by Erin Marsh
Lacey had to laugh at the transplanted Southern belle. “Clay and you have lived here almost the same amount of time.”
June gave a cheese-eating grin. “But I don’t carry a whiff of the East Coast.”
“Clay doesn’t either. People just think he does. If anything, he tries too hard to fit in.”
“Yes, but my, oh my, can that man fill out a pair of cowboy jeans.”
June was an incorrigible flirt, but everyone knew she only had eyes for her future husband. Playing along with her friend, Lacey pulled her face into an exaggerated frown. “I feel a little territorial over that particular backside right now.”
June patted her arm. “And I’m otherwise engaged…in more ways than one, and even if I wasn’t, I know better than to tangle with an ecologist, especially over something like territory.”
Lacey couldn’t stifle her whoop of laughter. June could coax a chuckle out of people even on the worst days.
“Now,” June said, putting down her dishrag and resting her arms on the counter again, “we need to strategize. I assume you have some sort of a plan.”
Lacey nodded. “Well, a half-baked one since our strategy of taking it slow evaporated. I talked to my mom already. Then I came here for breakfast, and I’m headed to the Prairie Dog for lunch.”
“I can run damage control here,” June offered.
“You don’t mind?”
June arched a golden eyebrow. “Spreading gossip with the consent of the main participants? Darlin’, that’s like an early birthday and Christmas present all wrapped into one. You can trust me to spin it right, so tell me exactly what happened.”
Lacey did, not bothering to keep her voice low. She didn’t mind if the whole town overheard them. After all, this was the story she’d come to tell. When she finished, June’s green eyes had widened.
“Pete Thompson said that?”
Lacey shrugged helplessly. “Just don’t make Uncle Pete into a complete villain. I’m not happy with him—at all—but I don’t want the town gunning for him next.”
“I can play it right,” June said. “Don’t you worry. Now, what’s your long-term plan?”
“Slowly start being seen around town with Clay.”
“You should bring him to my wedding.”
Lacey shook her head. “I already RSVP’d for one. I don’t want to saddle you with a last-minute addition.”
June shook her head. “Nonsense. I can squeeze in another guest. In fact, have him bring his nephew too.”
“You do realize inviting a teenage boy is like adding three adults when it comes to the meal?”
“We’ll manage.”
“Are you sure, June?” Lacey asked. “It’s your wedding, and I don’t want my scandal to overshadow it.”
June patted her arm. “You are the sweetest, Lacey, but don’t you worry about me. Magnus would be happier than a possum eating a sweet potato if all the attention wasn’t on us.”
“What if someone causes a scene?” Lacey asked. She had a feeling nothing would be easy about desensitizing the town to her relationship with Clay.
June delivered one of her huge, brilliant smiles. “Why, if that happens, then I’ll just have the wedding people will talk about for years, won’t I?”
“You honestly wouldn’t mind a bit of drama on your big day?”
“Not in the least,” June said. “Nor will Magnus. If he had his way, we’d be eloping and getting married on an ice floe in the Arctic so we wouldn’t have to worry about guests.”
“I’d go to that wedding in a heartbeat.”
“Well, Magnus would still be pleased as punch if we had only one guest,” June said.
“Are he and Nan in your upstairs apartment?” Lacey asked.
“Nan is in the sitting room off the tea shop’s kitchen today, and Magnus is volunteering at the zoo this morning,” June said. “Do you need to talk to one of them?”
Lacey shook her head carefully. “I’ve got a headache, and I was wondering if I could lie down for a bit before I head over to the Prairie Dog.”
June tilted her head. “You do look as white as a freshly laundered sheet.”
“Gee, thanks for the compliment.”
“Why don’t you go to Nan’s house around back?” June reached into her pocket and slipped her a key. “You won’t hear any noise, and she won’t mind. She’s always had a soft spot for you. There’s a spare bedroom up the stairs to the left.”
“Thanks,” Lacey said. For all their trouble, small towns did have their perks.
