by Terry Spear
Nicole loved how everyone did so much for everyone else in the pack. She’d worried when she’d thought someone in the pack had stolen from another pack member or that humans broke in and stole it. She was glad to know that it wasn’t anything of the sort.
“Your secret is safe with me. Silva knows I’m looking for it, which will hopefully give her some peace of mind until the birthday celebration.”
“Yeah, but we want you to come to the party tomorrow afternoon if you can.”
“All right, if I can. I’ve got a case I’m working on, and the Wolff family has been helping out. But I don’t want them to be the only ones watching who I have under surveillance.”
“I understand. Tell Roxie and Kayla to join us if they can too.”
“I sure will. Nice meeting you all.” Nicole said goodbye and walked out of the office.
Kayla looked worried. Nicole smiled. “Come on. The mystery is solved, and you, Roxie, and I are invited to a birthday party. We just need to figure out what to give her.”
Kayla began looking at her phone and showed it to Nicole. “This antique, Bavarian hot chocolate set?” Aqua with gold trim, it was beautiful.
“That works for me,” Nicole said.
“Good. It’s at an antique shop in Green Valley, just a short way from here. I’ll pick it up tomorrow,” Kayla said.
* * *
Blake couldn’t believe how much he missed not having lunch with Nicole. He hoped she and Kayla had a nice lunch at the tea shop and had learned something useful about the missing tea set. Nothing was going on here. Like Nicole had said, the cousin and the two brothers had the same old routine as usual. Clay was either on his laptop or trying to watch the men as surreptitiously as possible.
Then Blake got a call from Nicole, and he was glad to hear her voice.
“Hey, did anything good come of your investigation?”
“You would not believe it. Laurel Silver and her sisters took the tea set to have it restored for Silva’s birthday. She invited your sisters and me to the birthday party they’re having tomorrow.”
Blake laughed. It sounded like the longer Nicole stayed here, the more she was beginning to become part of the community. He hoped she wouldn’t want to leave after all was said and done. Here he’d thought he would have to solicit others to convince her that her work was needed here.
“We’re almost home, but I’m still on for taking a nap,” Nicole said.
“Sounds good to me.”
“We’re here.”
They parked the car, and Blake joined them outside. He couldn’t wait to see Nicole.
She gave him a big hug and kiss, telling him she had missed him too.
Kayla was grinning. “Have a nice nap.” Then she went inside the lodge.
Blake kissed Nicole back. “I need you in my life. No matter what. I want you to know that.”
Nicole smiled up at him. “I think I’ve been missing a lot in mine.”
“You know it.”
She chuckled. “Come on. Let’s head to your place for a much-deserved nap.”
He was ready for it. He was just hoping it meant they’d do a little loving before or after the nap. In the two months they’d had the lodge and house up and running, he’d never believed he’d be having his potential mate in his bedroom, enjoying a nap and whatever else he could get away with.
Once they were inside the house, he chased her up the stairs, and she squealed in surprise and fun. In the hallway above, he caught her up in his arms, feeling like he was truly claiming her, and she laughed.
“I should have let you catch me earlier and you could have carried me all the way to your room.”
He chuckled. “Next time.” He carried her into his room and set her on the carpeted floor next to his bed, the blue covers matching the blue curtains. He pulled the bedcovers aside, and with urgency, he began stripping off her clothes.
“Not just a nap, eh?” She was tugging at his clothes to remove them just as fast: gloves, hat, scarf, ski jacket. Then she shoved him to a sitting position on the bed and tackled his snow boots and socks.
“Not on your life. You know where this is headed.” At least he damn well hoped so.
“So you think,” she teased.
He leaped to his feet and then sat her on the bed. He removed her boots and socks, then slid her ski pants down her legs. “I know so.” Even if he didn’t.
At one time, he’d thought his old girlfriend, Susie, and he were going to be mated wolves, but once he’d talked about moving, that was the end of that. She had been a lone wolf, and the family needed to be with a pack. It was perfect here for them in Silver Town, and family meant everything to him. Staying in Vermont with Susie hadn’t been an option. Which meant she hadn’t really been the right wolf for him.
He realized that even though Nicole wasn’t from here either and she hadn’t said she’d move here to be with him, he felt so much differently about her. So connected, not wanting to lose her. If he had to give up his family to move to Denver, it would be hard, but losing her would be unbearable. Unless she really didn’t want to be with him in the long run, like he wanted to be with her.
Already he was fully aroused, and when he yanked off his sweater, Nicole’s eyes were centered on his bare chest, raking it with her hot gaze before she smiled at him and then sighed. She pulled off her sweater. “How did I get so lucky to find such a beautiful specimen of a wolf?”
He pulled off his ski pants. “I was thinking the same thing about you.”
It was amazing how invigorated he felt, even though they’d been up so much last night. But being with her, alone and eager for some loving, he felt the adrenaline rush, his pheromones ratcheting up a few notches to sing with hers.
He leaned over to unfasten her bra, and she licked his nipple. He groaned. He was ready to burst. He removed her bra and panties, and she climbed into bed and stretched out on her back like a wolf waiting for a belly rub.
