Wolf Prey (Wolf Cove Book 3) Read online

  Is my dad going to tell me that Henry will get bored of me, too?

  Because I can’t take hearing that from him. It’s already in my head, plenty.

  “Abigail….”

  “I love him,” I blurt out. “I don’t love Jed, Daddy. Not anymore. Maybe I never really did, because it didn’t feel anything like it feels with Henry.” Right now, I don’t even like Jed much, though I have to give him credit, he’s here when my family needs him.

  “Is what your mother said about the plane true? That he was ‘going this way?’”

  I shake my head. “He only arrived in Alaska the day before your accident. He’s going back there now. And the doctor you had? He’s the best trauma surgeon in America and Henry flew him in especially for you.”

  That earns a brow lift. “Does your mother know that?”

  “She does.”

  A knowing look fills his eyes as he nods. “She doesn’t want you with this man.”

  “I know, Daddy. But it’s not her choice. It’s not anyone’s choice but mine and Henry’s.” And I’m not letting anyone get in the way of us being together again.

  He gives my hand a light squeeze. “Just remember, it’s coming from a place of love. We’re all worried that he’s gonna hurt you.”

  “I’ve already been hurt, plenty, Daddy. Remember? By Jed.” The godsend, according to Mama.

  A sad smile touches his lips. “I do remember. I’m glad to see you happy again.”

  I am happy.

  And stronger.

  And smarter.

  And petrified.

  “Go on, now. They’re waiting. Your mother’s probably hunting for a glass to press up against the door.”

  I giggle because he’s right. “I’ll come back for a visit as soon as I can.”

  He chuckles softly. “See you soon.”

  I find Mama and the Enderbeys waiting just outside the door.

  Mama pounces on me right away. “What was that about?”

  “He just wanted to ask about Henry.”

  “So then why send me out of the room?”

  Because I wouldn’t get a word in edgewise, perhaps? I simply shrug.

  She turns to Celeste. “He’s never done anything like that before. I’m telling you, something’s not right with him since he woke up. I think he must have a head injury.”

  “Maybe you’re right. But wouldn’t the doctors have seen something in all the tests they ran?” she asks.

  “Who knows? We’re always hearin’ about things that get missed. Remember that surgery rag a doctor left inside that woman? Closed her right up and sent her home with it inside! The woman was in complete agony before they believed her.” Mama talks like she personally knows the woman, when I’m sure it’s just a byline she saw in a newspaper once and filed into her memory for future reference, when the need arose. She loves doing that. I think she feels it makes her sound knowledgeable.

  “You should definitely mention it to the doctor, then,” Reverend Enderbey suggests.

  “Yes, you’re right. I will. So, you’re off now?”

  “We are.”

  “Come here, baby girl.” She reaches for me, pulling me into a fierce hug. For all that she is, I don’t doubt that Mama loves me very much. “I’m so happy to have you home. You’ll find your room the same as when you left it. All your clothes are there, too, so you can find somethin’ more suitable than what they made you wear up there.”

  She just can’t help herself.

  “And make sure you make it to service tomorrow, Abigail. And confession.” Under her breath, but loud enough for me to hear, she mutters, “Lord knows you’ll need that.”

  This time I don’t bother hiding the eye roll.

  If you only knew, Mama.

  Chapter Two

  “Everything’s all taken care of for the day.” Jean wipes the sweat from his weathered brow onto his forest green work pants. He’s shown up to work here in those same pants and burgundy plaid button-down every single day for years. The outfit’s always clean in the morning and filthy by day’s end. Either he has several pairs of the same, or he makes his poor wife do laundry every night.

  “Thank you for keeping the farm going while we were away.”

  He waves my words away as if it’s nothing, but the poor man looks exhausted.

  “How’s Isabelle?”

  Mention of his granddaughter seems to brighten his spirits a bit. “She’s a sweet little thing.” He beams. “Looks like her mother did when she was a baby.”

