Greatest Gift (5 page)

Chapter Nine

Her belly full, and another full coffee before her,
Holland relaxed back into the booth. She had to give it to
Jakob
,
while he might be bound and determined to drive her batty, he was doing a damn
fine job looking out for her. He’d fed her until she couldn’t get more in, had
joked and teased her all through the meal, and generally was there for her.
While it might all be an act to get in her pants, she didn’t quite believe that
easy reasoning. The guy actually seemed to care.

Definitely not the norm from past experiences. Not
that she was having to beat the guys off with a stick or anything, but the ones
that did come sniffing around only ever seemed to have one goal in mind.
Jakob
was keeping her on her toes by doing things his own
way. The fact he wasn’t like the others likely had more to do with the fact he
was more than a mere man. A wolf, if she was to believe him. And despite her
mind’s natural inclination to disbelieve him, Holland knew on some level that
he wasn’t lying to her.
Jakob
Nichols was a wolf. Or
half wolf, or however the fuck that worked. She probably should ask him about
that, it might help to get her head wrapped around it all.

The only issue with that was how to pose the
question. It wasn’t like she could blurt it out. That would be downright rude.
And while Holland might be blunt, painfully so on occasion, she didn’t say
things with the sole purpose to hurt people. She didn’t believe that in most
situations sugar coating was required or the right tact to take. Although, she
would admit that on the rare occasion a gentler touch could be required. Not
with this though. Her only real concern was offending
Jakob
.
While she figured from experience it would take a lot to set him off, this
particular query might be a touchier subject for him.

“I can hear the wheels grinding, Holland. If you
have something to say, or ask, spit it out already. The worried thing you’ve
got going on is adorable, but you’re starting to freak me out.”

Then he went and opened his mouth making her want
to blurt the shit out and to hell with however he reacted. Clenching her teeth
together, she counted to ten, and let out a slow breath. She knew better than
to act impulsively. Been there, done that, had the scars to prove it. “Still
working out how to phrase it in my head.”

“Ah,” he breathed out. “Now I’m real curious to hear
whatever might be twirling about in your brain. Care to give me a hint?”

“Nope.” At least not until she’d played out
scenarios in her head, and they were somewhere without witnesses who might
overhear something they shouldn’t. Hell, she didn’t even know if it was a
secret, or if she happened to be the only one that hadn’t known. Shit, another
question to pose to him. One that wasn’t likely to kick up his ire. “Actually,
I do have a question. Not sure how to phrase this. Ignore my fumbling if you
would.”

“Damn woman, spit it out already.”

Scrunching up her face, she leaned across the table
a bit, and made sure to keep her voice down. “You said earlier that your people
tend to keep their
condition
for lack
of a better term, secret, but does anyone know? I mean obviously a few folks
must, but is it more common in some places than others? Or am I like the only
person running around these parts who is completely clueless?”

“That’s more than one question.”

Before she could figure out what to throw his
direction,
Jakob
held up a pacifying hand.

“Calm yourself, sweet cheeks. Geez,” he muttered.
“Anyone with the, cute term by the way,
condition
knows another with the
condition
. I
can’t really explain how we know, but there’s some internal knowing that clicks
on when we’re within proximity. Up close and personal, there’s a scent each
branch carries to them, and that tells us what their particular
condition
is.”

Holland had the distinct impression he was mocking
her. But since she’d been the one to use the word she couldn’t really fault
him. She hadn’t felt comfortable using the word shifter in public given the
people around them, including a family in the booth behind where the kids
appeared more interested in eavesdropping on others than their own meals.

“A few without the
condition
are in the know, like yourself. There are even a couple
towns where all the residents know about those living there and their
conditions
. Mostly smaller communities
where it’s harder to keep it under wraps. The bigger the town, or city, the
easier it is to hide in plain sight. On the other hand, the larger the
community the harder it is to keep some things on the down low. It’s a bit like
walking a tightrope. Balance is everything.”

She could understand that. Which then brought up
the other question she wanted to ask. Not in the restaurant, too many big ears
listening in curiously. Neither she nor
Jakob
had
said anything that couldn’t be taken several ways, but the next part was harder
to cover with code. Especially since she did
not
want any
misunderstandings. Mostly on her part about it all.

“What else has your mind spinning? Don’t say
there’s nothing, I can see it written all over your face.”

