Own Me (The Wolf Hotel, #5)

Violet scrunches her nose with disgust as Howard and Gayle laugh.

Henry shakes his head at me before holding up his index finger toward Violet. “Okay, you can open one today. The skinny, silver one in the tree.”

I frown curiously at him as Violet bolts for it. I wrapped all the gifts we brought, but I didn’t wrap that one.

“It’s a surprise,” he mouths with a knowing smirk.

She tears open the thin rectangular box and pulls out a plastic card attached to a lanyard. “A ski-lift ticket?” She frowns as she reads. “Colorado?”

“I thought the three of us could go there for a few days next week. I have a hotel there.”

She reads the pass again and her face lights up. “That’s my birthday.”

A soft expression unfurls on Henry’s face. “I know.”

I hadn’t even thought of Violet’s birthday, so swamped with work and Christmas.

But Henry did.

I feel my pulse in my throat as I watch this exchange, the urge to throw myself at this man tremendous.

Violet looks at her grandparents, hopeful.

“Well, of course! He’s already cleared it with us.” Gayle’s smile is broad. “You only turn sixteen once.”

“I’ve never skied before,” she admits, looping the lanyard around her neck.

“Neither have I. We can learn together,” I say.

“I’ve already booked you both an instructor for the bunny hill,” Henry confirms.

“And you’ll be on—”

“The black diamond runs.”

“Of course. Because there’s nothing Henry wasn’t born good at.” I throw my hands up in mock annoyance, earning his amused snort and a round of chuckles.

We help clean up and spend a few minutes saying goodbye, with Violet diving into Henry’s arms in a hug that makes my chest swell with emotion.

I find myself wishing we could stay. Or take her with us.

We’re halfway down the path toward the SUV when it dawns on me. “Aspen, Colorado?”

“Took you long enough.” Henry smiles. “Relax, he knows better than to come anywhere near you, trust me.”

I hope so. That night with Michael is the only thing I regret, and I regret it with every bone and sinew in my body. If I have to ever see him again, it’ll be too soon.

I shed my coat for the long car ride to Greenbank and then admire Henry’s handsome profile as he punches the address into the GPS.

“Why are you staring at me?” he murmurs.

“Am I?” I reach up to twirl strands of his hair between my fingertips. “I was thinking that you’re going to make a great father. I mean, you already do, but you know what I mean.”

“I do, and I think we should start trying now.”

“Now?” My heart skips a beat, not expecting that response. “I’m still on the pill.”

“Stop taking it.”

I could. I’m supposed to start the next package tomorrow. “But what if it happens right away? The wedding is still four and a half months from now. I have to fit into my dress.” Which I still haven’t seen.

“I’m sure the designer could whip you up a new one in no time,” he says casually, one hand resting on the steering wheel as he leans in to kiss me. “Let’s start trying tonight in our new bed.”

The king-size bed Henry had delivered to my parents’ place last week, unbeknownst to me or Mama.

My stomach flutters, even though I’ve caught on. “Okay, now I know you’re not being serious because we can’t.” I give him a look.

“I forgot.”

“No, you didn’t.” He knows I’m on my period. Henry’s always acutely aware of this time of the month because he turns needier.

He hums. “That’s fine. The ways I plan on defiling your body tonight don’t make babies, anyway.”

Those flutters are quickly replaced by a hammering heartbeat.

“It’s been a while since I fucked your ass.” He flashes a sexy smile. A challenge. And I’m not sure he’s joking.

“Henry …,” I warn.

“I just want to give my future mother-in-law something to pray for. It’s my Christmas gift to her.”

“Trust me, she already prays to the Lord for your salvation every day.”

He throws the car into Reverse. “After this holiday, she’ll be crossing herself for me until Easter.”

I poke him in the ribs, but I’m laughing.





CHAPTER 22





February



Violet answers the door with a wet mop of hair. “I’m sorry! I slept in!” She stumbles over the pile of shoes—all hers—backing up to let me into the house. “Give me five minutes. I just have to throw my things into a bag and I’ll be ready.” She trots off to her bedroom, leaving me to shut the front door.

“Good morning, dear.” Gayle struggles to get up from the recliner.

I hold my hands in the air. “Don’t get up on my account.”

“This arthritis …” She gives up on her effort, settling back in. She’s still in her nightgown and housecoat, a blanket draped over her bottom half. “I thought I heard her stirring, but I guess it was something else. Maybe I should have my hearing checked.”

“Don’t worry about it. I built in lots of time and the roads are clear.” Cold, but the Porsche SUV navigates well. I miss being behind the wheel, and Henry didn’t argue with me too much about driving myself to Greenbank once he saw the clear weather forecast.

“So, this is your bridal shower you’re going to?”

“Yes. The ladies at the congregation wanted to throw something for me.” I resisted at first—showers are for, well, showering the bride with presents. Henry and I don’t need anything—until Henry suggested I choose a charity to donate to in lieu of gifts.

He won at least a hundred points with Mama when I relayed that message.

“That’s nice. And I’m sure your family is so happy to see you and Henry together.”

I laugh and hope it doesn’t sound too doubtful. “Where’s Howard?”

“Resting. He’s feeling under the weather lately. We both caught Violet’s cold a few weeks ago and he hasn’t been able to shake it. I’d like him to get checked out, but you know how men are.”

I’ve seen Gayle a handful of times since we’ve met. She’s never looked so frail and tired before. “We might be able to arrange a house call, if you’d like?” Do doctors even do that anymore? Regardless, there doesn’t seem to be much Henry can’t set up.

“Oh, that’s sweet of you, dear, but we’ll manage.” She toys with a corner of her blanket. “And where is Henry this weekend?”

“Los Angeles, but he’s flying to Pittsburgh to meet us at the hotel tonight.” We have a suite booked at the same Wolf where Henry and I reunited after my father’s accident.

“Gosh, that man travels a lot. He must be exhausted.”

“He works hard.”

She looks over her shoulder at Violet’s shut door. “Ever since she came back from that ski trip, it seems like he’s all she can talk about. Henry this and Henry that.”

“He’s a big fan of hers too. We both are.” Colorado felt like the start of something special. We spent three days skiing, eating, laughing, and while Henry was there to check on hotel operations, we had his undivided attention. A rarity.