She was enjoying the rain and staying here with Nate for a while after all the wild excitement yesterday, but she didn’t want him to know how she felt—not when he wanted to enjoy running all over and doing things with her. He was an Army Ranger after all. He wouldn’t want to sit around the cabin all day. Though if she couldn’t control her shifting, he probably would prefer to stay with her here.

  “We can play some card games or board games until then. And go swimming after the rain stops?” she suggested.

  “Yeah, that sounds good. We can take another hike too. Maybe like we planned before but then woke up so late. We can run tonight as wolves too.”

  “Yeah, sure.” She had to remind herself she was going to have trouble with the shifting soon. The storm had arrived earlier than they had expected. But at least they weren’t having any hail. With Nate’s van sitting out, they sure didn’t want hail to damage it.

  Nate poured himself some coffee while Kayla made her tea, and then they sat down to eat. “You know if you just want to stay at the cabin for the day, we can do that.”

  She sighed. “Well, you know I could have problems with shifting tonight, so we might have to stay in then. It wouldn’t do for me to shift during the day if we’re out and about.”

  “Yeah, sure. Anything you want to do.”

  Chapter 21

  Because of the rain, Nate and Kayla had never gone swimming or hiking or running as wolves. They ended up just playing board games the whole day, except for taking a break to make love to each other and taking a much-deserved nap.

  After making love to Nate that night, Kayla had been sleeping soundly with him before she began getting the urge to shift. Now she was awake again and she’d been fighting the need to shift for a while. Before long, she figured she would be a wolf curled up next to him. Not wanting him to know it, she hoped she could avoid waking him. Who wanted to go to sleep with their loved one and then have a wolf wake them up in the middle of the night?

  She thought she’d slip out of bed and sleep on the floor if she could do so without waking him. Though she knew Nate wouldn’t be bothered by it. Gabrielle and Nicole didn’t mind that Kayla’s brothers had the same shifting issues. It was just something that bothered Kayla. Up until now, she’d avoided staying overnight with Nate during the full moon when she knew she’d have trouble with the urge to shift.

  She’d loved how he hadn’t made a big deal of her not staying with him then. Even though they hadn’t discussed it, she was certain he knew just why she conveniently couldn’t sleep over at his place on full-moon days.

  For now, she was glad she was naked. This way, she wouldn’t disturb Nate with taking her clothes off. Even so, she tried to move away from him, but in a sleepy state, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer.

  She scoffed. She couldn’t pull away from him, and she couldn’t stop the shift. The full moon was definitely in play.

  Then she felt the shift take over—her muscles stretching, heat filling her body like a comforting warm blanket, and then in the blink of an eye, she was one furry wolf. At least her back was to Nate so she wasn’t digging all her paws into him.

  “Hmm, my wolf lover,” Nate said softly and hugged her.

  She growled low.

  He chuckled and just snuggled with her like he didn’t mind that she’d shifted one bit. She relaxed. Okay, maybe he was fine being with her as a wolf in bed when she couldn’t control her shifting.

  “If you want me to shift, I will, but I love holding you like this,” he said, as if he could read her mind.

  She leaned her head down and licked his arm wrapped around her chest, telling him she was fine with this arrangement, since he was. It was nice, the closeness, his body tight against hers even if she was a bit furry. She was glad he was snuggling with her like this. She felt well loved, and she closed her eyes and fell asleep, dreaming of running as a wolf with her mate.

  But when she woke in the middle of the night, she discovered he was a wolf too, his head resting on her neck in a possessively loving way. She loved him for doing everything to make her feel secure and perfectly comfortable with being who she was. She felt her body warming and muscles stretching. She was turning, and instantly she was in her human form.

  Then she rested her arm over his chest, her face nuzzled below his chin, hugging him, human to wolf, and she enjoyed it just as much as when he had been in his human form and was hugging her when she was a wolf. Yeah, he was definitely the right one for her.

