by E A Price
Susie smiled at him in gratitude. Thankfully, he didn’t want to attend any more than she wanted him there. He seemed like a nice enough guy – well, perhaps more naughty than nice – but she was not about to spend the whole weekend with him as if he were actually her boyfriend or something.
Jules all but stamped her foot. “Fine, I guess it is short notice. It looks like you can be Joe’s date, then, after all.”
Barlow let out a small growl. “Joe?”
Jules smiled and Susie detected an evil glimmer. “Yep, my cousin will be there alone, so…”
“I don’t need a date,” piped up Susie.
“And since you’re determined to disappoint me…” Jules let loose the full power of her batting eyelashes and pouty, red lips. Lesser men would already be handing over their cars at this point.
“You know what,” said Barlow, an unexpected look of determination in his eye, “I reckon I can make it after all.”
“But…” spluttered Susie, “the thing! You have that thing!”
Barlow gave her a ‘butter wouldn’t melt’ look. “The thing? It was canceled.”
“What?!” Bastard.
“Yeah, canceled, looks like I can make it.”
Jules squealed in excitement and Susie groaned.
Chapter Nine
“You can’t come.”
They were the first words out of Susie’s mouth when Barlow swung by to pick her up the following morning.
After hastily agreeing to go, and on getting all the details from Jules, he told Susie he’d pick her up at seven and then left before she could change her mind, or before he could for that matter. He didn’t want to say yes – why would he? He hated weddings, and Susie didn’t seem interested in a repeat of Vegas, so what was the point? But it was the mention of this other male – Joe – that persuaded him to change his mind. Hey, just because he wasn’t getting anywhere with Susie didn’t mean anyone else could either!
Besides, he wouldn’t mind spending time with her. She made his inner beast… happy. Being around her was kind of refreshing. Plus, who knows? Maybe he’d also get the opportunity to punch her dumb-as-shit ex as well – serve him right for breaking her heart.
Barlow got out his truck and stood in front of Susie. Her arms were folded tightly. There was a determined look on her face and a stubborn tilt to her chin that his wolf found absolutely adorable.
“Jules invited me.”
“Well, when I get there I’m just going to say that something came up.”
“So you can spend the weekend with Joe?” he growled as his beast snarled in a fury.
He had no idea who this Joe was or what kind of guy he was, but he already knew he hated him.
Susie blinked at him in surprise. “Joe’s an idiot that Jules is trying to set me up with – I don’t want to date him.”
“So, take me up there with you, and you won’t have to worry about Joe.” Grrr.
“Well, I wasn’t really worried, he’s pretty harmless. He’s a wolf shifter, but he’s a vegan.”
His wolf blanched. How could a creature like that even exist? “My god. You definitely need me up there.”
“Why on earth do you even want to come?”
A question he had been asking himself and the only answer he had was jealousy. Not an answer he wanted to admit to Susie.
Instead, he shrugged. “Free vacation. Plus I know a guy who lives round there, maybe we can annoy him by visiting on the way back.” Although Derrick did usually welcome guests by firing a shotgun at them.
“Look, it’s very fancy there, and Jules’ pack are really snobby, are you sure you can…”
Her voice trailed away as he gave her a look.
“Are you worried I’ll embarrass you?” he asked in amusement. His beast snorted.
Admittedly, there was every possibility he would. In his younger days when it took a lot less to get him drunk, he would usually bring out his elephant impression at the end of the night. That involved pulling out the pockets of his trousers to make the ears and pulling out something else entirely to make the trunk. There were a lot of places he was no longer welcome following an elephant incident.
“No, not at all,” she replied as her cheeks turned a ruddy color.
“Then let’s get going.”
*
“You can sleep if you want,” said Barlow. They’d been driving for a few hours in awkward silence. Or at least, she felt awkward. She wouldn’t hazard a guess at how Barlow was feeling.
“Thanks but I’m too wired to sleep.”
