As she waved her hand, the four men filed out of the cabin, giving Sabrina some discreet—and not so discreet—glances as they walked by.
Silke rolled her eyes. “I should get started on my list. I’ll see you later!”
“But I—” Before she could protest, Silke waved at her and trudged down the porch steps where the guys were waiting. One of the men—a guy with a short mohawk, winked at her, which earned him a playful slap on the head. As Silke herded them away, she wondered if there was any way she could avoid going to this party. She could only hope they wouldn’t finish their work on time and there wouldn’t be a party at all.
It seemed luck was not on her side at all as Silke came by late in the afternoon. “I told you, I’m not taking no for an answer, Sabrina.”
She couldn’t make up an excuse about not having anything to wear since the other woman had brought her a bathing suit, a sundress, and flip-flops from the resort shop. Sabrina felt embarrassed and promised she would pay her back for the new stuff.
She climbed into the passenger seat of the small utility truck Silke had driven over. Silke chatted as they drove, pointing out this or that landmarks, and Sabrina actually found herself relaxing in her company.
After a few minutes, the truck slowed down right by the shore of a large lake. Music blared from a speaker, and there was a barbecue grill set up on a large deck built over the water. A couple of people were chatting by a table laden with food, while a few more were scattered about the lake area, drinking beers and talking amiably. They all seemed to be having a good time, and it was the typical barbecue, but the thought of being around all these people was making sweat build on her palms.
“I also asked a couple of the staff to the party.” She leaned closer. “They don’t know anything about Lycans,” she said in a low whisper.
“Oh. Right.”
There was a loud whoop followed by a splash, and Silke pursed her lips wryly. “Although they might find out soon if Axle doesn’t watch it. I suppose lots of normal people swim in a freezing lake for fun.”
She laughed. Although she had worn the bathing suit under the dress, Sabrina had no plans on swimming, seeing as it was still early spring, and up here, it was even colder than it had been in New York. But it seems like the Lycans had no problems with cold temperatures as two more of them dove into the lake.
Silke led them up to the deck and introduced her to a couple of her staff members, then they headed over to the grill where Bo was flipping burgers. He wore an apron that said “Kiss the Chef” as he chatted with a buxom bleach-blonde woman.
“Why, hello, Sabrina,” Bo greeted. “Let me introduce you to my old lady, Arlene. Honey, this here’s, Sabrina, Silke’s guest.”
“How’s it going, sugar?” Arlene greeted. “Want a beer or something?” She rooted through a cooler by her feet.
Not wanting to be rude, she accepted the cold can from the older woman, as did Silke. “Thank you, Arlene.”
“Where’re you from, Sabrina?” Arlene asked.
She popped the top open and took a sip. “Uh, New York.”
“New York? That’s quite a distance, huh?” Arlene chuckled. “How’d you get all the way out here?”
Sabrina cast her eyes downward and took a larger gulp of beer.
“She’s actually Cross Jonasson’s friend,” Silke explained. “You remember him, right? The guy who looks like a Viking and brought Ransom back last year. They’re … visiting.”
“Oh. Him.” Arlene fanned herself. “Woo. That boy …”
“Arlene,” Bo growled.
“I’m kiddin’, honey,” she soothed, rubbing a hand down Bo’s tattooed bicep. “I only got eyes for you.”
That seemed to placate the man, and he nodded and took a sip of his beer. Arlene winked at Silke and Sabrina. “And where is that hunk—I mean, boy?” Arlene asked. “I mean, he didn’t just drop you off here and leave, did he?”
“Arlene,” Silke said in a warning voice.
“Oh. Oh, sugar, I’m sorry.” Her gaze turned sympathetic. “Well, he tends to zip in and out of places, right? I remember when he came and brought Ransom back, he’d just pop in and out, checking in on our boy.”
“He’ll come back,” Silke said reassuringly.
She made a non-committal sound.
“Oh, lookie, here they come.” Arlene nodded to the four men who rose out of the water and began approaching them.
Bo grumbled. “You know those four. They can smell pus—I mean,” he cleared his throat when Arlene and Silke sent him twin glares, “Girls a mile away.”
“I’ll have to apologize in advance,” Arlene said. “Those boys are randier than stallions ever since Ransom banned them from taking girls back here.”
Silke’s nose twitched. “That rule was put into place mostly because Axle was havin’ a party at his cabin one night and invited those girls from The Barrel Bottom. Then Sue May came along and snuck into Ransom’s bed. Found her laying there, naked as the day she was born.” Silke frowned distastefully. “I swear, that ex of his is gonna get him in trouble someday.”
“Sue May wishes she was an ex,” Arlene snorted. “More like, never was. But she’s had her eye set on being his old lady for years.”
“Hey, Silke, Arlene,” Blue Eyes—Axle—greeted as he approached. Then his gaze shifted to Sabrina. “Hello again. I don’t think we were introduced. I’m Axle.” He offered his hand.
“Uh, I’m Sabrina.” His hand engulfed hers as they shook hands. Axle was only wearing shorts, and rivulets of water was still dripping down his shoulders, chest, and abs. She couldn’t help but stare at the tattoo of a wolf on his right pec.
“Like what
