Honey Kisses (Romance on the Ranch Series #2)

by Clay, Verna

  Roth wanted to yawn with boredom. He wanted to run into the night, strip off his confining clothes, and utter the prayer that would shift him into a wolf. He wanted to howl and roam the woods. He wanted…

  "Is my father boring you?"

  Roth jolted and turned toward a husky voice. The voice reminded him of the wine in his glass. His first impression, however, was anything but that. His charge was short and round and plain looking, and she appeared to go out of her way to create that effect.

  "Rainey, it’s about time you graced us with your presence," said Hank.

  "I would apologize if I really meant it, but since I don’t, I won’t."

  Roth glanced from Rainey to her father. Although Mr. Childress turned slightly pink, his facial expression of fatherly patience did not waiver.

  "Roth, may I introduce Rainey, my very tardy daughter. Rainey, this is your new bodyguard, Roth Beowolf."

  "My pleasure, Rainey."

  "You say that now. I’m sure you’ll change your mind in a few days. Although I understand the necessity for protection, I hope my father informed you that I abhor the restriction of personal bodyguards."

  "And why is that?"

  "Surely, you’re not serious?"

  "Yes, I am."

  Rainey gave a humorless laugh. "I am constantly in the presence of a bodyguard not more than a few feet from me. I cannot ride in a car by myself. I cannot take a walk by myself. Even when I sleep, there is a guard outside my room. If I have a bad dream and cry out, I find myself with a guard hovering over me. Need I continue?"

  "I understand your frustration. But is the possibility of being kidnapped anymore comforting?"

  She ignored his last sentence, and her green eyes flashed impatience. "How can you understand my frustration? You come and go as you please. You have a life of freedom."

  "How can you judge my life when you know nothing about me?" he replied.

  Roth listened to the poor little rich girl with half an ear and responded automatically. He was growing weary of sparring words with her. He wanted the evening to conclude so he could explore the woods behind the estate. His "watch" of the spoiled heiress would begin at eight the next morning. He had been hired as the lead guard among her three personal bodyguards, each with eight-hour shifts. Thank God, he didn’t have the night shift. It gave him freedom to soar or roam for at least a few hours.

  * * *

  Hank watched the interplay between Rainey and Roth. He almost laughed aloud. It appeared Rainey Childress had met her match in Roth Beowolf. Hank knew his daughter well enough to know she was flustered. Roth looked unfazed by her protestations.

  Although Roth's remarkable qualifications had landed him the job as primary bodyguard, Hank was secretly pleased by his amazing good looks. Perhaps a handsome bodyguard hanging around would motivate Rainey to do something about her own looks and get a life other than scientific lab work.

  * * *

  Roth shut the lights out in his new digs which came complete with kitchenette, separate bedroom and living room. He opened the French doors to his balcony and stepped into the cool breeze of deep night. A three-quarter moon glazed with thin clouds greeted him. Even the cloud cover, however, could not completely obliterate the moon’s brightness and cast ominous shadows across the manicured grounds three stories below. Roth sucked a lungful of air, grateful for freedom if only for a few hours. The woods called to him. He bowed his head and prayed the Prayer of Secrecy, shifting into his favorite animal.

  * * *

  Rainey punched her pillow yet again. She wanted to sleep, needed to sleep because of the workday ahead of her. She opened her eyes and sat up. Damn bodyguard. What was his name? Ross… Ron… Rat… Roth. Wolf… Beowolf. What the hell kind of name is that?

  She walked to her window and pulled the drapes aside. Shifting clouds played with an almost full moon. Eerie shadows waltzed across the grounds of her father’s estate. Unexpectedly, the clouds cleared and the moon shone brilliant. Rainey gasped when a huge bird swooped from the sky and soared past her window, its magnificent wings agilely directing its body. She watched the creature until it disappeared in the direction of the woods.

  I wish I could fly with you.

  * * *

  Roth waited for his charge in the foyer. The previous night’s shifting, first as an eagle and later as a wolf, had renewed him. Being a shapeling, he required little more than two or three hours sleep. The night guard, Jack Jackson, looking sleepy and bored, had gladly given over a changing of the guards.

  Rainey walked into the foyer. "I see you’re punctual, Mr. Beowolf."

  "It’s my job, Rainey."

  "I would rather be called, Ms. Childress."

  "As you prefer, Miss Childress."

  "Are you always this irritating?"

  "Not usually."

  "It must be me, then."

  Roth remained silent.

  "Mr. Beowolf, I’m sure you have been apprised that we use different cars to keep the ‘bad guys’ guessing." Rainey made quote marks with her fingers.

  "Yes, I'm aware of that."

  "We also use different exits when leaving the estate. Again, keeps the ‘bad boys’ confused." She made quote marks again.

  "Yes, I am also aware of that. Your point is…?"

  "No point. I’m just making conversation until our ride shows up…and look, here it is." Rainey pointed out the window beside the intricately carved front door.

  A black Escalade with tinted windows pulled to the entrance of the portico. Without a backward glance, she opened the door and skipped down the steps. The driver rushed to open the rear door of the Escalade and Rainey ducked inside. He opened the front passenger door for Roth. Roth thanked him, closed it without entering, and opened the back door, sliding in beside Rainey.

  "What are you doing?"

  "I’m getting into the car, Miss Childress."

  "I don’t want you in the back seat. All my other guards ride in the front."

  "Am I protecting you or the driver?"

  "I always ride alone in the back seat."