Damn, she’d have to work on that, she wasn’t sure
how she felt about him being able to read her with such ease. Throwing a look
over his shoulder, she gave a tiny head shake. “Later,” she said quietly.

Jakob
adjusted in his seat and must have gotten a look at the kids draped
over the banquet behind him because he gave her a wink. “I’m all for later,
sweet cheeks.” Lifting a hand, he had the check a couple minutes later, and by
her calculations left a seriously generous tip. She slid from the booth and
proceeded him out the door, his hand settling on her hip. Holland wasn’t one to
let some guy manhandle her, especially in public, but she found she was rather
comfortable with
Jakob
staking his silent claim. She
likely should nip that sucker in the bud but couldn’t quite work up the energy.

At his truck, she turned to face him when he pulled
her door open. Something else the man did that put him a step above others
she’d ‘dated’. A loose term that given her last couple picks hadn’t been the
sort to write home about. “I do have one question you can answer for me.”

“Shoot,” he said, maintaining eye contact.

She liked that, spoke volumes about who he was.
“Are you usually this touchy feely? Not complaining, but I admit to a certain
curiosity since I’ve never seen you like this with anyone else.”

“Been checking me out have you?”

Making a sound in her throat, she turned to get in
the truck. “Never mind.”

“Hey,” he said. Gently, he turned her to face him,
and tipped up her chin. “I was only teasing, Holland. Mostly. To answer your
question, I’m not normally this touchy feely. But with you, I feel this need to
touch, feel, and many other fine terms I plan on pulling out someday soon. To
simplify it for you, it’s pure instinct guiding me. Before you, I never wanted
to be hands on, excuse the pun. With you, I need to touch you, to feel you
close, and generally lay a claim. Yeah, yeah, I know, Neanderthal like behavior
and all that. Sue me.”

She hadn’t planned to mention that, but since he’d
given her the opening. Holland watched him, he was waiting for her to take his
lead and run with it. Instead, she put a hand to his chest, pushed up on her
toes, and pressed a kiss to his rough jawline. “Thank you for explaining.”

He gave her a suspicious look. She pasted on what
she hoped would pass for complete innocence and waited. Finally, he muttered
something she didn’t quite catch, and waved her into the truck. Feeling oddly
triumphant, she settled back on the hump, and watched him walk around the
vehicle, shooting her odd looks the entire time.
Oh this was fun getting one
over on him. She could totally get used to this.

Chapter Ten

Jakob
was still trying to figure out what game Holland was playing later that
night. She was working at the pub, tending to the regulars while he sat in a
corner keeping watch. He didn’t expect any trouble, mainly because the guys
that hung out there in the evenings were all good guys. They might moan and
groan about their home lives, their jobs, or their latest
reno
nightmare the wife had gotten them into, but
overall they were the sort you wanted at your back.

No, he was trying to piece together how he’d found
himself flat-footed earlier in conversation with her outside the restaurant
he’d taken her to for breakfast. The woman had pulled a fast one on him and his
brain was still piecing it together in an attempt to get up to speed once more.

A chilled bottle appeared before him wrenching him
from his thoughts. Looking up, he found Holland staring down at him with a
worried expression. “You okay?” she asked. “You’ve been sitting here for a long
time with a rather scary look on your face. The boys are trying to figure out
who you plan to murder first.”

Leaning to the side to get a look beyond her, he
found all eyes on them. He flipped them the bird, and settled back into his
seat. “Not planning to have to dig any graves tonight.”

“Well, that is a huge relief,” she said. “Given the
weather report I doubt you’d make much progress.”

Shit, he hadn’t even heard the radio he’d been so
deep inside his own head. “What are they calling for now?” Not that he was sure
he wanted to know.

“Basically, full white-out conditions on all
highways, and they are calling it to snow another foot to foot and a half. The
boys are finishing up their current drinks because I told them flat out I’m
kicking their asses to the curb. We need to get home before this shit settles in
solid on us.”

“Fuck yeah, good plan. What do you need help with
to get us out faster?” Pushing to his feet, he lifted the cold bottle for a
long pull.

“Sit your ass down,” she ordered. Stunned,
Jakob
complied without even blinking. “I’m nearly done with
the majority. Once they are finished I need to do their tables, flip up their
chairs, and sweep the last bit. Cleaners are in tomorrow morning, which means I
don’t have to mop.”

