Tom was glad his cousins had returned to the pack. Darien called to say they were on their way back to the house and had located Sarandon, who was all too happy to be coming home. He had been out searching the plane wreckage before a search team arrived in the area, and he’d found Elizabeth’s deed and ID inside one of the kidnappers’ pockets.
Tom sighed. His cousins were proving they were valued members of the pack once again.
But before Darien and Sarandon arrived, the kids’ parents came to take them home.
Anthony and Cody’s father said, “I ought to ground you for two months and make you muck out Doc Mitchell’s stables for all that time. But because you were trying to help out Mr. Winston…” His voice faded as they left the house.
Minx’s father was so choked up that he couldn’t say anything. He just hugged her and kissed her and finally left the house with her apologizing, saying she wouldn’t ever go with the boys unless she had her father’s permission.
Only time would tell if she’d stick to that.
As soon as Darien returned home, Tom took him aside. “We’re leaving first thing in the morning to take care of Elizabeth’s home and so she can say her good-byes at work. I guess we’ll also need to take care of her property near Hrothgar’s pack. We’ll be back to find a place here. We’ll return before Silva’s grand tearoom opening, no matter what.”
Darien said, “Come with me, you and Elizabeth.” He escorted them into his office and shut the door. “Elizabeth doesn’t know this, but I need you home as soon as you can return.”
Guessing what this was all about—a new problem for the pack, Tom said, “Because…?”
“The new owners of the hotel will be here this weekend to start renovations on the place. I need to make sure we don’t have any trouble with the pack when the owners show up.”
Tom folded his arms. “Our cousins can help out there.”
“That’s what I’m worried about,” Darien said, ultraseriously.
“Maybe it’s Peter’s turn to watch out for the new she-wolves in the pack.” This time, Tom wouldn’t ensure that an accompanied she-wolf—in this case, three of them—didn’t stir up trouble with the pack. He already had his own.
***
When they arrived at Elizabeth’s place in Canyon, Texas, the next morning, Tom loved the coziness of the two-bedroom, one-bath home surrounded by land and mesquites and junipers. He decided the warmth of the home was all because of her.
“Kind of small,” she said, glancing around at her place, “compared to Darien’s house.” She smiled up at Tom. “Then again, you make the house seem small. I hadn’t really thought of it that way before.”
“I like it.” Tom gathered her in his arms. “In a place this size, you couldn’t get very far from me.” He kissed her lips. “I’m hungry. We had no food on the plane, and I feel like having a steak.”
She looked wary, as if she already knew where this was headed. “I don’t have any steaks in the house. The last time—”
“The last time you weren’t with me. You know they say that you should revisit the place where you experienced something bad to get over your fear of going there again,” Tom said.
“But if they have sale steaks at the grocery store…” she said.
“Nope, let’s go to the butcher shop. I want you to have only good memories before we leave here. Besides, we need to pick up your car if it’s still parked there.”
“All right, but if the steaks are full price, you’re paying.”
He laughed, then hurried her out to the rental car and drove her to the butcher shop.
She sighed with relief as he parked at the shop. “My car’s still here.” She glanced at the butcher’s window and with an I-told-you-so look, she said, “No sale signs.”
Smiling, he patted her leg. “Steaks are on me.”
When they walked into the store, the butcher’s blue eyes rounded. “I wondered when you’d come back to get your car.” He eyed Tom as if he was speculating about whether he was the new boyfriend. “What will it be?”
“Rib-eye steaks sound good to you?” Tom asked Elizabeth.
“Yeah.” She turned to stare at a sleek-looking woman wearing an ivory sweater, tan jeans, and high-heeled boots, who was checking out grilling spices on a rack, a package of meat in hand.
The woman glanced at them. She sniffed the air, the action so reminiscent of a wolf shifter that she stole both Tom’s and Elizabeth’s attention.
The woman frowned at them and stuck her nose up in the air, hurrying past them and out the door. Tom swore she hissed, “Dogs,” under her breath.