Page 51

Seven months later

Adam was glad Sierra had come to work for the Portland Police Bureau seven months ago as their part-time sketch artist and still had time to teach art lessons to the kids a couple of days a week and adults in the pack at night, mainly because she was so good at her job and she seemed to love doing both.

He d had a ball when he had gone to her first adult art class where she d showed them how to create photoshopped artwork and was teaching them about perspective, lighting, and shadows.

Most of her class had been made up of bachelor males vying to win her attention, even though she was still seeing an out-of-state wolf who used to work with her in the army.

Adam had been trying to learn about art from her, but he was truly smitten with her—the way she smiled at her students and the way she tirelessly showed them over and over again how to create a simple picture using clip art and different layering techniques, laughing at some of their sillier comments and questions.

She appeared to enjoy teaching them as much as they enjoyed getting to know her better.

But now it was back to the grind for him.

Since he had to investigate the case of a stolen rental car from the airport and Sierra had to catch a flight, he was on his way to her house to give her a lift, which worked out well for both of them.

Though the reason she was flying out of Portland bothered him.

She was still seeing her boyfriend in Texas, and he sure wished he could convince her that she didn t want to leave the pack.

To be honest, Adam didn t want the boyfriend to join them here either.

On the way over to her place, Adam got a call on Bluetooth from Sierra s brother, Brad. He suspected Brad hoped Adam could convince Sierra she didn t want to leave for Texas today or any other day. Not that Adam had told Brad he was taking her to the airport. What s up, Brad?

You should tell Sierra you re taking the boat out the weekend she gets back. We ll go with you. Ask Josh and Brooke and my sister-in-law, Dorinda, to come too, and maybe Sierra won t think it s anything more than a family and friends get-together.

Adam chuckled. I ve asked her before, and she said no.

Yeah, but right after she has seen her boyfriend, she s more willing to go out. I think she feels everyone understands she s with him so none of the bachelors make a move on her.

I ll ask. Adam was certain she would decline the invitation again.

Okay, I ll keep working on her at this end.

Adam laughed.

It s hard for Sierra to deal with change all at once. Retiring from the army, then moving here, she s having a hard time letting go of the last tie she has there. But he s not good for her.

Adam didn t know if that was really true or if Brad just wanted his sister to live close by.

Okay, I ll ask.

All right, good. And be sure and take another art class of hers. The more we can convince her that everyone needs her to stay here, the better.

Adam smiled. I am. She put them on hold to take a trip back to Texas, but I m on the list for her next one coming up. He didn t think he d ever really be able to do anything art-related that was newsworthy, but he was having fun taking the classes because she was teaching them. Talk to you later.

Adam dropped by the coffee shop and picked up a chocolate-caramel-hazelnut coffee for Sierra—her favorite.

He d gotten into the habit of getting it for her at work once she d teased him about drinking boring coffee and he had learned that was her favorite.

Of course his former partner, Josh Wilding, had told him it was obvious Adam was making a play for her.

After Sierra had drawn the police sketch of the man who had tried to rob from her hotel room, the police had also rounded up three staff members at three other hotels who had given the robbers access to the rooms. Sierra identified Dover Manning in a police lineup, though the robber denied he d ever seen her before.

Because he d been armed with a gun and threatened her with it, even though she was a wolf at the time, he was charged with first-degree robbery.

During the trial and his testimony, he had stated that he d been protecting himself from a vicious guard dog.

Of course no one—hotel staff, cleaning crew, or police officers—had seen any sign of a guard dog so Dover Manning was looking at twenty years in prison.

Adam arrived at Sierra s one-story brick home with flowers filling its flower beds and planters.

He hadn t realized she was quite the little gardener, never having been to her place before.

While he was getting out of the Hummer, she came out of the house carrying two bags and he loaded them in the back of the vehicle.

Thanks, Adam. Sierra pushed a loose red curl behind her ear—the rest of her curly hair held in a chignon, a few wisps of tendrils framing her face—and climbed into the passenger seat.

He sure wished he could change her mind about going back to Texas so he could date her. He couldn t imagine successfully being in a long-distance relationship like that. And the fact that she d left the boyfriend behind had to say something about their relationship.

No problem. I had to be at the airport anyway, he said.

Her eyes were a clear blue like her brother s and were spellbinding.

She was petite but when she tussled with her brother as wolves, she was more than aggressive, and Adam would love to play with her like that. Did you get everything you needed?

She checked her purse. Yeah, I ve got my ID.

We re good. Last year, I was behind a woman at the check-in counter at the airport who had forgotten her ID.

She said she would never get back to the airport on time if she went home to get it.

She was in tears when she left. I always remember that whenever I have a flight scheduled and check to make sure I have my ID on me.

