Page 88 of Wolf It Down, Knot Me Up

“Cocky much?” I tease.

We hurry to the post office first, where Roman manages to make the manager swoon and drop her glasses with his voice. Then the grocery store, and already he’s helped two ladies reach for items on the higher shelves.

I whisper, “As soon as a woman sees you, it’s as if she’s suddenly incapable of doing anything on her own.”

He gives me a playful slap on the ass. “Don’t be jealous, gorgeous. You’ll always be my number one.”

I roll my eyes and keep pushing the shopping cart.

“It’s been years since I’ve done grocery shopping,” he says, pulling random vegetables, which I assume he has plans for, into the cart. “Who would have thought I’d miss it?” He collects a pineapple, sniffs it, then puts it back. “Not ripe enough.”

“In no time, you’ll be a free man. I bet you can’t wait,” I say, pushing the cart down the cereal aisle.

“Your grandmother’s been very flexible and permits us to head into town on our own as part of the program, so living at the lodge feels like freedom already.” A grin tugs at his lips. “Being able to spend so much time outdoors is everything. While I was away, I missed all the boring things, like this here.”

My stomach does somersaults because somehow I’ve won the lotto with these Alphas. After losing Jerry, my world turned dark, and nothing I did lit up my life until now. I haven’t laughed so much since returning home, or been this aroused.

We pause at one end of the chocolate aisle, examining my many options, and I pinch my lips to the side, unable to choose. “Which one do you want?”

“I’m a dark chocolate person,” he answers, reaching for one.

“Yes, me too, and excellent selection.” I take it from him and place it in the cart, when someone from the end of the aisle grabs my attention. Lifting my gaze, I glance over at the man in blue jeans and a button-up shirt, messy sandy hair, standing there in front of a shelf.

Wait. “Is that Ethan?” I ask.

Roman’s at my side, both of us staring. I blink, trying to make sure I’m not imagining things because he shouldn’t be here, and I don’t want to call out to a complete stranger. He grabs something from the shelf and vanishes around the end of the aisle.

I twist to face Roman. “That was him. Tell me you just saw Ethan? Or am I losing my mind?”

He’s nodding. “Yep, it was him all right. Is he back in town?”

“Maybe. I’ve left messages with him, but he hasn’t responded. But it’ll be good to see him again.” Suddenly, I’m pushing the cart, hoping to find him. We go across the end of all the aisles, and he’s nowhere to be found. He’s not at the registers either. “Where’s he gone so fast?”

“I’m certain we’ll catch him back at the lodge,” Roman says, then we continue our shopping, but I’m still keeping an eye out for Ethan.

Once we’re in the truck with the groceries in the back, I call Ethan again. After two rings, it goes straight to voicemail. I hang up. “I don’t know what, but something just feels off,” I say.

Roman starts up the engine, and I pull the seat belt across my chest. “He could have his reasons.”

“I guess.” I look out the window as we leave behind the parking area, the ache in my gut that something is wrong still there.

We drive home quietly, the radio playing old songs, while Roman’s hand shifts to my thigh when he’s not changing gears. Unable to resist, I keep stealing glances his way—those lips, that strong jawline, how he has his long hair pushed behind an ear.

When we pull up the long driveway to the front of the lodge, there’s a black town car I don’t recognize parked near the entrance, and the knot in my stomach returns.

“Wonder who that is,” I say, as I’d locked the place up while we were gone and the guys were working on clearing the fallen pine.

We park close by and climb out, just as the driver’s door of the black car swings open. A man in a navy-blue suit emerges, and it’s only when he straightens himself that I recognize him. It’s Mayor West. “What’s he doing here?” I murmur under my breath.

Roman falls into step beside me as we approach him.

“Miss Rose,” the mayor begins, striding toward us, hand out, hair slicked back. I shake it, as does Roman. “So happy I caught you. I thought no one was home. Do you have a moment?”

“Of course. Would you like to come inside?”

He shakes his head. “I don’t have much time to spare and was really just making a courtesy visit, as I heard through the grapevine that you lost power to the lodge.”

“Oh, word gets around fast,” I say with a grin while staring at this man. “I called the electric company this morning, so I’m waiting for them to fix it.”