That was due to the three coffees she had that morning. No way was she turning up looking rumpled and sleep soiled. Plus, she’d also been a little nervous about telling Barlow he couldn’t come. With good reason given how crappily it went.
“Is everyone else driving up?” he asked.
“Yeah, but only because there isn’t an airport close.”
“Good, hate them to think I’m a hick for driving.”
Susie groaned. “Would you stop? I didn’t mean it that way.”
Barlow chuckled. “Sure.”
She couldn’t tell whether he was just making fun of her, or if his feelings were a little hurt.
“Jeez - why on earth did you want to come?” she exploded. “If you think I’m a total snob then why are you even here?”
“Like I said – free vacation. Didn’t have anything better to do.”
“Like you couldn’t have found something,” she muttered, turning back to look out the window.
“Better than being treated like a country bumpkin?”
Susie whipped back to look at him. “Look, Jules’ pack are super snooty, and yeah, they may very well insult you – so brace yourself for it. That’s all I meant. They think anyone who changes the oil on their own car is beneath contempt. Their pack is not as relaxed or friendly as your pack.”
“Little darling, I was in the army for over ten years – I can handle a few wolf shifters with their heads up their own butts.”
“I’m not ashamed of you, if that’s what you think,” she added.
Heck no, if they walked into any room she’d expect everyone to be wondering ‘what’s he doing with her.’
“No?” He flicked a look at her.
“Of course not, look at you, you’re…”
Her body flushed as she thought of all the ways she wanted to end that sentence. Sexy? Incredible in bed? Irresistible?
“What?”
A sign for a convenience store flashed by, and she saw an escape route.
“Let’s stop.”
“What were you going to say?”
“I want some beef jerky,” she said, resolutely ignoring his curiosity.
Barlow grunted and pulled over, but before she could run out the car, his hand clamped on her arm.
“C’mon, little darling, what were you going to say?”
Susie sagged in defeat. “You’re incredibly hot, okay? You’re sexy and charming when you want to be – now, obviously is not one of those times. Every girl is going to envy me bringing you.”
His grip relaxed, and she virtually flew out of the car. A quick glance over her shoulder showed that he was smirking.
Ugh!
Chapter Ten
“There you are!” gushed Jules running forward. “You missed the wedding lunch.”
Susie flashed a look at Barlow. “We were making great time until someone who shall remain nameless decided on a shortcut, and the big dope got us lost.”
Barlow cocked her a smile. “I maintain my way was better.”
“You weren’t saying that when you had to chase that herd of cattle out of the dirt-track road, we were on.”
It had been pretty funny watching Barlow growl and run around flapping his arms at the cattle – they were not interested in moving at all. Barlow managed to slip on some cow dung, fall flat on his face and end up covered in it. Susie wasn’t sure she had ever laughed so hard – she nearly wet her pants. At that point, Barlo
w was super pissed and shifted to his wolf – that got the beasts moving.
The wolf then had to run to the nearest river to take a bath to get rid of the dung, and Susie would not let him get back in the truck until he was dry. Wet dog smell and that. But soon they were back on track, Susie drove while he donned new clothes in the back and she forced herself not to watch him in the mirror.
Susie wasn’t particularly bothered about missing the lunch – the fewer times she had to see Allen and his mate, Bitcherella the better. There were lots of other ‘fun’ activities lined up for them over the weekend – wedding lunch, wedding cheese and wine, wedding cocktails – just put wedding in front of something and you had an event. Missing one would hardly hurt. In fact, she was adamant that she wanted to miss the wedding poetry slam.
“Aww, look at you,” cooed Jules, “arguing like an old married couple already!”
Susie bit her lip. Oh, it was going to be a long weekend.
Candace and Lila turned up, and Jules happily introduced them to Barlow. Susie tried to pretend it didn’t bother her that Lila was trying her best to flirt with him. She also tried to pretend that it didn’t bother her that he was drawing attention from several other pack females. Like moths to a freaking flame, they gravitated toward him.
