She glanced over her shoulder and met the dark-eyed stare of the wolf. She really wanted to see him better, to clean off the layer of dust that covered him. “Three hundred?”
Jules nodded and led the way back toward the shop. “And Marcel and I will deliver him in about an hour.”
There really was no decision to be made. Sabrina hurried back to the front of the store, went behind the counter and grabbed her purse. Thanks to the extra sales today she had more than enough in her wallet to pay cash.
Transaction completed, she reluctantly left the shop. If it were anyone else but Jules, she wouldn’t have been able to leave her wolf behind. Her wolf. If anyone else could hear her thoughts, they’d be worried about the state of her mental health. Heck, she was worried too. But there was something about that wolf that called to her.
As she dragged herself and her belongings up the stairs to her apartment, she found herself wondering what other animals had been on the carousel with the wolf. What a wonder it would have been to see the carousel brand new, to maybe even have the opportunity to ride it.
Maybe she’d do some research online. After all, she knew the name of the carnival that had owned the ride. Maybe there were pictures of it out there somewhere.
She unlocked her door and let herself in, happy to be home. She stowed her gear in the closet and kicked off her shoes. Her imagination was already at work, conjuring up the image of the carousel. It would have been magnificent with intricate scrollwork painted in white, red and gold. Unlike some traditional carousels with horses, this one would have exotic animals, all ferocious and proud.
Sabrina stripped off her top and bra on the way to the bathroom. She set the water running before she pulled off her skirt and underwear. Taking care, she removed the beads and the amulet her friends had given her and set them safely on the vanity.
A handful of bath salts perfumed the air around her as she stepped into the tub. She grabbed her sponge and started washing. There was no time to waste. Jules and his grandson would be here in less than an hour with her wolf.
He’d need a name. She’d figure that out once she’d gotten a better look at him. Her mind was filled with images of the carousel ride. A frown creased her brow as a strange thought struck her. She tossed aside her sponge, pulled the plug in the tub and climbed out, reaching for a towel.
She’d started several paintings a few months back and set them aside not knowing how she wanted to finish them. Wrapping the towel around her, she hurried to the front closet where she stored her unfinished work and shoved things aside until she found what she was looking for. There were two canvases, each three feet by two feet. One was of a fairground filled with light, teeming with people and activity. The other one made her shiver. It was a circular carnival ride, but she hadn’t known how to finish it. She’d pictured it with tiny cars or circular cups, something children could sit in and enjoy. But she knew now what it was meant to be—a carousel.
“What the hell is going on?” She propped both paintings up in front of the bookshelves in the living room and studied them. Why had she started working on these in the first place? Had she read about a carnival somewhere? Had someone mentioned something?
Jessica. That’s it. Jessica had mentioned something about old-time traveling carnivals months ago, asking her if she’d ever been to one. Obviously, the conversation had inspired the paintings.
A wave of relief washed over Sabrina. This had nothing to do with the old carnival signs and the carousel animal in Jules’ shop. It was nothing more than coincidence.
Sabrina glanced at the clock and swore under her breath. Jules and Marcel would be here soon and she didn’t want to meet them at the front door wearing nothing more than a towel.
With one final glance over her shoulder at the unfinished paintings, she hurried to her bedroom to dress. Since she was home for the evening and comfort was the goal, she opted for a tank top the color of ripe blueberries and a pair of faded jeans. She thought about braiding her hair but decided to just leave it hanging free.
She took a quick detour back to the bathroom and fastened the amulet Tilly had given her around her neck. Then she took Jessica’s strand of beads and stones and wrapped them around her wrist. Satisfied, she clicked off the bathroom light.
Once Jules and his grandson had come and gone she’d fix some dinner since she hadn’t taken the time to stop and pick something up on the way home and didn’t feel like calling for takeout. Then she planned to spend the rest of the evening enjoying her wolf. He might even serve as inspiration for her to finish the two paintings.
Excited once again, she went to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of sweet tea. She’d only had one sip and was still contemplating what to eat when a knock came on the front door. Her wolf was here.
Chapter Five
“Where do you want it?” Marcel asked, but Sabrina had eyes only for her wolf. “Sabrina?” Jules’ grandson prompted, and she forced her gaze away from the magnificent creature that now belonged to her.
“Over there.” The corner of the living room next to her bookshelf was about the only place he would fit. “Let me move the chair.” She hurried forward and dragged the chair to one side and watched with satisfaction as Marcel and Jules carried her new purchase inside.
It was all she could do to keep from jumping up and down and clapping her hands like a kid at Christmas. “Perfect.”
Jules removed a snow-white handkerchief from his back pocket and mopped his forehead. “Wasn’t sure I’d be able to get him up the stairs. He’s heavier than he looks.” He stuffed the handkerchief back into his pocket and then stroked a hand over the flank of the wolf. “No, sir, they don’t make ’em like this anymore. Hand carved from a chunk of wood, not made out of plastic or some other fake material.”
Marcel stood by the door, waiting not quite patiently. “Come on, Grandpa. I got a date tonight.”
Jules grinned. “Never let it be said I stood in the way of true love.” He stopped in front of her long enough to drop a kiss on her cheek. “Drop by on the weekend. I’m expecting a new shipment Friday night from an estate sale I sent Marcel to last week. We’ll see just what kind of an eye the boy has.”
The boy was a twenty-two-year-old college student who went to school full-time, worked a part-time job and also helped his grandpa out when he needed it.
“I got a great eye and you know it. If I don’t, it’s all your fault since you taught me everything you know.”
The old man tipped back his head and laughed. “He’s right, you know.” He kissed her again. “See you on the weekend.”
“See you then. Take care. Thanks, Marcel,” she called as the tall, lanky man practically bolted down the stairs. He raised a hand and waved goodbye over his shoulder. Jules followed at a slightly slower pace.
Sabrina closed the door and locked it before resting against the wood panel. Her wolf was finally here. Didn’t matter that she’d only set eyes on him in the dim back room of Jules’ shop, the wolf was hers. Her hand rested on her chest and she rubbed at the slight ache in the region of her heart. “Must be hunger.”
She really should rummage up something to eat before cleaning up her latest purchase. Who was she kidding? She couldn’t eat until she’d wiped the layer of dust from her wolf and checked him out.
She pushed away from the door and went to the kitchen, digging beneath the sink for some wood cleaner and a few old rags. Carrying her supplies under her arm, she went back into the living room.
The wolf watched her from the corner of the room, his gaze even more penetrating than it had been in the low light of Jules’ store. “Magnificent.” She grabbed one cloth and wiped away the dust and grime that covered most of his body. With each stroke, she revealed vibrant paint and exquisite details.