by Jane Jamison
“Do you think Neelson’s trying to pull a fast one on the old girl?”
“Could be.” Evan knew Derek and Tyler had a soft spot for the matriarch werewolf. Until her memory had started going, she’d been a vital member of the Shadow Ridge Pack. He liked most of the werewolves in the pack, but Miss Charlotte was special. “I’ll bet Emeline’s not going to let up on it, either. Once we get back in her good graces, we need to dig into what’s bugging her about Neelson.”
“What are you thinking, Evan?”
Derek was the more perceptive of his cousins. Tyler was more fun but didn’t pay as close attention to what went on around him.
“You’re thinking we fucked up, aren’t you?” Tyler took a long drag on his beer.
Yes. “Yes and no.”
“Okay, I’ll bite.” Derek leaned his back against the bar. “I get how we fucked up, but tell me why we aren’t fucked with her?”
“Because we won’t let her close her mind to us.” It was his turn to take a drink as his cousins glanced at each other.
“What do you have in mind, cuz?”
“Let’s take her on a picnic.” He could’ve guessed their reaction. Confusion mixed with hope.
“Uh, cuz, don’t you remember? Miss Charlotte’s backyard? As much as I’d like to relive the other night, I’m not sure she’d even open the door if we showed up at Miss C’s again.”
“We don’t give her the option of turning us down.”
“Wait a sec. Are you talking about forcing ourselves on her?”
He could see the excitement in Tyler’s face and almost hated squashing it. As werewolves, they had a primal need to claim their mate. Their ancestors had taken their mates, with or without the woman’s consent. Thankfully, werewolves had progressed since those days.
“Not exactly.” He didn’t elaborate any further, knowing it would irritate them. Still, a vampire had to have a little fun. He almost smiled at Derek’s frustrated growl. If he had, they might’ve ignited yet another fight.
“Just get to your point.” Derek slammed his empty bottle down on the counter.
I’m surprised it didn’t break.
“She wants us, agreed?” he asked.
Tyler nodded, and Derek didn’t disagree. Which was as good as a yes.
“You know she’s the one for us, right?”
“For fuck’s sake, just spit it out,” muttered Derek.
“A lot of women like the idea of men taking charge, even to the point of forcing her. Do you agree?”
“As long as she really wants them to and they don’t cross the line. If she says no then it means no.”
He arched an eyebrow at Derek. “As if I’d ever make her do anything she didn’t want to do.”
“Just don’t go using any mind control on her.”
Once again Derek tried to get him to admit to special vampire powers. What he could and couldn’t do was his business. Why make his cousins feel inferior? The corners of his mouth lifted the slightest bit. “I told you. I don’t read minds, and I don’t compel them, either.”
“Then what’s so great about being a vampire?” Tyler shrugged at his glare. “I’m just asking.”
“We aren’t discussing the pros of being a vampire.”
“Tell us what you’re thinking.” Derek’s expression foretold his joke. “Because we sure as hell can’t read your mind.”
“We ride into town and take her with us.”
“Let’s say we do what you’re suggesting. What if she screams bloody murder?”
Tyler set his beer bottle down and motioned to the bartender to give him another. “Did you see her friend Betsy? She was kicking major butt out there. I’d hate to have Emeline sic her on our asses.”
“She won’t.”
“How do you know she won’t?” Derek eyed him, once more trying to figure out what he could do.
Evan couldn’t resist toying with his cousin. “Trust me. I know.” Pivoting on his boot heel, he stalked away, knowing his cousins would follow.
* * * *
Like Raven and Heather, Emeline showed up for the grand opening of The Classy Cat, Betsy’s new clothing boutique.
“Hey, girls. I’m glad you could make it.” Betsy wrapped her arms around both Heather and Emeline.
“We’re a little early. Is that okay?” asked Emeline. “We figured we could help out.” She was willing to do anything to help her friend’s business be a success.
“Early is fine.” Betsy beamed with pride. “So? What do you think?”
