by V. A. Dold
A quick check of their cabin told him she wasn’t there. Did she have another bout of nerves and panic? Would she leave without Jojo? He doubted it. And if she had, Jojo wouldn’t be acting so relaxed and normal. His gut churned. He had to find her. What if she was injured and needed him?
Chapter 13
He snapped his fingers. The barn. Maybe she was there. She wasn’t, but that damn Roy was and her favorite horse, Marigold wasn’t in the corral.
He stopped outside the stall where Roy was cleaning a horse’s hoof. “Where’s Kensie?” he snarled.
The cowboy didn’t even raise his head to acknowledge the owner of the ranch was standing five feet from him. “She went for a ride.” Roy tilted his head to look pointedly at Lucas under the belly of the horse. “Said she wanted to be alone.” Roy had balls, or he was a straight up idiot, Lucas hadn’t decided yet.
He stepped into the stall shaking with rage. Who the hell did this punk think he was? What was he to Kensie? He’d seen them laughing together. He wanted her laughing with him, not this smarmy Romeo.
“She went alone? She isn’t with anyone? I should have gone with her. Riding alone is dangerous on a horse you don’t know and in an area you’re unfamiliar.”
“Maybe she doesn't want to see you?” Dropping the horse’s leg, he rose slowly to his full height, leaning his arms across the back of the animal. “She seemed uneasy. When I asked her about it, she said she had a lot to think about and decisions to make.”
Lucas narrowed his eyes. “What is she thinking about? What decisions does she need to make?”
Roy shrugged. “Maybe she’s afraid someone will get hurt. We wouldn’t want that to happen now would we?”
This man really had a death wish. Lucas fought to maintain control when his wolf wanted to rip Roy’s head off. Why would Kensie confide in him? Then his wolf went ballistic. There was a challenger for their mate who needed killing. “Are you in love with her?”
Roy threw back his head and laughed. Actually laughed. “Hell, no. She’s not my type. I’m surprised you haven’t heard; I’m gay.”
“So, what? You're her new best friend?”
Roy shrugged again. “Most women don’t see a gay man as a threat and tend to treat us like one of their girlfriends. She didn’t want to burden her sister more than she already had, so she talked to me.”
Lucas leaned forward and gave Roy a long hard look. The man didn't even blink. “Let me make this perfectly clear. I would never hurt Kensie. It would be utterly impossible for me to do that. The next time she needs advice, tell her to talk to me.”
Roy looked like he wanted to say something, but self-preservation must have finally kicked in and he clamped his mouth shut. Then he said, “Sure, Mr. Le Beau, I’ll do that.”
*****
Kensie lost track of time. Surprisingly, nights could be cool at the ranch. Shivering, she rolled her sleeves down, suddenly thankful she’d worn a shirt with sleeves today. With no cell phone, or laptop to interrupt her train of thought, she had become absorbed in her ever-increasing list of concerns she needed to address. She had hoped to make some decisions; instead she was more confused than ever. Night was settling in. Crickets were chirping. And the sun was going down.
Standing to stretch, she stopped for a moment to get her bearings. She needed to get back quickly or it would be dark and she could easily lose her way. She sure didn’t want to spend the night on the range with the animals… and snakes…and bugs. She shivered just thinking about it.
She hadn’t ridden far when she saw someone coming toward her.
As the rider grew near her heart began to hammer. There was no mistaking Lucas’s horse, Elvis. Kensie sighed heavily. She tried so hard to avoid running into him today. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to see him, but she knew she needed to keep him at arm’s length if she was going to work things out in her mind. It was bad enough; her thoughts repeatedly returned to him and his incredible kisses. If he had been with her, she wouldn’t have been just thinking about kissing him she would have been stripped him naked. As it was, there was no turning her traitorous memory off. Her body ached for him and her heart felt empty without him, reminding her just how lonely her life was. Is that why she worked all the time? Had she been avoiding the loneliness that was her life?
