Sworn to the Wolf (6 page)

“Thank you!” She hugged him and got back on the phone. “Ms. Holt, I can be there with them in about half an hour, will that be all right?”

“Yes. I’ll see you in half an hour then.”

Rain hung up and let out a whoop of joy. “This is crazy! I just gave her that portfolio yesterday. Thank god I put a bra on,” she mumbled and started out into the studio.

Laurent looked back at Harrison and Elton as they went past him into the studio with Rain. They both hugged her, kissing her cheek.

“Congrats, babe. You deserve this. They love your stuff because you’re good. Now be careful this weekend. Laurent, we don’t know you but we love Rain very much and if you harm her in any way it will be very unfortunate for you,” Harrison said sternly and Elton nodded.

Laurent held out his hand to shake theirs. “I make my solemn vow that I would never hurt Rain. Ever. I’m glad she has you two around.”

At that moment Laurent saw her paintings and he stilled. Her work was stacked all around the room and he took it all in slowly, awed.

“This one is
Whirlpool
,” she said, pointing at a painting that was all blues and grays. Something about it drew him in, compelled him to look more. “And this one,” she said, pointing to a larger canvas of silvers, reds, blues and blacks, “is my newest,
Crazy Diamond
. Diane said they wanted to see these two so let’s load them up. Let me get them wrapped for the ride over. Oh and, Harrison, can you please bundle up my paints and brushes and throw in two pads? I am going to work while I’m at Laurent’s. Thanks!”

She put corner protectors on the two canvases destined for The Holt and threw an insulating cover over them to protect them from light and the elements. Laurent grabbed one and she got the other while Elton and Harrison grabbed her duffel and other art supplies.

She hugged them both once again and assured them she’d be fine and then she and Laurent headed toward Pioneer Square.

“Rain, I need to tell you something. It’s really not a big deal and it has nothing to do with anything but I’d hate for you to find out and think I was hiding it from you.”

“Okaaay.”

“Andreas owns half The Holt Gallery. I was considering telling him about your work but I never even got the chance. He doesn’t know anything of it and has nothing to do with the process of selecting artists that they do shows for. I just didn’t want you to hear on some off chance and think I had anything to do with your selection. It’s all you. You’re really good. Your work blows me away.”

“I can’t tell you what it means to me that you understand that I’d want to do this on my own merits. Not that this business isn’t about who you know. It is. That’s how I found out about the call for artists to start with. But knowing this was me and my work means a lot. So thank you for thinking of my feelings. Thanks also for liking my work, it’s so important to me and, well, I’m glad you like it.”

He helped her carry the canvases into The Holt where Diane Holt was waiting for them. “You must be Rain Foster. I’m Diane Holt, pleased to meet you.” She smiled and shook Rain’s hand and then looked to the canvases. “Leave them near the windows. I want to see them in the natural light. Go on then, show me what you’ve got.”

Laurent stood near the doors, letting Rain run her own show. Rain went over to the smaller canvas, uncovering it carefully. Taking a bracing breath, she stood back and hoped like hell her painting did the talking.

Diane walked forward and put a finger to her lips as she examined the painting slowly, methodically. She studied it for about ten minutes, not saying a word the entire time.

“The other one now please.”

Rain did the same thing and stood back. She clenched her fists behind her back, nails digging into her palms to keep calm.

Diane let out a long sigh and looked at Rain silently, head cocked to one side. Suddenly a smile broke out over her face. “Young woman, you have a hell of a lot of talent. You have a bright future ahead of you, especially if I have anything to say about it.”

Relief rushed through her. “Really? Wow. Thank you.”

“You have no idea how much exposure a show here and another at my smaller gallery in Portland can give you. I’d like to offer you a show in six weeks. Your own show. We can work out the details next week. I need to get going and Patrick, my husband, will want to see these canvases for himself. We’ll store them for you, unless you want them back right away?”

“No no, go ahead and take the time you need with them.”

“I’ll be calling you next week to work out the details. As for Portland, I was thinking of doing a show in about six months, which will give you time to produce more work because, my girl, I tell you, I know you’ll sell every single painting you show.”

