Her Lone Wolves by Diana Castle Read Free Book Online

“Snow’s stopped but it’ll start up again. And it’s going to get colder.”
    Caleb shot him a dark, sullen look. “Yes, sir boss. Whatever you say, boss.”
    Everett heard the blatant insolence in Caleb's voice. He ignored it. This time. His thoughts were still on Jane. The squabble between him and Caleb last night may have started with the chess game, and it may have been evidence of the growing tension between the two of them. But Jane had been at the center of it. There was no way in hell there’d be peace in this house as long as a young, beautiful and desirable woman was in it.
    And then, as if his thoughts had summoned her, Jane came into the dining room.
    Avery quickly rose from his chair. Caleb and Everett both remained in theirs.
    Everett snorted to himself. If Avery wanted to treat her like she was the darned Queen of England that was his business. She was just a woman to him. Albeit a very sexy, attractive one.
    “Morning, Jane,” Avery said, smiling. “Did you sleep well?”
    “Yes, I did. Thank you for asking.” She turned to Everett and Caleb. “Good morning.”
    Caleb only nodded but didn’t look at her. Everett didn’t know what to make of that. Since she still had yet to sit down and was now staring at him, he assumed she was waiting for him to acknowledge her greeting.
    “Morning,” he said. He didn’t try to keep the crabbiness out of his voice. Her alluring presence was making him hornier than hell.
    As if satisfied by that, she finally took a seat. Avery passed her the eggs and ham.
    “Thank you,” she said, smiling warmly at him.
    “There's coffee too if you want it,” he offered.
    “I'll have some later. But that orange juice sure looks good.”
    Everett couldn’t help watching her as she ate. She did so heartily but also daintily, which he wouldn’t have thought possible. Avery was falling all over himself offering her more food and coffee. As for Caleb, Everett caught him stealing covetous looks at her every now and then, which caused the hackles to rise on his neck.
    She finished then set her fork down next to her plate. “The snow’s stopped.”
    Everett nodded as he poured himself a cup of coffee. “For now. It’ll start again soon enough.”
    “Before it does, is there time enough to take me into town?”
    He lowered his coffee cup then wiped his mouth with his napkin. “You have any idea how much it’s snowed?”
    She shook her head.
    “Twenty inches or more. Like I told you the other day, the pass isn’t clear. And with the additional snow we’re going to get, it won’t be clear for a few days. Maybe even a week or more.”
    Avery exchanged a worried glance with him. Everett knew what he was thinking. The moon would be full before then.
    “Have you seen it?” Jane asked, interrupting his thoughts. “Do you know for sure it’s not clear?”
    “I don’t need to see it,” Everett replied.
    “I want to leave,” she said firmly. “I have a life and I want to get back to it.”
    “It’s only a few days,” Avery said. “Once the storm’s let up, the county will start clearing out the roads.”
    “But they won’t get up this way for some time,” Everett added.
    Jane looked over at him. “Why’s that?”
    “Cause we’re the only ones who live this far up the mountain. We’re not high priority, that’s why.”
    “You’re telling me that pass is the only way in and out of here?”
    “Pretty much,” Everett said.
    “How do I know you’re not lying?”
    Everett leaned across the table and fixed her with a dark glare. “And why would I lie? I want you gone from here as much as you want to be gone.”
    Her eyes widened. “Am I that much of a bother?”
    “I didn’t say that. You did.” He sat back in his chair. “Now you sound like you want to stay. Do you?”
    “I most certainly do not.” She glanced at Avery. “No offense.”
    He smiled. “None taken.”
    It didn’t pass Everett’s notice that she hadn’t apologized to Caleb, who