He ditched his boxer briefs and joined her. Her darkened gaze met and held his, her lips turning up fractionally. “I told you that you wouldn’t want to just sleep.” Her voice was sexy and tantalizing.
“You either,” he said, his voice already heavy with lust. Then he moved in to kiss her, to touch her soft skin all over.
His erection ached for her touch, but he knew if she began to stroke him, he wouldn’t last. He licked her nipples, kissing her breasts with fervent desire, and slid his hand down her belly, ready to move forward with the foreplay, conscious of her need to return to the lodge to do her job after they napped.
He was glad she wasn’t such a workaholic that she couldn’t spare the time to be alone with him. It made him all the more determined to help her with her mission and get on with the courting business.
His fingers swept through her curly hairs, and he found her nub, engorged, ready for his strokes. He started to stroke her clit, his mouth tackling hers with a passionate kiss. She ran her fingers through his hair, her nails lightly raking his scalp, her touch sending a spark of need straight to his groin.
Her body was tense with need, and her mouth kissed him ravenously back. That heightened his rampant craving for her all over again.
He inserted a finger between her feminine folds before stroking her even harder when she cried out his name. He smiled at her, surprised she had come so soon. But then she was pushing him onto his back, climbing on top of him, her legs spread across his thighs, and seizing the moment. She began stroking him, her smile bright, her gaze shuttered. Her pink feminine lips were spread to his view, a beautiful sight.
It didn’t take long before he exploded, his world splintering into a million pieces of ecstasy. “Holy hell, Nicole. I’m keeping you.”
She chuckled and rolled off him so he could get cleaned up. “I’ll be right back,” he said, but he meant what he’d said.
&nb
sp; When he returned to bed, she had pulled the covers over her, but she was still awake, waiting for him. He loved her for it. He joined her under the covers, and this time, he spooned her, his hand lazily caressing her breast. He would never get enough of touching her.
After pressing kisses on the top of her head, they both finally truly had a nap.
* * *
By the time Nicole and Blake had napped, kissed, and dressed, then left the house, it was snowing and the wind was blowing hard. “Will they be closing down the ski lifts again?” Nicole asked.
“Yeah. If the winds are gusting this high down here, it’ll be worse up on top of the mountain.”
“Avalanches could be a threat too.”
“Yeah, with high westerly winds and significant snowfall and with it being midwinter, avalanches can break deeper, enough to bury people. It can happen due to natural causes, or they can be triggered. We’ve got ski patrols out checking the conditions before they open the lifts in the morning. The patrols trigger avalanches with explosions to alleviate the trouble. But if the snow comes down too fast while the lifts are running, that’s when we can have real trouble. Even in December, we had an avalanche caused by snowboarders. Luckily, no one was killed, but we had search and rescue out looking for buried skiers. It also helps that we are all gifted with a heightened ability to smell, just like avalanche rescue dogs. A lot of the Silver Town wolf pack members were out doing search and rescue.”
“I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Yeah, and because of the incredible snowfall, we were just packed with skiers the day after it happened.”
“You’d think people would be afraid to come up here after that had just happened.”
“No, they were eager to get out in all that powdery snow.”
By the time Nicole and Blake reached the lodge, they were wearing a layer of snow and shook it off before they went inside.
Rosco came running over to greet them, licking Nicole first. Blake smiled. “He’s found a friend in you.”
“He’s so sweet.” She rubbed his head.
Frowning, Landon waved for them to come to the registration desk.
Blake was afraid it was some kind of trouble.
“There’s a guy called Nate here, looking for his sister, Nicole. He’s a wolf, but since you didn’t tell us he was coming, I was suspicious.”
“Nate’s here?” Nicole sounded horrified.
Blake and Landon exchanged looks. Blake recalled that she had said he was an Army Ranger. He hoped he wouldn’t be angry that Blake and his sister were spending a lot of time together.
“He’s in the restaurant. Your parents told him you were here. I told him you were keeping her safe, Blake. I think he’s worried about her and wanting to check you out.”
Nicole shook her head and took Blake’s hand. “Come on. I need to straighten my brother out. I love you, you know, and I’m not giving you up for anything.”
Blake was in heaven. “I knew it!” He lifted her off her feet, hugging her tight to his breast, and swung her around, so elated, he could barely think straight. “You are the only one for me. I love you right back.”
Chapter 16
Nicole couldn’t believe her brother would track her down at the ski lodge. Once Nate left the army, she had planned to get together with him. She hadn’t thought he had that much terminal leave left.
She sure didn’t want him to know she was sleeping with one of the owners of the lodge and cause all kinds of trouble for Blake or the rest of his family.
Her brother was as tall as Blake, six feet, just as muscled, just as much of a wolf. He was wearing a blue ski jacket and ski pants, and she swore he looked like he’d come here just to ski. He loved it as much as she did. Maybe that was why he’d come here. Not to check up on her but to take a mini-vacation while she was working and maybe even back her up on her job.
She and Blake walked toward the table where Nate was chowing down on a hefty rib-eye steak, potatoes, gravy, and green beans. That was his kind of meal.
