Seducing the Wolf (6 page)

Everyone turned to look at Maddox, whose square jaw was darkened by several days’ worth of stubble that had accumulated during his latest deadline-fueled writing marathon.

“What’d you just think of?” Manning prompted.

“I don’t believe I’ve ever killed off any firefighters in my books,” Maddox mused.

Magnum stared at him, dark eyes narrowed. “You wouldn’t.”

A slow, diabolical grin swept over Maddox’s face. When he made a slashing motion across his throat, everyone laughed.

Settling more comfortably in his chair, Manning tugged at the knot of his silk tie and surveyed the empty platters on the table. “Gee, thanks for saving me some appetizers,” he said sarcastically.

His brothers snickered.

“That’s what happens when you’re late to dinner,” Magnum reminded him.

“But don’t worry,” Montana drawled. “Our food should be here shortly, and we ordered your usual.”

“Cool,” Manning said, though he could have gone for something different tonight. Seeing Taylor had rejuvenated him, awakened his senses like nothing ever had before. He felt like a new man.

“We were waiting for you to get here before we started discussing the plans for Mom and Dad’s anniversary celebration,” Montana explained.

“Now that you’re here,” Mason added, “I just have one question.”

Manning arched a brow at him. “What?”

“How’re we gonna top what we did for their fortieth anniversary? I mean, Ma still gets choked up every time she thinks about it.”

Last year, Manning and his brothers had secretly purchased and restored the aging hotel in Ocho Rios where their parents had honeymooned. Stan and Prissy Wolf had been delighted when their sons sent them on an all-expenses-paid trip to Jamaica for their anniversary. They were told that they would be staying at a popular resort, but when they arrived on the island, they were chauffeured to the beautifully renovated hotel, where their family members and friends were waiting to surprise them. After Manning and his brothers presented their stunned parents with the deed to the property, the anniversary celebration commenced with a lavish party on the beach.

The thriving hotel was currently managed by Manning’s former roommate, a savvy business major who’d returned home to Jamaica after earning an MBA from MIT, where he and Manning had met as grad students.

“Who says we have to top anything?” Manning asked Mason. “You know Mom and Dad aren’t expecting anything special since it’s not a milestone anniversary year.”

“Which is why this is a perfect opportunity to surprise them again,” Montana added.

Manning nodded. “Exactly.”

“Hey, I’m not arguing,” Mason said, holding up his hands. “You know I love spoiling the old folks as much as the rest of you. I was just wondering how we can outdo last year’s gift. But I’m sure we can all come up with something.”

“That’s why we’re here,” Manning said.

“Well, if we’re throwing them another party,” Maddox interjected, “we need to decide whether to invite you-know-who this time.”

An uncomfortable silence fell over the table as the brothers exchanged glances. Everyone knew Maddox was referring to their aunt Celeste, who’d ditched her family to run off with her rich lover twenty-five years ago. Her betrayal not only devastated her husband and children; it drove a wedge between her and the rest of the family. Mama Wolf, fiercely protective of her grandsons and great-grandsons, had yet to forgive Celeste for what she’d done to Uncle Sterling, Michael and Marcus. And while Manning’s mother had remained friends with Celeste, his father could barely stand to be in the same room with her.

“She lives in Minnesota,” Magnum pointed out. “She’s hardly been to any family events over the years. Why should this one be any different?”

“Because things have changed,” Montana responded. “Marcus has forgiven her. And if
he
can forgive her after all this time, the least we can do is invite her to the anniversary party.”

Magnum frowned. “I don’t know. Pops won’t appreciate having her there.”

“No, he won’t,” Manning grimly agreed. “But he’ll put his feelings aside to keep the peace. We all saw how happy Aunt Celeste was to be invited to Marcus and Samara’s wedding. If Marcus is ready to welcome his mother back into the fold, we have to be willing to do the same.”

There were low rumblings as Magnum, Maddox and Mason grudgingly conceded that their older brothers were right.

“If we invite Aunt Celeste,” Magnum asserted, “that means we have to invite Samara’s mother too.”

“I’m good with that.” Montana grinned wickedly. “Asha’s fine as hell.”

“No doubt,” Manning agreed, chuckling. “But Uncle Sterling can’t stand her. It’s a miracle they didn’t kill each other at the wedding.”

“Well,” Montana drawled, “you know what they say about the thin line between love and hate.”

Magnum snorted. “As if Uncle Sterl would ever be crazy enough to hook up with a bougie ass broad like Asha Dubois.”

The five brothers looked at one another, then burst out laughing at the absurdity of such a notion.

“Sorry to interrupt, fellas,” an amused voice cut through the raucous laughter.

Everyone glanced toward the doorway to see their cousin, Michael, standing there with a pleased grin on his face.

“We have a special guest in the house,” he announced.

As a woman slowly emerged from behind him, Manning froze.

It was Taylor.

She looked hot as hell in a strapless white dress that molded her curvaceous body. The slinky little number was worn with sexy red heels that accentuated her beautiful, shapely legs.

When her eyes met Manning’s, his lungs stopped working.

As he got slowly to his feet, Taylor averted her gaze and smiled warmly at the other occupants of the room. “Hello, everyone.”

Manning watched as his brothers’ jaws dropped, their eyes widening with incredulous recognition.

Montana was the first to regain the power of speech. “
Taylor?
”

She nodded and smiled.

As she advanced into the room, Montana, Magnum, Maddox and Mason rose from the table and rushed her. Really, there was no other word to describe the way they descended upon her, making her laugh as they took turns hugging her before bombarding her with questions.

How have you been? What brings you to Atlanta? How long are you staying? Where are you staying?

Manning deliberately hung back, watching the boisterous reunion as Michael wandered over and stood beside him.

