can take a turn. You probably need to spend some time in your gardens.”
He hadn’t even thought about the gardens or greenhouses since he’d been home. That was a first. His gardens were his life. “Yeah, I should check on things.”
Jacque slapped him on the back on his way along. “Be careful, Sage. She might not want to stay.” With that warning, the alpha left with his brother right behind him.
Armand was already lost in whatever he was working on. Sage headed back toward home, feeling lighter than he had when he’d arrived. Rina had a place here if she wanted it. Now it was up to him to convince her to stay.
Chapter Eight
The shadows had shifted by the time Rina woke. It wasn’t dark outside, but the sun was no longer streaming in through the patio doors. She took a moment to simply enjoy being safe and rested. She’d kicked off the sheet and was covered only in Sage’s oversized T-shirt. For the first time in a very long while, she felt content, almost happy.
She drifted in that half-awake state, listening to the sounds filtering in from outside. A child laughed, making her smile, and a dog barked. She frowned. A dog?
She scented Sage just before the mattress depressed next to her. “Hey, sleepyhead.” She blinked up at him. He’d showered since she’d seen him last. She could smell soap, fresh and rich. It was natural with no chemical smell. Most werewolves used all natural, organic products. All others were an assault on the senses.
“Hey.” It felt as though her chest was filled with a balloon that kept getting bigger. It was difficult to breathe. Yet her heart was full and light.
With his damp hair slicked away from his face, she got the full force of his good looks and smile. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a tank top, like he’d been when they’d met, but this time the top was a vibrant blue that matched his eyes.
“Sleep well?” He brushed his fingers over the side of her face and her entire body tightened.
“Yes.”
His hand stilled and his nostrils flared. “Are you hungry?”
Rina felt like fanning her face with her hand. It had already been warm in the room, now it was downright hot. She was hungry, all right. She licked her lips and stared at his mouth. He had the most expressive mouth. His lips weren’t too full or too thin. They were just right for kissing.
“Rina, honey, you have to stop looking at me like that, or we’re not going to make it to the barbecue, and everyone has been working hard on the food all afternoon.” He ran his thumb over her bottom lip, and she inhaled sharply. His pupils dilated and a deep rumble welled up from his chest.
“Barbecue?” Were they going somewhere?
“Yeah. Gator’s been marinating steaks and a few of the women have made salads and side dishes. I think Anny’s baked some cookies or maybe a cake. I known Miss Elise has made pies.”
Rina frowned, not recognizing the last name. “Who is Miss Elise?”
Sage eased his hand away from her face. “She’s Jacque and Louis’s mom. She’s a great lady, but she hasn’t had an easy life.” He paused before adding, “Their father’s dead.”
“I’m sorry.” Her sympathy was automatic. She knew what it was like to lose someone you cared about. In her case, the people hadn’t died but they might as well have. She’d never see them again.
“Don’t be. He was a mean son of a bitch who tried to kill just about every member of the original pack at one time or another. Not to mention a couple of the women.” She could see from the look in his eyes there was a hell of a lot more to the story than that, but he offered no more.
“Wow. Okay.” She knew some werewolves got so caught up in the power struggles of the pack that they’d stop at nothing to maintain their position.
“He was alpha of the Louisiana Pack and made Miss Elise’s life a living hell. But that’s all over with and has been for years. Miss Elise has a small house near the alpha’s
He hadn’t even thought about the gardens or greenhouses since he’d been home. That was a first. His gardens were his life. “Yeah, I should check on things.”
Jacque slapped him on the back on his way along. “Be careful, Sage. She might not want to stay.” With that warning, the alpha left with his brother right behind him.
Armand was already lost in whatever he was working on. Sage headed back toward home, feeling lighter than he had when he’d arrived. Rina had a place here if she wanted it. Now it was up to him to convince her to stay.
Chapter Eight
The shadows had shifted by the time Rina woke. It wasn’t dark outside, but the sun was no longer streaming in through the patio doors. She took a moment to simply enjoy being safe and rested. She’d kicked off the sheet and was covered only in Sage’s oversized T-shirt. For the first time in a very long while, she felt content, almost happy.
She drifted in that half-awake state, listening to the sounds filtering in from outside. A child laughed, making her smile, and a dog barked. She frowned. A dog?
She scented Sage just before the mattress depressed next to her. “Hey, sleepyhead.” She blinked up at him. He’d showered since she’d seen him last. She could smell soap, fresh and rich. It was natural with no chemical smell. Most werewolves used all natural, organic products. All others were an assault on the senses.
“Hey.” It felt as though her chest was filled with a balloon that kept getting bigger. It was difficult to breathe. Yet her heart was full and light.
With his damp hair slicked away from his face, she got the full force of his good looks and smile. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a tank top, like he’d been when they’d met, but this time the top was a vibrant blue that matched his eyes.
“Sleep well?” He brushed his fingers over the side of her face and her entire body tightened.
“Yes.”
His hand stilled and his nostrils flared. “Are you hungry?”
Rina felt like fanning her face with her hand. It had already been warm in the room, now it was downright hot. She was hungry, all right. She licked her lips and stared at his mouth. He had the most expressive mouth. His lips weren’t too full or too thin. They were just right for kissing.
“Rina, honey, you have to stop looking at me like that, or we’re not going to make it to the barbecue, and everyone has been working hard on the food all afternoon.” He ran his thumb over her bottom lip, and she inhaled sharply. His pupils dilated and a deep rumble welled up from his chest.
“Barbecue?” Were they going somewhere?
“Yeah. Gator’s been marinating steaks and a few of the women have made salads and side dishes. I think Anny’s baked some cookies or maybe a cake. I known Miss Elise has made pies.”
Rina frowned, not recognizing the last name. “Who is Miss Elise?”
Sage eased his hand away from her face. “She’s Jacque and Louis’s mom. She’s a great lady, but she hasn’t had an easy life.” He paused before adding, “Their father’s dead.”
“I’m sorry.” Her sympathy was automatic. She knew what it was like to lose someone you cared about. In her case, the people hadn’t died but they might as well have. She’d never see them again.
“Don’t be. He was a mean son of a bitch who tried to kill just about every member of the original pack at one time or another. Not to mention a couple of the women.” She could see from the look in his eyes there was a hell of a lot more to the story than that, but he offered no more.
“Wow. Okay.” She knew some werewolves got so caught up in the power struggles of the pack that they’d stop at nothing to maintain their position.
“He was alpha of the Louisiana Pack and made Miss Elise’s life a living hell. But that’s all over with and has been for years. Miss Elise has a small house near the alpha’s
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