Heart of a Warrior

by Theodora Lane

  “Nope. But I would be if I let you drag me to the mating event of the year.” Kenzie skirted her mother and hoped to escape the room before World War III broke out.

  “Sit down.” Her mother was taking prisoners today. Great.

  “Mom, I’m twenty-three. Don’t you think I should be allowed to make my own choices by now?” Kenzie worked hard to keep a whine out of her voice as she plopped back into the chair she’d vacated, careful not to scrape the floor. That wouldn’t make her sound as grown up as she insisted, and it sure wouldn’t help her case.

  “As the oldest in this family, don’t you think you owe it to your sisters to attend with them? They’re counting on you for guidance. Reassurance.” Her mother sat in the chair Kath had vacated while Cassidy grabbed the orange juice and joined the bantering.

  “Mom, they’re both grown adults themselves. They do not need me for anything. That’s ridiculous and you know it.”

  “It’s typical for the oldest child to pave the way, so to speak.” Her mom lowered her voice to übercalm, as though it would change Kenzie’s mind. “Besides, we are so fortunate to live only fifteen minutes from the gathering. People come from all over the country to this event, and you take it for granted. You’re not getting any younger.”

  “Good grief. Are we seriously having this conversation? Do you realize how absurd you sound? By human standards, I’m young.”

  “You aren’t human, Mackenzie.” Her mother eyed her over the top of her glasses after she lowered them from her hair. They were a constant hairband when she wasn’t reading. Forever stuck in the soft brown curls all the women in the family sported.

  “I don’t have any interest in playing nice with the other wolves in the mating dance, Mom. Sniffing each other out in that stupid replica of the one-minute dating game is barbaric.” She shivered as the thought and memories of the disaster from two years ago assaulted her. That event had not been kind to her.

  No one knew what had happened when Kenzie was only nineteen, either. And she intended to keep it that way. Suffice it to say, she had no interest in the mating ritual.

  “You do realize we live in the middle of Oklahoma, right? This isn’t exactly a prime area for finding a mate. If you don’t attend the gathering, you’re just blowing another opportunity.” Her mother shook her head in dismay.

  Kenzie sighed. “I have a boyfriend. He’s perfect. I don’t need a wolf sticking his nose all up in my business.”

  “Darrell’s gay,” Cassidy interjected. “And you know it. If you would stop spreading your feathers like a peacock for one minute, you’d see the truth of it.”

  What the fuck? Sweet innocent Cassidy weighs in, and this is what she has to say? And what is this, gang up on Kenzie’s boyfriend day?

  “Cassidy,” her mother admonished. “Watch your language.”

  Cassidy smirked. “Gay? Mom, what’s wrong with the word gay?”

  Her mother chose to ignore the comment.

  Kenzie did not. “Why on earth would you say that?” Kathleen had implied something similar.

  “Come on, Kenz. I have excellent gaydar, and you apparently do not.” Cassidy rolled her eyes.

  “Stop it, girls. Listen, your father is going to be downstairs any minute. Please go get ready.” Her mother stood and turned toward the sink.

  Kenzie narrowed her gaze at her mother’s back and fumed. She crossed her arms over her chest. She still wore a simple T-shirt and cotton shorts, the same thing she’d worn to bed last night. She’d have a longer leg to stand on if she didn’t still live with her parents. As it was, her degree in early childhood development had landed her a job at the local YMCA working with disabled children. She loved the work, but it didn’t pay well enough for her to move out of the house.

  Her mother turned and leaned warily against the counter. “Why, Kenzie? Why can’t you just go along with the family and try to enjoy yourself?”

  Because the stupid thing is a farce, and I can’t stand men pawing at me like I’m some kind of candy. It unnerved her. Especially after that crazy he-wolf had tried to corner her in the hall and make out with her, insisting she was “the one.” His breath had been revolting, and she’d had no feelings for him whatsoever. And she wasn’t even going to dip further back in the memory bank to the gathering before that one. A wise woman would seal that experience off eternally. She shivered. “I have a date with Darrell this evening.”