  Late the next morning, Nate and Kayla were having waffles for breakfast, and she was thinking about the guy who had come for the keys at the lodge and then escaped the FBI agents.

  As if her thoughts had triggered the call, Nicole called Nate.

  “Hey, what’s up?” Nate asked. “Putting on speaker.”

  “I just wanted to let you know that everyone’s still watching for the guy who came for the keys at the lodge. The picture of him has been circulated to everyone in our area just in case he comes back.”

  “We thought he wouldn’t return. Not when he’s got the keys that he’d come for,” Nate said.

  “Two different wolves have said they saw him in your area. Since he broke out of custody and he seemed to be tied in with the dead armed bank robber, Darien said he didn’t want anyone to try to apprehend him. Just to report any possible sightings.”

  “Okay, thanks, we just got up and haven’t really checked our messages,” Nate said.

  “I figured that might be the situation. I didn’t want to disturb the two of you, but I just wanted to warn you in case this guy heads out that way because you’d found Manning’s body. The jewelry from the Green Valley store and the others hasn’t been recovered yet. It doesn’t mean any of the heisted jewelry is out there. But just in case, you should keep a look out while you’re running around in the woods as wolves and on hikes and such. The insurance companies are offering high-dollar rewards for each of the robberies, and you’ll get the reward for them if you find any of it. Also, Everest and his buddies all lawyered up, so Peter isn’t getting anything out of them. And that guy Gerald had the tires for Randy’s truck, but the police can’t charge him with anything because he hadn’t done anything criminal and he wouldn’t admit to his friends doing anything wrong.”

  “Thanks, Nicole. That’s great news—on the reward—not that the other jewelry hasn’t been recovered yet or that Everest and his friends have lawyered up, but I expected it. How are the other cases coming along?”

  “I’m good. I haven’t needed anyone’s help. Still no success at finding Phil though.”

  “I’ll help you with it when I get back.”

  “Thanks. Otherwise, have fun and enjoy yourselves.”

  “We will,” Kayla said.

  “We are,” Nate said. “Call us if you hear anything further.”

  “I will.”

  Then they ended the call.

  “I was just thinking about that guy with the keys. I wondered what could have happened to him.”

  “I figured he would be long gone by now,” Nate said, then took another sip of his coffee.

  “Unless he learned the safe deposit boxes didn’t hold anything in them. Or at least not what he was looking for. And so he’s in this area, trying to learn what he can.”

  “So then if the two witnesses weren’t mistaken, he came back here to search for the jewelry? If that’s so, he must have been involved in the robberies.” Nate finished eating his waffles.

  Kayla sighed. “Then we might be having company.”

  “Peter will have additional patrols out here just in case the guy surfaces. The reports still might be a false alarm. The man was wearing a billed cap and mirrored sunglasses, and it was hard to make out his features on the video they had of him. But it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

  “I agree.”

  “So what’s our schedule for today?”

  “We spent the whole day in yesterday. I shifted late last night, so I’m good for not shifting.” She thought Nate was so sweet to always ask her what she wanted to do first. “Do you want to choose?”

  “I’ve enjoyed everything that you’ve scheduled for us so far. You’re great at planning. Nicole was always the one who was planning our trips and excursions when it was just the two of us going places.”

  “All right, well, if you ever want to choose something to do, just let me know.”

  “I will. So where are we going?”

  She smiled. “Okay, let’s make this our four-mile trip up to Hidden Lake. It’s not supposed to rain until much later, so we’ll be back before then. It’ll be cold up there, snowy even, but I want to do it, don’t you?”

  “Absolutely. I was hoping you would want to. Since you were sleeping as a wolf for a good amount of time, you most likely won’t have the urge to shift. But if you do, I’ll carry your pack, and we’ll head back.”

  “That’s what I was thinking too. We could play chicken-foot dominoes when we get back. Okay, let’s get ready before the day gets away from us.”

