Cell service does not work from my dwelling at the top of the mountain. Today I’m calling from the parking lot of Dakota’s Pub. The council meeting has ended, and Jack just left with his brother.
“Go on, go on. Stop being cruel and tell an old woman.” Snowbie cackles loudly.
“A new female has arrived in town. She’s human and has the whole town talking. She’s from the South somewhere. South Carolina, I believe. She seems to have no idea about shifters. She came into town and quickly bought a huge house, even though she’s by herself.”
I continue since Snowbie hasn’t interrupted me yet. “I just left the council meeting, and Jack’s skin twitched every time she was mentioned. He tried to hide it. I don’t think anyone else noticed. When her name was said, he closed his eyes and made the slightest posture adjustment. Even when he knew her name, he wouldn’t say it. I have a strong feeling, Snowbie. She’s the one. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she’s his fated mate. His reaction to just the mention of her was very strong.”
Snowbie talks fast and there’s a youthful quality to her tone. “I knew it. Jack was always the one I had the strongest feelings about. We must be vigilant, Nicholai. Can you get closer to Jack? Have you thought of a way to introduce yourself to the girl? What is her name? We need to arrange for you to be there when he meets her. If she is his fated mate, he’ll be unable to hide his reaction in front of you.”
I respond. “Her name is Ashley Carson, and Jack will meet her for the first time in the morning. His company is one of the contractors invited to do a walk-through of the property. The house is in desperate need of repairs, and they must be done quickly if she is to survive the long winter. If Jack senses she’s his mate, he won’t let any other contractor win the bid. I’m sure about that. I’ve already made arrangements with Grant to meet him and Jack at the pub tomorrow afternoon. I can’t think of a good reason to show up at the walk-through, so I’ll just wait until I see him afterward.”
I watch Fred Sullivan walk into Dakota’s as I try to get more comfortable in my seat. Interesting, since he didn’t show up for the council meeting today. That is one curious fox.
“That’s the best I can do without arousing suspicion, Snowbie. If he has met his fated mate, I’ll know as soon as I see him. I’ll come up with a better plan once I know for sure. One that includes getting close to her.” I put my car in drive and pull onto the road.
“You’re right, Nicholai. Call me tomorrow when you know more. We can’t really do anything until we know for sure.” Snowbie disconnects the call.
CHAPTER 5
Ashley
I got up early this morning. I’m both excited and nervous. Excited about the house and ready to get all the construction going. The process of turning this place into a home, and watching it come together. Nervous because I want it to go well. Bringing strangers into your home is always a little nerve-racking. Not only are they going to have access to all areas of my life, I’m putting a lot of personal trust in them as well. I can’t think too much about that right now. Today’s the day.
I’ve already had breakfast and cleaned up. Not that there’s a lot to clean. The place is basically empty. I made cinnamon rolls for the contractors. I love to bake, and it’s a good distraction to pass the time. It also makes the house smell homey. They should be here soon.
I dreamed of my wolf last night. It was different from the other dreams. Simple, with no requests. I was sleeping in my bed and the wolf was lying next to me. His nose was resting on my shoulder, as if we were cuddling. It was the same bedroom and bed that I slept in last night. There was a finality to it. I doubt I’ll see him again. I guess I arrived at the intended destination and bought the right house.
I’m sad that he won’t visit me anymore. His presence was reassuring, and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do next. It can’t be that he brought me all this way just to fix this house. I’d feel better with a plan. A direction to go in. A sign of any kind will suffice. I hear car doors slam outside. At least the work on the house will keep me busy.
I open the front door and walk out onto the porch. Thankfully, they have all arrived on time.
“Hey, everyone. I’m Ashley Carson. Good morning and thank you for coming. We can meet in the kitchen. I have coffee and homemade cinnamon rolls to get us started.” I smile and try to appear calm.
