“Listen to me. I’m going to do some drive-bys of Rebecca’s house. It might be helpful if she had a watchdog, you know?”
“I know.”
“Stay out of sight, boss. I don’t want anyone taking pot shots at you.”
“Me either.”
“Jake?”
“What?”
“I mean it, be careful. I know he’s your brother, but he’s dangerous.”
Jake sighed. “I know.” He hung up, put his head back, and rubbed his eyes.
Damn Trey. Jake had an over powering urge to find him and talk, just talk. No, that wasn’t right. Jake was the one who needed to listen, not talk. Maybe then, he’d understand his brother.
If Trey tried to kill Rebecca, despite being brothers, Jake fully intended on protecting his mate, no matter what the cost.
Chapter 5
“I’m going.” Rebecca took a bite of her chef salad.
Vicki sat across the booth from her best friend and smiled. “Great! I was hoping you would. Everything you’ve told me makes Jake sound wonderful.”
“I’m not doing this to see Jake. I’m doing it for Ben.” She took another bite and chewed as she checked on her son asleep in the carrier sitting on the table.
“Right. Well, if I had a man as crazy about me as he seems to be about you, I’d make plans to see him all the time.” Vicki laughed. “However, we both know my track record. Two starts. Two crash and burns.” She held her thumb and forefinger up to her forehead in the universal sign for Loser.
“Cut it out, Vicki. It won’t always be that way.”
“Sure it will. You forgot about the big sign on my back that says ‘Date me and dump me.’ Well, I won’t be making that mistake again. I’m going to join a convent.”
There was a long pause and then both women laughed.
“Seriously, Vicki, you’ll find someone.”
“I don’t care if I ever do, Becca. I just don’t want to get hurt anymore and the only way to do that is to swear off men. I’ll just be one of those teachers who never marry. I like cats, so that should help with the total old maid image.”
“You’re too pretty to be an old maid. You’re a woman any man would be damn lucky to get. You just need time to heal.”
Vicki shrugged and waved Rebecca’s comments away like flies.
“So, enough about my sorry state of affairs. Are you excited about bringing the baby out to Jake’s for his mom to see?” Vicki’s fingers discovered a loose strand of blonde hair and tucked it back into the severe bun she wore at the nape of her neck.
“Yeah. Jake said it would mean the world to her and him. And you know, I thought about it, and since my folks have shunned us, Ben will need someone like a grandmother to love on him.” Rebecca finished her salad and sipped her tea.
“Every kid should have a grandparent to dote on him. I loved my grandparents when they were alive. It’s a special relationship.” She gave Ben’s tiny booted foot a small shake and cooed at him.
“I agree. I’ll call tomorrow and let Jake know I’m coming.”
* * * *
The wolf lay under the large bush at the side of the road and watched the headlights of the cars go by until there was a lull in the traffic. He stood, trotted across the dark street, and leapt with ease over the fence that surrounded the cottage. Making a quick patrol around the property, stopping twice to mark his territory, he settled under the front porch to watch over his mate.
Resting his head on his paws, he could hear Rebecca moving around inside.
The sounds echoed under the raised house. Picking them up with his sensitive ears, he tracked where she was in the house by the creaking of the floorboards, the sound of the water running in the pipes, the flush of a toilet.
Ben cried. The wolf gave a soft whine. No need. Rebecca’s quick footsteps as she hurried to the baby reassured him. He heard her muffled voice calming the child, and late in the evening, heard her singing soft songs to soothe Ben to sleep.
At last the house settled, lights went out, and all was quiet.
Sitting under the house, hidden in the shadows, he raised his head and watched a dark sedan pass by. Raising his snout to the wind, he couldn’t pick up enough of a scent to know if the driver was male or female. With a whine, he lowered his head to his paws.
A few minutes later, the same car returned. This time, the wolf crept on his belly through the shadows to the bushes near the fence for a closer view. It looked like a man, or at least someone wearing a cap of some kind, but the windows were rolled up so he couldn’t catch a scent.
