Chapter Twenty-nine

Sam kept an eye on Glenna in the very back of the SUV. It was dark now and she’d stopped ranting at him, but he could feel her giving him the evil eye anytime she caught him looking.

“Are you ready to talk?”

“No.”

“Quit sulking.”

She stuck her tongue out at him.

“Oh, that’s mature.” He focused back on the twisty mountain highway. “It’s a long drive back to the cabin. You’d be much more comfortable up here.” Her scent permeated the closed vehicle and he wanted her up with him, even if it wasn’t the brightest move. He risked being turned to stone and took a peek in the mirror. “I can pull over and let you up front, if you promise to behave.”

“You mean if I promise to let you manhandle me again?”

“Hey, you brought that on yourself.” He ignored the twitch of his cock at the thought of how her backside had felt under his hand as he’d carried her down the stairs. Her soft breasts pushing into his chest. And the urge of his wolf to dominate the hell out of her and just make her behave. He took the opportunity of a pullover that went behind a chunk of rock and out of sight of the highway. He parked the car and looked back at her. “What do you say?”

“Fine.”

Her eyes were wild behind the bars. He could already see the wolf inside and it called to his wolf. He should leave her back there. It was the smart move.

“I want your promise you’ll behave.”

“I promise not to run away for the remainder of the drive. Now let me out.”

“I guess that’s as good as I’m going to get.” He went around and opened the hatch and pocketed the keys. He wanted his hands free.

She unfolded herself from the back. “Do you mind if I stretch a little before we get back in?”

They were hidden from the road, and it was dark, but he could still hear traffic. He gave her a hard look. “Just remember, I’m bigger, I’m faster, and I’m meaner. If you run this time, you’ll be in the back for the entire trip.

“I already promised.” She shook him off, crossing over to the edge of the overlook and kicked a rock into the babbling creek.

He sighed. And watched her walk further away from him and the SUV. Yes, she’d promised. But she’d done that before. He’d better stick with her.

“So, that was your fiancé.”

“Yeah.” She kicked another rock.

“And now he’s living with your sister?”

“I guess she needs someone. My grandmother isn’t the nurturing type.”

“And he is?” She didn’t say anything, just stared off into the dark. “I understand wanting to see your family, but that jerk? You’re better off without him.”

She turned and glared at him. “I had a life before all this. I had a job and a family. He fit in. My grandmother liked him. My boss liked him. Even Sarah liked him.”

“I guess Sarah really liked him.”

“Shut up.”

“I’m sorry. I know it hurts like hell.”

“How would you know?”

He kicked a rock too. Watched it sail off into the air then crash into the spray of the creek. “You may not think it now, but you’re better off without him.”

“I know.” She shook her head. “You know what?”

“What?”

“He was a bit of a tight ass. Sometimes I think the person he really wanted to marry was my grandmother.” She shook her head. “Maybe that’s why he’s going after Sarah. Poor Sarah.”

“Come on, it’s time to go.” They got back in the SUV. This time she was in the front seat. “Are you hungry?” They pulled back onto the road.

“Starved. I seem to be hungry all the time anymore.”

“That’s the change. You should see what a school full of teenage boys undergoing that and puberty eats.” He shuddered and she laughed. “Now that’s scary.”

They rounded the next bend and passed a black SUV with tinted windows pulled over on the side of the canyon. Sam slowed down and let a sports car and an RV with a boat pass him on the next pass though. Then he saw the SUV. It had gotten back on the road two cars after he’d pulled back on the road.

He kept his eye on them.

“Glenna, tighten your seatbelt.”

“What’s going on?”

“Make sure it’s tight.”

They rounded a curve and the two lanes merged back into one. The black SUV was still behind them.

“Hang on.” He pushed on the accelerator, forcing the unwieldy car up and around the twisting road. The SUV stuck to them like glue. He drove fast until he again was nose to tail with the RV hauling the boat. Perfect. When the next opportunity to pass came he’d force the SUV behind the RV, then he’d lose them.

There was a hard bump on the back. The car shook and bounced, skating close to the drop off on the side of the road.

Sam’s palms went wet with sweat. He yanked hard on the steering wheel, wrestling the SUV away from the edge that curved off into nowhere. Tires squealed as they tilted precariously to the side, finally coming down hard as the road straightened out.

Another hard hit. The wheel slipped through his hands. “Hold on!” He smelled the sharp tang of Glenna’s fear as they slid across the road, heading for the edge of the ravine.