s room. Oh, by the way, you and Pepper are the only ones that know about the baby. Didn’t want to overshadow Dad and Amy’s big day. So don’t mention it.”
“Of course. Better let Pepper know,” Lathen said grinning as the girls’ voices rose and fell between gales of laughter. “They sure seem to get along.”
“Like two peas in a pod,” Kolby agreed. “You got a good woman there. She’s a keeper.”
“Yeah, I know.” Lathen shifted from one foot to the other. His mind shifted to Lobster Cove. Were Ember and Kaylee behaving themselves? Had Ben made an appearance? Leaving Klaren and Duncan so soon after they arrived may not have been the best idea. What if something happened? He shook his head and noticed his brother was looking at him expectantly. “What?”
“Are you?”
“Am I what?”
“Going to make it permanent?”
“Make what permanent?” Apparently, while his mind wandered, Kolby had continued talking.
“Pepper. Are you going to make things permanent with her? Soon?” Kolby hesitated for a couple beats. “You’re a damn fool if you don’t.”
“I’ve been called worse,” Lathen said simply. “But to answer your question, I hope so. There’s a lot going on back home that has to be settled. But after that, yeah, I plan to make things permanent.”
“Oh?”
“It’s her family stuff.” He shrugged.
“Don’t wait too long,” Kolby chided.
“Don’t worry. It’ll work out.” I hope. Right now I want to concentrate on getting through the next few days. Dad. The pack. I don’t need anything else right now. He blew out a breath and headed downstairs. “You coming?”
Still standing in the hallway in front of the guest room, his brother frowned and started down the stairs. He raised an eyebrow as he passed Lathen on the way to the kitchen. “Remember what I said.”
“I think you have your hands full.” He hissed back. “Don’t worry about me.”
“Who’s worrying about what?” Hayley turned to him, wiping her hands on a towel tucked in her waistband.
“Nothing.” Glad to see Pepper, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him, brushing his lips slowly over hers in a tantalizingly seductive kiss. “Miss me?” he growled.
“Of course.” She ran her tongue over his lips and twisted away. “Help me set the table.” She gave Kolby an intense look and jerked her head toward the sliding glass doors where Hayley was staring at the grill, a large, clean fork in her hand. “I’m not sure she knows what she’s doing.”
“Haayleyyy. How long ago did you put those on the grill?” Kolby asked opening the sliding glass door and taking the fork from his wife. Her answer was muffled as the door slid closed.
“Yep, setting the table is a good thing,” Lathen said taking four plates and a stack of silverware from Pepper’s hands.
Kolby intervened in the cooking just in time. The steaks were grilled to a perfect medium rare. The baked potatoes nestled on top of the coals steamed at the foil seams. “Looks like we’re ready. Grab your plates and pick a steak and potato.”
A frosted-glass salad bowl sat in the center of the table with small bowls at each place setting as the couples settled around the table.
The conversation was light as they consumed the food. Hayley brought out a chocolate silk pie for dessert and suggested they take pie and drinks out on the back porch. Kolby made sure the gas patio heater was on and slid the glass door open.
“Your view is spectacular,” Pepper said, standing at the railing before settling into a chair.
“It was one of the selling points of this house,” Hayley said.
After pressing the last of pie crust crumbs onto the back of her fork, Pepper yawned. “The dinner was delicious, and that pie was to die for.”
“Sure was. But if you don’t mind, we’re going to call it a day.” Lathen pushed up from the chair.
“Of course. Got a full day planned tomorrow,” Hayley chirped.
Lathen looked at Kolby, who shrugged. “It’ll be fun.”
The next morning, breakfast was a quick one. They loaded kayaks in Kolby’s truck and headed for the lake. The spare kayaks were wide and glided effortlessly across the lake leaving only little ripples in their wake. Except when Pepper spotted a river otter and splashed her paddles through the water in an effort to get a better look. Which wasn’t appreciated by the otter.
On the lakeshore, they beached the kayaks and sat on the beach, eating turkey sandwiches, chips, and bottled water. Pepper stuffed the trash back in the wet bag, and the couples glided their kayaks across the lake, stopping a couple times to watch the wildlife at the water’s edge.
By late afternoon, tired and
hungry, the group trouped back to the pickup, tied the kayaks in the bed of the truck, and headed home. Kolby called in dinner to a local restaurant and when he stopped to pick it up, Lathen bolted out of the truck and into the building before Kolby could catch him. Lathen paid for the dinners and strode back to the truck a grin on his face. “Too slow in your old age.”
