by Ashley Shay
“And?” he grated out.
“They came into the shop where I work.”
She started to tell him the story of her goddamn life, babbling away like they were best friends and he actually gave a shit. Clueless. She was fucking clueless.
His fangs started to descend as the darkness around him took on a red haze. He held his breath while he determined the best way to kill her if she wasted one more second of—
“Carla Barnhart is now Carly Barnes.”
Finally. He released his breath, and his fangs retracted. “Ah…very good work…” He glanced at the phone display. “Miranda.”
“Thank you, sir.” She was very perky for a jackal. He made a mental note to stay away from female jackals in the future. Maybe a nice hyena. He liked their subservient attitudes. He’d had enough of Miss Miranda.
“Anything else?” He heard the syrupy quality of his voice. Anyone standing in front of him would have backed away, but this was one stupid jackal because she decided to get cocky and assess the situation on her own.
“You’ve got a shitload of problems on your hands.”
His fangs pierced his lip. It hurt, but he ignored it. A trickle of venom seeped from his right fang and dripped down his chin. He wished the poison could have hit a target, preferably a cocky jackal in San Antonio.
“Problemas, Miranda?” he ground out.
“Yes, sir. Big ones.”
He rolled his eyes, trying to control the string of curses threatening to spill out. Jackals were also always so negative. Just once he’d like to get a report without a problem attached to it. He’d also prefer they let him decide what constituted a problem, but what else could he expect from ingratiating, sycophantic bottom-feeders? Fucking parasites. He clenched his hand on the phone. He forced himself to remember that every jackal served a purpose, and this one in particular was right where he wanted her to be. “Please elaborate.”
“You remember Tyler Lucas, don’t you?”
“Sí,” he snarled. He hated that this female knew anything about him, particularly his history with Tyler Lucas. He’d have to discover who’d been feeding her information. For now though, he wanted anything she could tell him. “His involvement does not surprise me.”
“This might,” she said.
Juan hissed, and he heard her gasp. She finally seemed to be getting the seriousness of the situation. “You have ten seconds to get to the point. Otherwise I will be on the next plane to San—”
Her words came out in a rush. “She’s being held at Cattail Ranch.”
A sly grin spread across his lean features as he struggled the keep his tone civil. “Keep me posted.”
He hung up chuckling at the irony. “It seems the Lucas men and I are destined to share interest in the same women again and again…”
Chapter Seven
Her cowgirl hat clutched in her hands, Carly made her way toward the kitchen wondering if the jeans and short-sleeved blouse she wore would be appropriate for her duties. She’d debated on several outfits, but her mind wasn’t functioning on all cylinders today, so she’d grabbed the first things out of her boutique bags. She still hadn’t had time to unpack, and she’d barely had time to glance at her beautiful suite before she’d forced herself into the steamy shower. She’d started the day, however, with the blissful feeling of waking up in the French countryside. The furniture was an antique white, and the small, attached sitting room held a plush, comfortable loveseat and chair upholstered in a blue-and-yellow floral pattern. The walk-in closet had more square footage than her bedroom in Virginia, and the bathroom had every luxury she could have asked for. All of that went by in a blur because she could barely focus her eyes and had to keep squinting against the rays of sunlight pouring in through the sheer curtains.
She smoothed the front of her blouse, hoping she looked okay as she pushed open what she remembered was a swinging door into the kitchen. Three men glanced up at the sound, and from the looks on the brothers’ faces, she must have passed inspection. Three sets of green eyes roamed from her rather unruly curls down to her breasts to end with a caressing glance on, to her dismay, her somewhat generous hips. Her face heated up, and a spark of something like desire fought with the churning in her stomach.
Lucia rapped her spatula against the cooktop, and all three men shook their heads. Carly would have laughed if she didn’t think she’d be sick.
“Buenos días, Carlita,” Lucia said.
Carly smiled and murmured, “Good morning.”
“Would you like some breakfast?” the older woman asked.
Carly gave a tiny shake of her head. “Oh, no, I couldn’t. Really I couldn’t.”
