Wolf Tracks - Bianca D'Arc Page 0,56
reaching for his wallet, but she held up her hand.
“Oh, no. I couldn’t do that. I’m going to be buying some souvenirs for my family, as well as another outfit and some personal items. You don’t have to pay for any of that, and I can afford it.” She pushed his arm down when he continued to try to get his wallet out of his pants pocket. “Seriously. Thanks for the offer, but I’m good.”
His smile went from concerned to sinful in a second flat. “Actually, you’re way better than good,” he commented in a voice so low that only she could hear it.
She wanted to purr. Just like that, he’d evoked memories of the amazing night she’d just spent in his arms. A night never to be forgotten.
“So are you,” she said, blushing only a little as she dared to say the words.
Felicia bustled in from the kitchen, a platter of hot blueberry muffins in her hands. Even though Helen had just eaten a rather large breakfast, by her standards, she felt her mouth water at the scent of those muffins. Jim’s gaze went to Felicia as well.
“I’m glad we agree on that, Helen,” he said, sounding deceptively businesslike. Only Helen knew what he was talking about, and it made her grin knowingly. “Maybe we should take a couple of those muffins for the road?”
He was already moving before the question left his mouth, homing in on that warm tray Felicia had just placed on the buffet. Helen followed him at a slower pace. Felicia was way ahead of them, wrapping two muffins in paper napkins and handing them each one.
“Sorry these weren’t ready before,” Felicia apologized. “You two got up earlier than I expected. The rest of the guests won’t be down for a few minutes yet.”
“Sorry.” Helen felt compelled to apologize. “I live on a farm. We get up with the dawn, most days. The animals don’t understand sleeping late, but I promise, I’m going to give it a try tomorrow. This is sort of a vacation for me.”
“Oh, it’s no problem. I usually have a little more time in the morning, but my great-grandmother was having a rough night last night,” Felicia explained.
“I saw her on my way out around four in the morning,” Jim said, surprising Helen that he’d been up and about much earlier than she’d suspected.
“That reminds me,” Helen said gently to Felicia. “I promised your Alpha that I’d see if I could help Miss Felicity. Is she around? Do you think she’d let me take a look and see if I can do anything?”
“I know she was very pleased with how you helped Angus, so I suspect she’d be happy to learn if you could do anything for her aching bones. Her knees are particularly bad, and at times, she can hardly walk,” Felicia confided. “That’s a really hard thing to accept for a wolf who’s used to running free. She’s in her parlor. It’s where she spends a lot of her time these days.”
Helen sympathized. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Jim walked her out of the breakfast room then left her at the front door with a kiss. She might’ve lingered a bit too long in his arms, but he didn’t seem to mind. She’d been looking forward to a kiss from him since the last one. She could hardly go a few minutes without wanting to kiss him, now that she knew just how amazing it could be between them.
She was an addict, and Jim was the drug.
He left her to go have his conference call—most likely at the mayor’s office—while she headed into the parlor to see Miss Felicity before she did anything else. The old lady smiled when she saw Helen in the archway.
“Was that your young man who just left?” the old lady asked. Helen realized Miss Felicity had a very good vantage point between the archway to the parlor and the big window that looked out onto the street, with a good view of the front steps, as well.
“Jim has a meeting. Boys only, apparently,” Helen joked, rolling her eyes as she smiled. “I was wondering if I could keep you company for a little bit.”
“Don’t let the males walk all over you,” Miss Felicity advised. “They always try, but you can’t let them succeed.” The old woman had a twinkle in her eye as Helen approached. “If you have to bite him once in a while to get him to take you seriously, my advice