"Are you hurt?"
Luke hugged her close. "Are you panicking?"
She stopped, her body going limp as she rested against him. "Maybe," she said quietly, her heart pounding inside her chest.
"Maybe?" Cade rooted through the pile of things they'd brought back from the lake, found Luke's jeans and tossed them to him. "She panicked the whole time you were gone."
Clara wheeled around. "Can you blame me? I've already had one man I love ripped from me. I couldn't take it if…if something happened to him. To either one of you! I just…couldn’t." She sucked the sob back into her throat and stared at them both with narrowed eyes. She wouldn’t break down into a bawling baby. Everything was okay. She had her men home; Luke was safe.
"Hey, take it easy, baby." Cade moved closer, taking her hand as she began to shake. Damn, she was probably going to start crying with relief now. For the last couple of hours, since they'd arrived home, she'd slowly wound herself up with all kinds of scenarios of Luke lying injured in the woods somewhere. "Nothing's going to happen to either one of us. Luke's back and he's fine. See? Man, hold her, will you?"
Luke tugged on his shirt and pulled her back onto him, her face hot against the cool fabric.
"What happened?" she asked, resting her head on his chest.
Luke mashed his lips together and took a few even breaths. He stroked her hair with one large hand, sending calm through her. "There were two men. Both shifters, not sure what kind. I followed them through the woods down to the stream you mentioned. They were going to put something in the water. I stopped them before they could and scared them off."
"What was it?" Clara asked in alarm.
"Some kind of poison, I think." Luke released her briefly, heading to the deck and returning with a large white plastic canister. Clara reached for it, her finger running over the skull and crossbones on the label.
"He's right. They were going to poison the water supply. I'm not sure but I'm pretty certain this quantity would kill everything it came into contact with. Petra's animals drink from that stream!"
"Well, they had two of these," Luke said. "I hid one because I could only carry one in my jaw. We'll have to get the other one and dispose of it later."
"Did you find out who they were?"
Luke shook his head. "I tracked them back to their truck. It had a Stanton Development logo on it."
"Figures. That bastard!" Clara spat. "Maybe the sheriff will finally take me seriously."
"It's my word against their's," Luke pointed out.
Clara set the canister on the floor and started up her pacing again. "You're right. Stanton will just say it was nothing to do with him, or that you were mistaken. He'll probably even say we were doing it ourselves!"
The phone rang making her jump and she went to answer it, snatching the handset up angrily and barking "hello" into the phone. "Oh, Mom, sorry, I..." She held the phone away from her ear as her mother chastised her manners. "I'll take this in the office," she said, with a grimace.
***
"That Stanton is a sneaky shit," said Cade after Clara stomped out of the room.
"Yeah, and that's not all." Luke crossed the room and closed the living room door, jogging back to drop onto the couch. He stretched his legs and leaned back. "When I caught wind the bastards were shifters too, I shifted back and asked them what the fuck they were doing trespassing on Clara's land."
"Bet you scared the shit out of them."
"You bet I did. Might have been more effective if I had my pants on but whatever. So, I'm asking the guys what they were doing when I notice one of them had a camera in his hand, one of those little digital ones."
Cade closed his eyes. "Tell me they were taking pictures of the wildlife," he said in a low voice.
"If by wildlife you mean you and me getting frisky with Clara in the lake then yeah."
Cade’s stomach roiled. "Straight up?"
"Straight up. Actually, they were pretty nice pictures, nicely centered. Creepy dude probably had plenty of practice." Luke shrugged. "Don't think they were planning on posting them to us for our personal activities though."
"Oh, God." Something small and hard hit Cade's stomach. He opened his eyes, looked down at the plastic square that dropped to the floor.
"Got it and the memory card too. Gave them a little something in return." Luke bared his teeth and grinned. "Don't know how one of them will explain getting bitten by a tiger but that's his problem."
"Good thinking getting the camera. I hate to think what they were planning on doing with the pictures."
