by Jane Jamison
“Can I ask you a question, Mister Lawson?” She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, careful not to let him catch her studying him.
“Sure. But call me Tucker, or even Tuck, but not Mr. Lawson ever again. And I’ll call you Kate. Now shoot.”
“I’m sorry?”
“You say you’re sorry a lot, don’t you?”
“Not usually.”
“Then stop saying it here. Shoot means to ask away.”
He was an assertive man who got straight to the point. She liked that.
“I’m sor—” She slammed her mouth shut just as he shot her a pointed look.
“Okay. Can you tell me about the people in Shatland? I don’t mean to sound paranoid, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that they were staring at me.”
His smile faded. “That’s because they were.”
“But why? Don’t they get many visitors? The bus line runs through there, so I’d think it wouldn’t cause a stir for someone to get off the bus.” She watched the land race by her. Cattle and horses dotted the areas in between fields of crops. By the time she left, would she know the names of each crop they planted?
“The bus stops in Shatland whenever someone’s coming to either Shatland or Forever. But that doesn’t happen often. Normally the bus would drive straight through.” He tugged off his hat, tossed it into the backseat, then rolled down his window. The wind whipped his hair, and, for a moment, she wanted to skim her fingers through the dark locks.
“So if I leave, how do I make the bus stop and pick me up?”
He stared at her, lingering on her chest before meeting her eyes. “I’m hoping you won’t want to leave. How about we cross that bridge when and if we have to?”
She nodded and scooted toward her door. If she didn’t, she’d let the overwhelming urge to touch him take over.
“But they watched me like they expected me to do something.”
“Shatland folks are wary of strangers. They stick to their own kind and don’t like anyone interfering.”
“Interfering with what? And how was I interfering?”
“You weren’t. They watched you to make sure you didn’t.”
She started to ask him what would’ve happened if she’d unknowingly interfered with whatever it was but decided her curiosity might not be appreciated. Instead, she inhaled, drawing in the scent of the land. But what if the people of Forever acted the same way? Could she handle it? Or would she hop on the next bus heading out of town?
His chuckle caught her off guard.
“You’re wondering if the people in Forever are the same way.” Again, he’d spoken a question like a statement.
“Yeah.” She eyed him and tried to keep her gaze on his face and not lower. “Are they?”
“Yes and no.”
Getting answers from him was harder than pulling a chicken’s teeth. “What do you mean?”
“I may be biased, but I think the folks in Forever are friendlier. They’re kind of leery of strangers, too, but less worried that the stranger’s going to cause trouble. I think that’s true of most people who live in a small town. But don’t worry. Once they know you’re living at Moonlight Ranch, they’ll treat you like one of their own.”
She pulled her hair back to keep it from blowing in the wind from the open window. “I hope so.”
He motioned toward the town growing closer by the minute. “I guess you’re about to find out. That’s Forever straight ahead.”
* * * *
For the first time ever Tucker was nervous about bringing someone to Forever. He glanced at Kate, trying to take in as much of her as he could without staring. Although staring was what he wanted to do.
She was beautiful in a simple, girl-next-door kind of way that made his palms itch to touch her. Her long, silky brown hair shone with highlights and danced around her shoulders as she turned her head to the side to look at his hometown. Whenever she shifted to look straight ahead, he could study her perfect silhouette with her perfect turned-up nose and the chin that might have seemed too strong on any other woman. But on her, the square outline only made her appear confident. Emerald-green eyes, the kind that could peer into a man’s soul and make him want to be a better person, darted his way once in a while as she surveyed the town.
His heart beat a little faster, and, if he didn’t settle down soon, he’d have to figure out a way to keep her from noticing the growing tent of his jeans. He could almost taste her, her lips, her mouth, her skin, and her pussy.
The moment they’d shaken hands, he’d known she was their mate. The sizzle werewolves talked about when meeting their mate had scorched through his body and awakened his cock. He’d dropped the pretense of another interview in his anxiousness to get her back to the ranch.
