Page 68 of A Wolfe in the Woods

He shook his head, a grin appearing. “Poetic.”

“That was a dead giveaway.”

He leaned forward in his chair, regarding me over the small vase of dried flowers in the center of the wooden table. “Or maybe the way she completely ignored you?” he suggested with a raised brow.

“Like I didn’t even exist,” I told him with a short laugh. “You’re probably used to it. I’m sure you get it around town all the time.”

He didn’t say anything in reply.

“Not even going to try to deny it?” I asked, enjoying the way his eyes sharpened on me. “Wow, it must be worse than I thought.”

“It’s not that. It’s just…” he started, running a hand through his thick dark hair, flicking his gaze out the window before it resettled on me. I felt the weight of that gaze as he said, “No one’s ever tempted me enough to pursue them. Well…till recently.”

My heart gave a shallow little skip. I swallowed hard. “Oh?” I asked, but it sounded like a throaty croak.

His lip curled. It was almost mischievous. He took a sip of his too-sweet coffee and then said, “In town, it’s just easier to ignore it. Then I don’t have to be the jerk who turns them down.”

“Don’t you ever get lonely up in those woods?” I asked softly.

“I keep busy,” he replied. I was surprised by the honesty in his voice when he added, “On purpose.”

It reminded me of May’s words the day I’d left Juniper Hollow after my fight with Jonathan.

Part of me knows he’s hidin’ away here in the woods.I just worry he’ll hide the rest of his life away,she’d said.

The more time I spent with him…the more I wanted to uncover. Was it just about what had happened in Graymore? Or was it something else?

“The endless to-do list certainly helps,” he added, reminding me of last night’s tipsy conversation. A night that had been filled with golden candlelight and good food and loosened tongues. He must’ve known what I was thinking of because he said, “I had a good time last night. I’m glad you decided to come back.”

Suddenly I grew a little shy at the words.

“Me too,” I said softly.

Then, in the brief silence that came after, I bit into my cardamom bun. An explosion of warm spice mixed with adelicate sweetness. The brown butter glazed on top added a perfect nuttiness. “Oh my gods, you have to try this.”

Jonathan chuckled, dragging his plate closer. “I already know. Why do you think I brought you here?

“I need about ten more of these.”

“You sure you’ll have room for oysters after?” he reminded me, amused.

Right. What had begun as Jonathan asking me if I wanted to join him on a trip to town this morning—partly because he had to pick up groceries that May had ordered for the Hollow—had devolved into…something that was feeling more and more like a date.

Earlier, as we’d been walking to the coffee shop, I’d merely mentioned how much I’d missed the Vellamara oysters from last night. And so, I was surprised—and delighted—when he’d suggested we get them later at the stall by the sea when it opened at three. I certainly didn’t mind, but I knew Jonathan had a lot to do back at the Hollow.

However, judging from the way Jonathan’s shoulders were relaxed and by the heart-skipping grin that spread across his handsome face after he took his first bite of the cardamom bun…he didn’t mind either.

I was breathing hard, the muscles in my legs burning.

“You can do it, Red,” came Jonathan’s deep voice above me. “Just a little bit more.”

“We shouldnot…have gotten…that second…bun,” I gasped, cramping up. I groaned.

His gruff chuckle echoed.Damnhim for not even sounding a little out of breath. “It was worth it.”

“Maybe,” I panted, “for you.”

Jonathan reached the top of the stairs before me, and I heard the creak of the rusty door as it opened, bright light flooding the inside of Moonbeam Point Lighthouse.