The car slowed and then turned the corner and drove on. The wolf trotted over to the fence, jumped over it, ran through the next yard, and then leaped over that fence. Standing on the sidewalk at the side of her neighbor’s house, he watched the red taillights disappear down the street and turn a corner.
Where was Barker?
Realizing he’d been gone too long from his watch, he trotted to the corner and peeked around it. A patrol car sat at the curb with Barker leaning on the side of the vehicle. He trotted down the sidewalk to Barker, and sat on his haunches, his massive head coming up almost to Barker’s belt buckle.
“Slow night. Thought I’d come by. Anything going on?” Barker’s voice was so low it was just audible, but the wolf’s ears had no trouble picking up the words.
The wolf gave a soft whine and nodded. This wasn’t the first time he’d worked with Barker in the name of law and order.
“A car?”
Another nod.
“Just recently?”
A nod and a whine.
“Great. Did you get a sniff?
The wolf gave his head a shake and his thick coat rippled down his back.
Barker gave a final look around. “Stay put, and I’ll make the rounds again. After two o’clock my shift’s over and you’re on your own.” He slid into the driver’s seat and pulled away from the curb.
The wolf hopped over the fence and scooted under the house, turned a few times in the soft dirt and lay down as the cruiser pulled away.
The rest of the night was uneventful. Barker made a few more passes, but the sedan never returned. Just before dawn, the wolf stood, stretched his paws out in front of him, his rear in the air, and then slid into the opposite position, rear down, head up for a long stretch.
He leaped over the fence, trotted down the block, and disappeared around a corner.
* * * *
“McCallan Specialty Lumber,” a crisp efficient voice answered.
Rebecca took a deep breath. “May I speak to Jake McCallan?”
“Hold on, please.” The woman put her on hold, and country music filled Rebecca’s ear, as she tried to steady her breathing. There was nothing she could do about the racing of her heart.
“Mr. McCallan is down on the mill floor right now. Can I take a message?”
“Sure. This is Rebecca Miller, I’d like to—”
“Ms. Miller. Can you hold? I’ll go get him.” She sounded excited.
“That’s not necessary. I don’t want to disturb him.”
“If I don’t get him, he’ll be furious.” The woman pressed the button and plunged Rebecca back into country music limbo. Good grief, how did that woman know about her? Or that Jake would be upset to miss her call? That thought gave her a warm feeling all over. Time crept by, the song changed and still Rebecca hung on to the phone. She was debating hanging up when the connection clicked.
“Rebecca?” Jake’s deep voice sounded out of breath and very worried.
“Jake, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for her to drag you back to the phone.”
“No, she was right to get me. Are you all right?” His breathing slowed down and he sounded more himself.
“I’m fine. I just wanted to let you know I’ve decided to come on Sunday.”
“That’s wonderful!” She could hear his elation loud and clear over the phone line, and it made her smile.
“What time should I be there?”
�
�Well, we usually have dinner after church, so come around one. Food will be on the table at two and it usually breaks up around four or five. You’re bringing Ben, right?”
“Right. Uh, Jake, you go to church?” Rebecca was surprised.
“Yeah, I’ve sat in the same pew every Sunday for as long as I can remember. Dad insisted on it.” He chuckled.
“That’s nice. I always ducked out of church whenever I could. Oh, where is it? The house, I mean.”
“Go down Highway 35 north. The large black iron gates on the right. Turn in there, they’ll be open. Just drive up the road. It’s about a half mile to the house, so don’t worry about being lost, we’re pretty deep back in the woods.”
“Right. Got it. I’ve passed those gates before and wondered what was back there. I’ll see you on Sunday.”
“See you then. And Rebecca…thanks for coming.”
“Sure.” She hung up, sat back on the couch, and hugged her knees to her chest. This would be good for Ben, to meet his family. He’d need relatives, no matter if she didn’t. She didn’t need anyone.
