As Luck Would Have It Ch. 02

Here is chapter 2. I apologize for the wait. I'm still looking for an editor, but hopefully I will find one in time for the next chapter. Thanks for all of the words of encouragement and the feedback. They are much appreciated.

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Connor pulled his car into the garage. He leaned back against the cool leather seats and sighed. His wolf stirred impatiently, begging him to shift and go on a midnight run back to Audra.And how would you explain that without scaring her away?

Connor felt the irritation rise as he struggled to come up with a plan. He didn't normally deal with such minor home reparations, but he needed to spend as much time with her as he could. He and his wolf just found her and to be apart from her for too long would be anguish. He would have to make time to work on her home himself, deal with pack issues, take meetings, and continue running the business all at once.

Luckily for Connor, the local packs were at peace at the moment, so pack life had been relatively calm. He could rely on Graham to deal with small issues if they arose.

He figured he would need about a week to work on that house. That would be all the time he would possibly have to explain to her what he was and convince her to let him mate with her. Connor smiled as imagined it. Her submission to him, their bodies moving together as one. He groaned in delight at the thought.

Connor stepped out of his car and made his way into his home. He walked through the hallway to the large living room in the back. He would have to acknowledge his guests if it he was going to have any sort of sleep tonight.

"Mom, Dad.. To what do I owe this pleasure?" Connor leaned down and kissed his mother on the cheek as his dad stood up to wrap his arms around his son.

His mother smiled at him, apparently very excited. Connor couldn't help but share his Mother's excitement, but he also felt a pang of irritation. Sophie. He wanted to figure this out with as little help as possible, but there was no turning back now.

He looked down at his mother sitting on the massive couch in his living room. She was a stunning woman by all means. Her hair was sandy brown and wavy, but starting to show her age with a hint of silver streaked through. Her hazel eyes sparkled as she looked up at her son. She leaned back and waited for him to explain. 'Well...?' She prompted him mentally.

Connor cleared his throat and sat down on the chair opposite the couch. He looked at both his parents. "I take it your darling Sophie has already spilled the beans?"

Connor's father chuckled a little, and his eyes were dancing with amusement. He was the spitting image of Connor, with salt and pepper hair, and face that showed his age. "You know your sister all too well. She just about broke our front door down within moments of talking to Graham. She whisked your mom away earlier today and they baked those muffins all afternoon. So it's true then? You've found her?"

Connor saw his mother lean forward in anticipation. You couldn't help but love the woman. He decided not to make her wait any longer. "Yes, I've found her, but she is human. I have to proceed with extreme caution. I don't want to scare her off."

"Is it true she lives in that old Victorian at the edge of the woods? Is she all alone? That's a massive home for just one woman." Connor's mother was infinitely curious about the woman who had suddenly entered her son's life.

"Yes, she lives in that house and it appears she is alone. I haven't seen anyone else around. I didn't pick up any other scents," Connor explained.

"Does she have any family around these parts? It's a shame, a young girl on her own in a big home like that." His mother turned head toward her husband. "Don't you agree, Jack?"

She kept her eyes on her husband.'I'd feel much better if I knew her history. That house wasn't for sale and I believe it is still in Jane's family. I wonder if there is any relation? I don't dare mention this to Connor, yet. It might be too painful,she communicated through their bond, a glimmer of sadness traveled through her eyes.

Just give Connor some time to get to know the girl, Emma.'Jack squeezed her hand as he looked at her,'You'll have all your answers soon enough, my love. If she is any relation to our dear old friends, we'll know when we meet her.'His reassuring look put Emma at ease.

Connor watched his parents curiously as they silently communicated with each other. He knew better than to pry in their private conversations, but he couldn't help but wonder.

His mother sensed his apprehension and turned back to him. "So give me all the details. I want to hear everything sweetheart. How did you find her?"

Connor explained to his parents about his morning jog, and the first moment he laid eyes on Audra. "Mom, she is beautiful, and incredibly sweet. I think you two will get along very well. "

Emma could see the flood of emotion cross her son's face. She couldn't help but be extremely happy for him.

