Page 9 of Wolfish Desire (Billionaires of Wolfe Mountain #2)

KINGSTON

I’ve lived here all my life, and I don’t think I’ve ever taken a date downtown – certainly not to Fran’s Diner, in front of all the sweet old ladies who love to know everyone’s business.

Yet here I am, splitting an extra side order of onion rings with the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met, while at least two dozen people are sneaking peeks at us.

Sierra casually looks around, then grins at me. “Is the entire town always interested in who you’re having lunch with?”

“No. But I’ve never been here before with a girl. I guess it’s big news.”

Her lovely eyes grow wide. “Big as in bad? I mean, are people going to gossip about you or something?”

“No more than usual.” I shrug. “When you’re a Wolfe, it kinda…comes with the territory.”

When we finish, I signal for the server to put the bill, plus a healthy tip, on my tab. Then Sierra and I wander over Tidy’s Department Store.

“Are you looking for anything in particular?” she asks as we browse. “Do you need anything for the house?”

“Not really. I just like spending money here whenever I’m in town.”

Her face lights up. “That’s so sweet!”

“I think of it more as being a good citizen.”

I take her hand, and she laughs. “My version of that was always paying double at lemonade stands. And buying too many boxes of cookies when kids were selling them door-to-door at the old house.” Her happy expression suddenly clouds.

“They don’t come to your new house? Is it not near a school?”

She sighs, shaking her head. “No. It’s blocked by security gates.”

“Ahh. Bummer.”

Sierra’s eyes roll dramatically. “His highness and the two princesses must always be completely safe. As if the alarm system and safety glass wasn’t enough.”

I squeeze her hand gently, giving her a little twirl right there in the candle aisle. “Let’s not be too hasty. Now that I have you, I’m starting to understand the overprotective vibe.”

She twirls again, this time spinning right up against my chest. “Oh, you have me, do you?”

“I hope so.”

Her perfect pink rosebud lips tip into a smirk. “What does that mean to you, exactly?”

I hold her close, kissing across the top of her forehead. “It means you’re my girlfriend. We’re together.” My lips graze the tip of her nose. “Which also means you have me, of course.”

“You don’t think it’s incredibly fast for stuff like that?”

I nod, slipping my hands slowly down her back to cup her perfect ass. “Hell yeah. Crazy fast. But it also feels right, don’t you think?”

Sierra nods slowly. “Yeah. It’s just…” She trails off, biting her lip.

“You don’t trust it yet? I can respect that. Baby, take all the time you need to make any big decisions. Me, I’m just going to operate under the assumption that everything will work out great, and you’re going to realize, hopefully sooner rather than later, that we belong together.”

Holy shit. Did I really just say all that out loud?

I needn’t have worried. The delighted look in Sierra’s eyes tells me she likes the idea.

“So, do we need some candles for our next romantic dinner?” I ask, indicating a display.

“Sure. What kind?”

“Hey, you’re the artistic one. Anything you like.”

She selects some light green tapers and white ceramic holders. I encourage her to get some votives and holders for the bathroom too, or maybe the bedroom.

On the drive back to my house to get her car, Sierra suddenly says, “Tell me something weird that you’ve learned through your work.”

“Hmm… That’s an interesting question.” I drum my fingers on the steering wheel as I think.

“Oh! I know. I was surprised to learn that I’m pretty good at educating potential clients about our technology.

Convincing them that using natural input is safer because it’s organic, and that keeping some of our company low tech isn’t just a quirk, it makes us more stable.

Plus, we need fewer servers. The birds come up with numbers without any extra effort. ”

“I’ll bet some of the top brass at other technology companies don’t actually understand the technology,” she laughs.

“Exactly. They were repeatedly promoted because of their management skills, not their technical expertise.” Reaching out, I squeeze her knee. “Were you always creative?”

She thinks for a second. “I’ve definitely always made things with my hands: baking, crocheting, painting flowerpots. I switched to the natural arrangements because Chloe needed them, plus it was a fun way to make some money on my own.”

I release her knee to turn left into the long driveway, then park beside Sierra’s car.

“I’m not quite sure how to say this…” I get out of the car and walk around to open her door, wrapping my arms snugly around her.

“I know you were hesitant to tell me that you come from a family that’s quite well off.

I really don’t care one way or the other, but now that you’re here, I want you to have a comfortable life doing whatever makes you happy.

If that means taking endless university courses to become the world’s foremost expert in pinecones, great.

If you want to spend the next ten years helping me create a huge vegetable garden, that’s also great.

If you want to work from home and make endless arrangements, I’ll make you a workshop and help you set up shipping. ”

She smiles warmly as she meets my eyes. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

Her cheek rests against my chest. “For not having any expectations or preconceived notions. You have no idea how much that means to me.”

I obviously have some idea, since I feel the relief that flows through her body as we hold each other.

I don’t want Sierra to leave, but I know she needs to get back to her house and have a little time and space.

Though she will just be a ten-minute drive away, I miss her already.

I’m already fantasizing about the day she moves in with me. I feel like that’s going to be the day she’s really and truly mine.