Tuesday Teaser September 25, 2018 Gina’s Wolf Part 26

Today a book I’ve been dying to read for months has come out. Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven is a romantic fantasy. I’ve been reading and loving Grace Draven since she was published with Amber Quill. I like her heroines. They are strong without being feisty. They deal with difficult circumstances with dignity. The heroes respect them as people. If you have’t read Grace Draven, please do. This one is the first in a new series.

You can buy it here from Amazon

And now, here is this week’s snip from Gina and Cole’s story:

“Cole would lay down his life for you.” Patia’s tone was utterly sure. “You know that, don’t you?”

Gina clutched the bouquet with both hands. When she and Cole were pursued by her stepfather’s motorcycle scouts he could have left her and run ahead to safety. Anyone else she knew would have abandoned her. Cole hadn’t. He’d refused to even consider it. She swallowed, feeling tears press against her eyes again. Since the moment she had left Omaha on the train with him, he had done everything to protect her. Even after he had been nearly murdered, he continued to do his best to protect her.

“Yeah,” she whispered. “I know that.”

“Would a man be willing to die to save someone he didn’t love?” Patia stood up and put an arm over Gina’s shoulders. “Cole loves you. Believe it.”

She did.  She really did.

Patia gave her shoulders a squeeze. “Bridal jitters over?”

Gina sniffed inelegantly. “Yeah.”

Patia handed her a hanky. “Uncle Sand?” she called, barely raising her voice. “We’re ready.”

The ceremony took almost no time at all. It seemed to Gina that she had taken Cole’s hand one minute and the next Mayor McGrath pronounced them man and wife. Cole’s kiss was light, a promise of what would come later. It curled her toes. Two dozen of her new in-laws howled like wild wolves, while Cole grinned and squeezed her hand. Gina smiled blindly, groping to remember the ceremony. Had she said any vows? Yes, she had said vows. Cole was warm and strong beside her.

Cole put his arm around her waist and pulled her toward his parents, who were standing only two yards away.  Her husband. He was warm and strong beside her. Like an immovable rock and a solid comfort.

That thought sank into her bones. Not a weight to drag her down, but an anchor to keep her from drifting. The smile that curved her lips was small, but real. Cole was her husband now, someone she could depend on. His arm dropped away with what Gina was sure was reluctance as the audience surged closer.

Patia gave her a hug. So did Mrs. Wolfe. No, her new mother-in-law had told her to call her Carla. Taye kissed the top of her head. Todd had never kissed the top of her head.

“Welcome to the Pack and the Lakota Wolf Clan,” Taye said loudly.

A fresh howl poured out from the men packed into the little chapel. The welcome made Gina blink back tears. Her tears seemed to alarm her new family.

“Are you alright?” her new father-in-law asked urgently.

“Yes. Just happy,” she managed.

Mayor and Mrs. Madison congratulated them and stepped back to allow others to come forward. Rose gave her a hug, and then a dozen strange men crowded around her, patting her arm and beaming at her as if they were truly glad to have her marry Cole and become part of their tribe. Clan. Whatever. They told her their names, but she was sure she’d never be able to keep them straight. After a few jumbled minutes, Cole came back to her and put his arm around her waist again.

The men around them parted to allow Mayor McGrath to approach them. He shook Cole’s hand and smiled at her. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe. I wish you many happy years together.”

“Thank you,” Gina said.

McGrath looked over her head at Taye and nodded, his smile fading. “Tomorrow, at eight?” Taye must have nodded, because McGrath stepped back. “Good evening.”

Gina watched the mayor of Omaha leave the little chapel with a frown. “Tomorrow?” she murmured to Cole.

He shrugged. “War planning.”

That unwelcome intrusion of reality made Gina sigh.

Cole leaned close. “But we’re not going to think about that tonight, are we.”

It wasn’t really a question. “I don’t know.” She gave him a wide-eyed glance, hands folded primly at her waist. “That’s a pretty serious topic. Hard to ignore, really. Did you have something planned to take my mind off it?”

He leaned in so close his lips nearly brushed hers. “Yes, I do. I’m going to make it my goal to make sure you don’t think about it even once tonight.”

Gina swallowed, feeling a spark flare to heated life between her thighs. “Oh, really?”

She meant to sound sultry, but her voice cracked on the last syllable. Blushing, she noticed several of the Wolfe men had indulgent smiles on their faces. Her voice hadn’t been loud, but Cole had really good hearing so probably the other men of the Wolf Clan did too. She wanted to bury her blush in Cole’s chest.

She was saved from her embarrassment by Patia giving her another hug.

“I’m so happy for you,” her new sister-in-law told her. “You too, Colby.” The teasing note in her voice said she knew how much Cole hated being called his full name. “I’m going back up to Ray now. Save me a piece of your wedding cake.”

Wedding cake? Gina hadn’t even thought about a cake. Apparently, someone else had. Taye gave a nod and two of them men from his Pack followed Patia out of the chapel. Mayor and Mrs. Madison left too. Cole bent down so his lips brushed her ear.

“Let’s go back to the Limit. We’ll have supper and eat our cake and then …” His voice dropped to the merest whisper. “And then we can be alone at last.”

Cole set his fork aside. Supper had been good if simple. The cake was simple too, just a butter cake with whipped cream frosting flavored with dried strawberries. His wife –yes, his wife!—seemed pleased with it. He watched the smooth line of her throat as she swallowed a bite. A tiny smear of frosting clung to her lower lip. He hoped fervently it would still be there when they went upstairs to their room so he could lick it off.

Wife. He loved that he could call her that now. She sat beside him at the table in The Limit’s private dining room, her thigh pressed like a hot iron along his own.  Sky and Aunt Rose were across from them. Ms. Mary was at the head of the table. His parents were at the foot. The wolf warriors who weren’t guarding Patia or running back to Kearney to fetch help were gathered around the table. Cole caught a few winks from his younger cousins.

Hid dad glanced casually at the wall clock. “Half past seven,” he remarked. “It’s been a long day, and tomorrow will be busy too. We better turn in early.”

Cole could have kissed him. He returned his dad’s grin. “Good idea.” He gave Gina’s hand a gentle pull. “Good night.”

Her cheeks blazed an adorable shade of red, but she stood up and gave the entire table a general nod. “Good night.”

A few of his cousins howled as he hurried his wife up the stairs to their room. He closed the door gently and turned to face her. Alone at last.