Straightening her shoulders, she tried to smile casually and not like a silly schoolgirl gazing at the boy she had a crush on. “What are you doing here? How did you know where to find me?”
“I asked your guard dog in the barn,” he chuckled.
Kensie frowned. “Guard dog?”
“Roy.”
“Ah. That’s too bad. Up until he gave me away, he had been a really good confidant. I hoped he would help me keep unwelcome company away.”
Lucas hesitated as he dismounted. “Am I unwelcome company, Kensie?”
Heck, no. She wanted him so badly, it hurt. That was the problem. “Not in the way you think. Anyone would have been unwanted. I needed some time alone so I could think and figure a few things out.”
Lucas cocked his head. “And did you? Figure things out I mean.”
“Not really. All I did was come up with more questions. To be honest, I know what you want from me. I’m trying to figure out what I’m willing to do and possibly give-up in return. I know you would prefer I would just go ahead and jump into bed with you.”
She held up a hand when he opened his mouth to speak. He clamped his lips shut and remained silent.
“No, you haven’t said it in so many words, and you’ve been a complete gentleman, but your body language speaks volumes. I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can do that. I’m trying to protect both of us. I don’t want to hurt you any more than I want to be hurt myself. Is it fair to have sex with you knowing I’m going home in a few days? I’m not sure it is. It’s not much, but I did extend our stay here another week. I’m hoping that will give me a little more time to figure things out. I hope you can understand where I’m coming from.”
Lucas nodded, she was right. He pushed her too fast and sniffed around her like a randy dog. They needed to have a serious talk about what and who he was. He hoped to make her fall in love with him first, but even with an extra week there just wasn’t enough time. He walked to her horse and laid a warm hand on her thigh. He needed to find a way to explain everything to her without scaring her to death.
“You’re right. I have a lot to explain to you and much of it is going to sound crazy and some of it might scare the heck out of you. We both missed dinner; let’s grab something from the kitchen and go somewhere private to talk. Don’t worry, I’m not trying to trick you into being alone with me. I just need to make sure no one else hears what I’m going to tell you.”
Kensie’s leg trembled under his palm. She was warring with her prim and proper persona with the desire of one mate for the other raging through her body. He could smell her arousal laced with apprehension.
“You said you weren’t married! Ah, hell. You’re not a criminal are you? Tell me you don’t have a wife and six kids or worse yet you haven’t murdered anyone.”
Lucas choked. “Hell, no. But I can see how you would jump to such a conclusion. I was a bit cryptic. Tell you what, if you want Krystal to join us I can arrange for her to be with us.”
“That might be a good idea. Let me think about it.”
“I won’t lie to you, babe. You’re right, I do want you. But I won’t push you until you’re ready.”
He dropped his hand from her leg and backed away. Then he easily mounted Elvis with a grace that belied his large body.
“Lucas?” Her voice sounded strangled. She was about to do something totally stupid and reckless. She trusted him and knew she would be safe with him. He had proven that last night. But did she trust herself? That was the problem.
His heart raced as he dared to hope. Was she going to give him a chance?
“We can talk in my cabin. Jojo told me she had a date and might not be home until morning.�
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He wanted to whoop with joy. She was going to give him a chance and since they were out of sight and earshot, he could shift if she didn’t believe him. This just might work.
“Krystal held two plates aside for us from dinner. Would you like to join me before we go to your place?”
“That sounds like a good idea. I didn’t expect to be out so late and I’m pretty hungry.”
They rode back in silence. Lucas was trying to formulate a plan. How did he even begin to explain to her what a shifter was? Glancing at her fierce expression, he was pretty sure Kensie was busy trying to figure out what he was about to tell her.
*****
The horses were rubbed down and fed, and dinner was eaten. It was now or never.
He walked her to the cabin and waited for her to unlock the door. “I know this is will sound very cliché and dramatic, but I think you should sit down.”
