Taming the Lone Wolff(63)

                “When you come home, you mean. The rest of us are here on a regular basis.”

                His sister was baiting him, a game they often played, but one that was not appreciated this morning. He wanted to get Winnie alone and see what the heck was going on.

                He paused, fork in midair, and frowned at Annalise. “Devlyn doesn’t.”

                “But Devlyn runs the company from Atlanta. He has an excuse. You don’t.”

                Surprisingly, Winnie spoke up in his defense. “Larkin’s firm is very well respected in Nashville. People I know speak highly of him. The business is not exactly something he can run from a distance.”

                Larkin felt his neck get hot. His sister was looking at him with barely veiled incredulity. Not only had he brought a woman over the threshold of Wolff Mountain, it appeared he was allowing that woman to fight his battles for him.

                He cleared his throat and set down his fork. “Annalise is merely trying to needle me. It’s what she does. The only reason she has a house here is because she married an architect, and he indulges her every whim. Most of the time they live outside of Charlottesville.”

                Winnie grinned. “I was an only child, so this sibling-rivalry thing is new to me. Carry on.”

                Sam stood with the baby. “I’m going to take this little bruiser back home and give him his bath. Stay and talk if you want to, honey.”

                Annalise rose, as well. “I won’t stay where I’m not wanted.” Grinning, she walked around the table and stood behind her brother, leaning down to give him a big hug. “Whatever the reason, I’m glad you’re here, Larkin. I miss you. We all do.”

                The trio departed, and suddenly, the room fell silent. Larkin took another bite of his breakfast. Winnie’s eyes were trained on her coffee cup. The two of them were surrounded by several doorways, any one of which might usher in the next intruder. It was not the place for a serious conversation.

                Larkin shoved back from the table, leaning his chair on two legs. “How about I show you the house?” His plan was to get her alone and demand to know what the hell was going on.

                She stood up. “Later perhaps. I need to call home and make sure everything is okay.”

                “I can save you some time.” He reached in his pocket and handed her a slip of paper.

                “What’s this?”

                He lowered his voice. “It’s a live link to the site where my people post their reports four times a day. The female staff I’ve assigned to the safe house also include brief case updates on each of your women and children.” He paused. “The password is F-F-L-O-W.” When she looked blank, he chuckled. “That’s Wolff spelled backward.”

                “Oh.”

                “I thought you’d like to keep up with things, so you wouldn’t have to worry.”

                Still standing, she looked down at him. “This is very thoughtful of you. I appreciate it.” Not one indication from her that they’d been naked together a few hours before.

                “That’s what you’re paying me for.” He got to his feet, pissed and ready to pick a fight. But Winnie didn’t react to his sarcastic comment. What in the hell was going on inside that head of hers? Just when he thought he had her figured out, she disappeared into some place he couldn’t reach.