Wolf's Oath (After the Crash 3.25) by Maddy Barone Read Free Book Online Page B

What had she been thinking?
    Kathy held out a hat. “It’s awfully cold out,” she said fretfully. “Do you want another scarf? Maybe another pair of socks?”
    Connie was so bundled up she felt like an Abominable Snowwoman. There wasn’t enough winter outerwear for each of the women to have her own, but she and Sherry, whom Stag had persuaded to come to the den, had been urged to wear the warmest pieces. They would need them for the cold trek to the den.
    Sammie took the hat and placed it at a jaunty angle over Connie’s pale blond hair. She leaned close and whispered, “Are you sure you want to marry him?”
    Oh, yeah, now Connie remembered why she’d agree to marry Des. She didn’t have the heart to tell the younger woman that Des, standing only a few yards away, could probably hear their whispers clearly. “Yes,” she said firmly. “Why wouldn’t I?”
    Sammie wavered. “Well, it’s just that, uh, you know. You said you didn’t want to marry anyone.”
    Connie could have told the younger woman she was marrying Des to save all the others from unwanted marriages, but why make them feel bad? Instead she winked. “A girl has a right to change her mind, doesn’t she? And, have you looked at him?”
    Sammie did, her expression doubtful. “Yeah, he’s good-looking, if you like older guys… I mean, uh, if you’re old.” When Connie’s eyebrow flew up she fluttered her hands. “Sorry! But he’s got to be, like, thirty-five or forty.”
    Kathy seemed to be having trouble keeping a straight face. “Ancient. But for an old man, he’s hawt .”
    “Yeah.” Sammie winced. “I guess I’ll shut up now.”
    “Good plan,” Connie said, but she smiled to let Sammie know she wasn’t angry.
    She glanced at Des, who had his back to her. She liked the long legs in worn denim, the broad shoulders, and narrow waist. The loose plaid wool jacket didn’t hide his shape. After years in the military, she was used to closely trimmed hair, but she even liked the thick black braids that hung smoothly down his back. She knew his eyes would be dark and serious as he spoke with Stag and his other friends. His features were strong and regular. Even his stoic, almost grim, expression couldn’t rob his high cheekbones and full mouth of their beauty. When he took a step closer to Stag, the worn denim cupping his firm round ass moved with him. His face was handsome, but his body was utterly gorgeous. As Kathy said, he was hot. Her sister would have called him lickable-licious . Connie always thought that was a ridiculous word for a grown woman to use. It was more suited to someone Sammie’s age. But looking at Des now, she decided lickable-licious was the perfect word to describe him.
    Jodi and Dixie, two crash survivors who had worked as counselors back home and now used their training to help the other crash survivors deal with the trauma of losing everything they had known, came forward to give her hugs and well wishes. “Tell Tami to keep her mind in the present,” Jodi whispered.
    Connie lifted an inquiring brow, about to ask for more information, when she remembered Tami had come for counseling. The cryptic message must be something to do with that. “Sure,” she said.
    “Congratulations to you,” Dixie said warmly. “And to her.”
    Des lifted an arm. “Ready to leave?” he called.
    Connie nodded, handed Sherry her cane and picked up her own. Sherry adjusted the scarf tied around her neck and head. She looked twice her normal petite size, only her black eyes, with their exotic tilt, showing through the layers of wool she was wrapped in. “We’re ready,” Connie confirmed.
    Katie gave her a hug, and so did Kathy, as well as more than half the other survivors. Connie accepted the hugs, trying not to show her discomfort. She was not a hugger. It was almost a relief to step out of the house into the vicious wind.
    There were more men she didn’t know outside, plus three dogs. Sherry flinched at the sight of