Taming the Lone Wolff(28)

                “Well, that ship has sailed, hasn’t it.” Resignation mixed with humor in her wry statement.

                “Will this show up in the papers tomorrow?”

                “Yes. And online. And anywhere else where that slimeball can garner a buck.”

                “My back was toward him. I doubt I’ll be recognizable.”

                “Doesn’t really matter. They’ll make up a story anyway.”

                He gathered her into his arms and hugged her. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I fully understood the scrutiny you’ve been under. My family has been hounded by the press over the years. I do know what it feels like to be violated.”

                She wriggled free, leaving him to wonder why. “It was bad when your mother and aunt died, wasn’t it? I read about it in an old article when I was trying to decide whether to hire you.”

                “It was horrendous. I was young. I don’t remember all of it. My cousin Gareth was the only one old enough to read the press accounts. I think it messed him up for a long time. But then he found his wife, Gracie. She’s been able to bring back his ability to smile…to be happy.”

                “You all are a close family…I can tell.”

                “We’ve had to be. We weren’t allowed to go to school until college. So for all those years we had no one to play with, to study with, to squabble with but our siblings and cousins.”

                “Does it bother you that they’ve brought outsiders into your inner circle—all these marriages, I mean?”

                He thought about it for a long moment. He and Winnie were walking slowly, side by side, retracing their steps to the house. Was he jealous? Did he feel a sense of betrayal? Perhaps he did. And it wasn’t a rational thing at all. Winnie had picked up on an emotion he hadn’t even admitted to himself. Was that why he clung so tightly to the notion that he didn’t want to be needed?

                “I suppose I do feel something,” he muttered. “But I’d like to think it’s nostalgia for the past when we were a band of six and not something as petty as jealousy. I’m happy for all of them. I really am. But this tidal wave of marital bliss has happened pretty quickly. Kind of makes my head spin.”

                “It isn’t contagious. You don’t have to worry.”

                There was no mistaking the miffed tone in her voice.

                “I never said I was.”

                She opened the front door and faced him in the foyer. “I don’t need you to save me from myself, Larkin Wolff. If we end up in bed together it will be for a moment’s pleasure. I like my freedom as much as you like yours.”

                He took her chin in his hand, running his thumb over her bottom lip. It was pink and puffy from his earlier kiss. The ache in his chest almost overwhelmed his good sense. “I’m selfish and stubborn and inflexible. I’d be a bad bargain for anyone.”

                Winnie stared at him, those amazing cat eyes unblinking. “Good thing I’m not in the market for a husband. Good night, Mr. Wolff.”

                By the time she had reached the third stair, he knew he wanted to stop her. But his stubborn adherence to a life mantra held him back—that and a healthy sense of self-preservation. His attraction to Winnie threatened to rewrite his personal code of behavior. Since meeting her, he’d bent more rules than he ever had before. Business. Pleasure. Never the twain shall meet. He inhaled sharply, ignoring his inclination to throw caution to the wind. “You’ll need to pack tomorrow. And I’ll finalize every last bit of the security plan. We can go over it together in the afternoon, and if all is well, we’ll hit the road first thing Thursday morning.”