Between a Wolf and a Hard Place

  Tom and CJ were best friends, both the youngest by a few minutes. Brett was best friends with them too, and she was surprised he wasn’t here having lunch with them. She gave him credit for staying away, because she was certain if the others knew she was eating here today, so did Brett. She thought CJ had a lunch date with Laurel. Ellie hoped she didn’t end up here too.

  Her date, Robert, arrived all smiles, wearing jeans and a pretty blue wool sweater, and he was carrying yet another box of chocolates and a bouquet of flowers. Rose from Green Valley sold the flowers to everyone in Silver Town because she was a wolf and they didn’t have their own florist shop. She actually had a nursery too and was probably thrilled at all the recent sales.

  Ellie noticed that, like the other boxes of chocolates, this one was from her aunt Charity’s shop. She hoped Aunt Charity didn’t learn the boxes were all for her because she was dating a bunch of different guys.

  “You’re early.” Robert greeted the men with a tilt of his head. He didn’t seem to mind that the Silvers were there watching them. Ellie knew they were without even looking in their direction because instead of conversing, they were deadly quiet.

  “You’re early too.” She was glad he had made the effort to come early.

  “I thought I’d grab a table first. I couldn’t miss this for the world.”

  She thought he might be referring to the chance to rib Brett rather than their actual date. And she loved what a good sport he was. She wondered if CJ would tell Brett the details of the date since he wasn’t here.

  Then the door jingled. She tried not to look, tried to concentrate on what Robert was saying, but as soon as she heard the door close and smelled Brett’s sexy scent, her pheromones began pinging all over the place.

  A fine sheen of perspiration appeared, and she felt self-conscious. All because Brett was the one she wanted to be with. No one else. Still, she held her chin up, smiled at Brett in greeting, and then tried once again to concentrate on Robert’s conversation. He was talking about taking her up on the slopes for more advanced ski lessons. He was on ski patrol, but he also took turns giving lessons.

  Private, one-on-one lessons.

  She knew all the Silver men were excellent skiers, and all but Darien gave lessons from time to time. So she suspected Brett wouldn’t like it if she signed up for private lessons with any of the guys she was dating. She also suspected that all of them would make the offer.

  She hadn’t realized how much of a strain going out with other guys could be though. She’d become familiar with Brett, and she liked the easiness they had between them. Of course, some of the uneasiness she was feeling was because Brett was now watching her. Maybe he wasn’t. Maybe he was just visiting with his brother and cousin. They were awfully quiet over there. Like they were listening in on the conversation.

  “So, do you believe in ghosts? Have you seen any?” she asked Robert, because that was one of her stipulations for dating anyone else.

  “Nah, never saw one, but I like to keep an open mind.”

  Well, not that she really wanted to take this dating business with Robert anywhere, but she realized that some of the guys might have wanted to go out with her whether they were into ghosts or not. At least she was a little further along with Brett with regard to the ghost issue.

  She glanced in Brett’s direction, unable to keep from looking. He smiled at her and winked, the cad.

  “Do you have time to take a walk after lunch?” she asked Robert, her mind made up to remind Brett that this was what he had suggested.

  Robert glanced at all the Silver men as if deciding if he could do it without having a pack of wolves at his throat.

  “That’s okay. I’ve got to run.” She was really glad he hadn’t wanted to. She thanked him for a lovely lunch, and he quickly paid the bill and hurried after her as she carried her flowers and box of candy outside. “Were they intimidating you?” she asked Robert as he joined her and opened her car door.

  “Nah, not really. I knew if I asked you out and had lunch here, the pack of them would show up. Everyone’s looking out for everyone’s welfare. So I knew what to expect and it didn’t bother me.”

  “You didn’t ask me to go anywhere else for a date.”

  Robert smiled. “I want to live a few more years.”

  She laughed. “I had fun. And thanks so much for the roses and candy.”

