Page 39 of Wild

My heart picked up speed. She was definitely looking to fall in love.

I shook my head. “Never got serious—” I broke off before I saidbefore you.

She was going back to school.She was going back to school.I had to say it over and over to remind my wolf.

Curiosity gleamed her in green eyes. “Never?”

I shook my head. “No, but I, uh, think I could be ready. Soon. To settle down.” I looked away, turned off the burners and lifted the bacon onto a plate.

“What about the Green Berets?”

“Yeah,” I answered. “I have to figure that part out. As I said last night, it’s time to re-enlist, and of course, my superior officer and all the men beneath me are putting a shit-ton of pressure on me to stay, but I don’t know. I think I might be ready to come home.” I looked out the window over the sink, which had the perfect view of all of Wolf Ranch. “Especially with Boyd and Audrey starting the next generation of Wolf pups.”

I slid the first four pancakes on a plate and covered it with another plate to keep them warm.

“Pups?” she laughed.

Oh shit. I quickly forced a laugh to cover my slip-up. “Babies.”

“Pupsis adorable. I just didn’t expect you to get cute.”

Cute.Christ. “It’s, ah, an old family joke.” I poured batter for four more pancakes and set the table with plates and silverware, all in the same places since I was a kid. The house had been Rob’s… and mine, I figured, since our parents died, but he hadn’t made many changes. He hadn’t wanted to, perhaps at first because it would have been hard but later because he hadn’t found his mate. I figured he didn’t give a shit about things like silverware placement, but if his mate wanted things rearranged, I had no doubt he’d go for it.

Dad had made this kitchen to Mom’s specs. I had no doubt Rob would bend over backward for his mate when the time came. I understood now.

Marina had already set the other two layers on top of the first and was frosting the whole thing.

“Would you work on the ranch?”

I nodded, although her back was to me. “Sure. Rob could always use the help.”

“I guess once a cowboy, always a cowboy, right? Those are skills you never lose?”

“Right.”

“Have you ever ridden a bull like Boyd?”

“No.” I snorted. “Boyd is the only show-off around here. The rest of us just cowboy the normal way.”

She grinned at me. “What’s the normal way?”

I shrugged. “Ride horses. Rope cattle. Mend fences. Throw hay bales.”

“I’ve never ridden a horse,” she admitted.

I moved and leaned against the island so she could see me while she worked. “Never?”

She bit her lip and looked up from her work. “Nope.”

Jackpot. This was something I could do with her.Without touching.We’d be separated by horses. In the open air. I’d be able to control myself.

“Well, sweetness, you get that cake all prettied up, and we’ll carry it down to the bunk house fridge. Then we’ll go on a horseback ride.” I leaned in, swiped a bit of frosting off the spatula and whispered, “I like knowing this will be your first time.”

She paused. “I’m not sure. I have to be back to help Audrey get ready.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll get you back in time. Besides, you’re leaving soon to go back to LA for school.”

Her eyes widened, and she swore under her breath.