“Tucker?”
He blinked to find her watching him. “Yeah?”
“I thought I’d lost you for a moment.” Her smile lifted the corners of her mouth, making her lips even more kissable than before.
“Did I miss something?”
She laughed, and damn if that wasn’t perfect as well. “I asked if this was the entire town.”
Did that mean she didn’t like it? He scanned the town and pressed on the brake to go slower. “Pretty much. I mean, there are side streets and all, but this is the main drag.”
She glanced around again, and he slipped his tongue along the seam of his mouth. He, Travis, and Cort had agreed to take it slow with her, but he wasn’t sure how long he could hold out after seeing her luscious body. She was slim but not too skinny with hips his mother would’ve said were good for child-bearing. She was of average height, but that didn’t keep her legs from running a mile long. Her breasts and her bottom were firm and tight, just made-to-order for a man’s hands. His hands. He shifted in his seat, trying to get more comfortable with his growing erection.
“So? What do you think?”
She sat back, and he could see her trying to find suitable words. After several minutes, she nodded. “It’ll take a little getting used to, but I think it’s nice. At least people here wave at us instead of glaring.”
“See? What’d I tell you? They are friendly.”
“Aren’t we going to stop in town?” Her curious green eyes locked onto him.
“Naw. Maybe later.” He wanted her back at the ranch, in his home, and, as soon as he could, in his bed.
“Then how about a guided tour as we drive through town?”
“Done.” Tucker lifted his hand to return Jackson Carr’s quick salute and saw Kate do the same. Good. She’s eager to get along with everyone. The rest of the pack will like her.
“That’s Jackson Carr. He’s the unofficial leader of the pack.”
“The pack?”
“Bad choice of words. I mean the town and the people. You know.”
Although he saw in her eyes that she didn’t understand his explanation, he hurried on anyway. “There’s Milly’s Coffee Spot. Milly owns the place, and she puts out the best grub in these parts. Her food’s simple, but I think it’s as good as any restaurant in Dallas.”
Kate craned her head around to see more. “You have an old-fashioned barbershop. That’s unusual. So where do women get their hair fixed?”
“You’d have to ask one of them about that. Most folks around here don’t go in much for getting their hair done or painting their nails.” He continued driving through the town and past Virton Realty and the two physicians’ offices.
“Wow. Two doctors for this small town? That’s quite an accomplishment, isn’t it?”
“One works with shif—Uh, one’s open during the day and the other stays open all night. I guess they like the town well enough to stay.”
He’d almost blown it. First by mentioning the pack and now by starting to say the word “shifters.” One of the doctors catered to shifters—werewolves, werecats, and more—while the other doctor centered his practice on those citizens who preferred to venture out at night like vampires and demons.
&n
bsp; “Oh. Do you have a Walmart?”
He laughed. “God no, and I hope it stays that way. If you want to shop at a place like that, you’ll have to drive to a bigger city.”
She nodded and turned back to the window. He maneuvered the truck around the corner and increased his speed.
“Is that the local honky-tonk?”
“Honky-tonk? Yeah, I guess you could call it that. People around here like to dance and drink beer on the weekends. The Moonstone Bar is where we like to go. It’s not far from our ranch. In fact, here we are.”
Tucker pulled the pickup to a stop in front of the gate, slid out of the truck, and pushed the gate open. “Drive it on through, okay?”
She slid over to the driver’s side and did as he asked. Stopping just wide of the gate, she slid over to the passenger side to let him get back in. Buster barked and leaped from the rear of the truck and raced down the gravel road.
“So are you ready to meet the others?”
She looked at him then at the house in the distance and took a big breath that made her breasts rise and fall. If he hadn’t known better, he’d swear she was teasing him.
“I guess so. Wait? The others?”
