by Shannon West
Nobody said he couldn’t make this sort of a working vacation. He’d just have to be careful with his money because this job was temporary and would be ending in a couple of months. He had to find another one soon, but he didn’t want to start worrying about that now. He’d just enjoy this little road trip and, like Scarlett, he’d think about it later.
He made it into Huntsville in about three hours, his old truck holding up even better than he’d hoped. Pulling into a convenience store for gas and something cold to drink, he leaned over to get a map out of the glove compartment, laying it on the seat. He slid out of the truck and went in to pay for gas, coming out with a Coke and a big Reese’s, one of those jumbo-sized ones with three of the little chocolate peanut butter cups. He was addicted to the things. After getting the gas, he pulled his truck away from the pumps and parked so he could look at the map and wolf down his snack.
Finding the small town of Blackwater Falls on the map, he noted how small it looked and wondered if they even had a motel. He decided he’d better go back in the store and see if the clerk was familiar with the little town. She was and told him that she didn’t think that they had much of anything there and that he’d better book a room before he left Huntsville.
She was a plain girl but kind of chatty. She gave Jace a strange kind of look and asked, “Do you know somebody up there?”
“No, I’m working for the Census and some people from there didn’t send their forms back in, so I’ve been sent to interview them and get the information. Why do you ask?”
“Oh, no reason, really. It’s just folks up there like to keep to themselves. You better be careful. They don’t take kindly to strangers up on the mountain. Real clannish, you know?”
Jace laughed. “All I’m doing is taking the census. That shouldn’t ruffle anybody’s feathers. And anyway, I plan to check in with the sheriff before I talk to anybody up there.”
“That’s good. His name is Hawke Sutherland.”
“Do you know him?”
“No. I’ve just seen him a few times, but I wouldn’t mind gettin’ to know him if you catch my drift. He’s kinda young, big and tall, and good-looking as hell. Not real friendly, though. Not rude, just kind of stand-offish, you know. Like all those people up there.”
“Yeah? Well, I don’t plan to cause any trouble, so I shouldn’t have any problem with him. Anyway, thanks for the info.”
Jace walked out of the store and got in his truck, driving toward the outskirts of town and looking for a motel that was cheap but decent. He was almost out of town so he needed to find one in a hurry or he’d have to turn around and go back toward Huntsville. Just then, he looked to his right and saw one that might fit the bill.
It was an older motel, with single rooms strung out along the highway like knots in a string and boasting Free HBO. Wheeling into the driveway and up to the office, Jace got out and went to check in. After ringing the bell and waiting for a few minutes an old man came out of the back and gave him a suspicious glare. The office smelled like some kind of spicy food, and he wasn’t sure the clerk spoke any English, but he pushed a room key over the counter after Jace paid up front for the room and went back through some curtains to a little room in back.
Jace found his room, unloaded his bag and looked around at his accommodations. The room was cheap and clean enough if you weren’t too particular. It was mid-afternoon, not much time to do anything, but he might at least go meet the sheriff and get some addresses. Then he could get an early start in the morning. He used the bathroom, freshened up a little and figured that he might as well introduce himself.
Thirty-five minutes later, he was rolling into Blackwater Falls. The drive up the mountain had been scenic enough, but the road was twisty, and even unpaved part of the way, so it took longer than he expected.
The town itself was small and kind of quaint, like nothing had changed there in over a hundred years, nor did it see any particular need to. There was one main street called Broad Street, which was neither broad nor exactly a street, really. It was just a wide spot in the road with six or seven buildings along either side.
One side housed a hardware store and a café. There was a dress shop called Fashion Plus, and a barber shop called Pete’s, along with a garage and what looked like a junk store trying to pass itself off as Antiques Limited. Very limited, if Jace had his guess. There was a doctor’s office at one end, and at the other end of the street, across from the diner, was a sign that said Sheriff’s Office. Right under that sign was another one that indicated the jail was located in the same building. Lovely. He hoped never to have to be introduced to that particular part of the building.