“Did you know she was coming to town?” he asked quietly.

“No.” Manning swallowed hard. “I ran into her this morning. Shocked the hell out of me.”

Michael chuckled. “I’ll bet.”

The two men watched as Taylor laughed and chatted with the others.

“She looks amazing,” Michael marveled.

Manning nodded slowly. “She does.”

Observing Taylor with his brothers, he had a flashback to the first time she’d met his family. She’d showed up at his house wearing some god-awful getup that consisted of a too-big camouflage jacket, bright orange bellbottoms and a raggedy pair of Converse All Stars. Even Mason, at six years old, had been appalled by her attire. He’d pointed to her and begun whispering loudly before Montana clapped a hand over his mouth, silencing him just in time.

Now, more than twenty years later, Manning was amused to see Mason openly flirting with Taylor. Times had definitely changed.

Manning and Michael joined the group just as Taylor was congratulating Maddox on the release of his latest bestselling horror novel. “I read your books when I’m traveling, which probably isn’t a very good idea since I have to sleep alone in my hotel room.”

“Why are you traveling by yourself?” Mason drawled. “A beautiful woman like you should never have to travel
or
sleep alone.”

This drew a chorus of laughing guffaws from the others.

“You better stop mackin’ on your brother’s woman,” Magnum warned teasingly.

Taylor blushed, her eyes meeting Manning’s.

His mouth twitched.

She quickly looked away. “Well, um, I’d better head back to my table.”

“I’ll walk you back,” Michael offered.

“No, that’s okay. I can find my way. Besides, I need to use the ladies’ room first.” She smiled at everyone but Manning. “It was wonderful to see all of you again.”

“You too, Taylor,” they chorused.

“Don’t be a stranger,” Montana added. “Seriously. Keep in touch.”

“I will.” Taylor smiled again, then sent one last glance at Manning before she turned and started from the room. He watched her depart, admiring the graceful sway of her hips and the luscious swell of her round ass.

As soon as she was gone, Mason exclaimed, “
Dayuuum!
”

Everyone laughed.

Everyone but Manning, whose gaze remained fixed on the empty doorway.

“Was that really Taylor Chastain?” Mason wondered aloud.

Maddox chuckled. “Hard to believe, isn’t it?”

“Nah, not really,” Montana interjected. “She was always pretty. She just needed to come into her own.”

“Which she most
definitely
has,” Magnum asserted, drawing hearty rumbles of agreement.

Gradually everyone fell silent and stared expectantly at Manning.

Without a word, he strode purposefully from the room and headed down the corridor leading to the ladies’ room.

When Taylor emerged moments later, he was waiting for her.

She didn’t look surprised to see him, though her eyes widened as she watched him come toward her. He moved carefully, as if he were a hunter stalking a spooked deer.

She nervously moistened her lips, staring up at him as he slowly backed her against the nearest wall. “Manning—”

“Shh.” He planted one hand on the wall on either side of her head, watching the muscles in her slender throat move as she swallowed. He shook his head slowly, gazing into her luminous eyes.

“I just want…I just need…”

Words failing him, he closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of her. She smelled like warm honeysuckle, so damn sweet he wanted to taste her, wanted to run his tongue over every silky inch of her skin.

As he lowered his head toward hers, he heard her breath catch, could feel her trembling as violently as he was. And they weren’t even touching, God help them.

“I’ve missed you,” he confessed.

She didn’t respond.

“Did you miss me?”

He felt her shiver.

“Did you?” he prodded, letting his lips brush her ear. “Did you miss me, Taylor?”

“I have to go,” she mumbled.

“No, you don’t. Not this time.”

“Manning, please.”

It was the desperation in her voice, an edge of panic that made him open his eyes and raise his head.

She stared up at him, nostrils flaring with suppressed emotion.

After a few moments, Manning lifted his hand to touch her cheek. “Taylor—”

She pushed past him and hurriedly started away, her heels clicking rapidly against the hardwood floor.

“Why Atlanta?” Manning called after her.

She froze in her tracks.

Manning waited, heart thudding painfully as she turned to meet his gaze.

“What?” she whispered.

“Why’d you come here?” His voice was hoarse with anger, with longing. “You’re a world-renowned violinist. You could have gone anywhere you wanted. Any school or music conservatory would have been honored to have you. But you came here, Taylor.
Here
—to my home.” His eyes probed hers. “Why, Taylor? Why Atlanta?”

She stared at him, her eyes wide and haunted.

Manning waited, lungs locked.

After a small eternity, she shook her head slowly and whispered, “I don’t know.”

And with those words hanging between them, she turned and walked away from him.

6

W
hy Atlanta?

The question echoed through Taylor’s mind, taunting and tormenting her on the ride back to the hotel after dinner.

Why Atlanta?
Manning had asked her. There’d been raw pain in his voice. Pain, anger and regret.

And Taylor couldn’t give him an answer.

Because she had no answer for herself. Not one that made complete sense anyway.

She swallowed tightly, staring out the window as streetlights flashed by in bright streaks of color. She could still feel the heat from Manning’s body, could feel the gale force of his raw animal magnetism. He was so intense he took her breath away. When he’d cornered her against the wall, she hadn’t known whether to beg for a kiss—or run for her life.

She shivered, closing her eyes with a shaky inhalation.

Aidan sat at the opposite end of the backseat, deep in his own thoughts. He’d barely spoken three words to Taylor since they’d left the restaurant. But she knew his silence wouldn’t last much longer.

And she was right.

The moment they were back in her hotel suite, he demanded accusingly, “Is he the reason you came here?”

Taylor made her way to the bedroom and sat on the edge of the queen-size bed to remove her pumps. “If by ‘he’ you mean Manning—”