  With hiking packs on their backs, they were soon on their way to the lake. She was excited about it. She’d never taken the time to go there, and she’d seen pictures of the aqua-blue water that reminded her of the Caribbean waters. In winter, Hidden Lake would be frozen, but even now in summer, the water would be cold.

  “I’m so glad we’re doing this together. I’ve always wanted to, but I have been so busy. And…well, truthfully, I really wanted to do this with you. That makes it really special,” she said.

  He took her hand and kissed her cheek. “I’m so glad you waited. I haven’t been to Hidden Lake either. I can’t wait to see it. With you. Even just making the hike up there will be beautiful.”

  On the hike, they walked past silver and gold mines and abandoned equipment that had been left there when the mines had closed. She looked over the valley. Alpine wildflowers filled it—pink mountain heather, subalpine heather, glacier lily, purple lupine. It looked like a fairyland. Off in the distance they could see the swinging bridge they wanted to go to that crossed a river.

  It was a great hike—steep, and they’d get a wonderful workout.

  “Do you want to go swimming when we get back?” she asked.

  “Yeah. Sure, that would be great. By the time we return, we’ll be hot and ready for a swim.”

  They took a break to get some water, and she took pictures of the valley filled with flowers. “This is just beautiful. I’ve seen some of the photos Jake has taken while up here, but it’s even more vibrant, more real in person.”

  “I agree. Seeing it from this vantage point is beautiful. When we were walking on the trail through the valley, it was spectacular, but way up above like this, it’s really amazing.” He took a picture of both of them with the valley of flowers as a backdrop.

  Then they continued on their way up the mountain. She was beginning to think if she was running as a wolf, she could manage this so much easier. She wasn’t in as great of shape as she thought.

  When she slowed down, he took her hand. “Are you getting tired?”

  She laughed. “Yeah, you?”

  “It’s a long, steep hike.”

  “Well, that makes it all the more worthwhile.” She wasn’t quitting for anything. Even if it started raining. Well, maybe if it did, they’d be forced to return. At this height, there was no shelter if lightning started, and they’d stand out too much. But no storms were due in for the time being.

  “It does. And being with you up here makes it doubly special,” he said.

  “I guess you don’t want to carry me if I get too tired.”

  He chuckled. “You know I would do anything for you.”

  “I’d turn wolf first.”

  “That would work if you need to. I can carry your backpack.”

  But she didn’t want to do that to him. She was making the climb all the way to the top. When they finally reached the lake, she sighed. “Now this was well worth the hike. We should have brought a tent and stayed overnight. It would be gorgeous to see the sunset on the lake tonight.” She set her backpack on the rocks and then pulled out her jacket and put it on. “That is, if it didn’t storm.”

  “Next time. We can hike a little later in the afternoon.” He pulled out his jacket too and slipped it on.

  “Yeah, that sounds great.”

  It would take too long for the sun to set otherwise. They could make their way back to the cabin without any trouble with their wolf sight at night. But they couldn’t swim in the ice-cold water, and there wasn’t anything else to do up here except enjoy the vista. Which was truly amazing.

  They took pictures of themselves at the lake and of the vista. Then they ate tuna fish in easy-to-carry packages and apples before they began the hike back down. They saw a couple of red-tailed hawks soaring way up above, and Kayla shivered. “It’s chilly up here after that long, hot hike.”

  “Yeah, but as soon as we head down, we’ll be stripping off our jackets.”

  Then they saw six hikers headed up the mountain on the path they had taken.

  “Looks like we’re going to have company,” she said.

  “It’ll take them awhile. We can take the other path down. It meanders a bit more, but then we’ll have more privacy.”

  “Yeah, sure. I’m all for it.”

  They lifted their backpacks on their shoulders and headed across the ridge to the other trail. Then they started the descent. At least up here, they didn’t have any trouble with bad guys. This was way too rigorous a hike for someone who might have hidden the other bags of jewelry from his cohorts, and no one would be foolhardy enough to look for any, way up here. So all Kayla and Nate would find were other hikers like them.

