Chapter 12
“Mom.” Skylar hugged her, struggling to hold back the tears welling in her eyes. “What are you doing here? Where’s Dad?”
“He’s out in the garage. You know how he is about getting the suitcases out of the car. The world might stop if the car isn’t emptied properly.” Her mom pulled out of her embrace and smiled at the good-looking stranger standing in her kitchen.
“Oh Mom, sorry, this is, um, this is Rafe. Rafe Beaumont. He’s a, um…” Skylar stumbled over her words, teeming with excitement and embarrassment. Mom wasn’t born yesterday and could detect a lie a mile away. “A friend.”
“A friend? Really?” A broad smile broke across her face. “In a robe?”
“We, uh, we were going to use the hot tub,” she lied.
“I see.” Her mom’s eyes painted over Rafe.
Skylar’s heart raced as Rafe set his cup on the counter and approached her mom. Rugged with tousled hair, he looked sexier than ever. She bit her lip, shoving her carnal thoughts to the back of her mind.
“Hello, ma’am. I’m Rafe. Rafe Beaumont. It’s an honor to meet you.”
Skylar gave a small laugh as he extended his hand, and her mom grabbed him into a big bear hug.
“Hello Rafe.” Smiling, she released him with a few pats to his bicep. “Aren’t you a strong one? Arms like a concrete wall. Big guy too. You need to tell me your workout routine.” She turned and winked at Skylar.
“We’re just friends, mom.” Skylar inwardly cringed.
“Of course, dear. Come, let’s have a glass of wine. We brought some back with us. I can’t wait to tell you about the trip to Europe. Dad got the brie you like.”
“Mom. It’s not even lunchtime yet.”
“I’m on another time zone. Besides it’s five o’clock somewhere.”
Her mom was a force of nature. Guilt wove through her as she watched her usher Rafe into the kitchen. The sexy six-foot-five Alpha wolf didn’t stand a chance against her five-foot-three mom. In a few hours, she’d lure him into dancing to Frank Sinatra.
What was I thinking? Recalling their night together, Skylar remembered their pact. Just friends. It was a lie, but it had to be the truth. There was no other way for them to move forward. Rafe did not belong to her. He’d soon become wolf again and he’d find his mate. And I’m not it.
Pain bloomed in her chest spreading throughout her body.
One taste of him last night, and she’d gone to places she’d never dared to go with a man.
They healed each other’s souls, and he’d rocked her world.
But last night was over. Today he’d leave, go on to live his best life, in a pack, with family. As Alpha.
Friends. That meant she’d have to watch him long for another woman one day. She’d be the friend invited to their parties, to the celebrations for their birthdays and the birth of their children. And no matter how much she yearned for him, he’d never look back.
For all those reasons and a million more, she had to let him go. Catching raging out of control feelings and mind-blowing sex was all that would come from this situation. Friends was as good as it was ever going to get.
At some point she’d be forced to put distance between them. One less call. One less text. A forgotten birthday. And soon years would go by, and she’d no longer think of him. Skylar told herself she’d get through it. She’d been heartbroken a few times and survived.
“Hey Mom. Rafe’s got to get going. A friend is coming to pick him up soon.”
“I always have time for a glass of wine,” Rafe told her. “Did you see what she brought from Portugal? Quinta de la Rosa? Nice.”
“You’ve been?” Skylar asked.
“Yes, I lived in Lisbon for a year and later moved to Lagos. It’s beautiful, isn’t it? Where did you go, Mrs. Hem—”
“Oh come now, call me Patty.” Her cheeks flushed red.
“May I help you open the wine?” Rafe offered.
“You may help me open two bottles. After that flight, I’m thinking we need a backup. Thank God the deli was open. I’m starving.”
“I like the way you think Mrs…Patty.” Rafe nodded and set to work.
Skylar watched Rafe laugh with her mom, and her stomach dropped. The man could charm a nun on the way to church and surely charmed her mom too. He was almost perfect. Almost. No, no, no, he couldn’t be good at this too.
Skylar considered if she had a reason not to like Rafe it might get her through her impending heartbreak. Anger was better than tears. Her only hope remained that her dad would be so difficult that Rafe would consider himself lucky to have dodged a bullet. He’d leave and never speak to her again.
She sighed, her rumination broken by the sound of her dad’s voice. “Where’s my blue Sky?”
“Daddy!” Skylar fell into his burly arms. Stubborn as a mule, her protective father hadn’t been happy about her leaving for New Orleans.
“How’s my girl? I hope you’re going to stay for a while this time.”
Skylar smiled as she saw his classic discerning look wash over his face. The interrogation would proceed quickly and surely scare off the wolf.
“And who is your friend?”
“Rafe. This is my dad. Dad. Rafe Beaumont.”
“Hello sir. Mister Hemlock. Excellent choice of wine you and your beautiful wife have brought back from Portugal.” Rafe extended his hand.
