Page 77 of Ice Wolf
“Like setting a date.”
“No!” The smug look on his face was infuriating. “Like figuring out how the two of us are going to live together for the next few weeks without killing each other.”
“Aww. Opposites attract. Enemies to lovers. Grumpy/sunshine. The perfect recipe for a happily ever after.”
“You need to stay away from Mother’s romance novels, Pops. Just a tip. You’re turning into a broody fake hero instead of a pack leader.”
Every time he laughed, the earth beneath our feet shook. Tonight was no exception. He was a gregarious man with a zest for life. He was also a brutal leader when necessary. “Incidentally,” he mentioned almost casually. “We will need to talk about my retirement.”
“Oh, hell, no, Pops. We are not having that conversation again. As you said, I’m in my prime. I refuse to give up my career to become the next unwanted pack leader.”
“It’s in your blood. You are our firstborn and as such, you are required to become leader of the pack. It’s your true destiny. I can’t wait to see when you ascend to the throne. The day will be a true celebration and your mother and I will be so proud of you.” He held his fisted hand against his heart, standing tall and staring toward the top of the wall behind me as if standing in front of a cheering crowd.
He did so adore his job. Way too much if you asked me. “Yeah. Yeah. I’ll consider it when I retire from the ice. Which isn’t going to happen any time soon. You still have a few good years left in you. If the romance novels don’t turn you into a hapless Golden Retriever.”
He was still basking in the moment, which reminded me that becoming pack leader was nothing I’d ever wanted. Hockey was my jam and I remained firmly committed to continuing my career.
Even if the little librarian came along for the ride.
“I’m going to check on Lily and make sure she’s alright. If I know Mother, she’s already selected a date for the wedding and hired the caterer.”
“True. Oh, why don’t you bring your fiancée by the house on Sunday afternoon around two? We’re having a barbeque with a couple friends and it will be nice to introduce our future daughter-in-law.”
“Dad.”
“Son.”
I laughed and shook my head as I headed to the door. I adored my parents, but they were far too overbearing.
As soon as I was a few feet away from the kitchen door, I realized my mother had gone full steam ahead on wedding plans.
“I think an October wedding will be perfect. Let’s scrap the winter festivities. Plus, there’s training camp to consider. You don’t want to spend your honeymoon on the ice. I know my son. He’d drag you there every day. Now, let’s talk about the flowers. With your hair color, I don’t think we could go wrong with roses. Classy and classic. White? Or red. I’ll leave that up to you. No. Maybe sterling silver roses. Yes, that’s the right hue. With your incredible complexion, you’ll be a star. We can adorn the cake with fresh petals. Oh, this is so exciting.”
The moment I walked in, I was forced to try to keep from laughing.
I knew the expression ‘deer in the headlights,’ but Lily’s expression was more as if she was staring at a group of hockey players who’d just dropped their boxers.
Or even worse, as if she’d just witnessed a heinous murder by a serial killer and was covered in blood.
“Mom. I think that’s enough for tonight. Maybe you can show us to our rooms. My beautiful fiancée and I need some time alone. Very much alone. I think my bride to be needs some TLC.”
Mother wasn’t the kind of woman to stop on a dime. She also wasn’t paying attention to anything I was saying. “Just a second, son. We’re almost done here.”
Almost done? The counter was covered in magazines and I didn’t need to get any closer to see the spread of photographs. Bridal magazines. I could only hope my dear mother was holding them for when my sister got married.
“There is nothing you can do to provide any comfort at this point, Saint,” Lily threw out. Her voice held an iceberg chill and all I could think about was cutting the sarcasm with my highly effective charm. There was something powerful about witnessing her anger and indignation.
Plus, she was completely flustered around my mom.
I thought the showstopping number with the reporters was the coolest thing I’d seen in a long time. This was much better.
“Oh, come on, honey bunchkins. How about a nice, long massage?” I folded my arms across my barrel chest, purposelytaking a huge exhale while keeping the grin on my face. My actions infuriated her even more.
“Over my dead body,” she hissed between clenched teeth, her cute little nose crinkling. The filthy images shifting through my dangerous mind were merely a tiny taste of what I planned on doing to the luscious woman. She’d fallen into my trap, accepting the bait as if she knew exactly how to handle me. Even the slight pink that had formed in her cheeks was drifting into a beautiful shade of rose.
“Come on. I can make you feel like the queen you are. Buzz. Buzz. Sting.”
Very slowly Lily lifted her head, the haunted look in her eyes immediately shifting. Gone was the deer in the headlights, replaced with a snake prepared to strike not once but several times. When she didn’t say anything, I realized she was keeping her nasty barbs in check for a single reason.