She stopped by her grandfather and Stanley’s table briefly, but the two old cowboys didn’t delay her long. Luckily, Mrs. Winters’s former home abutted the tea shop. Lacey clambered up the stairs to the guest room, pulled the curtains tightly together, and promptly flopped on the bed. Unfortunately, she didn’t promptly fall asleep. Her thoughts churned and spun like clothes in an overloaded washing machine. She hoped she’d made the right choice. She couldn’t shake the feeling that taking this path with Clay would put them and her family on a course straight through hell. She just hoped what lay on the other side was worth it.
* * *
A clang disrupted Lulubelle’s slumber. Although she could snooze standing up, she also enjoyed resting on the ground, her hump and one side of her body lolling to the left as she stretched her neck outward. She initially decided to ignore the sound, especially when she heard three sets of tiny scurrying feet. The honey badgers were tipping over garbage cans again. Although Lulubelle generally loved all creatures—four-legged and two-legged—the pesky weasels had rather mean personalities, and their nocturnal adventures disturbed her sleep.
But then Lulubelle heard something else…the tread of human footsteps. A biped, especially at this time in the evening, meant pats and lovely, lovely alfalfa pellets. With a huge sigh, Lulubelle hefted her body off the ground. Maneuvering a large hump could take a lot of effort, especially when getting up. Her calf Savannah, who’d been resting beside her, stirred slightly, but she did not awake. Hank, Lulubelle’s mate, happily slept on, his loud snores causing his split upper lip to jiggle.
Lulubelle caught sight of the juvenile honey badger first. He was poised on the top of a pile of garbage right under a lamppost. The light also illuminated the overturned garbage can. Although the crunch of human feet on gravel sounded closer and closer, the rascal didn’t attempt to hide. Instead, he triumphantly remained standing on his spoils for the evening.
The Blue-Eyed One stomped into sight. Lulubelle let out a rumbling greeting. She liked the young human. He sneaked her treats, and she noticed the sweet looks he gave the Gray-Eyed One. Tonight, however, the expression on his face looked like one a honey badger would make. Scamp chittered in triumph. The biped ignored both Lulubelle and Scamp. Instead, he just clomped over to the nearest pile and started shoveling the mess of garbage into a foul-smelling black bag.
The sounds emanating from the Blue-Eyed One reminded Lulubelle of how she felt when her daughter was younger and kept demanding attention. “Do you realize I have to clean this all up? Of course, you do. That’s part of your sick fun.”
“So you keep ditching your friends to pick up other people’s trash and talk to weasels?” The new biped’s vocal noises triggered Lulubelle’s protective instincts. She did not like this voice. It was as grating and distressing as a hyena’s cackle.
A figure appeared. The biped wore a dark-gray hoodie and blended in with the shadows. The hunch of his thin shoulders perturbed Lulubelle. There was something sinister and opportunistic about the male, like a white-backed vulture circling the skies looking for its next meal. Lulubelle curled her lip and got ready to spit.
The Blue-Eyed One didn’t follow the normal human ritual and straighten to greet Gray-Hood. Instead, he continued cleaning up the debris. “Didn’t expect to see you here. And you know I’m doing this co
mmunity service shit and taking classes since I took the blame for everyone.”
“Fuck, man. Just bail and sneak back right before your shift ends. The guy who runs this place will never notice.”
“No.” The sound from the Blue-Eyed One was short and emphatic.
Gray-Hood’s face twisted. Lulubelle tensed. So did Scamp. Something about that look was off. Dangerous. “At least steal a key to the front gate. It would be so wild to party here. I just hid in a bathroom stall tonight, but it would be harder to sneak in booze and hide a lot of people.”
“Do you want someone to get eaten by a mountain lion or a bear?”
Gray-Hood made a snort like one of the red river hogs. “I’m not planning on releasing the animals.”
The Blue-Eyed One straightened. His eyes reminded Lulubelle of a honey badger defending its treat from another animal. “If we get drunk, one of us will dare someone to do something stupid.”
“When did you become a boring fucktard?”
The Blue-Eyed One ignored him and bent back down. Gray-Hood’s fists clenched, and he stalked toward Lulubelle’s human. He yanked the Blue-Eyed One’s shoulder, forcing him to stand. Scamp gave a warning cry. Lulubelle snorted. No one touched their biped.
