Werewolf in the North Woods (Wild About You #2)(36)
Author: Vicki Lewis Thompson

He blinked. “You love me?”

“Of course I love you! Isn’t it obvious? Would I have held your head in my lap when you smelled like a thousand pissed-off skunks if I didn’t love you?”

He grinned. The scent of Sasquatch might just become his favorite aroma. “Guess not.” Ah, sweet heaven, she loved him! The tightness in his chest eased as he accepted that love as the greatest gift he would ever receive.

She put her hands on her hips. “So, what do you have to say for yourself?”

He cupped her beloved face in both smelly hands and surrendered to the joy that washed over him as he imagined a lifetime with this incredible woman. “I have this to say: If you can forgive this prejudiced, narrow-minded fool, I’m the luckiest Were that ever lived.”

Her expression went from fierce to gentle in an instant. “Of course I forgive you.”

He sighed and leaned his forehead against hers. “Thank God. Because I love you beyond all reason, and if you’ll have me, I want you for my mate, Abby Winchell.”

She swallowed. “Are you sure, Roarke? Because our children might not be Were.”

He brushed his lips over hers. “That’s not the most important thing in the world. The most important thing for kids is that their parents love them and love each other. And we’ll have that in spades.”

She wound her arms around his neck and pressed her sweet body against his. “Oh, we will, Roarke. We certainly will.”

He groaned. “I want to make love to you. And we don’t have time. Aidan is expecting us to—”

“He’s expecting us to spend the night in this hotel room, Roarke, and fly back to New York tomorrow. That is, if—Wait. Allow me to quote him exactly: ‘We can fly back in the morning, Abby, assuming Roarke gets his head out of his butt long enough to realize what he has with you.’ ”

Roarke laughed, happier than any Were who’d screwed up so thoroughly had a right to be. “Seems like I did.”

“Yeah.” She smiled up at him. “I think you did.”

“You know Aidan will never let me live this down.”

“Do you care?”

Roarke shook his head. “After the grief I gave him over Emma, I deserve whatever he dishes out.”

“I’m looking forward to meeting her. And the rest of your family.”

“They’re going to love you.” He hesitated. “But I’m afraid your job as a claims adjuster in Phoenix isn’t going to—”

“Are you kidding? I’m so ready to move on. I’ve even thought of something I can do for you.”

“I can think of several things you can do for me, and they all involve getting nak*d.”

She rolled her eyes. “This is work-related, you sex maniac. When you’re doing fieldwork and you find indigenous populations who need financial help, I’ll come along to administer those programs. I’d be good at that.”

“Abby, that’s brilliant! God, there are so many times I could have used someone to figure out the details. It’s a great idea.”

“So I’m hired?”

“I’d be a fool not to hire you, and I’ve vowed to stop being a fool.” He searched her gaze for any hesitation, any misgiving about the path she’d chosen. He found none. “We’re going to be very happy, Abby. It won’t always be easy, but we’re going to be happy.”

“Absolutely. But I do have one question.”

“Only one?” He nuzzled the tender place behind her ear.

“For now. If I’m going to be your mate, I should probably know what your middle initial stands for.”

“It stands for Adolph.” Giving in to the lust he could no longer keep at bay, he urged her toward the bed. “Which means wolf, Little Red Riding Hood. And I’m warning you, I’m very hungry.”

She laughed as they fell onto the bed, stinky clothes and all. “So fairy tales do come true.”

“I don’t know about all fairy tales, but this one will. We, my delicious Abby, will live happily ever after, starting now.” And he proceeded to show her how.