"I'm guessing blackmail. Stanton could threaten to plaster them all over town if she didn't sell. Maybe even the internet if he wanted to get really nasty. She'd freak if her family saw them."
Cade shook his head. "Her family wouldn't be bothered about her getting busy with two guys."
"Think about it, man. They'd probably be bothered seeing her topless with two guys on the internet. And just because us shifters are cool with threeway relationships, doesn't mean the rest of the world is."
Cade nodded. "You're right. I'm not thinking clear. One of these days Stanton's going to get what's coming to him and I'll be more than happy to deliver it."
"Right behind you." Luke rooted through his bag, found one sock, shook out the towels and retrieved the other. "Keep her distracted tonight, okay. Just chill out, take it easy. I have some stuff to finish."
"You got everything you need now?"
"Yep. Just need to set it up. I reckon Stanton won't try anything for another couple of days but I'll bet anything he'll be back here soon and when he does come back, we'll be ready."
"When are you going to tell Clara?"
"I don't know. It's probably best she doesn't know. I don't want to worry her."
"She's probably going to be mad that we didn't tell her."
"She'll get over it. Listen, I left everything in the truck. I'm going to get started. Keep her busy, okay?"
"No problem."
"What's a problem?" asked Clara, entering the room. Both men looked up sharply. To Cade’s relief she showed no signs of having overheard anything else of their conversation.
"Luke said the truck was running funny yesterday," lied Cade smoothly. "He's going outside to take a look at it."
"Oh, okay."
"Your mom okay? Did you say ‘hi’ to Rose from me?"
Clara hopped from one foot to the other. "Yeah. About that. My mom knows you're here and wanted to know why we hadn't been by to visit so...um, she's coming here. She'll be an hour."
"Great!"
Clara frowned. "Really?"
"Sure. I like your mom."
"My dad is coming too."
"Still not seeing a problem, sweetheart."
"Well...okay. I'm going to shower and change then I'll make some food."
"Don't worry about a thing. You go on and take your time. I'll take a look in the kitchen."
"Okay." Clara flashed a relieved smile before edging from the room.
"Guess it's time to meet the parents," said Luke. He leaned over to lace his sneakers. "Think they'll like me?"
"Nah. They'll hate you. I'm going to look perfect in contrast. Oof. No need for that!" Cade dodged the punch and flipped his friend the bird as he retreated to the kitchen to put away their picnic things.
***
"Did you know the fencing is broken back there?" Tom asked, casting his beer hand in the general direction of the sabotaged fence.
"Yes, Dad, I know," Clara sighed.
"It looks like a truck smashed straight through it," her father persisted.
"Don't I know it."
Cade watched as Clara's face went from annoyance to resigned acceptance to the steely determination he knew so well. "We're going to fix it, sir," he told the older man. "It's on the list."
Tom smiled, his craggy features lighting up. "Have you seen Clara's list?" he asked, vaguely amused.
"Not only have I seen it, but Luke and I have been
tackling it."
"They've already gotten through half of it," Clara interjected as she returned with a pitcher of iced tea. The evening had cooled and they sat on the newly finished deck, admiring the freshly weeded garden area. "I'll have this place finished in no time." Her face darkened as she added, "That is, if no more accidents happen."
"I'm so pleased you're here," Rose said, leaning in to Cade, maneuvering the discussion back to safer waters. "It's about time you came home. Will you be staying?"
"Yes ma'am, I hope so."
"And your friend?"
Eyes turned to Luke. With his own eyes on Clara as she stopped in front of him, refilled his glass and, her back to her parents, gave him what he hoped was a hopeful smile, he answered, "I hope to stay too."
"You won't miss the city? Your job? Your friends?"
"Cade's my best friend," Luke replied, "and he's here. I can make new friends and I can still go back to visit."
"And your job?" Rose pressed.
Cade had half expected this gentle interrogation from Clara's parents but relaxed as Luke took it all in his stride. "My job goes where I go. I'm an independent security consultant."
"What does that mean?"
