The Reluctant Mate: (Book 13, Grey Wolf Pack Romance Novellas) by E A Price Page A

what happened.  Let him know his daughter’s safe.”
    “Please tell him Reid’s sorry for threatening to punch him,” she said in a scolding tone, eyeing the wolf who was still trying to stand in front of her protectively.
    Reid shrugged unapologetically.  “It looked like he was trying to grope you.”
    Adam’s lips twitched, almost like he was going to laugh.  “Sure.  Jolene can you…”
    Reid growled and put an arm around her waist, splaying his hand on her hip.  “Jolene’s done enough today; she hasn’t even eaten breakfast yet.”
    Adam cocked his head at the younger wolf, his face worryingly blank.  Jolene squirmed as her wolf whined uneasily.  She had to admit his tone was a little on the sharp side.  She had to fight the urge to cringe away from her Alpha’s interested look as he took in Reid’s fierce countenance and his hand on Jolene.
    After a seemingly interminable few minutes, Adam actually smiled.  “Quite, right.  Make sure she’s taken care of.”
    Reid nodded and led her away.  She thought about objecting to the males, but her wolf chuffed at her to relax.  Yes, it was girly and silly, but she liked being looked after for a change.  It wasn’t something she planned on letting happen often, but once in a while couldn’t hurt.
    Oh, she needed to get out more.
    *
    “You really didn’t need to buy all this food,” said Jolene, trying to be admonishing but actually hiding her smile.
    She’d tried to pay, but he refused.  He was determined to take care of her, and it warmed her heart.
    Reid waved away her concerns.  “I figured I’d eat most of it anyway.”
    “That’s true, gotta keep your energy up,” she teased but then blushed as soon as she realized the sexual connotations of what she’d said.  Reid grinned; he wasn’t going to disagree with that.
    They’d enjoyed a late breakfast at the Honeypot Diner, and after they had been shopping and Jolene had run errands, all of which he had insisted on accompanying her to.  Now, she insisted on making him a late lunch.
    “What can I do to help?” he asked, looking a little awkward in the kitchen.  Yes, kitchen cupboards were one thing, but he looked very ill at ease with anything else that went on in there.
    She laughed as he tried to relax by leaning against a cupboard and knocked over the spice rack.  He pouted which just made her laugh more.
    “I guess Norma didn’t encourage you to cook.”
    “More like roared if anyone tried to do anything in there other than grabbing a drink from the refrigerator.”  Reid rolled his eyes.  “She doesn’t even let us wash the dishes – she says we do it wrong.”
    “Lucky for you, I don’t have that problem – once we’re done, the dishes are all yours.”
    “You’re too kind.”
    Jolene gave him a martyred look.  “Yes, it’s a curse.”
    “I wouldn’t say that,” he murmured softly.
    Their eyes met for a few seconds, and her wolf howled before she lowered her eyelashes.  “What do you say to chicken subs and sweet potato fries?”
    “Sounds good.”  His stomach rumbled in agreement.
    “You’d eat anything.”
    “There is that.”
    “Back in a second.”
    Jolene disappeared upstairs.  The phone rang, and Reid considered answering.  Honestly, he didn’t want to talk to anyone, or to allow anyone to ruin their day.  It had already been eventful enough.
    He let it ring out.  As she came downstairs, the answering machine cut in.
    “Jolene for fuck’s sake,” yelled Mark.  “I’m not playing around you bitch; I need money...”
    Jolene sucked in a breath as Reid angrily grabbed the receiver.  “Never call here again!  You do, and I will fucking kill you!”
    He slammed it down, panting as his wolf snarled.
    “I’m sorry you had to hear that,” she said slowly.
    His eyes flashed to the amber of his wolf.  “That fucker threatens you, and you’re sorry?  Fuck, Jolene, how long has this been going on?”
    Jolene gave him a sheepish