“In your dreams, little brother,” Kolby shot back.
Once they all sat down around the table and unpacked the meal, everyone was quiet, lost in their own thoughts as they ate. Except Hayley, who kept nodding off. Pepper insisted on cleaning up, then they said their goodnights and headed off to bed.
Rain pattered on the windows as Lathen opened his eyes and looked at the clock on the bedside table. The overcast morning had let him sleep longer than intended. He nuzzled Pepper’s neck, inhaling her intoxicating citrusy scent while she slept. “Time to get moving,” he whispered in her ear.
Hayley prepared a huge breakfast of scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon, and orange juice. When they finished eating, Lathen and Pepper packed up to drive to Half Moon Valley.
Hayley gathered cinnamon rolls, a jug of iced tea, and bottles of water into a bag and handed it to Pepper. “For a snack on the way there.”
Kolby took Lathen’s outstretched hand and grabbed him in a hug. “Everything is going to be fine. Relax.” Then he hugged Pepper and kissed her cheek. “Welcome to the family,” he whispered. “See you both in a few days.”
Tears trickled down Hayley’s cheeks as she clung to Pepper. “See ya soon. You keep that big lug in line.” She smiled through her tears.
“I promise,” Pepper said fiercely. “See ya on Friday?”
“Yeah, late afternoon after Kolby gets off.” Hayley scrubbed her hands over her face.
Chapter Eighteen
Sometimes the Best Laid Plans of Men and Wolves Veer Off Course with Surprising Results
Once in the SUV, Lathen was anxious to get the first meeting with his father concluded. Good or bad, at least the not knowing would be over, and maybe the knot in his stomach would ease a bit for the first time since leaving Maine.
“Hey, Pep, have you heard from your parents?”
“Yeah, a couple times. A storm blew in the day after we left. Mom was afraid to let Kaylee out to feed, so she tried to coax her to eat the frozen fish we keep for such incidents. Kaylee let the fish drop and refused to eat. So Mom picked up the fish and walked away. Later in the day, she thawed out a new fish, tossing it like I showed her, and Kaylee reluctantly caught and nibbled on that. Otherwise, things are running smoothly. Ember’s been Mom’s shadow since we left.”
Laughing, Lathen said, “Gee, Kaylee has become a diva.”
“No, she’s always wanted her way. I told you about the day I left Salem.”
“Yeah, I forgot about that.”
By late afternoon, his fingers entwined through Pepper’s as he stood on his father’s doorstep. Deciding to forgo the lodge in Cantrell for the moment, he would see how things panned out here. The last thing he needed was for Jimmy to see him and blab to his Dad. Lathen blew out a breath and raised his hand to knock. The door flew open, and a stocky man an inch or two shorter than Lathen with dark blond hair graying at the temples stood, eyes wide as his jaw dropped.
“I’ll be damned, it is you,” his dad said as he wrapped his long arms around Lathen, then grasped his shoulders and pushed him out at arm’s length. His father’s eyes searched Lathen’s face and softened. “You look real good, son.” He gripped Lathen’s shoulder, then stopped for a beat, peering at Pepper, as if he’d just noticed her. “Who is this gorgeous creature you’ve brought with you?” Lathen’s dad stepped aside and motioned them through the entrance touching Pepper on the arm. For a fleeting moment, surprise flickered through his eyes.
“Elijah, who is it?” A woman’s soft melodic voice came from the other room. A tall, dark-haired woman with high cheekbones and huge brown eyes slipped into the room and stopped. “It’s not…” Her gaze shifted from Lathen to a family photograph on the fireplace mantel and back to him. Her eyes widened, and she let out a quiet breath. “It is. Welcome, Lathen.” She took a few more steps forward.
“Son, this is Amy, she’s my…”
“Your soon-to-be wife,” Lathen finished for his father. “Nice to meet you, Amy.” He reached out and gave her a quick hug.
“How’d you know?” Elijah stammered, then quickly regained his composure and took Amy’s hand and brought her beside him.
It wasn’t often Lathen caught his father off guard, but it made him feel almost on equal footing. He circled his arm around Pepper’s waist and said. “Dad, I’d like you to meet Pepper, she’s…we’re…my girlfriend.” Introductions were getting tedious, he had to define their relationship. It was time to let her know where he hoped the relationship was going and what he wanted from her. A commitment…hard for him to believe, but that’s what he wanted and was willing to give her in return.
