by Rayna Tyler
It took a cough and Preston’s elbow in my ribs to get me to realize there was music playing in the background, signaling the start of the wedding. I vaguely recalled getting in line to escort Nina down the aisle before taking my place next to Nick. The actual ceremony was a blur.
My thoughts, my focus, my wolf, were lost in watching Jac as she worked her way around the outskirts of the room snapping the occasional picture. The attraction between us came with being her mate, but for me, it was a lot more. Sometime over the last few days, I’d fallen for her. My heart ached, knowing if I didn’t do something drastic to change her mind, I was going to lose her forever.
JAC
I hovered near a corner table, listening to the low drone of music and watching everyone enjoy themselves. The wedding had been simple, with a touch of country elegance. Berkley had done an outstanding job. She’d transformed the restaurant’s dining room into a reception hall complete with a portable dance floor. I had no doubt the wedding packages she was putting together were going to be successful. I was disappointed I’d never get to be a part of it. Worse was the deep regret, the ache bearing down on my heart every time I thought about walking away from Reese.
As the best man, he was in a majority of the photos, making it nearly impossible to concentrate. He made a pair of jeans look good, but damn if he wasn’t an impressively handsome male in the white shirt and black suit he was wearing. A suit I wanted so badly to remove from his body. The need to be with him, to mate, to claim, was getting stronger the longer we were together.
Logic continually battled with my emotions and my increasing attraction to Reese. The fact that I cared about him and thoroughly enjoyed his company, dominant nature and all, didn’t help with the lingering doubts I had about my decision.
All I had to do was think about my controlling father and the years I’d wasted trying to gain his approval. With every disdainful grimace, every disappointed sneer, every condescending remark, he’d reminded me that no male would want a hybrid as a mate. I was an anomaly, a rarity in the shifter world, a cat that had taken on the feline traits of both of my parents as well as a domestic cat hidden somewhere several generations back in my lineage.
Reese might be able to accept my animal, but what happened if we had children and the rare gene made an appearance? Would he love and protect them, or would he treat them as rejects the same way my father had treated me? Would he regret his decision to take me as a mate and gradually grow to hate me? I would rather be alone forever than risk seeing a hateful look in his stunning eyes.
“Dance with me.” Reese appeared behind me, pulling me from my troubled thoughts. His whisper, a warm caress, sent chills racing along my bare shoulder.
I took a moment to enjoy his hand on my hip, to savor his masculine scent before turning to face him. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’m working.”
“Since I know the owner personally, I’m sure he won’t have a problem with you taking a break.” He lifted the camera out of my hand and tucked it into my bag, which I’d placed on the floor under the table in the corner. “I’ll even let you lead.”
“You might change your mind when I start stepping on your toes.”
“A little embarrassment never hurt anyone.” He took my hand and tugged me toward an empty spot in the middle of the floor.
The warmth from his hand seeped through the thin material covering my lower back. “Was that an attempt to be charming?”
He widened his eyes. “Is it working?”
Yes. “No, not even close.”
He released an exaggerated sigh. “Seriously? Because I even practiced in front of a mirror.”
I laughed and patted his shoulder. “Poor baby. You’ll have to try a different method.”
“Really.” He gave me one of his heart-melting grins.
His gaze glistened with mischief and dropped to my mouth. My heart raced, and I parted my lips in anticipation of a kiss. A kiss that never came.
“Berkley told me you turned down the job and were planning to leave in the morning.” His voice lacked any emotion. No anger. No disappointment. Simply stating a fact.
The tightness in my stomach grew to the size of a medium-sized rock. My body tensed, first because I was disappointed his lips weren’t on mine, and second because I’d done my best to avoid this conversation. Once the wedding was over, I didn’t think it was right not to tell Berkley about my plans.
“I was hoping you wouldn’t mind sticking around one more day,” he said.
“Why?” I was confused. Why was he acting like me not taking the job wasn’t a big deal, like he didn’t care we were mates and I was leaving? What had changed since last night? Had he finally given up? And why did it feel as if someone had used their claws to leave large gashes across my heart?
“I need to follow up on a lead I got from Mick and John. I thought you might want to be included.”
Any other time, I would’ve been thrilled to be asked for my help, but all I felt was upset and hurt. Heavy on the hurt. “I guess one more day won’t make any difference.”
“Great. Dress comfortably for a day outside and be ready to leave by seven.” The song we’d been swaying to ended, replaced by a faster beat. He took my hand and led me back to where he’d found me. After pressing a kiss to my forehead, he walked across the room to stand with Preston.
Too shocked by what had just happened, all I could do was stand there and stare at his back. My cat growled and flexed her claws, exceedingly annoyed by Reese’s sudden indifference to us.
“Hey, feel like taking a few more pictures?” Berkley tapped my shoulder and interrupted my thoughts. “I’m not sure how long my parents will be nice to each other, so now might be the only time you can get some pictures of them with Mandy and Nick.”
“Sure.” I fished my camera out of the bag and draped the strap around my nape. “I’m right behind you.”
