Chapter 9: Chapter 9

With her fingers twisting against each other, Imara stood on the porch, searching the darkness for signs of the wolf. “Do you think he’s alright, Thorin? I’d never forgiven myself if something happened to him. I knew we should have taken him inside to live with us.”

A smirk rose on Thorin’s lips as he looked up from his guitar. “I’m sure he’s fine, Darlin. Try not to worry yourself into a fit.”

Her hand pushed against her hip, and she lifted to her tip-toes to see over the bushes. It was a week since she saw Ben last, and her entire body ached to have him touch her one more time.

She slumped down on the swing beside Thorin as she gave up and rested her head on his shoulder. “I wonder where he’s been.”

His Savannah drawl puffed through her hair after he kissed the top of his head. “Are we talking about the wolf or Ben?”

Sniffing back her tears, Imara shrugged her shoulder. “Both, I suppose. I don’t understand why he hasn’t been back.”

“Yeah.” He slid his arm around her and tugged her into his side. “I figured. I heard some project he’s working on at his house is taking up most of his time.”

Her brows pulled together as she glanced at him. “What sort of project?”

“Oh!” He shook his head and returned to his guitar. “I really can’t say. It must be important, though, to keep him away like this.”

She pulled the charm of her necklace back and forth on the chain as she gave the darkness one last look. “Maybe he’s changed his mind about me.”

With a sigh, he pushed out his lips and shook his head. “I don’t think that’s true at all. Not everyone is as fortunate as us when it comes to money, Imara. He’s doing what he has to do.” He motioned toward the door with his head. “Why don’t you go on to bed now? It’s getting late.”

Her feet pushed against the floor as she leaned out of the swing, then paused and looked back one more time before she opened the door.

Noticing movement from the corner of his eye, Thorin squinted out to the yard and lifted his chin to Shaw when he came to the porch. The floorboards creaked under him as he dropped into the rocking chair and lit his pipe.

Stretching out his neck, Thorin set down his guitar on the floor, then cracked his knuckles. “How’s it coming along over there?”

A smoke ring blew into the air from Shaw’s lips, and he nodded his head to the sounds of the rocker. “He’s working his ass off, that’s for damn sure. Doesn’t want any help at all.”

The wizard bit his lip and nodded as his eyes rose to meet Shaw. “He is a proud and stubborn man, that Ben.”

“Yep.” His head swayed back and forth as Shaw raised his brows. “Sure is.”

Looking out over the yard, Thorin sighed and rubbed at his chin. “Imara’s getting right upset, though.”

With his teeth holding his pipe tight in his mouth, Shaw spoke through them. “She’ll get over it when she realizes how hard he’s been working.”

Thorin moved his arm across the back of the swing and nodded at the door. “You think he might consider coming inside this time? I hate to see a man sleeping on a porch. That don’t seem right after all he’s doing for her.”

“No, I don’t expect he’d agree to that.” A rare smile came to Shaw’s stern face. “I’m starting to like that boy. Sleeping on the doorstep!” Shaking his head, he bit down on his pipe as a halted laugh rose from his chest. “Never seen anything like that before. He must be crazy

in love with little Miss Priss.”

Hearing the patter of his paws on the dirt road, Thorin yelled out to the wolf. “Good evening, Ben. We were just talking about you. You’re welcome to stay inside if you’d like. I’m certain it would thrill Imara to have you nearby.”

After he paced before the door, the wolf laid down in front of it and tucked his snout under his paws.

His lips twisted as Thorin shrugged his shoulder. “Alright then. Well anyhow, if you’re free tomorrow evening, I’d like for you and your parents to come over for dinner. We need to come clean to Imara; she thinks you don’t want her anymore.”

The wolf raised his head and shook it out with a whimper.

A hand went up in front of Thorin’s chest as he shook his head. “Now, I’m not making any judgments, Ben. I’m simply telling you how she’s feeling. She’s a tender-hearted woman; you need to be careful with her.”

Ben’s hairy black paws covered his face as he snuggled against himself and sighed.

“Well, it’s past my bedtime. I’ll be expecting you tomorrow evening, I suppose. Goodnight, Ben.” Thorin reached down and patted his back before he opened the door.

Too tired to move aside, Ben’s soft snores hummed out from underneath his fur as Thorin stepped over him and shut the door. Between the rhythmic creaks of the rocking chair and the exhausted whimpers from the creature at his feet, Shaw’s lips curled, and he nodded. “Good boy.”

***

Thorin’s fingers pinched at the front of his pants before tugging them up and squatting down beside Imara. “Are you about finished for the day?”

“Finished? There’s still a lot of light left.” Her nose wrinkled as she narrowed her eyes and glanced up into the bright sky. “Barely even four o’clock yet.”

He peeked over her shoulder and tugged at the back of her dress. “You should go wash up and put on something pretty. We’re having guests tonight.”

Her entire face scrunched together in disbelief as she turned to look at him. “Guests? We’ve never had guests, ever. What’s the occasion?”

With a groan, her brother placed his hands on his knees and pushed himself up, then dusted off his hands. “I invited Ben and his parents over for dinner.”

Not even looking at her face, Thorin could sense her eyes rolling as an irritated sigh shot from her mouth. “Why?”

His hands slid to his hips, and he tapped her butt with the tip of his loafer. “Why? Wasn’t it only a week ago that you told me he was your mate?”

She stabbed at the root bulb with her shovel, and every time it hit the ground, her heart ached a bit more. “Yes, and it’s been a week since he’s bothered with me at all. I guess I was wrong.”

He promised he’d keep everything secret until Ben was ready to tell her, but her moping around was plucking his last nerve. “He’s a working man, Imara. He doesn’t have time to worship you every second of the day. If you’re going to be his wife, you’ll have to get used to that.”

The sun made her hair glow as fiery as the anger radiating from her when she shook her head. “I don’t think that will be a problem.” She dropped her shovel to the ground and dusted her hands off on her skirt as she walked away. “I’m done with Ben Logan.”