Page 30 of A Wolfe in the Woods

“There’s a lookout point,” he added. “The view’s good, but the trail’s a little wild these days. It’s about a mile up.”

“Does it look out to the sea?” I asked, intrigued.

He gave a small nod. “Yeah, and Everwick. You can see the whole town from there. The lighthouse. Even Vellamara Island, if the mist’s clear enough.”

That sounded wonderful. I smiled faintly. “I’d love to see that sometime. I mean, if that’s something you’d be willing to… I mean, if you’d want to…um, facilitate that.”

Smooth,I thought. I sounded like a damn corporate memo.

Jonathan’s mouth tugged into a smirk. “Facilitate, huh?” he echoed, clearly amused. “Let me see what I can do. I was considering going up there tonight. You’re welcome to join if you want.”

A spear of anticipation went through me. “I might just take you up on that. If you really mean it. I don’t want to be a bother, tagging along.”

His gaze lingered on me for a moment—long enough to make the air between us feel heavier.

“I wouldn’t offer if it were a bother,” he said simply.

I didn’t know what to say to that. It wasn’t flirtatious, exactly. But by the way he was looking at me, it wasn’t neutral either.

“Okay,” I said, softer now. “Then maybe I will.”

He nodded, then stood. “Should be just before sunset. The view’s better when the light hits low.”

Jonathan headed back toward the cabin he’d been working on, and I lingered a moment longer in the lake, watching him gather his tools.

“Are you done?” I called out.

He nodded. “With this.”

I tilted my head. “So…are you taking a break?”

With an amused chuff, he replied, “I wish. Unfortunately, breaks aren’t anywhere in my foreseeable future.” He paused before adding, “Now I have to go check on the garden.”

I blinked. “There’s a garden?”

He gave me a look, the corner of his mouth lifting. “You tasted some of it last night.”

Realization dawned, and I lit up. “That was yours?”

He nodded again, more modest this time.

I smiled, genuinely delighted. “Well, it was incredible. I thought May had some secret source or supplier.”

“She does,” he said dryly. “Me.”

I stepped fully out of the lake, the water sliding off me in shimmering rivulets. I quickly grabbed the towel from the lounge chair and dried off my legs and feet, then slipped my red summer dress over my damp suit, knowing it would be fully dry soon under the baking sun.

Jonathan was already packing up the last of his tools, working in a quiet, efficient way. When he straightened and glanced over, I felt the weight of his gaze land on me—warm and calm. His eyes met mine…then slowly dropped, drifting down the length of my body. It was deliberate but, strangely, not intrusive. Appreciative. Almost complimentary.

I wasn’t used to being looked at like that.

Funnily enough, I’d spent nearly a decade at Skoll working myself raw for recognition…only to be overlooked. But here, with this man…I wasn’t even trying, and he noticed. I wasn’t used to it. But I liked it.

My cheeks flushed, and I had to glance away just to steady myself.

After a moment, he spoke. “Ready?” My brow must’ve furrowed, hesitant hope slotting into my chest. “Come on, I’ll show you the garden.”

Beaming, I nodded, tucking the towel beneath one arm and falling into step beside him as we turned away from the cabin and started along the gravel path that circled the lake.