Chapter 18 #2
I’m rethinking the whole idea and wish I’d left my bathing suit at home; then I’d have a ready excuse not to get in the water with Rafe, who’s been invading my personal space since we set sail.
Pru, Vreeland, and Rafe have already shed their outer layers, ready to take the plunge, and they’re all waiting for me.
Pru knows me well enough to sense I’m uneasy and turns to her fiancé and Rafe.
“Why don’t you two dive in first. We’ll be along in a minute. ”
“What’s the matter?” she hisses as soon as we hear two splashes off the port side.
“Rafe’s paying way too much attention to me. Gives me the heebie-jeebies.”
“But I thought he was your type!”
“So did I… until tonight,” I whisper. “Don’t worry… it’s just for one evening.”
“Oh no!” Pru’s fangs catch on her bottom lip.
I arch an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“One of Vreeland’s cousins is having surgery next month and can’t be a groomsman, so I encouraged Vreeland to ask Rafe because I thought you liked him. Rafe immediately accepted when he found out you were my maid of honor, and Vreeland sort of promised you’d be paired up together.”
Why do these things always happen to me? Seriously, can’t the hand of fate pick on some other magicless faerie?
I huff out a breath. “It’s… it’s alright—how could you know? Besides, it’s only the rehearsal and the wedding. No problem!”
“And the joint bridal shower too.”
“Okay, so I just need to remind Rafe to keep his hands to himself for three more nights… got it!” I say with more cheer than I’m feeling.
“Sorry,” says Pru, who looks so remorseful I punch her lightly in the arm.
“Lighten up!” I peel off my sarong and top and follow Pru to the railing. “Just don’t leave me in the water alone with him.”
Which is exactly what Pru does ten minutes later, but it’s not her fault.
Vreeland and Rafe were horsing around with an inflatable frisbee, and Rafe’s elbow accidentally poked Vreeland in the mouth.
Vreeland’s lip started bleeding heavily, so Pru followed her fiancé into the boat to get him an icepack.
“Sorry, man!” Rafe calls after them.
Vreeland waves off his apology. “It’s all good, since I won.”
Rafe chortles as he treads water. “I demand a rematch.”
“It’ll have to wait until after the wedding!” says Pru. “I don’t want my groom showing up with a fat lip!”
I start paddling toward the yacht, intent on following Pru and Vreeland, but Rafe intercepts me, his broad, muscular chest bobbing in the water in front of me. “What’s your hurry?”
“Um… I just wanted to check on Vreeland.” I try swimming past Rafe, but he starts circling around me in the water; with every one of my attempts to paddle past him, he shortens the distance between us.
“But the water’s mighty fine this evening,” he murmurs, closing in on me. “And so are you.”
Argh! I grit my teeth at the lame pick-up line; why did I think this guy was attractive for even five seconds?
Rafe’s hands encircle my waist, drawing me toward him, but I smack his shoulder, shoving him away. “Keep your hands to yourself!” I growl low in my throat.
Any super from Riddle Hill would immediately back off, but this lone wolf isn’t taking the hint.
He’s tightened his grip, and I’m piping mad.
I raise my arm, ready to slap him in the face, but Rafe is lightning fast. He catches my wrist, gives me a sly grin, and chuckles softly.
“I enjoy a woman who plays hard to get… After all, I’m a wolf. ”
“I’m not playing anything,” I hiss. “Let me go, or I’ll scream.”
Rafe winks. “Anything you say, darlin’.” He releases me slowly, trailing his fingers down my back.
I hate this guy! And there’s no way I’m going to be able to stomach him for Pru’s wedding. I need to come up with an alternate plan that won’t ruin my friend’s special day… and will ensure Rafe keeps his distance.
I scramble into the boat, grab my bag, and head into the cabin reserved for guests, where I change into light-colored jeans and a lightweight, white hoodie; the air temperature is already dropping as the sun slowly sinks to the horizon.
As I’m wrestling with how to put Rafe in his place, it dawns on me I know a lot more than the average faerie about werewolves. Knowledge is power; let’s see if I can make Rafe as acutely uncomfortable as he’s making me. I rub my hands together as I ascend the steps, ready for a little payback.
