****
“If Robert comes in, call me. I’ll be next door at the sanctuary,” Nika said to Zavier and Carrie. Yesterday, Jaemus had gotten rid of Robert, but he also told her the jackass had been hanging around during The Wolfman Show even after Jaemus’s threat. He hadn’t come back to the post, but Nika didn’t trust the idiot to stay away for good. Considering that most of the town would be at Silver Moon Wolf Sanctuary’s Annual Growls and Grub Picnic, Nika wanted to make sure her two dedicated teen employees had a way to contact her should Robert get incredibly stupid.
“Don’t worry about anything,” Carrie said. “Go have fun with your boyfriend.” She waggled her eyebrows as she emphasized the word.
“My incredibly hot boyfriend,” Nika corrected.
“Aw, it’s no fun when you don’t get all riled up, Boss.” Carrie pouted.
“What’s to get riled up about? Jaemus is my boyfriend.” Nika leaned against the counter near the register and motioned with her finger for Carrie to come closer. “We said The Words to each other yesterday.”
Carrie squealed and wrapped her arms around Nika’s shoulders, almost pulling her across the counter.
“What words?” Zavier came over from the maple syrup display he’d been restocking.
Carrie released Nika and put her hands on her hips. She regarded Zavier as if the boy was from another planet. “The words, Zavier.”
Zavier looked to Nika then back to Carrie. “Still not following you.”
Carrie puffed out an impatient breath then rolled her eyes. “Boys.”
“Sometimes they need diagrams.” Nika patted Carrie’s forearm.
“Surrounded by twinkle lights and blinking arrows.” Carrie rolled her eyes as she turned to Zavier. “What three words could possibly make a woman super excited?”
Zavier furrowed his brows then grinned. “I did laundry.”
Nika barked out a laugh. “That’s a good start, kid.” She grabbed Zavier’s wrist and tugged him closer to the counter. “I’m going to do you a solid and clue you in, okay?”
“I wish someone would.” Zavier focused his attention on Nika as if she were about to give him the secret to how women worked. Maybe she was.
“I love you. Those are the words every woman wants to hear from the man she loves.”
Nika didn’t miss the quick glance the teens gave each other and it warmed her heart. A definite connection existed between them and it had grown stronger since she’d purposely put them on little projects together. It was just a matter of time before one of them made the first official move and stopped worrying about what their parents or anyone else thought.
Zavier blinked and cleared his throat. “I’ll have to remember that.” He arrowed a thumb to the syrup display. “I’m going in the back to get more bottles.”
Carrie and Nika watched him walk away, but Carrie’s sigh made Nika turn to face the girl.
“Something on your mind, honey?”
Nika dodged the flyer Carrie balled up and hummed at her.
“Aren’t you late for a picnic with your incredibly hot boyfriend?”
Jaemus entered the trading post while Carrie’s question still hung in the air. And shit, hot was totally the right word for him. In tan cargo shorts and a white Silver Moon Wolf Sanctuary T-shirt with brown work boots on his feet, Jaemus was rugged and sexy and… delectable. A pair of sunglasses sat atop his head, corralling his blond hair away from his perfect face. Nika had to stop herself from raising her hand to fan her own face. As soon as his gaze landed on her, the temperature in the air-conditioned space soared to a fiery level. A hand fan wasn’t going to be enough to cool her off.
“Ready, sprite?”
“Yes.” She looked back at Carrie. “Remember, only a phone call away.” She waved her cell phone she’d picked up from the counter.
“Remember,” Carrie said, using the same tone Nika had used, “have fun and stop worrying.” She glanced at the clock on the wall behind her. “Besides, we close in two hours. What could possibly happen?”
Nika didn’t want to think of any possibilities. Carrie was right. She was worrying for nothing. Today was a great day for a picnic with Brandy’s wolves and Jaemus, her incredibly hot boyfriend.
With a wave, she let Jaemus tug her out of the trading post. Lowering his sunglasses as she donned her own, he picked up a basket from the sidewalk out front.
