Enticing the Wolf

by Rayna Tyler

  Since Mandy’s group was the closest, I headed in their direction. Maybe I’d be able to find out how the meeting had gone. I hadn’t made it far when a male stepped in front of me, and asked, “Are you a friend of the bride or the groom?”

  Though his hair was several shades darker and streaked with silver, his height and features were similar to Reese’s. I didn’t need an introduction to know the male was his father, Clayton Reynolds. The whiff of whiskey I scented on his breath came from the half-drained glass in his hand. His charming demeanor seemed forced, his gaze anxious and unsettled. He was a man who was troubled and doing his best to conceal it. Maybe the talk with his youngest son hadn’t gone well after all.

  “Neither...” I managed to say before Mandy was at my side. “Mr. Reynolds.” She ground out his name as if it were a bad word. “This is Jac. She’s the photographer who will be taking the pictures for our wedding.”

  “Nice to meet you, Jac. You can call me Clayton, or Clay, whichever you prefer.” He swallowed the last of his drink. “I’m the father, the unwanted interloper.” The humorous comment conflicting with his forced smile.

  “You wouldn’t mind if I steal Jac to help Berkley and me in the kitchen, would you?” Mandy took my hand and pulled me away from Clayton before he had a chance to answer.

  She waited until we were out of earshot, even by shifter standards, before letting go of my hand, then said, “I know he’s Nick’s father, but I don’t like him. I’ve known Berkley a long time, and he was the worst father ever. Is it wrong that I’m not thrilled about him being here, or that I don’t think he deserves a chance to be a part of my mate’s life?”

  “There’s nothing wrong with being protective of the people you care about.” The direction of Mandy’s relationship with her soon-to-be father-in-law was something she needed to decide on her own. I believed people should be given a second chance, but I also knew what it was like to have daddy issues. I didn’t want to influence her decision by voicing any negative opinions.

  She tapped her chin and absently stared at the floor. “You’re right.” She snapped her head in my direction, then resumed walking. “As long as he’s making an effort to fix things, I should give him a chance.”

  I found it amusing that she caught what I’d been thinking without me having to say it. If Clayton was sincere about wanting to improve the relationship with his children, then Mandy would provide a good buffer to make it happen. I was more concerned about Berkley and how she was dealing with things.

  We’d barely reached the hallway leading to the employees’ kitchen when the tantalizing aroma of lasagna filled the air. My friend’s cooking was legendary, and my mouth was watering by the time we entered the room. I pressed my hand against my stomach, hoping to suppress the rumble.

  Berkley was standing in front of an open oven. There was an apron tied around the back of her waist, and she was lifting a large glass pan off a rack with protective mitts. “Hey, Jac. I’m so glad you came.” She placed the pan on top of the stove.

  “Wouldn’t miss it,” I said.

  Her quirked brow reminded me of Reese. “Uh-huh.”

  “Everything okay with Nick?” I wanted to ask about Reese too but didn’t want to encourage any more of Berkley’s interference.

  “Things didn’t go well when he met his father, so Reese took him outside to get some air.” Mandy picked up a fork and absently smacked the counter with it. “You know, to keep him from doing the wolfy thing.”

  I nodded, glad Nick hadn’t lost it and happy, even though I shouldn’t be, that Reese would be making an appearance later.

  “Can I help with anything?” I offered out of politeness. My father had done his best to teach me all the things a son should know, things that didn’t involve a kitchen. The few culinary skills I’d learned from my mother before she’d passed away included being proficient at reading the instructions on the back of a box and operating a microwave.

  “There’s a salad and some dressings in that large refrigerator behind you. If you wouldn’t mind taking them out to the table, that would be great.” Berkley finished cutting the lasagna into serving portions, then put on her mitts and carried the pan out of the room.

  Mandy pulled open the refrigerator door. “I’ll grab the dressings if you want to get the salad.”

  “Deal,” I said, relieved I wouldn’t have to assist with anything complicated. I reached for the large plastic bowl filled with lettuce, chopped tomatoes, olives, and chunks of cheese.

