Serving the Wolf's Den (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (6 page)

“You were in no shape to go home by yourself. You were in so much discomfort that I gave you a pain pill. You said you weren’t allergic to anything, but you’re obviously not used to taking more than an aspirin because you went right to sleep. Toby and I both agreed you needed to come home with us where we could keep an eye on you.”

“I’m naked,” she said, lifting her eyes to Max’s.

“Sorry about that, but you were half naked when I picked you up in the bathroom. It seemed easier just to keep you wrapped in the blanket. Your clothes are here when you need them. Besides, your T-shirt smelled like a brewery.”

“I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but this isn’t right. I need to go back to my apartment.”

“How’s your leg feel?”

She tried to move it but found the effort was painful.

“That’s what I thought,” Max said, lifting the blanket to expose her calf. He unwrapped it. “The stitches look good. There’s no infection. You’ll be feeling a lot better in a couple of days.”

“Who taught you to do that?”

“Max is an expert, Maura.” She looked over to see that Toby was now awake and staring at her.

“Toby. You sat by my bed all night, too.”

“You don’t think I was going to leave you alone with Max,” he joked.

Struggling to sit up while still remaining covered by the sheet, she said, “It was kind of you to take care of me. I certainly never meant for this to happen.”

Max rewrapped her leg and pulled down the sheet. “You should have told us you were hurt.”

“I didn’t want to make a big deal about it, Max. I thought I’d be fine.”

“Is that why you didn’t tell me about Frank?” Max continued, his eyes turning from concern to anger.

“Obviously Candy told you what he tried to do. What more is there to say?”

“I could kill the bastard for touching you, hurting you like that, and right under all our noses. I was at the bar and I never saw it. Antoine was not more than fifteen feet away from you and he didn’t see it. Why didn’t you scream?”

“He grabbed me in a way that no one could see what he was doing to me. I thought I could make him stop without causing a scene.”

“Do you really think I care about a scene? Are you really that dense?”

She brought her hand to her mouth to stifle a sob. She knew he would think she was an absolute idiot.

“Max. She’s been through enough. We can talk about this later.”

“You’re right, Toby. I should have gone with my gut and never hired her, but I was selfish,” he said, his voice full of self-incrimination. “I’m the one to blame for what happened to her. It’s my fault and no one else’s.”

She could no longer contain her sobs. Toby picked her up in his arms and held her against him. His arms felt good around her. She rested her head against his chest. She felt her eyes becoming heavy. She knew the sheet had slipped to expose her breasts, but for some reason she didn’t care. All she wanted was to be comforted.

“It’s okay, Maura. Everything’s going to be fine. Max and I will be back in to see you in a little while. We’ll make you some breakfast. Won’t we, Max?”

Toby laid her gently back on the bed and covered her. She kept her eyes closed, waiting for them to leave.

“Take this.” She opened her eyes to see Max holding out a pill and a glass of water. “It’s an antibiotic. I can get you another pain pill if you want it.”

“No, thank you.” She took the glass as Max helped her sit up. When she had swallowed the pill, he put the glass on the table beside the bed. “We’ll be back in a little while.” Toby held the door for him as they left together.

Max was going to fire her. She couldn’t let him do that, but what could she do to stop him? She had to think. However, within minutes, she was sleeping again.

The next time she woke it up, it was because she needed to go the bathroom badly. However, before she could get up, she realized she was not alone in the bed. At her feet was a dog. No, it looked more like a wolf. She gasped, moving her legs away from the animal. The movement caused her calf to throb again, reminding her of the nightmare of the night before.

The animal opened its eyes and looked directly at her. She held her breath, afraid she had startled him. She watched as he stretched and then looked back at her. She couldn’t help but admire the clear blue eyes that fearlessly stared into her own.

He wouldn’t hurt her. She could sense his gentleness even though his appearance left little doubt that he would have no trouble eating her for breakfast if he chose. She shivered even though she wasn’t scared. She longed to touch his silver-gray fur that she knew would be soft. His markings were beautiful.

“Hello, boy,” she said softly, hoping her instincts were right and the animal would respond to the calmness in her voice.

He jumped off the bed and then walked back toward her to rest his head on the side of the mattress, his snout touching her. She smiled and warily brought her hand around to gently stroke his head. She sensed his contentment. His fur was even softer than she had thought. She continued to run her fingers up and down his silky coat.

“You’re beautiful,” she whispered.

Moving slowly, she pulled herself out of the bed and walked even more slowly into the attached bathroom. The wolf was by her side. She shooed him away and closed the door. He might only be an animal, but having him watch her relieve herself wasn’t something she was comfortable doing. She washed her hands and face and found some toothpaste that she ran along her teeth and gums. She heard movement in the other room. She grabbed a towel from the rack and wrapped it around her still-naked body.

When she opened the door, Toby was holding a tray. “There you are.” He put the tray down on the dresser and came over to help her back into bed. “You shouldn’t have done that on your own.”

“I think I’m capable of going to the bathroom by myself.” She smiled. “Besides, I wasn’t alone. Your dog was here watching over me. Where did he go?”

“Bo’s a full-blooded wolf. He pretty much thinks he owns the place.” He smiled, “Oh, and I brought you a T-shirt and boxers. Not what you’re used to, I’m sure, but I thought you might be more comfortable with us if you weren’t naked.”

“You are correct.” She looked around for Bo. “Where did he go?”

“He went down to the kitchen with Max, who’s cleaning up the dishes. Rhonda called to find out how you were doing.”

“I wasn’t going to say anything to Rhonda about this. She’s got enough on her mind without worrying about me.”

“Maura,” Toby said, sitting down beside her on the bed. “If Antoine knows, Rhonda knows. I’m sorry. We’re all so sorry about what happened to you.”

