Page 10 of Protecting The Gray Wolf
Shoving up from the table, he began to pace. Inside him, his wolf prowled. Her past shouldn’t matter. He had to remain objective. Empathy was an emotion he couldn’t afford to indulge. Not if he wanted to stay alive. It wasn’t as though she’d been physically abused or done without. She’d had a roof over her head, food, medical care, and the best education money could buy. She’d also been alone. Being abandoned and emotionally neglected by those who were supposed to love and care for you left scars. He could relate. At fifteen, he’d lost his family and pack when he’d made his first shift and become the gray wolf.
Setting his jaw, he forced himself to stick to the data. There were lives on the line, including hers, whether she knew it or not. If not for her obsession with wolves and the fact that she’d painted his exact likeness in that form, there was nothing in her past to suggest any association with werewolves or mages.
But shehadpainted him. And hehaddreamed about her, possibly shared the same one. As much as he might want her to be innocent, he couldn’t afford to be blind to the facts. The neglect of her childhood might have left her wide open to being manipulated by a mage. For all he knew, she might be a willing participant. He couldn’t allow the explosive attraction between them to lead him astray. But one thing was abundantly clear. To get to the bottom of things, he’d have to spend time with her.
His wolf perked up and made a noise of agreement. They weren’t exactly seeing eye-to-eye on Luna, the beast ready to take her at face value. He’d always depended on his wolf. It was disconcerting to doubt the creature’s loyalty, but that wouldn’t stop him from doing what needed to be done.
Decision made, he went back to the laptop and finished. When he was done, he wiped the hard drive. He’d dump the computer and pick up another one. The broker had a sterling reputation, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Tossing everything he might need for the day into a knapsack, he slipped it over his shoulder and headed out. Time to track down Luna.
…
Everything was conspiring to make her late. She’d stubbed her toe while getting in the shower, gotten shampoo in her eyes—which had stung like the devil—and banged her hip on the vanity—which had already produced a bruise. Her hair had chosen this morning to be difficult, forcing her to tame the curly mass by wrestling it into a clip at her nape. She’d managed to get her mascara on without poking out her eye. Go her! Deciding not to push her luck, she’d slicked on her favorite cherry lip balm and called it done.
Trying to hurry had turned her into a menace to herself. She’d ruined two pairs of stockings before giving up and going without, choosing to wear a loose summer dress in vibrant shades of blue and green that swirled around her ankles. She’d paired it with white flats and her favorite paper-thin white sweater. It was pretty and artsy yet professional enough for the gallery.
With no time for breakfast—or to think about the realistic dream that had left her hot and bothered—she shouldered her bag and left her apartment. Ignoring the protests of her empty stomach, she took the stairs rather than wait for the elevator. It could be notoriously slow, especially when she was in a hurry.
Thoughts of Kade tried to push their way to the forefront. She shoved them aside. Nothing that happened in her sleep was real. End of discussion. If she believed for one second that it was, she might as well check herself into a hospital for evaluation. People didn’t share dreams. It was nothing more than her overactive imagination working overtime. Like her imagining he was the gray wolf.
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
It was quarter to nine, and the sidewalks were crowded with people like her trying to get to work on time. Picking up her pace, she managed to catch two green lights, making it to the gallery at exactly nine o’clock. God, she hated being late. And to her, on time was late. She preferred fifteen or twenty minutes of quiet time to enjoy a coffee and settle in before the work day began.
Tony Hasan, Chelsea’s personal assistant, was already inside with the door unlocked and the lights turned on. In his late twenties, Tony was tall and slender with smooth, light brown skin and dark eyes. His good looks and innate charm made him a hit with the female clientele. He also shared Chelsea’s bed on occasion.
“You’re running late.” He sounded almost gleeful as he finished hanging a painting. Luna expected he couldn’t wait to mention it to their boss. For some unknown reason, he’d taken an almost instant dislike to her from the first day she’d come to work here.
Not willing to engage in pettiness, she hurried to the back room. “I’m usually early.” Which was more than he could say. Half the time, he was late for his shifts. She made a point of glancing at her watch. “Right on time.” After tucking her bag in a secure cupboard, she joined him. “How did the rest of the opening go?” If there was one thing guaranteed to change the topic of conversation, it was a party. He lived for them.
“It was amazing. Chelsea sold the Gardner painting and two Carmens.”