  By the time Mandy and I returned to the meeting room, everyone except Berkley had taken a seat. Besides the empty spots next to Nick and Preston, which I assumed were for their mates, the only other seat available was the chair next to Reese. How was I supposed to sit next to him through an entire meal and pretend I wasn’t affected by his presence?

  Escaping wasn’t an option, not with Berkley closing the door as soon as I walked into the room. With all the grace I could muster, I placed the salad on the table, then walked around the table and took a seat. The second my backside connected with the cushion, Reese draped his arm over the back of my chair. He leaned close, sniffed my neck, then whispered, “You look beautiful.”

  The compliment was unexpected and so was the heat rising on my cheeks. Normally, when a male made comments about my looks, it didn’t faze me much. Was that his way of apologizing or another attempt to get me to change my mind?

  I turned my head and met his gaze. My lips were inches from his, and the memory of our kiss swirled through my mind. Taking a deep breath and gathering what little resolve I had left, I whispered back, “Thanks, but whatever you’re planning isn’t going to work.”

  He raised a questioning brow, then grinned innocently. “Who said I was planning anything?”

  REESE

  Once Nick got over his initial shock of meeting our father for the first time, things hadn’t gone nearly as bad as I’d imagined. He might not have liked some of my father’s answers and been a little angry at first, but at least he hadn’t gone feral. The walk we’d taken before returning to the private dining room for dinner had also helped.

  I’d wanted to apologize to Jac for my behavior at the falls. After seeing her in the revealing sundress, then getting a whiff of her bubblegum bodywash, all I could manage was a compliment. Instead of anger, she’d responded with playful banter, which sounded a lot like a dare.

  Berkley’s decision to serve lasagna had been a wise choice. Conversation remained light and centered on the upcoming wedding. The tension circulating around the room had lessened considerably during the meal.

  By the time we’d finished dessert and the additional guests had left for the night, my family had settled into pleasant conversation.

  “The lodge looks great,” my father said, reaching for his glass of water. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been here, and I’m impressed with the changes you’ve made. Looks like you three are doing pretty well for yourselves.”

  Something about my father’s comment made me tense, but I wasn’t sure why. Berkley and I had been shocked when we’d discovered that the resort had been left to us and Nick. That our father hadn’t inherited anything. He’d never said anything about it, and I still wondered if Katie was the real reason he was here or if it was a ploy. A way for him to gain what he thought should have been his. I wanted to believe him when he’d said he was here to make amends, that he didn’t have another motive. A motive that benefited him and would upset my siblings and me.

  Berkley must have had a similar reaction. Before anyone else got a glimpse of the claws sprouting from her fingertips, Preston had pulled her hand under the table.

  “I’ll take you on a tour tomorrow and show you the rest of the renovations.” Maybe some alone time with my father would provide me with the answers I needed. It would also keep him away from the lodge when my mother was due to arrive.

  “I’d like that.” He pushed his chair away from the table. “Berkley, the meal was wonderful, but if yo
u don’t mind I’m going to head back to my room and call Katie.”

  “Not a problem.” Her gaze softened with a hint of a smile. “We’ll see you in the morning.”

  Now that the meal was over and the group consisted of my siblings and their mates, I leaned back in my seat and relaxed by draping my arm across the back of Jac’s chair.

  I glanced at Berkley, then Nick. “I already told him if he does anything anyone doesn’t like, he’s out of here.” Because of the loner lifestyle Nick had lived before we met him, it had taken some time for him to adjust to having a family. The last thing he needed was for our father to ruin his wedding.

  “Thank you,” Berkley said, then leaned against Preston with her head on his shoulder.

  The day had been hectic, and I hadn’t gotten a chance to talk to Berkley and Nick about the thefts on the construction sites. I hadn’t wanted to discuss the topic in front of our father and was glad he’d decided to retire early.

  I didn’t have a problem with talking about family business in front of Jac. She was my mate, whether she wanted to be or not. When she acted as if she might leave, I placed my other hand on her thigh, urging her to stay.