“You don’t ignore me.” Gray-Hood made a few growl-like sounds.
The Blue-Eyed One shook off Gray-Hood’s hand. “And you don’t touch me.”
“Don’t fucking tell me what to do. You don’t want to mess with me. I can make your life a living hell.” Although Lulubelle did not understand the sounds the humans made, she recognized the threat in Gray-Hood’s voice.
The Blue-Eyed One just shrugged with the insolence of a honey badger. “I’m done hanging out with you.”
A guttural sound emerged from Gray-Hood as he swung his fist at the Blue-Eyed One’s face. Lulubelle’s human ducked, but he didn’t avoid the stomach punch. He let out a pained grunt. Lulubelle blew air through her nostrils. Enraged, she did the only thing she could with a gate keeping her corralled. She spit. It landed on the side of Gray-Hood’s face. He staggered back, away from the Blue-Eyed One.
“What the hell?” He raised his hand to his cheek and studied his wet fingers. Scamp, the clever little weasel, promptly sank his teeth into the attacker’s ankle.
This time, Gray-Hood shrieked like a startled peahen. He shook his leg, but Scamp hung on, even as his body crashed against the garbage can.
“Stop!” The Blue-Eyed One sounded panicked. “I can get Scamp off you. Stop hurting him!”
“The fucker has to pay!”
Before the human could slam Scamp again, angry chitters filled the air. Lulubelle spotted both of Scamp’s parents tearing in his direction.
Gray-Hood emitted more birdlike cries. “Shit! There’s more of them!”
“Yeah.” The Blue-Eyed One bent and tried to pick up Scamp. “And you just body-slammed their baby.”
“They’re nothing but fat weasels.” Gray-Hood tried to sound tough like a honey badger, but even Lulubelle could sense his fear. Scamp must have too, because he released the human’s leg and allowed the Blue-Eyed One to lift him into his arms.
“They attack adult lions…by going after their balls.” The Blue-Eyed One sounded smug.
Gray-Hood spun around and tore down the path, his breath coming in short, frantic huffs. Scamp’s parents followed. The trio disappeared, and shortly after, Lulubelle heard the fence at the zoo’s perimeter rattle. The horrible biped had been chased off.
The Blue-Eyed One gently petted Scamp’s fur before placing him on the ground. Lulubelle was surprised that the honey badger allowed it. He too must have sensed that the intruder had meant to seriously harm the Blue-Eyed One.
“Thanks.” Lulubelle could sense the affection in the human’s voice as he gazed down at Scamp. “I guess I don’t mind cleaning up your shit after all.”
Then the biped walked over to Lulubelle and scratched her neck. Her eyelids fluttered down. She loved being touched. It made her feel secure.
“That was some impressive spitting.”
Although Lulubelle did not understand the juvenile human’s exact words, she recognized praise when she heard it. She beamed.
The human produced an alfalfa treat from his pocket. “Here. You deserve it for distracting him.”
Lulubelle carefully suctioned up the treat. Then, with a goodbye rumble, she lumbered back inside the barn and lay down, her mission complete.
* * *
“I wish I could have been by your side today,” Clay told Lacey as they lay together in his bed listening to a rare spring rain beat against the windows as thunder cracked in the distance. He didn’t like how exhausted she’d looked when he’d picked her up from the zoo earlier that evening. She’d texted him and told him she’d rested at June’s, but her day would have been draining even without the complications of little sleep and her concussion. She’d barely made it through her therapy exercises tonight, and they’d ended up skipping the part where she watched videos of people walking down busy European streets. That task, which was supposed to rebuild her balance, always made her a little nauseated.
“We’ll need to be seen in public soon,” Lacey said sleepily. “We don’t want to look like we’re ashamed or hiding.”
Clay leaned over and gently placed a tendril of hair behind her ear before giving her a soft kiss on the temple. “I wasn’t talking about strategy. I just wish you didn’t have to face everyone’s disapproval alone.”
She shifted to gaze at him, her eyes glittering in the low light of the moon. “It wasn’t that bad, and bringing you along would’ve been like poking my family in the eye. They need time to prepare.”
