Wolfish Eyes (Billionaires of Wolfe Mountain #5)

Chapter 1

KELLAN

I’m sick of always coming in last.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m very fortunate. But that's sort of how I feel as I stride down Main Street, nodding and waving to everyone I know plus a ton of others that I don't know, but seem to know me.

The being recognized part comes from being a Wolfe and one of the founders of a global tech company that is growing like crazy.

The coming in last part stems from being the youngest of five brothers. It’s even worse lately – the other four have all recently found incredible girlfriends, meanwhile I'm still alone. I’m truly happy for them, but it leaves me feeling a bit down. I just wish I could meet someone, you know?

No. Not just someone. A woman who is interesting and beautiful and sweet. Who loves this mountain as much as I do.

Problem is, there aren't a lot of single women here in Old Hemlock Valley. Maybe I should start hanging out somewhere larger, like West Stoneburg. Yeah, I should go there for dinner soon. Simple.

Finalizing that decision makes me feel a bit brighter as I walk into Corina's Coffee and—

All my air rushes out in an audible whoosh.

I've only been punched in the chest a couple of times in my life. Only obscenely drunk idiots would take on a guy who’s six foot four and built like, as Grandpa always says, a brick shithouse.

But this literally feels like being punched. Okay, maybe a little softly. But pressure radiates through my chest wall, heart and lungs, and my pulse begins to race. My skin feels overheated.

Who is that?

A beautiful young woman is behind the counter. I don’t get a new employee vibe. Her wavy auburn hair is tied back in a loose ponytail, and she's wearing a dark green t-shirt, not the usual staff golf shirt with the Corina's Coffee logo.

There's a dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose and on her high cheekbones.

I can see them quite sharply, as I somehow suddenly find myself standing directly in front of the counter where she's lifting a pink glazed doughnut and taking a photo of it with a rather impressive looking camera.

I can’t help it. I openly stare, completely entranced as she holds the donut in front of various backgrounds: other donuts, some pastries, the glass cabinet.

Then she sets it on a plate and studies everything around her thoughtfully.

Then her graceful hand darts out to pick up a chocolate cinnamon cruller, and I notice her short, perfect nails with the barest hint of pale pink polish.

She catches my gaze and jumps, her beautiful greenish-blue eyes meeting mine for the first time. The sensation in my chest shifts from a punch to a heaviness. A good kind of heaviness, though. Like adding that unbelievably thick and cozy blanket in the winter.

"I'm sorry," I say gently, not wanting to startle her further with my deep voice. "I just don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone analyze their breakfast so closely."

She smiles, making my attention shift to her full, rose mouth. My God, how I want to nibble at that plush bottom lip.

"Stock photography," she explains with an adorable smile. "Don't worry – I'm not putting back the ones I've touched or anything."

I want to ask her a million questions, but I also don't want to bother her as she returns to her work. I step over to order a coffee from Alice, then turn to ask the girl, "Do you need to photograph any muffins?"

"Yes, actually."

"Great. Pick out the two you want to shoot, and when you’re done, I'll buy them."

She smiles delightedly. "Thanks!"

I lean forward to murmur to Alice, "Please put that and all her other expenses for the day on my tab."

"Sure thing, Kellan."

I take my coffee to a window seat that gives me a great view of the neighborhood.

Oh, who am I kidding – I'm also angled so I can watch the auburn-haired girl work.

I pull out my phone and start checking my email, restricting my glances toward the counter to once every thirty seconds or so. Maybe twenty-five.

It’s interesting. When she’s dealing with people, she’s slightly guarded. Not anxious, just…cautious.

But the minute she lifts her camera, she gets totally zoned out and comfortable.

It’s as if the rest of the world disappears and there’s nothing but the shot in front of her.

Honestly, I admire that level of focus. It comes naturally to some people, but not me.

When I’m coding, it takes several coffees and good headphones to drown out the world.

In a few minutes, she confers with Alice, then comes over with two muffins on a plate. I have to stifle a groan from the sight of her hips as she walks. Such grace. Such casual sexiness. Even with that huge camera strapped around her neck.

"You've worked in a café before, haven't you?” I smile up at her, surprised at how my hands are dying to reach toward her. To pull her into my lap and keep her there while she tells me her whole life story.

Her light laugh is like sunshine dancing. "How could you tell?"

"You remembered the napkins."

She laughs again. "It's all in the details, right?"

I pull the plate closer to the middle of the table, and her eyes widen in delight. "Man hands!"

"Excuse me?"

She smiles again. "Man han – sorry, let me start properly. I'm Jenna. Nice to meet you."

The pressure in my chest softens as I take her hand in mine. Holy shit. This is my person. A strange excitement washes over me as I try to appear calm. "Kellan Wolfe."

"Oh – like the mountain family?"

"One branch of the family tree, yes."

Jenna grins. "I take stock photos for a site. They send me a list of shots they're short on, then I take as many as I can to boost their variety. There’s a high demand for certain types of shots, but clients don't want to be too repetitive."

"Makes sense. I've had to buy stock photos before and thought ‘hey, wait a sec, I recognize that one’."

"Anyway, you have great hands," she continues. "Very masculine, but not too hairy. May I take a bunch of shots of you holding your coffee, the muffin, maybe your phone?"

"Of course."

Oh man. My brothers are going to love hearing how I was a hand model for a hot second. I obey Jenna’s direction as well as I can – tilting, lifting, posing according to her instructions.

Once again, she zones out, totally engrossed in her work. I don't think she even realizes that she's touching my hand, angling my wrist, and getting into my space.

A lesser man would be staring down the front of her t-shirt.

I attempt to be a gentleman and barely glance for a split second.

But I'm already semi-hard just from the sugary sweet scent of her skin as she leans past my nose and pushes the plate away to concentrate on the mug.

If she doesn't back away soon, I might not be able to stand up comfortably.

After a few more minutes, Jenna straightens up, apparently satisfied. Then she blinks in surprise. “Oh – I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to just grab you and arrange you like that."

“No problem. You were focused on your work."

She flashes an adorable grin, sinking into the chair across from me. "I also…I'm not sure how to say this… You're very comfortable for such a big guy. Normally I'd have my guard up around someone like you, you know what I mean?"

"I think so. Yeah. That's nice to know."

Jenna smiles again. “Alice said that you paid for my pastry tab. Thank you for that. It was…a lot."

"You're very welcome."

"I don't make a ton of money from these photos. Just enough to survive, really. So… I hope you'll forgive me for not being able to pay you an official modelling fee?" She looks at me anxiously.

"Don't be silly." My mind is already spinning. "Actually… Are there any other shots with men's hands you need? On a steering wheel, a gearshift, that kind of thing?"

"Wow – yes!"

“What if I take you to lunch in Cedarvale? I need to get a birthday gift for my mom, and she knows all the stores here in town and the stuff in them like the back of her hand. I could really use a woman's opinion. And you can take photos all the way there and back."

She hesitates for a moment, so I add, "You can and ask Alice if I'm a trustworthy guy. Ask anybody. The entire town knows me."

Her shoulders drop a quarter inch. Hopefully that’s a point in my favor.

"Can we be back by four at the latest?"

"For sure." I lean a bit closer, barely resisting the urge to put my hand on her knee. The light right now accents the blue in her eyes. "Why, do you have to work then?"

Her head shakes, sending a tendril of auburn hair swishing across her cheekbone while she flashes a gorgeous smile.

"Nah. I just have to feed a monster."