Rock Wolf Investigations: Boxset

by Dee Bridgnorth

  The water sluiced down his shoulders and back. He could feel his preternatural body already beginning to heal the nail gouges on his shoulders and he wished for once that he could stop it. He wanted to carry those around with him. They were proof it had actually happened. Verification he had been with Kylie, even if that proof only meant something to him. Even if Kylie was convinced it was all a dream.

  Bracing his hand against the tile wall of his enormous master shower, Titus tried to ignore the raging desire coursing through his veins. He needed her. He wasn’t entirely sure how that was possible or why it felt like such an all-consuming sensation, but he knew it was true. Something had happened between him and Kylie Overton and it had nothing to do with logic or reality or the fact that she was a human and he was a shifter.

  She is sterile.

  That thought nearly made his knees buckle. She had no idea how attractive that made her in his eyes. Yet he had to be careful. Was he attracted to her simply because she couldn’t have young ones? Was that the sole thing that made him want her with a fervor approaching madness? Or was there more?

  Titus tossed his head and slung water against the shower walls. He shut off the shower and huffed out a big sigh. He could have hung his bath towel from the raging erection between his legs. He was so turned right now that he was going to be lucky if he managed to last five minutes even if Kylie didn’t act as though she would rather pretend that this was all just a dream.

  Humans. Always trying to make things complicated. The animal side of their brain was much more practical. You wanted something? You went for it. End of story. None of this emotional bullshit and worrying about who might think what or whether or not you were really compatible. It was about chemistry and desire and raw animal need.

  Titus dried off and scrubbed his head with the towel. His hair was a mess. He didn’t care. He was fighting the urge to walk into the office this morning and announce he was taking a leave of absence. That would be enough to rattle their cages, but it would also solve more than one problem at once. He would leave. Hilary Allenwood would suddenly have nobody to target. End of story.

  A knock at his front door stopped him cold. What if it was Kylie? What if she’d changed her mind? He wrapped his towel around his waist and strode out of the bathroom as though he was running for the front door. Fortunately, the snug towel at least captured the raging hard-on he was still sporting. Thinking about Kylie waiting at the door wasn’t going to do much to bring that down.

  Titus fumbled with the locks and flung the door wide open. He took a breath to invite Kylie in and choked on it because it was not Kylie at his door.

  “Good God, put some damned clothes on!” Younger growled. “Boss, what are you doing answering the door at five in the morning in a towel?”

  Titus kind of choked on his answer. Then he narrowed his gaze on Younger and glanced at the clock hanging on the entryway wall. “What are you doing knocking on my door before five in the morning?”

  “I’m taking you fishing.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Titus wasn’t amused. He didn’t actually fish. There was a reason for this too. If Titus wanted to fish, he shifted into his wolf form and plucked those slippery, rubbery creatures right out of the water with one paw.

  But Younger looked miffed. “The bachelor party. Remember?”

  “No, I don’t remember,” Titus groused. “You suggested it. Nobody planned it.”

  “I did.” Younger pointed at Titus. “I sent you an email invitation.”

  Like Titus had had a single moment in the last twenty-four to forty-eight hours to sit down and go through his email. “Well, you guys go along without me, Younger. I don’t do fishing or boats or anything of the sort. You wouldn’t want to have me along. I promise.”

  In fact, Younger had no idea how much they didn’t want Titus along. Animals didn’t have any trouble at all detecting the raging predator that lurked beneath Titus’s convincing human façade, and that included fish. No matter how stupid the fish might be.

  “Come on, boss. Don’t be that way.” Younger was wheedling now. Just whining and poking and saying how Titus was going to make Duke think he didn’t like Olivia, which was bullshit.

  “Fine!” Titus snapped. “If it will make you shut up. But if you think five of us are going to fit in that bathtub you call a boat, you’re out of your mind.”

  “Nah. I got something better for the occasion. I promise.” Younger looked excited. Then he frowned at Titus’s towel. “But you need to get dressed. Seriously, dude. Get some clothes on.”