Connor continued, "I did find out earlier this evening that she is from Los Angeles, but not much else, I'm afraid. She did mention that she needs some help on some home repairs. Sophie hinted that she knew someone who owned a construction company, and I was only happy to oblige."

Jack suddenly laughed, "You didn't happen to mention that you run the company? You don't necessarily do the physical labor?" Jack continued laughing. "Are you sure you remember how to do home repairs and not just observe every now and then?" Jack kept teasing him, and he could see his son's frustration. His chuckles finally softened after Emma pinched his arm, giving him a warning.

"I think I can handle it. It was the only chance I had to see her. Now I have a week or so for her to get to know me. I'll have a couple of the guys come and help with the roof and painting, but I will handle the rest on my own."

"See Jack, it's clear that Connor thought this through." Emma smiled at Connor, "I can't wait to meet her, my dear." She stood up, trying to hint to her husband that it was time to leave. Jack finally stood up and patted his son's back.

"Well, my boy, it seems as if you have your work cut out for you. We will see how this all turns out at Sophie and Ben's barbecue." Jack caught his son's look. "Yes, your sister already sent out a mass text to everyone."

Emma pulled her husband along. "You get yourself some rest, Connor. You have quite the week ahead of you."

Jack and Emma hugged Connor, and made their exit. Connor yawned, clearly exhausted. He made his way up the stairs and to his bedroom.

Connor entered his room and looked out the massive windows at the compound below. In the distance, he could see the smoke from a fireplace coming from Audra's home. His heart sank as his desperation to be near her grew with every passing second. He kicked off his clothes and collapsed onto his bed. Thoughts of Audra filled his mind as he drifted off to sleep.

Audra awoke and checked her phone on the nightstand beside her bed. 5:45 am. She stretched out and sighed as memories of the previous evening drifted back into her mind. Suddenly, she sat up.Oh crap,she thought to herself as she shot out of bed.Connor!She quickly made her bed and hopped in the shower.

As she stepped out of the shower, Audra wrapped herself in a large towel and used another towel to towel dry her hair. She walked to her closet and decided on a pair of jeans and a black thermal. Her phone beeped on her nightstand. One unread message, but she didn't recognize the number.

"Hey early bird. It's Connor. I hope you don't mind, but Sophie gave me your number. I'm on my way, I'll see you soon."

Audra dressed quickly and slipped on her black chucks. She was finishing applying mascara as she heard Connor's SUV pull up. She quickly put on some chapstick and ran downstairs. She felt like a giddy child on Christmas morning as it seemed her feet couldn't get her down the stairs and through the hall fast enough. Audra stopped and regained some composure before she opened the door. Relax, she told herself.

She opened the front door as Connor was getting out of the car. Her heart skipped a beat. It looked like a scene from a dream. The early morning fog was dense in the backdrop of the woods. Connor stood next to his SUV and grinned at her. He was wearing some work boots and jeans with a long sleeved black shirt. She could see his well defined muscles outlined against the material. And she had to admit, the man looked damn good in a pair of jeans. He smiled as she blushed. Had she been that obvious?

Connor smiled at Audra. He loved how he could feel her eyes traveling over his body. It was obvious she liked what she saw. He took his turn to look her over. Audra walked down her steps and down the path toward him. Her thermal hugged her breasts and clinged to her flat stomach. Her jeans fit just perfectly and he couldn't wait until she led him to the house so he could get a look at that ass. He could not get over how sexy she looked in her casual outfit.

Audra blushed as she noticed the pleased look on his face as he examined her body. She watched as Connor leaned in to his car and pulled out two coffees. "I wasn't sure which kind of coffee you would like, so I brought just plain old coffee or a vanilla latte. Your choice." Connor smiled at her as her eyes lit up.

"Vanilla Latte, please!" Audra smiled as Connor handed her the cup. "Let's go inside and we can discuss the work that needs to be done here." Audra turned and started walking toward the house, feeling his eyes watch her. She was relieved he couldn't see how flushed her face was at that particular moment.

Connor's suspicions were correct. The woman had a great ass. Not big, but not flat; it had a perfect roundness to it that begged to be squeezed. Connor shook himself out of it and quickly followed her into the house.

