<< Go Back

Red and the Wolf

By June Foster

Order Now!

Chapter One
Lilly tossed a strand of curly hair from her face. The unruly red locks, like her rebellious mind, refused to behave—especially under pressure. It made a woman want to scream. She blinked, trying to draw her attention back to the task in front of her. Her assignment on the computer screen glared. The Ten Most Popular Banana Bread Recipes among dessert lovers.
The comfort of her cushy swivel chair tempted her. Twirling herself around twice, she kicked her legs out. Uh, oh. I hope nobody saw that. Why was it so hard to remember? She was an adult, not a kid. The "Whee!" that had almost escaped remained lodged in her throat. Whirling in a spinning chair might appease ADD symptoms, but the shenanigans had to stop.
Once again the screen's blinking cursor reminded her of the pressing truth—the story needed to be finished and a deadline loomed. A glance at the clock the editor had installed on the office wall broadcasted the warning. Forty-five more minutes.
Oh, she'd never make it. Another disobedient lock of hair took revenge, falling onto her cheek, and she blew through the side of her mouth to shoo it away. More determined than ever, her fingers pounded harder. The keyboard might not survive.
Admit it. Mr. Grimm made her downright mad. Why would he assign such a mundane topic? Banana bread recipes? To her of all people? She didn't
even know how to cook. But since he was the boss, she wanted to comply and work toward her childhood dream of becoming a successful reporter.
Mom's admonition still rang in her head—work as to please God, not man. Lilly firmed her lips, more determined than ever to do a good job—for both the Lord and her boss.
The clock inched around. Another five minutes gone. At least the first part of the story listed the ten recipes. Now she needed to make life-changing decisions such as which qualified as the tastiest, the most economical to prepare, the oldest, even which fell into the gourmet category. Gourmet banana nut bread?
Lilly glimpsed at her notes again then glanced up at the clock. Thirty-five more minutes. If she pulled her hair, she'd probably rip it all out by its red roots. Was her job at The Daily Scoop worth going bald over?
Just once she'd like to prove Mr. Grimm wrong and submit a story ahead of time. Maybe he'd stop making all those remarks questioning her punctuality.
She jumped as her cell phone sang. Why couldn't she remember the name of the tune? A slow stream of air fled her nostrils. Something by Amanda Seyfried. Thirty minutes to the deadline. "Hello." She hadn't meant to sound so gruff.
"Lilly, this is Hunter. Where are you?"
Deadline. Deadline. "Oh, Hunter. I can't talk right now. Unless you can tell me a good reason why banana bread is one of the most popular recipes in the south."
"What? Lilly, I've been waiting over fifteen minutes."
Lilly flinched at his curt voice.
"The Wild Game Grill stays open late in case you finally decide to show up. The guy at the next table is eating venison stew, and I'm drooling. Did you forget—?"
Deadline. "Hunter, I don't have time for this. Mr. Grimm's expecting a good story in less than thirty minutes. I'll call you later, sweetie." Lilly powered off. Her own mental lapses were interruption enough. She couldn't have anyone else monopolizing her brain.
Okay, let's see. If the article didn't get finished in the next twenty-five minutes, she'd no longer be a reporter at the best newspaper in Fairwilde. Lilly scanned the story from the beginning to her blinking curser. Only three more paragraphs. She rubbed her hands together and positioned her fingertips on the keyboard.
Five minutes and two paragraphs were done. Now the article would end with a lie—which recipe she'd be more likely to bake in her own kitchen. Number three would be a good answer because it had the least ingredients. A lie because she'd never bake banana bread in her kitchen. Frozen waffles on occasion, but never, never banana bread.
With a flourish, she waved her hand in the air then clicked save and send. Finally. Whew. Gainful employment for another twenty-four hours.
Lilly leaned back in the chair, closed her eyes, and allowed a sigh to escape. What a relief to be finished. Though this job fulfilled a longtime
ambition, Mr. Grimm's field assignments were more fun than sitting at a desk drumming computer keys. Working off-site stimulated her creativity.
Face it. She'd always had trouble concentrating for long periods. Without writing things down, she wouldn't remember. One of the many downsides of Attention Deficit Disorder. Mom always said Lilly would grow out of it. Hadn't happened yet.
"Hey, Red. What 'cha doing?"
Lilly opened her eyes. A fellow reporter, Wolf Skinner, hovered over her cube. Tall with dark thick hair. She stretched her arms. "Just made deadline".
"Good for you, Red."