“Do I want to know what you packed for our grub?” She peeked into the basket, but he shifted it to his other hand where she couldn’t see.
“I packed snacks fit for wolves,” he said. “Raw meat, fresh roadkill, the remains of woodland creatures who met unfortunate ends.”
Nika stuck her tongue out. “Ick. I’d like the vegetarian option please… or the all-chocolate menu. That would work.”
“You’re sweet enough without the sweets.” He dropped a kiss on her nose then nudged her into a walk toward the woods between the trading post and the sanctuary with Daisy following along beside them.
The day was an August winner. Tons of sun, warm temperatures, stretches of perfect blue sky, so much green filling the woods, and the deep summer scent of various wildflowers. Winter could be brutal in Vermont, but summer made up for it.
And enjoying this weather with her hand firmly surrounded by Jaemus’s only made it better.
Nika cuddled in at his side, wrapping her arms around his muscled one and resting her head on his shoulder as they walked.
“And what’s this all about?” He leaned his head against hers.
Inhaling a fragrance that was all Jaemus and savoring it, Nika said, “I’m just happy.”
“Picnicking in the woods makes you happy?”
“Sure, but picnicking in the woods with you makes me even happier.” She gave his arm another squeeze.
“Doing anything with you makes me happy.”
“We’d better get all this sappiness out of us before we arrive.” Nika knocked her hip against him and wondered how long proper social etiquette required them to stay. While picnicking with Jaemus would be fun, she could think of other things that would be… more fun.
“I make no promises. You bring out the sap in me, sprite.” He brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed the back of it, his warm lips igniting her instantly. How could he have that effect on her? What was it about him?
Everything.
When they arrived at the sanctuary, the event was in full swing. Guests loitered around blankets stretched out in the open field behind Brandy’s cabin, and some of her wolves weaved between everyone, checking out picnic baskets, playing with children, and generally allowing people to enjoy the majesty of the animals Brandy worked so hard to protect.
Lug was the first to greet Nika and Jaemus with a gentle headbutt to Jaemus’s knees.
“Hello, friend,” he said, scratching between the brown wolf’s large ears.
Daisy immediately sniffed Lug, her tail wagging a salutation. Lug sniffed her back, his tail whipping just as much as the dog’s.
“Sometimes I think these two have a thing for each other,” Nika said, taking her turn petting Lug.
“Lug would make a fine mate. He takes care of everybody at the sanctuary and puts others first.” Jaemus spoke as if he knew the wolf on a deeper level. Almost as if he’d had conversations with the creature.
Nika smiled at the vision of Jaemus and Lug sitting down to a bottle of beer together and shooting the shit on a Friday night.
“Where do you want to set up?” he asked.
“Anywhere is fine with me.” Nika motioned to the house. “I’m going to find Brandy and see what I can do to help.”
Jaemus nodded. “Once I put down our stuff, I’m heading for the grilling area.”
“To help Reardon?”
“To help myself to some meat.” He grinned as Nika shook her head.
“Always thinking like a carnivore.”
“Not always.” He gaze intensified as he focused on her. “I like to taste lots of things.”
Nika loved being regarded the way a starving man would survey a buffet. It made her feel important, wanted, loved.
“Hey, when did you get here?” Dylan ran over to them, a soggy rope toy in his hands with Midir’s jaws attached to the other end. She let out little growls as the boy tugged and pretended to steal the toy.
“We arrived just a few moments ago,” Nika said. “Is your mom inside?”
Dylan nodded, gave Daisy a pat, and wrenched the rope toy out of Midir’s mouth. He waved it at Daisy then hurled it away from the guests. Daisy, Lug, and Midir all took off after it.
“Daisy doesn’t have a shot at getting that.” Nika watched as her dog ran sloppily after the two graceful wolves.
“Nope, but it doesn’t stop her from trying,” Dylan said. “That’s what counts.” The boy latched onto Jaemus’s arm. “Put your blanket near mine and Gram’s.”
