Chapter Nine #2
“Can we call them over again? It’s kind of fun, the four of us.”
“Already called them. Go shower. You smell like wolf,” he teased. “I’m gonna get everything started.”
He was flipping the sausages on the griddle when she came into the kitchen, her hair damp and her eyes bright.
“What do you want me to do?”
“How about if you man the meat?” He angled his chin to the bacon that was sizzling too. “I’m on potatoes and eggs.”
Because he couldn’t help himself, he leaned down and kissed her neck, the area he’d reclaimed. Technically, he’d claimed every inch of her last night, and the wolf inside of him was so pleased over that.
While he considered her their mate, so did Isaac, but there was the niggling fear that the wolf would go crazy and decide she wasn’t enough.
That she should be wolf along with them.
He hoped the beast would watch Penny’s suffering soon and realize it wasn’t worth it.
He hoped the beast would realize their mate would have to die to become a wolf.
And the human part of her might not return.
“I loved last night,” she said shyly.
He pulled her to him, nuzzled her neck again before kissing her lips lightly.
“I loved it too.”
“Hey, lovebirds,” Penny called out as she opened the front door he’d left unlocked. He couldn’t relinquish the key she’d loaned him, but it seemed a moot point since Caitlin was only using the cabin a few more weeks.
Noah pulled his phone out of his pocket, texted something, and then tossed it onto the top of the fridge. “Joaquin’s whining. Can’t handle tequila.”
“Misty drank him under the table again?”
Noah grinned. “My sister can handle tequila.”
Penny had moved over to Caitlin and they were whispering while she helped her with the sausage and bacon.
Noah winked. Both women had forgotten shifters could hear whispers much easier than humans could. Caitlin was excitedly telling Penny how wonderful their night had ended.
“Isaac managed to cover up Rhett’s mark, huh?” Noah said casually from across the kitchen.
Caitlin’s mouth dropped open.
Penny laughed. “Ack! We forgot about that shifter hearing. They heard everything.”
“Everything?” Cait looked at him, eyes wide.
Isaac knew his smile was smug. She’d rated her orgasms—plural. A fifteen on a scale of one to ten. “Yeah.”
Noah pounded him on the back. “Let’s eat, stud. You’re probably hungry.”
After breakfast, while the girls sat on the front porch in the matching rocking chairs and whispered together, Isaac turned toward Noah.
“Do you think you can help me with something?”
Noah raised his dark blond brows. “Of course, man.”
From the tiny hall closet, he pulled out the sliding bolt lock he’d placed there last night. “Help me get this installed.”
“Jesus. Do you think it’s big enough?” Noah’s eyes were wide as he strode out the front door, clicking his SUV to get the back opened. He pulled out his drill.
Isaac looked down at the thick, industrial-sized bar that slid into the metal lock. “Too much?”
Noah glanced over at the sisters huddled together, giggling. He had the mushiest look on his face. “Nah, it’s probably okay. Gonna need one for my place too. Gotta keep my girl safe.”
They got to work, listening to the girls joke with each other.
“Amos texted me,” Noah said softly. “He called the realtor of this place, pretending like he was interested in renting it for the next few weeks. She said she had another person already lined up. Amos knew she would get wary if he asked who.” Noah snorted.
It made Isaac sigh. “Shit. What did he pull?” Because chances were pretty damn good it was a doozy.
Noah snickered. “He literally gasped. Right into the phone. And told her his boyfriend had been planning to surprise him with a stay in the area and he was equal parts disappointed that someone was negotiating for the cabin and excited that it might be his lover.”
Isaac knew his mouth was hanging open. The idiot was a genius. He snapped his mouth shut. “Did she fall for it?”
“Hell yeah. She also grew excited and asked if his boyfriend’s name was Rhett, and when Amos confirmed it and begged her not to say anything, she gushed on and on about what a romantic name that had been back in her day.”
But why the hell would that idiot want to rent the cabin after the sisters?
“Is everyone off work today?”
“Nah, Misty’s at the shop. She’ll get off at three.”
“Let’s have a meeting. I don’t want to worry Cait, and I know Penny won’t like what I have to say. Let me run it past you all and then we’ll bring it up to them, okay?”
“How are we going to tell them we’re having a private meeting?”
He shrugged. “We’ll bring them with us to the pack house, but then leave them downstairs to have sister time.
We won’t be long. An hour or two. But then, when we’re about finished, we’ll have Penny bring Caitlin back here while we discuss Rhett and my plan.
Penny can stay with her until you arrive with Joaquin, he can take first patrol.
If you’re agreeable to my proposal, you bring Penny back here and we explain it to her.
Then when I go to relieve Joaquin, I can tell Caitlin and see if she’s agreeable to being Blackmoor bait. ”