“Oh.” He didn’t have anything else to say to that.
“Uh, okay.”

Smiling suddenly, she came around the table to lean
down, and press a kiss to his lips.
Jakob
wrapped a
hand around her leg right above her knee. Opening up, he let her take the kiss
wherever she wanted, and enjoyed every second. When she drew away he let out a
small disappointed sound, and rubbed his hand up higher on her leg. “What was
that for?” Not that he was complaining or nothing. She could damn well do that
whenever the fuck she wanted.

“Because you’re behaving yourself. Keep it up and I
might give you another once you take me home.”

“My place right?”
Jakob
needed to be clear on that point.

For a moment, he thought she’d fight him, but
finally she nodded. “Yes, your place. It’s closer for one, and I at least have
some items there. It will work for tonight. Tomorrow we will be renegotiating.”

“Works for me.” A quick squeeze to her thigh and he
let her loose. Sitting back in his chair, he took his time drinking his beer
while he watched his woman. And yeah, she most definitely was
his
woman.
He’d gut any other male that thought to touch her.

Not including the old guys who were her regulars.
They all were married, happily despite the occasional bitch-fest they held when
they all congregated at the pub. No, they were more like unruly uncles, and off
the wall grandfathers than competition. Holland was comfortable around them,
and so was
Jakob
. While they all watched him with the
occasional evil eye,
Jakob
knew they’d have his back
if it was needed.

After finishing his beer, he toyed with the bottle
until the last couple regulars headed for the door. Getting to his feet, he
watched to ensure they made it safely to their respective vehicles, and then
took in the worsening storm. He could barely make out his own truck parked five
feet from the door. The town would be dead tonight, everything shut down, and
everyone hunkered inside where it was toasty warm.

Throwing the lock on the door, he went to help
Holland. While she had said it wouldn’t take long, he wanted them the fuck
outta
there. The storm was settling in faster than he
liked. And while that made him nervous there was something else rubbing him the
wrong way. Something his wolf was picking up. What it might be he couldn’t say,
but he trusted the beast, which meant he was going to do whatever was
necessary.

She shot him a look but didn’t argue with him for
once.
Jakob
took the gift for what it was, and
hustled them through her last chores before they locked up and headed for home.

Jakob
took the drive back to his place slow. The streets were slick under the
new layer of fluff, dangerous for the unwary or uninitiated. And with Holland
at his side, he wasn’t about to take any risks. She was his to protect in all
ways after all. Not that he would mention that to the seriously independent
woman who got him hot and bothered.

Closer to his place,
Jakob
let the truck drift to a near stop, the wheels barely turning while they
creeped forward. His wolf was pacing with his back up deep inside. Something
was off and the animal side was picking up on it. Whatever
it
might be.

“What’s wrong?”

Turning a look her way,
Jakob
shook his head slowly. “I don’t know. Gut feeling,” he muttered. It was
essentially the truth but didn’t really cover everything running through him.
There was a lot that was pure instinct, things he couldn’t ever put into words.

“Is it safe to go to your place?” she asked him.

And there was the question in the moment that
required an answer. If he chose wrong he could be taking them straight into a
trap. “I don’t know.” God damn it, he hated having to say those words twice in
a row.
Jakob
had a feeling he might well have to spit
them out a couple more times before the night was over.

Her hand landed warm on his wrist, and squeezed.
The touch calmed the animal and
Jakob
had a moment’s
clarity in regards to the situation. There was someone out there waiting on
them, but the threat was minimal. His wolf was reacting because his unclaimed
mate sat at their side.
Jakob
knew that shifters were
not overly rational during the time they found their mate and they eventually
mated them. It was the point, besides pregnancy, when a shifter was at his most
dangerous in regards to his mate.

He might be making the wrong call, but his wolf
didn’t think so. Going with the instinct that had kept him alive, and trusting
it to protect Holland too, he put the truck back into drive and proceeded to
his house.

While he hadn’t determined the threat and where it
was coming from, he had to believe in himself to keep his mate safe. The threat
could well be only perceived, an illusion because he and Holland hadn’t yet
tied themselves to one another. Not that he would allow his guard down. He was
willing to accept he might be overreacting slightly, but he’d rather look the
fool and have Holland alive and well than dead at his feet because he
hesitated.