We’re sitting at the table mounted to the deck, enjoying the cold chicken dinner Pru packed.
I’m sipping lemonade; Rafe is having a beer, and my vampire friends are drinking tart cherry juice to help manage their cravings for that other red liquid.
Unfortunately, the juice also stains their lips bright red, which is off-putting if you’re not used to it.
I notice Rafe keeps glancing up at them and then quickly looking away.
He also keeps bumping into me, despite the number of times I’ve shifted away from him on the bench seat.
Biding my time, I wait until there’s a lull in the conversation, and then I turn to him. “Remind me again… how long ago did you move to Sturgeon Bay?”
Rafe takes a long swallow before placing his beer can on the table. “It’s been seven weeks.”
“O-oh.” I draw out the syllable. “What do you think of the local pack? Do you like them?”
I can feel Rafe stiffen slightly next to me, but his voice is cool as ever. “How should I know?”
“But aren’t werewolves supposed to check in with the pack alpha soon after they relocate?”
A muscle in Rafe’s jaw tightens. “Some do and some don’t.”
“You mean you don’t have to check in at all?” I bat my eyelashes innocently.
“Only if I feel like it.” Rafe places his hand over mine and squeezes. “I appreciate the concern, but I think I know a bit more about werewolf culture than you do.”
Gah! This guy is so arrogant. Smiling sweetly, I withdraw my hand and reply, “Of course.”
Pru and Vreeland have been watching our exchange with interest, and Vreeland starts to say, “Oh, but Sophie’s—”
Pru knocks into her glass of cherry juice, spilling some on Vreeland’s shirt. “Oh no! I’m so sorry, Vee! Why don’t you go change your shirt, and I’ll soak this one right away so the juice doesn’t leave a stain.”
I arch an eyebrow at Pru to let her know I know what she just did, and I definitely owe her. She’s savvy enough to realize I was probing Rafe for information about his werewolf status, and she figured I wouldn’t want Vreeland mentioning my close ties to the local pack.
“Okay.” Vreeland shrugs, oblivious to his fiancée’s shenanigans, and retreats to his cabin below deck to change.
“Poor guy.” Rafe shakes his head. “He seems kind of accident prone tonight.”
As soon as the boat docks, I thank Vreeland and Pru for a lovely evening, say goodbye to Rafe, and walk briskly toward my car, anxious to get home.
Rafe falls into step beside me, and I smother a sigh. “When can I see you again?”
“I guess the next time will be at Pru and Vreeland’s joint wedding shower.”
Rafe flashes his most charming smile, which might make some women swoon, but it’s not working on me. “You can’t fit me in any sooner?”
“Afraid not,” I reply, trying to sound sincere. “I’m on a really tight deadline to get the bakery ready for its grand opening.”
“Well, if you could use some help…”
“Thanks, but I’m fine. My new employee has turned out to be very helpful.”
“Oh really?” he sounds surprised. “I thought your new employee was giving you trouble.”
Now I could kick myself for oversharing about my personal life when we first met. When will I learn to keep my big mouth shut? “Not at all… it was just a misunderstanding.”
“I’m glad to hear it, but if anything changes, my offer still stands.”
We’ve reached my car, and I want him to leave; I’m dying to be alone. “Your offer?”
“To take care of your employee so thoroughly he won’t bother you ever again.”
A chill ripples down my spine that has nothing to do with the gust of wind tousling my hair. “That won’t be necessary, Rafe.” I open my car door. “Goodnight.”
“Thank you for a provocative evening,” says Rafe as he saunters away.
A provocative evening? I clench my jaw, start my car, and pull away, relief washing over me when I see his retreating form in my rearview mirror.
I check the time; it’s nine-thirty, which means the pack meeting is long since over.
I wonder how Teddy made out? I want to call him to ask but decide against it; Teddy moved out for some reason he can’t or won’t discuss with me…
which is a clear signal about setting boundaries, something I’ve lectured him about a few times.
I’m tempted to call Jake and ask him, but he’s as tight-lipped as a vacuum-sealed Mason jar when it comes to werewolf business.
I cover a yawn with one hand and sigh.
Guess I’ll just have to wait until tomorrow to find out.