  “Doing what?” Cass asked. “Hanging out with his friends, most of whom are girls, none of whom are really your friends. Just his. Don’t you realize why he has so many girl friends?”

  “No, Cass. But do tell me,” Kenzie mocked.

  “Because girls like to hang out with gay guys. They’re safe.” Cass ducked and fled the room when Kenzie threw the empty box of cereal at her.

  Kenzie’s cell phone vibrated on the table. She glanced at the text from Darrell.

  “Kenz, sorry, can’t make it tonight, family plans. Rain check?”

  Shit. She groaned and glanced back at her mother. “One day. I’m not attending tomorrow. Just today. And only so long as nobody tries to claim me. If they do, I’m out of there.”

  Her mother smiled. “Agreed.”

  — • —

  Drake Spencer dragged himself out of the hotel bed and headed for the adjoining bathroom without opening his eyes more than a slit. It was late—later than he ever slept at home—but he’d needed the catch-up sleep, and now he felt groggy because of it.

  “What time is it?” his brother asked.

  “Sorry, man. Didn’t mean to wake you. It’s about ten. We need to get a move on. Dan and Scott are probably wondering what the heck we’re doing in here. I’m jumping in the shower.” Their brothers were in the next room down. He didn’t hear a sound coming through that wall. Perhaps they were sleeping late also. His parents had the room on the other side, and he knew they’d left earlier.

  “’K.” Jerrod flopped back down and pulled the blanket over his head. He was only eleven, the baby in the family and an accident of maximum proportions, but Drake adored him, as did everyone else.

  A quick shower and Drake was back in the room, tugging on his favorite jeans. “Move it, buster.” He swatted his brother on the back. “We don’t have all day.” Though, Lord, he wished they did.

  The stupid gathering he attended with his family every other year made him groan in frustration. It wasn’t as though he would find a mate. Unless some unknown wolf clan from some distant planet suddenly made an appearance, he couldn’t imagine how there would be a match for him. He’d met everyone over the years. And the only woman that had made him raise an eyebrow left with another wolf at the last gathering. Drake hadn’t been quick enough.

  At twenty-eight, he was a seasoned bachelor and proud of it. His life was perfect. Raised on his family’s dude ranch in northwest Texas, he had everything he could ever want. Space. Freedom. Trees. The perfect life. Several years ago, he’d built his own place on the property and lived alone. He’d never wanted to be anywhere else but right where he was, tending horses and assisting visitors with their once-in-a-lifetime vacations.

  Jerrod climbed out of bed, his hair a tussled mess. He didn’t say a word as he clamored to the bathroom and shut the door.

  Drake sat on the edge of his bed and pulled on his socks and boots. He flopped backward to stare at the ceiling. It was going to be a long two days. Even though he found the gathering to be a waste of his time, he was still expected to attend. Plus, his parents relied on him to be a good example for Jerrod and keep an eye on him. Daniel, twenty-five, and Scott, twenty-three, were adults. They could handle themselves, but realistically, the two of them would probably abandon Jerrod and forget about him. They weren’t as reliable. They had one goal in mind. Finding a woman.

  Did Drake even want a mate? Not after the last gathering. He’d spotted the perfect woman from across the room only briefly, but he could picture her in his mind as though it had been just yesterday. Long, brown curl
s hung down her back, making her distinct from any other woman in the room. At least in his eyes.

  He’d not noticed her before that meeting, but perhaps she’d been too young. She’d seemed rather young even that day. What stood out in his mind was the way she turned and met his gaze from across the room as though she’d felt him staring at her back. Her smile had been tentative, and she’d lowered her eyes quickly, but he’d felt something nevertheless. He’d sucked in a breath and closed his eyes for several seconds as he honed in on her scent and separated her from everyone in the room.

  When he opened his eyes again, he found her being led from the room by a young guy with a huge grin. Drake had nearly groaned out loud. Fuck.

