Ergan: Winter Valley Wolves #5 (2 page)

T
he desire
to paddleboard stuck with me throughout another hot school day. Near the end of soccer practice, I’ve just about had it with the heat, and as I flap my sweat-dampened shirt, I hear Ergan shout on the field next to us. I glance over and notice that boys are fighting. It ends quickly when Ergan steps in between them. He blows his whistle and calls the end of practice, so I do, too.

After I assign a team member to carry the balls, I walk quickly to catch up to Ergan. “Hey, everything all right?”

He turns his gaze to me, and something odd flashes in his eyes. “Yeah. It was over a—some girl. It’s fine.” He glances away as his fists clench and unclench.

An idea pops into my head. Ergan lives on the lake, too, and while I’ve never run into him, I say, “This heat’s getting to all of us. I’m going out paddleboarding when I get home if you’d like to join me.” Nearly everyone on the lake owns a paddleboard, and while I’ve never seen Ergan out there, I know he lives somewhere on the other side and is bound to have one, too.

He slows his step to gaze at me as if he likes the idea, but he says, “I wish I could. I’ve got things I have to do.”

Great. Totally shot down. “Okay.” I break away and come up with a reason to talk to Taylor. “See you tomorrow.”

I replay Ergan’s rejection all the way home. First I convince myself he was telling the truth, and then I wallow in the self-pity of being alone in a small town with few available men. Fortunately, I return to Ergan being honest, and when I’m finally in my suit, I jog down my dock to dive in for a swim before grabbing my paddleboard.

The water is a soothing blanket of coolness as I glide under the surface for as long as I can before I need to breathe. I kick up to break through and inhale deeply. Taking slow strokes, I make my way back to the shore to retrieve my board from the storage area under my house.

The smooth edge of the paddleboard is slippery as I carry it down the dock. It slaps on the water when I drop it, and I tug it close with my feet. I’ve mastered getting on without having to get into the water first. Moisture from my ponytail drips down my chest as I crouch and step onto the board slowly.

A light breeze flows around me as I begin to paddle. My muscles flex as I stretch all the way through my torso for powerful strokes. A peninsula sticks out in the distance, and I head toward it. A wolf howl catches my attention, and I guess it came from the land ahead. Curiosity gets the best of me, and I keep going in hopes of catching a glimpse of the animal. It’s the perfect opportunity, since I doubt one would swim out to get me.

Trees grow at an angle on the edge of the peninsula and create a canopy of shade. I scan the land for movement. Leaves rustle, and I stroke hard to move forward toward the noise. I glide quickly, and when a flash of gray catches my eye, I follow it. Branches scratch at my face, and I realize I’m too close to the shore. I duck when I see a large tree limb, but I’m not fast enough, and it strikes me in the head.

Sharp pain radiates through my skull, and stars float before my eyes.

Light filters through the water like hundreds of prisms as I sink. It’s beautiful, and I don’t want to look away when something splashes near me. Although when I do, I’m finally rewarded with the wolf I was trying to see. I should be afraid. And when he bares his teeth, I am. I will my arm to strike out to scare him away, but I can’t move. The darkness creeps in again, and he fades away....

“
K
ayla
. Kayla, Kayla! Can you hear me? Kayla?”

It’s a man’s voice, and something about the sound is sexy. I wonder if he saved me from the wolf. I’m so tired that I can’t ask. Now two voices are talking, but their words are muffled. Pain is so intense that I block out the sound again.

I
snap
awake as a headache that could easily be someone smashing a sledgehammer over my brain makes sleep impossible. The crinkled eyes of my neighbor, Warren, gaze down at me as he hovers over my body. “Kayla. Nice to have you back.”

A moan escapes as I sit up. I’m on my couch and in a wet bathing suit. “What’s going on?”

“You had an accident on the lake,” says Warren. I notice his hair is wet, too, and the skin on his torso is the bronze color of someone who tans deeply and never quite loses it over the winter.

“So that’s why someone’s driving a stake into my skull.” I try to stand, but dizziness makes me sit back down as nausea sweeps through me.

“Hold on there. You got a mighty hit to the head and lost consciousness. I’m taking you to the ER.”

“Right.”

“Is it okay if I go find you some clothes?”

I nod and wince at the agony it creates. I’d crack a joke about my underwear drawer, but even speaking hurts, so I stay silent. While Warren is searching my bedroom, I try to make sense of the memories I have. The wolf jumped in when I fell. I recall his teeth coming toward me. But somehow a man appeared to save me. Unfortunately, the sexy voice must belong to my old, cranky neighbor.

