Howl For It
Page 46

Dont know. Sad to say, no news is good news in my business.
She let out a breath. I understand. Darla took his hand and led him toward the stairs. Come on, darlin. Lets get you packed.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Eggie didnt return home again for four months. Hed been worried it would be five, but they had finally cut him loose for at least a month of leave. More likely two, though he didnt know if theyd been planning that or if it was because Eggie had mauled a full-human superior officer the other day when the man had gotten on his nerves. The human was still alive and believed himself to have been attacked by someones loose attack dog, but still . . . it was a definite sign to the shifter officers who ran his platoon that Eggie needed to go home.
The problem was, though, that when Eggie walked into his little house, he found it empty. He didnt expect a note or anything because Darlad had no idea when hed be home. But it had been four months with only a few calls between them. He needed to see his mate.
Eggie went upstairs, showered, and changed his clothes. He stopped first at his mommas and checked in with her, barely spoke to his daddy, and then had headed over to Frankie and Robertas househe would have gone to Bubba and Janie Maes but he had no idea if they were together this week or broken upand asked about Darla.
It turned out shed gone back to her fathers house for a few weeks. The pie business had taken off and while Francine and Roberta were arranging a storefront in town right on Main Street, Darla had headed off to get them seed money. Apparently his father had offered her money but shed very sweetly but firmly turned him down. Eggie had never told Darla what his father had done but maybe shed done that thing of hers . . . looking deep into his soul or whatever it was. No matter the reason, though, shed said no and now was trying to raise funds on her own. Of course if anyone could do it, it was Darla Mae.
Using his recently repaired Plymouth GTXEggie guessed Darla and her sisters were still racing against those She-lions since that probably brought in some cashhe headed to Smithville, North Carolina. He went right to Darlas fathers house but Mr. Lewis and his sons ordered Eggie off their territory, saying that Darla didnt want to see Eggie.
Eggie didnt really believe them, but he left anyway, not wanting to fight Darlas kin. Yet he came back every night as wolf, stood outside the house, and he howled. He howled and howled until her father and brothers came out and ran him off again.
Well, his nights could be worse.
Darla had slept the afternoon away after arriving from San Francisco on the late flight shed caught. It hadnt been as hard as shed thought it would be: Darla had raised the money for the shop sheand her sisters were going to open in Smithtown. Shed had a list of people to ask but it had been Mr. Van Holtz whod given her the majority of the money. It was a loan and she expected to be able to pay him back in the next couple of years if everything went as well as it had been going the last few months. Plus she got a little extra cash from other contacts shed made over the years.
Mr. Van Holtz had been very happy about all this for Darla, but hed also been disappointed that shed never be coming back to work at the restaurant. Apparently the newest pastry chef assistant was not working out and was the fifth one in five months. Darla had felt bad for him but when she saw the head pastry chef yelling at the new assistant, she remembered what she wouldnt miss about this job . . . dealing with a talented but mean chef on a daily basis.
Grinning, she came into her fathers living room and kissed him on the top of the head. Hello, Daddy.
Hello, sweetheart. You sleep all right?
Yes, I did.
Im glad youre home.
Yeah, me, too. Darla knew she could have gone straight back to Smithtown after her meetings in San Francisco, but go home to what? An empty house and a list of pie orders to fill? No. That didnt sound like fun. So shed headed to her familys territory first. But she wouldnt be able to stay too long. Janie would be having her baby any day and Darla felt she should be there to help out. At the moment, her sister wasnt making any friends whod be willing to help except the newest mate of one of the Smithtown-local Reed boys. But Lord that particular She-wolf was annoying, so yeah, Darla should be there.
Wheres Momma?
Over at her sisters house.
Okay. She felt bad that she was relieved at the news, but her mother had been riding Darla since shed found out that Eggie had marked her youngest, and it didnt seem to be something that would end soon. Her mother thought Darla could have done betterand that she should still try.
Yet Darla knew shed done better than she could have hoped for.
Besides, life with Eggie would be hard enough with him being gone for such long periods of time that the last thing she needed to hear was her mother going on and on about all the other eligible bachelors around town. But Eggies time away was a price Darla was willing to pay to have Eggie Smith as her mate. He was worth it. And, she reminded herself yet again, it wouldnt be forever. He has to retire from the Marines eventually.
Want me to make dinner, Daddy?
I thought Id take yall out tonight, her father offered. Your mother will meet us at the restaurant.