Lilly opened her eyes. Nobody but Wolf called her that. He'd mentioned his real name once—Wilford, but now it sounded funny. "I thought I was going to miss the deadline. You know how Mr. Grimm is."
Wolf gave a low chuckle that sounded more like a growl. "He doesn't scare me. But he definitely wants his reporters to know he's boss. I have to confess. One time I had the urge to bite his ear off. He brings out the worst in me."
"Wolf, you crazy guy. I don't know where you get those strange ideas. Well, I guess us newspaper people need a good imagination, not to speak of creativity, determination, and thick skin."
Wolf emitted another low, rolling chuckle. "Hey, Red. Now that you're finished, let me take you to dinner. I've been wanting to try that new grill."
"Oh, you mean The Wild Game Grill on East Carnivora Avenue downtown?"
"Yeah, that's the one." Wolf tugged on her arm. "Come on. You know you're hungry. I'm starved."
She'd welcome the chance to go to a new restaurant—but with Wolf? After sitting next to him at the banquet last Christmas, she wasn't so sure. His table manners left a lot to be desired. Anybody who could scarf down the roasted rabbit with bleu cheese and mustard sauce as if he were starving to death, and with that menacing face—the thought made her sick. But then he was right. She was hungry. Hopefully his manners had changed since then. "Okay. Let's go."
*****
For the twentieth time Hunter Woods savored the aroma of roasted rabbit emanating from the next table. Once again he eyed the empty seat across from him. Obviously Lilly wasn't coming. Not after her brisk dismissal. She must've been in the middle of something. Sure, her tone sounded rude, but he was used to it. She didn't mean to be hateful. Did she?
They'd been friends forever. He should be used to her antics by now. But sometimes he wondered.
He lifted a hand to the waiter. Might as well sample one of the luscious dishes that had made him drool for the last half hour. Since Lilly had completely forgotten their date before, it didn't surprise him tonight. Though she was the sweetest, prettiest woman he'd ever known, she also qualified as the most scatterbrained.
Every time he feasted his gaze on her curly red hair and dark brown eyes, his pulse pounded. Overlooking a few faults wasn't hard.
He checked his watch again. Thirty minutes past the time she'd agreed to meet. She wouldn't show for sure. Next time he'd pick her up at the newspaper office or her apartment. Catching up with Lilly was like trying to capture water through a sieve. The most elusive woman he knew … and the most fascinating.
After the waiter took his order for roasted duck, Hunter leaned back and spanned the restaurant with his gaze. Wild animal heads were mounted like trophies, adding to the ambiance of the restaurant. A moose on the opposite wall, an elk in the entrance, a deer on the other side.
Though Lilly forgot their dates sometimes, they had so many things in common, like their love of visiting relatives—his folks, her grandmother. Too, like him she enjoyed trekking through the woods.
If anyone knew Lilly, Hunter did, since they'd grown up in the same neighborhood. Her skinny little legs would carry her up an oak faster than his dog could tree a possum. Even now, he remembered her red curls blowing in the wind as she ran through the leaves. She'd grin, daring him to follow. He trailed her, if only to make sure she was okay. Face it, Woods, childhood is long gone. Now he wanted more than a good friend.
One problem though—Lilly didn't know he was falling in love. And he couldn't be sure how she felt either. Had her feelings deepened, like his?
Hunter stroked his chin. Every time he got close enough to kiss her, she started talking faster than
the jets landing at the Birmingham Airport. Was it just when he tried to get romantic? No, a constant stream of words always seemed to flow from her mouth.
Sometimes she rambled on about things that didn't make much sense. Like the differences between cream and powder eye shadow. On other occasions, her thoughts sounded muddled. The various topics didn't relate. Like when she described a bizarre nightmare where her grandmother got eaten up by some wild animal. The next words out of her mouth were about shopping at Victoria's Secret.
But he didn't care. Gazing at her cute upturned nose, pink cheeks, straight white teeth, and bright brown eyes could keep him busy all day. Not to speak of her curvy body—which had changed considerably since she was eight.
The waiter set a succulent dish on the table bringing him back to reality. Roast duck with brown gravy, scalloped potatoes and green beans. The entree's aroma tantalized his taste buds. Almost made him want to get his rifle out and go hunting.
Hunter bowed his head and thanked God for the meal. After quite a few bites, he dabbed his mouth with the cloth napkin and took a sip of sweet tea. He speared another piece of duck. A familiar voice coming from the front near the cash register drew his attention.