“Hey, Nate,” she said. “I thought you had another week or two before you left the service.”
Nate gave her a big smile. “I had extra terminal leave.” He rose to his full height and gave her a big hug. “Mom says you’re working on a dangerous case and I needed to provide you with backup. I got my PI license. I can join your agency.” He glanced at Blake.
“This is Blake Wolff. He is part owner of the lodge and restaurant. He and his family, his two sisters and brother, have been helping me with my work.”
“Much obliged,” Nate said, offering his hand to Blake.
Blake shook it. “The missing PI is now working on the case, so if you were concerned he’d vanished, don’t be.”
“Larry?” Nick asked, frowning.
“Uh, no, he went home sick with high-altitude issues. Clay was the one first assigned to the case, and the insurance company thought he had run afoul of the suspects. But he was just working a higher-paying case,” Nicole said.
“He sounds like an ass.”
Nicole smiled. She and her brother often saw things the same way. “Sit and eat your meal before it gets cold.”
Nate sat back down. “I figured I’d stay with you and get some skiing in and help you with your case.”
“Stay with me in my room?” Normally, Nicole would have been fine with it. But not now. Not when she wanted to stay with Blake and work with his sister.
“Uh, yeah. Like we normally would?” Nate put his silverware down and eyed Blake. “Is there something I should know? I thought we would be going into business together, Nicole.”
“Yes, we will. I’m excited about it. But I’ve got a roommate already.”
Nate glanced at Blake again.
“Blake’s sister Roxie is in my room whenever the men are settling down at night or getting up in the morning, and she’s monitoring the security videos. The Wolff family set me up in the room adjoining the suspects. But at night? Blake’s got my back.”
Nate’s gaze shifted again to Blake.
Blake shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “What can I say? She kissed me in the lobby before I even knew her name.”
Nate’s jaw dropped.
“I knew I was in love.” Blake smiled at Nicole and wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close.
Nate was on his feet in an instant, and Nicole shoved her hand at her brother’s chest. “Cool it.”
Nate laughed. And pulled her in for a hug. “I hope you feel the same way about him,” he said with a growly voice. “I’d hate to hear you were leading him on. My own sister.”
She laughed. “Well, I hadn’t exactly planned it this way, but yeah, we’re good for each other, and”—she looked up at Blake, knowing he was the one wolf for her—“I love him.”
Nate shook Blake’s hand. “Well, you did something right. My sister is particular about the guys she dates. Real particular, so if she’s kissing you when you don’t even know her name, she must have seen something in you.” Nate sat back down to eat his lunch.
Nicole knew Nate was all show, that he had realized at once she saw something special in Blake.
Nicole and Blake sat down with him this time.
“Okay,” Nate said, cutting off a piece of steak, “am I still joining you in the business?”
“Absolutely. I guess the choice we have is we can work here, set up shop in Silver Town if the Silver wolf pack is fine with it, or we can split our forces and you work out of Denver and I’ll work here. I have to tell you Silver Town is run by our kind.”
Nate raised his brows. “You’re kidding.”
“Nope. The whole town.”
“What do we have to do to get accepted around here?” Nate asked.
“Nicole found a family’s missing cat.” Blake reached over to rub her back. �
�Jake’s one of the subleaders. Nicole’s definitely got an in. Not to mention she’s becoming one of our family, and we’re members of the Silver Town wolf pack. They don’t have any private investigators in town. And Nicole’s already solved another mystery, a missing tea set at a tea shop in town. If the pack accepts Nicole, I’m sure they would accept you too.”
Nate cut up some of his steak. “I need to talk to Mom and Dad first. They might want me to stay around Denver.”
“We can always work out something where we have two offices.” Nicole was excited about the prospect of really mating Blake and staying here with the Silver pack and the Wolff family. “Yours in Denver, and mine here.”
“You really don’t need me to help you here on your case?” Nate asked.
“No. You can go skiing and have some fun. I’m sure you need a break after leaving the service.”
“And I’ll help you if I can.”
“Yeah, sure, Nate. That’ll work.” Nicole loved her brother, and she knew no amount of encouraging him to just have fun would work. She wondered if he was also eager to show off in front of Blake, just a little.
Kayla came into the restaurant and walked straight to their table. “You have another case, Nicole.” Then she smiled at Nate in an interested she-wolf way. Boy, would the bachelor wolves of Silver Town be upset if one of the Wolff sisters suddenly took up with an out-of-town wolf.
“Uh, Kayla, this is my brother, Nate Grayson, who’s started working in the business with me.”
Kayla blushed.
“Nate, this is Kayla Wolff, Blake’s youngest quadruplet sister. Roxie is the other.”
“How do you do?” Nate hurried to rise from his seat to shake Kayla’s hand. He was usually a fast eater, but he wasn’t getting very far with his meal. But he also looked eager to meet the blushing Kayla.
“What’s the job?” Nicole asked her.
“Our restaurant manager said four cases of beer went missing from the restaurant last night. She said two cases of packaged chips and other snacks were also stolen,” Kayla said. “It sounds like someone had a room party.”