  “I have to warn you… So many of us dropped by your aunt Charity’s candy shop for boxes of candy that she asked who the lucky girls were. When we all said you, she pursed her lips and didn’t look real pleased. You might be getting a call later.”

  “All of you went in at the same time?” Ellie couldn’t believe it.

  “Yeah, to make sure we all got something different. Once Charity realized all the boxes of candy were for you, she told us which you preferred.”

  “Anything chocolate.”

  “That’s what she said.”

  Ellie wondered if she was going to get a call from her aunt with more motherly advice. Tonight she had dinner with Cantrell, but afterward she had to get back home to help put up lights so she’d still see Brett. It should have bothered her that he was going to do all that work for them when she was seeing other guys, but he had offered.

  Before she could climb into her car, Eric headed out of the tavern, glanced at them and nodded, then hurried to his vehicle. She was kind of surprised to see him here because he had such a long drive to make from the park as a ranger. Darien and Jake left after that. Then Sarandon. It was a steady stream of Silver wolves checking out the situation.

  Robert looked like he was waiting for everyone to take off so he could give her a kiss, but she smiled and said good-bye and headed out, not wanting him to kiss her and think she might be interested in more.

  * * *

  “He’s not going to kiss her,” Brett said to CJ and Tom.

  “Hell, we’re talking about Robert here,” CJ said. “If he could get away with it, he’d kiss her.”

  Tom raised his bottle of water in a salute. “I’m sure my brothers and your brother thwarted him.”

  Brett was certain of it too, as quickly as Eric left the tavern after Robert and Ellie. He knew Eric had really left so soon because he had to get back to the park. Brett couldn’t believe Eric had made the time to even come here for this. Appreciating his older brother’s concern, Brett knew Eric was still annoyed with him for even suggesting that Ellie should date anyone else. All the Silver men were still in agreement over that, no matter how much Brett tried to explain his perfectly plausible supposition and mistake in sharing it with her.

  When CJ had texted Brett that he and the rest of the gang were at the tavern and missing him, Brett had smiled and texted him back, saying he was on his way. It reminded him of the old days when they’d looked out for each other when a wolf encroached on their territory.

  “I thought you had a date with Laurel.” Brett finished his sandwich.

  “She canceled on me and said if I didn’t get my ass over here and watch over Ellie, I was in the doghouse. And you know that’s pretty bad. Hell, I’ve got to come back here for dinner too.”

  Tom and Brett laughed.

  “So how long are you going to let this go on?” Tom took another swig of his water.

  “She’s got dates with four guys. That should be enough.”

  “To realize you’re the one for her?” CJ asked.

  At least Brett hoped so.

  CJ finished his sandwich. “Are you still hanging lights tonight?”

  “Yeah, whether she’ll be there or not.” A promise was a promise.

  “Have any dinner plans?” CJ asked.

  Brett smiled. He sure as hell did.

  Chapter 12

  Brett wasn’t sure what kind of reception he would receive when he arrived at the inn, but he saw the sisters already had the l
adders set up and the lights were spread out, ready to hang. He swore Meghan and Laurel were smiling at him more today. Clearly, they were amused by his antics with the sage last night. Luckily, they didn’t seem annoyed over the dating business with Ellie.

  Ellie was just as friendly as she had been, not aloof or anything, so he assumed he was still all right with her.

  They had already finished taking down all the Halloween lights along the walkways. Laurel and Meghan were concentrating on decorating the white picket fence out front with bows and garlands, while Ellie helped him remove the Halloween lights off the roof.

  Out of earshot of her sisters, Brett said, “I hope you’re not upset with me for the sage gifts.”

  “Yoga? The candles?” Ellie asked, brow raised. She was wearing formfitting jeans, suede boots, and a short-waisted ski jacket as she took the lights from him. She looked sexy and huggable.

  “For relaxation. Sure. You can find the explanation on the Internet.”

  “For ghosts? Or to cover up what you were up to?”

