Page 47 of Wild Wolf

“Close call. Youokay?”

Jordan clutched his shirt. “Yeah. I forgot for a minute how to summonclothing.”

“Need help?” He smoothed back a lock of herhair.

Maybe. What if she couldn’t do it? Jordan’s mind went blank. Giving a breathless laugh, she shook her head. “Give me aminute.”

After handing back his shirt, she closed her eyes, hoping this time it would work. Jordan waved a hand, forcing the magick to surge, imagining herself in clothing suitable for hiking in theoutdoors.

Wind brushed against her bare skin. Wasn’tworking.

“Jordan,” his deep voicesaid.

“A minute,” she snapped.Oh please, let it work thistime.

When she opened her eyes, she was clad in jeans, a mulberry sweater and hikingboots.

Her lower lip wobbled. “Sometimes I feel so empty. It’s hard for me to concentrate on themagick.”

Nolan gathered her into his arms, passion gone from his expression, replaced with concern. “What’s wrong, pixie? Talk tome.”

Jordan shook her head and buried her head against his shoulder. “Nothing. Just holdme.”

For a moment, he did as she tensed against him, wishing she had the nerve to finally confide inhim.

It was Nolan who finally pulled away. “Let’sgo.”

From gentle to terse, rugged alpha. The switch bewildered her. Jordan shrugged again to hide herfeelings.

I can survive on my own. I don’t need you or anyoneelse.

Maybe if she kept telling herself that, she’d start believingit.

As promised,Nolan took her to a restaurant for a late breakfast. As she ate, he sipped tea and watchedher.

Jordan chased a bit of sausage around her plate with her fork. “Tell me about the vineyard, Nolan. What kind of problems are you facing with thisfungus?”

He sat back against the booth. “None yet. Managed to fend it off by pruning. Bigger problem is the Harlowpack.”

“You can try pruningthem.”

Snorting, he set down his tea cup. “Negotiation’s more likeit.”

“Tellme.”

Nolan rubbed the back of his neck. “Never mind that. I need to stop at one of our wine stores. It’s a small store in Dillsboro for the tourists who ride the train there in the summer and fall. Red PorchWines.”

“Must I go withyou?”

Expression blank, Nolan nodded. “Yes.”

“Can’t you send someone else? That’s out of ourway.”

Nolan’s caramel gaze darkened. “No. Store’s run by Hetty, a longtime employee. Need to convince her to reduce her hours. She took a nasty spill lastweek.”

“Oh.” Jordan wondered about the myriad of problems Nolan juggled. “Anything I can helpwith?”

Nolan gestured for the check. “Nothing for you to worryabout.”