  She’d never resurfaced after that, and he had to assume she’d been claimed by the quicker man. In any case, her image was burned into Drake’s retinas, preventing anyone else from taking her spot. He’d know her scent anywhere and prayed she didn’t show up this weekend to torment him.

  She’d undoubtedly be at the gathering, but not likely at the meetings where young single people mingled. A claimed woman would have other seminars to attend.

  When the bathroom door banged open, Drake flinched. God, I’m losing my mind.

  “I’m ready,” Jerrod declared.

  He looked anything but with his hair dripping uncombed and his collar tucked under his shirt. The kid wasn’t even in puberty yet. He had no sense of fashion or care for conformity. His pureness made Drake smile.

  “Let’s go then.” Drake tugged a dark T-shirt over his head and grabbed his jacket. It was spring in Oklahoma but still chilly in the morning.

  With a sigh of resignation, Drake led Jerrod out the door.

  Chasing Dreams by Kelli Evans

  Coming August 1, 2013

  Chapter One

  The day was warm and getting increasingly warmer. The weather was amazing. Usually, winter clutched on with its cold, clammy hands for much longer. Meteorologists had called for an early summer, and because of that, tourist shops opened up earlier than usual. Selina LeClézio had started working again for the boat tours of The Falls much sooner than in years past.

  She enjoyed it. She loved The Falls, and she loved her job. Most people who came to Niagara Falls took a boat tour, and Selina got paid to take it daily. Granted, some days weren’t as luxurious as others, but it pretty much beat working at her sister’s bait shop. Selina worked with Angeline at Bait & Tackle in the winter and during the off months from the tour.

  Selina loved her sister but found working with her at the bait shop boring, and she didn’t really like going home smelling like worms. Selina and Angeline shared a house, and the months they worked together dragged on and became unbearable. They were as close as sisters got, but they each had their limitations, and all day, every day, with each other was too much.

  Working for the boat tours recharged Selina. She loved the sound of The Falls, the wind, and the spray. The unusually warm days had made Selina feel flirty. She’d traded out the uniform’s heavy, insulated wind breaker for a tour-issued blue vest instead. She even decided to wear a skirt today in place of her usual jeans. No matter how windy it was or how the mist tried to prickle her skin, the sun felt warm on her face. She closed her eyes to it, soaking it all in.

  She really did love this. The rocking of the boat, the rhythmic pat-pat of the water against the hull, and of course, the rushing of those falls. Selina breathed in deeply and smiled at the laughter of children on the deck. She opened her eyes to watch a young brother and sister chase each other, winding around their mother’s legs.

  Most of the passengers aboard were older people or young families. Kids never seemed to appreciate The Falls in quite the same way as the adults, but they were fun to have around. It involved a little more work for Selina, but she didn’t mind. She would need to dig out a pair of life jackets for the two of them.

  She loved hearing them laugh. She was watching the young pair of siblings giggling and teasing each other when a shiver traveled up her spine. Someone was watching her. She looked around and shook off the feeling. Of course someone was watching her; she was on a boat full of passengers. Then the hairs prickled at the nape of her neck, and chills raced across her skin. Even her nipples had grown taut.

  She was hyperaware of something. She looked around again, taking a closer look this time. The only people she spotted now that she hadn’t seen before were three college kids hanging out on the right side of the deck.

  She knew they were college kids because college guys had a certain look about them, an easiness in their shoulders, a twinkle in their eye … their fraternity shirts helped to tip her off too. She smiled at the three of them laughing with each other. They seemed close. She didn’t know why she found them amusing because usually by the end of the season she couldn’t stand college kids. Today, however, she couldn’t seem to keep her eyes off these three.

  They were each different heights, and all of them had a different hair color and body build. Each of them appeared to be attractive in his own way. But the one in the middle was different. He stood taller, darker, and hotter than the other two. He was fit and athletic; every move he made seemed effortless and powerful.

  Selina had a thing for dark-haired men with chiseled jaws. Then he glanced up and she caught sight of those startlingly green eyes. She nearly gasped at the sight. A wave of awareness fell over her, and the chills were back as he caught her looking. Embarrassed, she should have averted her gaze, but she couldn’t. Those eyes of his were so bewitching that they held her in place.

