Second Chance Mates

by Sabrina Vance

  "The local nightlife being that tramp Jessica?" Robyn sneered, nodding towards the bar. Clara stared past her, frowning when she saw Jessica, a tall blonde with a mini skirt barely more than a belt, practically draping herself over Luke. He looked more amused than cross. "Well, he's a hottie all right. Surprised it took her all over thirty seconds to get her claws into him. Still there's always Cade. Still single, I'm guessing?"

  "Still single," Clara confirmed, though it was partly through gritted teeth. Robyn knew the whole story about Colton, Cade and she, about how she'd rejected him and how he'd just left, straight after the wake. She'd listened to her wail about it, then talk angrily. Surely she couldn't have forgotten already?

  "And still unclaimed if I'm not mistaken." Robyn gave a feral grin. A mental flash of Robyn cooing over Cade in their senior year made Clara's chest suddenly constrict. Apparently she wasn't the only one forgetting; back then Robyn had a crush on Cade and by the looks of it and the little finger wave she gave him, combined with a shake of her mane, she was still interested.

  Why should she care? Robyn was smart, single and successful and so was Cade. So Cade might have hinted something towards her—well, more than hinted—that he still wanted her and both her wolf and body both desired him, Robyn was right, he was unclaimed and she didn't have any rights to demand another woman take her eyes off him like she had the sudden urge to do. But if she claimed him…

  Instead she gave a curt nod and took a sip of her beer, her eyes wandering around the packed room, until she caught Luke's eye. He flashed a white smile at her and rolled his eyes as Jessica hooked her arm through Cade’s, chattering none stop, not that Clara could hear what the other woman said over the throb of the music blasting from overhead speakers.

  "Tell me about the big blond hunk." Robyn wagged her fingers at the other women hugged around the small table. "Enquiring minds want to know."

  "He's Luke's friend. They share an apartment and..." She paused. Actually she didn't know that much, other than he shifted to a tiger and he made her feel faint and her heart race. "He cooks," she finished lamely.

  "That, I can work with," giggled Lauren, a bubbly brunette who had also been a friend since school. "I wonder if he cooks in the bedroom as well as he cooks in the kitchen." They all hooted with laughter. Clara tried a weak smile.

  "Hush," laughed Robyn. "Clara didn't say he cooks well."

  Expectant eyes turned on her.

  "Uh, he cooks fine," she spluttered. So much for a night out where she wouldn't have to think about Luke in a bedroom. As the conversation continued around her, apparently all her girl friends wanted to do was discuss Cade's return, and why, and if he would be available for long and how hot Luke was, and when would that bitch Jessica leave them alone? The more they talked, and giggled, and ogled her men, the more Clara felt her blood simmering. Even more so when she realized she'd just thought something very propriety: her men.

  "You don't mind if I take a shot at Cade, do you?" Robyn whispered while the girls were distracted by scowling at Jessica as Luke took her to the dance floor. Well, somethings never changed. How had she never noticed how bitchy they could all be when it looked like another woman might get something they wanted, especially a man? Maybe it was because she'd always been so head over heels in love with Colton and everyone had recognized that he was off limits, otherwise they would have been all over him too. Maybe, they had. Maybe she'd just never noticed. That was a sobering thought.

  She waved when Luke danced past the table and kept the smile plastered on even when Jessica dropped her head back and laughed at something he said. He looked happy. A keen sense of how mean she had been to him when he first arrived hit her hard. She had no right to take out her unhappiness on him, on either of them, when all they did in return was be nice to her, lay her deck and tackle her long to do list of things that needed fixing. He'd been nothing but nice, and if he liked Jessica, well, who was she to argue? She hadn’t exactly said she would mate him. Them. She had no claim.

  Even if it inexplicably hurt.

  Except, hadn't he made it clear he wanted her? So why the flirting with Jessica?

  She had to stop looking.

  So of course her eyes sought out the other man on her mind. Cade.

  "Clara? Hello!" Robyn waved a manicured hand in front of her face. "Earth to Clara. Did you hear what I just asked?"