Jace rolled slowly down the road and pulled into a parking space. He tied his hair back with a rubber band, picked up the folder lying on the seat beside him, and walked to the front door of the sheriff’s office. He found a young man in a tan uniform sitting at the desk, reading a magazine and chewing on a toothpick. He looked up with a frown as Jace entered.
Jace smiled broadly. “Hi. Are you the sheriff?”
The man gave him a deeply suspicious look before he slowly removed the toothpick from his mouth. “No,” he answered shortly.
“Oh, okay…is the sheriff in?”
“I’m Deputy McClain. You can tell me what you want.”
“I’d really like to see the sheriff.” He tried the big smile again. “Please.”
“What’s your name?” the man asked, his voice stiff with disapproval. Jace told him and without shifting his gaze, he called out, “Sheriff, there’s a stranger out here wanting to see you.”
Jace almost turned around, thinking he was talking to someone behind him. Then an irritated voice replied from a room about ten steps away from the desk.
“So I heard, Barton. Send him on in.”
The deputy jerked his head toward the door. “You can go on in,” he added unnecessarily.
“Thanks,” Jace said. He walked around the desk and stopped. The deputy had turned to face the door and stretched out his big work-booted feet so that Jace would have to step over them. Jace stared down at them for a moment and then back up at his face. He was staring at Jace’s piercing and snorted through his nose as Jace stepped over his feet.
As Jace entered the office he saw what was quite possibly the best-looking man in Alabama. Or even the entire United States. He was big and muscular, with dark hair in a short haircut that nevertheless suited him. Hazel eyes that were damn near golden and slightly slanted upward at the corners gazed up at him with cold speculation. The man even had an I-need-a-shave-but-can’t-be-bothered-right-now scruff that made Jace’s mouth go a little dry.
Maybe it had been longer since he’d had sex than he’d thought, judging by the bulge forming in his pants—said bulge currently intent on humiliating him by tenting out his pants. Jace quickly dropped the folder he was holding in front of it so the sheriff couldn’t see it. This man was, no doubt, straight as an arrow and more than likely wouldn’t appreciate the bulge or the untoward interest.
Jace knew he’d better pull himself together and fast. The thing was that Sheriff Sutherland was giving him a strangely intense look. He almost looked pissed, but that couldn’t be right. What the fuck? How had he managed to irritate him already? Jace usually had to at least open his mouth before people got that look on their face.
The sheriff’s golden eyes were mesmerizing, almost hypnotic. They seemed to draw him in and Jace found himself leaning forward, his breath coming in short hitches. He wanted to drop his gaze, told himself to cool it, but couldn’t make himself do it. Then, suddenly, the sheriff looked down at the desk, cleared his throat and just like that, the spell was broken.
What the hell was that about? Jace had never reacted quite so strongly to anyone before in his life, and he felt rattled by it. Damn, the guy smelled good too. A clean, spicy smell that made him want to sniff the air. That ought to make a good first impression. He restrained himself, trying his best to look sober and responsi
ble and as butch as he possibly could, considering the fact that he was wearing a touch of guyliner and perhaps too much jewelry.
All of this flew through his head at lightning speed, which was good because the sheriff was looking up at him expectantly, waiting for him to say something. Jace took a deep breath, getting ready to explain his reason for being there, but he caught that scent again, and the words just died in his throat.
“What can I do for you?” the sheriff asked, his voice soft and gravelly, almost like the purr of a big cat, and Jace wondered why he kept thinking of cats. He wasn’t even particularly fond of the little furballs—another gay myth dispelled.
The sound of the sheriff’s voice had awakened his ability to speak at least. Taking out his ID badge and Drivers’ License, Jace held it out, along with one of his business cards. “I’m Jace Miller—from the Census Bureau? And, uh, I’ve been sent to check on some people who didn’t return their information to our office.”
The sheriff glanced over his documents and put his card in his shirt pocket. He gave Jace a narrow, suspicious look. “And who might these people be, Jason?”