The youngest looking one walks toward me. He looks nervous but eager. He’s tall and somewhat lanky. He doesn’t have anything to write on. How will he keep track of everything I’m asking for? Please, universe, let this not be a complete waste of time.
“Hello, ma’am. I’m AJ Cartwright of Cartwright and Sons Construction. It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for having me.” He holds his hand out for me to shake.
“Hello, AJ. It’s nice to meet you too. Go on in and help yourself to some coffee and a cinnamon roll.” I shake his hand and wave my arm toward the partially opened door.
The next contractor is waiting on the steps as soon as I turn away from the first one.
“Hello, I’m George Blaine. Thank you for the opportunity.” He follows AJ into the house. No handshake or anything.
I don’t think I like that guy very much. He didn’t even look me in the eye. And something about him rubs me the wrong way. He seems inconvenienced to be here. He’s very tall with broad shoulders and his dirty-blond hair is greasy and slicked back. I get the distinct impression he can’t be trusted.
The third one is still at his truck and is turned away from me. The logo on the truck reads Blackpaw Construction. Is it a coincidence that the wolf in my dream had one black paw or is this the sign I wanted? Was the wolf leading me to this man? Could it be that simple? Why does that also seem complicated?
Looking at his back, I can tell that he’s one good-looking man. I have a strange urge to rub my hands up and down his body. I wonder what he smells like.
What’s wrong with me? I have never had a reaction to anyone like this before. I have to pull myself together and fast. This is the beginning of what could easily be a very long day.
Oh crap. He turned around and is walking toward me. He’s staring into my eyes, and I can’t look away. He is the sexiest man I’ve ever seen. His dark-brown hair is a little messy, like he just ran his fingers through it. His five o’clock shadow is ruggedly perfect. I still can’t look away. His eyes are captivating.
Hold on, why do those eyes seem familiar? I’ve seen them before. I’m sure of it. I’ll have to think about that while I check out the rest of him. He’s wearing jeans and a black T-shirt that could not fit any better. The definition of his muscles could make me drool. Wait, am I drooling? I can’t wipe my mouth. He’s already at the steps.
“Hello. I’m Ashley. Thank you for coming.” I already said my name. Now I’m repeating myself. This man is making me sweat.
“Hello. I’m Jack Negrescu. The cinnamon rolls smell delicious. Did you make them yourself?” He’s looking at me so intently.
“Yes, a hobby of mine.” I motion for him to go inside, trying to regain my composure. He’s standing so close. I want to reach out and touch him. I have to know what he feels like.
“Ladies first, please.” He extends his arm for me to walk ahead of him.
I go through the door acutely aware of him behind me. There is something familiar about this man. Like I already know him, and he knows me. It’s more than just his eyes that I have seen before. I recognize him in a way I don’t understand. It’s like we’re becoming reacquainted rather than meeting for the first time.
This undeniable sexual attraction is something I’ve never experienced before. All I want to do is back into him so that he wraps himself around me. Wow, I bet he would feel amazing up against me, warm and strong. I’m almost craving the weight of him over me. Those arms, I want to feel his arms against my skin. And his hands. Stop! I can’t be thinking dirty thoughts about the gorgeous contractor. I have to stay focused on why we’re here.
Jack moves past
me, and as we enter the room, I watch him make a cup of coffee and take a cinnamon roll. I sip my own coffee and try to pull myself together. I’ll let them finish their rolls before I start. I need to calm down and not let this attraction distract. To be ready for winter, I need the contractor who will do the best work for the best price.
CHAPTER 6
Jack
Driving over to Ashley’s house this morning for the walk-through, I can’t seem to shake the feeling that something is off. Not necessarily in a bad way but a sense that something is just around the corner, waiting. Running my wolf last night didn’t do either one of us any good, and I didn’t get much sleep either. I left the house without talking to anyone. I didn’t feel much like socializing.