  “Preston mentioned you were having some problems out on the sites. Care to fill us in?” Berkley asked.

  I spent the next few minutes telling them about the disappearing tools and missing lumber. During the explanation, I swept my hand across Jac’s bare shoulder and ended up playing with the strap of her dress. When I ignored her shrugs and refused to move my hand, the devious feline purposely scooped some icing off her plate, then slowly licked it off her finger.

  I was highly aroused, bordering on frustrated, and refused to let her out-taunt me. I skimmed the side of her neck and gently tugged her earlobe. She squirmed and bit her lip. As soon as I returned to playing with her strap, she slipped her hand underneath the tablecloth and placed it on my thigh.

  One slow inch at a time, she slid her hand along the inside of my leg until she brushed against my crotch.

  “Jac,” I cautioned.

  “Hmm?” she said innocently, then dug the tip of her claws into my leg. Not hard enough to cut through fabric, but sharp enough to let me know she meant business.

  In my haste to extract her nails, I knocked over my glass of water. It spilled on the table and splashed the front of my shirt, the cold water seeping through to my chest.

  “You okay?” Mandy, who was sitting on my other side, giggled and handed me a napkin.

  “Fine,” I growled and dabbed the wet spot on my chest. If anyone had noticed what had transpired between Jac and me, they were pretending they hadn’t seen anything.

  Mandy shifted in her seat so she was leaning up against Nick. “Why would anyone want to steal from a construction site?”

  “Most likely for the money.” Nick curved his arm around Mandy’s waist. “It’s not uncommon for workers to steal small items, report them missing, then turn around and sell them for a profit. I came across it a couple of times when I was working construction. I don’t recall anyone ever having a problem with supplies going missing. At least not in the quantities reported.”

  “If supplies continue to disappear and we have to keep waiting for new deliveries, the delays will also impact our cost and we’ll start losing money.”

  “What are we going to do?” Berkley asked.

  “I’ve got Bryson increasing security and having the team do frequent checks throughout the night,” Preston said.

  “Do you think it’s an inside job?” Jac turned to address the group.

  “We’re considering the possibility.” Trying to figure out the reason behind the thefts was frustrating. The thought of someone purposely trying to hurt our business was troubling.

  “Do all the sites run temporary lighting at night?” Jac’s contemplative smile, combined with the way she tapped the table, made me nervous.

  “Yes.” Instinctively, I knew I wasn’t going to like whatever she was thinking.

  “I have long-range capabilities with my camera. I could do an overnight stakeout. If the thieves show up again, I can take photos without them knowing I’m there.” Jac ignored me and glanced between Berkley and Nick. “What do you think?”

  “I think it’s a great idea,” Berkley said.

  Nick shrugged. “Couldn’t hurt.”

  “Absolutely not. It could be dangerous. I won’t have my...” I clamped my mouth shut before I said the word “mate.”

  Jac patted my cheek and got up to leave. “It’s so cute you assumed I was asking for your permission, or that you think you can order me around.”

  Chapter Eleven

  JAC

  I hadn’t gotten much rest the night before, not because I was still getting used to sleeping in a new bed, but because I couldn’t stop thinking about Reese. It didn’t matter that my human side had chosen to refuse our mating; my animal side refused to listen. Once a shifter discovered the identity of their mate, their primal animalistic nature took over. The longer I was around Reese, the harder it was to fight the urge to claim him. Knowing he was in the room right next to me, and remembering how hot he’d looked in the pool at the falls, sent my mind into a flurry of fantasies that kept me from getting much sleep.

  Berkley was the reason I’d been sitting on the sofa near the fireplace in the area opposite the lobby for almost an hour, drinking my third cup of coffee and enjoying the warmth filling the room from the midafternoon sun. She’d sent me a text letting me know she’d be arriving shortly after picking up her mother from the airport, and asked me to meet them.

  I stared out the large bay window at the panoramic view of the resort’s property. The leaves covering some of the trees varied in multiple shades of green and provided a colorful setting to the glimpses I got of the cabins.

