Page 19

Chapter Nineteen

After locking the front door, I watched Ryder’s truck disappear down the dark road from the window. As his taillight faded, the lingering warmth on my skin cooled rapidly as I stood there in only my thin robe.

“Typical,” I muttered, letting the curtain fall back into place.

It’s not like I was surprised. Men always had somewhere more important to be. The sex had been utterly mind-blowing, but that urgent howl had shown where his priorities were.

Not that it mattered.

This wasn’t the beginning of anything.

It was fun.

I made my way back to the bedroom, combing my fingers through my tangled hair. The sheets still smelled like him — woodsy with a hint of spice and fresh like leaves after a gentle spring shower. I collapsed onto the mattress, pulling the covers up to my chin to push away the chill that was settling in the room.

It was only ever going to be one night. I knew that.

I’d sworn off relationships months ago. Men had consistently proven themselves untrustworthy, selfish, or just plain disappointing. It wasn’t like Ryder Black, with his mysterious pack business and middle-of-the-night departure, was going to be the exception that changed my mind.

Surely he felt the same way about me. So what if his touch had set my body on fire in ways I’d never experienced? So what if that connection had felt like something deeper than just physical attraction? It didn’t change anything. I was still leaving Birchwood Hollow once my car was fixed.

He had his life here, and I still had to find a way to escape mine. And as it turned out, living in the country wasn’t the answer I’d hoped it would be.

Sleep finally took over, and when I woke, bright sunlight streamed in between the closed curtains. For the first time since moving here, I’d slept soundly through what had been left of the night. No howling, no wolves on my porch, no creepy sensations of being watched. Just peaceful, dreamless sleep.

It was 10:47 when I rolled out of bed, stretching my sore muscles as flashes of the night before hit me hard. I smiled, and it didn’t fade as I took a quick shower and got dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.

A knock at the door startled me, and I rushed to the window, swallowing the hope I’d find Ryder’s truck in the driveway. I mean, it wasn’t like… I just… I wouldn’t say no to a little more fun in the bedroom.

It wasn’t Ryder’s truck parked in the driveway, though… it was Courtney’s car. She was standing at the door, holding a closed plastic container.

I check the yard before moving to the door and pulling it open. She bounced slightly when she saw me.

“Morning!” she chirped, clearing her throat as if to calm her bubbly self. “Or well, I guess it’s almost afternoon. Have you had breakfast yet? If not, that’s okay, because I brought you something!”

“Morning,” I said, taking the container she thrust at me.

“It’s a new recipe I’ve been concocting. Lemon, poppyseed, and raspberry pastries with a drizzle of icing. They look pretty, and Mason ate two, but he’s a kid. He’ll eat anything sweet, and I can no longer properly judge my own baking. I need an honest opinion before I attempt to sell them.”

I looked around the yard. “Oh, um, sure. Come on in.”

“Thanks,” she said, looking around. “Sorry, I tend to overthink my recipes. I shouldn’t have just barged in like this. Looks like you’re almost all settled in now, huh?”

“Almost,” I said, setting the container down on the coffee table.

She reached down and popped the lid off. “Please, try one.”

I picked one up and took a small bite, and then another, which had more of the rich, creamy filling. My eyes closed.

“Oh, these are incredible,” I said before taking another bite. “You’re seriously talented. Where do you sell them?”

“Just around the area,” she said, waving a dismissive hand. “It pays the bills. Barely. The lemon isn’t too strong, is it? I could tone it down… do more of the raspberry. Are they too sweet, though?”

I shook my head. “They are perfect. Only wish I had brewed some coffee to go with it. That would have been amazing.”

“Oh! You know what we should do instead?” she said, placing the lid back on the container. “We should go into town for lunch. Get coffee at May’s. Did you say you had breakfast? Well, either way, I bet you haven’t had lunch yet!”

I hesitated, glancing toward the window. “I’m not sure if I…”

Courtney’s eyes narrowed. “What? Of course, you should. It’ll be good to get out of the house, and it’s not that far of a drive into town. You’ll have fun. It’ll be good. I haven’t had lunch yet, although I have had coffee. That’s okay, though, because I can just have a diet soda or something. Probably just water. But then I’m not sure I’ll order the burger?—”

“Fine,” I said, forcing a quick smile. “I’ll go, but my car is?—”

“I’ll drive,” she said, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the door.

I followed Courtney out the door, pausing to lock it behind me. The morning sun was bright, almost harsh after the dimness of the house.

I scanned the tree line, searching the shadows between the pines and birch trees. Part of me half-expected to see a wolf watching from the darkness, but there was nothing but rustling leaves.

“What are you waiting for?” Courtney said, gesturing to the passenger door. “Get in.”

“Right,” I said, sliding into the passenger seat.

I settled against the worn fabric as Courtney started the engine. We pulled away from the house, dust billowing up behind us as she turned onto the country road toward town.

On the drive to May’s Diner, Courtney chatted nonstop about her micro bakery. I nodded along, not understanding most of it because the only thing I could bake was a pre-made pie.

“So, speaking of vehicles… I noticed Ryder Black’s truck in your driveway last night. Pretty late too,” she said, flashing me a quick look, a hint of a smile curling her lips at the ends. “That’s crazy.”

I wasn’t even sure how we’d gotten on the topic of vehicles. “Um, he’s just a friend. He’s helping the mechanic with my whole car situation.”

“Oh, too bad,” she said, shaking her head. “Although I’m not sure what pressing issues would need to be addressed about your car that late at night.”

“It was just an update, and he didn’t have my number,” I said, keeping my eyes forward as visions of what really happened played in my mind as if singing liar, liar, pants on fire. “Guess work finished late. Anyway, the car isn’t fixed, and it’s going to take some time to get the part, I guess.”

“Sure,” she said, pulling into May’s parking lot. “Well, just remember that in Birchwood Hollow, secrets don’t stay secret for long.”

If only she knew about the secrets in this town. Apparently, some were able to keep them very well.

May’s was bustling more than the last time I’d been there. Courtney waved or said hi to almost everyone in the place before we slid into an empty booth.

“You know everyone, huh?” I asked, taking the menu from a waitress who wasn’t Sheila.

“I mean, everyone knows everyone here,” she said, turning to the young waitress who had her hair pulled into a high ponytail. “Can you bring me a diet soda and a coffee for my friend?”

“Sure thing, Court,” she said before pushing up her glasses and moving to the next table to take their order.

I set down the menu, already knowing I was getting the cheeseburger. My eyes moved around the crowded diner until my gaze landed on someone with amber eyes watching me.

Kellan was sitting at the counter alone, his dark hair swept to the side. He wore a black fitted t-shirt that emphasized his muscular build. Unlike our nighttime encounter, he looked almost normal in the daylight — if you ignored the predatory gleam in his eyes as they locked with mine.

Suddenly, it felt hard to breathe.

“Oh, shoot,” Courtney said, pulling her phone out of her purse. “It’s one of my clients. I need to take this. I’ll be right back, okay?”

Before I could respond, she slid out of the booth and hurried toward the door, leaving me alone. I opened the menu again and kept my eyes down, hoping he’d ignore me.

Courtney hadn’t even been gone thirty seconds when someone slid into her seat. I knew without even looking up that it wasn’t Courtney.

I swallowed hard as I looked up. His lips curled into a smile that made my heart pound and the back of my neck prickle with heat.

His voice was smoother than silk. “So we meet again, Miss Everly Montana.”