  "What? Oh, yeah. Sure, whatever." What had Robyn just asked? She frowned then winced. Oh yes. Taking a shot at Cade, and she just gave her the go ahead! She watched as Robyn slid out the booth, smoothed her dress and gave her friends a thumbs up before sashaying over to where Cade sat with a couple of old high school buddies, guys that she recalled had been on his football team, guys Colton knew but wasn't big friends with.

  With a pain in the pit of her stomach she watched as Robyn greeted him again, following up with another hug, probably leaning in to give him a view of her deep cleavage as she placed a flirty hand on his thigh. Clara took another large gulp of beer, nodding as Lauren said something, laughing. She zoned them out as she watched Cade's arm go about Robyn's waist and pull her closer. Her heart beat faster as Robyn's hand settled over the top of his hand as it remained on her hip.

  Quiet fury stole through her. Destined mates were they? Loved her forever, had he?

  Yet the moment Robyn thrust her breasts into his face, that was suddenly forgotten. How convenient. Funny how all that went out the window as soon as a pretty woman looked like she would be willing to offer up exactly what she hadn't yet offered. Except, she’d already planned on it. She'd already decided earlier that now was the time to start living again. Inside her mind, her wolf howled and demanded she stomp over there and rip Robyn's hands off her mate, and then find Luke and make him hers too. What if she was too late?

  Oh, what was she thinking?

  Heat spiraled through her at the thought of declaring both men off limits to anyone but her.

  Suddenly the bar was too hot, too loud. There were too many people crowding her and panic bubbled up her spine, causing her chest to constrict painfully. She had to get out.

  "Excuse me," she muttered, as Lauren looked up as she bumbled her way out of the booth. "I have to get some fresh air."

  "Want me to come with you?" asked Lauren, looking from the fun girls to Clara, whom she clearly considered the party pooper.

  "No. I'll be right back. Thanks anyway." Clara didn't notice the people she bumped into as she elbowed her way outside, a string of muttered apologies in her wake. For a moment she looked around at the couples and clusters of friends streaming towards the doors, so caught up in their own conversations that they didn't even glance her way. She stumbled past them and around the side of the building. Leaning against the cold brick wall she heaved air into her lungs, pausing to count a steady one, two, three until she didn't feel like passing out anymore.

  This was silly. She shouldn't be getting worked up about a few girls paying attention to her house guests. She had no right unless... unless, her wolf finished, she staked a claim. Now.

  "Ridiculous," she said to the still evening air. She shouldn't be jealous, or annoyed that other women flirted with her man. There it was again. That possessive note when she thought about them.

  "What's ridiculous?"

  Clara jumped and plastered a hand to her throat, her heart pounding at the voice.

  "Sorry, did I scare you?" Cade stepped closer, concern etched across his face.

  He must have seen her flee the bar. How embarrassing. Clara squeezed her eyes shut and concentrated on breathing. There he was being all caring and considerate again when she was consumed by silly jealous feelings just because he and Luke were getting attention from other women that she should be giving them.

  Opening her eyes, she grabbed hold of Cade's shirt and pulled him to her, her lips finding his before she could even think about what she was doing. At first he seemed surprised, or shocked, then his arms went about her and he pulled her against his chest, l
ifting her slightly so he could return her hard kiss. She ran her fingers through his hair, holding him to her as his tongue tangled with hers. He tasted wonderful, slightly minty and warm. Delicious. He moaned into her mouth, his arms tightening before breaking the kiss, but seemingly unwilling to let her go. Her heart pounded.

  "I love you," said Cade, his forehead resting against hers. "I know you don't believe me, but I do. I love you more than anything."

  "I know," she whispered. "I've always known. I just..."

  "I know," he said, cutting her off, before she could say the obvious.

  Clara tried a smile as he gazed down at her. "Anyone ever tell you you're a good kisser?" she asked.

  He grinned and raised his eyebrows in amusement. Of course he'd been told. Silly her. Still, a compliment was a compliment and it was marginally better than her screaming she hated him and not really meaning it.