  “Tell Jennifer I said hi.”

  “Will do.” He ambles off toward his truck, an old red Ford pickup full of dents and dings.

  And I sigh, taking in the view of the farm I’ve known all my life. It’s my favorite time to be here, when the air is warm and smells of freshly cut hay, and the grass is a dark green; when the flowers surrounding the vegetable gardens are lush and colorful. We cut them every week to dress the church for Sunday service.

  I always found comfort here. Until this past February, that is, when I caught Jed cheating on me. After that, I dreaded coming back here. I flew all the way to Alaska just to avoid it.

  Now? I don’t know what this feeling is. Nostalgia for a childhood gone, perhaps. The double-story farmhouse I’ve called home all these years sits ahead of me to the left, quiet and worn. It’s over a hundred years old, built by my great-great-grandfather and home to several generations of Mitchells. I can see that a few shingles are missing on the east side. Likely on account of a big storm that rolled through here a month ago, according to Mama. She mentioned damage to a barn roof, too. I’ll have to go and check that out.

  We have three barns and four silos. The original barn, dating back to the same time as the house, is farther off to the side, some five hundred yards from our home. We use it for equipment now. That’s where I also make my soaps during the warmer weather, in a small workshop equipped with an electric stove and several tables.

  The other two barns that house the animals and hay sit side by side, not too far from the house.

  I make my way toward the front porch, dragging the backpack that I stuffed haphazardly in my rush out of Wolf Cove alongside me. While I had a shower at Henry’s, I wouldn’t say that time was spent actually getting clean.

  “Abigail!”

  Jed is jogging toward me from the path between our houses, his calf muscles straining as he navigates the uneven ground. He’s always been fit, but I would never have called him muscular, not like Henry, or even the outdoor crew guys. He’s obviously been going to the gym, though.

  What else he’s been doing this summer, I have no idea. He was quiet on the drive home from Pittsburgh, sitting up front with his dad while Celeste sat in the back and made painfully polite conversation, filling me in on all the happenings in the community and the church since I’ve been away.

  She didn’t once ask about Alaska.

  When Jed reaches me, he’s out of breath. It’s a good quarter mile between our two houses. “Dinner’s gonna be at five thirty tonight instead of six. Dad’s got some catch-up to do for tomorrow.”

  “Oh, I’m good, thanks.”

  He frowns. “What do you mean? It’s Saturday night.”

  And every Saturday night, we go over to the Enderbeys’ for dinner. That’s just the way things have always been around here.

  Not anymore, though. At least, not for me. “I’m pretty tired from the last few days, so I’m just going to pull something together here and then go to bed, I think.”

  “Oh.” He brushes his blond hair off his forehead. It’s longer than he’s ever had it before, and slightly tousled. “But she’s making roasted chicken. And a strawberry pie, just for you. She’s already rolling out the pie crust and everything.”

  My favorites.

  “You have to eat, and she’s going to all this trouble.”

  I sigh, feeling the noose tightening around my neck. I can’t very well get out of this one, especially since the Enderbeys dropped
everything in their lives to rush to Pittsburgh. They sat with Mama all day when I couldn’t.

  “’Kay. I’ll be there.”

  Jed’s face splits into a wide grin. “Great.”

  “You know you could have just texted me instead of running all that way.”

  “Yeah, I know. But I wanted to see you.” His gaze skims over me, stalling first on my chest, and then on my thighs.

  “If I’m gonna make it there in time, I need to go shower.” I start to climb the stairs.

  “So it was him who answered?”

  “What?” I ask, though I already know what he’s talking about. The guy who answered my phone when Jed called to tell me about the accident. I was wondering when this would come up.

  “Yesterday morning. When I called you. When you were asleep.”

  No, that would be Ronan, who happened to be there consoling me over Henry as a genuine friend. But I’m not going to tell Jed that.

  “It’s not really any of your business.”

