Treacherous (The Wolf Pack Series) by Maureen Smith Read Free Book Online

sighed. “I just wish that rescuing people from burning buildings was a bit more lucrative.”
    Celeste nodded sympathetically. “You don’t have to explain yourself to me.
    You know I understand better than anyone how difficult it is to raise a family on modest incomes. Sterling and I are just barely making ends meet.” Her lips twisted ruefully. “Yesterday when he gave Marcus twenty dollars to buy some snow cones, I couldn’t help wondering how far that would set us back.”
    “Oh, God,” Prissy said, her eyes filling with concern. “I can’t believe I’m over here whining about my problems when you and Sterling are going through such hard times. Do you need to borrow some—”
    “Girl, no,” Celeste said quickly, her face flushing with embarrassment. “I didn’t tell you that to make you feel sorry for me. I just wanted you to know that I understand and respect your decision to accept the job in Denver. You did what was best for you and your family, and someday they’ll realize that and thank you.”
    Prissy nodded slowly, gnawing her lower lip. “Are you sure you don’t need some money?”
    Celeste heaved a sigh, wishing she’d never opened her mouth. “Of course I need money,” she admitted. “But I won’t take any from you.” Prissy frowned. “Why not?”
    “Well, let’s see. You’ve got more mouths to feed than I do, you have to pay the mortgage on that nice big house of yours, and I know for a fact that the cost of living in Denver is much higher than you’re used to. So, no, I won’t take a dime from you. Besides,” she added when Prissy opened her mouth to argue,
    “Mama Wolf already offered to loan us some money, and I accepted. But please don’t tell Sterling. You know how proud he is.”
    “I won’t say a word,” Prissy promised. “But how are you going to explain the extra funds?”
    “I’m telling him I got a bonus from the hospital. Anyway, let’s get back to you and Stan. What I was saying is that you shouldn’t jump to conclusions just because he’s been acting differently. If he’s still unhappy about living in Denver, couldn’t that explain his behavior?”

    “Maybe.” But Prissy didn’t look or sound convinced.
    “Do you have any other reason to suspect he’s having an affair?” Celeste prodded. “Has he been staying out later than usual? Lying about his whereabouts?
    Getting strange phone calls at all hours of the night?” Prissy frowned, shaking her head. “No to all of the above.”
    “And you haven’t found a woman’s phone number in his pants pocket?”
    “Of course not. He wouldn’t be that careless.” Prissy pushed out a long, deep breath. “Look, I don’t have any proof that he’s cheating on me. It’s just a feeling I have. An instinct.”
    “An instinct,” Celeste repeated skeptically.
    “Yeah. You know, women’s intuition.” Prissy searched her face. “Don’t you think you’d be able to sense something was wrong if Sterling was cheating on you?”
    Celeste glanced away, her face heating with shame at the thought of her forbidden feelings for Grant Rutherford. She wished she could confide in her sister-in-law and get some advice, but that was out of the question. No one could know her guilty secret. Absolutely no one.
    “Well?” Prissy prompted.
    “ ‘Well’ what?” Celeste mumbled.
    “Don’t you think your instincts would warn you if Sterling was cheating on you?”
    “Sterling would never cheat on me,” Celeste said with quiet certainty. “Just like Stan isn’t cheating on you.”
    Prissy was silent.
    When Celeste looked at her, tears were shimmering in the other woman’s eyes.
    “That man loves you,” Celeste said gently. “Anyone can tell by the way he looks at you. You might think you need to lose weight, but whenever Stan sees you, it’s obvious to me that he thinks you’re the most beautiful woman in the world. He can’t keep his hands off you, Pris. Every time I turn around he’s touching your