He was impressed by how put together the house seemed. It was just as welcoming in the early morning light as it had been the previous evening. He glanced as they passed the library. He saw some boxes on the floor, but most of the shelves were lined with books. He smiled to himself as he imagined the both of them in that room, spending a lazy afternoon curled up next to the fireplace reading to each other.

He glanced at a couple pictures on the wall that he hadn't noticed the night before. There were some old family photos that were practically ancient mixed with some more current photos. Connor smiled. Audra's smile lit up every photo she was in. Hell, the girl lit up the room when she entered, so he wasn't surprised.

One picture stopped him dead in his tracks. It was an old black and white photo from the early 1920s. There were three people sitting by a stream having a picnic not too far from where this house stands. Connor knew everyone in the photo because he had taken it. He noticed his older brother and his mate, Elizabeth smiling at each other and Elizabeth's sister Jane smiling at the camera. Connor's heart sank looking at the picture. How was it that she was in posession of this photo? Suddenly, it dawned on him. How had he not made the connection earlier?

Audra turned around and walked back toward Connor to see what caught his attention. "Ahh.. It's a great picture isn't it? That is my grandmother Jane right there," Audra pointed to the picture. "That is my great Aunt Elizabeth and her husband Grant. Unfortunately, Grant died tragically right after their wedding. My grandma never gave me the details, but my aunt was so distraught, she committed suicide shortly after. My grandma stayed in this home for a little while after, but moved down to California, wanting to be close to the rest of her family. We all assumed she sold this place years ago until we found out she left it to me in her will. Unfortunately, this is the only photo I have of my grandma and her sister together."

Thinking about Grant put Connor in a more vulnerable state than he was already in. He did not like it one bit. Fortunately, Audra motioned for him to follow her. When he looked into her eyes, there was a sudden sense of comfort to his soul.

Audra led him through to the room they had been sitting in the night before. She sat on the couch and to her surprise, Connor sat closely by her. She wanted to break the uncomfortable silence that had suddenly filled the room.

"So I was thinking we could start with the roof," Audra began, taking a sip of her coffee.

Connor was barely listening as he closed his eyes and breathed her in deeply yet again. That scent. It was exhilirating. A smiled traveled over his face, and he leaned back against the couch. "Sure," he replied, opening his eyes and gazing at her. His wolf grew impatient, but Connor had to reason with him. They both wanted her, now. It took all that Connor had to restrain himself. "I can call up some guys and we can get to work on that immediately."

Audra sighed in relief, "That is absolutely wonderful. You don't know how happy I am that you can do this all so quickly. I am relieved to hear that the house will be in better shape before winter arrives. Once we finish our coffee, I will show you the eaves and fascia boards. They really are in a terrible state." She kicked her shoes off, sat back against the couch and pulled her legs up under her. She was trying to act as nonchalant as possible.

Connor watched her as he took a sip of his coffee, taking this as a golden opportunity to get to know her better. "So why did you move here? Most people would die to live in a warmer climate."

"I just wasn't happy in Los Angeles. I'm not dying to see and be seen. I am not a fan of weather over 70 degrees, almost every single day. The traffic going anywhere is horrible for a majority of the day. The list goes on and on. When my grandma left this house to me in her will, I decided to quit my job and move."

"Do you miss your family and friends?"

Audra paused for a moment and frowned. "Well of course, but my parents are planning on retiring to their home in the desert and most of my friends are starting families. It just seemed like the right time to form my own path in life."

Connor respected that she made such a big move on her own. It took some guts. He smiled and her. "So you are really going to live in this big old house by yourself?"

"That's the plan," Audra said. "So let's talk about you. I know you have a construction company.. A funny set of twins for siblings..Tell me something about yourself. Something that no one knows."

Connor laughed. His life was pretty much an open book to his pack. He thought for a moment, cocking his head to the side. "I once left home, a long time ago." He thought he could reveal a little without letting everything out. "My older brother passed away and I decided to travel the world. I went searching for myself. I had to be sure this is where I wanted to end up. As it turned out, at the time, there wasn't any place or anyone in this world that meant more to me than home and my family."