“Welcome to our home, Pepper,” Elijah said, studying her for a couple of beats. “Come on in, sit down.” He led the way to a dark brown leather sectional with cream accents in front of the massive fireplace. “If you don’t mind my asking, what brought you here?”
Lathen shrugged. “Kolby and Hayley came to Lobster Cove several weeks ago looking for me.”
His father raised an eyebrow and rubbed his chin with his thumb and forefinger. “I didn’t know they were searching for you.”
Lathen nodded his head. “After asking several of the business owners around town that happen to be friends, Kolby finally camped outside my cottage until I made an appearance. Don’t spend much time there.” He ran his fingers through his hair and rubbed the back of his neck. “Pepper is starting up a wildlife rescue and rehab. I’ve revamped several buildings for her, and we created a marine habitat and clinic on the beach of her property in Lobster Cove, Maine. I spend most my time there. With her.” There, he’d made it plain he was living with her. When he glanced over at Pepper, she beamed at him. He sat up a little straighter.
“The grand opening of the center is toward the end of September,” Pepper said. “So after Kolby told us the news, we worked out a schedule that allowed us to take time off to attend your wedding.” Her hand flew to her mouth. “Sorry, that’s Lathen’s tale to tell.”
“No, you are doing fine.” Lathen took her hand in his and held tight.
Elijah eyed Lathen suspiciously. “Just like that?”
“Well—not exactly. That is the reason Kolby came looking for me, but we had several long talks over the five weeks he and Hayley spent in and around Lobster Cove.”
“Was he gone five weeks? I talk to him at least once a week, and I don’t remember him saying he was out of town or even leaving Anchorage. Oh, wait…I do remember him mentioning trying to find you. But I never figured…”
“Dad, you must have lost your leash. I mean, touch.” Lathen smirked.
“Still a smart ass,” Elijah said returning the smirk.
“Yeah, some things never change. Anyway, Kolby said he talked to you several times, but I asked him not to mention anything about me, until—well—there were things I needed to work out.”
Glancing around the room, he thought it seemed brighter, cozier than he remembered growing up or the last time he was here. The sectional was new. Pictures hanging on the freshly painted crème-colored walls weren’t what he remembered. Missing was the worn dark wooden mantel over the fireplace they’d hung stockings on at Christmas. It had been replaced with a burnished light wood one, still with his father’s signature carving of two wolf cubs with an adult prominent on the scalloped edge. He brought his gaze back to his father. “Made some changes. Huh? Looks great.”
“Sometimes, it’s—time to let go. Amy had ideas when she arrived and I agreed. Not to—the memory of your mother. But…”
“Dad, I didn’t know my mother. You did your best to be both Mom and Dad to us while still being the pack alpha. And did a damn fi
ne job.” He shifted and loosened the grip on Pepper’s hand after noticing her clenched jaw and the ends of her fingers turning color.
“I don’t know about that. I could have—didn’t know what to do with you after—” His dad relaxed against the sofa, his shoulders slumped. Amy put a hand over his.
“I became a danger to the pack?” He stared at his father, lines around the rugged face, and eyes were prominent. Older than I remember, but Amy’s put a sparkle in his eyes that was never there before.
“I knew you were hurting, but…couldn’t stand by and let you take us all down with you. Something had to give. I’m sorry, but I had no…”
“It’s all right. Anyway, it’s been a summer of extraordinary events and changes in my life. And as Kolby was so kind to point out during one of our heated discussions, time to pull my head out of my ass and join the world again. Pepper was a catalyst for that even before Kolby came along.”
Elijah’s lips twitched, then he roared with laughter. “It takes strong women to handle the men of this family. I had a similar experience with Amy here.” He patted her thigh and looked lovingly into her eyes. “And we all know Hayley keeps Kolby in line, even before they were married.”
The intimate exchange between his dad and Amy made Lathen a bit uncomfortable.
A buzzer sounded in the other room. Amy got to her feet. “I hate to interrupt, but before you arrived, we were just about to throw salmon steaks on the grill since the rain had stopped. The baked potatoes are done. If you want to join us, I’ll grab a couple more steaks out, and, Pepper, you can help me with the salad while the guys grill the steaks.”
Pepper stood, started to follow Amy, paused, then glanced at Lathen.
“If it’s not too much trouble. We’d like that.” He nodded, watching Pepper accompany Amy into the kitchen. When his father stood, Lathen pushed up from the couch and joined him on the deck, where the coals were more than ready. Elijah shook more briquettes out of the bag, tossed them onto the white-hot ones in the grill.