He returns with a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt. I remain seated as I pull on my things. Warren’s super-warm hands slip my flip-flops onto my feet. I say, “Thank you. I’m sorry to be so much trouble.”

“No trouble at all.” He takes my hand to help me stand, and I wonder how his skin could possibly be so hot.

When Warren gets me into his truck and we’re moving slowly up our dirt road, he asks, “Do you remember what happened?”

“Not really. I was paddling near the peninsula, and I think I hit a tree.”

“That sounds about right. You’re lucky I was nearby. You could have drowned.”

The recollection of two voices comes to me. “Who else was with you? And the wolf…” I whisper when the realization hits me. “He was trying to save me. His teeth—”

Warren’s sharp voice cuts me off. “Nobody else was with me. And there wasn’t any wolf.”

“But there was. That’s why I was so close to the land. I wanted to see it.”

“You need to be careful around those wolves, Kayla. They aren’t friendly dogs you can pet.”

He reminds me of my father lecturing me, and I don’t quite succeed in keeping my reply from sounding petulant. “I know that. I just wanted to see one up close.”

“Well, I hope you learned your lesson.”

The teenage rebellion in me wants to snap back with a sarcastic retort, but I remember to be grateful Warren saved me. We sit in silence the rest of the way to the hospital, and I wonder why he claims there wasn’t a wolf.

F
our hours
, one x-ray, and a CAT scan later I’m on my way home from the ER. I have a concussion and need someone to stay with me tonight. And I’m supposed to keep my brain from working too hard for the next few weeks, whatever that means. I’m pretty sure Warren has no desire to play sleepover, so I have him call my friend Raven to stay with me instead.

It’s dark, and I watch the headlights of Warren’s truck bounce over our road. Someone must have given him a shirt, and the print must glow in the dark, because I can read “Protect Silver Lake Wolves” in the faint light of the dash. I say, “I’m sorry it took so long. I really appreciate you taking me.”

“No problem. They gave me free coffee.”

I glance over at him to discover he’s got a hint of a smile on his face. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he has the potential to be a happy man. “Well, if I’d known that, I’d have made you some by now.”

Warren glances at me quickly as he pulls to a stop. “I like muffins to go with it.”

Raven’s car is parked next to mine, and I thank Warren as he walks me to the door. While I suspect he’ll continue to mutter about the annoying woman next door, I decide he’ll be getting muffins when I’m feeling up to it.

Raven embraces me gently when I get inside. She says, “You should have called me earlier. I would have waited at the hospital with you.”

I step back from her to say, “It’s fine. I was bonding with my ornery neighbor.”

She grins at me. “He takes time to warm up to people. Can I make you something to eat? I see you have stuff for grilled cheese.”

“That sounds wonderful. Thanks.”

I slip out of my shoes, and my wooden floor is cool under my feet as I shuffle over to the couch. Butter sizzles in a pan as Raven cooks in the kitchen. I notice my paddleboard is on the dock. The memory of the hard surface under my back comes back to me along with two male voices. Now I’m sure Warren didn’t rescue me on his own. But why doesn’t he want me to know who was with him?

Raven comes to me with a glass of juice and sits on the coffee table to face me. I ask, “Have you ever seen any of the Silver Lake wolves?”

“Sure. Why do you ask?”

“Do you think they’re dangerous?” Tart cranberry flavor makes my cheeks pucker when I sip my drink.

“No. But I wouldn’t go pet them.”

“When I hit my head, I was trying to see one up close,” I say. “And I think when I fell, he jumped in to eat me. But that can’t be what happened.” I’m not sure if I’m trying to convince myself or Raven when I add, “I mean, the wolves here have never attacked anyone, right?”

Raven studies me for a moment. “No. Maybe he was trying to save you. I think animals are capable of a lot more than we give them credit for.”

“Maybe. I’m going to go change into my pajamas.”

“Sure. Your sandwich should be ready when you’re done.”

My bureau drawer thumps open, and I pull out my favorite worn sleepwear. A large mirror is behind my dresser, and I glance at myself as I strip out of my clothes. I discover a series of parallel scratches on my shoulder. And when I inspect my bathing suit, the strap has snags as if it caught on a branch.
Or claws.

I lean closer to the mirror and trace the marks left on my skin. They’re warm to the touch, and I hope they aren’t infected. I make my way to the bathroom for antibiotic ointment and a bandage. There’s no doubt in my mind now.
The wolf saved me.
I wrack my brain trying to remember what happened as I smear grease on my tender skin.