  "I've dreamed for years about kissing you," whispered Cade as he dipped his head, finding her lips again for a softer, gentler kiss that she could have enjoyed forever. That is, if it weren't for the polite cough that sounded a few feet away. Breaking away almost guiltily they looked in the sound's direction and found Robyn watching them, her arms crossed over her chest and her jaw stiff.

  "Seriously?" spat Robyn, one hand on her hip as she looked from Cade to Clara. "Your husband's brother? Pretty low, don't you think?"

  "My husband is dead," Clara replied softly, even as she started to shake. "And nothing will ever bring him back."

  "So you're going for the next best thing? Never thought you would be so slutty."

  "Get lost, Robyn," Cade snapped, his arms tightening protectively around her.

  "Don't worry. I'm going. You make me sick." Robyn turned on her heel, her hair whipping behind her and strode away.

  Clara couldn't help the way her shoulders shook from her best friend's—her former best friend apparently—mean words. A tear slipped down her cheek and she brushed it away with her sleeve. Was she really a slut? Surely not. She'd only ever been with Colton and he was gone. She was doing nothing wrong. Even if Colton had been here, he would have understood. He'd have encouraged it. Again she had that feeling he'd engineered a few moments where she was alone with Cade. He was always supportive of the mating bond that sizzled between her and Cade, even if she wasn't. The only person who had the right to be angry about what just happened between her and Cade was Colton, and he was the opposite of angry. She was sure of it.

  "Don't listen to her. She's just pissed that I’m not into her. Robyn has never been able to take a hint," Cade told her. "Frankly, she scares me."

  "You two looked pretty cozy." Clara couldn't help the edge in her voice.

  "That's what she'd like everyone to think. I turned her down a bunch of times and not just tonight either. I've only wanted you."

  She didn't know what made her say it, but she did. "I'm sure you say that to all the girls," she snipped.

  "What's that supposed to mean?"

  "C'mon, Cade! You keep saying I'm the only one for you, that you've only ever loved me, but I don't recall seeing you living like a monk."

  "You rejected me over and over and somehow you think that I'm never going to look at another woman? Yeah, Clara, I've slept with other women but if you had ever given me the indication you wanted me, I'd have been at your side in an instant. But you didn't, so don't give me that crap."

  "I should go." She tried to wriggle from his arms but he tightened them, pulling her back to him.

  "Don't go. Please. Let’s just stay out here and talk."

  "No, I have to. I can't do this. I'm confused and I don't know what I want."

  "You want me and I want you. It's that simple. Stop fighting it." His voice was weary.

  "And Luke?" She swallowed hard, thinking of Jessica pawing him. What if he was fed up of waiting for her to make up her mind, and instead went home with Jessica? What if he came home in the middle of the night smelling of her perfume, or turned up for breakfast wearing yesterday's clothes? She couldn't handle that, even if her feelings were still unsure and confused. She thought she'd given him an indication earlier of how she felt, but maybe she'd been too subtle?

  "I know you want him too." Cade stroked the curve of her jaw and kissed her again, very softly.

  "I really have to go." Clara put her hands against his chest and pushed, not hard, but enough to show she meant business. The tears had sprung up again and she wiped them away with the backs of her hands. How embarrassing. She hated crying in public. Hated that she wasn't even sure why she was crying. Was it jealousy, or anger, or because Robyn had thrown insults at her? "I'm going to the bathroom," she announced. "I need to freshen up."

  "Why don't I take you home?"

  "I don't want to ruin your evening, or Luke's," she told him before marching smartly away.

  Back inside The Mill, she traversed the room, reaching the bathroom without running into Robyn, thank goodness, or any of their friends. Probably Robyn was telling everyone that she saw her kissing Cade, probably telling them what a horrible person she was to kiss her late husband's brother. Of the few people she had confided in over the years, Robyn should have known how much she'd struggled with the mating bond that finally tore Cade away from her.

  Splashing water on her face, Clara stared back at her reflection, at her red-rimmed eyes and took a deep breath. Why hadn't she seen it? Robyn was jealous. Horribly jealous. Why hadn't she seen it until now? It was all so clear. Robyn hated that she had gotten the perfect husband and that fate had offered her his gorgeous brother too.