Audra rested her hand on his arm and gave him a comforting squeeze. "I'm sorry for your loss. That must have been a hard time for you." He smiled at her hand and the instant warmth it brought to his body.

Sensing Connor didn't want to go into further detail at this moment, Audra tried to lighten the mood and poked his bicep. "That can hardly be a secret, though. I'm sure people noticed your absence after a week. Well, I know I would have."

Connor looked into her eyes, slightly amused by her little flirtation. "Oh yes, they knew I left. They just didn't know I considered never coming back." He held her gaze and Audra noticed a hint of sadness that washed over his eyes. She put a hand over his and looked down. She wasn't going to push him into explaining the whole story. It would be something he would be able to share in time, if he so choosed.

Connor loved that he could confide in her and be comforted by her. It was something that he definitely was missing in his life. She could be his outlet from world. He couldn't let her go, ever. He covered her hand with his. "Ok.. Let's get a look at what's going on outside with those eaves and fascia boards. I'll call some guys over and we will get working on the roof."

Later than evening, Connor's crew left and Audra smiled as she watched Connor pack his things in his truck. "Hungry?" she called out to him.

She watched as he turned from his truck back to her with a huge smile on his face. "Thought you'd never ask. I was running out of things to load in the SUV."

Audra laughed. "I was thinking about ordering some pizzas. Does that sound good?"

"That sounds wonderful. There's a great place called Marcello's, where they cook the pizzas in huge brick ovens and they taste just like the pizzas you would get in Naples. Do you have any particular kind you want?" He noticed a huge smile cross her face.

"Do they have a quattro formaggi pizza? The last time I had one of those was in Italy with my cousin a couple years back and it was delicious!"

Connor smiled, making a note to ask about her travels later. "Yes they do. I know the owner so I will place the order. I'm going to run home and shower really quick. I'll swing by and pick up the pizza's on my way back." Connor didn't want to leave, but he was dirty and sweaty, and those things mattered to women, or so Sophie told him.

"Sounds good. I'll see you soon." Audra watched as Connor got into his SUV and pulled away. Her heart saddened as drove out of her sight.Pull it together, Audra. He will be back before you know it. Stop acting like a love sick puppy.

Audra was sitting beside the fireplace, engrossed in a book, when she heard a knock at the door. She set her book down and walked down the hall and opened the door. The delicious aroma of the pizzas filled the entryway. "Oh Connor, those pizzas smell amazing. Come in." Audra smiled brightly as she could feel her heart doing flips in her chest. Connor smelled just a wonderful as the pizzas, and he looked as handsome as ever. He dressed casually, in a pair of stonewashed jeans, a black hoodie and some black shoes. She took the pizzas from his arms and led him to the dining room, which was conveniently off to the side of the room with the fireplace.

Connor smiled when he saw the dining room. Audra had set up the table with two plates across from each other. She had a couple candles lit, the fireplace crackled, and Billie Holiday's voice sang softly in the background. Connor couldn't help but look at her longingly as she motioned for him to sit.

"What can I get you to drink? I have another Cabernet, or I have some beers in the fridge. Let me warn you, though. I don't ever buy typical light beer. If you'd like a beer, I will bring you one. I assure you, you are in for a treat."

Connor smiled, surprised. The girl had good taste, she had traveled, she was fond of books. The more he knew about her, the more he knew she was meant for him. "I'll take a beer."

She flashed him a smile, "Oh good, me too!"

Audra returned with two glasses and one large bottle of beer. "Good choice, Audra. I love Belgian beer. That particular bottle is one of my favorites."

Audra poured them both a glass of beer and Connor gave them both a slice of pizza. Audra took one bite of hers and murmured in appreciation. "Mmm.. This is amazing! I can't believe this place is around here! They have gained a new loyal customer. It tastes just like the one I had in Italy, if not better."

"So I take it you like to travel?"

Audra's eyes lit up and she grinned. "I love it! There are so many places I would love to go. Do you travel anymore?"

"Don't get much of a chance to travel, but that doesn't mean I don't want to." Connor smiled at her. They wouldn't have too much time in the future to travel together, but he would make sure they were able to take a week here and there so he could show her little bits of the world.