by Anya Nowlan
So Addison had done some research of her own. From what she had been able to gather, Black Oak was a small, rural town with a tight-knit community and a prominent shifter population. That didn’t surprise her. She was aware her boss was a werebear.
But that was his business, and knowing shifters didn’t really like talking about their genetic differences, Addison hadn’t asked Reid about that part of his life. So he could turn into a bear. Didn’t make him any better or worse of a boss, or an attorney, as far as she could figure.
“Do you come back home often?” Addison asked.
The silence had dragged on too long, and she was curious. Why Black Oak of all places? She hadn’t even heard him mention it before. Not that she and Reid were that close, but they had shared a business dinner or two. He knew that she was a Chicago native, for example, and that she was an only child. What did she know about him?
“Not really,” Reid replied, not looking up from his screen.
“Then why now?” Addison couldn’t help but ask.
Reid’s tone was casual, or at least it tried to be. But there was something there, an emotion she couldn’t quite put her finger on. She studied him closely as he replied.
“I can be sure the people there won’t tip off the press. And I know of a place where we can stay completely off the radar,” he said. “The townspeople might gossip among themselves if they get a whiff of me coming back, sure, but that will be it.”
“So we’re staying with friends of yours?” she questioned.
Making a point of scrolling something on his screen, Reid continued to avoid her gaze.
“Something like that,” he said, in a tone that implied this particular conversation was over.
Addison was left to entertain herself as she stared out the window. The driver already had the GPS coordinates to wherever she and Reid were going to be staying, so silence took hold again.
The town of Black Oak popped into view not long after. As they drove straight through it, Addison had to admit it looked charming. She was a big city girl, but the allure of all the little shops, colorful houses and general easygoing vibe of the place was not lost on her.
Looking over at Reid, though, in his expensive suit and perfectly shined Italian shoes, she was having trouble picturing him growing up here. Had he been eager to leave, and that was why he didn’t visit his old hometown?
But as they left the town behind, heading for someplace even more off the map, Addison’s imagination started to run wild. Had Reid, the same Reid that kept a fancy bottle of hand lotion in his briefcase and got his hair cut every two weeks, grown up on a farm? She almost laughed out loud at the mere idea of it.
“This place is out of town?” Addison couldn’t help but ask, stating the obvious.
“It’s a ranch,” was all that Reid said, keeping with the tight-lipped thing he had going on.
Suddenly, Addison regretted every packing choice she had made. Not that her wardrobe contained many ranch-appropriate items in the first place, but had she known, she would have at least ditched the heels.
A ranch, though? How could she have known to be prepared for that? Even now, as the road ribboning before them gave way to a sprawling estate with a grassland in the distance, she was having a hard time picturing Reid setting foot on anything but solid pavement.
The driver pulled up the winding driveway to the main house, with several smaller buildings dotted around. An old truck was parked out front, with a set of tools rolled out nearby. No one seemed to be around, though, and no one came to greet them.
The driver got out first, taking their luggage out of the back. Reid sighed, finally tucking his tablet away, and looked to be taking his sweet time opening the passenger door. Addison got the distinct feeling something was off.
“Your friends do know to expect us, right?” she asked, just as Reid swung his door open.
She scrambled out to follow, meeting him at the front of the car.
“That’s not entirely accurate,” he hedged.
“What?” Addison blurted out.
That was attorney speak for ‘no’. Dumbfounded, she looked out at the property, anxiously eyeing it for signs of life while her heels slowly sank into the dirt. Finally, the door to the main house creaked open, almost making her jump.
The man who appeared eyed them both, his dark brow knitting together. Freakishly tall with broad, bulging shoulders, he looked like he could have built the whole ranch singlehandedly without even breaking a sweat.
The sleeves of his flannel shirt were rolled up, exposing muscular forearms. The fronts of his jeans were dusty, with a smear of what she guessed to be motor oil near one of the pockets.
And he was handsome. Damn, was he handsome. Addison knew she had to be staring, but she couldn’t look away. His dark eyes were focused on Reid, so she was probably getting away with it, at least.
His square jaw covered in thick stubble, his dark brown hair disheveled and his cheekbones looking like they had been carved from stone, the stranger looked none too pleased to have unexpected visitors on his front lawn.
Reid turned away from his glare to thank the driver and say they had it from there. Addison almost called out, unsure that sending the man away was the right move. What if the stranger slammed the door in their faces? He looked angry enough to do so, for sure. And she hadn’t packed for sleeping under the stars.
But before she could get any words out, the car they had arrived in was already speeding off, leaving her, Reid and their considerable luggage standing awkwardly in the middle of nowhere.
The stranger was the first one to speak.
“What are you doing here?” he asked Reid.
“Nice to see you, too, Gage,” Reid replied.
Gage, Addison thought to herself, still unable to peel her eyes away from the man.
When Gage’s eyes swung to her, she felt downright paralyzed. He held her gaze for a curiously long moment, making a shiver run down her spine, before turning back to Reid.
“I asked you a question,” Gage stated, folding his arms in front of him.