"I install security into firms and domestic properties. Visual and audio surveillance, software too, depending on the client's needs. I have to travel with the job so I'd have to go away sometimes but I'd like to come home somewhere like this."
"It's not easy being a shifter in the city," Tom commented and they all nodded. "We like being country folk. Clara's vision here is a boon to us all. You know if you asked, Clara, the community would pitch in and help."
"They can help with the party." Clara shrugged, like it meant nothing at all, but Rose sat a little straighter.
"What party?"
Clara set the pitcher down and took the last available chair, conveniently located right between Cade and Luke. "The one I'm going to throw when the farm is open for business."
"And when will that be?"
"Well, that last bit of fencing just needs redoing then really it's just the barn. I can hold off finishing the gardens until fall seeing as they aren't all that essential."
"So this party of yours will be pretty soon then?" Rose asked, hopefully.
Clara nodded. "The plumbing was hooked up in the barn last month and the cabinets are on order for the kitchen area. The tables and chairs should get here next week. It just needs clearing and all the units installing though it’ll be rough and ready. I guess two weeks at the most?"
Rose turned interested eyes on Cade. "And you'll be helping throw this party? As my daughter's..." She trailed off, waiting expectantly for them to fill the blank.
"As my mate, Mom," said Clara.
Cade's heart felt like it was fit to burst on hearing that. Announcing it to her family was as good as sealing their commitment in front of their community. Best of all knowing that she not only accepted him for her mate, but chose him too, made his chest swell with pride.
"That so?" Tom nodded approvingly as he took his wife's hand in his own. "We approve but I'm sure you know that. Have you spoken with your family, Cade?"
"I plan on telling them this weekend, sir. They'll be very happy too. I'm sure of that." He smiled over at Clara. "They've always loved Clara to pieces." Glancing at Luke, he saw his friend nodding in approval. Clara caught the direction of his look, glanced over then back to her parents.
"There's one more thing, Mom, Dad. Uh...well, Luke is staying as my mate, too."
Tom's eyebrows flew up but Rose just leaned back and laughed. "Well, isn't that perfect," she hooted. "I send you one man and you get two."
Clara frowned. "What do you mean you sent me one man?"
Rose shrugged, shaking her head like her actions were of no consequence. "I called Cade, of course. Told him..."
"Mom!" Clara jumped to her feet, interrupting her. "What did you tell him? Cade, why didn't you say anything?"
Cade held his hands up but otherwise remained relaxed. Maybe he should have told her, but they were getting along so well and there simply hadn't been the right time. Of course, thinking about it now, maybe he should have mentioned something. "I..."
"Oh, don't be angry at him, darling. I called him up, told him you were so miserable it was unbearable and he needed to get back here and do something about it."
"You. Did. Not!"
Rose gave a smug smile. "Did."
"How could you!"
"What? Was something wrong with what I said?" Rose gave her the familiar raised-eyebrow challenging expression, Cade remembered all too well. It always struck him as funny how such a small woman could be so menacing.
"Well, no, but..."
"But what, young lady?"
"Oh! It's embarrassing!"
"Being sad isn't embarrassing," pointed out Tom. "Sad just is. And we couldn't sit by and blithely let you waste away."
Clara sat and crossed her arms, scowling at the pair of them. "Don't take her side!"
"She's my wife, I take her side on everything."
"And you're gonna have two husbands who'll take your side on everything," pointed out Rose, the smug expression firmly back on her face. "I'm going to call that a success."
"If I didn’t know you mean well, I would be really mad at you right now." She glared at Cade.
"How come you're not mad at Luke?" Cade asked.
"I'm getting around to it." She shot a dark look at Luke who responded by sticking his tongue out. "Silly," she scolded, her voice softening.
"So, now you're just a little mad at me?" Cade asked in mock annoyance, turning as the older shifters got to their feet.
"Get used to it, son," Tom told him. "We need to head back but just call us when you have a date for this party and let us know what we can do."