He choked on the half-chewed morsel and took another drink of tea. Lilly stood at the host's desk with some guy. As always, laughter bubbled out of her mouth. She scanned the room then looked back at the dude.
Something about the tall, hairy guy seemed familiar. His bushy eyebrows and mustache gave him a distinctive look. Almost scary. But Lilly didn't seem disturbed. If he was dangerous, she wouldn't be here with him.
Hunter picked up his napkin again. If only he could cover his whole face. Seeing Lilly after she'd hung up on him felt humiliating. Now she'd walked in with some guy that looked more like a werewolf than a man. Hunter gave himself a mental kick in his corduroy pants. Okay, I'm jealous.
He scrunched down in the chair, glad he'd eaten most of the entree. He couldn't consume any more. His appetite vanished when Lilly strolled in with that coyote.
The host picked up a couple of menus, smiled at Lilly and the other man, and headed right toward Hunter. He rubbed his forehead with his thumb and forefinger. Could he hide behind his digits? What else could go wrong?
Okay, man up. Hunter plastered a smile on his face and waved at Lilly.
The bright smile disappeared on Lilly's face. "Hunter." She gasped. "Oh. Hi, Hunter." She looked from him back to wolf man and then to him again. "I … er … I'm sorry I didn't have time to talk to you before, and … I'm sorry I forgot … Oh, where's my brain?"
Lilly had forgotten their dates before, but she'd never gone out with another man in Hunter's place. He'd better go before his anger erupted, and he made a scene. "Hey, Lilly. I see you finally finished up at the
office. Did you meet your deadline?" He stood up dropping his napkin on the table.
"Oh, my story on banana bread recipes. Finally. I think Mr. Grimm gives me those dull assignments to keep me humble." She blew out a long breath.
Werewolf nudged her. "Uh, Lilly, the host is waiting."
Lilly glanced at the hairy character like she'd forgotten he stood next to her. "Oh, yeah." She turned back to Hunter. "Where are my manners? Hunter, this is my colleague from work, Wolf Skinner."
A strangling cough erupted from Hunter's throat. Wolf? The guy's name was really Wolf? After another cough, he held out his hand and hacked. "Nice to meet you."
The newspaper person reached his hairy paw out and shook Hunter's. "Yeah, poor Lilly has been working so hard. She deserves a good meal after all she's done today." He nudged her again with his elbow. "Especially with another reporter who can appreciate her abilities as one of the most prolific writers in the City of Fairwilde."
Hunter glared at Lilly's fellow employee and escort for the evening. "Well, I'll leave you to enjoy your meal. I recommend the roast duck." He snatched up the check the waiter left and headed toward the cash register but turned around at Lilly's voice.
"Oh, bye, Hunter." Lilly winked launching a glowing smile in his direction. "I'll see you soon. Say hi to Grandma if you go visit your mom this week."
Since Mom lived next door to her grandmother, that would be an easy chore. "Yeah,
sure." Hunter pulled out his credit card and handed it to the cashier. He didn't want her to know, but tonight she'd downright offended him.
Hopefully later, when she stopped to think, she'd remember he'd asked her to dinner and realize how it looked, her showing up with Wolf.
The host returned the card, and Hunter signed the slip. As he headed toward the door, he glanced back at Lilly. Wolf peered at him. The guy smirked and puffed his chest out rounder than a blow fish. Did the man think he would take Hunter's place in Lilly's life? He would like to believe not. Lilly wouldn't fall for Wolf, would she?
*****
Lilly twisted the key in the lock and her apartment door slid open after a nudge. She stepped into the living room and tossed her purse and jacket on the couch. The hood flipped to one side revealing the unraveled stitching. "If I don't do some mending pretty soon, it's going to fall completely off."
A few rumblings in the region of her stomach caused her to rub her abdomen. Yuk. Baked eel in mushroom sauce and fried potatoes weren't getting along with her digestive system. At least Wolf liked his meal. He devoured the braised moose with better table manners this time.
Lilly kicked off her shoes and headed for the bathroom to start the tub water. She turned the spouts, setting the temperature to a toasty warm and splashed eucalyptus bath salts on the swirling water. Ah, the pungent aroma worked its nightly magic. Anything to
ease the guilt. Poor Hunter. How could she have forgotten their date?
Back in the bedroom, she dug in the drawer for fresh jammies, slipped out of jeans and a lacy blouse, and allowed the aroma to guide her back to her nightly spa. In moments, the warm water would provide relaxation.