“Look, I know you’re probably pissed at me, but I am still your brother and…” Reid started, his words nearly knocking Addison on her ass.
Brother?
She hadn’t even known Reid had a brother. Yet here he was, looking like he was ready to strangle Reid to death at a moment’s notice. Gage didn’t let Reid finish his sentence as he stomped down the front steps, his hands falling to his sides.
“Pissed at you?” he asked, letting out a harsh bark of laughter. “Are you fucking serious? That doesn’t even begin to cover it. And now you just show up here with… suitcases?”
Reid huffed out a breath, clearly more frustrated at being interrupted than afraid of what his brother might do. Strangely, Addison wasn’t scared either.
“We need a place to stay, just for a little while,” Reid explained. “This is my associate, Addison, she…”
But Gage cut him off again.
“You’re a piece of work, you know that,” he shook his head, now only feet away from his brother.
“Look, I’ve had a long flight. We can discuss how you hate my guts later. Now are you going to let us stay or not?” Reid asked.
Gage glanced over at Addison again as she stood back next to her luggage, not wanting any part of this family drama, yet at the same time also being fascinated by it. Then, in what seemed like a blink of an eye, Gage swung his arm back, and clocked Reid straight in the jaw. The man went stumbling back, blood spilling from his busted lip.
“Yeah, you can stay,” was all that Gage said as he stomped back inside the house.
Four
Gage
Gage was sitting in the kitchen when Reid and his companion came inside, dragging their suitcases behind them. The woman – Reid had called her Addison, he was pretty sure – was offering to get Reid ice, but was being brushed off.
He listened as Reid climbed up the stairs and straight toward his old
room. So maybe punching his brother hadn’t been the most adult course of action. But damned if it didn’t feel good. Just showing up at Gage’s doorstep like he did? The nerve of the guy.
Gage would have sent his brother back from where he came without a second thought if it hadn’t been for the woman. Addison. He let the name float through his mind, his bear instantly letting out a growl.
The moment their eyes had met, Gage had known something odd was going on. She was beautiful, sure, with her high cheekbones and full lips, but the instant pull he had felt toward her went beyond that.
And in that moment, he knew there was more than a good chance this was his mate.
It sounded insane. What were the chances of the brother he hadn’t talked to in nearly ten years showing up with his mate in tow? But that was fate for you – unpredictable.
As always, Reid had been too occupied with his own pride to pay attention to anyone else, leaving Addison alone at the foot of the stairs. Gage could hear her shuffle on her feet, hesitating. Reid had called her his associate. But he wouldn’t have brought just anyone along.
Were she and Reid friends? And if so, would she even want to see the stranger who had just punched her companion in the face?
Either way, Gage couldn’t just sit there, hiding away in the kitchen. He should show her to a room, it was the polite thing to do, after all. And a chance to know more about the woman who had the potential to turn his life upside down…
So he got to his feet, making his steps loud so he wouldn’t startle her. She was already looking his way when he appeared near the foot of the stairs. The scent of her perfume would have been subtle for anyone else, but to Gage, it was too overpowering. It masked her personal smell, which he found far more enticing.
“Oh, hi,” she said, eyeing him with some uncertainty. “I don’t think we were properly introduced,” she added, stepping closer and reaching out her hand. “Addison.”
Taking her hand in his, Gage let his eyes quickly wander over her. Dressed in smart slacks and a blazer, with simple silver earrings and perfectly applied make-up, she looked put-together and professional, if a little out of place in his old farmhouse.
Her skin was soft and smooth as he shook her hand, and he had to tell himself to let go. Touching her was even better than looking at her, though he would have gladly stared at her all day if that weren’t massively creepy.
“Gage,” he replied. “Welcome to the Atherton Ranch. Sorry about my lack of manners earlier. My brother tends to bring out the worst in me.”
“No need to apologize,” she said with an elegant shrug of her shoulder. “You were taken by surprise. I didn’t know we weren’t expected, just for the record. I didn’t even know Reid had a brother, actually.”
Gage could feel his jaw tense. It made sense that Reid would want to act like Black Oak and everyone in it didn’t exist. But at that moment, with Addison standing right in front of him, the last thing he wanted to think about was his jerk of a brother.
“And you are his…” Gage trailed off.
The worst case scenario was Addison was somehow romantically involved with Reid. It was a possibility he didn’t even want to consider. Reid had called her his associate, but that was vague enough to not really confirm or deny anything. And Gage was well aware of how his brother liked to talk in circles.
“Colleague,” Addison quickly offered. “I work at his law office. Second chair.”
“So he’s your boss,” Gage commented. “My condolences.”
She arched a brow at him.
“You two really don’t like each other,” she said.
“Did the punch give it away?” Gage chuckled.
“I would call it damning evidence, yes,” Addison replied, a small smile tugging at her delicious lips. “Anyway, I would hate to be an inconvenience, so if I could get a ride back to town I’m sure I can find a hotel or…”
“No need,” Gage cut her off. “You’re already here, and I have plenty of space. Besides, I’m thinking there’s a reason Reid dragged you along?”