“You’re a dark horse,” whispered Candace while Lila tried to feel Barlow’s bicep.
“Yeah, that’s me,” muttered Susie.
Susie subtly elbowed Lila away so she could get Barlow’s attention back. “C’mon, we should really check into our rooms.”
“Yeah, I could do with a real shower,” agreed Barlow. “My back needs scrubbing, too.”
He gave her a heated, expectant look. The other females tittered in a coy way while Susie rolled her eyes.
“I’m sure you’ll manage,” she said briskly. “Now our rooms…”
“Room,” corrected Jules. “I mean you’ll be sharing. All the rooms come with a double bed, so that won’t be a problem.”
“Ummm…”
Crap. She just assumed… Crap. Of course, Jules wouldn’t find another room for him. She assumed the two of them were dating, so why wouldn’t they share a room?
“Sounds good,” agreed the smug bastard.
Susie would need to talk to Jules about that.
“Plus, the hotel is all booked up,” said Jules.
Oh lord. Yep, sleeping that close to the sexiest man on earth and trying not to get involved with a wolf shifter – that was going to end well.
“Jules,” whispered Susie urgently. “We don’t know each other that well…”
Yeah, given how well she knew him when she first jumped into bed with him, that sounded stupid even to her.
“I’m sure we’ll manage,” rumbled Barlow, slipping an arm around Susie’s waist.
“Susie!”
She looked up and spotted Allen bounding down the stairs. Great.
“There you are, I was getting worried.”
He tried to reach for her hands, and she flinched away from him, instinctively moving closer into Barlow’s embrace.
“I’m fine; we just got a little lost.”
“Took a shortcut,” corrected Barlow, though the amusement seemed to have left him, and the arm around her tensed.
Allen’s smile turned chilly as he took in Barlow, and what he was currently doing to Susie. “And you are?” he sneered at Barlow.
Barlow’s eyes flashed, and fearing an insult, Susie quickly answered, “Barlow, he’s part of the Rose pack.”
“And Susie’s new boyfriend,” put in Jules with relish. Susie had to hand it to her friend, she was loyal - even when it came to pissing off her alpha’s nephew.
Susie was going to deny the boyfriend thing when she heard Helen’s nasal voice, shortly followed by the cry of a baby.
“Allen,” she whined while struggling with a huge baby carrier. “Why did you…” She stopped on seeing Susie.
Usually, Susie got a smug look out of her, but now, she just looked angry. The she-wolf made it to the bottom of the stairs and let out an ‘ooh’ as she stumbled on the last step. Numerous pack members surged forward to catch her; even Susie did – after all, she was holding a baby! Not that Susie’s assistance was needed. No, a couple of her pack mates steadied her and the baby.
Though, after Helen pouted and gave everyone big, sad eyes while they fussed over her, Susie realized that neither Allen nor Barlow had moved a muscle. No, they were more intent on out-staring one another.
A flash of fury rippled through Susie, and she was surprised to find she was angrier with Barlow than she was with Allen.
Susie grabbed her room key and without a word to either idiot male, she started making her way to her room. Why was she more bothered by Barlow’s lack of action than Allen? After all, it was Allen’s baby! But maybe she more disappointed in Barlow because she expected more. Which was insane – she barely knew him!
*
Barlow caught up to Susie just as she was entering their room.
“Hey, you should have waited, I would have carried your bag.”
“You were busy,” she retorted in a sour voice.
Susie heaved her bag onto the bed and moved to the window to look at the view. Barlow took in the room. Four poster bed, open fire – nice. He wouldn’t mind having sex in front of an open fire. Though not too close, heat rash and all that. Rawr.
He pressed his hand on the mattress, testing the firmness. Not too soft – good. Would she try to insist that he sleep on the floor? He wouldn’t, but he’d be interested in watching her try to demand he do so. She was cute when she was all bossy. She was always sexy though added his beast. Even when her eyes and nose were running with tears and snot because she was laughing so hard at him trying to round up some cows. Yeah, his wolf didn’t like her laughing at him that much, but Barlow didn’t mind. Better to have her laugh at him than be angry with him.
