Werewolf in Alaska: A Wild About You Novel Read Online Free Page A

Werewolf in Alaska: A Wild About You Novel
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satisfaction that Jake at least liked her work even if he didn’t much like her. “Does he realize that it’s worth a lot?”
    “Guess so. He told me I could sell it and take a cruise.”
    “A very long cruise.” The more Rachel thought about it, the more irritated she became. Jake had the distinction of owning her first-ever wolf carving. Knowing that he was trying to dump it and wasn’t even interested in making money on the deal galled her. “Why doesn’t he sell it himself?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “If he’s worried about the notoriety of owning that first piece, he could sell it through a third party.”
    “I offered to handle that for him, or find someone else who would. He told me to do whatever I wanted with it because he didn’t need any money out of the deal. I suppose he doesn’t, but still, it’s strange.”
    More like a stab to the heart, but Rachel didn’t want to let on how much it bothered her. He’d rejected her gesture of friendship three years ago, and now he was rejecting her work. He might be gorgeous, but she would have to stop ogling him every night, because he was turning out to be a cold bastard.
    Unless there was more to the story. She gazed at Ted. “Is there something you’re not telling me? Did you save his life years ago and you became blood brothers? Does he owe you his life and giving you the carving is his way of settling the score?”
    Ted laughed. “That’s a creative thought, Rachel, but I’m afraid that’s not the answer. We’ve had a friendly relationship, but I wouldn’t say we’re close. I pick up his mail for him whenever he leaves town, but Jake’s a hard guy to get to know. He’s lived in Polecat for around ten years, but I couldn’t tell you much about him except he gets a lot of outdoor magazines.”
    “And now he’s ready to give away a valuable piece of art rather than risk selling it himself . . .” Rachel brightened. “I’ll bet he’s in the witness protection program!”
    “I seriously doubt that.”
    “Okay, he could be an international spy, or a drug runner, or a hit man for the mob, or—”
    “Whoa, there, Nellie. Don’t go letting your imagination get completely out of control. Jake’s your average Alaskan backcountry character, maybe somewhat quirky, maybe somewhat antisocial, but with a good heart. Little towns like Polecat draw people who don’t care for country clubs and cocktail parties. You know that.”
    “I do.” Rachel smiled a little sheepishly. “It’s why I’m here, after all. When I’m working, I can be as antisocial as anybody.”
    “And God help the person who comes between you and your chocolate.”
    “Exactly. Lionel’s lucky he’s so adorable, or he’d be toast.” She sighed. “Okay, you’ve convinced me that Jake is no more weird than the rest of us, but it’s damned irritating that he wants to dump my carving. I have to admit it feels like a slap in the face.”
    “I knew it would, but I had to tell you. If he shows up with the carving this afternoon like he promised, I didn’t want it to come as a surprise to you that I have it.”
    “I appreciate that.”
    “In fact, I’ll call you if he brings it over, because I want you to sell it instead of me.”
    She nodded. “I can do that for you, Ted. I have more contacts and can get you a really good price.” She might even decide to buy it herself and keep it as a reminder of her first sale. No, that wouldn’t work, because it would also remind her of her first customer, Jake the Jerk.
    “I don’t want the money, either.”
    “What the hell? Why doesn’t anybody want the money? Is this carving cursed in some way I don’t know about?”
    “No, of course not. But it doesn’t seem fair that I should profit from something I didn’t make in the first place. You should have the money.”
    “But he’s giving it to you, not me.”
    “Well, he could hardly give it back to you, now, could he? That would be rude.”
    And it would require
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