  He sighed in an exaggerated way. “Forgive me?” He handed the last of the orange lights down to her. Then he climbed off the ladder, took the lights from her to set on the porch railing, and gathered her into his arms. “I was only trying to help.”

  He couldn’t last at this courting business. CJ’s had been such a whirlwind affair with Laurel, but Brett really wanted to woo Ellie like a wolf should. He wanted more. Everything. The intimacy only two mated wolves could share. She felt so warm and soft and loving in his arms. He wanted them to be together every night, not just have dates and have to say good-bye over and over again. He didn’t want to dream of her after she left; he wanted to have her in his arms.

  Even so, she had her hands against his chest in a way that said they still needed to talk about last night before she could forgive him. “And the bouquet?”

  “I was planning to get a flower bouquet for you, just something pretty. I didn’t even know anyone added herbs to them. I checked out Rose’s online catalog of floral arrangements, and I saw the one with sage and mint and asked for it.”

  “For the ghosts.”

  “It couldn’t hurt. I just thought the sage would help ‘clear the air’ and you wouldn’t have to worry about my great-aunt disturbing your guests. Not to mention I thought she needed to find her way to the light and join my great-uncle, if that’s what happens. Anyway, I looked on the Internet to see what would work, and lots of ghost sites said sage did the trick. I guess not with Matilda though.”

  Smiling, Ellie ran her hands up his chest and circled her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts against his body. “So what else did you learn?”

  “I read that mirrors could work. You have a mirror in the attic room where Chrissy messes with the lights. And a mirror in the lavender room in the basement where she used to stay. None in the lobby. It doesn’t really seem to work on one ghost, so I’m not sure it would on another. I’m sorry I wasn’t successful.”

  Ellie sighed. “We’ve tried different things. The sage, of course, but not to the extent you did. Matilda obviously wasn’t bothered by it. But you did hear her playing.”

  “And so did CJ and Peter. Unless Mervin really was playing, and he didn’t want to say so.”

  “I doubt he would have fabricated his story.”

  “Then you know what that means?” Brett asked.

  “You have to believe in ghosts.”

  “Absolutely. Will Laurel now believe I’m fine knowing about your abilities?”

  Ellie pulled away and handed him the clear lights to hang on the inn. “She was really amused by your sage display last night. She was impressed you had researched it when you didn’t really believe, and that you were trying to help us so we wouldn’t have any further trouble. So I’d say you earned some big brownie points.” She smiled up at him, and he wanted to howl at his success. Even if he hadn’t succeeded with the ghosts.

  “I was surprised to see you having dinner at the tavern tonight with CJ while I ate with Cantrell. And yet I should have figured you or some of the other Silver relations would be there.”

  “CJ asked me. He mentioned something about Laurel ordering him to or he was in the doghouse.”

  Ellie laughed. “At first, I didn’t think you were coming to the tavern for lunch when I was there with Robert. Did you get hung up on a job?”

  “Truly? I had planned to give you your space. Then CJ called and said everyone was there. I couldn’t be the only one who didn’t show up for a Silver gathering for lunch.”

  She shook her head. “Luckily, Robert isn’t easily intimidated.”

  “Which is why we were all there!”

  * * *

  Ellie couldn’t help but love the way Brett was trying to aid them with the ghost issue. She sure appreciated him helping with the lights too. With his and CJ’s help, it had taken them half the time. Speaking of which, CJ pulled up in their parking area and hurried to hang the remaining lights. Ellie was glad Brett was concerned about her dates too and couldn’t fault the alpha male for making sure nothing got out of hand.

  “I would love more of that stew you fixed for us,” Laurel said to Brett as they finished the decorating and went to the house. “I guess we’ll have to make do with corned beef, cabbage, and red potatoes tonight, even though I know a couple of you had a light dinner earlier.”

  “Works for me,” CJ said. “I just had peanuts and a beer at the tavern.”