“Which side of the bed do you want?” he asked. “Left, right, on top or underneath?”
She turned to look at him with an exasperated look. “I can’t believe you!”
“Fine, just left, right or on top – if you were underneath me all night I’d probably suffocate you.” He gave her a devilish look.
“Helen almost fell over, and you did nothing.”
Barlow frowned. “Helen the she-wolf with the pup?”
“Yes!”
“She was faking it,” he said disinterestedly.
He grabbed his own bag and dumped all the contents on the bed. He perhaps should have brought something a little dressier for the wedding, but even when he raided his dad’s closet, the smartest thing he could find was a sweater. Bah, it would have to do.
“Huh?” Susie gaped at him.
“Yeah, she pretended to fall. Thought it was obvious.”
He could see it a mile away. His wolf huffed - he had no time for females who acted like whiny damsels in distress. He wasn’t sure whose attention she was trying to get – probably everybody’s – but he wasn’t going to give her his attention.
“Oh.” The wind seemed to have disappeared from her sails. “I just thought you were too busy trying to out-dominate Allen.”
Grrr. There was that, too. Barlow could tell he was a dick the moment he clapped eyes on him. Plus, he was way too familiar with Susie, and Barlow could scent that Allen was lusting after her. He had to quash any thoughts like that immediately. So yeah, he would not drop his gaze until Allen did – it was the wolf equivalent of trying to out-shake a guy’s hand.
He was glad to say that Allen dropped his gaze first. Wuss purred his beast just a tad smugly. He was breaking anyway, but when the female apparently called Helen snapped at him, he looked away so he could growl in return. Winner, winner! Though that wouldn’t stop any of Allen’s lustful thoughts about Susie. Double grrr.
“There something I should know about Allen?” he asked with a hint of a growl.
“We used to date,” admitted Susie in a quiet voice.
&
nbsp; “Yeah?”
That asshole must have been the guy who dumped her and broke her heart. Dick wasn’t even fit to share a lunch menu with Susie, never mind anything else. What did she see in him? Barlow spent about thirty seconds in his company, and already he wanted to punch him. It was a relief that Susie had shied away from his touch.
“Yeah, since we were kids. Then he got Helen pregnant, and here we are.”
Humph. “Okay.”
Susie glanced up at him, and he was glad she wasn’t crying – her tears would be wasted on her sucky ex, but also because he had no idea what to do with a crying female. Pat her head and say ‘there, there’? Actually, she didn’t look particularly sad, more resigned, verging on defeated.
“Don’t you want to know anything else?”
“Guy’s a prick. Anything else I should know?”
Susie smiled wanly. “No, actually.”
Barlow patted his stomach. “I’m starving. That beef jerky was hours ago, and we missed lunch.”
“Thanks to your shortcut,” she teased.
Barlow grinned. “Yeah. Let’s go get something to eat.”
That cattle herding had been hard work. His wolf huffed – he actually did most of the work
“Sounds good. Don’t you want a shower first?”
“Nah, too hungry – I might collapse in the shower and then you’d have to come rescue me.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“You’re right,” she deadpanned, “you desperately need food.”
Susie glanced in the mirror and brushed her fingers through her hair.
“Maybe I should change into something else,” she said.
“Why?” He had been admiring her tight jeans all day – they hugged every curve, and thanks to their time in Vegas, he didn’t have to leave anything to his imagination. Nope, he had her naked in his memory – twenty-four-seven.
“I look a little messy. I should probably put on a blouse and some slacks, and comb my hair and freshen my makeup…”
She looked exhausted just thinking about it. Besides, he liked her cute sweatshirt. It said ‘frog kissing maniac.’ Having met Allen, he could attest to the truth in that.
“Little darling, I was planning on a meatball sub at the bar, the meatballs don’t mind what you wear, and you look good.”
