Wolfish Grin (Billionaires of Wolfe Mountain #4)

Chapter 1

KAI

OMG. Can you say undignified?

There hasn’t been anyone on this back road in a while, so I’ve decided to chance it, but I’ll have to be quick.

I pull off my t-shirt, only partially blocked by my truck on the shoulder of the gravel road, then wriggle out of my jeans while standing first on one shoe, then the other, trying not to get too much dirt on my socks.

Just when I’ve turned to face the forest in nothing but a pair of navy briefs, I hear a vehicle approaching.

Great – caught literally with my pants down. Some poor farmer or lumberjack is about to get a fantastic view of my barely covered ass. Well, too bad. I toss my jeans onto the seat of the truck and keep moving. I’m in a rush.

Balancing myself against the open door, I step my left foot into my suit pants, then the right. I’ve almost got them up to my knees when my chin jerks up to see a surprised face staring at me from the driver’s seat of a large RV.

Holy shit. She's gorgeous.

I stare in disbelief, blinking stupidly, my balance faltering. Then I remember that I only have a few minutes – no time for embarrassment. I yank on my pants, then hastily throw on my dress shirt, buttoning it with clumsy fingers as her window rolls down.

"Are you okay?" she calls out.

"Fine, thank you."

The young woman pulls over to the side of the road just in front of my truck while I quickly button my shirt, knot my tie, and put on my shoes. Then she gets out of the motor home and comes over just as I'm pulling on my jacket.

Damn. She really is stunning. Even though her brown hair is just tied up in a sloppy ponytail, and she's dressed for comfort in baggy jeans, a t-shirt and an oversized green zip-up hoodie, she’s still radiant. Curves for days. My gaze takes in every one, wishing my hands could do the same.

I'm not good at guessing ages, but I’d say she’s in her early twenties. The light in her soft brown eyes sends warmth swirling through the center of my chest. She’s definitely sizing me up, and I hope she realizes that I’m not a threat.

"Most men drop their pants at the side of the road to…well, you know," she laughs. "Not get dressed for a dinner party."

I laugh too. "I just found out I have to do a video presentation in a few minutes," I explain. "I was going to do it while walking through the forest, because the forest is central to our business. And potential clients like seeing the company leaders in business attire, for some reason."

She starts to speak, then jumps at the deafening crack of thunder directly overhead.

The clouds had been building for a while, but the rain is unpredictable on this part of the mountain. "Dammit," I mutter. "I was sure it was going to hold off for another half hour."

She looks around quickly as raindrops begin to fall. Her gaze drops to my open laptop on the seat of my truck. "You can't take that out in the rain. Quick, grab your stuff and get in the RV. I'll open the back window and you'll still have the forest behind you."

"Smart thinking. Thanks."

She's already darting into her vehicle as I pull my shoes on properly, then I grab my phone and laptop and follow her in.

Wow. It's so…homey. Rich wood, warm fabrics. A few pots of herbs in the kitchen window on a shelf with a railing so they can't slide off. A family photo of her as a little girl with a man who must be her father at a huge waterfall.

This isn't just used for camping. It feels like she lives here permanently. I’m not sure why, but that bothers me.

Here, on my part of the mountain, just outside Hemlock Valley, I know she’s fairly safe.

And yet…a sweet young woman traveling all alone?

It makes the center of my shoulder blades prickle, even though she looks quite capable.

She's busy pushing a side panel that opens three feet out of the RV. When she reaches forward, her hoodie falls open and gives me a spectacular glimpse of her stunning cleavage. Then she rolls the window open completely and swivels a table into place. "Voila. Forest backdrop."

I slide onto the bench while flipping my laptop open. As it's booting up, I extend my hand. "Sorry. Kai Wolfe. I really appreciate this."

The sensation of her hand in mine should be businesslike. Yet it feels unbelievably warm. Not just the soft, gentle heat of her skin. It seems like there's some connection on a deeper level I can't comprehend.

Or maybe I'm just lost in her soft, warm, brown eyes.

“Leah Wilson. Is this call confidential? Should I get out of the way?"

I gently squeeze her hand for another half a second before reluctantly releasing it. “Not at all. And it's your home. Please."

She smiles sweetly. “Still… I'll give you some space." Leah walks three steps to what I assume is her bedroom and closes the little door.

As I automatically adjust the camera and connect to my call, I can't stop thinking of her sleeping all alone in such a flimsy structure. Does she have a safe place to park this at night? Is she on her way to a family member's house? Is anyone looking out for her?

Who knew I had such a strong protective streak. It's never popped up before until now.

I turn the laptop a bit more and grab two thick books from the shelf beside me to bring it up a touch higher. The shelf wobbles, so I slide the other books over as a counterbalance. The last thing I want to do is damage something.

Another crack of lightning and peal of thunder shake the air just as three men in dark suits come into view on the screen.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen," I begin. "I was going to start with a walk through the forest on the way to one of our listening stations.

But the unpredictability of the mountain, which works in our favor, also extends to the weather, as you can see.

" I gesture to the rain glancing off the awning.

“On a day like today, the bird listening stations will be recording lower levels.

The sounds of the stream will be louder.

And one of the undisclosed stations will definitely be altered, too. "

I run through the usual spiel of how we use readings from natural inputs around the mountains to create randomized patterns for our security algorithms. Anything produced by a machine could eventually create predictable patterns, which are easier to crack.

Using wind and birdsong and water from listening stations across this area of Wolfe Mountain, there can be no set patterns.

Plus, since the stations are solar powered, they’re a greener solution.

I'm always animated when I give these talks and have been told that my smile sells our business as much as the methodology. People love things that are both high-tech and environmentally responsible. Not to mention, kind of cool.

While I'm speaking, then taking questions at the end, I hope that Leah is listening. My business is part of my identity.

I want her to get to know the man she'll be having dinner with tonight.