Page 34 of Wild Wolf
Nolan eyed the wine bar, which was already getting busy with customers. Summertime and tourists looked for fun activities, maybe doing a tasting ortwo.
“How good’s yourpour?”
Jordan flexed her fingers and grinned. “Almost as good as your palate.Almost.”
He gave a gentle, affectionate swat on her butt. “Git. Give Galen a hand with the customers at the bar. I have to check on a new batch of Concord grapes that just camein.”
Working at the wine bar wasn’t her first choice because in the past, pack members had to earn thatprivilege.
“You sure you want me there and not someone else? I don’t want to take it away from someone who earned thatright.”
“You’re good. Listen to Galen a spell, see how he does it and then follow his lead. It’s the best way for you to see ourclientele.”
If Nolan needed her at that station, she’d be there. First she wanted to check out the cute wine purse she’d eyed in the store. Merchandising sure had changed in the six years since she’d beengone.
As she entered the store, she saw Adam, the Harlow beta wolf, walk in from the street. Jordan ducked behind a display of wineglasses, not wanting to engage in polite conversation.To her surprise, the Harlow beta headed straight for the cash register, leaned on the counter and smiled at Erica. They put their heads together and talked, too low for Jordan to makeout.
Even though she was Lupine, her hearing wasn’t as sharp as other Lupines. She’d have to get closer to listen and that would give away her position. Not for the first time, Jordan wished her wolf senses were as honed asNolan’s.
No other Mitchell pack Lupines were in the shop. Only three or four Skins milled about, examining the wines for sale and themerchandise.
The Harlow beta glanced up, looked around furtively, and then picked up Erica’s hand and kissed it. Jordan nearly knocked over a stack of glasses inshock.
What thehell?
Then the beta walked out quickly. From her vantage point, she saw him climb into his truck and driveaway.
Unease shot through her. She backed away quietly as Erica waited on a customer and rang up herorder.
As she fled into the wine shop, Jordan wondered why the Harlow beta was flirting with Erica and what thatmeant.
Surely it couldn’t be good. She’d have to tell Nolan later, much later when no one could overhearthem.
Clients piledhigh and deep at Jordan’s station, eager to sample the latest blueberry vintage special. Jordan sweet talked them all, pointing out the delicate fruit flavors and hints of spice. From the glass wall separating the tasting room from production, Nolan watched her as he helped box bottles fresh off theline.
She took her time, paying attention to each person as if he or she mattered more than anything else. Always had that way about her, Jordan. She had a habit of bringing sunshine into a dark day with her cheerfulness andspark.
Certainly she’d brightened his night when he’d taken her, hard and fast, in the dark night for a third time. Then again this morning as the sun peeked over the hills, streaking the sky rose andpurple.
He’d rolled atop her and foundparadise.
Where had she gone wrong? What made her leave so abruptly, saying such awful things? Nolan couldn’t figure itout.
He’d asked his father, who’d shrugged and said Jordan was a freespirit.
It bothered him that he might have been a bad judge of character, plagued him so much that when he took over leadership of the pack, he vowed to stick totradition.
How could he make new rules, enact change, when he remained clueless about the one person most important tohim?
Nolan left the bottling area and headed into the store to check on Erica. She’d told him earlier she needed to speak tohim.
Behind the cash register, the younger Lupine sulked. With her brown hair, round face and brown eyes, Erica could be downright pretty. But when she pouted it made her unattractive. Shortly before he and Jordan became lovers years ago, Erica had flirted with him. When he gently dissuaded her, she kept her distance. Respectful, always following therules.
Unlike Jordan, who always broke them. Couldn’t help a grin as he remembered the time Jordan came to this very store when she was fourteen, and stole a bottle of their cheapest vintage. Nolan had found the empty bottle in thehayloft.
He’d figured she’d have puked her guts out. Instead, he found his younger brother, Bryce, vomiting in the grass as Jordan stood by, shaking herhead.
“Pathetic. Never met a Lupine who can’t hold his liquor,” she’ddeclared.
