The Wolf Prince Read Online Free PDF Page A

cake Ms. Abernathy had made for their neighbor, Ms. Bishop, who had just come home from the hospital. Darcy hadn’t known it was for Ms. Bishop, though, but had still suffered a scolding. Darcy now felt as if she were about to relive that moment.
    “I took Surlock clothes that belonged to your father,” Ms. Abernathy began. “I was going to have them taken to Goodwill anyway. I also included a pair of swimming trunks. Since you insisted he stay in the guest house, please inform him I cannot havemy staff in a state of agitation because he chooses not to wear clothes.” She turned on her heel and went back to the kitchen without another word.
    Not as bad as Darcy had feared, but still, she had been soundly chastised. Surlock went skinny-dipping, but she caught the flack. Not that she could blame the maids for having their heads turned. Apparently, he’d caused more than one heart to flutter.
    She hurried out to the guest house, and tapped on the door. As she went inside, Twila was just coming out of the bedroom.
    “His vitals are all good this morning,” Twila told her. “I checked them on and off through the night and there was no change.”
    “Does he remember anything?”
    She shook her head. “No more than he did yesterday. It might be a week or so before he’s completely back to normal. Maybe longer.”
    Darcy didn’t like the sound of that. What if he never regained his memory? Would he live in the guest house forever?
    Surlock stepped from the other room wearing her father’s old clothes. They were about the same height, but Surlock was broader in the chest so the white shirt didn’t button, and showed a delicious expanse of bare skin. He’d rolled the sleeves past his wrists, giving him a casual beach look.
    How could he look even sexier than when he was naked? Maybe he
could
live in the guest house for a few years. She didn’t think she would ever get tired of staring.
    “The shoes didn’t fit.” He glanced down at his feet.
    “No problem, we’ll get you some new ones.” She met his gaze. “How do you feel?”
    “I still can’t remember anything.”
    “Give it time,” Twila told him. She glanced at her watch. “There’s nothing more that I can do. Dr. Wilson will probably call this morning.”
    “Yes, of course,” Darcy said. “Thanks so much for coming out.”
    Twila gathered her things and left.
    The room suddenly began to shrink. “Are you hungry?”
    He nodded.
    Surlock didn’t talk a lot. Her theory that he was raised by wolves was beginning to sound more plausible. He followed as she went across to the house. She glanced at the pool.
    “You should wear clothes next time you swim.”
    “Why?”
    Why? She couldn’t think of one good reason. It would be nice to wake up to Surlock swimming naked in the pool every morning. It might cause her mother to have a heart attack though.
    “Because Ms. Abernathy will lecture me again if you don’t,” she finally told him. It was as good a reason as anything else she could come up with.
    He nodded. She didn’t ask if that meant he would or would not wear trunks the next time.
    They went into the dining room. Breakfast was always buffet-style in silver warming trays on a side table. It had been this way as long as she could remember. No matter how many times Darcy told Ms. Abernathy a bowl of cereal or just some fruit would be fine, Ms. Abernathy still fixed her spread. She always said it wouldn’t go to waste since there were plenty of mouths to feed at the estate.
    When Darcy glanced at Surlock, he only looked confused. “Scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage, pancakes and fruit,” she said, pointing to the different dishes.
    He nodded. She watched in amazement as he loaded his plate with some of everything. She got him another plate for his pancakes, buttered them, and added syrup. After she carried it to the table, she fixed her plate—two strips of bacon and some strawberries.
    She took a seat at the table, picked up a slice of