Dylan rejoined Roxie at their table while Jake and Tom smiled at him.

  “You got free dessert for saving Sam. They never give us free dessert when we help him out,” Jake said. “You must have done something right.” Then they joined their family at the Silver table.

  Dylan smiled at Roxie and raised his brows in question.

  “Silva likes you.”

  Dylan chuckled. “As long as you like me, I’m happy.”

  “You’re a dream come true. But just for your information, every male wolf in here would have come to Sam’s aid if he needed them too. You just beat everyone to it. Believe me, everyone will know about your heroics by morning.”

  “I love being with a pack. As long as I’m doing things right, of course,” Dylan said.

  “Yeah.” She laughed. “That’s the key.”

  Chapter 14

  The next day, after another night of wonderful intimacy with Roxie, Dylan was feeling great. He woke before she did, slipped out of bed without waking her, grabbed his clothes, and left the bedroom. Downstairs, he dressed, then called the clinic and made a doctor’s appointment to get off medical leave. Once he was done, glad to get an appointment this morning, he went into the kitchen to make breakfast—a tortilla breakfast wrap with ham, cheese, and spinach. He coated and cooked the egg in the tortilla to make the egg part of the wrap. Then he flipped the scrambled egg layer and cooked it on the other side. He was just adding the ham, cheese, and spinach when he heard Roxie coming down the stairs.

  “You’re up early this morning. That means you’re up to something.” Roxie was wearing a pretty blue sweater, pants, and boots, looking beautiful and ready to handle the winter wedding she was working on at the lodge today.

  “You’re going to be at work all day and—”

  “You can’t relax.” She made coffee for both of them.

  “I feel great, and I have a job to do.” Dylan had never had a case he hadn’t solved. He wasn’t about to let Fennel die in the cold or allow Jim to get away with murder and attempted murder if he could help it.

  “Wow, these look really delicious.” She sat down at the dining room table and took a bite of her wrap. “It is delicious.”

  “Thanks. I figured it would be nice and quick to make—ten minutes and it’s done—but also it would be nutritious and stay with us until lunchtime.”

  “It will. Okay”—she took a sip of her coffee and set her mug on the table—“are you going to get the doc’s approval first?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I have an appointment with the doc in half an hour.”

  “Good. And then?”

  “If he signs the paperwork taking me off medical leave, I’ll call my boss and tell him I’m back on the job. I’ll ask the sheriff if I can borrow one of the snowmobiles, and I’ll head out to Jim’s grandfather’s cabin.”

  “With some more men,” she said, not asking a question.

  “Yeah. I’ll see who all can go with me for sure. I’m still trying to track down the two men, not just one, and because it’s a case of murder, not just illegal hunting, I should have backup. I’ll have a first aid pack, a rifle, and a gun, and I won’t be on foot. With deputy sheriffs to support me, I’ll be ready for the hunters.”

  “Okay, good. Will you be back in time for the Valentine’s Day party?” She sounded as if she believed he wouldn’t be.

  “Of course. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  “Unless you’re about to catch up to Fennel or Jim.”

  “Yeah, but this will probably be just a scouting mission.” He didn’t want to miss taking her to the party, and he certainly didn’t want to screw up anyone else’s plans for Valentine’s Day.

  “Well, I know how important this is to you. So you just do what you need to accomplish and don’t worry about the party. You have a really important job to do, and everyone is counting on you to finish it.”

  He knew that wasn’t true. Everyone was trying to find the two men themselves to take them in. They hadn’t been waiting on Dylan to get better, not as important as it was to locate both of the hunters.

  They quickly finished up their breakfast wraps and then she put the plates in the dishwasher while he cleaned up the rest of the kitchen. He glanced at the clock. “I’ve got to run.”

  She kissed him. “Let me know how things are going.”

  “I sure will. I hope everything works out well with the wedding.”

  “Oh, you and me both! We can never tell with these things.” Then she put on her snow boots and parka, and he walked her outside.