“Um, that’s Jace with a ‘c’? I have a list right here, sir, uh, Sheriff, but I only have names. All the addresses are RFD Blackwater Falls. I’d like to see if you’re familiar with them and where they live, so I can visit them in person to obtain their information.” Jace was still holding the folder in front of his cock, which didn’t seem to want to soften any time soon, so he tried to retrieve the list out of the folder without moving it.
“Well, Jace with a ‘c’, if you’ll hand it to me, I can see if I know these people.” He held out a hand toward Jace, who had finally fumbled the sheet of paper out of the folder, and the sheriff took it from him. He skimmed over it, laying it on the desk. He just stared at him then until the silence began to be uncomfortable.
“Um. Do you know any of them?” Jace asked.
“I know all of them.”
“Oh. Well, good. Uh, can you give me their addresses or directions to their homes?”
“I can, but now is not a good time. It would be better if you could come back in a week.”
What? Jace found his voice and his smart-ass attitude at the same time. “A week? Are you nuts? Why would I come back in a week when I’m here now?”
“Well, maybe because I said so.” He leaned back in his swivel chair and stared across the desk at Jace like he was some interesting species he couldn’t quite figure out. “And folks generally do what I say in this town.” The sheriff gave him an unfriendly look. “I suggest you do the same.”
Chapter Three
The big sheriff was pissing Jace off, no matter how sexy he was. What the hell was this—a bad western? Folks generally do what I say in this town, indeed. His face was so stern it was like he was trying to do a bad Mitch McConnell impression—as if there could be any other kind. Besides, Jace had never responded well to that type of reasoning in his life, and he didn’t intend to start now.
“I’m here on behalf of the federal government, sheriff sir, and I don’t believe because you said so is a reason they’re going to get behind.”
“Well, it’s a good enough reason for me, so you’d better get behind it.” The sheriff narrowed his eyes at him. “Just turn back around and run on back to wherever you came from, and you can come back in a week. Leave this list, and I’ll have it ready for you when you get back.”
Prick. Jace shuffled his feet uneasily. “Okay, I’ll leave for now, since this is obviously a bad time, but I’ll be back tomorrow.”
The sheriff narrowed his eyes even further. God, they were like little slits in his handsome face, but pure fire was shooting straight out of them.
“Maybe you misunderstood me, boy. I believe I said, come back next week.”
Jace opened his mouth to tell him exactly what he thought of that idea. “Now listen here, Sheriff…”
“Yes?” he asked, standing up to stare down at Jace. The man had to be about six-three. He was huge.
Taking a deep breath, Jace opened his mouth to blast him. He wasn’t scared of the man. Not at all. That’s why he was a little surprised to hear the next words that came out of his mouth. “Will it be all right with you if I at least get something to eat before I leave? Maybe I could stop in at that café I saw and have some dinner?”
The man actually seemed to consider it. He crossed his arms over his big chest and looked down his nose at Jace. Finally, he nodded. “I guess that’ll be okay. Just make sure you’re out of town before nightfall. Folks around here don’t take to strangers, and I wouldn’t want you to get…hurt. You know, accidentally and all.”
“But since I’m already here, can’t I just ask around at the café? Maybe whoever’s inside could give me the information I need.”
“Are you hard of hearing or just stubborn? I believe I told you—twice now—to come back next week.”
Had he really thought this guy was good looking? Okay, yes, and he still did, but the man was an unmitigated ass. Yeah, he had to be militantly straight all right. He stood there summing Jace up with those cool eyes, and undoubtedly coming up with a lot of minuses.
“Yes, sir, Sheriff, sir,” Jace said mockingly, clicking his heels and giving him a little Sieg Heil salute before turning on his heel and storming out of the office.
****
“Smart-ass,” Hawke muttered. “Beautiful, fucking smart-ass. Just my luck.” He rubbed a big hand over his face. Shit, why now of all times? The minute the boy walked in, Hawke had known what he was. Sometimes it took their people that way. He remembered his daddy talking about the day he met Hawke’s mother.
