Haunted Wolves: Green Pines, Book 2 Read Online Free PDF Page A

from them.

Chapter Three
    One thing about Patsy Cline—she always filled the dance floor.
    Lorelei finished her lemonade and looked around for a trash receptacle. What she saw instead was Colin, approaching her with a decidedly determined look on his face.
    He held out one hand. “Do you like to dance?”
    “I don’t hate it.” She set her empty cup on a picnic table and eyed his hand for a moment before taking it.
    “I’m out of practice.” He tugged her close enough to rest a hand on her hip but keep a respectful space between their bodies. “It’s probably been fifteen years since I danced. Maybe twenty.”
    He didn’t move like he was out of practice at anything. “You have a funny way of sweet-talking the women, Colin.”
    “I leave the sweet-talk to Fletcher.” His lips curved up a little.
    Yeah, he knew he was hot. Lorelei found herself smiling in return. “I guess you don’t really need it.”
    His grin widened. “Neither does he, but teasing him about his busted face makes him shine his manners all nice and pretty.”
    “Where have these mythical manners been over the last month, hmm? He hasn’t said three words to me.”
    “Between you and me?” Colin leaned closer. “I think he’s been using them on Eden, just to annoy Jay. He can’t help himself.”
    One more turn, and another couple on the dance floor caught Lorelei’s eye. “You mean the way he’s using them on Kaley right now?”
    Colin swung her around until he was facing Kaley and Fletcher. His eyes widened, but he laughed. “He’s got a weakness for alpha women.” Almost as soon as the words were out, Colin’s smile faded and his gaze jerked to hers. “Not that he’d cross any lines.”
    “I didn’t think he would.” If anything, she wanted to thank the man. Kaley was smiling, something she did only rarely these days.
    “He’s a good man.” Colin seemed to be picking his words carefully. “We all just want to help. This is an opportunity for us, too.”
    That got her attention. “An opportunity for what?” she asked.
    He guided her in a slow, swaying circle before replying. “To belong somewhere. We haven’t really, any of us. Not since we left our pack in Texas.”
    “You plan on staying?”
    “If I can. If it works. It doesn’t always. Too many strong personalities in one area…” He hesitated. “Maybe you know that. I don’t know how long you’ve been…one of us.”
    No, he didn’t know anything about her—by her design. Conscience pricked at her. “Six years, but I spent some of that time alone.”
    His brow furrowed. “As a lone wolf?”
    The truth was too complicated and painful for a moment like this. “Something to that effect.”
    “Then you understand.” He stroked his thumb over her knuckles. “Being around others… We need it more than we admit.”
    She did understand—usually. “We’re social creatures, Colin, no matter how you look at us.”
    “We are. But being alone can be habit forming.”
    “So you’d rather stay,” she murmured. “Why this time? Why here?”
    “Jay,” he replied without hesitation. “I can follow him. There can’t be more than one leader in a pack.”
    The simplest way, the only natural one. They’d all seen the havoc wrought in Memphis, where no clear alpha had emerged. “I’m glad this feels like a safe place for you too.”
    Something sparked in his eyes. “So you feel safe?”
    So that was why he’d spent so much time with her, been so careful. It made sense, and it made her chest ache. “Yes, Colin. You don’t have to worry about me.”
    “Yeah, I do.” Smiling, he spun her playfully, twirling her in a dizzy circle before pulling her back to his body. Closer this time, with only a whisper of space between them. “But when you know me better, maybe you’ll yell at me when I’m annoying you. Kaley already does.”
    Lorelei clucked her tongue. “That’s not you. She does that to everyone.”
    “Why am I not surprised?”
    “Because