“Nothing.” Wolfe shrugged, the muscles in his shoulders rippling with the movement. “Just watching you be ‘fine.’ It’s pretty entertaining, actually.”
Sophie scowled, jabbed the coffee filter into the machine, and hit the BREW button. “What do you mean?”
“Well, for one, you forgot to put coffee grounds in there.”
Sophie watched as hot water filtered into the clear coffee pot. “Dammit.” She stabbed the button to stop the machine, and a second later, Wolfe’s big hand was over hers.
“Hey,” he said softly, and waited until she met his eye. “What’s going on?”
Sophie pulled her hand out from under his and sighed. “Last night was a mistake.”
A flash of hurt played across his face. “It seemed like you were having a good time.”
Sophie felt her cheeks color. “No, I did. But … I don’t do one-night stands.”
He dipped his head down to look at her. “Who said anything about a one-night stand?”
When she looked at him uncomprehendingly, he added, “I like you, Sophie.”
The gentle, straightforward way he said it brought a lump to her throat, somehow. Something deep inside her yawned open in yearning. Sighing, she limped past him to the window in the dining room. The world was white with snow, pine trees buried under it as far as the eye could see. It was possible to believe, just looking out at the forest, that it was just the two of them in the entire world. Fiddling with the tie on her robe, Sophie spoke quietly as she felt Wolfe come up behind her. “I saw how much Hannah’s text affected you yesterday, Wolfe. I don’t want to be someone who fills in the gap until she convinces you to go back to her. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.”
Wolfe joined her at the window, the sunlight falling in a broad stripe across his torso. “Sometimes things feel right from the beginning, and sometimes they feel completely wrong. Hannah and I were completely wrong; I knew that deep inside. I wasn’t lying when I said yesterday that I’m not going back down that path again.” He stepped closer to her, his eyes riveted on hers. “Did her text affect me? Yes. It affected me, it gave me pause, and it made me realize Hannah means nothing to me anymore. Am I afraid, on some level, to put myself out there again? Hell yes.” He took a deep breath. “But you’re the person I want to put myself out there with, Sophie. You and I … we feel right. We fit. I know you feel it, too.”
Sophie’s heart thudded at his words. She wanted to believe him. She really did. But she’d been hasty before, she’d fallen way, way too fast and look how all of those relationships had played out. She turned away. “This is us—Evan Wolfe and Sophia Hart. How could it ever work? We’re just so … so different.”
“Luuk and Noelle in Dashing through the Snow, Tegan and Riley in The Perfect Match, Priya and Quentin in Love Me Tender.” He was naming characters in her books who were complete opposites of each other and had ended up happily ever after. He remembered them all. Sophie looked back at Wolfe to see a lopsided smile play across his mouth, making her breath catch. “So why not us?”
Sophie looked down at her feet. “I’ve been hurt a lot.”
Wolfe placed a gentle finger under her chin and raised her head so she was looking at him. “I would never hurt you. Never.” There was fire in his words, a thrum of emotion that made her knees go soft.
Sophie took a breath.
Everything inside her was saying—actually, yelling—an enthusiastic yes. Yes to Wolfe. Yes to wherever this might go. Yes to this potential Christmas present from the universe.
But that was it; this was too big a decision to make without some guidance. Sophie had jumped headlong into relationships without a second thought before, and look where that had got her. Gazing up at Wolfe, she bit her lower lip. “Um … will you walk outside with me?”
Wolfe frowned, confused. “Outside? I mean, yes, of course I will, but—”
Sophie grabbed his hand. “Good. Then let’s go.”
13
They stood at the edge of the forest, bundled into their coats and scarves and boots. Winter scented the air: pine trees and clean snow and just a hint of woodsmoke from Sophie’s chimney.
Wolfe considered Sophie in the blue-gold light of early morning, but didn’t say anything. It was like he knew she was up to something important, even if he didn’t know exactly what. A crisp breeze swirled around them, lifting strands of his thick dark hair.
Sophie turned to face forward. Surrounded by towering pines and cradled by snow, she closed her eyes. Okay, universe. I really, really like this man. He’s kind, he’s obnoxious in the best way, and he’s as obsessed with books as I am. Sounds pretty perfect, I know. But you and I are both aware what a spectacular train wreck my past romantic life has been. So right now, between you and me … I could really use a sign. Show me I’m on the right path.
Sophie opened her eyes, took a breath—and that’s when she saw it. Sophie gasped.
Wolfe, respectfully silent until now, frowned down at her. “Are you all right?”
Wordlessly, Sophie pointed, and Wolfe turned to follow her gaze.
About fifty yards away in a thicket of spruces was a gray wolf, virtually unheard of in this part of the state. Its blue eyes were locked on Sophie and Wolfe, but that wasn’t the only thing that had caught Sophie’s attention.
“It’s beautiful,” Wolfe murmured.
“Look at its forehead,” Sophie said, unable to keep the trembling breathlessness out of her voice.
It took Wolfe a moment to see what she’d seen. Once he noticed it, he said, his voice imbued with wonder, “It’s a heart.”
On the wolf’s forehead was a perfectly shaped black