“He did want to tie up any loose ends with our old cases,” Addison admitted with a slight shrug, looking a little perplexed herself.
“Then it’s settled,” Gage said, grabbing her suitcase. “Come on, you can pick your room.”
Gage climbed the stairs with the suitcase in hand, while Addison trailed behind. Upstairs, he could hear Reid moving around, rustling with something or another. A hallway stretched out in front of him, with doors on either side.
Gage opened them one by one, only leaving the ones to his and Reid’s bedrooms closed.
“We had a wedding here not too long ago, so all the rooms have been made up,” he said. “All in all, not the worst timing for an unexpected visit.”
He could see Addison’s attention be drawn to a cozy bedroom near the stairs, with sunlight pouring through the window. It was decorated in light colors, with a knitted quilt thrown on the bed.
“I’ll stay in that one, if that’s all right,” she said.
“Of course,” Gage replied, setting her suitcase down inside the room. “I usually have dinner downstairs at around seven, if you want to join me. Or you can take my truck into town and grab a bite there.”
“I’ll be happy to join you,” she smiled.
“All right, I’ll let you get settled in then,” Gage replied.
Addison hesitated for a second, her green eyes meeting his. For a moment, it felt like she might say something – about Reid, about why they came here, maybe ask a question about their family. But then she seemed to change her mind.
“Thanks,” she said, before going into the room and pulling the door closed behind her.
Gage made his way back downstairs, his mind racing. As much as he didn’t want Reid under his roof, the pull he felt toward Addison was irresistible. He needed to know more about her, to make her see him outside of this feud between him and Reid.
But with his brother skulking around, that might prove to be even more difficult than he could have expected…
Five
Addison
Addison had woken up from her nap nearly an hour ago, and had since done little else than fidget and pace in her room. Reid still hadn’t come talk to her, which annoyed her, since she felt like she needed at least some sort of an explanation from the man, if not an apology.
But that wasn’t what really had her gut swirling with anxiety. It was almost seven, which meant dinnertime with the other Atherton. She didn’t even know why she was so flustered. It wasn’t like it was a date or anything.
Then why was she having so much trouble picking an outfit?
All right, get a grip, she told herself, puffing out a breath.
Gage had certainly left quite an impression on her, though, that she couldn’t deny. Not only was he attractive as hell, making her blood course whenever he so much as looked at her, he was also polite and kind. Well, if you ignored the whole part about him socking his brother in the face within minutes of a reunion.
But who knew what kind of past those two had. With her, he had been nothing but hospitable and friendly. And was she imagining the way he looked at her? She could have sworn there was that tell-tale glint of interest in those nearly black eyes of his.
Stuck on a ranch with two bears that hate each other.Addison had to shake her head as she sank down onto her bed. That’s not going to be complicated at all.
In the end, she put on her dark jeans and cashmere sweater, pulled her hair into a loose ponytail, and went downstairs. She followed the sound of dishes clinking, and someone moving around, until she found herself in a dining room, a large table set up in the middle of it.
Gage was pulling something out of the oven, craning his neck when he heard her enter.
“There you are,” he grinned.
Addison would have been lying if she said that smile of his didn’t make her just a little weak in the knees. There was water and wine on the table, and she couldn’t help but notice i
t was set for two.
“Whatever it is, it smells great,” she commented, taking a whiff.
“Pork chops,” Gage replied, setting the meat onto a large plate. “And mashed potatoes.”
As if on cue, Addison’s stomach grumbled.
“Sit down,” Gage said, gesturing to the table.
She did, watching him move around the kitchen. He set the food on the table, a huge heaping of mashed potatoes, pork chops, and a simple salad. Pouring her a glass of wine, he grinned.
“Hope you like red,” he said.
Addison smiled back, the delicious smells all around her only making her hungrier.
“I prefer it, actually,” she replied.
Gage sat down opposite her, a curious look in his eyes.
“Dig in,” he said. “And don’t worry – I appreciate constructive criticism.”
She took a bite, and then another, letting all the different textures and tastes swirl in her mouth, washing it down with a sip of dry, flavorful wine. It had been a while since she had eaten a real home-cooked meal, and there was something comforting about it.
“It’s great,” she nodded, already going in for more.
Slowly, she relaxed in her seat, the wine warming her limbs and the food filling her stomach. Her earlier anxiety was gone, but the thrill of getting to know Gage was still there, brimming beneath the surface.
“You getting settled in all right?” Gage asked. “The internet connection here is spotty at best, so I don’t know how much work you’re going to be able to get done.”
“It’s mostly just paperwork, nothing I need a steady connection for,” Addison shrugged. “I’m looking forward to seeing more of this ranch of yours. You have quite the property here.”
“I can give you a tour in the morning,” he replied. “But it’s nothing too exciting, really. I’ve already sold most of my cattle, so things are pretty calm for the moment. But I guess that’s why you’re here, isn’t it – the calm?” he asked, arching a brow at her.