Page 70 of The Search

Monty delicately licked the fur beneath the wolf’s eyes.

Maggie drew back her lips in a snarl.

Sarah tensed, ready to jump forward to protect him. “Stop.”

Monty didn’t stop.

And Maggie’s snarl slowly disappeared. She closed her eyes, accepting.

“I’ll be damned.” Sarah shook her head. “Maybe it’s mutual after all.” She moved forward and knelt by the wolf. “I have to give her another shot, boy. Try to distract her.”

Maggie opened her eyes and snarled at Sarah when the needle entered, but she didn’t attack. A few moments later she was asleep again.

Once more Monty stretched out beside her.

“You’re not listening,” Sarah said. “It’s strictly Montague and Capulet stuff. Her folks would never accept you.”

Monty sighed, his gaze never leaving the wolf. Beautiful.

Logan was asleep in the chair when she left the porch.

She marched across the room and shook him awake. “You can stay. But you’d better get well fast. I’m going to work your tail off and enjoy every minute of it.”

He yawned. “I’m glad you informed me in such a gentle manner.”

“I don’t feel gentle. I have problems.” She headed for her bedroom. “I have to get Maggie on her feet and out of here quickly and I may need your help with some repercussions.”

“What repercussions?”

“Monty’s ga-ga over her.”

Logan chuckled. “So?”

“It’s not funny. I have to get them apart before they decide to mate. Wolves mate for life, and Monty . . . I won’t have him hurt.”

“Isn’t it unusual for a rescue dog not to be fixed?”

“ATF wanted to do it, and I told them to leave it to me. I meant to . . . but then I didn’t.” She glared at him. “Okay?”

“Maybe for Monty it will be only a fling.”

“That’s crazy. Monty’s the most loving dog I’ve ever known.”

“I can see the problem.”

She scanned his expression. He wasn’t laughing or mocking any longer. He did understand. “Most people would think I’m being weird, but it’s . . . important to me.”

“Then it’s important to me. And I can understand why you wouldn’t want your best friend to make a bad match.” He closed his eyes. “But could I go back to sleep now? If you’re going to work my tail off, I’m going to need all the rest I can get.”

He waited until the bedroom door shut behind her before he reached into his pocket for his phone and called Galen. “I’m at Sarah’s cabin and I’ll be here for a while. Have you heard anything?”

“Not yet. I’m still tracking down Sanchez. How were those last days in Kai Chi?”

“Hell.”

“Is Sarah okay?”

“As good as can be expected. She’s having a few domestic problems. Monty’s in love with a wolf.”