  “How is it not? Come on, Abigail! You’ve known the guy for a few weeks. We’ve known each other our entire lives. We grew up together, we know each other’s secrets.”

  I glare at him pointedly. “Yes, because I walked in on one of them accidentally.”

  “It’s over between Cammie and me. That’s out of my system, completely.” He takes a few steps toward me. “I was stupid and selfish and I took for granted the best thing in my life. You.” He pleads with his eyes. “I love you, Abigail. And I’m gonna spend the rest of my life proving it to you.”

  Oh God. “It’s too late, Jed. Move on.”

  “No, it’s not.” He has that stubborn set in his jaw. I used to think it was adorable.

  Now I can’t help but laugh. “I’m in love with Henry!”

  “Your boss?” He sighs. “Abigail, that’s not gonna last. Seriously, think about it. He’s this rich hotel owner and you live on a farm. It may have worked while you two were together, but outta sight, outta mind with guys like that.”

  “That’s not how it is with us.”

  “Oh yeah?” He folds his arms over his chest. Somehow it’s so patronizing. “Then how is it?”

  “We’re... seeing how it goes.”

  Jed gives me a knowing look, and I want to slap him. “How old is he, anyway?”

  “Thirty-one.”

  “He’s ten years older than you? Why would you even want a guy that old? That’s halfway to your parents’ age.”

  Because he’s gorgeous and sexy.

  Because he knows how to touch me.

  Because he’s all I think of when I go to sleep and when I wake up and every hour in between.

  “Gotta go now. I’ll see you for dinner.” Unfortunately.

  “Just remember, I’ll be right here, waiting for you. Just come back to me when you’re ready. We’re meant to be, Abigail.”

  “It’s Abbi, and no, we’re not.” There’s no point arguing with him. Sometimes I think Jed and my Mama are too similar.

  I make it up one step when he calls out, “Oh, my mom forgot to ask. Since you’re back in town, would you be able to help out with the first of the month food drive? You remember what needs to be done, right?”

  “I think I can manage.” I’ve only been running it since I was seventeen.

  “Great. Oh, and the charity BBQ. She’d love your help with that, too.”

  The creaky porch steps hide my sigh. Just like old times.

  ~ ~ ~

  I flop onto my bed, my stomach swollen from Celeste’s cooking. I may not have wanted to go and face the Enderbeys for what was bound to be more awkwardness, but at least I’ll go to bed full.

  Sliding my phone from my pocket—the Reverend doesn’t allow phones at the dinner table and it was absolute torture every time my phone vibrated in my back pocket—I smile at the group message from Ronan and Connor.

  The Cove isn’t the same without you.

  I do the math. It’s only four o’clock there.

  Are you guys still working?

  Yeah, it’s pissing rain. We could have used you here.

  I roll my eyes at Connor’s not-so-subtle reminder of our one time together, that day in the truck, even as nervous flutters stir in my stomach. I still can’t believe I left for Alaska a heartbroken virgin and returned with not only three notches in my belt, so to speak, but the memory of a threesome with two gorgeous men.

  That’s never going to happen again, but how do I tell Connor that without telling him that I’m with Henry now? That my heart has always been with Henry. I’m not sure what Henry wants shared with his staff.

  Ronan knows, even though we’ve never once come right out and said it. He’s always known. But I can trust him not to say a word. Connor, on the other hand, can’t be trusted to keep quiet.

  Send me a picture of our spot on the bay. I want something to remember it by.

  A few minutes later, I get a selfie of a grinning Connor stretched out on the sand at the staff beach, shirtless, a beer in his hand. Several other staffers are around him in bikinis and trunks. Allowing these kinds of texts is probably wrong.

  I thought you said it was raining?

  He’s a drunken, horny liar.

  Ronan’s been pretty quiet in this text exchange. Then again, he’s always been kind of quiet in comparison to Connor.

