“Bob? He quit,” Maizie said. “Got a job driving a city bus.”

“Jeezus.”

“I know. Great job. Union, perks and everything. Couldn’t pass it up. Speaking of jobs…” She checked her watch. “I was supposed to help Cherri ice four hundred and fifty-three cupcakes for the elementary-school open house tomorrow night. I really have to go.”

“I’ll drive you,” Gray said.

Granny took his hand and Maizie’s. She squeezed. “It’s right the two of you came together. I knew yours would be the kind of soul match people tell stories about. Only out of tragedy could such a love be born. That’s what you’ve found, the kind of love dreamed of in fairy tales.”

Maizie fought hard not to roll her eyes. She smiled and kissed Granny’s cheek and watched as Gray did the same.

He whispered in her ear, but Maizie could hear as clearly as if he’d whispered in hers. “Thank you, Ester. You’re right. She’s my Snow White, my Sleeping Beauty and my Dorothy Gale. She couldn’t be a better match for me if she’d been plucked from the pages of a storybook.”

Granny’s grin brightened just a bit and Gray kissed her cheek again. She stared at him as he straightened, but then her gaze focused on something behind him, her eyes went wide.

“Oh dear, I hope he didn’t see that.”

Maizie and Gray both followed her gaze to a white-haired man fussing around a bird feeder several feet away. He held a fistful of violets in his hands and couldn’t seem to stop himself from glancing Granny’s way every few seconds.

“You have a suitor, Gran?” Maizie couldn’t help the teasing tone in her voice.

“Stop it, Little Red. I had the love of my life already. George is just a…a hobby.” She blushed, smoothing fine wisps of hair back toward her bun.

“Cute hobby.” Maizie watched George adjust his bowtie and smooth his suspenders over his plaid short-sleeved shirt. She knew it was the thick mane of white hair that had captured her gran’s attention. The preference must run in the family.

Granny licked her lips, then pinched her cheeks for a sweet natural blush. “Now run along, the two of you. He won’t come over if I’ve got company and his memory’s not what it used to be. He’ll forget why he’s waiting over there before long.”

Gray caught Granny’s chin with the crook of his finger, met her gaze. “You’re happy?”

Granny smiled. “Yes, my lovely silver wolf. I’m happy being human. But thank you for the offer as always.”

Maizie’s belly warmed watching him bend to kiss her cheek one more time. “Only for you, my sweet Ester,” he said then took Maizie by the hand.

“I love how you are with her.” Maizie settled into the deep leather seats of his limo.

“She’s a dear friend,” Gray said. “Without her Donna’s death would’ve been intolerable.”

“Annette said you wouldn’t turn her because you were so unhappy with the life you’d been saddled with, you wouldn’t commit someone else to the same fate.”

“I decided long ago, for Ester I would make an exception if she truly wished it.” Gray slid his hand across the seat to Maizie’s. He couldn’t be this close and not touch her.

Their fingers laced. Her hand so small in his, he treasured it. “She’s always refused. I believed, although she denies it, Ester knew the emotional trials far outweighed the added years. Still, it was all I had to offer.”

Maizie’s forest-green gaze dropped to their clasped hands. “Is being what we are really so bad?”

The trepidation in her voice touched his heart. He brought her hand to his lips, tasting her sugar-sweet skin as he spoke. “For twenty-one years I couldn’t imagine a worse fate.”

Her exhale shuddered, her skin warming against his lips. “And now?”

“It was worth every moment to have you as my reward.”

Her quick arousal scented the air, filled the private compartment like the most captivating perfume.

He closed his eyes, breathed her in. He’d never get enough of her. How could he? She was his life mate and yet he’d tried for so long to deny she existed. But she did exist and he’d make damn sure she had every reason to stay.

“You know, when I was a teenager all the young lovers went parking on Saturday nights.” He tugged her hand, and brought a mischievous grin across Maizie’s lips.

“It’s Sunday afternoon,” she said, following his lead, moving to her knees on the seat. “We’re not parked and we’re…ah, not alone.” She glanced over her shoulder at the solid privacy wall.

“The partition’s soundproof.” He scooped her around the waist, pulling her to his lap. “Besides, Dave doesn’t hear anything he’s told not to.”

“Now that’s a good driver.” She straddled his legs, pressing the moist heat of her sex to his groin. His hips pressed up into her, he couldn’t help it, his hands cupping the soft curve of her waist, holding her to him.

Maizie arched her back, adding her own delicious pressure, her breasts riding high beneath the low neckline of her sundress. Gray’s muscles pulled tight, wanting her, needing the feel of her pussy hugging his cock, milking him dry.

She was ready for him, her arousal so thick in the air his wolf-half stirred at her scent. Her desire rolled through him like a physical touch, stirring his body, calling to everything male inside him. They were so connected, too connected. She could undo him-and he’d enjoy it.

His balls tight, his cock pulsed at the thought of driving into her. His mind slowed, blood racing to his cock, making it hard to think beyond sliding his hands beneath that sweet little dress, the silk flesh of her thighs against his palms, the wet heat of her panties-

His phone rang. Fuck. “What is it about thoughts of screwing you while I’m in this car that makes that damn phone ring?”

Maizie fell forward, bracing her hands on his shoulders. Her breaths were deep, but still under control. “It might be important.”

Gray jerked the small BlackBerry from his breast pocket. “What?”

“Uncle Gray?” Rick said. “You okay? You sound… Oh. Maizie’s with you, huh?”

“To the point, Rick.” His jaw tight, Gray tried to soften the heat in his voice.

“Yeah, right.” His voice held a ring of laughter. “Mom wanted to know if you were bringing Maizie around tonight. Sort of a get-to-know-the-family shindig. Personally I just wanna watch the great alpha wolf go all soft and squishy around his mate.”

Gray flicked his gaze to Maizie, her soft kissable lips, her delicate neck and nearly bare shoulders. The way a single red curl lay atop the shelf of her full breast. “Trust me, kid. There’s nothing soft and squishy about me right now.”

Rick snorted. “No doubt. So? Ya comin’ or not? I gotta tell ya, Mom’s kind of freaking about Maizie’s first impression of her…ya know, now that she’s Suzie homemaker and everything with Shawn.”

Maizie leaned into him, nestled her little face under his chin and pressed her lips to his neck. Her perfume, the scent of wildflowers with a hint of forest underneath, smoothed through his body like warm brandy. Gray closed his eyes, heat rippling out from the spot her lips touched in fast dizzying waves. She kissed again.

“She’s pack now, Uncle Gray,” Rick said. “Y’know, family. We’ll do right by her. I hope she knows that.”

Gray met Maizie’s gaze, raised a brow.

She smiled. “All my life it’s only been me and Gran. Even after the rough start I had with them, I’ve never felt so connected to family the way I did when the pack came to help me. I want to be a part of that again. Always.”

“Always.” He leaned forward, taking her mouth with his, feeling his world click into focus, complete in a way he’d never thought possible.

“Uncle Gray? You there?”

Gray brought the phone back to his ear. “Uhm…I…I’ll get back to ya, kid.” He thumbed the off button on his cell phone and tossed it to the seat. His arms wrapped around Maizie, his hands sliding down to cup the firm cheeks of her ass.