Wolf on Board (Wolves of Willow Bend Book 14) by Heather Long Read Free Book Online

ignored the response. “Why are you following me?”
    “Not following you, exactly.”
    Folding her arms, she stiffened her posture and firmed her position there on the sidewalk. It had taken her years to perfect her father’s stare, though her mother’s could be more intimidating, depending on the circumstances. Focusing on Jake, she simply waited.
    He’d crumble.
    They all did.

Chapter 4
    J ake had two choices —come clean or bail. If he bailed, he could walk away from the Willow Bend wolf and simply pretend none of this happened. She’d wanted him to take off previously, informed him they shouldn’t share any kind of involvement. Lone Wolves were forbidden ties to avoid situations like Three Rivers. Mimi wasn’t a Lone Wolf, though. She was a wolf who roamed from her pack seeking freedom, education, and understanding.
    After his earlier conversation, it was clear to Jake he wasn’t a Lone Wolf, either. He’d been roaming and sooner or later, he would go home. Bailing would be the coward’s way out. Not to mention, the boring way. If there were two things he prided himself on, he wasn’t a coward.
    He sure as hell didn’t care to be boring.
    “I wanted you to call me and you hadn’t.” Honesty. “So I checked a couple of the cooking schools.” Eight of them. Who knew the area boasted so many? “Picked up your scent at the Sassy Cupcake.” A grin pulled at the corners of his lips even if her expression didn’t budge one iota. Man, did she have resting bitch face perfected. The coolness in her eyes, the unrelenting stare, the firm compression of her lips…damn, she was hot. “Please tell me you make excellent cupcakes. I’ll happily offer myself up as a taste tester for you.”
    She didn’t tap her foot. Nor did she shift her posture. Hell, she didn’t even blink. Yet the rising sense of aggression couldn’t be mistaken for anything else. The hairs on his body stood on end and his wolf quieted, effectively pinching his lips shut rather than letting him pop off with another smart remark. Yeah, sometimes his wolf knew better than he did when in the presence of a dangerous predator.
    Still…Mimi wasn’t just any dangerous predator. “Look, gorgeous, I know I fucked up. I’m trailing you, trying to catch your eye. Some people might call it stalking and maybe it is…but I want to impress you so you’ll come play with me. Not piss you off so you want to kick my ass.”
    Could she kick his ass? Even as his wolf couched—whether at the stupidity of his pursuing such a particular line of inquiry or in preparation for discovery of where that thought process would take them—he couldn’t help but measure her size against his. She was smaller in stature, nearly a full head shorter than him. She had supple muscle, but sweet curves. Her eyes were huge, almost like a doll’s, and the gorgeous spill of her hair highlighted the gentle oval of her face.
    Delicate. Stunning.
    Blowing out a breath, he lowered his hands but kept his palms facing her. “Babe, I would be a fool to assume you’re anything but capable. I promise, I don’t plan on being a fool. Let me buy you a meal—or share one with you. Spend some time with me. I promise, I’m loads of fun and I’ll make your laughter my priority.”
    “My priorities are none of your business.” Firm reprimand, but it wasn’t a rejection.
    “We’re blocking traffic.” The gentle reminder lifted her gaze from him to the increased population, which included groups having to break up to go around them on the sidewalk. “So, how about we relocate to the diner for food, and you can chastise me properly.”
    “You really think you’re cute, don’t you?” Wow, not even a glimmer of a smile. Her expression could be carved into stone for all the emotion seeping through.
    “No,” he said, deciding to stick to his strengths with honesty and charm. “I know I’m cute. I also know I’m wonderful company, relatively attractive, and wildly interested in