“It’s great. Although I’m not sure—” Heather shot Emeline a pleading look. “I mean…”
“Too much for a small Georgia town?” asked Betsy.
Emeline cringed. She’d had the same question.
“Maybe.” Emeline admired one of the dresses. It was wonderful, made of a soft blue silk. She loved it, but it wasn’t very practical. Women around Fate didn’t wear fancy clothes. “Don’t get me wrong. Everything you have is beautiful. It’s just that…” She’d fallen into the same trap as Heather.
Betsy, however, was a forgiving soul. “It’s just that you can’t see the women of Fate wearing these kinds of things. I get what you mean. I can’t imagine anyone hauling around a saddle while wearing a sundress.”
“I can. Even if I’m wrong, I’m sure it’ll all turn out fine,” assured Raven.
Emeline studied Raven and wondered if she really believed what she’d said. Or was she only being supportive? The urge to tell Betsy something nice pushed her to speak without thinking.
“Have any of you heard that some people don’t like the name of the store?” Oh shit. “I don’t know what’s come over me. I’ve got diarrhea of the mouth.”
“Now that you mentioned it, I had a few ladies tell me they didn’t like that it had the word cat in it.” As usual, Betsy didn’t seem to let what others said bother her. “Beats the hell out of me why and they wouldn’t say when I asked them.”
“This town has a strange fascination with wolves. Haven’t you three noticed?”
Emeline had to agree with Heather. Should she mention what she’d seen at the bar? Had the other girls noticed the amber color in some of the customers’ eyes? And the strange teeth? And yet, she held back. Would they think she was seeing things?
“Sure, there are a handful of those who are cat crazy, but most of the folks around her lean toward the canine variety of animal. They even name their businesses and homes after wolves. Like The Wolf’s Den and Wag Your Tail barbershop.” Heather held up a T-shirt next to her and admired herself in one of the full-length mirrors placed strategically around the store. “It’s kind of weird. I guess you should’ve called the store the Sharp Fangs or Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing.”
“I’m sorry, Betsy. I should’ve kept my big mouth shut.” What had her mother always told her? “When in doubt, stay quiet.” Or as she had reworked, the saying, “When in doubt, shut the hell up.”
“Don’t worry about it. I know it’s going to be a hard road, but I have faith that the women of Fate and the surrounding towns want to have something more than faded jeans and T-shirts in their closets. Plus, there are a few bigger girls in this area that either have to order online or go all the way into Atlanta to find sizes to fit them. I’ve got them covered, both emotionally and size-wise.”
Heather grabbed several things and headed for the dressing room. Emeline started browsing, letting her friends continue the conversation without her, and listened in half-heartedly. At least until Raven brought up the fight.
“Betsy and I were just talking about the fight at The Wolf’s Den.”
Emeline couldn’t hold back. “Wasn’t that amazing? I mean, in a bad way.” She bit her lower lip. “But in a good way, too. I mean, call me crazy, but I got a little turned on.” Enough to make out in the hallway. If Neelson hadn’t come out of the restroom when he had…
“Especially when Tyler, his brother, and his cousin came to the rescue, right?” Emeline blushed at Betsy�
��s statement, yet she could hardly deny the truth.
“Where’d you go anyway?” asked Raven. “I saw you bump into Evan, but I lost you after that.”
“Maybe that’s because you got out of there so quick-like.”
Raven looked worried. “Listen, girls, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“Are you in trouble, Raven?” Emeline hadn’t known Raven very long, but like the others, they’d become fast friends in a short time. There wasn’t much she wouldn’t do for her.
“No. Yes. Kind of.”
Betsy dropped the shirt she’d been folding and put up her hands into fists. “What’s going on? Tell me who and I’ll slam a bottle over his head. Is it one of the Hardwick brothers?”
“If it’s one of them, then it’s a good kind of trouble,” called Heather from the back.
“No. They’re great.”
