Jason chastised himself for the sadness that had stolen over him. He should be grateful for the past three weeks. He hadn’t seen Winona coming, and she’d given him the best time of his life. Besides, they still had tonight.
While he packed out in the living room, she was busy hobbling back and forth to her bedroom, brushing her teeth, combing her hair. When he walked back into the bedroom, she was lying naked like a seductress on the bed, lit candles everywhere.
And you’re leaving?
He pulled his T-shirt over his head. “You are beautiful.”
They made love after that, their gazes locked as they gave each other pleasure. Afterward, they lay together in a tangle of limbs, Winona’s head on his chest.
Out of nowhere, Winona laughed.
“What?”
“I would never have imagined when I ran into you with the cups and the creamer that you and I would end up as lovers. I wassoembarrassed. I’d just made a fool of myself in front of the hottest guy I’d ever seen—and a Shadow Wolf, too.”
He chuckled. “I spent the rest of that day thinking about you.”
“You did?”
“Don’t act so surprised. Why do you think I agreed to go up to the Cimarron in the first place? I just wanted more time with you.”
She sat up, reached beneath her pillow, pulled out a small gift box. “This is for you—a way for you to remember me.”
“For me?” He sat up, opened it, stared. In the box sat an exquisite bolo tie clip, a wolf’s head made of inlaid semi-precious stones. “A wolf for a Shadow Wolf from the Wolf Whisperer of Scarlet? It’s beautiful, Win. Thank you.”
“It’s one of Naomi’s pieces.”
“I can tell. I’ll wear it with pride.” He tucked it carefully back in its box and set it on the nightstand. Then he cupped her face between his palms. “I won’t need anything to help me remember you.”
Then he made love to her again, drawing it out, making their pleasure last, until the two of them were sated and fell asleep in each other’s arms.
Chapter 24
Jason got up before dawn,tiptoeing so as not to wake Winona. He skipped the shower, washed his face, brushed his teeth, and made coffee. Then he ate a quick bowl of cereal, cleaned his dishes, and got the gift he’d bought for Win out of his duffel.
He walked into the bedroom and stood there, watching her sleep, memorizing every detail of her sweet face. She looked so peaceful that he hated to wake her. “Winona, angel, it’s time for me to go.”
This felt wrong. Leaving her feltwrong.
She stirred, opened her eyes. “Jason?”
“Hey. I need to hit the road.”
It was a fifteen-hour drive to Sells.
She sat up. “I’ll make you coffee.”
“I already did that. You can stay in bed.” He sat beside her. “This is for you.”
She looked at him, surprised. “Thanks.”
She opened it, drew out the silver pendant on its silver chain. The wolf track was cut out of polished sterling silver, abalone shell beneath it, giving it a shimmer. “It’s beautiful. Is it from Naomi’s store?”
He nodded. “It’s a wolf track from a humble Wolf tracker for the beautiful Wolf Whisperer of Scarlet. Let me put it on you.”
She turned, lifted her hair out of the way, while he fastened the clasp.
He kissed her nape. “Let me see.”