  He gave her a tight hug and kissed her again. “I’ll keep in touch.”

  “I sure hope you can.” She kissed him back and headed off to the lodge. He returned to the house, threw on his parka, got into his truck, and drove to the clinic.

  As soon as he arrived, he saw Gabrielle trying to calm two fussy babies. He hurried over to take one of them and walk him while she walked the other, looking so appreciative. “Ear infections,” she told him.

  “Oh no.” He comforted the one he was holding and realized how easy it was to do. He’d never held a baby in his arms, and he wasn’t sure he could do it properly.

  “They should be fine once they are on antibiotics.”

  “That’s good.”

  Then a nurse came back to get her so she could see Dr. Adelaide Summerfield, the pediatrician, while Nurse Charlotte took the baby from Dylan and smiled at him.

  Carmela told Nurse Matthew that Dylan had arrived to see Dr. Kurt Summerfield, the family physician.

  The nurse came to get Dylan and took him to an exam room, then checked his vitals. “Doc thought you weren’t going to come. That you’d changed your mind and wanted to be on medical leave for a little while longer.”

  Dylan smiled because he didn’t think Doc could be serious.

  “He’ll be right in to see you.” Matthew left the exam room.

  Dr. Summerfield came into the exam room a couple of minutes later and shook his head at Dylan. “So you want to go back to work, eh?”

  “Yes, sir. I’ve got a job to do and—”

  “Nobody else can do it. You do know that the sheriff has had search parties out every day looking for the last two hunters you’re after, right?”

  Dylan opened his mouth to plead his case, but the doc continued, “If you can run as a wolf for a half a day, swim in a raging river, and save the life of one of the three men, I’d say you’re ready to go back to work. Only if you haven’t had any more headaches, no blurring vision, feeling nauseous or dizzy.”

  “Nope, no headaches for a few days. I’m fine. I really feel ready to do this. I know I had been pushing it before.”

  “All right. If you’re going with Peter’s men, I want to let him know that if there’s any change in your condition at all, you have to be returned to the clinic at once.”

  “Yeah, that sounds good.”

  “No matter what is going on. I’m serious about this.”

  “Right. Gotcha.”

  Doc filled out some paperwork for Dylan and said, “Here you go. Don’t make me regret taking you off medical leave.”

  “Thanks, Doc.” Then Dylan hurried out of the exam room with his papers in hand before the doctor changed his mind.

  Carmela smiled at him. “You’re going back to work, I take it.”

  “Yeah. I want to get this job done before the Valentine’s Day party.”

  “Good luck with that,” she said.

  “Thanks!” He headed outside into the cold snowy day and felt such a relief. He got on his cell phone and called Peter first. “Hey, can I borrow someone’s snowmobile, and is there anyone who can come with me to search for Fennel and Jim? I want to travel to Jim’s grandfather’s place.”

  “Yeah, I’ll get a fresh group of men together. I think you met them at the restaurant yesterday. Michael Hoffman and his brother, Daniel, and Michael’s brother-in-law, Bryan. They’re all reserve deputies, and CJ will go with you too. I’ll give them a call and they’ll meet you at the lodge,” Peter said.

  “Okay, I’m on my way there now. Thanks, Peter.”

  “Doc sent me a text concerning your medical condition.”

  “Yeah, he said he would tell you that I was fine unless—”

  “You aren’t. The team will be briefed on your condition in case anyone sees you having trouble and you don’t realize it yourself,” Peter said.

  Or Dylan was being too stubborn about wanting to push on. “Thanks, Peter.”

  “You’re welcome. Keep me in the loop.”

  “Will do.” Dylan drove to the lodge and called his boss. “Sir, I just got the doctor to take me off medical leave so I’m back on duty. I’m working with some local deputies to look for Fennel and Jim.”

  “I’m glad you’re feeling better. Take care and good luck!”

  “Thanks.” Dylan parked his truck in Roxie’s garage and gathered his gear for the trip. He carried everything with him inside the lodge. He saw Roxie directing the delivery of wedding flowers, but as soon as she observed him, she came over to see him.

