Page 1 of Wolfish Desire (Billionaires of Wolfe Mountain #2)

KINGSTON

The trees glide past the car windows as I drive along, enjoying the birdsong. The air conditioning would keep me cooler, but I like keeping the windows open, my bent arm stuck out into the late afternoon sunlight.

Long walks and drives are the best way for me to brainstorm. Even though right now I’m brainstorming about…well, what to brainstorm about.

Our company is growing at a ridiculous rate. We can’t seem to slow down. And one of the largest problems is where to distribute all the profits. (Yes, I understand the huge privilege of having such a problem.)

My truck jolts a bit on the uneven road that skirts the edge of Pinesley.

Nobody from Old Hemlock Valley even likes to drive through that town if they can avoid it: it’s gone to hell lately.

A lot of drug dealers have chosen it as their homebase, which in turn attracts all kinds of other criminal elements.

Oh – maybe that’s it. Maybe cleaning up the town is a project we can help with.

Before I can fully explore the idea in my mind, I automatically ease off the gas as I approach the entrance to a hiking trail just outside of town.

In the small parking lot, I spot a young woman loading something into the trunk of an old silver car. I also spot two guys jumping out of a rusty old pickup right beside her. From the way the dust around their truck hasn’t even settled yet, they must have just this minute seen her and stopped.

There’s a prickle at the back of my neck, the kind people get around Pinesley. I tap the brakes, then pull into the end of the lot. By the time I’ve jumped out, the men are approaching the woman as she fumbles with her keys.

The taller man looks her up and down, a lecherous look in his eyes. “Hey, little lady. Leavin’ so soon?”

As I walk up to them, she turns to me—

Oh my God…Those eyes. One glance at her is like taking a punch to the solar plexus. The air in my lungs feels too thin.

Soul-stirring dark blue eyes. Cinnamon brown hair. And plush, rose lips that make every muscle in my body desperate to reach for her.

She blinks at me, then looks back at the other two guys like a deer caught in headlights.

As I take a few steps to the side, I see that one of them is wearing a beer logo t-shirt with what could be chili stains down the front. The other guy’s shirt has a vulgar joke on it that no lady should be reading.

I clear my throat, fixing them in place with a look. “Is there a problem here?”

They turn to me with casual sneers, then the taller one’s face falls as he elbows the other. “Shit, that’s—”

His friend nods, his eyes wide. “Dammit – let’s go.” They race back to their truck, taking off with a screech in a plume of gravel dust.

I carefully stay several feet back from the woman, since she still looks a bit unnerved. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” She jams the key in the lock a couple of times while jiggling the handle. On the third try, the door finally creaks open. “Ugh, this thing’s on its last legs.”

She stares in the direction of the cloud of dust from the truck. “Why did they just run off as if they’d just seen a bear?”

I chuckle, extending my hand. “Not a bear. A Wolfe with an e. Kingston Wolfe.”

“Sierra.” She tosses a small backpack into the passenger seat. “Wait – Wolfe like this mountain?”

“Well, my whole family, not just me personally.”

“I see.” Sierra flashes a smile that lights up every single part of me. “Thanks for chasing those guys away. They looked seriously creepy.”

“Yeah.” I shake my head. “Not that I’m trying to tell you what to do or anything, but it might be a good idea for a nice young lady like you to avoid Pinesley. It’s not a great town.”

She arches a perfect eyebrow. “I’m a nice young lady?”

“Please forgive me for making a huge assumption.”

We laugh together, then she slips into the driver’s seat. “Sorry, this thing has to warm up before I drive.”

Sierra tries a couple of times, but the ignition refuses to catch.

She pauses, staring at the steering wheel as if counting to ten.

Then she breathes deeply, gives the key a jiggle, and gives it another shot.

There’s a sad whining noise followed by silence, except for the breeze picking up around us.

I hate the way her shoulders slump, and her breath turns shaky.

“Hey, it’s all right,” I say gently. “I’m not going to just leave you out here. I was on my way to Old Hemlock Valley, but I can take you anywhere you need.”

My heart swells as her beautiful deep blue eyes look up at me. “Really? I’m staying there too – well, on the edge of it.” She looks around the otherwise deserted lot. “Do you think it’s safe to leave my car here?”

“I can have someone come get it within an hour. Would that be okay?”

“Oh! Wow. Yes, thank you.”

I pull out my phone, take a screenshot of my location, then text it before making a call.

“Dirty Brothers Auto. How may I help you?”

“Hey, Walker. Just sent you a map pin to a dead car just outside Pinesley. Sounds like the starter is toast, and the door locks are sketchy.”

There’s a low chuckle. “Speaking of sketchy, what the heck are you doing out there?”

“Assisting a lovely young lady named Sierra. We’ll take the main road back to town and flag you down with the keys, okay?”

“On my way.”

“Thanks, man.” I disconnect, then hold out my hand to help Sierra to her feet. “Shall we?”

As her palm settles into mine, I’m struck with… I don’t know that I have words for it.

That wonderful feeling when you’ve been coding for ten hours, then run everything through the checker and it works on the first try.

That first flicker of sunrise when you’re up stupid early for a flight to somewhere exciting.

The first mind-blowing bite of Mom’s garlic mashed potatoes at Christmas dinner.

So many perfect, joy-inducing moments in my life, and yet with one simple touch, every other memory will forever be compared to this one.

Does Sierra feel the connection too? Maybe. Her fair cheeks are faintly pink as she straightens up. She turns for a second to lean in and grab her backpack, giving me a mouth-watering glimpse of her perfectly rounded hips and ass.

The woman is so sexy that I have to swallow hard before I can even speak. “Since we don’t know how long it will take to fix your car, let’s take everything you might need.”

“Okay, sure.” She pops open the trunk and I load several plastic tubs into the back seat of my truck, along with a duffle bag.

Once we’re driving, I look over to see Sierra staring at my hands on the wheel. “What – are my nails dirty?”

This time she blushes hard.

I burst out laughing, slowing down so I can examine her eyes properly. “Please tell me you were checking for a wedding ring.”

Her eyes snap shut.

I want to grab her knee. Touch her inner thigh. Or at least hold her hand again.

Instead, I reach over and trail my fingertips along her inner wrist. “No need to be embarrassed. It’s a reasonable thing to wonder about. For the record, I’m single, and I’m going to ask you out to dinner once I get you and your stuff safely home.”

Her eyes open again, burning into mine. “And you know what? I’m going to say yes.”