“Thank you.” Her father shook it with a nod. “Nice grip there. You can tell a lot about a man by his handshake. Last guy she brought home noodled me.”
“Dad. Dave was well…he was…”
“A wuss. Big wuss. This guy here.” He released Rafe’s hand and pointed at him. “Strong grip. Has a glass of wine ready by the time I’m done with the bags. Let’s just say I’m feeling good about this.” Her dad accepted the glass from Rafe, sipped and exhaled loudly. “Ahh. What a trip.”
“You guys didn’t have to cut your trip short just for me.”
“Your father was worried about the birds.”
“I thought you had a sitter.”
Rafe smiled and raised a questioning eyebrow at her as he handed her a glass of wine. “Birds?” he mouthed.
“Ravens. Crows.”
“That’s right. I’ve got a couple of ravens. Crows too. I put the mealworms out. Sometimes a few croissant pieces if your mom doesn’t catch me.”
“Dad’s always had a murder,” Skylar told him. “They have babies. Sometimes the juveniles stay.”
“We’d been out of the country for over a month. When you said you were back in Washington, of course we were coming home. It was fate.” He glanced out the window. “Did you see any whales today?”
“I haven’t been down there yet.” Skylar glanced at Rafe who shot her a devilish smile that wasn’t meant for her parents. But as always, her sharp-as-a-tack mom caught the brief interchange and raised a knowing eyebrow at her.
“Would you like this on the table?” Rafe pointed to a charcuterie tray.
“Thank you, Rafe. So polite, Sky. Where did you say you met?”
“It’s just one of those things…” Skylar smiled and looked to Rafe who’d made quick work of transferring the food as well as the bottles to the kitchen table. He held out a seat for her and she slid into it, acutely aware of the heat of his body as he pressed her chair gently into the table.
“I love crows,” Rafe commented. “They’re integral to the ecosystem.”
“Right on. See, Patty. I’m not the only one obsessed with my crows. Where did you say you met?”
“Well. We met in a bar.” Skylar bit her lip, hedging. “I dropped my credit card. Rafe found it for me.”
“We danced,” Rafe added. “A waltz.”
“So yeah. Later, we, uh, we ran into each other again. Just a neighbor meeting neighbor kind of thing.”
“Neighbors, huh? Were you raised in New Orleans?”
“I was born in New Orleans, but I’ve spent most of my time in Wyoming,” Rafe replied.
“Yellowstone is beautiful,” her dad said.
“I kept warning him to stay away from the bison.” Patty laughed and sipped her wine. She patted her husband’s arm. “Aw, honey. I’m glad to be home.”
“I think we might have another crow sitter to help us out,” he replied.
“Oh, now how do you know that?”
“I can tell another bird lover when I see one.” Her dad nodded at Rafe.
“Well it’s true I’m cool with the crows and ravens, but I’m afraid I’m going to be away myself for a little bit. Taking a trip. But I tell ya what, sir—”
“Don’t sir me. Please call me Neil.”
Rafe winked at her, sending her pulse racing. Her daddy, who never liked any guy on a good day, had just told him to call him Neil. Ugh! What is happening?
“Neil,” Rafe broke eye contact with Skylar and addressed her dad.
“I’ll give you my number and if I can make it work, I’d be happy to watch them for you.
I can always use the fresh air of the Pacific Northwest. Who knows?
Maybe I’ll bump into Skylar again. It does seem we’ve made a habit out if it. ”
Skylar gave a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, the stabbing pains tightening around her heart. I don’t want to give him up.
Patty gestured to the food on the table, which hadn’t been touched. “Please. Eat.”
Skylar’s stomach growled as she reached for a cracker and sliced off a slab of brie. Breakfast of champions.
“Did you say you’re going on a trip? Where’re ya headed, if you don’t mind me askin’?” Neil loaded his plate with grapes and salami.
“I was planning on riding my motorcycle across country. Maybe doing a little camping in Yellowstone before I head up to Canada. Banff.”
“Sounds like an amazing trip. You much of an outdoorsman?”
Skylar stopped chewing as she heard the question and looked up at Rafe.
“You could say I spend a lot of time outdoors. It’s where I’m most at peace. Running with my pa—”
“Paths. Running on paths.” Skylar interrupted, finishing his sentence. “He’s a big runner.”
Ding. Dong. Skylar’s eyes widened as the sound of the doorbell rang throughout the house.
“Are you expecting someone?” her mom asked.
Skylar’s heart raced as she glanced at Rafe.
“No, no. We aren’t expecting any packages, are we?”
“No.” Neil shook his head and reached for the crackers.
“I’ll get it.” Skylar jumped to her feet and ran to the door.
“Slow down, honey. They’ll wait,” she heard her mom say.
Skylar reached for the doorknob, but Rafe’s strong fingers covered hers.
“Let me open it,” he offered.