Read AGThanksgiving_JCSmith for Free Online

was
inconceivable that a wolf would do anything other than protect the woman he’d
chosen to mate. But then, she didn’t know the whole story.
    She walked through the house
and tapped on Cole’s office door. Really it was more of a playroom than an
office. Yes, he had a desk and computer in there, but he also had a pool table,
two recliners and a large TV. She called it his man cave.
    Cole looked up from the video
game he’d been playing and smiled at her. “Have I been in here too long again?”
    “No. Keep playing if you want,
but I’m going to head over to Gabriel’s for a minute. Think you can watch the
baby?”
    “At what point are you going
to stop calling our child a baby? I think when they hit the two year mark, they
are considered toddlers.”
    Marin stuck out her tongue.
“At twenty, she’ll still be my baby.”
    Cole laughed. “Fine. Yes, I’ll
watch the baby. But don’t be surprised if Gabriel throws you out.”
    “Didn’t Michael tell you? He
went out twice yesterday. First to take Autumn to her apartment and later to
take her to dinner.”
    Cole’s eyebrows rose. “So big
brother is coming around? Good to know. I still don’t think we should all land
on his doorstep right away. He may feel like he’s under attack.”
    “I’m not going to see him. I’m
going to invite Autumn out for lunch. I know it’s last minute…”
    Cole looked at the clock. “You
think? It’s eleven o’clock on a Saturday. You don’t think she may have plans
already?”
    “It’s worth a shot. And if she
can’t go today, I can arrange something else. I really want to get to know
her.”
    “Go. Make friends. The little
angel and I will be just fine on our own.” He frowned. “Where is she anyway?”
    “I put the baby gate across
her door. She was playing with her blocks last time I peeked. You might want to
snag the monitor though. I’m not sure you’ll hear her in here if she needs
help.”
    Cole nodded. “I may just go
get her and watch one of those princess movies with her. Don’t worry, Mom.” He
smiled. “We’ll be okay without you.”
    Marin gave him a little wave
and headed for the front door, grabbing her purse along the way. She really
hoped Autumn didn’t have any plans. She hadn’t lied to Cole when she said she
wanted to get to know the woman. Anyone who could get Gabriel out of the house
was friend material to her. The fact she was related to Kiera was just a bonus.
As far as Marin was concerned, that made her family. And if there was one thing
Marin prized above all else, it was family.

Chapter Five
    Autumn had planned to spend a
quiet afternoon at home with Gabriel. He hadn’t arranged for her things to be
moved yet and had taken her by the apartment that morning for more clothes.
She’d wanted to stay and box some things, but for some reason he’d been anxious
to get her back home. Or maybe he just didn’t want to be out of the house. She
thought he’d done amazingly well the previous night and didn’t want to push her
luck by asking him to stay out longer. For some reason, he refused to let her
out of his sight. Honestly, she thought he was taking this whole protector
thing a little too far. She’d managed just fine since Perry died. It wasn’t
like she was completely helpless.
    “I have Netflix hooked up
through my TV,” he said. “Want to rent a movie?”
    “Maybe in a little while. I
really should get some work done. I’ve been completely useless for the past two
days. I had writer’s block day before yesterday; then…well, you know what
happened yesterday; you were there.”
    “Writer’s block?”
    She felt her cheeks warm. “I’m
a romance writer.”
    “As in those sappy stories
women like to read?”
    “Well, I like to think mine
are a little different. Since people don’t believe in werewolves, I write about
them. But I add in some suspense and a hint of mystery.”
    He scratched his head. “I’ve
never met a writer before. You can make a living doing