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"What kind of wood is this?" she asked.

"Birch," said Caleb.

She stared at them for a moment and then turned to him. "I really like them. They are beautiful but so natural feeling at the same time."

Caleb’s cheeks heated from her praise. That was the exact reason he’d chosen them. He loved the beautiful grain of birch with the color of a deeper wood.

"I can't believe you guys got them almost all done," said Dakota. "I have to be honest, I'm a bit jealous. Maybe you can help Griffin upgrade ours."

Caleb nodded. "Just tell me when, and I'll be there."

Griffin snorted. "Let's get the baby's room done first."

"Come on," said Dakota. "You boys rest. Makayla and I will set the table and get out the food."

"You don't have to do that," said Caleb.

Dakota brushed him off. "Please. All we did was go to town and pick up a few things. It was you who were working all day."

The women walked into the mudroom and came back with paper plates and plastic utensils. He wanted to help but Dakota pushed him away, so he and Griffin sat on the couch and chatted about basketball season. Even as they chatted, his eyes never left Makayla. A deep emotional turmoil poured off her though she tried to hide it. He knew the signs all too well. The feeling of guilt. Of anger. Of regret. Beneath her fancy clothes and pretty face hid a pain that smelled of bitter herbs.

Caleb was sure that given time and patience she would come to love Wolf River. She would find peace and be able to put her pain and regrets to bed once and for all. She only had to allow herself to give it a chance.

* * *

"What doyou think of Wolf River?" asked Griffin.

Makayla looked up from her salad and glanced around the table. Obviously, Griffin spoke to her.

"It's small. Quiet. No traffic, which is a plus."

Griffin laughed. "I think the last bit of traffic we had was when the lumber truck tipped sideways on the ice, and the wood scattered all over the street."

"Yes, that caused what? A total of three cars to wait to get to the other side of town." A crooked smile graced Caleb’s face.

Makayla’s wolf sat up and took notice. She’d not seen him smile before. It seemed foreign but also… sexy. The way it cocked up one corner of his lips and crinkled his eyes. Her wolf howled at the sight of him. Caleb caught her looking at him, and their eyes connected.

"So, what would you be doing on a Friday night if you were still in LA?" asked Griffin.

Makayla broke her gaze from Caleb. "I usually head out with my friends to hit the clubs. By about two or three we head to a private party at someone's house, and then I get home about five."

Griffin gave Dakota a strange look, then squeezed her hand.

"Do you drink that whole time?" Caleb’s voice held no judgment, only worry.

"No." Makayla stabbed a piece of lettuce with her fork. "I'm the designated driver. I haven’t had a drink since…"

A look of relief crossed his face. A sweet expression that struck her in the heart. How could someone who didn't even know her care about her well-being and the well-being of a child that wasn't even his? Caleb was an enigma. Even the egg fertilizer of her unborn child hadn't wanted them. But Caleb did somehow.

She swallowed hard and pushed the food around her plate. She didn't deserve him.

She set her fork down. "You know, I'm pretty tired from walking so much today. I think I'm going to head up to bed."

"You’ve eaten hardly anything," Caleb protested.

"I'm not really hungry." She rose from the table and tried to think of something to say. "The cabinets look really nice, Caleb and Griffin. Thank you, Dakota, for taking me into town."

Dakota nodded. "Hopefully, the boys will get the chicken coop together tomorrow, and we can bring over those hens."