Pulling up, I notice AJ Cartwright is already here. I see George Blaine is parking behind me. I walk around my truck and lean into the passenger seat, busying myself with my notebook. No one is saying anything or making eye contact. I don’t want to go to the door first, so I wait. There’s something in the air I don’t recognize. My heart’s racing and my wolf senses it too.
I hear the front door open, and an intoxicating scent nearly brings me to my knees. Holy shit! This can’t be right. She’s my fated mate. I can’t get enough of her scent. My wolf is howling for me to claim her. I’m so confused because she’s human, but at the same time, I’m completely sure. My heart is pounding, and I feel electrified. I can’t believe I found my fated mate.
The others have approached her. I hear them talking, but I can’t concentrate. AJ just went inside, and George is following behind him. It’s time to turn around and see her. My wolf wants to jump through my skin, but I must hold him back. I can hear his chants in my head. Claim her now. Claim her now. He needs to understand why we have to wait. She’s human. And to my knowledge, she doesn’t know about shifters.
Turning around, I can’t catch my breath. Wow, she’s stunning. And her body is fantastic. I can’t wait to grab those hips and pull her to me. She’s dressed simply in a pair of faded jeans and a plain white V-neck T-shirt. Long brown hair that I can’t wait to feel between my fingers and very little makeup.
Walking toward her is like a dream. She holds my gaze, drawing me closer. Her curvy hips and hourglass figure are incredible. I can smell her arousal. I can’t get enough of her.
She’s talking and I’m responding, but I don’t know what is being said. Walking behind her into the house is difficult. All I want to do is pull her back to me and wrap myself around her. Bury my face in her neck and just savor her scent and the feel of her in my arms.
I need to focus on the job at hand. I pass her as we walk into the kitchen, placing my notebook on the island and heading straight for the coffee. Hopefully, the strong aroma will help mask her scent enough so that I can concentrate.
“Thank you for the coffee and cinnamon rolls. You really didn’t have to go to so much trouble.” I sip the coffee and take a bite of the cinnamon roll. “Wow, this is really good.”
“I don’t mind. I love to cook. And if it softens up some of the bid numbers, it’ll be worth it.” She seems nervous. I love how she looks me right in the eyes.
I wasn’t kidding. This cinnamon roll really is amazing. Brooks can learn a few things from her. Jack Brooks has been with my pack for several years now. Because it got too confusing having two Jacks, we all call him Brooks. He’s better in the kitchen than the rest of us so that earned him the job. His cooking has gotten better over the years, but we still order a lot of pizza.
Ashley looks at the paper in her hand. She then looks around at each of us, making eye contact before she begins. “I don’t know how much you know about the house. It was undergoing a major remodel when the previous owner passed away. What remains is the remnants of his work. It has also sat vacant for about sixteen months. I want to finish some of what he started, make a few changes, and add to the list. We’ll go through everything when we do the walk-through room-by-room.”
She glances at her notes. “I also want the roof, windows, and fireplaces inspected. And the electrical, plumbing, and ductwork evaluated. I want a complete list made of what needs to be accomplished now and what can wait until next summer. I want to stay in the house during construction as well as through the winter if possible, so that needs to be factored into the timeline.”
This woman is blowing me away. She’s smart and seems to know what she’s talking about. I get the impression she’s done this before. Maybe she flips houses. My original idea to convince her she’s in over her head wouldn’t have worked at all. She would have seen right through it and called my bluff easily. Now that I know she’s my fated mate, I can’t let anyone else do the work on this house. I have to win the contract.
AJ raises his hand, getting everyone’s attention. “My dad was the contractor who did most of the work before the owner died. I’m pretty sure the roof and some of the windows have been replaced. I brought all my dad’s paperwork. I’ll go out to the truck to get it.” AJ rushes out the front door.
I quickly follow him out. I don’t like leaving her alone with George, but here’s my chance to make my move. Closing the front door behind me, I stop him.
