until everything was done. But what he wouldnât give to have some playtime with Loriâswimming, maybe running as wolves. Heâd just have to play it by ear.
When he arrived at the cabin, Allan wasnât there. Paul carried the painting of Lori into his bedroom. When he had a chance, heâd hang it where he could enjoy it most.
He called Allan to let him know his schedule. âHey, are you doing the job you were auctioned to do tonight?â
âNo, Iâll be going to Marthaâs ranch tomorrow. Iâm out with one of the ladies who bid on me but didnât win. So Iâm buying her dinner. Consolation prize.â
Paul laughed. âIâm going to be staying the weekend. Emma has a list as long as Santa Clausâs. The jobs will take a couple of days, at the very least.â He grabbed his bag, got into his car, and headed over to the lakeside cabin.
âDo you need me to help with anything after Iâve done my work at Marthaâs place?â
âNah. Iâve got it.â
Silence followed, but before Paul could ask if he was still there, Allan said, âIs Lori going to be staying with you for the weekend?â
The tone of Allanâs voice said he believed more than work would be going on at the cabin.
âYeah, to make sure I get everything done right.â
âUh-huh.â
Paul chuckled. âWhat about you? Will you be okay by yourself?â
âWith you not around, yeah. Iâve got another date tomorrow night. I sure like these bachelor auctions.â
Paul laughed. âOkay, see you later then.â
âOut here.â
Paul took the long road around the blue-green lake, noticing that the warm breeze had made the water choppy. The lake was thirty miles long and sixteen miles wide, so getting around it was a bit of a drive. When he reached Lori and Emmaâs log cabin, he got out of his car and paused to enjoy the hilly woods and the view of the lake and mountains off in the distance. He took in a deep breath and first noticed the smell of pine trees, followed by Lori and Roseâs scents, though they had been left awhile ago. None of Emmaâs, though; she must not have been there for quite some time. He also smelled Dusty and Howard Cooperâs scents, which irked him right away. What had they been doing here?
Had Catherine suspected something about it? Paul hoped that neither of the ranch hands thought they had a chance with Lori or Rose. He reminded himself that what the women did with their time was up to them, but the thought of the ranch hands still bothered him. Particularly after heâd seen the way Dusty behaved toward the woman at the grocery store that morning. Paul didnât like the idea that any other wolf had his paws on Lori or that these men had designs on Rose.
He hauled the paint supplies and his bag of clothes up the wooden steps of the deck to the main entrance and set them down. The sun would set over the lake in another hour and a half, and he was going to enjoy it. He hoped Lori would make it to the cabin in time to watch the sunset with him.
He unlocked the door and grabbed the can of paint, the bag of supplies, and his clothes bag. As soon as he stepped inside, he immediately took a deep breath and smelled the scents in the living room. Both of the Cooper brothers had been in the cabin. He growled a little under his breath. Then again, if the men had given the ladies any trouble, they would have said something to him. Wouldnât they have?
Before Lori arrived, Paul dumped his bag in the green bedroom closest to hers. Then he moved the sagging sofa and matching sagging chairs away from the one wall they would paint. The rest of the walls were paneled in dark, reddish wood. Though the color was beautiful, he could see why Lori wanted something brighter on the accent wall that surrounded the white stone fireplace. He began taping the edges of the wood so they wouldnât get paint on it.
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