“Thank you so much for this opportunity.” Unable to hold back a huge grin, Rain shook the other woman’s hand.

* * *

“Two shows, incredible. She clearly believes you to have talent and she’s got quite a bit of power to break new artists from what I understand.” Laurent held her hand as he headed east toward the lodge. His woman was totally amazing.

“I’m stunned and thrilled. I can’t quite believe it just yet.”

“We sort of left off the topic last night. Tell me more about your family. I sense that you haven’t told me the whole story,” he said.

“It’s not that exciting. Nothing I want to talk about.”

The fear in her voice tore at him, shredded his patience. “What are you hiding? You sound afraid when you talk about them. Are you?”

“Let’s just drop it.”

“I’ve been a professional bodyguard for sixteen years, I’m entirely capable of protecting you and me both.”

“
I
said
I didn’t want to talk about it and I don’t. Drop it please,” she said sharply.

“You’re being stubborn! Why won’t you trust me?”

“
Because.
Jesus, I’ve known you for a few days. I can’t talk about it. I don’t want to talk about it. Stop pushing me. Are you telling me that in the few days you’ve known me you’ve told me everything about your life?”

She had him there. He sighed deeply. “I care about you deeply. I want to protect you. You can trust me to do that.”

She turned and faced him then. “Laurent Cole, if you ask me about this one more time I will make you turn this truck around and take me back to Seattle. I. Said. I. Don’t. Want. To. Talk. About. It!”

He scowled, even as he had to admit it was hot when she pushed back. “I’m sorry, I won’t ask about it anymore. For now.”

It was tense for the next hour while she stared out the window, sketching on her pad, leaving him to his mood. Stubborn woman. Laurent’s cell rang and he picked it up, putting the receiver bit over his ear so he could talk without his hands but still have whatever was said to him remain private. “Laurent,” he bit out.

“It’s Phillip. Her DNA came back but her name isn’t Rain Foster, it’s Julia Margoles. She’s got wolves in the family tree though, many of them. She’s compatible. I did wonder why the name change so I checked her out. Laurent, her father is a mob boss. She went on the run a year ago. No one knows where she ended up but according to some of my sources the father has started to look for her recently.”

“Shit.” Laurent cut his eyes to her briefly, she turned to him, alarm on her face.

“Yeah. Are you okay?” Phillip asked.

“As long as she is, yes.”

“She’s right there?”

“Yes.”

“We can talk later. Do you think the first part is good news?”

“Of course, that hasn’t changed. Nothing has.” And it hadn’t, not really. He just had another reason to understand why she’d held back earlier when he’d pushed about her family. She must be terrified.

“Be careful, man.”

“I plan to. We’re only two minutes away. I’ll see you in a few.” He cut the connection and pulled out the earbud.

He understood her reluctance to tell him now. She was alive only because she’d kept her head low and she didn’t want him hurt either. How isolated she must feel not being able to share her life with anyone.

“Julia?”

“Yes?” She paused a moment and turned toward him. She paled and whispered, “
No
. Tell me you don’t work for him. Please god, not you...”

He grabbed her hand. “No. Listen, it’s complicated, but someone I work with found out who you were. Please don’t be afraid. I know and I’ll protect you. Don’t you see? You don’t have to pretend with me, not ever.”

She backed against her door, eyes wild. So freaked his wolf flayed his insides, pushing to be free to comfort her.

“You’re fucking insane, you know that? Do you know what he’d do to you if he found out you helped me? You have to take me back now. I can’t see you anymore. I’ll have to leave Seattle, change my name again. Oh god.” She put her head in her hands and began to cry.

He pulled down the long gravel drive of the lodge, stopping when they reached the house, but waved off Kari and Andreas who’d rushed out to greet them. Taking off his seatbelt, he moved toward her but she backed up against her door, fear rolling off her in waves.

“
Nothing
is going to happen to me or to you. I’m not going anywhere and neither are you. Rain, Julia—love, listen to me—I’ve been waiting my entire life to find you and nothing is going to come between us now. Please trust me and my ability. No one, none of our people, is going to breathe a word about you. Only Phillip and I know, most likely Andreas too, but it doesn’t matter. Your father won’t find you. Even if he did he can’t hurt you. I won’t let him.”