“You have no reason to be sorry. I should have known Frank was a letch.”

“Don’t you dare blame yourself,” Toby said heatedly, no room for argument. “Frank’s the worst kind of asshole.”

She glanced over to the doorway to see Max standing in the middle of it.

“I won’t let anything like that happen again.”

“You’re right about that. You won’t,” Max said, walking to the dresser where he picked up the tray.

Toby helped her under the covers and grabbed the T-shirt he had left on the chair. “Put this on, Maura. We’ll turn away.”

“I don’t think there’s much of me left that you haven’t already seen.”

“Strictly from the doctor and his assistant perspective,” Toby said.

“Oh, so now you think you’re doctors?” She pulled the T-shirt down over her breasts and then pulled the towel from underneath it and tossed it toward the end of the bed.

“I am a doctor, Maura,” Max said, setting the tray down on her lap. Her mouth watered. The scrambled eggs, toast, juice, and coffee reminded her that it had been too long since she had eaten.

“Actually, he’s a surgeon, and a damn fine one. You got yourself some very expensive stitches.” Toby kissed the top of her head as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

His lips were soft. Inadvertently she lifted her face upward, thinking how nice it would be to feel his lips on hers.

“You should eat something, Maura.” Max’s voice cut into her thoughts, bringing with it a blush of embarrassment.

Looking away from Toby, she reminded herself thoughts like that would not help her cause. However, Toby’s reference to Max being a surgeon had finally registered, and now she more than confused than ever. “You don’t mean you’re a real doctor?”

“Yes.”

“Why are you at the Wolf’s Den if you’re a doctor, and why didn’t you say anything before?”

“Let’s just say I needed a break, and the Wolf’s Den provided that break. And,” he continued in answer to her question, “my being a doctor has nothing to do with the Den, and that’s the way I like it.”

“The Wolf’s Den must be just temporary.” Being a doctor wasn’t a job, it was a career, and you didn’t just stop being one unless you lost your license and Toby hadn’t referred to it in the past tense. She wondered what other surprises he had in store for her.

“I’ve been thinking about selling the Den and going back to medicine. I’ve had a few offers worth considering.”

“What about you, Toby? Are you…”

“Medicine was never my thing. This was just part-time for me anyway. I’m an artist.”

“So neither of you really see the Den as your future.” Maura held her breath. “So what happened with Frank isn’t something you’re going to hold against me.” She knew there was no logic in her statement, but if Max were leaving, maybe she had a better chance of staying.

“I’m not holding it against you.” Max sighed. “But it doesn’t mean I think you should go back on the floor either.”

“You said it wasn’t my fault.”

“Toby said it wasn’t your fault.” Max said, looking down at her.

“What he means,” Toby jumped in, “is that he, I mean we, have an idea. We want you to learn to be a bartender. Before you say anything”—he held up his hand—“you’ll still make good tips, and you’ll be behind the bar where there’s some protection against assholes like Frank.”

“It’s that or nothing,” Max finished.

A bartender. She was not nearly as averse to the idea as they might think. The two of them must have been discussing this while she was asleep. She had a feeling this was Toby’s idea, not Max’s. But what did it matter? She could still make the extra money she needed, and like they said, she wouldn’t have to rub up against customers like Frank. Maybe Frank had done her a favor. She immediately thought better of it. Nothing was worth having a man like Frank molest her. She was going to prove to Max that making her a bartender wasn’t a mistake.

“When can I start?”

Max sat down in the chair next to the bed. “When you’re able to walk out of here without limping.”

“I’ve been enough of a burden to the both of you already. I need to go home.”

“If you want to continue to work for me, Maura,” Max said, “then you’ll do as you’re told.”

She knew arguing with Max would not be in her best interest. So she looked into those beautiful blue eyes that were anything but friendly with her most pleasant smile. “Yes, boss,” she said, imitating Antoine.

“I think she’s feeling better, Max.” Toby laughed.

* * * *

For the next few days, Max and Toby played nursemaid along with their dog, Bo. It was obvious they didn’t feel comfortable leaving her alone for long no matter how much she balked at their fluffing her pillows or bringing her meals. They at least allowed her to go to the bathroom herself.

She hated to admit it, but she liked the attention. In fact, she more than liked it. She looked forward to their frequent visits. They taught her how to play Hearts and a few other card games they enjoyed winning. Toby lent her his laptop so she could play games and go on the Internet when they weren’t there to entertain her.

She had even succumbed to Max’s observation that she needed a sponge bath. She knew she should have said absolutely not, but his insistence had been so logical that she had bit her lip, not wanting to insult him by making him think she thought he had ulterior motives. His touch had been so gentle and caring it had taken all her willpower to control her treacherous body that wanted him to wash her completely instead of handing her the washcloth to wash between her legs. She ached for his touch. She couldn’t even look at him when she handed him back the washcloth, praying he couldn’t smell the scent of her need for him.

When he had left her, Bo had walked into the room. She had turned from the animal, wishing he would leave her alone to finish what Max had started. Her body was on fire. However, Bo had sat staring at her. Finally, when she couldn’t take it any longer, she had limped to the bathroom and shut the door. When she came out, he was waiting for her.

“Bo, I love you, but sometimes,” she said, laughing, “a girl needs to be alone.”

She knew he couldn’t understand her, but with a switch of his tail, he padded out of the room but only after she was safely back in bed. There was something a little eerie about Bo. Sometimes he acted more human than any dog she had ever known. But he was a wolf, not actually a dog, so maybe that accounted for his heightened senses.

When he was with her he was either sitting by her bed with his head resting on a body part or curled up next to her. He couldn’t seem to get enough of her petting him, which she usually did until she fell asleep. She had never realized wolves could be so affectionate.