My main living space is typical lake-house style with an open floor plan. When I return to it, Raven has my sandwich on the table along with a glass of water. She sits with a mug of tea, and the faint lemon scent carries over to me as I join her.

I’m ravenous and bite into gooey cheese and savor the buttery flavor of the bread. When half the sandwich is devoured, I glance at Raven’s amused face.

She asks, “Hungry?”

“Starved. Getting knocked out and saved by a werewolf is hard work.” I clap my hand over my mouth, because maybe that’s it.
Warren’s hiding the fact he’s a werewolf!

Raven cocks an eyebrow at me. “Werewolf?”

I sigh and lift the other half of my sandwich. “Yeah. That’s just my imagination slipping out. When I was unconscious, I remember the wolf in the water with me, but then he was a man rescuing me.” I grin. “And now my theory is that my neighbor is a werewolf.” I take a bite of food and chew as I watch Raven’s face for her reaction to my crazy thoughts.

She says, “So now the man next door is a werewolf.” She forces a laugh that makes me think she’s questioning my sanity. “That’s some concussion.”

“Or it’s some fantasy. I’ve been obsessed with the wolves lately, and I somehow got the idea that a werewolf lover would be nice.”

Raven chokes on her mouthful of tea, and I hand her my glass of water. She gulps some down. “I’m sorry. You got all paranormal romance on me.”

I smile. “Yeah. Maybe I’ll write it. In the meantime, I guess it’s probably best if I go back to my crush on Ergan.”

“Uh-huh. He’s hot.”

“Unfortunately, he’s not into me. I even sort of asked him out today, but he turned me down.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I asked him to paddleboard with me. It’s too bad, because he could have been the one to save me.” I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I can imagine holding on to those arms.” I waggle my eyebrows and recall the voice I heard. “
Kayla. Kayla?”

“And he turned you down? At the reunion, I got the impression he wanted to start something. I’m sorry. That sucks.”

“He said he had things to do. I’m trying to believe it.”

“I think you should. And hey, you put it out there that you’d like to spend time with him, so maybe that’s what he’s been waiting for.”

I shrug. “I guess. Did I ever tell you we kissed on graduation night?”

“No!” Raven’s eyes are wide. “I can’t believe I didn’t know this. No wonder there’s chemistry between you two. I know you don’t believe it, but I think he’s still got a thing for you.”

“We’ll see.” But somehow I doubt it. I take my plate to the kitchen, and it clatters when I set it in the sink.

Raven joins me and says, “I’ll clean. You should rest.”

The water in the tea kettle is still hot, so I make myself a cup of tea while she tidies up. When we’re both done, I wander toward the back door. I open it, and a breeze flows in as I step onto the deck. Raven steps out next to me, and the railing is hard against my chest when I lean on it. I say, “I like to come out here and listen to the wolves howl. Do you ever do that?”

“I do. It’s lovely, isn’t it?”

I summon up the fantasy werewolf and imagine him calling to me. If only it could come true. “It is.”

T
he doctor told
me not to work for a few days, so I called for a substitute. But I can’t let my soccer team down, and I’m not about to let them play their first game of the season without me. Although I’m going to need help. After my first attempt at blueberry muffins for Warren ended up with double the sugar, I discovered my concussion left me with a poor short-term memory for a while, and I’m afraid I’ll be a terrible coach.

Fortunately Becca, the physical education teacher, steps in for coaches when needed, and I’m sure she’ll help me. But first I need to bribe Warren for a ride with my second batch of muffins, which are fine thanks to writing down each ingredient as I added it. I make my way across the yard to my neighbor’s house. He surprises me by opening the door before I get to it.

“I’ve been smelling these for hours. It’s about time you brought them over,” he says. His voice is curt, but the hint of a smile on his lips tells me I’m growing on him.

“Yeah, the first round didn’t turn out so well. But these are good.” I hold out the bowl for him.

He takes one off the top and bites in. A genuine smile turns up his lips when he swallows it. “Delicious. Now what is it you need from me?”

“Am I that transparent?”

“No. I’m just that clever. I guess you want a ride somewhere.”

“You are clever. I was hoping you wouldn’t mind dropping me off at the high school. My soccer team has their first game today, and I really want to be there for them.”

“Huh. You coach soccer?”

“Yup,” I answer. “So will you?”

“Sure. Let me get my keys.”