Who was she fooling? Just the idea of seeing Jake made her entire body quiver. No man had ever done that to her. Damn, she felt as giddy as a teenager going on her first date. No, she was no teenager. It was more. It felt like first-time love. Wild, passionate, and desperate. Closing her eyes, she relived Jake’s kisses and the way his arms felt wrapped around her. She wanted to feel his strength surrounding her for the rest of her life.
Dear Lord, she had it bad. How could this have happened to her? And why now? Only she would have such incredibly bad timing. First, you meet the man of your dreams, then you marry, then you have kids. Not, sleep with the brother of the man of your dreams, have Mr. Wrong’s baby, then meet Mr. Right.
This really wasn’t like her. She was capable, steady, a woman with a business plan.
A woman in love. No, she refused to call it love. Like, maybe. Lust, yeah. Love?
No way.
Rebecca sighed. She just had to wait a few more days before she’d get to see Jake again.
Without going crazy.
* * * *
“Barker? It’s Jake.” Jake sat back in his leather chair and stretched out his long legs. For now, the stack of paperwork on his desk sat untouched.
“Yeah, boss. I’m assuming it was quiet the rest of the evening.”
“Nothing happened. About that car.”
“I didn’t see anything on my end. The streets were deserted.”
“It passed by twice going real slow, then turned the corner. I figured it was making the block. Could have been nothing, though,” Jake said.
“Could have been someone looking for an address,” Barker offered.
“After midnight?”
“Don’t let your nerves get to you, Jake. Are you going to be there tonight?”
“Yeah, just in case. I feel easier being there.” Just being close to her, but he didn’t say it. Besides, Barker knew him inside and out, so there was no need to say it.
“I’ll keep up the watch on my shift, too. If you see anything that needs my immediate attention, change and call me ASAP.”
“You got it.”
“And boss, don’t get all heroic on me. I don’t want your furry ass shot up, you hear?” Barker laughed.
“Me either. It would be hard to explain to Mom.”
“Yeah, she’d really be pissed. So if you get shot, you tell her, not me.”
Jake laughed. “Hey, I forgot to tell you. Rebecca’s coming to the house on Sunday for dinner.”
“That’s great. I’m glad she changed her mind.”
“Me, too.” Jake signed in relief.
“It’ll sure make your mom happy.”
“Yes, it will. She’s so excited about the baby.”
“I’m happy for you too, boss. So when’s the wedding?”
“As soon as I tell her about the legacy, you catch her for speeding in her attempt to get as far away from me as possible, and then drag her back kicking and screaming.” Jake gave a rueful laugh.
“If she’s your lifemate, she won’t run.”
“Sure. Thanks for keeping an eye out.”
“No problem. I’m here to protect and serve.” Jake could almost see Barker’s loose salute.
“See you on Sunday?”
“I’ll be there, same as always.” Barker hung up.
Jake sat forward, hung up the phone, and picked up a stack of invoices. Bringing up a spreadsheet on the computer, he started filling in the numbers.
* * * *
The wolf sat guard all night, but there was nothing to take notice of, or to report to Barker. The cruiser passed the house several times without stopping.
Earlier in the evening, the wolf enjoyed just listening to her moving around in the small cottage, doing all the things she did at home and caring for her baby.
Mostly, he thought of her sitting in the glider, nursing Ben. She was a great mother. He was proud of her. Strong, independent and resourceful. Just the kind of woman to handle a wolf like him.
Dawn’s first fingers painted the sky with her colors. The wolf rose, shook the dew out of his fur, jumped over the fence, and trotted away.
* * * *
“You’re in late. Or is it early?” Caroline McCallan asked her son.
“I was on guard duty at Rebecca’s.”
“That accident with the truck’s really got you worried, hasn’t it?”
“It may be nothing, but Barker and I think it’s better to be safe.”
“Good thinking.”
“Now,” he groaned. “I have to get breakfast, clean up, and go to work.”
“Go get cleaned up and I’ll fix the breakfast this morning since I’m up so early,” she said.
“Great. Hey, why are you up so early? I hope you weren’t worrying about me?”