He reached out to touch her hand, hoping to settle her nerves. The sizzle he’d felt earlier came back even stronger. “Yeah. Didn’t I mention them? They’re Cort Cartland and Travis Williams. But don’t worry. They don’t bite—much.”
Chapter Two
“They’re here.” Travis was out the front door before Cort had a chance to get out of his chair and onto his feet. He followed his friend outside to the wraparound front porch. They watched as the red pickup came down the gravel road, leaving a cloud of dust behind it. Buster ran alongside the truck with his tail wagging and his bone-shaped dog tag flashing in the sunlight.
“You know what that means.” Cort rested his hands on the railing.
“She’s our mate.”
“He wouldn’t have brought her back otherwise.” Cort didn’t want to appear nervous, but he couldn’t help the tingle of excitement running down his spine.
“I hope she doesn’t bolt when she finds out about us.”
“Or that she’ll be living in the same house with us.” Cort scratched his beard. “Maybe he should’ve told her.”
“And risk her turning the job down because of it? No, Tucker made the right call.”
As the vehicle pulled up to the house and came to a stop, Cort narrowed his eyes to see her. She was about their age with long brown hair, and he could already imagine digging his fingers through her mane to hold her to his cock. But an even stronger vision struck him. He could see her standing in the kitchen feeding his partners as well as their children. “Yeah. She’s the one.”
Travis hit the ground a minute behind him as Cort headed for the pickup. He couldn’t wait for her to come to him. Instead, he grabbed her door and pulled it open. “Welcome to Moonlight Ranch, Kate. I’m Cort Cartland.”
She hesitated then took his hand. At once, the energy ripped into him to confirm what he already knew. She was their mate. Like other werewolves, he would’ve known her by her touch alone. He inhaled, drawing in a scent that was part roses and part sexual freshness. The idea threw him, and he had to think what that aroma meant.
She hasn’t been with a man in a long time. Good.
“Hi. I’m happy to meet you. I didn’t know I was going to meet Mr. Lawson’s friends.”
Cort realized his jaw had dropped and he closed it. She must think I’m a freak or something from the way I’m gaping at her. “Please don’t call him Mr. Lawson or his head will get even bigger. Also, we’re more than just friends. We’re business partners. The other mutt is Travis Williams. We own and run Moonlight Ranch together.”
She appeared startled, and again he hoped they’d made the correct call in not telling her about the three of them. Her reaction could go several different ways. She might think three men living on a ranch by themselves meant they were gay. He choked back a chuckle. Or she could stay but grow leery and worry about her safety as one woman alone with three men might. He hoped not. But the worst reaction would be if she decided to turn tail and run. He wouldn’t blame her if she did. It took a lot of guts to take on three men even in a professional manner.
But once she found out why she was really here, things would get interesting. Females rarely turned down their intended werewolf mates, but when they did, the men had to face the reality of a life alone. Often they’d separate and move away, unable to live in a community where the norm was a ménage relationship of multiple men to one woman.
She was beautiful. She looked around the place as Tucker and Travis talked, filling each other in on what was needed around the ranch. Cort stayed out of the conversation, preferring to watch as her emotions flashed across her face. Her green eyes captivated him every time she glanced his way only to wrench his heart when she moved her attention elsewhere.
What would her eyes look like when he thrust his cock deep inside her pussy? Would the color darken? Would her face flush as a climax ripped through her? Would she fall against him, pressing her breasts to his chest?
Cort’s cock twitched to life, bringing him out of his thoughts and back to her. “I’m sorry. What did you say, Kate?”
* * * *
She darted her gaze to Travis and Tucker, who’d started talking in low tones. They stopped in mid-conversation as though only then realizing she was watching them. Travis reached over the side of the pickup and retrieved her suitcase then tilted his head toward the house.
“Kate?” Cort touched her arm, sending another flash of heat rushing through her.
“I’m not sure what that means as far as my job goes.”