  “What did Doc say?”

  “I’m good to go. I’m going with CJ Silver and the men you introduced me to yesterday at the restaurant. We’re riding snowmobiles. And don’t worry. Everyone has been alerted to my medical condition, though the doc said I was fine, but if I have any trouble, they’ll make sure I return to the clinic.”

  “Good. That’s what I love about living here. Everyone’s so helpful.” Then more flowers arrived for the wedding. She gave Dylan a kiss. “I’ll try to see you before you leave.” Then she hurried off.

  Dylan was sitting in the lobby with his gear and petting Rosco when CJ showed up.

  “Everyone’s on their way. I’ve called my oldest brother, Eric, the forest ranger, and he’ll meet us on the way to the cabin,” CJ said.

  “Good.”

  The other men arrived as a group. They looked ready to handle this and they were eager to head out, but Dylan said, “Uh, can you wait a second?” He hurried into the ballroom to say goodbye to Roxie before he took off.

  She was in the middle of setting up the seating when he joined her. “The guys are all here and I’m on my way.”

  “Okay. Good luck and stay safe. I won’t be there to save you this time if Jim gets the best of you.”

  He smiled. “He won’t this time.”

  They warmly embraced each other and the two of them kissed. When he kissed her, Dylan forgot about anything else but the softness of her lips pressed against his, warming him, their hearts beating faster. She was not conducive to wanting to go out and do his job!

  “You’ve got to go.” Roxie caressed his face. “Just be safe.”

  “I will be.”

  “You’d better be.”

  He kissed her lips again and smiled. “Or you’ll give me grief. I’ll call you when I can.”

  “I’ll be glad to get any news from you.”

  He headed out with the guys, so hoping that they would be able to find their quarry soon.

  Chapter 15

  That night, after Roxie successfully managed a wedding in two of the ballrooms, she got a call from Dylan. She was so glad to hear from him and know that he was safe wherever he was while he and the others were trying to locate Fennel and Jim. At least she sure hoped so.

  “Hey, we’re still chasing Fennel’s scent so he seems to be alive. We just haven’t caught up to him yet,” Dylan said, sounding excited to be on the hunt and trying to resolve this case. She didn’t blame him. If she were him, she’d want the same thing.

  “So you’ll be camping the night with the guys out in the woods?” She figured there would be no way that they’d be back in Silver Town tonight. Not unless they had just found the two men quickly before they had even reached Jim’s grandfather’s cabin and returned home.

  “Yeah. I’m so sorry. I should have anticipated it would take longer than just a day.”

  “No, don’t be. You’re just doing your job. What about the other guys who are with you?”

  “Yeah, they’re all in on this. They’re a great bunch of guys.”

  She knew they were, and she was so glad they were there backing him. “Okay, good. How are you doing?” She was still worried Dylan might be having headaches or even other health issues that might be related to the injuries that he’d suffered.

  “Fine. No problems at all. I feel great.”

  “All right.” She was glad to hear it and hoped he truly was and that he wasn’t just trying to tough it out.

  “How did the wedding you were handling go?”

  “Oh, it was fantastic.” She swore it was the best one she’d ever managed. “The bride and everyone in the wedding party were so nice. They were just so happy at the wedding. We had no major glitches and I’m just going home now. Since you’ve kept Michael out in the wilderness, I’ll ask Carmela to come join me for dinner.”

  “I’m glad the two of you can do that. I’m sorry I kept Michael out here.”

  “She’s used to it since she was in the army too,” Michael said in the background, undoubtedly overhearing their conversation.

  “Of course. Carmela and I were actually stationed at the same post one time, and she and I met each other. So we’re friends,” Roxie told Dylan. While in the army, Carmela had won numerous awards for her archery skills. She was fun to be around. Roxie and Carmela didn’t often have a chance to have dinner together because Carmela and her husband were always together. That was the problem with Roxie being a single she-wolf.

