Page 6 of Rejected Nanny Mate (Crystal Creek Wolves #3)

Well, hell. So much for being set in my conviction.

Joe's appearance had scared the life out of me, but it hadn't really been that much of a surprise.

He was an Alpha, and they were notoriously bad about accepting rejection of any kind.

I'd known in the back of my mind that it was a possibility I'd have to face him, but actually having the real man in front of me had been something else altogether.

It turned out that he was just as attractive as he'd always been, and my annoyance with him wasn't enough to make me immune to his charm.

His dark hair was longer; his green eyes, like gems, against his bronze skin.

I still think I would have been able to leave had he not done something totally unexpected and opened up to me.

The vulnerability had been so shocking that I'd been fixed in place, listening to him actually admit some wrongdoing and that he actually needed my help.

Even more surprising was the fact that he appeared to be willing to let me walk away if I declined.

It was totally out of character for any Alpha, let alone one as experienced as Joe.

He wasn't hotheaded like my Alpha, Samson, or slick and manipulative, like Scott.

Instead, Joe was more settled. He could take a joke and had the ability to laugh at himself.

That had been a hard trait to find, especially in older wolves.

It made sense that the oldest member of the alliance would also have the most experience.

I did know that he had a lot of connections and could be ruthless if needed. I knew that he'd been my friend, and briefly more, before we became nothing to each other. And then he showed up, asked me for help, and it'd been impossible to say no to his face.

So that was how I ended up driving the forty-five minutes to Joe's house in the heart of Brokenclaw territory.

The plan to stop by Kiera's and pick up the baby had been squashed when Samson agreed to drop her off.

Apparently, Kiera and Nayeli had thrown together a quick 'new house' survival basket for me, and Samson was tasked with dropping it off and Rose.

That made me smile a little. The mighty Saltfang Alpha, delivery boy, and baby taxi.

Saltfang territory, my home, was the closest to downtown.

Scott's Shadowbay pack lived near the ocean, and Joe's Brokenclaw pack was situated in the more heavily forested hills outside of Crystal Creek.

It was full night by the time I got on the road, and the dark, twisty roads were putting up a good fight against my old car's yellow headlights.

I'd taken the long way, wanting some extra time to think my situation over, and the closer I got to Joe's house, the faster my pulse seemed to beat.

He'd offered to bring me himself, but I'd told him I'd be fine driving.

It was probably a lie, but the last thing I wanted was to be stuck with him on his motorcycle, clinging to his well-muscled body, totally at his mercy.

Actually, that sounded amazing, but in a fantasy sort of way. Not in reality. Still, the idea made something deep in my belly jump.

I knew the house the instant we came upon it.

It was an old farmhouse that had been updated with new windows and roof, painted white, with a large wrap-around porch and patio that overlooked the backyard and adjoining forest. There was a huge glass greenhouse to the side, and a long gravel driveway that looped around the back of the property.

The moon was almost full and lit the way, and a few stars twinkled behind wisps of clouds.

Joe had left the porchlight on for me, but as soon as I pulled in the driveway, he came out, like he'd been waiting for me. That thought made my stomach flutter, but I shoved the feeling aside.

“Need help bringing anything in?” he asked.

“No,” I shouldered my duffle bag. “We can get everything else in the morning. Is the baby here yet?”

He shook his head. “Samson is a few minutes behind you. Come in. I'll, uh, give you the tour. And show you your room.”

Joe stepped back so I could go in, and the screen door swung shut behind me. The house had a nice, warm, and welcoming feeling, with a pleasant mix of woodsy scents, fresh flowers, and clean linens.

“I had a cleaning service come by today and give the place a top-to-bottom,” Joe said, watching me.

“Oh?” That surprised me for some reason.

“I wanted things to be clean for Rose. I'm a pretty neat guy, but you know. First time dad, and all.”

That made me both sad and happy at the same time. Sad that this had all been laid at his feet so suddenly, and happy that he was taking it as seriously as he was.

I took some time to look around Joe's house, noting the large, open kitchen and living area. He showed me around, pointing out a study with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and an ornate wooden desk in front of a window that overlooked the greenhouse.

“You've got quite the setup here,” I said.