“Let’s get you settled in before we get into the details.” Tucker patted Buster on the head and led the way into the house.
“Okay.” She’d studied the house as they’d driven down the road and had found it nice but nothing special. A two-story white framed house wasn’t uncommon in Texas, and the wraparound porch was a nice touch. Compared to the shabby apartments she’d grown up in, the house was palatial. She followed Tucker inside.
The huge foyer had a simple staircase that led to the second story. Off to the side was a large open room. A long hallway to the left of her led to several doors on the one side and a swinging door at the end. She’d bet her last dollar that the swinging door led to a big, bright country-style kitchen. Just the kind of kitchen she loved.
“I’ll take your suitcase up to your room.” Travis held out his hand. “And your purse, too, if you want.”
“Sure. Thanks.” She handed her purse to Travis, who tossed her a grin before bounding up the staircase, taking the steps two at a time.
“I’ll fetch the drinks while you two go on into the living room.” Cort nodded at her. “You like lemonade, don’t you? Or would you prefer something stronger?”
“It’s a little early for alcohol, isn’t it?” Judging from their reactions, however, she wasn’t sure they agreed. Way to step in it, Kate. Keep your mouth closed and get to know them first.
But Cort didn’t act like he’d taken her statement as criticism. Instead, he gave her another smile, turned on his boot heel, and headed down the hall.
She watched him, her gaze sliding from the wide shoulders and plaid shirt to the way his butt filled out his jeans. All three men were dressed alike with casual shirts, faded jeans, and worn cowboy boots, but each wore their clothes in a slightly different manner. Where Tucker had tucked in his shirt, wore a belt, and moved with precision, Cort had his shirttail hanging out, the sleeves rolled up, and sauntered in an easygoing, don’t-get-too-serious way. She didn’t usually like a man with a beard and mustache, but she liked Cort’s well-kept ones. Travis was a mix of both men with his simple cotton T-shirt, quick burst of movement, and dark stubble running along his strong jawline.
How had she managed to wind up on a ranch alone with three hot men? They made her nervous, but in a good way. A
way she hadn’t experienced in a long time. Even now, following Tucker into the big room, she couldn’t help but feel her nipples pebbling and the heat growing between her legs. Tucker motioned for her to take a seat on the long country-style sofa. She sat down and crossed her arms, hoping to hide any sign that she was aroused.
Cort burst through a different door carrying a tray, and she caught a glimpse of the white kitchen beyond the door. Just as I thought. White cabinets, bright and airy. She couldn’t wait to see it, but she had to play it cool. An instinct told her they were sizing her up in much the same way she’d done to them. And she wanted them to like what they saw.
Cort set the tray with the pitcher of lemonade and four glasses on the coffee table then poured the drink into each glass. Travis returned and slid into a side chair that had seen better days. Although the room was furnished with items that weren’t new or the latest style, the room gave off a comfortable, cozy vibe.
Tucker ignored his drink and settled beside her. Very close beside her. She picked up her drink and used the move to edge a little away from him just as Cort sat down on the other side of her. She sputtered her drink and took the napkin Tucker offered her.
“Are you okay?” He searched her, his dark, soulful eyes sinking into her.
“Yeah. It went down the wrong pipe, is all.” She set her glass down on the coffee table and tried to pull herself together. She’d had limited experience with men, but she could sense they were interested in her. But for what, she wasn’t certain.
“I bet you’re wondering why you’re here with three men.”
She cleared her throat. “Yes, Mister, uh, I mean, Tucker. I was under the impression that you’d hired me as your personal assistant. Do your partners have personal assistants, too?”
The sensual tension coming from both sides slipped around her, cocooning her in a very loving yet very erotic way. The men were hotter than anyone she could remember. Not in the overt way models and actors in movies were handsome but in an easy, natural way. They had an edge to them that went to their core and made her want to tug off her clothes and offer them her body. She shook herself, amazed at where her thoughts had gone.