  I’d been trying to relax, to keep my mind from straying to thoughts of Reese...again. The male had a lot of nerve. He’d assumed the role of attentive mate without apologizing for being a jerk at the falls first. All through dinner, he’d teased my nape with his fingertips, brushed the skin on my shoulder, and played with the strap on my dress. I smiled smugly, remembering his reaction when I’d placed my hand on his thigh, and then inched close to his crotch, and how easily my touch had aroused him. Most of all, I enjoyed letting him know I had claws and wasn’t afraid to use them.

  I’d heard Reese leave his room early this morning and assumed he was working, possibly visiting the construction sites and giving his father a tour. He was most likely doing his best to keep his sister happy by occupying his father and keeping him away from the lodge during their mother’s arrival.

  The door to the lobby swung open, and Berkley entered dragging a rolling suitcase by the handle. Marjorie Reynolds walked behind her carrying a smaller case with a matching blue suede finish. She was a few inches shorter than Berkley, but had the same dark hair intermingled with several different shades of brown. Her eyes were a deeper shade of amber and matched her silk blouse.

  “Jac,” Marjorie waved, her sweet voice carrying across the room.

  “Hi, Marjorie,” I said, setting my cup on the wooden rectangular coffee table in front of me, then getting to my feet.

  “I thought we agreed during your last visit that you were going to call me Mom.” She set her suitcase on the floor, then pulled me into a firm hug.

  I didn’t remember agreeing to comply with Marjorie’s insistent wishes, and I knew arguing wouldn’t do me any good. The last time I’d seen her was over Thanksgiving weekend a few years ago. After my mother died, my father refused to celebrate, and I usually ended up alone on the holidays. When Berkley found out I didn’t have any plans, she used her persuasive skills—more like strong-armed me—to convince me to go home with her. Reese had been stationed overseas and unable to visit; otherwise, we would have met a lot sooner. “It’s so good to see you.”

  “I heard the good news.” Marjorie excitedly clasped her hands together.

  “What news?” I panicked
for a moment, wondering if she’d found out I was her son’s mate. Marjorie was relentless. There was no way she wouldn’t interfere. She wouldn’t leave the resort until she’d done her best to make sure I’d accept him. I wouldn’t put it past her to sit outside the bedroom door to make sure we’d completed the claiming.

  “Berkley told me you’d be taking the pictures for the wedding.”

  I released the breath I’d been holding. “Oh, yes, of course.”

  “Mom, why don’t you let me show you to your room, give you some time to unpack,” Berkley said.

  “I can unpack later,” Marjorie said. “I want to visit with Mandy and see where you’re having the ceremony.”

  Berkley rolled her eyes and nudged me with her shoulder. “In mom speak, that means she wants to see if I’ve forgotten anything.”

  Marjorie ignored the comment by pressing her lips into a thin line. “First, I’d like to see my son. I know Reese is busy, but surely he can spare some time for his mother.”

  Even though I knew Reese was keeping his father busy, I’d secretly yearned to see him, at least one more time—alone. After tonight, things were going to be hectic. The wedding was tomorrow, I’d be working long into the evening, and the day after that, I’d planned to leave.

  Not seeing him was probably for the best. He’d be angry once he found out how I planned to spend my evening, the parting gift I decided to give Berkley and her family. If everything went the way I hoped, and with a certain bear’s help, namely Bryson, I was going to get some photos of the construction thieves. Of course, in order to get the information I needed from Bryson, I’d had to bribe him by offering to take additional pictures of him and Leah after the reception.

  He’d tried to persuade me into returning to do their wedding after they’d set a date, but I’d declined. It would be too hard and unfair to my cat if I had to come back and face Reese again once I left.

  “Mom, there’s something you need to know.” Berkley’s mother was the only person I knew that could make my friend’s grimace look utterly painful. Since she’d also gone pale, I was pretty sure whatever she was going to say had something to do with Clayton’s visit.