“Then what?”
“An old…acquaintance of mine showed up in town.”
“What makes me think this guy was more than an acquaintance?” It didn’t take a genius to figure out who the man was. “He’s an ex, isn’t he? And not a good one from the look on your face.”
“No. He’s not.” Raven swallowed, confirming Emeline’s guess that she was nervous. “Let’s just say we didn’t part on good terms. He kind of showed up out of the blue after a long time.”
“You should tell your men,” added Betsy.
Raven backed off at Betsy’s suggestion. “Never mind. This isn’t the time or place. Besides, isn’t it time to officially open your doors?”
“Oh, shit. It is. Wish me luck.” Betsy rushed to the front of her store and turned the Closed sign over to the Open side. “Doesn’t look like I needed to be in a hurry, though.”
Raven hurried over and gazed out the window. “They’re getting a late start, is all.”
“She’s right,” added Emeline, although she doubted that was the real reason. Instead, she offered another reason that wasn’t much better. “No one wants to be the first to come inside. Give them time.”
“Besides, I’m your first customer, remember?”
Emeline and the others turned to find Heather coming to the register.
A pleased Betsy shot Heather a look of thanks. “I was only joking before. You really don’t have to do this.”
“Hey, I want these things. They’re terrific. Seriously.” Heather pulled out her credit card. “Ring them up.”
“Um, Betsy, don’t look now, but I think you’re going to need to hire a shop girl.” Raven motioned outside.
Coming toward the store were Betsy’s men. Or at least, the men Emeline knew Betsy liked. Billy Johnson, Scott Branton, and Foster Rittenhouse, their arms linked with several women, herded the ladies their way. What they were doing was obvious and sweet as hell. If the potential customers weren’t visiting the store on their own, the men were going to bring them inside. She doubted many women could resist the charms of those men.
“Talking about stores, I’d better get going to my job before Babs decides to fire me. Betsy, I’ll be back later once the crowd thins out. Save something for me to buy.” Raven opened the door just in time to let Betsy’s men and the escorted women inside.
“That’s my cue, too. I’ll be back later, though.” Emeline promised herself she’d pick up a few new things when she returned. Scooting out the door, she gave Raven a quick wave goodbye and headed in the opposite direction.
She really liked her new friends, but liking them made it harder to tell them the truth about herself. What would they think once they found out she wasn’t who she said she was? Would they understand her need to make a fresh start, including a new name? Or would they be upset and hurt that she hadn’t confided in them?
Still, they hadn’t told her much about themselves, either. Did they have their own secrets to keep? If they did, she couldn’t blame them. They’d all come to Fate to start their lives over. Dragging along a past she wanted to escape didn’t help.
I should check in.
Yet she hesitated as she pulled her phone out of her pocket. She’d only called once before and had hated the feeling it had left her with. Her stomach had been in knots for the rest of the day.
But I need to do it. Damn. I hate this. When will I be able to put the past behind me?
Steeling herself against what she might hear, she punched in the number of a friend and former colleague, Carol Ikson. She should never have gotten Carol involved in her problem, but then again, Carol had pushed her until she’d had no choice but to confide in her.
The phone rang five times before her friend finally picked up.
“Kate? Are you all right?”
“It’s Emeline now, and I’m fine.”
“Oh, right. Sorry. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to your new name. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” Emeline moved closer to a storefront. She kept her voice low and her head ducked. “Have you heard anything from Pela?”
“Nothing. I really don’t think you have anything to worry about. You hurt his reputation and his pride, but he didn’t go to prison. Why would he risk stirring things up now after things have died down?”
“I don’t know. It’s just a feeling I have.”
“You’re being paranoid, and it’s understandable. You know I’ll call you if anything happens. As far as I can tell, nothing’s changed. He’s still in Dallas, keeping a low profile, and out bird hunting as usual.”