Chapter Fourteen
JAC
Glimpsing moments of life through a lens was a rewarding job, but it also meant I spent a lot of time on my feet. It had been a long day and an even longer night, one with little to no sleep. It had been nearing midnight by the time the reception ended and I’d returned to my room.
My dance with Reese was the last time I’d spent any time alone with him. I’d gone from fantasizing about getting him naked to analyzing every possible scenario as to why there was a sudden change in the way he treated me. I should be happy he’d finally given up and was no longer pursuing me as his mate. Instead, I was miserable that I was leaving.
Not surprisingly, Reese had rapped on my door promptly at seven. I’d barely had time to roll out of bed, zip up my jeans, and get a T-shirt tugged over my head before his pounding became more insistent. He’d kept conversation light and to a minimum. Apparently, he wasn’t any better at early morning social engagements without a caffeine inducement than I was. After plying me with some much-needed coffee and two of Berkley’s humongously delicious cinnamon rolls dripping with icing, he’d led me to his truck.
I wasn’t familiar with the outlying roads near the resort, so I didn’t question Reese about the lead he’d mentioned or where we were going. Not until we’d reached a place where a large wooden sign was mounted between two round posts on either side of a graveled drive. The words “Gabe’s Trail Rides” were carved into the thick grain. The letters were painted dark blue and outlined in yellow. I knew Gabe Miller owned the property next to the resort. I’d seen the brochures advertising his scenic horseback rides, along with pamphlets for other local businesses, on a rack in the lobby. I’d also gotten a brief introduction to the male during the reception the night before.
“This lead that you mentioned... Do you think the thief is one of your neighbors?” I asked.
“No, but we need to stop here first to pick up a couple of things for our trip.”
“Are you going to tell me what those things might be?” His evasiveness wasn’t helping my anxiety and neither was his ann
oying grin.
“You’ll see.” He parked in an empty space next to several other vehicles in a small graveled lot near the side of a large barn.
I got out of the truck, manure the first strong scent I smelled. I was glad I’d decided to wear an old pair of jeans and hiking boots. Gabe’s horses weren’t selective about where they left their presents, and I had a few near misses as I followed Reese toward the front of the barn.
We reached the main entrance just as Gabe was securing the gate on one of the stalls. He was fit for a man in his late fifties and the cowboy attire, complete with a tan hat, suited him.
“Morning, Reese.” He flashed a warm smile, then nodded. “Jac.”
“Good morning,” I said, still wondering what Reese needed to get from Gabe.
“The saddlebags have everything you asked for,” Gabe said.
“Saddlebags.” I jerked my head back and forth between Gabe and Reese. “What do we need saddlebags for?”
“For your ride.” Gabe tipped his head toward the two horses tied to a nearby fence. One of the animals, slightly larger than the other, was a sleek, shiny black. The one standing next to it was a chestnut brown with a white spot on its forehead. Both of them were fitted with saddles complete with the leather bags he’d mentioned, hanging on either side of their rumps.
I gaped at Reese, unable to form words.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes. I need to check on a tour that’s getting ready to leave.” Gabe acted as if he couldn’t get away from us fast enough and sprinted in the opposite direction.
Reese ignored my irritated glare, took my hand, and pulled me toward the beasts. Beasts that got considerably bigger the closer we got.
The man had truly lost his mind. I jerked my hand out of his and took a step backward. “You’re kidding, right? There’s no way I’m getting on one of those hay-chomping things.”
“What happened to no fear?” He crossed his arms, tipping his head slightly to one side, his tone challenging.
“I was talking about mountain climbing, bungee jumping, maybe even alligator wrestling. Not riding on an animal that might decide to toss me off its back, then stomp the living crap out of me.” I was being serious, and all he could do was laugh. I considered knocking him on his ass, preferably so he’d land in one of the many piles of horse crap littering the ground near his feet. Lucky for him, Gabe picked that moment to return.
“You’ll be perfectly safe. Rosie is one of the gentlest mares I own.” Gabe ran his hand along the horse’s neck. “And Trapper is a good trail lead.”
I wasn’t ready to relinquish my doubts. “If you say so.” As if on cue, the animal nudged me with her nose and snorted. Gabe reached into his pocket and pulled out something that looked like a dog biscuit. He held his palm out flat and waited for Rosie to snatch it out of his hand.
“Horse snack,” Gabe answered before I could ask.
I remembered how well Bear behaved for Nick after he fed the dog a similar bone-shaped treat. Maybe the same thing applied to horses. “I don’t suppose you have a bag of those we could take with us, do you?”
“We won’t need them.” Reese untied the reins from the fence. “Time to go.”
I liked animals, and for the most part, they liked me. I wouldn’t back down from the challenge no matter how badly I wanted to. “And how do you propose I get up there?” I pointed at the top of Rosie’s back.
“Grab the saddle horn, put one foot in the stirrup, then pull yourself up.” He grinned and glanced at my backside. “Unless you’d like me to give you a boost.”
As much as I’d enjoy having Reese’s hands on my ass, I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction. “I can manage.”
Thanks to my cat’s agility, mounting was easier than it appeared. Once I was comfortably seated, Reese handed me the reins.
