Page 27

Story: The Wolf of My Eye

“That’s good. I guess you met Maisie’s sister, Anne?”Edeen took down the last picture in an exam room, and they carried them out to the lobby.

“Aye. She seems really nice. I had a great dinner with them. Are you going to have lunch at the castle and watch Lachlan spar tomorrow?” Robert asked.

“I wouldn’t miss it. I’m going to be there to make sure that Lachlan doesn’t get too caught up in the fight and forget you’re just in training.”

Robert loved how his sister was always looking after him, just like he did with her. “I’m sure he’ll be really easy on me, or Colleen would have words with him since she needs me to deliver her babies. If you get to the castle before me for lunch, save Maisie and me seats together, will you? She was supposed to go there by herself and be working with Conan, but because she has a sprained ankle, I’m picking her up and taking her.”

“Good, and I sure will. She and I, and probably Colleen, if she’s not too uncomfortable, will watch you spar then.”

He really wished he wouldn’t have an audience, though he knew it was inevitable. “Of course.” Everyone would want to know how the newest male member of the clan could sword fight.

“Oh, I realized that I haven’t invited the sisters to the wedding. I need to do that.” Edeen set the picture she had removed on the floor next to the others.

“I’m sure they would love to come,” Robert said.

“I’ll be sure to invite them then. So…how is it going between you and Maisie?” his sister asked.

After the kiss they shared? No way was he going to pursueany other she-wolf unless things didn’t work out between them. “Great. We just sync on so many levels.”

“Like Lachlan and me.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, and in disastrous situations, she’s a gem. She was eager to rescue a wolf in need—that’s me—and a dog giving birth. She’s a rugged individual with a heart of gold.”

“I knew you liked her the way you were all in with wanting to do more things with her.”

“On another note, I’m worried that she might have a stalker situation with her ex.”

“No. Did you tell Grant and Colleen?”

“Yeah, on the way home, I called them to let them know.” Then he told her about them finding the driver’s license in the garden.

“Hmm, that all sounds mysterious. Keep me posted on it.”

“I will.”

Edeen glanced around at the walls. “They look so barren now. I hope Maisie takes some photos that will go up soon.”

“I have three weeks before I’m open, so I’m sure they’ll be done by then.”

Edeen gave Robert a hug. “Well, it’s so nice of you to hire her for some photography work.” She looked at the pictures leaning against the wall. “Do you want to put them in one of my storage buildings until we can find a new home for them?”

He smiled. “Yeah, that would be great.”

“You’ve had a wild day of it. I’m sure you want to get some rest. I definitely need to. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Thanks. It has been that.” Ever since Maisie had come into his life. He hugged his sister, then left the clinic with her, carrying the photos to her storage building.

Then he returned home, and Mittens greeted him, purring while winding her body around his legs. “Time for bed, little one.” Robert took a shower before he went to bed. All he could think of was snuggling with Maisie on Eilean Tioram by the campfire with Lady. He smiled. He was sure their date at Heather’s shop would be uneventful and really nice. But before that, he would enjoy having lunch with her up at Farraige Castle and hope he didn’t look too inept while he sparred with Lachlan.

***

The next morning, Robert was up early, still unpacking his stuff at the house—though twice when he went to break down a box, he found Mittens had climbed into one and curled up to sleep—and needing to get everything ready for the open house party that weekend. Chef was eager to make the food for the celebration, and Robert was happy to let him be in charge of the whole thing.

Robert called Colleen to check on her after breakfast. “Hey, how are you doing?” he asked when she answered. He hoped he wasn’t making a nuisance of himself, checking on her and Heather all the time, but they were both first-time mothers and he didn’t want to miss delivering them or learning if either of them was having any kind of distress. Both Heather and Colleen were alphas and tended to believe they could handle things on their own.

“I’m good. I’ve just been having those false labor pains. No big deal. They’ve been going on for the last week, but just on and off, you know. Nothing steady or long-term,” Colleen said.

“Okay, well, let me know if anything changes as soon as it does.” He thought she sounded fine.