  A few minutes later, I get a separate text from Ronan with a picture of Kachemak Bay, the dark blue waters rolling in soft waves, the tree-lined shores stretching as far as the eye can see. I curl up on my pillow and study it, my sadness suddenly overwhelming.

  As much as I need to be here for my family, I want to be back there.

  What happened with Wolf?

  I sigh. It’s the first time he’s ever outright asked about him and I can’t lie to him.

  We’re seeing where things go. He’s on his way back to the Cove tonight.

  I take it he knows about us?

  He knows enough.

  Henry never asked for specifics. If he ever does.... My stomach tightens with the thought of giving them to him. What would he say?

  Do C and I need to worry about our jobs?

  No. I made him promise. Just maybe help Connor find another “interest” so he doesn’t keep sending me these kinds of texts.

  I don’t know that Connor’s even capable of having a normal, non-sexually charged conversation, and if that’s the case... I feel like I’m saying good-bye to two really good friends who got me through one of the hardest times of my life. In a way, I guess I am. I think Ronan feels it too.

  Keep in touch.

  I snort. The exact words Henry used.

  You too, Ronan. And thank you.

  I let the phone fall to my pillow beside me as I take in my my dusty rose-and-white room. It hasn’t changed since I was ten, when Mama last updated it. I even have the same antique furniture and bedspread, ivory lace with pink rosettes. My collection of porcelain dolls, handed down by my mother and her mother before her, are lined up on my dresser, staring at me.

  Is it too soon to text Henry? He left nine hours ago now. When he said to keep in touch, did that mean I could text him whenever I wanted? He should be landing in Alaska soon. I can’t help myself anymore.

  Let me know when you’ve landed.

  I grab a book from the nightstand—my copy of Wuthering Heights—and blowing off the dust, flip it open and try to distract myself with words while I wait for the ones I truly want to read.

  An hour later, they come.

  Just got in.

  I miss you so much already.

  I don’t care if that makes me sound like a whiny little girl.

  Do you have the iPad nearby?

  On my nightstand.

  Open it up and connect it.

  I do, and forty seconds later, there’s an incoming call. I hit Accept and I’m treated to Henry’s handsome face.

  “I hate texting,” he mutters through a sip of Scotch, his drink of choice. He’s sitting on the white
leather couch in Penthouse One, his legs spread in that relaxed way. He’s still wearing the jeans and t-shirt that he left me in.

  “This is definitely better,” I agree, though I much prefer in person, when he’s looking me straight in the eye instead of at my image on the screen.

  “Hopefully the connection holds.” His eyes flicker beyond his iPad camera. “There’s a big storm rolling in.”

  “Really? It was sunny there not even an hour ago.”

  “Who told you that?” His jaw tenses, like he knows exactly who told me and he’s not the least bit happy about it.

  “They’re just friends. They wanted to know how my dad was doing.”

  “Have you told them about me?”

  “Ronan already figured it out, but he won’t say a word.”

  Henry seems to consider that, but the tension hasn’t eased from his jaw. “Are you in your bedroom?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Who’s home with you?”

  “Just Flipper.”

  Henry frowns.

  “My dad’s farm dog. But he’s an outdoor dog. He likes to roll in sheep manure.”

  “Lovely.” Henry’s lips twist. He leans forward until his elbows are resting on his knees. “I’ve changed my mind, Abbi.”

  His words feel like a punch to my stomach. Oh my God. After all that, it’s over already?

  “I need to know what happened with you and Michael, and you and those two….” He shakes his head, sighing to himself as that glint of anger in his eyes flares. “Outdoor crew guys.”

  It takes me a few moments to realize that he’s not ending things, and another few moments to calm the nerves in my stomach, the relief overwhelming.

  He’s not ending things yet.

  “Why?”

  “Because I need to know. Exactly how it happened. And exactly what happened.”

  My mouth drops. Exactly? “I… I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I’m…. I guess I’m afraid that you’ll judge me. Or leave me.”