River Wolf(25)
“You can stay long enough to shower, warm up, change your clothes and eat.” Not brooking any arguments, he glanced at his father. “If you want to make food, no one is telling you no. You’re too damn good a cook for that.”
Lips quirking into a faint smile, Dad nodded once before focusing on Colby. “Anything you’re allergic to, sweetheart?”
“I’m not staying, and you don’t have to feed me…”
“We need to eat. You’re here, and I’m sure Margie will have questions for you about Luc’s condition. So you can’t leave yet.” His dad pivoted and headed for the kitchen. “Her car is still running, too, Brett.”
Shaking his head, Brett started down the steps still gripping Colby’s arm. She didn’t follow him and tugged free instead. “Look, I’m glad you can take care of Luc but…”
Raising a hand, Brett pinned her with a look. “No arguing. Luc wants you to stay, my father will have a litter of kittens if you leave before eating, and we really do need to know what you know.” At her flinch, he gritted his teeth. Biting back the harshness in his tone, he tried again. “Please stay. Let us repay you for your kindness.”
“You’re missing my point…it wasn’t kindness. He paid me to bring him here. Granted, he owes me some more but—look, I’m just glad he’s safe.” She folded her arms, and a shiver stole over her.
“Fine, he paid you. But you went above beyond, and you’re cold. Stay. I’ll pay whatever the balance was he owed, and you can fill my mother and our doctor in when she gets here.” Agree with me. Imposing his will on a human who didn’t belong to him wasn’t his usual modus operandi. On the other hand, he didn’t have time for the argument.
Scrubbing a hand over her face, she gave him a wry look. “You’re not going to take no for an answer are you?”
“Not really.” Why lie?
“You know what? Fine, I’ll go get my bags and then you can show me to the room.” The lie rolled off her tongue easily enough. She had zero intentions of returning inside.
“I’ll get your bags, and I can park your car.” Which would give him her keys. “The guest room has a lock on the door, so you don’t have to worry about anyone walking in on you and I’ll put your bags outside the door.”
“Not necessary. I’m a big girl, I can take care of myself.” The standoff got them nowhere.
“Colby, go to the room at the end of the hall and take a shower.” The power rising through him twisted in the words. She fought to hold his gaze, but when her lashes dipped, heat flared against him. Her scent sharpened with notes of tingling spearmint and crisp berries.
“Okay, I’m sorry, I really don’t mean to be such a bitch about the nice offer. I just don’t want to impose.”
“You’re not because I insist that you be my guest.” Leading her toward the guest room, he held out his hand. At her bewildered look, he added, “My phone?”
A frown creased her brow, then she jerked. “Crap.” Lifting the phone to her ear, she said, “Dr. Chase?”
Gillian’s soft chuckle resonated with humor. “Don’t worry about it, Colby. There’s a lot going on there. I look forward to meeting you when I arrive. Thank you for the information on Luc’s condition. Owen and I will be leaving shortly to head back so I can check on him.”
Exactly what he hadn’t wanted her to do.
“Sure, I look forward to meeting you, too.” The puzzlement in Colby’s voice amused him. No one was immune to Gillian. She passed him the phone and he opened the door for her.
“Everything you need is in there. I’ll have your bags at the door in a moment. Dad will have lunch prepared soon, so just come out and join us whenever you’re ready.”
Upstairs, Luc’s wolf let out a low groan, but his mother’s soothing voice accompanied it. Brett listened intently for a moment and when no further sounds of distress accompanied the wolf’s complaint, he nudged Colby inside and closed the door. Phone at his ear, he said, “Hang on a moment.”
“Oh, I am. I like her,” Gillian continued as he strode outside to the car. The scent of injury and woman and wolf filled the interior of the vehicle. After sliding the driver’s seat back, he slid into the vehicle and drove the car around to the side of the house. It took him a minute to get out and open the garage door with a code.
“She’s human,” was his only answer to Gillian. “And I have no idea what Luc was thinking bringing her here. Mother is with Luc right now. You two do not have to cut your vacation short.”