Chapter 2: Meet Bennett Orloff

Seattle, home to the Seahawks, Pike Place Market, and arguably the world’s best coffee, was about as far from the daily family politics that Bennett Orloff could get without a passport. Which, along with a steaming hot double espresso complete with a dash of cinnamon, was all he needed for a perfect start to his day. Putting aside the cool, damp weather, of course.

Pausing briefly to give his double jolt of caffeine a swirl. He drank down it in one gulp. And not a moment too soon.

“Your dad called.” His second in command, Dana Hardgrave, informed him. “He’s asked me to set up a zoom call for this morning, at your convenience.”

The tall brunette clickety-clacked across the newly finished, salvaged cedar floor on pointy turquoise stilettos. A bare, chiseled midriff played peekaboo through a form fitting blazer.

Leave it to Dana to show up for work braless. Flawless.

Bennett’s mouth twitched. As if tasting something bad. It wasn’t the coffee. It was Dana. She could be a lot. Especially this early in the morning. Even for him.

Red, gel-painted fingertips tapped aggressively against her phone. Betraying her inner thoughts as she stood there, ramrod straight, perfectly poised, staring at the floor. Waiting impatiently for his response. Not daring to push it any further.

His whole family were known for their tempers.

Bennett was no exception.

Dana knew this. Had witnessed it firsthand. His father, brothers, the whole lot of them. They hadn’t been an easy pack to break into, and Bennet wasn’t an easy Alpha to work with. But if Dana knew anything about herself it was that she was tenacious. She could handle anything. Even Bennett Orloff. Which was why, despite the fact that her own phone was blowing up in her hand as she did so, she waited. And waited.

“I left for a reason.” Bennett growled.

Dana silently demurred. When he was ready, he’d provide instructions. Until then her job, quite literally, was to be still and wait for it.

“I thought coming here made me a free man.” He grumbled. “That whole out of sight out of mind thing.” Bennett shook his head, as if he could dislodge the frustration he was feeling. “Why does he insist on bringing me back in?”

Dana didn’t bother to answer. The question wasn’t for her.

Silence.

Dana shifted in her heels. The back of her neck pricked to attention. She subtly sniffed the air for any signs of a changing wind. She sensed Bennett’s brewing anger.

He was dangerous when volatile. Dana stayed sharp. She had to be ready for anything. At all times.

“I paid my dues.” Bennett spoke with fierce determination. “Tell him I refuse.” He barked. “Or better yet, don’t reply at all.”

Dana sighed. As if she were a preschool teacher and her students had just returned from recess covered in mud, leaving her to spend the entire day cleaning up the mess.

He raised an eyebrow in her direction.

She sensed more than saw the tendons in his jaw flex. Tighten.

He wasn’t grinding his teeth. She knew. He was sharpening them.

Involuntarily her hand flew to her throat. She forced an urgent swallow before speaking.

“He won’t give up that easily.” She spoke as softly as she could manage.

“You know better than to cross me.” His voice was calm, almost a purr. It was his body that betrayed him. She could see it coiled beneath his designer clothing. Ready to spring.

Dana lowered her gaze to the floor. She retreated slightly, taking half a step back. Recalibrating as best she could to his shifting mood. When he was like this, anything she did could start a fight. Even remaining silent.

Not that it worried her much. Dana could handle him. She was his second for a reason.

Though her new designer jacket would be trashed if they brawled. A sultry smile flickered across her lips. She loved the feel of Italian weave against her bare skin. So sensual. So luxurious. She loved it almost as much as she loved fighting. Especially with Bennett. He was strong, brilliant, and fierce. In business, in a brawl…everywhere. In every way.

He dismissed her with a slight turn of his back. Bored or annoyed, she couldn’t tell. Though his temper cooled.

Mildly disappointed, she relaxed her stance. A fight was no longer a threat.

He was watching the neighbor next door.

Through the window her living room was as clear a view as a large screen television.

“Tsk. Tsk.” Dana admonished. “A single woman, living alone like that, really ought to put up some curtains. No telling who might be watching.”

Bennett stared thoughtfully at the pretty girl next door.

So normal. He thought. Simply living an easy-going life in her run-down house. His mind whirled. Maybe that was just what he needed.

A distraction.

The idea of it made him stand straighter. Broad shoulders squared. A playful expression zipped along his handsome features.

He heard Dana softly approaching him from behind. Felt the drape of her well-toned arm across his right shoulder.

“Maybe that’s just what you need.” She cooed in his ear. She was standing so close; they could each feel the warmth of the other’s body.

Bennett nodded. “A distraction.” His voice was clear. As was his intent.

“Don’t you mean a toy?” Dana breathed the question into his ear.

Bennett shrugged. His eyes following the perky blonde with the bouncy curls.

Perhaps. He thought. After all he was raised by wolves, wasn’t he?