  They had made it a good way down the mountain when, both of them getting too hot, they paused to peel off their jackets and stuffed them into their backpacks.

  They finally made it to the base of the mountain, and she wanted to run for the cabin and get into her swimsuit. “Let’s run,” she said, getting a burst of energy.

  “Yeah, do you want me to take your backpack?”

  “Don’t tempt me.”

  He reached for her arm and pulled her to a stop. “I’m an Army Ranger, remember? We carried way more than this on a run. I’ve got yours.” He relieved her of her pack and then carried hers too.

  Then they were running again. “You should have mentioned it before we made that climb,” she teased.

  He laughed. “I should have just carried everything in my pack. But if we had gotten separated at any point—”

  “No way that is going to happen. We are sticking together through thick and thin.” But she was running much faster now without her backpack. She finally reached the cabin door and unlocked it, then went inside.

  Nate was right behind her, and he dropped their packs on the floor and locked up. She had already dashed for the bedroom. “Not shifting, are you?” he asked.

  “Nope. Getting into my swimsuit and we’re going swimming. Then we can return to the cabin, shower, make love, have dinner, play dominoes, and watch the sunset.”

  “You see why I let you make all the plans? They’re perfect,” he said, joining her in the bedroom. He hurried to yank his shirt over his head.

  She already had hers off and was removing her hiking boots. “So about dinner tonight. Do steaks sound good? Baked potatoes? Spinach?”

  “Yeah, that sounds great. I’ll grill the steaks and make my special herb butter.” He removed his hiking boots and socks.

  “Hmm, now you’re talking.” She slipped off her socks, but he unhooked her bra and kissed her shoulders.

  “You are so delicious,” he said, licking her skin. “Delectable.” He slid his shorts off his hips and kicked them aside.

  “You too.” She licked his earlobe and nibbled on it, and then he was pulling off her panties.

  She removed his boxer briefs, but then she pushed him onto the bed, deciding she wanted to ravish him first before they went swimming. He seemed just as eager to make love to her as he pulled her on top of him and wrapped his arms around her, pinning her on top of his body. He was already so hard, his arousal poking at her, and she loved it. Loved how masculine he was. How sexy.

  No way could she put off making love to him before going swimming. That fun activity would have to come after this one.

  Savoring every inch of his body pressed against hers, she kissed his mouth with fervor, and his own kisses grew hotter, pressuring, deep, enthusiastic. She loved him so much. She rubbed her hardened nipples against his chest, and they ached even more.

  Long, drugging kisses made her head swirl, and she groaned against his mouth. He slipped her onto her back and moved her legs apart. His warm tongue slid over her rigid nipple, tantalizing her as he licked it. Then he closed his mouth around it and sucked. That nearly made her come unglued, enraptured by the feelings welling up inside of her.

  He massaged her other breast with his free hand. She felt glorious. He moved his hand down her stomach in a sweet caress and then between her legs where she was wet and eager for his touch.

  He slid his finger over her feminine bud, but then he passed it up; she wanted to moan loudly when he stopped, until he slipped his finger deep into her chasm and she groaned. She hadn’t expected that of him, but she loved him for doing the unexpected.

  She lifted her pelvis, increasing the deepness and the erotic feel of him stroking her inside. Oh, this was so incredible. But then he pulled his finger out and stroked her bud, making her soar. He was heating her blood so hot, her heart pumping wildly and so was his. They turned each other on with kisses and touching and loving. They had started a slow burn and stoked it into a raging inferno.

  She could barely breathe, anticipating the climax, the end, the beginning. She so wanted him thrusting inside her again, but this—this was for her too, and she longed to feel that shattering moment all because of his intimately sensual touch.

  He stroked her harder now, kissing her mouth with whispered caresses and then switching to fierce and passionate kisses, as if he couldn’t hold himself back any longer. He tongued her, making her feel hot and loved and sexy, every bit as much as he was hot and loved and sexy to her.