  “Good. Well, we’re setting up camp and then making dinner, so I’ll let you go,” Dylan said.

  She could hear the guys all talking and laughing, telling each other they could get their tents up faster than the others. They sounded like they were having fun, and she couldn’t help but be amused. “Stay safe.”

  “We will.”

  Then they ended the call, and Roxie got in touch with Carmela, hoping she would like to join her for dinner. “Hey, you might have already heard from Michael, but if not, Dylan called me and said the guys are camping out for the night.”

  “Yeah, I figured they would be. Michael showed me how far it was to Jim’s grandfather’s cabin before he left, but if they were sidetracked, it would take longer than a day. Plus, they still have to return home. He already called to let me know.”

  “Oh good. Do you want to get together with me for dinner and drinks? We could have classic lasagna with cheese and meat sauce and whiskey sours.” Roxie was sure hoping Carmela could. Roxie really missed being with Dylan after work.

  “Oh, yeah, I’d love it. I’ll make the drinks. What time do you want me to come over?”

  Yes! “Would six be okay?”

  “I’ll be there. Thanks! See you soon.”

  Then Roxie got a call from Kayla. “Hey, Nate’s on an overnight stakeout investigating a case of worker’s comp insurance fraud in another town. I wasn’t sure if Dylan had come home yet. If not, do you want to have some dinner with me?”

  “Oh, absolutely. Dylan’s gone and Carmela’s husband is with him, so I asked her over. I didn’t know you were also going to be all by yourself. We’ll make it a threesome. Does lasagna sound good?” Roxie was just thrilled. She had figured Kayla and Nate would be together tonight or she would have called her too.

  “That sounds great. I’ll be right over and help you make it.”

  “Terrific!”

  Kayla really liked Carmela too, so Roxie knew the three ladies would have a ball. Roxie told her the time that Carmela was coming over and then they ended the call. Roxie was so glad that Carmela and Kayla were having dinner with her. She hurried to get the place straightened up. Kayla came over a few minutes after that to help her make the lasagna.

  When Carmela arrived at six, Roxie invited her inside. “Kayla’s mate is also on an overnight job out of town, so it’s ladies’ night out, or in, I should say.”

  “Oh, sweet. They’re the best. So what do you think about Dylan?” Carmela stepped into the kitchen to make them whiskey sours.

  Roxie was surprised that Carmela would bring up her relationship with Dylan right away. She thought Carmela should at least wait until they were sipping their whiskey sours.

  Kayla was setting the table and glanced at Roxie to see what she’d say. “Short and direct. I like that.”

  Roxie laughed. She hadn’t really talked to Kayla much about Dylan because they’d both been so busy at work. When they weren’t at work, Dylan had been with her for most of the time since he was released from the clinic. She hadn’t wanted to talk to her sister about him when he could overhear their conversation.

  Roxie pulled the lasagna out of the oven. “Well, Dylan’s really great. Not once did he have any issue with me when I had trouble with shifting. That’s aways a concern. Now that he’s going to move into the area, it won’t be a case of us seeing each other long distance. That wouldn’t have been sustainable, I don’t think.”

  “I agree. I couldn’t imagine dating a wolf who lived in Denver when I lived here.” Carmela set their drinks on the dining room table while Roxie served up the lasagna.

  They sat down at the table and began to eat. “So what is he going to do about living accommodations?” Kayla took a sip of her drink. “Ooh, this is super good. When we all get together from now on, you’re making the drinks, Carmela.”

  “I agree about the cocktails,” Roxie said after taking a drink of hers.

  Carmela laughed. “That’s what Michael always says to me when he grills for us.”

  “Well, they’re great,” Kayla said.

  “So is the lasagna. I’ll have to get your recipe.”

  “As to the living arrangements with Dylan, he thought of going to an apartment, but he’s already been staying with me for about a week and we enjoy each other’s company. I miss having my family here with me, so I’m happy with the arrangement. If we agree we’re perfectly right for each other, we’ll mate. If not, he can get an apartment and start seeing some other she-wolves.”