  Behind her the stall door banged open and Clara glanced over to see who was in the bathroom with her, ready to hurry out the moment anyone dared to give her the evil eye for daring to move on with her life.

  Instead she got the last she-wolf she expected to see. Jessica.

  Clara gave a little inward sigh and thought about racing for the door, but then Jessica unexpectedly smiled.

  "Clara, right? I haven't seen you around for a while. I was real sorry to hear about your husband. He was such a nice guy," she said, genuine warmth suffusing her voice.

  Clara frowned. "I didn't know you knew each other." She reached for a paper towel to dry her face.

  "Oh, sure. If it wasn't for Colton I would never have passed math in school."

  "He used to tutor you?" She struggled to remember. Colton had been a couple years ahead and she vaguely recalled he tutored occasionally.

  Jessica nodded. "He used to talk about you all the time, ask my advice about where to take you on dates."

  "Really?" Clara found a smile creeping onto her face. "You know no one ever talks to me about Colton. Everyone just pretends he didn't exist."

  "Well, I like to talk about him. He was a real nice guy and I hope no one forgets that. Speaking of nice guys, your friend Luke talks about you none stop too." Jessica pulled out a tube of lipstick, retouching and giving her lips a smack in the mirror. "I'd say he was a man smitten."

  "I thought you and he..."

  Jessica laughed as she slipped the lipstick away then plumped her breasts, adjusting them under the tight black vest, in the mirror. "Oh, no. He's fine but not my kind of fine. Plus I'm a flirt, not a man eater. Do you think this skirt is too short?"

  Clara looked down. "Well..."

  "Yeah, I thought so too. I ran out of clean clothes."

  "Do you think my jeans and shirt are too frumpy?" Clara asked, looking at her own reflection. "I was going to wear a dress but nothing fits anymore."

  "Yes," said Jessica. "And nothing fits because you've lost too much weight. You're still pretty though. Oh wait, I'm supposed to be nice to the young widow, aren't I?" She froze at her faux pas, then they both burst out laughing, something to take the edge off. "Seriously, Clara, from one woman to another, take those clothes home and burn them."

  "Ditto that skirt."

  "Deal. And those sad eyes of yours...well, you'll be happy again, is all."

  "You're the f
irst person who's been normal with me all evening," Clara said, turning her fingers into bunny ears around 'normal'. Who would have thought Jessica would be more fun to talk to than Robyn? Maybe it was time she revised her opinion of the woman, of both women, just as she was revising her opinion of what was right with Cade and Luke.

  Jessica shrugged. "People are weird. Mean, too. You've probably heard the things they—and yes, I mean your friend Robyn—say about me just because I like to dance and flirt and I don't much care if a guy’s a guy. Why should we segregate and stand opposite sides of the room like we're in middle school?"

  "I guess. And I don't think Robyn is much of a friend." Clara decided not to expand on why. It was better to just let it go.

  Jessica spun around and leaned against the vanity unit. "I have some old photos of Colton, if you want them? I was just cleaning a bunch of things out last week and I found them."

  Clara smiled, warmly. "Thank you, I'd love them."

  "Super awesome. I'll bring them over to you when I get a chance. You still have the farm, right? You're turning into a place where we can all run and just be free?"

  "That's right."

  Jessica linked her arm through Clara's. "Let's go find those cute guys of yours. Do you think Luke has any cute friends?"

  "I have no idea."

  "Find out already, then call me. Here, take my number." Jessica scribbled her number onto a slip of paper and handed it to Clara. "Use it or lose it, baby."

  Cade and Luke both lingered by the bathrooms. Though they talked as quietly as they could given the music that boomed through the bar, concern was etched on both their faces. It didn't take a genius to guess that Cade had filled Luke in on what Robyn said.

  "Been great chatting to you, Clara. I'll bring those photos over soon, promise." Jessica waved and punched Luke playfully on the shoulder then disappeared into the crowd, waving to someone else, seemingly oblivious as her long legs were eyed as she passed a group of men.