by Rayna Tyler
My wolf snarled, his hair spiking straight along his spine. I released a protective growl before I realized Bryson was standing close to the pool’s edge near the spot where Jac and I had recently removed the majority of our clothes.
“What’s wrong?”
It took Jac a little longer to react. She glanced in Bryson’s direction, her already flushed cheeks growing darker. “Oh,” she mumbled, but didn’t try to pull away.
“I’m sorry for interrupting, but there’s an emergency at the lodge,” Bryson said.
He had to be the biggest, most powerful male I’d ever met. Yet he was doing his best to keep his gaze averted and not openly stare at Jac. I had a feeling if I questioned him later, he’d be able to tell me exactly how many medium-sized rocks he was toeing with the tip of his leather boot.
“What kind of emergency?”
“Preston didn’t say. He just told me to find you when he couldn’t get you on the radio.”
Bryson wouldn’t have shown up if I hadn’t let Jac dare me into leaving the radio in the truck. “Damn it,” I muttered, giving her an admonishing glare, then regretting it seconds after I’d done it.
“We should go.” She wiggled out of my arms, then waded out of the water. Without saying another word, she donned her shirt and shorts, then grabbed her camera bag and headed for the path leading back to my truck.
I almost felt sorry for Bryson. Unless Berkley or Preston had said something, he had no way of knowing Jac was my mate, or that I’d be pissed at anyone who interrupted us. He didn’t say anything, but he was an intelligent male, and by the way I’d reacted, he had to know.
I groaned and headed out of the water. “How did you find me?”
“Used the GPS on your truck.”
I was glad the safety measure we’d implemented worked. But short of someone dying, there wasn’t an excuse good enough to appease my irritation.
Bryson waited patiently for me to pull on my pants. “Sorry about Jac. If there’s anything I can do...”
I wasn’t in the mood to explain the intricacies of my nonrelationship with Jac or how I’d just made it worse. “Not your fault. I messed up, and I need to fix it.” I grabbed my shirt and trailed after my mate.
GROWING UP WITH TWO females, I’d learned it was better to wait for their anger to cool to a slow simmer before trying to engage them in conversation. Apparently, Jac was no different. She spent most of the return trip staring out the window without speaking to me. Not that I blamed her. With one stupid comment and a flash of my temper, I’d given her the justification she needed to support her claim against us mating.
It didn’t matter how right she’d felt in my arms or how much my wolf and I craved her touch. The damage was done, and if I didn’t find a way to repair it, she was going to leave.
The closer we got to the lodge, the more I realized I hadn’t been upset about relinquishing control as much as I was about having my time with Jac shortened. When I got her alone again, and I was determined it would be soon, I’d find a way to tell her. Though showing her would be better, I had no idea how I was going to make it happen.
As soon as we reached the lodge and I’d parked the truck, Jac had her belt unsnapped and was grabbing her camera bag. “Thanks for taking me to the falls.” Her voice lacked enthusiasm, and I was sure she didn’t mean it. “I guess I’ll see you later.” The truck door had closed and she was almost to the lobby’s entrance before I had a chance to say anything.
Great. Any headway I’d hoped to gain during the trip to the falls had ended in failure. I’d always worked hard to be successful, because failing, and the gut-wrenching emotions that accompanied it, was not something I enjoyed. Weighted down by my own self-inflicted disappointment, I slammed the door and stomped toward the lobby.
I needed to put aside my personal problems and find the strength to deal with whatever emergency Preston thought warranted sending Bryson to find me. I was halfway to the reservation desk when Nina glanced away from the guest she was assisting to speak to me. “They’re waiting for you in your office.” She cringed and bit the corner of her lip.
They? Dread settled in my chest. Whatever was going on had to be bad for Nina to sound so concerned. Normally, I liked to be prepared when it came to dealing with any crisis situation. I would’ve asked Nina for more details if we’d been alone. But with a paying customer listening to our conversation, I’d have to find out what was going on in my office without getting any further details.
When I reached the hallway that led to the employee area of the lodge, I considered going to my room first to change out of my damp clothes. The decision to postpone dealing with whatever drama was going on in my office changed when I heard Berkley’s raised voice. “You can’t be here.”
“I have every right to be here. He’s my son.” My father’s bellow breached the gap of the partially opened door and echoed through the corridor.
“Yeah, a son you’ve neglected to acknowledge until now.”
I pushed the door open the remainder of the way, then paused in the entryway. Berkley was hovering over my desk, her hands pressed firmly on the surface. My father was seated in the visitor’s chair, scowling, his hands tightly clenching the armrests, and I expected to hear fabric shredding any second.
Preston had taken a position in the middle of the room and was leaning against a filing cabinet, ready to step between them if things turned ugly. Or uglier than they already were. He glanced in my direction, his tense gaze begging for assistance.
“Reese didn’t seem to have a problem when I told him I’d be arriving for the wedding,” my father said.
Fuck. “Wait, that’s not...” I remained in the doorway in case my sister decided to throw something. Shifters were stronger than humans. Berkley had a temper, rarely missed, and there were several sharp objects sitting on my desk. Things like the letter opener, the stapler, and the picture of my siblings that I’d taken shortly after we’d moved into the lodge.
