She snorted. “You give the place character.”
He smiled, then grew serious again. “You’ve wanted to update the windows. Even the ceiling fans.” He paused and glanced at her. She waited for what he had to say next. “Well, it’s time to make a few changes.”
“You can do whatever you want with your tavern, Sam. But I’m opening my tearoom on Saturday, eleven o’clock sharp.”
Darien took a deep breath and shook his head at Jake.
Jake gave him a small, knowing smile back.
Sam didn’t say anything for a while as they trudged through the snow. “For a long time now, I’ve thought of the tavern as being ours. You’ve worked with me for years.”
“I’ve worked for you for years. There’s a big difference.”
Darien didn’t think they’d ever resolve their differences. He didn’t remember it being this difficult between him and Lelandi, and for that he was eternally grateful.
“I can’t find anyone to replace you,” Sam growled.
She didn’t respond, but she smiled.
“Don’t look so smug,” he said.
“You’re looking for someone who’s just like me. Am I right? Find someone who’s not. You know. Hire someone who’s blonde and tall, with green eyes.”
He stopped in his tracks and seized her arm.
She raised her brows at him. Darien and Jake came to a halt, warily watching the two of them. Darien knew Sam and Silva had to resolve their issues on their own, but he wanted to step in as pack leader and as a friend and tell them to get it over with and mate already.
“I don’t want anyone new, Silva. I want you.”
“I’m not working at the tavern anymore.” She jerked her arm free and stalked off.
Sam stared after her, then as if he realized Darien and Jake were watching them, he glanced in their direction. With a furrowed brow and a frantic wave of his arm, Darien encouraged Sam to go after her.
Sam scowled and hurried after her. “Silva, wait up.”
She didn’t, of course, and instead walked faster. “We’re supposed to look for tracks. Not air our personal business out here.”
“I don’t want anyone else. I want you.”
“I’m not working at the tavern any longer. When will you get that through your thick—”
Sam pulled Silva into his arms and kissed her. Darien and Jake stared, jaws hanging open. It wasn’t that they hadn’t seen them kiss before, hot and passionately and way too often for them not to have mated by now, but Darien just hadn’t expected it here and now.
Darien nudged Jake to follow him, and they continued to look for the sled tracks.
“What was that for?” Silva asked, sounding out of breath and awed.
“I want you back.”
“Sam, I won’t give up my tearoom.”
“I didn’t say you had to give it up. This is the happiest I’ve see you in ages. I want to share in your new venture.”
She looked skeptically at him. “Somehow I can’t see you wearing frilly Victorian wear while you serve ladies special tea in tiny antique teacups.”
Darien stifled a chuckle, poking Jake in the ribs when he didn’t manage to control his own chuckle.
“Besides, you have your tavern to run,” Silva said to Sam.
“I want to help you in any way that I can. But I don’t mean just that. I want you with me at night. Every night. The tavern will have new hours—closing down early so we can spend more time together.”
If Silva and Sam settled things between themselves, it would be a cause for celebration.
“Why didn’t you say so before?” she asked.
Sam scrubbed his gloved hand over his nearly black beard. “You were always with me. Always nearby. I got to hear your smart-ass comments all day long from the time we opened until the time we closed. I could deal with not having you in bed with me at night, believing that we’d get there eventually. I want to be with you when our places aren’t open. Sundays our establishments will both be closed. You’re only operating from eleven to three for lunch the rest of the week. Maybe you could come over—”
She folded her arms and frowned up at him.
“This is not just about you working with me, damn it. It just won’t be the same without you. Half my clients—sheriff, deputy, our pack leaders, everyone—will go to eat lunch at your place just to see you. You know they will, Silva. You’re the biggest draw there is.”
Darien couldn’t believe it. Foot-in-the-mouth Sam. He could have slugged him. Jake cast a glance at Darien and shook his head. Darien let out his breath on a heavy sigh.
To Darien’s astonishment, Silva smiled. “You… think you could live without me until four?”
Sam grabbed Silva, swung her around as he gave her a bear hug, and whooped and hollered.
Darien said under his breath, “Hallelujah.”
Grinning, Jake said, “I was beginning to think it would never happen.”
“You and me both.”
Darien heard what he thought was someone running a long way off, sobbing. A girl.
They all took off in that direction at a run—as much as they could through the deep snow.
***
Tom hated waiting to see what would happen next. Eric stared out the living-room window, most likely watching for Minx and North’s return. Eric turned his attention to the front door. It opened.
Tom tensed. Cody stood in the entryway, surveying the trees in front of him and listening for any sounds. Tom remained hidden, not wanting to catch Eric’s eye as he watched out the living-room window again.
“Hurry it up,” an older man growled. Had to be Quinton. Tom didn’t recognize his voice. “Get them back here.”
Cody closed the door and trudged through the snow toward the trees, following the path that Minx and North had taken. The bells on the tassels of his rainbow-colored jester hat rang with every step he took. The hat would have to go. He moved slower than Tom knew he could manage. A worried frown creased Cody’s forehead.
As soon as Cody reached a point where the trees hid him from anyone watching from the house, Tom intercepted him, covering his mouth before the teen could cry out.
Tom quickly released him and Cody whispered, “Oh my God, Tom, I’m so glad to see you.” The teen looked around at the trees. “Are you it? No one else? Where are Minx and North?”