“AJ, before you get those files, let’s talk for a minute.” AJ pauses before he reaches his truck, and I continue before he can stop me. “I respected your dad and his work. I always knew that if I won a job bidding against him that I earned it fair. And if I lost, it was on me because I probably overlooked something. He’ll be missed around here.”
I pause for only a few seconds before I quickly continue. “I know that you’re struggling to continue in your dad’s footsteps and run the business. And I truly want to see you succeed. With that said, I have a proposition for you. What would you say to coming to work for me as a subcontractor? That way you would still bring in money through your business while gaining experience at the same time. You can work with me, Grant, and Max, learning from us directly. This job would be the perfect place to start. We can work out all the details after the walk-through. What do you think?” I hope I didn’t overstep.
“Thank you, Jack. You’d do that for me?” He genuinely looks grateful.
“Yes. Like I said, your dad was a good man. I didn’t get to say goodbye, so this is my way of doing right by him. Plus, I need the competition to keep me honest.” I hold my hand out, hoping he’ll accept it. Shifters don’t normally touch people, but with AJ being human, it seems appropriate in this situation.
He shakes my hand eagerly. “Yes, Jack. You have a deal.”
“OK. Your first lesson starts now. Bidding is competitive. And in a group walk-through like this one, your dad’s files are the ace up your sleeve. You have information that no one else has, so keep it close and use it to give you an advantage with your bid. That type of information you discuss with the client only. For now, leave the files in your truck and make sure it’s locked. Got it?” I guide him back toward the house.
“Got it. That makes sense now that you say it. I probably should have left them back at the office.” He starts walking.
“Give me just a minute, AJ. I have to send a quick text.” I pause to pull out my phone.
I type out a message to Grant: Text George Blaine. Tell him the girl and the job are mine and to politely excuse himself now. Follow up the text with a phone call.
Grant’s reply comes fast: What do you mean the girl is yours?
I respond: Do it now. At a walk-through. Can’t talk. Even as I hear the ping of incoming texts, I put the phone back in my pocket.
“What do you say we wrap this up?” Heading back into the house with AJ, I feel pretty good about how this is turning out.
George is glaring at me as we walk back into the kitchen, but I’m saved by the ringing of his phone.
“Hello, George here.” George answers the phone and walks out of the kitchen. He’s still glaring at me as he passes by. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to take this.”
And just like that, bidder number two is ou
t. I love it when a plan comes together. Moments later, we all hear what sounds like a truck leaving. Ashley goes to look outside.
She’s aggravated when she walks back into the kitchen. “He left. I hope he understands that means he’s out of the running. I really don’t have time to go through all this again. A lot of this work has to be done before winter.”
“Continue without him. If he turns in a bid, you can reject it.” I finish my coffee to hide my satisfied smile. That was easier than I expected.
“Ms. Carson, can I be honest with you?” AJ is a good distraction.
“Yes, AJ. Please.” Ashley seems to like the interruption as well. I can tell she’s frustrated.
“My dad owned this business, and he died unexpectedly not too long ago.” AJ takes a deep breath.
“I’m sorry for your loss, AJ.” Ashley’s expression softens.
“I’m trying to take over the business and continue in his name, but I’m not ready for a job this big. While I was outside, Jack offered to hire me as a sub-contractor. He also offered to teach me what I need to know so that I can run my dad’s business successfully. I’m backing out of the bidding, but I’d like to stay for the walk-through, if that’s OK with you. I want to be a second set of ears for Jack and to help him any way I can.” AJ sure is manning up. I would have waited until the end to back out. I think I like his style.
“Yes, AJ. Stay for the walk-through.” Ashley smiles at AJ. I’m becoming more addicted to that smile every time I see it.
She turns her attention to me and the smile fades. “Well, I guess that just leaves you. If you’re going to back out, please do it now. Like I said before, a lot of these repairs must be done before winter. If I need to find other contractors, I have to start now.”
Delivered: (The Blackpaw Prophecy, Book 1) Page 5