Lucia gave her a knowing smile and went back to stirring scrambled eggs.
Tyler poured a cup of coffee and handed it to her. “How do you feel, darlin’?”
Carly put her cowgirl hat down on the table, rubbed her forehead, and slumped into one of the extra chairs. “I have a bit of a headache.”
Shane jumped up from the table. “Got you covered.” He moved to an antique sideboard, opened a drawer, and extracted a bottle of aspirin.
Dusty leaned across the table to stare into her eyes. “Another bottle of beer would take care of that. You know the old saying hair of the dog that bit you?”
Carly made a moaning sound and grabbed her mouth. She waited for her stomach to stop heaving while they stared at her. Shane placed three aspirins and a glass of water in front of her. She smiled gratefully, but gingerly. “I’ll never drink beer again in my life.”
Dusty shook his head. “That’s just a sorry state of affairs, darlin’. And plain blasphemy here in Texas.”
Tyler chuckled as he placed a glass of juice and a plate of toast in front of her. “Leave her alone, Dusty.”
“Leave who alone?” Suzie demanded, bouncing into the kitchen in a fully pink cowgirl outfit, complete with pink boots and hat.
“Oh look, it’s the princess cowgirl.” Shane grabbed his chest and pretended to swoon.
Suzie giggled. “I’m going riding, Uncle Shane. This is my riding outfit.”
The idea of getting on a horse caused Carly’s stomach to lurch again. She quickly stuffed some toast into her mouth, hoping for the best. Suzie settled down at the table and began to shovel eggs from her plate into her mouth.
“Eat more slowly,” Tyler said.
“I’m in a hurry,” Suzie mumbled around a mouthful of toast.
“You might as well slow down because you have to wait for Carly,” Tyler said. “She’s your new nanny.”
The little girl glared at him, her eyes narrowing until they were pinpoints of glittering green light. “I told you,” she gritted out, “I don’t need a nanny. I don’t want a nanny.”
Dusty tipped her cowgirl hat away from her face. “What’s the matter, Suzie Q? Don’t you like Carly?”
Suzie stuck out her lip and glanced at Carly. “’Course I do.”
“That’s good then.” Dusty shook his head and heaved a sigh. “But you’ve probably already hurt her feelings.”
Suzie’s eyes widened, and she put her fork down. “Oh.” She patted Carly’s hand. “I’m sorry.”
Carly smiled, and Suzie began to chatter about her new horse. Carly slid her gaze to Tyler, who stood behind Suzie, watching his daughter laugh at something Shane said. She saw a funny look pass over Tyler’s face before he turned away.
She popped her last bite of toast in her mouth, feeling a bit better now that she had some food in her stomach. “I’ve never ridden a horse, Suzie, but if we have a lesson today, we’d better get going.” Carly finished the coffee in her cup and took the aspirins with orange juice.
Suzie got a pouty look on her face. “I don’t want you to go. I like to ride fast. You’ll fall off.”
“Suzie!” Tyler’s shout echoed through the room. When Suzie flipped a curl over her shoulder, Carly saw his jaw clench.
“She’s bossy enough to hold your position someday, Ty.” A sof
t, seductive tone drifted through the room, dissolving the thread of annoyance connecting Tyler and his daughter.
“Very funny, Rosa.”
“I thought so,” the woman said, “but mark my words. It could happen. She’s a pistol. Now, Ty…about the riding. You know Suzie likes to ride hard.”
Carly steeled herself and turned to look at Rosa. This morning Rosa had chosen a dark-rose wraparound skirt and a gauzy pale-pink blouse. Carly let her gaze tick between her new charge and Rosa, both of them looking pretty in pink. Damn the woman. Did they always dress alike? No wonder Suzie wanted nothing to do with her.
Suzie leaped out of her seat and skipped across the room. Rosa put her hands on Suzie’s cheeks and lifted her face.
“Morning, my little angel.” As she gave Suzie a hug, she turned her attention back to Tyler. “Let David take her out like he does every morning. Miss Barnes can learn to ride in the corral while they’re gone. There’s no reason Suzie shouldn’t enjoy her morning.”