"Spread the word?" said Clara. "Let's make it a big event."
"This is the Clara I know," said her mother, enveloping her in a hug. "And I'm not sorry for interfering. Not one bit."
"Wait until I stick you with serving drinks through the whole party," giggled Clara.
"I'll do it gladly. Call us soon." She stepped back, pulled Cade into a hug then Luke. "Well, won't you both be fine sons-in-law. Welcome to the family."
"See, I told you everything would be fine," said Cade, wrapping his arm around Clara's shoulders and pulling her to rest against him as her parents drove away. As the car reached the gate, her parents turned and waved. The three of them returned the gesture before heading back to the house. "Your parents love me."
"Me too, apparently. Looks like you're never getting rid of us now," added Luke.
Clara turned to face them, placing a hand on each chest. Unable to keep up the stern face she laughed. "Who said I wanted to get rid of either of you?"
"You," laughed Cade.
"Several times," added Luke.
"Well...I took it back. And I'm going to bed."
Luke's face fell ever so slightly. "What about us?"
She paused, her foot on the first step. "What about you?"
"I'd like to..." started Cade.
"...Sleep with you," finished Luke.
Clara tried to hold back the smile. "You are talking to me right?"
"Most definitely." Cade nodded, elbowing Luke’s ribs.
"Then last one up has to turn out the lights." And with that, she raced up the stairs without a backwards glance.
Chapter Sixteen
After sleeping together for several days, sharing the big bed, albeit with a few grumbles from her men that a bigger one would be in order, Clara had to admit, even if it was only to herself, that she doubted she could ever sleep alone again.
With only a week to go until the party, and the fencing finally fixed, not to mention the evening before when they shifted to their animal selves racing across the property under the silvery moon, she finally felt relaxed enough to fall into an easy slumber, her men both snuggled against her, dreaming of all the other runs they would take together.
>
Awaking suddenly, she blinked in the gloom. A small noise and a rustle came from behind her and she shuffled over, reaching for Cade.
"Can't sleep either?" she asked.
"Something woke me," he replied in a low voice. He put a finger to her lips. "Shh! Do you hear that?"
She shook her head lightly. "No. What is it Cade? You're scaring me."
Cade pushed the covers back and sat up, his head turned to the air. She waited, watching him. Finally, his voice came again. "Do you smell that?"
This time, Clara pushed up on her elbows, her nose flaring slightly as she sniffed the tepid night air and...something acrid, something that immediately sounded her internal alarm.
"Something's burning," said Cade, immediately jumping to his feet and crossing quickly to the window. He craned his head and turned back to her, concern marring his face. "I see smoke but no fire."
"The barn!" Clara threw back the sheets and grabbed her jeans and socks from the floor, tugging them on so fast she almost tripped, would have if Cade hadn't grabbed her, his grip softening as he put her to rights. "It's the only thing that side of the house," she explained. "And it's wooden. If it's on fire, and it spreads..." She didn't need to continue. The implication was clear to them both. If they fire spread to the house, it would be impossible to stop the fire claiming it too.
"Call the fire department,” Cade instructed. “Luke! Luke, wake up."
Luke groaned, sat up, rubbed his eyes. "What?"
Cade quickly explained, adding, "We'll go investigate."
Clara grabbed the cordless phone from the nightstand, pulled on jeans and a sweater, and charged after a bare-chested Cade. A moment later Luke clattered down the stairs after them, catching the front door as Cade raced outside and around the house. Clara barely recalled she only wore socks as she crunched across the sharp gravel, skidding to a stop as the barn came into view. Luke drew up next to her, his exclamation of shock sounding as her own mouth dropped open in horror.
The barn was ablaze.
The doors stood open and fire licked across the barn floor. The timber they'd stacked was alight already, along with the brand new kitchen, not even unboxed yet. With a yawning crack, one of the wooden supports plummeted to the ground, taking with it a trail of fire that skittered through the air to catch a strut. The wooden frame was ready to catch alight. Heat plumed towards them.
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