celiabreslin

“Whatever you are thinking, son. She’s not for you.” Although low, his tone was determined and forceful.

“I’m not thinking anyth….” The lie fell away as the words soured on his tongue. A change of tack was in order, and he folded his arms across his thick chest. Body language displays were as effective on humans sometimes. “Why wouldn’t she be for me? I don’t see a ring. Is there a husband or a boyfriend?”

When Will shook his head, a flash of anger surged, and Caleb didn’t fight it.

“You think I’m not good enough for your girl, is that it? That I’m some working stiff, only good with his hands. I run the business with my father and my brother. I have prospects, money, a good future any woman would be pleased to share with me.” Snapping his mouth shut, he cut off the embarrassing need to sell his worth to this man. What the hell is wrong with me? That raspberry-and-pepper scent overwhelmed him as she crossed toward the counter. Hannah. He rolled her name around in his head. It suited her.

“No I don’t think you’re good enough for her, but that’s not the goddamn point,” Will snapped before he rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “Look, Caleb, I’m sure you are a fine young man, and your daddy has a real good reputation with his business. But that girl has been hurt enough to last a lifetime, so I don’t want you messing with her because she’s caught your fancy.”

Caleb stepped back as Will moved in front of him and stepped toward the counter. His hackles rose at the invasion of his space and the clear challenge in the move before he clamped down hard on his instincts. A man had every right to defend his daughter from a relative stranger. The Wolf snarled and snapped in his head, and Caleb gave it a mental swat on the nose. He was the boss, not the Wolf.

The sweet affection she bestowed on Will had him longing for her to turn his way. When she met his gaze, however, only trepidation lit hers. Unable to tear his attention away, he was rewarded with a brief flare as her pupils expanded. She feels it, too. Regardless of what Will said, this woman is most definitely mine. Now to figure out how to get her on the same page or, better still, in the same bed.