I don t blame you. I bet the woman was upset.

Sierra took a deep breath of the aroma of the coffee and eyed the cup sitting in the console for her.

Ohmigod, I can t believe you got my favorite coffee before I go on my trip.

Sierra smiled at him. You are my hero. She sipped some of the coffee and sighed.

You sure know how to help me unstress in a big way.

He smiled at her and drove in the direction of the airport. In a subtle way, he kept hoping he could convince her she didn t need to return to Texas to see the boyfriend ever again.

He was glad he had convinced Sierra to work with them at the police bureau.

He loved watching her work on witness sketches.

She always had such good rapport with everyone at the bureau and with witnesses she worked with.

And with the pack members too. She was fun to be around at pack functions, but she avoided going out with any male wolf alone that could signal she was dating someone other than the out-of-state-wolf.

He didn t think she would say yes to a boat outing, but since Brad had spoken to him about it, he had to ask. Again. Hey, I was going to take the boat out the weekend after you return from your vacation and—

She gave him a look that said he was pushing his luck.

He smiled. It would be with your brother, his mate, and his sister-in-law. And Josh and Brooke will come too.

I ll see how I feel when I get back.

He figured that was a no.

Ever since she d moved in with the pack, Adam had been interested in her but disappointed she was still seeing another wolf.

He d hoped once she began working for the bureau as a sketch artist and teaching art to the kids in the pack, who adored her, she would realize her home was truly here with the pack, her brother, and his mate.

Even though Adam was an alpha wolf and would love to try to change her mind about dating the other guy, he just didn t feel right about it.

He considered himself one of the good guys.

Stealing another wolf s potential mate wasn t something he was interested in doing.

He supposed it had to do with that happening to him when he was a younger wolf in love with a she-wolf.

A wolf passing through had convinced her to leave the pack and go away with him.

Adam figured the woman he d been dating wasn t as interested in him as he d been in her, but he wouldn t do that to another wolf.

I ll see if my brother can pick me up at the airport when I return. Sierra was wringing her hands and appeared to be uncomfortable about something. Flying? Seeing the boyfriend?

He hoped she was having second thoughts about returning to see the guy.

Sure. Adam didn t offer to pick her up. He could be in the middle of an important criminal case when she returned for all he knew and wouldn t be able to spare the time.

He didn t want to dig deeper into the feelings he had about her.

The fact that she was seeing someone as a possible mate—that she wasn t free for him to pursue.

If he had been seeing her, he would have damn well made sure he could pick her up from the airport. Criminal case or no.

He wasn t the only one who didn t want her flying out to see the boyfriend in Texas. Even her brother had told her several times she needed to give the guy up. Adam suspected Brad knew who he was, but he wouldn t tell anyone his name. Neither would she.

If she was that interested in him, wouldn t she have mentioned him by name at some time or another and let on how much she cared for him? Maybe she wouldn t share her feelings with the guys, but why not with the she-wolves in the pack?

He got a call from his dad and answered on Bluetooth.

Hey, are we still on for fishing this weekend? his dad asked.

Adam and his dad were close, and whenever he had a chance, Adam tried to run down to fish with him at the pack leaders ranch or they would go out on the boat.

Since his dad was a retired police officer, he was working security for the pack leaders ranch now.

So was Adam s mother, who had met Adam s father on the police force.

His mother would undoubtedly be going on a shopping trip in town with some of her lady friends when he and his dad went fishing.

I sure am, Dad.

Hey, about Sierra…

I m taking her to the airport. Adam had to warn his dad she was in the Hummer before his dad said something that would get Adam into trouble.

She s off to see her boyfriend. Why did she always have to go to see the boyfriend?

Adam wanted to tell the boyfriend it was his turn to make the effort and come see her.

He should have checked out the pack to see that Sierra was fine living here with them. Did he at least pay for her airfare?

Oh, hey, Sierra, have a great time. I ve got to run, his dad said.

Thanks. Sierra frowned at Adam.

See you and Mom Saturday, Dad. Then Adam ended the call.

Hell. He shouldn t have mentioned on their last fishing date how he wished Sierra would call it quits with the boyfriend.

His dad had instantly believed Adam had the hots for her and had started in on how Adam should change Sierra s mind about leaving town to see the guy.

No matter how many times Adam told him there wasn t a lick of truth to it—because he didn t want his dad slipping up like this in front of Sierra—his dad knew him too well and didn t believe him.

In reality, a bunch of hungry bachelor male wolves would jump at the chance to date her if she wasn t still seeing the guy.

She looked over at Adam. What about me? What was your dad going to say before you cut him off?

Great. He would have to tell his dad not to mention anything more about this. I have no idea, but I wanted him to know you were with me.