“It’s a beautiful day for a ride but I’d keep an eye on the weather.” Gabe motioned toward a tiny cluster of storm clouds gathering along the horizon in the distance.
“Will do.” Reese hoisted himself up onto Trapper.
I had yet to see him do anything where he seemed out of his element. I’d never had a thing for cowboys, but after staring at those firm, thick thighs and the way his rear filled the saddle, I could easily see the fascination. The view was a definite perk, and maybe this wasn’t going to be as bad as I thought.
Of course, after bouncing around on the hard leather surface for a few minutes, I was convinced that Reese had intentionally devised another plan to torture me. I was also sure I’d have sores in unpleasant places by the end of the ride.
It took almost an hour for me to feel comfortable enough with Rosie and her easy gait to relax the white-knuckle grip I had on the horn and enjoy the scenery around us. “Darn it,” I said, remembering I’d left my camera sitting in Reese’s truck. I’d been so worried about riding that I’d completely forgotten to retrieve it.
Reese turned slightly in his saddle to look back at me. “Is there a problem?”
“I forgot my camera, and I hate missing out on these great shots.”
“I’d have been happy to bring you back out here, but you said you needed to leave tomorrow.” His voice possessed the same nonchalant tone he’d used during our dance.
“Yeah, I guess,” I mumbled, confused more than ever by the comment that tore at my heart and made my cat’s meow sound like a whine.
“ARE YOU GOING TO TELL me where we’re going?” What I really wanted to ask Reese was how much longer he expected my poor body to take a beating. Judging by the position of the sun, I assumed we’d been riding a couple of hours. I had no idea where we were, and I had yet to see anything that resembled a trail or any evidence of civilization.
He glanced over his shoulder and grinned. “We’re almost there.”
The trees began to thin and opened up into a clearing. At the opposite end of the area was a beautifully constructed cabin. The wooden exterior was worn and showed minimal signs of abuse caused by extreme changes in the weather.
“This was your lead?” I glanced around, looking for a stack of lumber or anything else that belonged on a construction site.
“Sort of.” Reese stopped his horse, then slid easily from the saddle.
He walked over to Rosie and held the leather strap along the side of her head and waited for me to dismount. Once my feet were firmly planted on the ground, I hooked a thumb at the horses, who had their noses buried in a half-foot-high patch of weeds and wild grass. “Aren’t you afraid they’ll take off?”
“They’ll be fine. Come on, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
“Oh, okay.” I hesitantly glanced at Rosie one more time, then took Reese’s offered hand and let him lead me toward the cabin.
He had his other hand raised and ready to knock when the door opened. Standing near the entryway was an older male who towered over Reese by at least four inches. He scented of bear and had a silvery beard that reached the middle of his chest. He wore a pair of blue suspenders over an orange plaid shirt with sleeves rolled to the elbows. He reminded me of a hermit or a hermit-type lumberjack.
“Reese, heard you were back. ’Bout time you came for a visit,” the old guy said in a chastising tone, then moved away from the door so we could enter.
The interior was an open living space with a kitchen area on the left. The living room started in the middle of the room and expanded into the area on the right. A set of stairs on the back wall led to an overhead loft, which I assumed was used as the bedroom.
“Jac, this is Bart,” Reese said once we were inside. “He’s the oldest and most cantankerous person living on the mountain.”
“Funny name for a female,” Bart said.
I’d just met Bart and didn’t know anything about him. I wasn’t inclined to explain the reason for the nickname I’d chosen to use since high school.
Bart responded to my silence with a huff, then walked over to a single-door refrigerator sitting at the end of a short counter and pull
ed out three bottles of beer. After handing one to each of us, he twisted the top off his bottle and took a long swig. “Something wrong with your parents?”
I assumed since he knew Reese that the question was directed at me. “My mother, no.” I had fond and loving memories of her up until she’d died. “My father, an undeniable yes.”
Reese shook his head. “Sorry, Jac, I forgot to mention Bart’s also the nosiest shifter in the area.”
Bart’s lip twitched, the comment clearly taken as a compliment.
A loud blaring chime filled the room, but Bart didn’t budge and acted as if he hadn’t heard it.
“Wait, you have a phone?” I tipped my head to the side and found the source of the noise sitting on a shelf behind him. “That means Reese could have called you.”
Bart shrugged. “Yep. The granddaughter had it installed last summer.”
Reese leaned against the kitchen counter and grinned as if a high-security secret was about to be revealed. “Would you have answered it if I’d called?”
“Nope. Why would I?” Bart said and took another swallow.
“So people can reach you without having to come all the way out here.” I rubbed my sore backside, getting more irritated by the second.
“I made it my whole life without using them fancy devices. Not gonna start now.” Bart tugged on his beard. “Besides, if I talk on the phone, no one comes out to visit.”
Bart made an excellent point, and abrasive or not, I found myself liking the old guy.
“I’m guessing you didn’t make the trip just so you could introduce me to your female. Want to tell me what I can help you with?”
Reese’s female. If only Bart knew how untrue that statement had become. I downed the remainder of my beer in one swallow.
“I’ve had some lumber and equipment go missing. Have you seen or heard any unusual traffic in the area?” Reese asked.