“Yeah, the house was a good find. I bought the greenhouse, too.

Sometimes people sell their old greenhouses and shit because they want to build a brand-new one, and that's the best time to buy them.

They're not cheap, but since I own the plant shop, it makes sense.” Joe paused before laughing, voice low. “I'm rambling, aren't I?”

“A little,” I strode into the study and looked around anyway.

If I'd had any doubt Joe was serious about his garden shop, his house would have put those doubts to bed.

Anywhere there was room for a decorative plant, he had one.

Some vined, long and leafy, while others looked like miniature trees.

I could feel Joe hovering behind me as I plucked a book off the shelf and leafed through it.

“That's okay, though. If I were a double agent from the Saltfang pack, here to steal all your pack secrets, you'd be playing right into my hand.”

He huffed in amusement. “If you're looking for secrets, you're going to be sorely disappointed.”

I turned to face him, and he was closer than I expected. I inhaled sharply, a spark passing between us, just as undeniable as it had been before. I wanted him, and Joe was at least attracted to me a little, if nothing else. He'd told me no, but the chemistry between us couldn't be ignored.

The air felt thick, and my chest was heavy, making it difficult to breathe. I realized he was struggling to keep his eyes on my face. They flicked down to the book I was holding and back up.

“How do you know the house is secure enough? For the baby, I mean,” I blurted out, trying to break the tension.

“I have a good security system. Plus, as you know, I'm a werewolf.”

His tone was deadpan, but his eyes couldn't hide his interest. Joe took a single step towards me, and I didn't retreat, but then the fragile thing between us shattered when we heard the front door open.

“Hello?” Samson yelled. “I have your baby.”

Joe closed his eyes and chuckled, shaking his head like he was trying to clear cobwebs from it, “I guess it's time for you to meet my Rosie. Come on.”

He didn't give me time to argue or change my mind, just grabbed the book from my hand and tossed it back onto the shelf, motioning for me to follow him. I did, body still thrumming from the energy between us. What had that been about?

My thoughts of Joe and how close he'd been to touching me retreated as soon as I saw the baby carrier Samson held.

I couldn't even see Rose yet, just a fuzzy pink blanket that was draped over the front of the carrier, but I could hear the soft noises she was making, and I suddenly wanted nothing else in the world but to hold her.

Samson and Joe might have been saying something to me, but I didn't hear them. I made a beeline for the carrier, carefully taking it from Samson's hands and setting it on the dining room table. The second the baby was within sight, I was smitten.

Rose had dark, curly hair and a round, chubby face.

She blinked up at me and smiled, waving a pudgy arm and reaching her hand toward me.

Grinning, I unbuckled her and scooped her out.

She didn't fuss or cry; instead, she snuggled against my chest and reached a hand toward my mouth, her tiny fingers brushing across my lips.

“Hello, little princess,” I murmured, kissing the tips of her fingers.

“Gwen, Joe said, his voice suspiciously thick, “this is Rose Longwood.”

“Hello, sweet Rose,” I replied, rocking her gently. “It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Gwen, and we're going to be best friends in no time.”

I expected that my emotions would be more complicated.

After all, Rose was the daughter of the only man I'd ever really been interested in, the daughter he had with another woman.

But I'd underestimated myself. There wasn't an ounce of hesitation in me when it came to Rose.

I adored her from the moment I first saw her.

I was vaguely aware of Samson and Joe talking, but I was too wrapped up in the precious bundle in my arms. We played peek-a-boo, and she laughed, her voice like bells, and my heart swelled until it felt like it might burst.

When Samson was done talking with Joe, he came to me, speaking low.

“I appreciate what you're doing for our ally, Gwen. I also want you to know that if anything happens that you're uncomfortable with, you can tell me or Kiera, and it will be handled in an instant. You're still my wolf, even if you're living with a Brokenclaw. You understand?”

“I'm not worried about Joe,” I assured him, surprising myself.

“I'm not either, but you're under my protection either way.”

“Thank you, Alpha,” I said, genuinely touched. Joe had given us space, but I could feel his eyes boring into me.

“The girls sent you over some things,” he said, heading towards the door. “I left it all in the kitchen.”