Read Wolf With Benefits Online

Authors: Heather Long

Tags: #Romance, #New Adult & College, #Paranormal, #Fantasy

Wolf With Benefits (3 page)

BOOK: Wolf With Benefits
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“I’ll be there directly.” True to her word, Mrs. Sexton followed them over and handled their order there as well.

“Thank you, Sarah,” Tiffany told her. The grocer nodded once.

Finally, she focused on Shiloh and, for a split-second, her eyes gentled. “Keep your head up. You are welcome to shop in Sexton’s.”

Swallowing around the unexpected lump of emotion, she nodded. “Thank you, ma’am.”

“Shoo, both of you. I have a business to run.”

After paying, they exited the shop side-by-side. “Mrs. Huston?”

“Hmm?” So much patient indulgence filled her tone.

“Thank you for keeping me company.”

“Happy to, really. Don’t forget about Thursday…” Tiffany’s voice trailed off as she began to frown. Following her glance, Shiloh sighed. Kirk stared at his car…the front window was smashed as well as the driver’s side glass. A Hunter stood with him—Phillip Chase, if Shiloh remembered his name correctly. “Oh dear.”

Sick in her gut, Shiloh twisted to search the snowy street for her car. It sat kind of lopsided on two flat tires.

“Darling? I’m at Sexton’s. Someone smashed Kirk’s windows, and it looks like they slashed Shiloh’s tires…” She spun to face Tiffany, stunned at the older woman’s disapproval-thinned lips and furious eyes as she spoke into her cell phone. “Yes, I’m with Shiloh now, and I’m not leaving her until someone else can keep an eye on her. I see Phillip, he’s here. Perhaps he can get a scent from the vehicles?”

“Mrs. Huston, I can change a tire…” She stopped protesting at the wolf’s firm expression.

“We’ll wait for you.” Her voice softened. “I love you, too.” Tucking her phone away, Tiffany motioned toward her car. “Let’s store our groceries, then I’ll get you some coffee while we wait for Ryan.”

She wanted to argue, but Tiffany already had her cart. Trudging after her, she sighed. The urge for a cigarette would have to wait. Who knew coming home could suck on so many levels?

M
att swung
through town to pick up a couple of six packs. He’d burned through his supply the night before. Chances were, Shiloh was still sleeping off her hangover. He’d skipped going to bed entirely after getting her back to her parents and into her bed. Despite the near-zero temperatures—or maybe because of them—he had plenty of work. A transformer on the north side of town required repairs, while three downed lines had to be replaced. Though he handled a great deal of maintenance during the warmer months, winter always alerted them to real problems.

Finishing by lunchtime, however, proved to be a perk. No sooner did he hit Main Street than he spotted Shiloh’s old Ford sedan leaning like a drunk on two flat tires. Worse, he saw Phillip Chase inspecting the vehicle. Though retired from the field, the senior Hunter still looked after the town and the surrounding areas in addition to schooling potential Hunters. After parking right behind her car, he slid out of the jeep and scanned the area. Her scent was too faint, so she wasn’t with her car.

“Mr. Chase?”

“Hello, Matt.” Phillip spared him a look as he continued a slow circuit of the vehicle. “Shiloh is with Mrs. Huston across the street.”

He didn’t question why the Hunter gave him the information. His concern would be evident to a stranger. “That’s not an accident.” One tire going flat might be a coincidence. Two? While parked in front of the grocery store? Two screamed problem.

“No,” Phillip agreed with him, dropping into a crouch at the front of the vehicle. “Too many wolves have been by, though.” He sighed. “It was the same with Kirk’s vehicle and at Melanie’s earlier.”

“What happened to Mel?” Though she was two years younger, Mel and Shiloh had been friendly enough. Matt looked out for her the way he did Shi.

“Someone removed her tires completely during the night.” Phillip’s dry tone didn’t disguise his disdain for the actions. Before Matt could ask another question, a second figure strode toward them radiating power. Few wolves in Willow Bend wore power suits. Ryan Huston paused at the vehicle, his gaze sweeping the area as though memorizing the location of everyone and everything in it. Probably, he was. In addition to being the father of their Alpha’s mate, Ryan also acted as the pack attorney. Very little went unnoticed when he was around.

The wolf pivoted once, facing the coffee shop, and Matt twisted to follow his gaze. Shiloh had her back to the glass, but Tiffany—Ryan’s mate—lifted a hand to wave at them. Her whole countenance blossomed into a warm smile. The look, though reserved for her mate, transformed her from a lovely woman to a stunning one. One he had no business staring at, so he glanced at Shi. Her whole posture seemed slumped, her shoulders dropped, and she had an elbow on the table, chin pressed against her fist.