Kensie took one of the easy chairs, began to wring her hands in her lap, and quietly waited for him to begin.
Lucas paced back and forth as he searched for a way to explain things. Maybe she’s a believer. “Sweetheart, do you believe in things like magic and fictional creatures?”
She looked confused by his question. “That depends on what you mean by magic and exactly what creatures?”
“Do you believe things like shifters could possibly exist? People who can become an animal? But you’ve never seen one because they remain a secret so humans don’t know about them?”
Up until he started spouting crazy, she’d been relaxed and enjoying herself. Now not so much. She dealt with crazy people at the hospital on occasion. Those individuals were scary and downright dangerous. The first rule was, keep them calm.
“Are you feeling unwell? I can call Krystal and we’ll get you the help you need.”
Shit. This wasn’t working.
“Forget I asked you that for a minute.” He rubbed his jaw. “Okay, okay. How about this? When you first met me, did you smell anything you really liked? Like your favorite food or something like that?”
Kensie concentrated and tried to remember back to that moment. Then she smiled and leaned forward. “Now that you mention it, I smelled the forest and fresh pine. Like you smell when you cut down a Christmas tree. Actually, I smell it right now, in the cabin. Strange, I’ve never smelled pine in here before.”
Lucas grinned. “Good, that’s really good. I smelled lemon meringue pie. Which by the way is my favorite.”
“What does that...”
“Please, let me continue. You can ask all your questions in a few minutes.”
“All right.” She crossed her arms and sat back in her chair, and waited for him to speak.
He raked his fingers through his hair and shot a quick glance her direction. “This is going to sound bad since you think I’m trying to get you in bed. But are you intensely attracted to me? You know, like – in a very unusual way. Unlike you’ve ever been attracted to a stranger before?”
Kensie snorted. “That’s a bit egotistical, don’t you think?”
“Please. Just answer the question honestly. It’s important.”
She blushed and sputtered. “Fine. I think you’re hotter than hell. Happy now?”
He grinned at her and chuckled. “Very. Lastly, and this the most important one, have you ever heard my voice in your head and maybe thought you imagined it?”
Kensie blushed a pretty shade of pink, then she blurted out. “I thought I heard you say ‘My Goddess, she’s beautiful’ when we first met.” She was so embarrassed she covered her face.
Gently he laid a hand on her shoulder. “There’s nothing to be self-conscious about. You heard me speak telepathically. And it’s true, I do think you’re beautiful.”
“How could that be? I’m not telepathic.”
“No. Not normally. But you are with me. Mates can communicate like that.”
Her eyes got wide as she tried to understand what he just said. “What did you say I was?” Before he could answer, she remembered hearing a voice earlier in the day. “Hey, hold on. Did you talk to me earlier today and say ‘Who you gonna call’ and then laughed like a fool?”
Lucas barked out a laugh. “Yes, that was me. I apologize. I just couldn’t help myself. When you thought about the movie, it just popped out. As for your other question, you’re my mate and I’m yours.”
“What the hell do you mean, I’m your mate? You make me sound like a dog or something.”
Lucas held up his hands. “Please, don’t get angry, I wasn’t insulting you. I’ll get back to the mate thing in a minute. And trust me, it’s not a bad thing. At least I don’t think so. First, let’s backtrack to my questions about magic and creatures. I promise this will all make sense. Eventually.”
Purposely he used telepathy again. Since you were not telepathic before, but you are with me, isn’t that a form of magic?
Kensie sucked in a sharp breath. “Did you just speak to me? In my head?”
Lucas was getting excited. She was starting to understand. Yes. And you can answer back. Just think the words at me. Try it.
Tentatively, she stared him in the eye. Can you hear me?
Yes, I can. He scooped her out of the chair and swung her around in his excitement.
“Put me down,” she laughed.