  Brett agreed. “Salty peanuts and a soda.”

  Ellie had eaten a salad because Laurel had told her in no uncertain terms that she was eating dinner with Brett and CJ tonight because they were putting up the lights for them, so she’d gone light on lunch and was hungry again. She had told her sister she didn’t even think salads were on the menu at the tavern, but Silva had made one especially for her. Ellie suspected Laurel had called Silva beforehand.

  Ellie wondered about Peter and Meghan’s relationship, but she thought something was a little off. Brett had taken it slower with her, but that had a lot to do with her concern about the issue of ghosts. And Laurel had hooked up with CJ so fast. Though they were good for each other and she was thrilled for them, Ellie had preferred a slower pace to get to know Brett. She’d been rethinking that idea when he’d begun to ask her out every night. She enjoyed being with him. They seemed to suit each other perfectly. And now that he was finally initiated into the world of ghosts, she really thought they had a chance.

  Tomorrow, Ellie had the notion of going for an early-morning wolf run with Brett at the ski resort since she was tied up for lunch and dinner again. The resort wouldn’t open for another couple of days. Though pack members often ran along the ski trails when the ski resort closed for skiing at night, she wanted to see the new ski trails before anyone got to ski on them.

  As soon as she mentioned the plan, both Laurel and Meghan wanted to go too. Which would be fine, but Ellie had really wanted a wolf date with Brett. Still, when they all sat down to eat, CJ said, “Sounds like a good plan. I’ll ask if anyone else wants to run with us.”

  Ellie wanted to groan out loud. CJ was probably concerned about ensuring everyone remained safe. She smiled at Brett when he winked at her, and she figured he knew she’d only wanted to run with him.

  “Piano lessons after dinner?” Brett asked.

  She’d almost forgotten about them. Which was why she wasn’t very good at sticking with something like that. “Sure. I’d like to.” Once she had it in mind to do it, she was fine with the notion.

  “This is delicious, ladies,” Brett said. “I never thought of having the meal for any day other than St. Patrick’s.”

  “We love to have it any time of year,” Meghan said. “And thanks so much for all the help with the lights. We really appreciate it. We were thinking of paying someone to hang them next year.”

  “I don?
??t mind doing it,” Brett said.

  “Me either. With all of us hanging them, it’s done in no time,” CJ agreed.

  “Okay, well, we really didn’t want you to feel like we’re imposing.” Meghan took a sip of the Irish beer.

  “You’re not imposing,” Brett said. “Believe me, if we couldn’t do it, we’d say so.”

  “Oh, and I checked with the owners of the vintage Plymouths. I went by and had a look at their cars. They were the same color as when you took the photos for the newspaper. None of them had any scrapes on them. And all the owners said some variation on Are you crazy? No way would they have taken their pride and joys out in that kind of weather,” CJ said. “They were all stored for the winter.”

  “Okay, good. Hope no one was too put out about it. I’m glad the driver wasn’t one of our people,” Brett said.

  Ellie figured he would never get to the bottom of who hit him having not seen a license plate, unless he miraculously saw the car come into town at some later date. Which really irritated her. She wanted the person responsible to pay.

  * * *

  After dinner, Ellie and Brett began practicing their lessons. They were having so much fun with it—even though they alternated between doing a great job and messing up big time—that they tried playing a duet listed on the Internet for beginning students: “Garry Owen,” a good old Irish drinking song.

  “My dad used to play this on a fiddle. I wonder what he’d think of me attempting to play it as a duet on the piano.”

  “He’d be proud of you.”

  The music was beautiful, but their version had them laughing out loud. They had to place their thumbs side by side, not together, but it was hard for them when moving fast. If they practiced their scales and exercises to increase finger coordination, they’d master it. She was certain.

  “We have to keep practicing that piece,” Ellie said, “and play it during Victorian Days.”

  “I agree. It’ll be great. Want to try again?”