Page 10 of Ravenous

“So where’s Remy’s mom?”

“Deadbeat,” she muttered with a wave of her hand. “She abandoned the baby right after she was born, from what I can gather. I suspect that’s why he’s so grumpy. He was single-dad-ing it on the rodeo circuit for three and half years, if you can believe it.”

“He was in the rodeo?” I squeaked, my mind going to even hotter places. That guy on the back of a bull?

“Yup.” Marina fanned herself then laughed.

“He took her all over the country? Are you serious?” I stared out at the pair of them before they disappeared back into the barn. “How didthatwork?”

“I don’t know–not too well. I mean, the rodeo pays well, and I guess he was saving up to be able to buy that house next to you, but the circuit is hardly the place for a baby or toddler.”

I shook my head. “I can’t imagine. So how did he end up here? Through Boyd?”

Everyone in Cooper Valley knew Boyd Wolf had been a rodeo star before he met his wife, Audrey, and retired from the circuit.

Marina took a sip of her wine and nodded. “Exactly. Boyd saw Wes last time the rodeo was in town, and when he found out Wes had a four-year-old on the road with him, he offered him a foreman position here. I think he and Rob sort of made the job up for him because it’s not like Boyd or Colton couldn’t do that work.”

My heart melted even more. Not only was Wes a hero for going it alone as a dad on the road, but the entire Wolf clan were heroes for caring enough about his kid to create a well-paying position for him to get him off the back of a bull. That couldn’t be safe.

“He’s not much of a talker, but I pried out of him that even though the money was good, he was relieved to quit because he knew it was time for Remy to go to preschool and interact with other kids.”

“He sounds like a stand-up guy.”

Marina turned her gaze to me. With her dark hair, her eyes were striking. “Honey, he’s a good one. Rob wouldn’t have hired him if he wasn’t. He wouldn’t have lasted a day, and you know that.”

All of the men at Wolf Ranch were nice. Attentive to their women. Big and brawny. Perhaps a little intimidating, but she was right. They wouldn’t let some dick work here.

“No girlfriend?” I grinned at Marina. “You know. Asking for a friend.”

She smiled back. “No girlfriend. He hasn’t dated anyone since he’s been here, that I know of. I think Remy takes all his focus, but you never know. That could change when he meets the gorgeous girl next door.” She stood. “Come on, you want me to introduce you?”

I gave her a wry grin and stayed sitting where I was. “We’ve met. And honestly, he didn’t seem all that impressed at our first meeting.”

Me, though? I wasveryimpressed with what I saw of him.

Marina waved a dismissive hand. “Well, like I said, he’s grumpy. Don’t let that deter you.”

Deter? Maybe help instead.

6

WES

Thunder boomed,shaking the walls of the house just a split second after the flash of lightning.

It’d been brewing for about ten minutes now. This time, the electricity went out.

Fuck.

I headed to the kitchen wearing nothing but a pair of pajama pants to find a candle in case Remy woke up to use the bathroom. I had one in a glass jar somewhere. Candles weren’t my thing, but Remy had begged me to buy it from the dollar store last week.

There. I found the candle and lit it. It was scent-free, so at least I didn’t have to deal with a synthetic smell driving my wolf nuts.

I set it on the kitchen table as a nightlight of sorts. Fortunately, Remy usually slept like the dead once I got her to sleep. If the storm had been going when I was trying to put her to bed, she would’ve been too scared, but she hadn’t yet stirred.

I found myself glancing through the back sliding glass door toward the house next door. Wondered if Joy was okay.

That was stupid. My neighbor was a grown woman. She wouldn’t be afraid of a summer storm.

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