Carly took a deep breath then rose. “Good morning, Rosa.”
Rosa inclined her head, her silky hair swinging over her shoulder like a dark waterfall. “Miss Barnes.”
Carly picked up her hat and slapped it on her head. She was not going to let this perfect woman intimidate her. She knew how to deal with children, and she was going to excel at this job. “It appears I have a riding lesson scheduled,” Carly said. “Perhaps we can talk later today and discuss the boundaries of our duties?”
Tyler’s mouth dropped open. Dusty let out a strange sound, then pressed his lips together, apparently struggling to hold in a laugh. Shane whirled around and got busy wiping at the counter. Lucia chuckled.
Rosa sashayed toward Lucia and took a cup of coffee from her hand. “Of course, Miss Barnes.” She took a sip from the cup and glanced at Carly over the rim. “Whenever you like.”
Carly held out her hand, and Suzie took it. “I’ll see you later then.”
She let Suzie lead her out of the kitchen and into the first day of her new job.
* * * *
“I must prepare the grocery lists,” Lucia said. “Tomás!”
Tyler didn’t miss the smile on her lips. She might be pretending they’d get their privacy, but he wouldn’t put it past her to stand in the hallway and listen.
He watched as she waddled out to head for her office. The gray monstrosity she called a cat appeared mysteriously from some hidden corner of the kitchen and followed at Lucia’s heels. He waited until the office door slipped closed before rounding on Rosa. He kept his voice low, trying very hard to keep the venom to a minimum. “I thought I told you to behave yourself.” What came out of his mouth sounded like a growl, but it didn’t faze her. Nothing fazed her. Although it irked him today, it was what he loved most about her.
Rosa lifted a slender shoulder and gave him a coy smile. “You should know I’m not capable of that.”
Dusty let out a low whistle. “Jesus jumping Christ. She sure put you in your place, Rosie.”
Rosa pursed her lips. “She tried.”
“She did more than try.” Shane peeked at her hesitantly, obviously a little wary of her reaction. “She succeeded.”
Tyler heard the pride in Shane’s voice and hadn’t missed the spark in his brother’s eyes as he’d watched Carly go toe-to-toe with Rosa.
Rosa waved her hand. “If you say so,” she said sweetly. She glanced at Tyler and raised one brow. “I was a bit confused. Was I supposed to be intimidated by her little display?”
“Of course not,” Tyler snapped
“Do you think it was a game then?” Rosa gave each of them a questioning look, but Tyler knew her better than that. He refused to take her bait. He’d never win.
Tyler began pushing the vacant chairs back under the table. Each one squealed against the tile, and Dusty winced.
“Don’t play the innocent with me, Rosa,” Tyler said. “Carly doesn’t play games. Can’t you tell she’s not that kind of woman?”
Rosa sauntered toward him, her hips swinging beneath the silky skirt, her red-tinted lips curling into a smile. She ran a finger slowly down his cheek. He bristled under her touch, and she laughed. “Sure I can tell, Ty. But it hardly matters what I think of her. What do you think of her? Hmm?” She glanced between Dusty and Shane. “What do all of you think of her? Anyone talk to Cougar yet?”
Tyler pressed his lips together. He’d gone and opened his big mouth, and now there would be an inquisition or, at the very least, a discussion. He wasn’t sure he was ready for that. Hell, Carly hadn’t been in the house even twenty-four hours yet. He glanced between his brothers, but they both stared at him as though waiting for some kind of prophetic announcement. He’d been alpha for a year, but still he sometimes forgot these kinds of decisions were in his hands. His brothers might want something of their own, but their needs would always be subservient to his wishes.
Rosa grabbed a piece of toast and nibbled it for a moment. “I’ll just leave you three alone now that I’ve acknowledged the elephant.” She strolled across the kitchen. She glanced over her shoulder as she pressed her hand against the door. “I wouldn’t wait too long, boys. I get all kinds of vibes from her.”
“Really?” Ty said.
“Really.”