“Sorry. I got carried away.” He put her down so she could take a seat again and he collected his thoughts. “Okay, back to serious business, you didn’t answer my question. Isn’t speaking telepathically a form of magic?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “I guess it is.” She began to relax again. Normal Lucas was back.
“Good. What about fictional creatures? Since magic is possible is it too much of a stretch to believe they may exist as well?”
Shit, here comes crazy Lucas again. She needed to get to her phone so she could call for help. “That’s going a bit too far. What are you saying? Werewolves are real?”
“Not werewolves exactly, shifters. People who can change into a wolf without the need of a full moon.”
She snorted again. It seemed to be a bad habit she had around this man. “No. I don’t believe they exist.”
Lucas knelt down in front of her. “What if I proved it to you?”
Carefully she leaned away from him. “How do you propose to do that?”
“I’m a shifter and I could shift a small portion of my body.”
She got up and inched toward the door. Just a few more feet and she could run for it. “I think I should call your cousin. I know people who can help you.”
“Kensie. Sit down.” Lucas was would have to make her see reason. Literally. He took her by the arms and sat her back in the chair. She was trembling, but she would stop being frightened once she realized he wasn’t a mad man.
“Now, try not to scream. I’ll only shift my left hand.”
She grabbed the arms of the chair in a death grip. Oh My God, he’s completely lost touch with reality and I’m going to die!
An instant later, she gaped at a wolf paw where his hand used to be. Before he could stop her, she rushed to the cabin door and threw it open.
Shit. I expected that to go better.
*****
Krystal was watching television in the guest lounge when Kensie came screaming through the door and slammed the lock in place. “Call 911! Lucas has gone insane and we need to get him to a hospital for evaluation.”
Krystal remained calm. Lucas had warned her he was telling Kensie tonight. “What makes you think he’s insane?”
“He thinks he’s a werewolf, shifter thing. He went as far as to do a magic trick to try to convince me it was true. That’s not the behavior of a man in his right mind.”
“Why don’t you sit down and we’ll talk this out. Don’t be afraid, nothing is going to harm you. I guarantee you’re safe with me.”
Kensie narrowed her eyes at Krystal. “You don’t believe me.”
“On the contrary. I believe every word you said.”
; Kensie tentatively sat on the edge of a chair, and never took her eyes off the door.
“Why don’t you start at the beginning and tell me exactly what was said and what he did.”
It took about ten minutes for Kensie to tell the entire story. She had an amazing mind for detail. “So you smelled the forest and pine trees, had a strong attraction, and can talk to him telepathically? Is that right?”
“Yes.”
“Then he asked you about shifters and tried to prove it to you, right?”
“Yes, he did.”
“I really don’t want to scare you further, but he told you the truth.”
“Which part?”
“All of it. The scent, attraction, and telepathy are the three signs a shifter has found their mate. I’m his cousin. I’m a shifter as well. And before you run for the door, I’m not insane.”
Kensie leaned away from Krystal as if she might attack. Holy hell, crazy ran in the family.
“Sweetie, shifters are not rabid animals. We don’t go around attacking people or bite them like in the movies. For the most part, we’re normal every day folks. Would it help if I shifted my hand like Lucas did? Just so you can see this isn’t some kind of horror movie gag.”
“You really think you’re one too?” Come on Kensie, keep her talking.
“No. I know I’m one. I won’t shift if it will to send you screaming out of here. So what is it going to be? Use that big, impressive brain of yours and think it over. While you work it out, if you have any questions, feel free to ask.”
Krystal could see she was trying to rationalize everything she’d been told. She had purposely remained seated the entire time Kensie had been in the room to appear as nonthreatening as possible. The last thing they wanted was for her to drive off and tell the world they were insane.
Kensie stood and began to pace back and forth as she mumbled to herself. Trying to dissect everything and explain it away. After fifteen minutes she conceded she wasn’t going to find an answer to things like spontaneous telepathy. Maybe she could get Krystal to tell her how he did the magic trick with the paw?