The balmy bath seemed to dissolve some of her concerns. Surely, Mr. Grimm wasn't trying to punish her for being late to work last month. It had only happened a few times. Okay, more like ten. But her skills as a reporter made up for it, right? She produced a quality story every time. But recipes for banana bread?
Lilly closed her eyes, leaned back, and relaxed, breathing in the strong fragrance. The eucalyptus loosened tight muscles from head to toe.
Hunter's gorgeous blue eyes and blond slicked-back hair danced in her mind. She knew of nobody else as handsome as he. And she'd met plenty of guys in college and at the newspaper.
She and Hunter—friends since they'd been toddlers. Once a simple fondness, her affection had grown—like a painting where an artist added texture and details. But was it enough for a future with him?
Wiggling her toes, Lilly followed the tiny circular ripples breaking the smooth surface. Sometimes her ADD distressed her. The way she became so distracted—and bored with people and activities after a while. Though Hunter seemed like the man of her dreams, if they married, would she ever become tired of him? Would she make a good
wife? What if she forgot to feed the baby or couldn't remember what she was cooking for supper?
The big fluffy white towel waited on the rack, but she wouldn't get out yet. She needed to unwind a little more. To settle her nerves from the erratic day. Her life reminded her of one of those wild and crazy family get-togethers at Grandma's house.
To advance in her career was imperative though her organizational skills couldn't compare to Wolf's. Every time she passed his neat cubicle, guilt jabbed her. Her cluttered desk featured manila folders, paper clips, and wrappers from nutrition bars. Not to speak of a year's worth of The Daily Scoop piled on one end.
Golden strands of Hunter's shiny hair floated into her brain again. Hunter. If only he weren't so shy. She could never tell how he felt about her. He didn't talk about his emotions. Maybe a guy who worked for Wildlife Management didn't have time to think of much else. Or maybe since they'd known each other all these years, he still saw her as a little girl.
Poor Hunter sitting at that table and eating all alone. Lilly tapped her forehead, splashing water over her face. She should've asked him to join her and Wolf. Where was her mind?
ADD kicking in again. Yet she couldn't always blame the disorder for her inability to focus and for her chaotic life. With a deep sigh, she easily shooed the bothersome thoughts far away.
After another minute, she sat up straight in the tub, splattering the floor with droplets. Hunter deserved a call and an apology.
She turned the knob to drain the tub, lifted up, and wrapped herself in the oversized towel. She'd dry off then call him.
Lathering her body in luxurious lavender lotion, she slipped on her PJ's.
That tune by Amanda Seyfried alerted her again to the incoming call. Still couldn't remember the name. With quick steps, she plodded in the direction of the sound. Now where had she left her purse? The bedroom. No purse. The soulful lyrics drew her to the living room. That's right. She'd dropped her bag on the couch.
Blood pounded in her temple as she drew her cell out. She really needed to talk to Hunter. "Hello."
"Sweetie, it's Mom."
Mom didn't need to say who it was, even if Lilly hadn't looked at the caller ID. She'd recognize her own mother's voice anywhere. "Hi, Mom. What's up?"
"Just checking on my little girl. Sam, Terrie, and the kids were over here tonight. I mentioned the gathering to you last week, but when you didn't show, I figured you were busy. I wish you could've seen your nieces. They're getting so big."
"Oh, that's right." Lilly sank down on the couch and put her feet up on the coffee table. "I had to work a little later than usual. I'm sorry I missed my dear brother—Sam, the Sham, and his sweet family." He probably lived up to his nickname tonight. "Did I miss any imitations of the sixties rock stars?"
"Of course. I don't know how he became such a fan of that music. 'My Girl,' 'Twist and Shout,' 'Stop in the Name of Love.' Even got his girls in on the act."
A chuckle rumbled out of Lilly's throat. She could just see her two nieces, probably using empty paper towel rolls as microphones. "That's my bro. Not a timid cell in his body."
"But, anyway, darling, I just called to see how you are. I couldn't wait another minute to tell you, you're my favorite daughter."
"Mom, I'm your only daughter."
Mom giggled. "I know, Sweetie. You're my pretty baby girl. And there are plenty of guys out there who might be trying to take advantage of you. Just be careful."
"Mom, I'm an adult now. You know that."
"I know, honey, but be on the alert."
"I will, Mom. I know you mean well."
"Oh, and Lilly. One more thing. You may want to go for a visit. Your Grandma Phoebe isn't feeling well."

Order Now!

<< Go Back