He went to the industrial-size refrigerator and began pulling out eggs and flour for the batter. “I mean, if I’m not going to fuck her, why have her in my house?”

Carrie sighed. “That’s lovely, little brother. You make us all so proud.”

“Well, ya know . . .” Van grinned. “I try.”

Three

Irene looked up from the book in her lap and out the open giant glass doors leading to the big lawn on the Van Holtz estate. For nearly seven days she’d enjoyed the luxury of the wealthy. And, to be quite honest, she could see herself easily getting used to it. Although no one was exactly friendly—besides Van Holtz himself—they were polite.

For the first time Irene could actually remember, she felt relaxed. She couldn’t really afford to go on vacations, so usually if she traveled, she often had work to do once she arrived at her destination. But due to her injuries, Irene didn’t do much of anything. And, to be honest, Van Holtz wouldn’t let her. When he found her on the phone with her teaching assistant during her second day at the house, she thought his head might explode. “Is this you resting?” he’d demanded while pulling the phone from her hand. They’d even had a minor scuffle over it, but when he started to pull up the T-shirt she wore, she released the phone. Then he’d had the nerve to look triumphant as he hung up the receiver.

She would have been extremely angry if she didn’t find the man so humorous.

Irene watched a squirrel creep down from one of the big trees littering Van Holtz’s property. She’d always found squirrels quite fascinating. The way they moved always kept her quite entertained. This one picked up something from the ground and quickly moved back to his tree. But, unfortunately, he simply wasn’t quick enough.

Irene grimaced when the first wolf pounced, tossing the squirrel in the air. Another wolf leaped over the first’s head, snatching the squirrel from midair, and took off running, the other wolf right on its heels.

“Hey, doc.” Van Holtz squeezed in next to her on the oversized chair. The man simply had no concept of personal space. “What are you doing?”

“Oh, merely sitting around being horrified.”

“Horrified? Why?”

The two wolves came back into view, now playing tug with what was left of the squirrel.

Van Holtz laughed until she stared at him and then he choked it back. “Sorry.” He leaned forward. “Hey, guys.” The two wolves stopped and stared. “Go play somewhere else.”

They trotted off and Van Holtz leaned back, comfortably resting against her. Since he always did this to her unwounded side, Irene didn’t bother arguing. She knew he’d only ignore her.

“Sorry about that. Those two just hit puberty and figured out how to shift.”

“Isee.”

Grabbing the book out of her hands, he glanced at the cover. “So I’m off to meet with Löwe and Dupris. I can’t believe they made me wait this long for this meeting, but I’ll argue that point once I’m assured of your safety. I’m thinking you’ll be heading home today.”

“That’s fine.” She took back the book, relatively confident he couldn’t read ancient Arabic. “The doctor should be here soon to take out the stitches. And Jack will pick me up to take me home.”

“I can have our driver take you home.”

“No, thank you.”

“Fine,” he teased, “be difficult.”

“I will.”

Van pushed himself out of the chair and scratched Irene’s head affectionately. “Talk to you later, doc.”

“Good luck,” she said while opening her book. “You’ll most likely need it.”

Van had the front door open when his father’s voice stopped him and his sister.

“Where are you going?”

Van motioned his sister out and turned to face his father. “Meeting with the Löwes and Duprises.”

“Over the full-human?”

“Yes.”

His father stepped toward him, staring him straight in the eye. “Do you think that’s a wise thing to do, son?”

“It’s the only thing to do.”

“Are you attached to her?”

“No. I’m not.” Van grinned. “She’s a friend.”

His father raised one eyebrow. “A friend? Since when are women, not blood relations, your friends?”

“Since her.”

“Well, hurry up. When you get back we need to meet about the business.”

“I’ve actually got to—”

“Was there anything I said that actually led you to believe that was an option?”

Van gritted his teeth, the hackles on the back of his neck rising. Lately he couldn’t shake the feeling his father was goading him, but he couldn’t figure out why. “No, sir.”

“Then I’ll see you when you get back.”

Nodding, Van took a step out onto the porch.

“And don’t do anything stupid.”

Van made a fist but decided to keep walking before he did something he’d regret for the rest of his life.

Irene felt those eyes on her long before she lifted her head. When she did, she briefly wondered if all Van Holtz males had that smirk. Did the women, too?

“Dr. Conridge.”

Tamping down her sudden nervousness at having the head of the Van Holtz family and the Pack’s Alpha Male speaking directly to her, she answered, “Mr. Van Holtz.”