“I didn’t even like girls much. But it didn’t matter worth a damn. She walked past me and the wind caught her just right, and I would have followed her anywhere. I was a dead duck and she knew it.” He’d always shake his head fondly then and look over at his wife. “Love at first sight, and she was the prettiest damn thing I ever saw. Still is.”
Hawke got a tight feeling in his chest at the memory. In general, he’d never believed in love at first sight, but it seemed to have worked for his parents. They’d been killed five years before in a car accident, and he still missed them every day. At least they’d gone together. He didn’t think either one of them would have made it on their own.
And now this boy—this damned smart-assed, beautiful boy—looked just exactly like the one in his dreams. That was one reason he hadn’t been able to say a word when the boy walked into his office. He thought for a minute there that he’d lapsed into some kind of waking dream. Or was it a nightmare?
Not love at first sight, but lust? Yeah, that seemed about right, because his next thought, once he realized the boy was really there, had been to question whether or not he really looked that good naked? He strongly suspected that he did.
Hawke stood up and walked to the window. He watched Jace’s ass sway in those tight jeans all the way back out to his car. Fuck. Big mistake, looking at that pert ass and thinking about the dreams, because now Hawke had a hard-on that threatened his zipper.
It had been all he could do not to reach across that desk and drag him over it. Hawke had been standing at the window of his office when he arrived, thinking about what the night would bring, and had felt the tingle along his spine as soon as Jace pulled up and stepped out of his dusty old pickup.
That tingle alone could have meant nothing but a warning of impending danger, but as soon as the man walked through the front door, he also felt the accompanying shiver that signified mate. He’d had to cross quickly over to his desk and sit down to hide his more than obvious reaction to the man. Though his head was telling him that this was not the time, his body was screaming at him that it was perfect for what he had in mind. And that wasn’t his only problem. When Jace pulled off the sunglasses and the full brunt of those eyes hit Hawke, it was all he could do not to leap over the desk and take him down.
Of all the goddamn times for his mate to show up, it ha
d to be today. The dark moon was upon them, or the dark of the moon as the old people called it. This was not a good time for strangers to be around, because it was way too dangerous. Add to that the strong mating urges he was feeling, and he needed to get this boy out of town. Fast.
If he had to be rude to get him out, then so be it. He knew there was a risk that he wouldn’t come back in a week, but he wasn’t really worried about that since Hawke had his little business card. If he didn’t come back, he’d just go get him. Hawke glanced down at it again. Jason “Jace” Miller. With an “e.”
“Well, Jace with an ‘e’ Miller,” the sheriff said softly, “I need to get you out of here before I eat you right up.”
Hawke sat back down at his desk, trying to focus on his immediate problem. Mate. No, that probably wasn’t the immediate problem, but it was hard to think of anything else with the strong scent of his mate still in his nostrils.
His mind began to drift again as he remembered him strutting out of his office and wondered what Jace Miller would look like out of those tight jeans he had on. He could picture it just fine as a matter of fact—Jace naked on his knees on the bed, with that ass in the air, the blond hair hanging down his back and Hawke kneeling behind him with a grip on that hair, riding that boy like a rodeo bull. Yee-fucking-haw.
Goddammit! He had to focus on tonight, and not the heat running through his body and settling in his dick. Get a hold of yourself, Sutherland. He’s just a guy. With a sweet ass, his brain insisted. No! He shook his head and grabbed up the checklist he had made that morning of things that had to be done before nightfall. He was happy to see that most of the tasks had been completed. Soon, he and his deputy would lock everything up. Barton would go home to ride out the night alone, and Hawke would be prowling the dark woods along with the other members of the pride.
There would be one man on patrol during the night, another human mate like Barton. But he had strict orders not to come to this section of the county during the night, nor to venture into the northern section of the county, where the other shifter pride, the MacKays, mostly made their home.