  “Fine.”

  Titus stomped back to his bedroom and pulled on shorts and a T-shirt. He wore his sandals as well. He wasn’t going to sunburn and bugs left him alone. There was really nothing else for it. And if he was lucky, they would have a spot on the boat where Titus could nap because he was damned tired after staying up all night long with Kylie.

  ***

  Younger chattered nonstop the entire way to the Kimberling City Marina. He wasn’t kidding when he said he rented something all right. When they pulled up in front of the docks, Titus could already see the rest of his crew and Adam Cathcart milling about in front of a big pontoon boat with a huge awning. At least there would be plenty of room to sleep.

  “We’ve got beer and water and breakfast burritos and anything else you might want,” Younger assured Titus. “There’s no reason for you to pout. All right? This is about Duke, not you. So buck up and act like a grown-up for once.”

  For once? Titus was actually a bit stung by that. And he always acted like an adult. Even when the rest of them didn’t. “Ahem.” Titus stared right at Younger. “I’m not liking your little speech there. Rude. Don’t you think?”

  “Look, boss, you’re a great guy when it comes to the work stuff. But when it comes to the social stuff? You’re an ass. And we all love you, man. So stop being an ass!”

  An ass? Titus was taken aback. He wasn’t a particularly social creature. Wolves had raised him. Literally. Maybe his coworkers just didn’t get how that affected a man and his social abilities. Titus was pretty sure he’d never actually had a relationship with a human before coming to Branson, period. They were just the work force, drones that powered the world around the shifters. That was how shifter culture thought of humans. Nothing but play toys and a food source, depending on the shifter.

  “Hey! There they are!” The raucous calls of the group gave Titus a very odd feeling in his midsection.

  Titus lifted his hand and waved because it seemed the thing to do. Younger was already rushing ahead of Titus. The guys were all working together to load the gear onto the boat. You would have thought they were going out on the lake for the rest of the week and not just a morning.

  “Uh, how long are we going to be out there?” Titus wanted to know.

  They all stared at him as though he were speaking another language. Finally, it was Ash who shrugged. “I don’t know. Until we decide we want to come back in.”

  “I have stuff to do,” Titus said lamely. He glanced from man to man and saw them look at each other.

  “No, you don’t.” Ash didn’t actually look at Titus as he said this. “Mindy cleared your calendar today.”

  Surely, Titus hadn’t heard that right. “Wait. What?”

  Of course, then Titus had to wonder what had been on his calendar. Mindy was so much more organized and on top of things than Caroline had ever been that now there were actually client appointments to handle. New clients that was. People who called, got someone to answer or return a call, and then booked services. What a concept! It was going to be a big boost for everyone in the pocketbook department. But if Titus was considering closing down the office or at least letting it sort of limp along without him, he needed to come up with someone else to run things for him anyway.

  Titus pursed his lips and stepped gingerly onto the enormous pontoon boat. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea after all. He could do some probing with the guys and find out who
they thought was the most qualified to lead the team and run the office. After Titus was gone of course.

  “Ahoy!” Younger said as he took his place behind the wheel and expertly guided them out of the marina. “This is going to be kick ass! Best day ever. I’m sure of it!”

  They were agreeing with him. Titus just shook his head and leaned back on the lounge chair he had commandeered near the center of the deck. So, Younger would not be making his short list of the most responsible man to run the business. Of course, neither would the groom-to-be. Duke was currently on his knees at the prow of the boat with his arms outstretched in a pose that obviously mocked an actress from an older but very popular movie.

  “Look, Jack!” Duke said in a falsetto voice. “It’s like I’m flying!”

  “Uh, yeah,” Adam said drolly. “Until you totally fall in and we run over you, hit you on the head, and then you get bumped about a dozen times by the other pontoons on your way back to getting chopped to bits by the prop. Great plan, Duke. I’m sure Olivia will just love being a widow before the ceremony.”