“No. Just having a hard time turning my brain off.” She shrugged as she opened the refrigerator to take out some eggs and sausage.
“Is this about Rebecca and the baby?” He paused in the doorway.
“No. It’s not. I told you, don’t worry about it.” She gave him a big smile. Jake nodded, knowing he’d get nothing out of her that she didn’t want to give, and headed upstairs to his rooms.
Jake shut the door behind him, stripped off his clothes, and dropped them into a hamper in his closet. Being at the mill wasn’t dirty, but if you were down on the floor of the mill for too long fine particles of sawdust covered you. Even though all of the machines had large vacuums to suck up the sawdust, some of it still escaped and floated in the air, ready to attach onto anything.
Naked, Jack entered the bathroom, turned on the shower, waited for the water to heat to the right temperature, and stepped in. The steam felt wonderful, relaxing tight muscles, soothing his aches. He lathered his body and washed away all the previous day’s sweat, sawdust, and dirt.
He didn’t realize how tense he’d been since this whole thing with Rebecca started. On edge. Ready to act. Constantly holding his wolf in check. A small animal whine escaped his clenched lips as the bar of soap slid over his body, lathering his belly, the soapy foam following the wet trail of dark hair from his navel to the curls at the base of his shaft. His hand slipped lower to cup his heavy balls as he leaned back against the cool tile.
Jake closed his eyes; his other hand gathered his semi-erect cock and gave it a slow stroke. Locking his knees to keep from falling, he moaned as he fell into the practiced routine of jerking off. Before it had been a timely release of building tension, but now, it was to stave off the hunger. His wolf’s mating hunger.
“Rebecca,” he whispered. Her green eyes, her hair, and those kiss-me lips floated behind the lids of his closed eyes. Her full, milk-engorged breasts, nipples erect, made him crazy. How could that be such a turn-on? He’d wanted to take her nipples in his mouth and suckle. Everything about her turned him on.
He imagined her rounded fuck-me hips as she begged him to hold on tight w
hile she took him for a ride. Jake’s hips moved with the ever-increasing speed of his thrusts, his hand working his cock, bringing him off. His balls tightened and his back arched as he reached the wall and hung there, waiting, needing to explode. Christ, would he ever come?
“Rebecca!” His shout echoed off the tiles as he lost it, his hand wringing every drop of creamy seed from him.
Panting, his head hung as his shoulders took the brunt of the still-hot water. As Jake raised his head, resolve etching his face, blood pounding in his veins, he knew with deadly certainly that he’d kill to protect her.
A voice, sane and human, cut through the blood haze, asking, even if it was your own brother?
Jake rested his head on his arm as he leaned against the shower glass and prayed. Dear God, don’t make me choose. Don’t let it come to that.
Shutting off the water, he shook his head, the droplets flying, then stepped out and wrapped a towel around his waist. Leaning against the counter, he prepared to shave. Jake looked at his face and frowned. His blood-shot eyes said he was dog-tired.
After shaving, he brushed his teeth and then dressed. Checking his calendar on the laptop sitting on a small desk in a connecting study, he was relieved to see his schedule was clear all day. He shut it down and slipped it into his backpack.
Promising himself a Saturday afternoon off, he came down the back stairs to the kitchen and his breakfast.
“The eggs are scrambled,” she said. “And I added cheese.”
“Sounds delicious, Mom,” Jake assured her. He was starving. It was like that for him after sex, even a jack-off session. He needed to refuel, needed protein to feed the wolf. The more meat the better.
“Sausage is on the table already, so help yourself.”
Jake speared four sausage patties, a large spoonful of eggs, dashed some Tabasco sauce over everything, and began to eat. His mother sat down, took some eggs and a single patty, and joined him. After wolfing down the food, Jake jumped up to fill a glass with orange juice and then downed half of it as he stood there.
“I’ve got to run. I’m going to take the afternoon off if nothing comes up.”
“That’s great. I didn’t want to mention it, but it looks like you could use some rest.” She smiled.
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