Clay wished this whole process wasn’t so damn difficult. “You’re probably right.”
“June Winters is on our side.”
“Really?” Clay had tried reaching out to the sunny Southerner before, thinking maybe fellow outsiders could stick together. It hadn’t worked.
“Yep. You and Zach have been added to the invite list for her wedding.”
“Oh, Zach is going to be beyond thrilled.”
His sarcasm earned him a poke on the shoulder from Lacey. “First, June and Magnus’s wedding is like a royal one for Sagebrush Flats.”
“Oh, I know,” Clay said, “but I don’t think that will impress my nephew.”
Another shoulder poke. When Lacey spoke, she added extra emphasis. “Second, she’s holding it at the zoo just like Katie and Bowie did for theirs, so Zach will enjoy it. I’ll check with Bowie and see if your nephew can help handle the animals participating in the ceremony.”
“The animals are joining in?”
“Well, Lulubelle, Hank, and Savannah for sure. I doubt anyone could stop the honey badgers from showing up. June and Magnus wanted to take their vows near either the prairie dog or the polar bear enclosure, and there’s more room in front of Sorcha’s exhibit. The reception will be held throughout the zoo. I’m sure the cockatoo’s cage will be situated near the dance floor. Rosie likes to boogie.”
“Sometimes Sagebrush can be an odd town,” Clay said.
A third poke from Lacey. “I prefer quirky and endearing.”
Clay couldn’t help the grin spreading across his face. “I definitely find one thing about Sagebrush quirky and endearing.” Dipping his head, he captured her lips, taking his time as he explored her mouth. Even as need roared through him, so did a softer sense of peace. When he was with Lacey in the dark like this, things felt so comfortable and right, even if they weren’t easy in the harsh light.
When he broke the kiss, she sighed and wiggled her body closer. He wrapped his arms about her as he buried his face in her hair, breathing in its slight citrus scent. “’Night, Lace.”
She turned in his arms again. When she spoke, her voice sounded decidedly grumpy. “What do you mean, ‘’Night’
? We’ve barely even kissed.”
He brushed his lips against the back of her neck. “You’re exhausted. Any idiot could see that. You need rest.”
“What I need is to feel bliss.” She flipped in his arms and pressed a kiss on his collarbone. “And you, mister, are very talented at making me experience it.”
She’d said something similar before, and every time, it triggered a bolt of pure pleasure. It was novel being special to someone…to make that person happy by just being him, and he relished the feeling. Still, he worried about Lacey. She’d had a long day. Hell, he felt like crap after spending half the night chasing elusive wolves, and he hadn’t faced an entire disappointed town wagging its collective finger at him.
“Lace, are you su—” His voice cut off as she kissed her way down his body.
“Oh, I’m sure,” she said just before her lips closed around his cock.
* * *
Moonlight washed over the room as Lacey stared down at Clay. She’d brought him over the brink of pleasure a little while ago. To her delight, it hadn’t taken long, and he’d rewarded her with more than one groan and hoarse cry. Clay constantly surprised her. She wouldn’t have thought him a man to show his pleasure so easily. He had an openness that charmed and excited her.
His eyes fluttered open. In the low light, she couldn’t see their brilliant blue-green, but their intensity remained. He looked glorious, all stretched out before her. He made no move to cover himself as he allowed her gaze to sweep over him. He just shifted to place his arms behind his head, which in Lacey’s opinion only improved the view.
Anyone who claimed he stayed behind a desk all day should see him like this. Ranching gave men muscles, and Clay had plenty to spare. Even his thighs and calves were defined, but it was his biceps that really fascinated Lacey…and his chest, of course.
Bending over him, she caressed each intriguing contour, carefully observing his reaction to every light touch. His sated pleasure gave way to something hot and wicked that only fueled her own raging inferno. She wasn’t a stranger to strong emotions. Even when she’d pulled away from close connections with humans, she’d always had her causes. People told her she had an extraordinary capacity for passion. But she’d never felt this much power…this much need. It roared inside her, and she wanted to feed it.