That was impressive. Her questionable personal choices aside, there was no denying the woman had a knack for selling art. Luna had learned a lot from her about running a successful gallery. It had given her the opportunity to view transactions from both sides as painter and seller. The education was invaluable, even if at times she had to deal with being denigrated and put down by her colleagues.
She listened with half an ear as he droned on and on about the event.It’s not forever.That was her mantra. She wanted another six months under her belt before she started looking for another position. It was important she left on good terms. The industry was a small one, and word got around. If Chelsea badmouthed her, she’d be hard-pressed to get another job. As he talked, they continued to remove the sold pieces from the walls and replace them with older stock and some newer pieces from upstairs.
The door chimed as it opened, announcing a potential client. She turned with a smile of greeting. It froze on her face. The man she’d done her best to put out of her mind was walking toward her. Like last night, he wore jeans that fit to perfection. He’d paired it with a short-sleeve T-shirt in a gray that matched his eyes and hair. The seams stretched at the shoulders and hugged his biceps, reminding her how she’d clung to them in her dream.
Don’t panic. He’s here to see Chelsea.The reassurance did little to quell the jitters dancing in her stomach. She’d kissed him. Not in reality, but she couldn’t stop staring at his lips, wondering if they’d taste as good as they had in her fantasy. There was no reason he’d want to speak to her, not after the way she’d jacked the price on the painting. Not unless he’d changed his mind and decided he wanted a refund. Her breathing grew shallow, and her heart began to race. She might be looking for a new job by the end of the day.
“Good morning. Welcome to Chelsea’s.” Tony stepped between them and shot her a glare over his shoulder. That was her cue to walk away. They were paid a base salary but made a percentage from each painting they sold. She didn’t begrudge him. He did have seniority. Plus, if she made a fuss, he’d tattle to their boss. Then Luna would be forced to endure yet another lecture on the value of teamwork. Funny how the issue only seemed to arise when it benefited them and not her.
Kade ignored the greeting and walked around Tony, stopping in front of her. “Good morning.” The timber of his voice vibrated in her bones. She wanted to press her face against his chest and listen to the heavy beat of his heart. Scratch that, she wanted to yank up his shirt to see if he did indeed have the same tattoo as her wolf.
His presence was almost overwhelming, the dream front and center in her awareness. They’d kissed and touched.It’s not real.The reminder gave her a jolt. She was staring at him like an idiot.Get a grip!He was likely used to women making fools of themselves over him. Having no intention of joining the masses, she schooled her features and gave him a practiced, professional smile. “Welcome back to the gallery. What brings you here this morning?” No way would she let him know he was getting to her. There were times in her life pride was the only thing that had gotten her through. She donned it now like armor.
Tony nudged her aside. “I’m afraid Luna is busy.” His smile was more a smirk. “The paintings sold at last night’s opening need to be wrapped and shipping arranged.”
“Of course. Excuse me.” It was pointless to object, and she honestly didn’t mind the reprieve. It wasn’t meant that way, but Tony was actually doing her a favor. She was in no frame of mind to face Kade. Ignoring the knot in her stomach, she hurried to the back room where the sold inventory waited to be processed. It was her job to handle the packaging and logistics, keeping her busy and out of the way while her coworkers concentrated on sales.
Normally, she didn’t mind. Being around art was a joy, even if it wasn’t particularly to her style or taste. Especially then, because it gave her the opportunity to learn, to expand her knowledge. “It’s probably for the best,” she muttered.
“What is?”
Startled, she spun around and almost smacked into Kade. He was standing way too close for comfort. For a large man he moved like smoke, or maybe she’d been too lost in her thoughts to hear him. “You can’t be in here.” Sure enough, Tony was standing in the doorway watching. “You’ll get me fired,” she whispered.
He might have bought her painting, but that didn’t give him the right to put her job in jeopardy. For all he knew, she depended on it to make a living. He had no way of knowing she could support herself without it.Just like a man with money, she silently fumed.Doing what he wants without thought to how it affects others.Her father and all his so-called friends were the same. She ignored the bitter taste in her mouth.
Frowning, he pointed to her wolf painting, which was propped against the far wall. “I changed my mind. I don’t want my purchase shipped. I want it wrapped so I can take it with me.” He turned toward Tony. “That’s what she does, isn’t it?” The authority in his voice had her coworker taking a step back.