  •

  Nathan Lawson watched the girl across the deck from him. She wore a blue vest with a name tag pinned to it but was too far away for him to read it. Nathan had originally glanced up because he’d gotten that feeling at the base of his neck and a niggling in the pit of his stomach, a telltale sign that someone had been watching him.

  When he looked up, she’d instantly caught his eyes. It felt like a kick to the solar plexus. Sounds awful, but the breathless feeling he got from just seeing her was euphoric. She was beautiful. He didn’t know if he’d ever seen anyone in real life that was this beautiful. He’d had girlfriends who were attractive, who were cute, sexy—pretty, even—but this girl who stared at him from across the way was strikingly beautiful.

  Tendrils from her pulled-back, black hair had found their way loose and framed her face and long elegant neck. Her skin was tinted a natural olive color. Her bone structure seemed delicate, her jaw smooth and slim, her face soft and feminine. She had full, pouty, pink lips, wide, almond-brown eyes edged by shapely brows, and high-structured cheekbones.

  Even her body was dainty. She looked wispy, but there was strength to the way she held herself. Strength that was in direct contrast to the long, slender, piano-player fingers and the delicate, almost fragile features of her face and shoulders.

  “Jesus, Nate.” His shorter, auburn, curly-haired friend, Charlie O’Connell, backhanded him in the gut, knocking all the remaining air from his lungs.

  “What?” Nathan broke eye contact with the girl across the deck for the first time in a long, breathless moment.

  “Wipe your chin. You’re drooling.” He laughed.

  Nathan knew Charlie had to be joking, but he found himself running the back side of his hand under his bottom lip in case he wasn’t.

  Nathan looked back up, and the beautiful girl he’d shared a glance with was standing right in front of him now. Her eyes widened when he looked at her, almost as if he’d startled her. She was close enough now that he could read her name tag, Selina. It seemed to fit her somehow.

  “I need in there.” She pointed, and he followed her gaze to his crotch.

  His face instantly felt warm. If all Niagara Falls’ women were this straightforward, this trip was going to be awesome. “Uh…” he stammered. He didn’t know what he was supposed to follow that with.

  “Stand up,” she ordered him. The cadence in her voice hinted at an accent.

&nb
sp; “Here?”

  His friends snickered beside him as Nathan followed her instructions. He looked around at the people on the boat. The boat itself was just now pulling away from the dock.

  “There are children around,” he said pointedly.

  “I know, which is why I need into the seat you were sitting on.” She stepped around him and pulled up on the bench lid. It popped open to reveal a chest full of life jackets.

  Nathan closed his eyes and bit back a self-loathing moan as he realized his mistake. “Oh,” he heard himself utter before Charlie and Dylan started to bark with unrestrained laughter. Thankfully, it seemed as if Selina didn’t know what they were laughing at, but she did look just as uncomfortable about it as he felt.

  The kid-sized life jacket slipped out of her hand and onto the deck of the ship. Nathan quickly bent to pick it up. “Let me help you.”

  He hadn’t been as quick as she was. He was still bending over as she was standing up. Their heads met in an excruciating crack. The back of her head smacked hard against his face.

  Nathan pinched the bridge of his nose together before blood ran out everywhere. Selina let out a string of what could only be French curse words, and Nathan was sure they were prettier sounding than their meanings.

  Holding the back of her head, Selina finally stood up and rubbed the spot where they’d collided. “Oh my! I am so sorry.” She gasped at what he assumed was the image of him holding his head back and pinching the bridge of his nose. “Sit down.”

  She closed the lid on the bench he’d been sitting on originally. He sat. She took off.

  It was probably for the best. He’d made an ass of himself, and he was now nursing a bloody nose. It was a great first impression.

  “I guess that’s what you get for thinking she meant she needed to get in your pants.” Charlie laughed with Dylan Miller, his other friend, the blond one.