Own Me (The Wolf Hotel, #5)

“Yes.” Henry’s gaze rolls over Penthouse Cabin Three—the only one with two bedrooms. It’s almost identical in style to Penthouse Cabin One. “Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?”

I slip my arms around his waist, falling into him. It feels so good to be back in Alaska. “I’ll stay here and feed the fire. Jill and I have a bunch of last-minute things to go over for the wedding, anyway.” Almost everything is taken care of, save for a few changes to account for minor glitches like half-spoiled strawberries and a shortage of white tulips. Mama, Daddy, and the rest of our guests arrive the day after tomorrow, but Henry and I wanted a couple of nights alone with Violet at Wolf Cove before we’re pulled in twenty directions, with no time for each other.

Besides, I think this is a conversation best had between father and daughter.

“Don’t worry.” I smile up at his handsome face. “It’s going to be fine.”

His jaw tenses. “Maybe I should wait until after the wedding?”

“As we’re leaving for our honeymoon?” I shake my head. Howard is home now and improving with daily therapy and help from a nurse Henry hired. According to the doctor, he’ll make a near-full recovery, which is fantastic news. But the reality is they’ll both be eighty-five this year, and the struggles will only get worse.

Henry and I sat down with them one day when Violet was out with friends and broached the subject of their granddaughter moving to Manhattan to live with us. I mean, it’s the next logical step. We text every day, and we’ve seen her nearly every weekend since Christmas—either her coming into the city or us driving out. The reality is, Violet’s as big a part of our lives as we are of hers.

Gayle and Howard weren’t surprised, and when Gayle cried, she promised it was with delighted tears. She’s been so afraid of becoming a burden for their granddaughter, who has a whole life ahead of her and shouldn’t be saddled with taking care of her ailing grandparents, especially after what she faced with Audrey.

“She won’t have to worry about Gayle and Howard anymore. You’ve found a wonderful place for them to move to, way nicer than the one they were waiting for before they pulled their names off the list.” When we brought Gayle to see the assisted living home, I’m not sure her mouth was closed for more than a minute total, too busy hanging open in awe as we toured the one-bedroom suite they would move into, complete with a fireplace and a private garden, and then the many on-site facilities, including a therapy pool, an art studio, and a library. Of course she insisted they couldn’t afford it and they didn’t need this type of luxury. Henry would have none of it and told her to consider it fair trade for Audrey raising the perfect daughter for him.

My heart melted for the thousandth time for this man that day. He continues to amaze me with his generosity and thoughtfulness.

Henry frowns. “And if she says no?”

“She’s going to say yes.”

“How do you know?”

I stretch onto my tiptoes to kiss him. “Because how could anyone say no to you?”





I hear their boots stomping on the doormat outside before the telltale beeps of someone entering the code. The door swings open.

“How big do you think it was?” Violet asks, her arms loaded with firewood, her cheeks rosy from the chilly air.

“At least five hundred pounds. Maybe six.” Henry trails in after her, carrying twice as much wood. He hip-checks the door shut.

“You saw a bear?” I ask.

“Bear tracks.” Violet kicks off her muddy boots and carries the wood over to the fireplace.

“Did you cut all that?”

“No, but I did almost cut off my foot.” Violet holds her hands out in front of the flame for warmth.

“It’s too wet. We got this from up near the lodge.” Henry stoops to unload and begins stacking.

Neither reveals anything about how their talk went.

Does that mean it went poorly?

Did they even talk?

I’ve been on pins and needles all afternoon. This is going to drive me nuts.

“So … I ordered food. It should be here soon if you want to wash up and change?”

Violet looks down at her pants, speckled in mud. “Oh, good idea.”

I wait for her door to shut before I pounce. “How did it go?” My whisper sounds like a hiss.

Henry stands, his gaze transfixed on the flames that dance in the hearth. Finally, his lips curve. “She said yes.”

“Yes!”

“She asked if she could finish out her school year at Bishop Prep, which I said was fine. That’s what we were planning on, anyway, given we won’t be home for a few weeks.”

I sigh with relief. “See? I told you.”

A wistful look fills his face. “She called me Dad.”

A small gasp escapes my lips.

“She also called me Henry, and Dude, and Wolf. And apparently, I’m officially a DILF.” He shakes his head, chuckling. “What have we gotten ourselves into?”

“A family.” I sink against his broad chest, reveling in the strength. “How are you feeling now?”

He inhales. “Whole, if that makes any sense.”

“It does.” It’s how I’ve felt since that day Henry and I reunited, as if a missing piece of my heart returned to me. And, while Violet was never missing—because I had no idea she existed—now that she’s here, I can’t imagine our lives without her. “I’m so proud of you, Henry.”

“For what? Doing the right thing?”

“No, I always knew you’d do the right thing eventually.” I tip my head back to meet his eyes. “But you’re doing it because you want to, not because you have to.”

He searches my face. “Do you know what I want more than anything else right now?”

My body ignites with interest that I need to dose quickly. “We can’t do that until later.” The days of stripping off our clothes and fucking whenever we wish are coming to an end.

“Not that.” He rubs his thumb over my bottom lip, his voice turning husky. “I can’t wait to call you my wife. Saturday can’t come soon enough.”

My heart stutters as he leans in to kiss my lips. It begins sweetly but turns frantic in seconds, his tongue plunging into my mouth, while his fingers weave through my hair and his body is pressed against mine.

Violet will be out any moment. She doesn’t need to see her father and me mauling each other’s faces.

I break away from him, my breathing ragged. “So, did she call you Dad or Daddy?” I say the latter in a sultry tone.

I squeal as Henry tosses me onto the couch, before climbing on top of me, pinning my arms above my head. “What did I say would happen if you started up with that again?” He pitches forward to drag his tongue along my bottom lip.

Violet pokes her head out of her room. “Oh God, is this going to be like Aspen all over again?”





CHAPTER 26





I watch John steer the ferry toward Wolf Cove’s dock through a billow of my breath. The kindly old captain hugged and congratulated me when we first arrived, bringing me to tears. He was the first friendly face I saw a year ago when I left the comfort of all I’d known for the terrifying unknown.

Now he brings everyone I hold dear to the place I love, where I found myself.