She rubbed her forehead, and her nose crinkled. She stared off into space for a moment. Ty hated when she did that. It was strangely sinister and made his cougar want to growl in unease. He shook himself, trying to settle his inner beast.
“What kind of vibes?” Shane asked.
“Mostly good ones.” She tapped a finger against her lips. “There’s this tiny little undercurrent of…anxiety? Apprehension?” She frowned then waved her hand. “Doesn’t matter. It’s very vague. Most of the other vibes are good ones.” She pointed a red-tipped finger toward them. “Don’t let her slip through your fingers. I think she shows a lot of promise. She could be just what this family needs.” She glanced toward Ty. “And, as you pointed out last night, I won’t be here forever.”
She laughed and disappeared through the door.
“Damn, that woman is eerie sometimes,” Shane muttered.
“Almost scary,” Dusty said.
“And damn bossy.” Tyler slammed his hat on his head.
Once again, his brothers’ gazes found him as if drawn to a magnet. For a moment, he wanted to pull the hat over his eyes and shield himself from their stares. They expected so much of him, as did the entire colony. How could one man be expected to find contentment and prosperity for so many people when he couldn’t even make his five-year-old daughter happy? Maybe he should have stood aside and let Shane have the position of alpha in their colony. He’d been their father’s lieutenant for most of the years Ty had been away and, from all accounts, had done a fucking good job.
“Eerie, bossy, doesn’t matter,” Shane said. “In all the years we’ve known her, have you ever known her to be wrong?”
“Not a once,” Dusty said.
“But Carly’s human.” Tyler pinched the bridge of his nose. “Didn’t we agree our next woman would be a shifter, had to be shifter?”
“Yes, we did,” said a voice behind them.
Tyler turned toward the open door to find Cougar filling the doorway. His other two brothers nodded.
“I don’t think we can go through that again,” Tyler said forcefully. His voice dropped to a near whisper. “I can’t go through that again.”
“None of us could,” Dusty said.
“And we won’t,” Shane said. “It’s why we’ve worked so hard over the last year, made all the security enhancements, trained more men.”
“Nothing’s getting in here,” Cougar said. “I’ve made sure of that, but I still don’t want a fucking human in our lives.”
“It’s not up to you,” Tyler snapped.
Cougar tilted his head and simply stared. Tyler waited. He didn’t want to put a roadblock against anything that might be on his brother’s mind. Cougar had said more words
in the last twenty-four hours than he’d said in the last two weeks.
“And it’s up to you?” Cougar finally asked.
“Damn right, it’s up to me. What the fuck is wrong with you?”
Dustin took a step toward his twin. “He’s the alpha, Cougar. It’s his decision.”
“Back the fuck off,” Cougar snarled. “I know that.”
“So what’s the problem?” Tyler asked. He clenched his hand, trying hard to control the anger coursing through his system. He’d expected some challenges in the last year, but he’d never expected one to come from his own family. He couldn’t understand where this had come from because usually Cougar kept to himself and his business.
Cougar jammed his cowboy hat farther down over his brow. He stalked toward the counter and palmed a cup. “Forget it. I need more caffeine. There’s no problem.” He grabbed the pot and sloshed coffee all over the counter.
“That’s good to hear,” Tyler said. “Anything else on your mind?”
“No.”
Tyler turned to his other brothers. “Thoughts? Apparently the fact that she’s human isn’t going to be an issue.”
“She likes us, Ty,” Dusty said. “I don’t know about you, but I like her too.”
“The heart wants what the heart wants,” Shane murmured.
“Goddamn it,” Tyler muttered. He heaved a huge sigh. “Okay, I’ve got some colony business to take care of today, so we’ll work on her in shifts. Shane, get your ass down to that corral and be your charming self. Show her around the property or something this afternoon. See if her heart wants what our hearts do.” He grimaced. “Where do you come up with this stuff?”
Shane winked. “I read from time to time.” He folded his arms across his chest. “She’s going to balk because she takes this job seriously. I have a feeling she’s not going to let Suzie out of her sight.”