“You what?” Her scathing glare made me wince. “Why didn’t you talk to Nick and me first before you told him it was okay?”
“Berkley, I’m sorry and you’re right. I should have told you.” But Jac had arrived, and I’d been so focused on her that I’d completely forgotten about everything else. Besides, my father wasn’t supposed to arrive for a few more days.
“And just so we’re clear.” I turned to my father. “I never agreed to your visit, but now that you’re here, I want to know why.”
I POSSESSED MORE PATIENCE than Berkley when it came to dealing with our father. I waited for Preston to do as I’d asked and escort my sister from the room before closing the door and circling behind my desk. “Let’s have it.” I motioned for my father to return to his seat, then slipped into my chair, the old leather squeaking under my weight.
“Have what?” my father asked as he settled back into his seat.
His reluctance and avoidance when addressing an issue were techniques I was quite familiar with. “The real reason you finally decided to visit us.” I crossed my arms and glared, unwilling to give him any leeway.
“Like I said in my email, I wanted to meet Nick and show my support for his wedding.”
“You’ve known about Nick for over a year and haven’t shown any interest in meeting him. So why now?”
“I was nervous about his reaction,” he said.
He appeared calm, but something about his explanation sounded off, and I wasn’t buying it. My father never did anything that didn’t benefit him, including using his children for his own personal gain. Arriving earlier than he’d stated in his email boosted my level of wariness.
“And...?” I leaned back in my chair, unwilling to end our conversation until I’d discovered what prompted his visit.
“I know I’ve made a lot of mistakes with Berkley and you. Mistakes I’ll never be able to fix but would like to try if you’ll let me.” He scrubbed his hand through his hair, the dark strands streaked with more silver than the last ti
me I’d seen him. I noticed a weariness I’d never seen on his face before. Even his chestnut eyes lacked their usual intensity.
The speech, however, was something I’d heard him say to my mother numerous times. Usually after she’d found out he’d been cheating on her. It was also the same thing he’d said in a slightly different version shortly before he’d walked out of our lives. Arguing or reminding him about his past behavior wasn’t going to help the current situation. “You’re going to have to do better than that if you want to stay.”
His gaze drifted to the view outside the window before returning to me. “Katie kicked me out.”
My father was the one who left females, not the other way around. Katie was his latest conquest. I’d spoken on the phone with her only once, when I was trying to reach him. She’d sounded intelligent, and I often wondered what she was doing with him.
“She told me she was tired of my bullshit, and if I wanted to have a life with her, I needed to make amends with my family,” he said.
Definitely intelligent. “Why not find another female?” Even though some of the old resentment about the way he’d tossed his family aside rose to the surface, I kept the sarcasm out of my voice. “We both know commitment isn’t your thing.”
He slumped his shoulders, the lines around his eyes prominent with worry. “Because Katie is my mate and won’t let me claim her unless...” His voice deepened with distress.
I hated to think my father and I had something in common, but I understood the pain associated with a mate’s rejection. I wasn’t interested in sharing my personal problems or comparing notes, so I moved on to the next hurdle he’d have to address if I allowed him to stay. “You know Mom is going to be here, right?”
“I assumed as much.” He was back to masking his emotions. Either he didn’t care, which wouldn’t surprise me, or he didn’t want me to know the information bothered him. “How’s she doing?”
A lot better now that you’re not in her life. “Fine. She’s doing fine.” And she was. I hadn’t lied.
“Glad to hear it. I look forward to catching up.”
If my mother got upset about him being here, I didn’t think he’d like her idea of catching up. Possibilities were strong that their conversation might involve his male parts and some bloodletting.
If their interaction reached that point, I was certain Berkley would get involved, more to help my mother than my father. If I knew my sister, she’d called my mother the minute she’d left the room, no doubt encouraging her to sharpen her claws.
I massaged my nape. Thinking about what could happen when my parents ended up in the same room together only made the knotted muscles in my neck tighter. I believed in giving people another chance even when they didn’t deserve it. As much as I wanted to appease Berkley, I couldn’t bring myself to ask my father to leave. Not after what he’d shared with me and not without a good reason. “I’ll allow you to stay on two conditions.”
Relief shown in his gaze, and the tight muscle in his jaw slackened. “Name it.”
“One, Nick has to be comfortable with you being here.” My brother and I might not have grown up together, but it didn’t stop me from caring about him or respecting his wishes. I would never force him to accept a father he’d never met.
“And the other?” My father was never one to agree to ultimatums, yet he appeared more than willing to agree to whatever I asked of him.
Had finding Katie changed him, forced him to be a better man? “You need to have this same conversation with Berkley and work things out with her.”
“Your sister is pretty angry with me. What if she doesn’t want to listen?” my father asked.
“Then find a way to reach her.” They’d been at odds for way too long and might never have a good relationship. It didn’t mean they couldn’t be civil to each other.
“All I can do is promise I’ll try.”
“That’s all I ask,” I said.