Lots of hunters in Texas liked to go quail hunting, but Pela went hunting a lot more than the average hunter—even when it wasn’t quail season and illegal to hunt the bird. He’d once said something about liking “to see the feathers fly” and laughed when Emeline had cringed. It was as though he took more pleasure in the killing than in the sport. The fact that he owned guns worried her.
“I know. You’re right.” Carol was telling her it would be all right to move on, so why couldn’t she?
“I am right. So why not come back home? They’d take you back in a heartbeat. We could really use the help.”
“No thanks. I’m done with being a lawyer. Besides, I like living here.”
“So you like living in a small hick town and caring for an old lady? Seriously? It’s the last thing I would’ve ever thought you’d do.”
Which was the point. She’d wanted a complete change, and she’d found it. “I’ve got to go.” Although she and Carol had been good friends, Carol was now a part of her past. “Thanks for everything.”
“No problem. And Katie?”
“Emeline.”
“Yeah, whoever you are. Take care of yourself, okay?”
“I will. You do the same.” She ended the call, closed her eyes, and tried to make her stomach relax. At least the news had been no news. And no news was good news, right?
She pulled herself together and started walking faster. Her car was still sitting in Miss Charlotte’s garage because she liked walking. Taking a stroll along the quiet streets of Fate had a calming effect on her nerves.
If the nicker of a horse hadn’t caught her attention, the three sexy men sitting on top of their mounts would have. Fate was a small town surrounded by ranches and farms, and it wasn’t unusual for someone to ride their horse down the main street. Old-time hitching posts still remained in front of a few of the storefronts.
She held her hand over her eyes to shield her from the brightness of the high sun, but even the blinding glare couldn’t keep her from giving them a good look.
Damn, but they’re sexy.
There was something special, something extra manly about a man on top of a large animal. Was that why young girls had a natural affinity with horses? Because subconsciously they imagined the man who would control the animal? If so, she was having a young girl’s fantasy right then and there.
“How you doing, sugar?” Derek tipped his black hat back, his eyes dark and sultry under the brim’s shade.
She’d been angry with them after what had gone down at the bar. Yet
for the life of her, she couldn’t remember why right now. They had that effect on her. “I’m fine. And you three? Are you out for a ride?”
“We came to get you.” Tyler moved his bay horse closer, the animal’s front hooves kicking against the sidewalk.
“You came to get me? Why?”
Evan pulled the hoodie down to cover even more of his face. Riding gloves covered his hands. How did he stand the heat? Aside from not rolling up the sleeves of his shirt, the rest of his attire was like his cousins’. Boots, belt buckles, jeans, and denim shirts. The usual. Yet the usual was anything but usual on them.
“Because we want you.”
Leave it to Evan to say it straight out. How was a girl supposed to respond?
Yes, please.
I don’t understand.
Or closer to the truth…I want you, too.
All of the above? Her mind froze with the options.
She chose the least direct answer. “I don’t understand.”
“We want you, and you’re coming with us.” Derek’s tone left no doubt. He wasn’t joking. It was a command, not a request.
She should’ve told them to go to hell. Who did they think they were trying to order her around? She was a strong, independent woman who wasn’t about to take orders from any man, even three men. Yet, she didn’t. Instead, she listened to her body. A body calling on her to let them do as they wanted. To roughly take her and force her to be theirs.
Yeah, as though I’d need to be forced.
The memory of why she’d been angry finally made its way out of the dark recesses of her mind. “You want me, huh? Then answer my questions. Until then, I don’t care what you want.”
It was a bald-faced lie, but then she was getting good at lying.
“Like hell you don’t.”
Evan moved faster than she would’ve thought possible. One moment he was on top of his dappled gray mare, and then, in the next, he was beside her, his barely-there smile catching her in its mesmerizing spell. He lifted her off her feet and tossed her over his horse like a sack of feed.
The whole thing was shocking enough, but to find her body lying crossways on top of his legs as he sat in the saddle astounded her. The zing she felt whenever they came around doubled then tripled in strength.