His best friend was hurting. It pissed him off.

Returning his attention to the vehicle, he found Ryan and Phillip staring at him. The leaden weight of their regard brought his wolf to attention. “I can take care of getting her tires changed. Should I make a point of guarding her? Or will you be sending someone?” No matter how docile he tried to keep his tone, he couldn’t quite bury the growl beneath the words. Someone inflicted harm on Shi—
in
their pack. Unacceptable on every level.

“She’s not your problem,” Ryan began, but Matt raised his hand in a request to continue before the attorney cut him off. Pausing, Ryan raised his brows.

“She came home for me.” Or at least that was what he planned to tell his mother. “She’s my best friend…she means the world to me. It would be my privilege to look after her.”

“Fine. Keep an eye on her. We knew some wouldn’t be happy with their return, but there’s still no excuse for vandalism.” Ryan motioned to Phillip. “We’ll take care of alerting Mason. Are Virgil and Tyler picking up the cars?”

Chase nodded once. “They’ll be here shortly. Not much else we can do in the meantime. I’ll check with the shop owners and others in the area, but unless someone admits to seeing something…” Wolves could play oblivious as well as anyone.

It was cold, and it had been snowing on and off. Chances were high no one had seen anything, anyway.

“I’ll make sure Shi gets home.” Though he had every intention of walking across the street to fetch her, he stayed where he was until excused. He’d engaged the more dominant wolves—both senior members of the pack. He knew better than risking rudeness.

“Go ahead,” Ryan said, withdrawing his phone from his pocket. Permission granted, he jogged across the street to the coffee shop. The rich scent of beans, sugar, and milk perfumed the warmer air inside. Shi glanced over at the sound of the bell, and the tired look in her eyes kicked him in the gut. If he did nothing else, he planned to erase the hurt in her gaze and restore the sassy pistol who insulted him regularly.

“Mrs. Huston.” He nodded to Tiffany, then focused on Shiloh. “Pita.”

The hurt in her eyes disintegrated in favor of a flash of temper. “Pita? Really? That’s what you come to me with, dog breath?”

Tiffany chuckled and Matt smiled.
Dog breath. Much better.
“I love you, too Pita.” Winking, he pulled out his wallet and claimed their check from the table. “Let me pay for this, then we can grab your groceries. I’ll take you home to deliver them, and you can pick up your bags.”

He didn’t wait for her response on his way to the counter.

“My bags?—Excuse me, Mrs. Huston.”

“Of course, dear.”

Shi was right behind him as he peeled off a twenty to pass over to Daisy, the wolf behind the register. Her flirtatious smile froze at the first sight of Shi. Slinging an arm around his best friend, he pulled her close and dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose. “Don’t worry about anything, Shi. I got this.”

Her mouth opened, but no words came out.

Wow.
Kissing Shi shut her up. Grinning wider, he eyed Daisy who looked from him to Shi then back again.
Put it together, little gossip. I know you can.
Her frown eased and a hint of a smile tugged at her lips.
That’s it. Assume Shi is mine.
Tightening his arm around Shi, he kept her from breaking free. “Thanks,” he told Daisy as she handed him the change. “Do you have your jacket, Shi?”

“Yeah, it’s over…there.”
Heh
. She found her voice as she waved her hand toward the table she’d shared with Tiffany.

“Great, let’s get that and escort Mrs. Huston to her mate.” He dismissed Daisy and guided Shi through the tables. The confusion in her scent mingled with embarrassment. Not ideal, but perfect considering the tale he planted with Daisy. Mrs. Huston was already on her feet when they reached the table, and she gave him an amused look.

“Matthew, are you sure you know what you’re doing?” The motherly affection coupled with the hint of challenge transported him to childhood. He remembered when Mrs. Huston was still human. It never stopped her from admonishing them when they got out of hand. Her humanity never prevented their obedience, either. Only a couple of older wolves gave her lip, which earned them the attention of her mate. Not an enviable position at all.

Meeting her gaze, Matt inclined his head. “Yes, ma’am. I absolutely do. Shi means the world to me, and I’m glad she’s home.” Absolute truth. If playing her lover for a while would get the pack to forgive her, and give her a break from her parents, then he was in. Giving his mom something else to think about was a perk.