  Duke and Younger were cracking up. Ash lifted his beer and toasted Adam before throwing Adam a beer for himself. “I’m glad to see at least one of the people on this boat has a bit of sense.”

  Adam caught the beer in midair and then popped the top. “Yeah, because drinking beer at six in the morning screams mental competence.”

  Titus relaxed into his seat and tried to enjoy the subtle up and down motion of the boat as Younger drove them to what he assured them was the best place on Tablerock Lake to catch bass in the morning. He had never been much for the camaraderie of men. That wasn’t really the way he was wired. Maybe it was truly his upbringing, but Titus liked to think it was nature as much as nurture.

  His keen sight was likely seeing a whole lot more than any of his companions though. He could pick out things happening on shore even as they whizzed down the center of the lake’s main body on their way to one of the finger-like coves snaking out and away from the main channel. Whitetail deer and coyotes and little creatures that sat in their trees or atop their burrows looked out at Titus with disapproval. He had no doubt they all knew what he was and knew to stay well away from him. And that included the fish seething in schools beneath their boat’s progress across the water.

  Younger slowed the pontoon and they coasted into the mouth of the cove. There was a lot of tangled brush as the water grew shallower and shallower. For Titus, it was a sensation of the world closing in. He could sense the shift in space around them on a very primal level. The land sloped sharply down to this area. It was the perfect place for fishing. Titus gave Younger the credit for that. But as they dropped anchor and the guys all got their gear out of the bags, Titus stayed right on his bench and watched. They weren’t going to get a bite on their lines and he already knew it. Perhaps this was the unintentional test of their mettle that would see who was fit to run the business while Titus was on semi-permanent leave.

  Chapter Ten

  Kylie had gone back to bed after Titus left. She told herself that was the best way she could get some more rest. Stop acting like a total victim of a ridiculous girl crush and move on. Wake up a few hours later and boom! She would be right back to reality. At least that what Kylie told herself would happen.

  But when she actually got out of bed at nine o’clock in the morning, she was grouchier than hell. She shuffled around her kitchen in her nightgown and bare feet, making toast and fidgeting. That’s basically what she did for an hour because Kylie was still suspended from work thanks to Hilary Allenwood. She had nothing to do but wait. Thank God she didn’t have a house payment to deal with as her parents had left her the place free and clear. But she still had bills and having two unscheduled and unplanned days off wasn’t really in her budget.

  Kylie washed her dishes in the sink. She didn’t bother using the dishwasher because it seemed ridiculous to use the thing for just one person. Overkill really. And by the time she had finally put everything away after her meager breakfast, she felt ready to pace the floors with anxiety.

  The knock on her front door was almost welcome. Or rather it would have been if she was dressed. But Kylie decided throwing on her robe was probably enough at this point. She wasn’t going to have time to make herself look presentable before answering the door. Not when she looked this disheveled.

  Kylie kept most of her body behind the door when she answered. But when she saw it was Ms. Wankenfurter, Kylie was so surprised to see the old lady that she made the mistake of opening the door the rest of the way. Of course, this meant Ursuline Wankenfurter just whooshed right into Kylie’s house as though she’d been invited.

  “Kylie, dear!” Ms. Wankenfurter said loudly. Thank God Pugsley hadn’t come with her. The dog had an awful habit of lifting his leg on the furniture. “I wanted to come by and let you know that I’m home after ditching that dreadful rehabilitation center. I am telling you they are not in the business of getting people well enough to come home. They are in the business of pushing people from the hospital to an assisted care unit! I know. I can tell you things that would just curl your hair!”

  “I’m so sorry to hear that,” Kylie mumbled. It seemed appropriate even though Kylie wasn’t entirely sure what she was supposed to be saying. “I’m so glad you’ve made it home now though. It will be good to have you back.”

