Red and the Wolf Read Online Free Page A

“What am I going to do?”
     
    Marina hugged her. “I wish I could tell you.”
     
    Rafe paced in front of the door while waiting. As soon as she appeared, he stopped and smiled. He pulled the door open for her and she hesitated a step before exiting. Opening her door was something Rafe had been adamant about their whole lives from the time he was old enough to reach a door handle.
     
    “What did you drive?” she asked.
     
    “I thought we’d walk,” he said.
     
    “Okay. Where’re we going?”
     
    “You’ll see,” he said. Side by side, they moved down the street.
     
    “How was work?” he asked when the silence stretched.
     
    “I burned a batch,” she said.
     
    “Hmm.” Another long silence, then, “How’s your dad today?”
     
    Ruby cringed. “I’m so sorry about that, Rafe.”
     
    “Don’t be,” he said. “It’s not your fault he drinks like that, Red.”
     
    Her heart twisted at the nickname.
     
    “This way,” he said, taking her elbow and leading her down an alley. She glanced up at him. There were no eateries this way. They came to a steel, gray door and Rafe knocked. Ruby’s gaze narrowed and he smiled, dipping his head slightly toward her. “Trust me,” he said.
     
    The door was pushed outward into the alley by Tanemahutu Fa'amasino, a big Samoan man whose gentle nature contradicted his fierce appearance. A tattoo covered the right side of his face and both massive biceps. His black hair was pulled back into a tight bun. His colossal size made even Rafe appear diminutive. A welcoming smile lit his face.
     
    “Malo, my friend,” Hutu said in his deep baritone, placing a beefy hand on Rafe’s shoulder. Rafe grimaced a little at his squeeze. “Welcome home.”
     
    Rafe placed a hand over Hutu’s. “Thanks, my friend. It’s good to see you again.”
     
    “You’ve been gone too long,” Hutu laughed, pulling Rafe into a brief but smothering bear hug. He rubbed his knuckles on Rafe’s head, and Ruby laughed, drawing Hutu’s attention. “You’re as beautiful as ever, Mumu.”
     
    Hutu had called her Mumu for years before Ruby discovered it was the Samoan word for “red”. Previously, she’d thought he was calling her chubby, as in muumuu’s worn by his own rather large mother.
     
    “It’s good to see you, Hutu.”
     
    “Why don’t you come by anymore?” he asked her as he escorted them both into the storage room of his Polynesian restaurant. Ruby wasn’t sure why they’d had to come in the back door.
     
    Ruby shrugged. “I’ve been busy.”
     
    “Uh-huh.” Hutu didn’t sound convinced. Rafe looked at her, brows pulled together as if trying to figure something out.
     
    “Are we not allowed in the front door of your restaurant anymore, Hutu?” she teased.
     
    “Your man has a surprise for you,” Hutu announced.
     
    “He’s not—”
     
    “I didn’t want to come in the front,” Rafe interrupted her denial, “because we’d never get any privacy if we did. Everywhere I go, everyone wants to talk to me, ask me where I’ve been. So Hutu arranged for us to have some of his fine food without any interruptions.”
     
    “I didn’t arrange anything,” Hutu said. “Your man did. I just said yes when he called and asked.” Hutu laughed as if in some private joke.
     
    “He’s not my—”
     
    “Rafe, my second son!” Hutu’s mother, Ali’tasi, came in, throwing her substantial arms around Rafe. “I’m so happy you’re home. The place isn’t the same without your handsome face to brighten my doorway. All I have to look at all day is Tanemahutu’s ugly mug.”
     
    Hutu growled, the sound holding no weight with the smile still in place.
     
    Ali’tasi turned to Ruby. “And you, child, where’ve you been? We don’t see you nearly often enough.”
     
    Ruby let Ali’tasi squeeze her with her mother-bear gentleness. “It’s good to see you, Ali’tasi.”
     
    “Tanemahutu, get these children their dinner, and then leave