He’s still holding the door open with his body, and I assume that going into his house would push our relationship too far. “I’ll wait out here. Thank you.”

I glance around the front porch and notice the small garden off to the side of his house has herbs, and some are freshly cut. I didn’t take him for a man of culinary tastes.

Warren is out before I can inspect much more, and we head to the car. He asks, “How’s the noggin?”

“Not bad.” I’m still not completely convinced Warren isn’t a werewolf, but since they don’t really exist, I say, “Thanks again for saving me.”

“Any time, but don’t make it a habit.” Our doors slam in unison, and after he starts the car, he says, “There are quite a few people that would miss you.”

It’s a tender sentiment from the man, and it makes me smile. We ride in silence, and I sneak a few glances to see if I can detect fur under his skin or claws that might extend from his fingers. I don’t, and when he drops me off, I thank him again.

Ergan is where I expected to find Becca, in the physical education office. He’s on a laptop and lifts his gaze to me when I walk in. He looks confused and blinks quickly. “I thought you were out sick.”

“I was, but I’m fine. I had a little accident, that’s all. I’m not about to miss the first game of the season.”

“Fantastic. I’m not sure the girls would have enjoyed my coaching.”

His response was a little too enthusiastic, and I guess he didn’t want to coach my team. “Oh. Couldn’t Becca do it?”

“No. She’s got a prior engagement.” The laptop clicks shut, and he stands. “But it looks like you don’t need me anyway.” He walks over to his bag, and a zipper hums as he opens it.

Now I’m reluctant to ask for his help, but I’m also desperate. I say, “Actually, I do. I got a concussion, and my thinking is fuzzy.” Ergan glances at me, and his blue eyes trigger something that makes me experience deja vu. I shake my head a little. “I hate to ask, but would you assist me today?”

He comes toward me, and his face is etched with concern. “Are you sure you should be here?” He touches my arm then pulls back as if he shouldn’t have. The heat of him reminds me of Warren’s hands yesterday.

My stomach sinks. I guess he wants to make it clear he’s not interested in me. “Yes. The team already lost one coach at the last minute, and I’m not going to let them down.”

He closes up his bag and stands to lift it over his shoulder. “I’d be happy to help. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have teenage boys to motivate.”

Ergan walks by me as if he can’t leave fast enough, and I call out, “Thanks.”

He falters for just a second, and his shoulders stiffen before he continues moving. Well, that didn’t go so well. So much for my hope of winning him over with my charm. I sigh and head over to the girls’ locker room to make sure my team is ready to go. The happy voices of the girls and the joking around improve my mood, and I decide to ignore my rejection from Ergan when he returns to stand by the bus with me while I wait for our teams to load.

I ask, “Who’s going to give the ‘behave like ladies and gentlemen’ speech?”

He grins at me. “Let me. It’s my favorite.”

I chuckle, glad that at least we’re on friendly terms. Once the players have finished getting settled, Ergan and I get on. I sit in one of the front seats reserved for us as he calls for everyone’s attention.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I know we all enjoy traveling together, and I hope we can continue this tradition. In order for that to happen, a few ground rules need to be respected.” Ergan glances at me. “Miss Hayward.” He reaches his hand out. “Would you help me with this?”

I frown in confusion and grip his fingers as I stand. He lifts our hands for everyone to see. “Hand holding. This is okay.”

Some of the kids laugh.

Ergan places his hand on my shoulder. “This, too, is okay.”

Then he places his hand on my back and pulls me close with his other arm around my waist to embrace me. I’m inches from his face and can feel mine heating up as his touch makes me tremble. My body remembers what his kiss was like. A few people whistle as he winks at me and turns to the players. “This is still okay.”

Taylor’s voice yells out, “Shut up and kiss her!”

Ergan releases me, and I step back. He wags a finger at her. “Now that is not okay.” Groans sound, and he yells over them. “Are we all clear?”

I mumble under my breath. “Yes.”

Ergan glances at me quickly as if he heard and says, “All right, everybody, let’s go play some soccer!”

The kids cheer, and Ergan surprises me when he grabs my bag that I’d set on the seat next to me. He tosses it over next to his and sits down close enough that our thighs are touching. He asks, “How’d I do? Do you think they got the message?”

I have no freaking idea, because you’re sending mixed ones to me.
I smile back at him. “I think so. But you do realize my players are all Team Ergan now, right?”

“You mean I have competition?”

I shake my head at his flirting and think,
“Unfortunately, no. Because even if there was someone else, I’m not sure you care.”