  “You just have no idea how bad those places are!” Ms. Wankenfurter went on. “I’m telling you right now that I’m done. Absolutely done. If that red-headed vixen of a reporter wants something to report on, that is the story she should be telling and I will tell her so this very day since I intend to go in and have a chat with that Branson Register crew. I’m telling you!”

  Kylie was having a bit of trouble keeping up. Ms. Wankenfurter was making circles around Kylie’s living room as she spoke. Dizzying circles punctuated with big stabs of her plump arms and enthusiastic shakes of her head. Then she came to a stop and turned to point at Kylie.

  “I saw what that little witch wrote about you, Kylie. All rubbish. I’m sure of it!” Ms. Wankenfurter sounded absolutely certain and that was kind of flattering in a weird way. “I told my roommate, Ms. Harris, that I was absolutely sure of my wonderful neighbor’s good nature and kindness. Why, look at all of the things you’ve done for me! Humoring an old lady like you do. I cannot imagine you would be throwing wine at your customers!”

  Kylie stirred herself from her silence. She had to take some control of the conversation or this was going to just keep going in circles. “You’re right, ma’am. And I appreciate your kind words. That’s why I’ve retained an attorney to handle this matter of libel. We’re going to be suing the Branson Register and Hilary Allenwood for defamation of character and poor reporting practices.”

  Kylie wasn’t actually sure what all of this meant, but it was basically the email she’d gotten from Doug earlier that morning about the progress of their case, which appeared to be moving along quite nicely.

  Ms. Wankenfurter looked properly impressed. She leaned forward and gazed at Kylie with rapt attention. “You don’t say!”

  Uh, Kylie did say. That’s why she’d said it. But that didn’t matter to Ursuline Wankenfurter. She went off on a tangent about lawsuits and people who filed them and how she was sure Kylie would not be punishing the poor old man who owned the paper.

  “My attorney knows John Tutt,” Kylie volunteered. “Doug said this needed to be done and from what I understand, he’s not sure but it might be welcomed.”

  “Wait!” Ms. Wankenfurter stopped pacing so suddenly that she actually swayed from her ponderous trek around the sofa. “Are you saying your attorney thinks there is a conspiracy at work here? That perhaps Hilary Allenwood is holding the entire paper hostage with some nefarious plan to ruin the character of the people of this town and the town’s reputation as a whole?”

  The speech was so long and drawn out that, for a moment, Kylie was afraid the old lady might actually pass out. Her voice
got breathy as she sucked in enough air to continue. Kylie waited. But there was no more orating. It seemed as though Ms. Wankenfurter had run out of gas. Or something.

  “Kylie Overton, you look flushed.” Ms. Wankenfurter said after no more than a few seconds of silence. The old lady was giving Kylie a very thorough once over. This probably wasn’t good. “And my word! Look at your hair! I swear there is a bird nesting in that mess!”

  “I, uh, I fell asleep with it wet.” Kylie knew it sounded like a lame excuse, but the words slipped out before she could really think about what Ms. Wankenfurter would think about them. “I was in the jacuzzi. Well, that was after Titus stopped by to talk about Hilary and stuff. He—uh…” It occurred to Kylie that Ms. Wankenfurter might actually know something about Titus just because she was so incredibly nosy.

  “Titus?” The woman’s senses were now on full alert. She looked like a pointer that had just scented game. “Titus was here and you were in the jacuzzi?”

  “Those two events didn’t happen at the same time,” Kylie said hastily. “Well, not really.” Ugh! She needed to get a grip on herself before she just made things that much worse! “But what I was really wondering was if you know anything about Titus. I know he moved here five or six years ago, but has he said anything to you about his past? He made some very strange comments about his family last night.”

  “Strange?” Ms. Wankenfurter’s ears pricked up a little more and Kylie was afraid the woman might explode with excitement. “What kind of strange?”

  Kylie felt like she shouldn’t be saying more. She was looking for more, not agreeing to say whatever it was that she already knew. But maybe this was an exchange. Ms. Wankenfurter needed to make sure Kylie already knew something about this.