Joy to the Wolves (Red Wolf #1) - Terry Spear Page 0,101

me to come over in the morning before the shop opens so you can show me the setup? I can begin working on it then.”

“We’re closed tomorrow, so you can stay at the house and work on it. You should be safe enough. No answering the door to strangers though. Josh and I will be in and out of the house while we are going through the boxes of merchandise.”

“I could help with that too. I can’t believe a couple of old vases from China sold for that much.”

“It’s rare art and was owned by an emperor of China. That’s what made them more valuable.”

“Okay. I want to earn some extra money so I can buy presents for the family I’m living with. I mean, they said not to buy them anything, but they’re going all out to make me feel like part of the family, and I want to do something for them.”

“That will be great.”

Lucas glanced around at the others eating and drinking and playing the Christmas song game. “The only job here for me is to muck out the horses’ stalls. I figure I’ll have plenty of that work to do at the reindeer ranch when I do my community service time with Ty. I’d rather work on the computers for you. For Josh too.” He looked beyond her. “Your mate is coming. You should hear all the bachelors grousing about Josh keeping you secret and then mating you before they had a chance to meet you.”

She smiled. “He’s helping protect me.” And much, much more.

Josh walked toward her, his expression turning from serious to a smile. “Want to dance?” he asked, taking hold of her hand.

She realized the musicians had started to play music for dancing. “Yes. I do. Lucas wants to work on my website at the house tomorrow. We’ll be closed and working back and forth between the house and shop, unpacking boxes and pricing the merchandise. Do you think it will be safe enough for him? He wants to earn some Christmas money for gifts for his new family.”

“If we’re not going to be tied up with the shop being open, sure.”

“Can I help you solve the mystery of your great-aunt’s list of treasures? Josh said that you were trying to unravel where everything is located and why they’re valuable,” Lucas said.

“You sure can,” Brooke said.

Josh pulled her close to dance, and they began the waltz.

“Before we return home tonight, I want to run as a wolf,” she said.

“We’ll sure do that.”

Chapter 23

Josh had tried not to show how possessive he felt about Brooke at the party, wanting her to meet with the pack members and enjoy herself without him hovering over her the whole time. She didn’t need his protection here, but he couldn’t help that he’d continued to watch her, letting the other bachelor males know that he was observing them. The way they’d been smiling at him, he knew they’d been amused and getting him back for keeping her secret from them.

Once Josh held her in his arms to dance, everything and everyone else faded away. “How are you liking the pack so far?” he asked, pressing a kiss against her ear, hoping she was happy to be with them, since he wanted her to feel at home here with the pack and with him.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Everyone has been so welcoming, and I’m glad I have a greater value to the pack, other than just being an eligible female for mating. Or needy, requiring pack members to shop at my store to keep me in business.”

He smiled down at her. “I’m glad. After hearing about some of the finds you’ve made among your great-aunt’s items, they realize you’re financially set, if you weren’t already. It took every ounce of my strength not to chase away the bachelor males speaking to you though.”

She chuckled. “We’re mated, Josh. I love when you’re being honest with me, particularly when I can see you making sure they’re behaving themselves, yet letting me do this on my own for a while. But you could have joined me sooner.” She danced nice and close to him, her body snug against his. “You don’t have to worry, you know. You’re the one I wanted to keep around, even after the danger has passed.”

“I couldn’t be gladder for that.” The way Brooke was holding him close stirred his blood and other things, and he was damn glad they had mated already. He kissed