  Roth saw Johnson adjust the rearview mirror, watching their verbal battle. Although Johnson’s eyes smiled, his professionalism didn't allow his mouth to join in. Johnson put the car in gear and started down the drive. When Rainey attempted to scoot closer to her window, her briefcase fell on the floor. Roth bent to retrieve it, and so did she. They bumped shoulders. As if jolted by electricity, she jumped back and sputtered, yanking the briefcase from his hands. Placing it back on her lap, she opened it and thumbed through its contents, pulling out documents.

  Once past the guard-station at the entrance to the mansion, Johnson drove them through rural countryside to the Childress Enterprises complex located on the outskirts of Portland. It took thirty minutes to reach the private entrance and the guards waved him through. Rainey opened her briefcase again and began stashing the papers back inside.

  "Do you always read upside down, Miss Childress?"

  "What?"

  Roth nodded toward the papers. "They’re upside down." With a mortified look, she squashed the pages into her briefcase and fumbled with the clasp. As soon as the vehicle stopped in front of the building housing the laboratories, she opened her door and made haste toward the entrance. Johnson, who had stepped out of the car, watched her retreating form, and then looked at Roth and winked. Roth suppressed a smile, nodded to the highly trained chauffeur/bodyguard, and followed his ward.

  Roth sighed. So far, this assignment was turning into one of his worst. The Thirteen co-Princes must have had good reason for sending him here, but he hoped the mission would be a short one—even though the morning had proven to be quite entertaining.

  He followed Rainey to the check-in station just inside the entrance. Having already been introduced to the guards and instructed in procedures, he quickly received clearance. He entered an elevator with Rainey and rode to the eleventh, and top floor. She kept her back to him.

  When the elevator br
aked, he followed her to the only door in the hallway. After passing her keycard over a sensor, the door clicked open. He entered behind her and the door clicked shut. The hair on Roth’s arms electrified and his sixth sense kicked in. Another shapeling was near. He stayed close behind Rainey, searching the lab with his eyes. She entered a small interior office and dropped her briefcase on a desk. She then stepped behind the desk and opened a lower drawer, stashing her purse. Roth stood in the doorway viewing every inch of her office. Satisfied, he turned and again scanned the lab. Three long tables stretching almost a third of the length of the large rectangular room were crowded with lab paraphernalia: vials, ceramic containers, microscopes, audio speakers, headphones, state-of-the-art equipment, books and charts.

  He looked toward the bank of windows on the eastern wall and spotted a female shapeling watching him. Recognition lit her countenance.

  Behind him, Rainey said, "Excuse me, Mr. Beowolf; I have work to do and you’re blocking the exit from my office."

  Roth stepped outside the doorway to allow her to pass through. He glanced back toward the shapeling now approaching them. Rainey walked to the farthest table. The other shapeling veered toward her. Roth followed his charge. At the lab table, Rainey picked up a binder and flipped through it.

  "Good morning, Rainey," the female shapeling greeted.

  "Good morning, Fawn. Were you able to catalogue yesterday’s experiment?"

  "Yes. It wasn’t much different from the day before."

  "Damn. I was hoping the added frequency would help."

  "Hello, I’m Roth Beowolf." Roth interrupted.

  "Oh, did I forget to introduce you? I’m sorry." Rainey glanced at him, an innocent half-smile gracing her lips.

  Roth wasn’t fooled. The little witch was getting back at him for his intrusion into her backseat privacy. He didn’t have time for games right now. He wanted to know what another shapeling was doing there. The Thirteen co-Princes had said nothing about a double assignment. Not that he was complaining. He remembered Fawn well. They had even mated once as wolves.

  "My name is Fawn Woods. It’s a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Beowolf."

  Roth heard the slight inflection of familiarity she gave his last name. He glanced at Rainey to see if she was aware of it. He didn’t see anything in her expression indicating she was.

  "If you call me Roth, I’ll call you Fawn. Deal?"

  "Deal."

  "Why don’t you two go somewhere and chit-chat while I test my equipment?" Rainey interrupted.

  Roth knew they were getting a brush-off, but it would give him time to speak with Fawn alone.

  "I’ll just get my notes," Fawn said.

  Roth followed her to a desk near the bank of windows overlooking the International Headquarters of Childress Enterprises. He turned his back to Rainey and lowered his voice. "Is anyone else in the lab?"

  "No. Mr. Brenner—Steve Brenner—called and said he wouldn’t be in until ten. He’s the other scientist. His assistant, Jim Mathewson, is out sick."

  "I suppose you know my next question. What are you doing here? The co-Princes didn’t say anything about another shapeling on this mission…not that I mind," he added seductively.

  "They didn’t tell me about you either. I was sent to protect the lab. I’ve been here about three months—never had any problems."

  "Meet me tonight in the woods outside the Childress Mansion."

  "You remember what happened the last time we were wolves in the woods, don’t you?"

  "No, what?" Roth asked innocently.

  "Don’t pretend with me, Roth Beowolf. Shapelings never forget things like that." Fawn chuckled.

  Roth suppressed a loud laugh. He turned and walked back toward Rainey.

  * * *

  "Did you have a nice chat; get to know each other? Did you interrogate her to find out if she’s a 'bad girl'?" The moment Rainey said the words, she regretted them. Not only did the words sound petty, they had another connotation. Fawn was a talented and beautiful woman and didn’t deserve Rainey’s foul mouth.

  Roth didn’t reply.

  Rainey choked on her next words. "I’m sorry. Forget I said that. Fawn is a very nice person."

  "You’re forgiven." Roth said, and grinned.

  Rainey choked again, but this time it was in anger. Of all the condescending things to say, that was the worst.