“Please,” she whispered and he reached out to touch her face. “You don’t understand. I can’t let myself let you in. I made a mistake. I always say no. I should have said no when you asked for my number.”

“I love you. You already have let me in and you know it.”

Her eyes widened and she made a sound. “This is total insanity. How can you love me? You don’t even know me. Oh, so now you know my name. Big deal. You still don’t know
me
and it’s better that you don’t. My father and his
associates
are not nice people. I walked away from that world and he’ll never let that go. Can you outrun a bullet, Laurent? I was so stupid to think I could have a normal life, a relationship. God, I can’t even have my fucking art now. He’s stolen that too.”

“One, I love you because you’re you, period. Two, your name is not you, I know you because you’ve shown me your true self. Your birth name is immaterial. Three,
my
associates are not nice people when messed with either. Four, I can’t outrun a bullet but I can heal extremely quickly and I am extraordinarily fast and agile. Five, normal is in the eye of the beholder. I can’t promise normal but, Rain, I’m in your life for good. Six and last,
no one
will take your art from you. If we have to have shows without your being there it’ll just add to your mystique. We have lawyers on staff who can advise you on your contracts with Holt as well as how you can go about setting up a blind trust so no one can find out your identity.

“We can do this. Let me help because I’m not going anywhere even if you really wanted me to and we both know you don’t. Let me in,” he whispered and she collapsed into his arms, weeping and hugging him tightly.

They stayed out there for a while; Laurent slowly calming her down until she’d stopped crying. Kari continued to flit around the doorway, clearly seeing that something was wrong and wanting to fix it. Andreas finally came and yanked her back inside and Laurent smiled.

“Shall we go inside, sweetheart?” Laurent handed her a handkerchief.

“I’m sure my face is a total mess. They’ll all think I’m a basket case.”

He kissed her gently and tipped her chin up. “No, they won’t. You look beautiful although your eyes are a bit red. You’ll feel better once you wash your face with cool water. They’ll love you because I do. It’s who they are, Rain. Come on inside, freshen up and let’s get a drink to celebrate your show. Don’t let your father ruin that.” He got out of his door and walked around to hers, helping her down, and what seemed like half the pack came out onto the porch with welcome smiles.

Laurent grabbed her duffel. “We’ll get your art supplies in a bit, okay?” She nodded and he put his arm around her and they walked toward the house.

Kari came down the steps, stopping to hug Laurent and then Rain. “Hi, I’m Kari Warner-Phinney, it’s so nice to meet you. Welcome to Star Lake Lodge.” She smiled up at her. “Oh my, sweetie, are you all right? You’ve been crying.” She looked at Laurent, narrowing her eyes. “What have you done to her?”

“It’s not him but thanks anyway.” Rain said it softly but she wanted to be sure no one thought Laurent had harmed her.

“Someday I’ll have to tell you about my first time here at the lodge,” Kari said, and Andreas groaned.

“If you don’t mind, can you all let Rain just freshen up a bit before we do the introductions?” Laurent’s arm around her was gentle but reassuring.

“Of course, my goodness. Everyone back off!” Anna, taking over, shooed them all away. “Laurent, we’ve moved you into cabin six. Since Alek is taking over we thought that Skye could use your old room next to Andreas and Kari and that you might like your own place, you know, so you and Rain could have some privacy. We moved your stuff down this morning.”

“That was kind of you, Anna.” He looked back to the group on the porch and waved a hand at them. “We’ll be up in a few minutes.”

“Honey, I’m Anna. I’ve been taking care of this place for a mighty long time. If you need anything just yell, okay?” She hugged Rain tightly and walked back toward the house, telling everyone to stop gawking and get inside.

Lots of huggers in Laurent’s family, apparently.

He took her hand and led her along the path to the cabins. Number six was his favorite, it was on the point of the “V” that the cabins all sat along. It was closest to the water and was surrounded by trees. The most secluded, it even had a small flower garden that Jade had put in years ago when she and Tomas lived in it. Andreas’s parents now had their own small house near Sean and Emma’s.

“It’s really beautiful here,” Rain said with wonder. “I’m glad I brought my paints.”