Nika’s heart warmed as Jaemus and Dylan walked away together. Dylan chatted happily as Jaemus laughed along, and a quick image of a blond-headed, younger version of Jaemus popped into her head.
Where did that come from?
She didn’t expend too much energy thinking about having children. She’d had enough trouble taking care of herself after Tato died. However, now that the trading post was making money again, maybe having a kid or two wasn’t such a crazy notion. From the looks of things, Jaemus had some superior DNA she wouldn’t mind mixing with hers. At thirty-five, however, if Nika was going to explore such a possibility, she didn’t have much time to spare.
But did Jaemus want kids? He’d never said anything one way or the other, but they hadn’t delved into such conversations. Most of their relationship had existed in the here and now. Neither one of them talked much about their pasts or speculated about the future. He got along fine with Dylan. Jaemus was certainly good at entertaining children as indicated by his Wolfman performances. He’d most likely make an excellent father.
Stepping into Brandy’s cabin, Nika filed those thoughts away for now. They were far too heavy for a Growls and Grub Picnic on a sunny August afternoon. She’d let them circulate in her head before giving voice to any of them with Jaemus. She really didn’t want to make him feel pressured or anything. What they shared right now was more than she’d ever dreamed she’d have.
She could be content with where they were. She didn’t need more, although more Jaemus was always a good idea.
“Brandy?” she called as she closed the door behind her.
“In here.”
Nika navigated to the kitchen where Brandy’s counters were full of platters stacked high with appetizers. “Holy cow, Brandy. Most of us brought picnic baskets full of food.”
Brandy rolled her eyes. “I know. I know. I do this every year. I have trouble judging when enough food is enough food.” She waved her hands. “Help me take it all out to the patio?”
The two women spent the next twenty minutes fussing with platters and arranging the spread on Brandy’s patio. As soon as Brandy gave the all clear, the guests descended on the appetizers, devoured whatever Reardon delivered from the grill, and topped everything off with items from their own baskets.
To say the afternoon was a feeding frenzy would be to downplay the entire event. With food, games, wolf interactions, a lesson in wolf science from Brandy’s partner, Dr. Parker Daniels, and great conversations with townspeople—many centered on the upswing in business at Maple Ridge Trading Post—Silver Moon Wolf Sanctuary had pulled off another successful Growls and Grub Picnic.
As the last of the guests left, Jaemus, Dylan, and Nika played a rousing game of fetch with Daisy and Lug. Reardon, Brandy, and Meredith joined them while the sky turned lovely shades of purple and pink, signaling the approaching night.
“That was a ton of fun.” Meredith plopped down on the blanket she’d shared with Dylan.
“And lucrative,” Brandy said. “We raised crazy funds for the wolves.”
“That’s because you, fairy lass, are a genius.” Reardon slid his arms around Brandy’s waist and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“I am. I really am.” Brandy turned to look at Nika. “Although, word is that Nika is a bit of a marketing genius too. I’ve been hearing quite a bit about The Wolfman Show.”
“Well, that’s only working out because Jaemus is the genius.” Nika gestured to her soul mate as he carried Dylan across the field over his shoulder, the boy laughing and wiggling. Lug and Daisy trailed after them, and everything about the picture made Nika feel… right.
“He portrays a good wolfman, does he?” Reardon squinted at his brother then focused on Nika. She had the feeling Reardon didn’t necessarily approve of Jaemus playing a wolfman.
“He’s amazing, Reardon.” The words came out with a bit more bite than she’d intended, but she felt this crazy need to defend Jaemus. Without him, she’d be out of a job, out of her home, out of the one thing that kept Tato’s memory alive for her.
She was about to go on, but Jaemus was suddenly beside her. She opened her mouth then snapped it shut when Jaemus, Reardon, and Brandy all raised their noses to the air in perfect synchronicity. Everything was eerily motionless for a heartbeat.
“Fire,” Jaemus and Reardon said together.
“To the west,” Brandy added.
“West? My post is west!” Nika took off at a run.