“Hmm,” was Tiffany’s only comment. She glanced at Shiloh as Matt helped her into her jacket. “Thanks for having coffee with me.”

“I enjoyed it.” Honesty echoed in every word. “It was nice to talk to someone happy to see me.”

“Hang in there, Shiloh. It may take the pack some time to forgive you, but they will.”
Yes, they would.
Matt agreed with the older wolf wholeheartedly. One arm around Shiloh, he offered his free arm to Tiffany. She chuckled, and let him guide her out of the coffee shop.

Ryan met them halfway across the street, scooping his mate into his arms and kissing her soundly. Though affection between mates should be treasured, Matt avoided staring at them and directed his attention to Shi instead. Her puzzled expression gave way to one of almost desperate hunger. The need reflecting in her eyes sucker punched him. Tightening his arm, he tugged her closer. No one should ever look as lonely as she had in those few seconds. Especially not her.

“Give them a sec, and we’ll get your groceries,” he murmured against her hair.

“What are you doing, Matt?” The low, barely audible whisper amused him and he tugged her braid.

“Taking care of you. Just go with it.” When he added a kiss to her forehead to punctuate the order, something shifted in his gut. Drinking buddy, best friend, hell raiser and problem child—Shi was all of those. As affectionate as they were, however, he’d never kissed her and, for a split second, he contemplated what it would be like.

Her elbow went for his gut, and he caught it, slipping behind her and wrapping his arms around her middle. They were in the center of town, utterly visible. If Daisy didn’t spread the word, everyone else would. Tiffany rubbed her mate’s cheek, then glanced at them. Speculation filled Ryan Huston’s quiet gaze. Speculation which would no doubt lead to further questions. Shi meant the world to Matt, so he met the older wolf’s gaze without flinching before dropping his eyes in a show of respect.

The attorney was definitely more dominant than him, and even if he wasn’t—well, more stories were attributed to those who made the mistake of crossing Ryan than those who got away with it. “Let’s get you kids squared away, then I’ll take care of Kirk.”

At the mention of the other human, Shi glanced at the sidewalk where Kirk Carver stood, alone and isolated, as wolves crossed the street to avoid going anywhere near him. Sadness edged her scent…sadness and concern.

“He’ll be okay,” Matt promised. He’d talk to one of his brothers, get them to keep an eye on Kirk. Maybe they should keep an eye on all of those who’d conspired with Three Rivers. No one had to approve of their choices, but they were still pack.

“I hope so.” Though she seemed like she wanted to go to her friend, she remained at his side. More Hunters drifted along the sidewalk. Phillip Chase finished at Shiloh’s car and returned to Kirk. He loaded the human’s groceries into his vehicle and they left together. After bidding Tiffany and Ryan farewell, Matt got Shiloh into his jeep. Though she hadn’t complained, her pale face and faint shivers betrayed her cold.

He cranked the heat, then put her hands near the blowers. The silence held fast all the way to her place. Neither of her parents’ cars were in the driveway, and he didn’t detect any sign of her siblings.
Easy peasy.
“Okay, I’ll carry the stuff inside for you while you go pack.”

“I’m sorry, what?” She zeroed a glance in his direction. “What do you mean pack?”

“I mean you’re moving in with me, sweetheart. We’re going to play engaged, make my mother happy, fix the pack’s disdain, and get your parents off your back.” Exiting the jeep, he went to the rear and gathered the bags. Though she’d gone rigid in the passenger seat, he counted it off…he hit five, and she was out of the vehicle.

“What?”

“Inside.”

Despite her tight frown and the disapproval rolling off her in waves, she didn’t argue. Making a scene—at least a negative one—wouldn’t help their cause. Nudging her along, he followed her to the porch and waited for her to unlock the door. Short, harsh action accompanied by several questioning looks in his direction.

The interior of the Sullivan’s was exactly as he remembered. From the white sofa and chairs to the perfectly polished wood floors featuring their well-appointed handmade rugs, everything was in its place. A family portrait hung over the stone fireplace, and the air smelled of vanilla, cookies and, if he wasn’t mistaken, a pot roast slow cooking somewhere.

Managing all the bags, he went straight for the kitchen. Shi shut the door, then followed him. “Why am I packing?”

“Does your mom still want the meat portioned and distributed to freezer bags?” He knew where most of the groceries went, so he put them away, aligning the spices exactly and making sure the already open containers were in front of the newly arrived.

BOOK: Wolf With Benefits
7.73Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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