Filled with apprehension, I silently braced for the upcoming conversation I was about to have with Berkley and Nick. I pushed out of my seat and grabbed the suitcase sitting near the door. “Good, then let’s go find you a room.”
“Thanks, son.” He stood and clamped a hand on my shoulder. “You won’t regret this.”
I hoped he was right. Because father or not, if he caused anyone I cared about any pain I’d toss his ass down the mountain myself.
Chapter Ten
JAC
Reese hadn’t said anything on the return drive to the lodge, but the tension filling the cab was unmistakable. I couldn’t tell if he was upset we’d been interrupted or because I’d dared him to leave the radio behind. The accusatory glare he’d given me after Bryson arrived assured me that he blamed me for missing the call.
I’d let down my guard and questioned my decision to avoid becoming his mate. I’d teased him and let him kiss me—more than once. Kisses so masterful and hot that my lips still tingled.
Worse, I’d kissed him back, gotten so aroused I’d been seconds away from climbing all over his body, and would have if Bryson hadn’t interrupted us. I should’ve known better, shouldn’t have broken my own rules. We were too different. Reese’s constant need for control would only lead to heartache, namely mine.
I’d taken his silence during the trip back as a sign that he’d come to the same conclusion. I wanted to make things easy for both of us. As soon as he stopped the truck, I gave him a quick thanks and hurried inside the lodge.
Nina was helping a guest so I waved, then headed for the door reserved for employee access only. I hadn’t gotten far before hearing Berkley’s raised voice. She was arguing with a male, which I assumed was the source of the emergency. I’d had enough family drama growing up and didn’t want to be caught in the middle of theirs. I avoided the hallway that led past the offices and took the one leading to my room.
After hearing Berkley call the male “Father,” it didn’t take a genius to figure out that her sire had shown up unexpectedly. The fact that my friend had a good set of lungs when she was angry, and I’d heard a portion of their argument, confirmed my suspicion.
When she arrived in my room a little later, rippling with agitation, I didn’t ask about the outcome. It wasn’t any of my business. If at some point in the future she wanted to discuss the strained relationship with her father, I’d be more than happy to listen. I appreciated my friend’s perceptive talents and was glad she didn’t question me about my outing with Reese.
She’d stopped by to invite me to an informal dinner with her family and members of the small wedding party. My first impulse was to refuse. I was an expert at avoiding tense family-related situations. Judging by the argument I’d overheard, things couldn’t get much more tense. She didn’t need to tell me the upcoming meal was going to be difficult for her.
Berkley had been there for me, a shoulder to cry on when things got tough with my father. I figured the least I could do was show up and return the favor by offering my support. Even if it meant I’d be spending time with Reese.
My cat, who’d been annoyed with me for walking away from him earlier, purred at the prospect. She wasn’t happy about being away from her mate. I refused to admit I wasn’t happy about it either. Not after we’d shared those memorably delicious kisses at the falls. Kisses that left me aching and wanting more.
My rational, less emotional side, the one that understood hurt and rejection, wasn’t willing to risk my heart and my future. I wasn’t going to give in to Reese even if he could make my body overheat like a flipping volcano. Thinking about our next interaction was the reason I’d dawdled and taken my time showering and changing.
Though wearing cut-offs and a T-shirt was more my style, they weren’t the most appropriate clothes for an evening event. After digging through my suitcases, I found a slim-fitting sundress and sandals. I told myself the extra time I’d spent fussing over my hair and finding the right outfit was to make a good impression on my friend’s family and had nothing to do with t
he prospect of seeing Reese.
I rarely had trouble being punctual, but if Berkley questioned my tardiness, I planned to use Nick as my excuse. Meeting his father for the first time was all about family. They didn’t need an outsider witnessing the event, especially if the outcome was unpleasant. And by unpleasant, I’d been thinking about Nick and the possibility of his wolf going feral. I still wanted to see his animal, but preferred it to be from a distance and not in the lodge’s dining room.
I also figured if anything went wrong, Berkley and Reese would know how to handle it better than me. My cat could move fast, but their animals were bigger and stronger, more equipped to handle an angry wolf.
I pushed aside my worries when I reached the lobby and saw that the restaurant was busy. Berkley said they’d be using a room reserved for private parties. After checking with the hostess to find out where I was going, I made my way to the back of the dining room.
From the outer hallway, I got a glimpse of the left half of the room. There were a handful of people standing in small groups and engaged in conversations. Mandy was smiling and chatting with an older couple who appeared to be in their late fifties.
Bryson had changed out of his uniform into a button-down shirt and pants. He had his arm wrapped around a female with light brown hair. The top of her head barely reached his broad shoulders. I assumed she was his mate, Leah. The male standing opposite them, the one who was laughing and getting his arm smacked by the female, had to be her brother, Mitch. According to Berkley, he was the local vet and a close friend of their family.
Everyone appeared to be enjoying themselves, but I sensed an undercurrent of tension. I got concerned when I didn’t see Berkley or Nick, then realized if there’d been a problem, Mandy wouldn’t be far from her mate. I slowly inched through the doorway. I couldn’t stop myself from scanning the rest of the room searching for Reese, then being disappointed when I didn’t see him.