Read Seal Wolf Hunting (9781402293832) for Free Online Page A

at her, her hair in gray curls pinned on top of her head and her eyes alight with excitement. Emma was wearing her favorite green blouse and olive-green-and-brown broomstick skirt, an outfit she fondly called her “earth clothes” because she looked like she could blend into the woods on a summer’s day. The green blouse emphasized the green in her amber eyes, and she looked so perky and happy it made Lori smile.
    â€œSo,” Emma said, cutting into one of her enchiladas, “did you want to tell me about that?”
    â€œAbout what?” Lori asked, feigning cluelessness. She knew just what her grandma was referring to.
    â€œPaul kissing you.”
    Lori tried to keep a straight face, but couldn’t. She hadn’t expected him to kiss her. She only wished he hadn’t done so in front of an audience. Rose was still teasing her about it. Lori was glad Rose hadn’t taken a picture or video of the deed and posted it on Facebook.
    â€œHe was trying to get me to give up my weapon. Or appease me for scaring me to pieces.”
    â€œAnother man might have gotten angry when you hit him with the broom. I thought that was an… interesting way to handle the situation.” Emma cut up another slice of enchilada.
    Lori sighed. “Totally surprised me. But you know that’s part of their training.”
    â€œKissing a woman in distress?”
    Lori rolled her eyes. “Using the element of surprise.”
    â€œIt’s about time.”
    Lori shook her head. “He’s not ready to settle down. I’m not sure he ever will be.” She took a bite of her enchilada.
    â€œA man like that needs to find an interest that begs for attention more than the mission he goes on. I’d say he might just be looking for something else, even if he’s not fully aware of it.”
    â€œYou mean because he kissed me? It was just a rash, impulsive gesture.”
    â€œDon’t think I don’t know what’s going on between the two of you.”
    â€œ Nothing’s going on.” Which was the problem. But Lori wasn’t going to chase after him or beg him to stay with the family. She didn’t want to screw up a good thing. Right now she really cared for him and she thought he cared about her, but she didn’t want to act like a clinging vine.
    â€œLori Lee Greypaw, lately, every time he returns home, you conveniently make yourself scarce. He knows why too.” Emma speared another piece of her enchilada. “You were there for him when he needed to heal when you both were younger.”
    â€œHe’s a grown man. A SEAL who loves his work more than anything.”
    â€œHave you ever stopped to think he comes home to see you?”
    Lori frowned at her grandma. “He’s too busy doing things with Allan or seeing Allan’s family when he comes here.”
    â€œAnd me. He always spends some time with me. You think he really wants to see an old lady like me?”
    â€œOf course he wants to see you. You’re part of his pack, whether he wants to admit that he’s our leader or not.”
    Emma humphed under her breath. “You know very well he comes by to see you, and you always skedaddle out of here for some purpose or another. If you were around more, he’d do things with you. Not just with Allan. He knows you are purposefully avoiding seeing him.” She cut into her last enchilada. “You know why he really kissed you?”
    Lori let out her breath. She didn’t want to hear what Emma had to say, but she knew she was going to hear it anyway. “Why?”
    â€œHe had to prove to you that he wanted to see you. And not just to say hi. No way was that just a sweet, little hello kiss.”
    Lori fought a smile. She had to agree with her grandma. She couldn’t deny that she had been avoiding him. But it all had to do with not wanting to feel more about him than he felt for her. She didn’t want him to feel