Cougar Magic: Heart of the Cougar, Book 6

by Spear, Terry

  "Good. That should clear you then," Nina said.

  "I had planned on killing him and making it look like it was accidental, then turning the video recordings over to the police to clear my name. But then he ended up sending his cousins to kill me and you came to protect me. That screwed everything up."

  "Yeah, like when you took me hostage and we nearly got ourselves killed until Stryker and his brother came to save our butts?"

  "All right, all right. So I made a mistake. But you were staying at the Robinson's house and I knew they'd kill you, thinking you were me. I hadn't planned on really staying there. I was going to wait until the pharmacist arrived. But then I learned he was too lily-livered to do it by himself."

  So in other words, Ava hadn't really planned the whole scenario out well enough.

  "Okay, so here's an idea," Stryker said. "You could offer him the videos for a big sum of money. Not only is he involved in crime where he's got to be raking in the dough, he's earning a pharmacist's income."

  "All right, and he'll want me to meet him alone somewhere," Ava said.

  "Nina will go in your place. She can wear some of your clothes and hunter's spray on her body to disguise her own scent."

  Ava didn't say anything for a moment and Stryker knew she didn't like the idea, but she was a civilian, even if she had managed to get herself out of some trouble using her own wits in the past.

  "He's right," Nina said.

  "But Rudy is going to send Judd and maybe he'll be there too. He's going to kill Nina, thinking it's me, and take the video from her." Ava sounded worried.

  "He will plan to kill me, not really give me any money, I'm sure. We should make it a place that's not isolated," Nina said.

  Stryker had been thinking about the Watering Hole. But they didn't want anyone hurt there. Still, it was a good possibility. Many of the people going were law enforcement officials, former military, or retired from law enforcement.

  "What about the Watering Hole?" Stryker asked.

  "The New Year's Eve party?" Nina asked. "It would be too risky for those who aren't law enforcement agents."

  "No," Ava said. "I agree with Nina."

  "What if someone has a New Year's Eve party at their house instead? For all non-law enforcement/military-trained types? The rest of us could go to the New Year's Eve party at the Watering Hole like we planned, only we'd be on the lookout for cougars who don't belong," Stryker said. "We'd have to see what Dan thought of the plan and then make sure enough of our folks agreed with the idea."

  "That means I'll have to go with Ricky to a house party?" Ava sounded disappointed.

  "Yeah, so we can take these guys down, Ava, and get your name cleared," Nina said.

  "I think the best place to do this would be Hal and Tracey's ranch," Stryker said. "Hal's parents most likely would be thrilled to take charge of it, and everyone will help with the setup over there. Ted and the boys will be there."

  "So I'll be with Ricky at the ranch," Ava said. "And I can help out too."

  "Absolutely." Stryker was glad Ava seemed to be going along with the plan. He'd been afraid she might still try to help her sister out by showing up at the Watering Hole. "Well, if we're in agreement, let me run this by Dan and see if he's good with it and we'll go from there."

  He called Dan next and explained what they wanted to do.

  Dan wasn't sure everyone would go along with it. "I say it's a good idea. I'd like to get this resolved before the new year. I'll begin notifications and we'll get everything set up for the two parties. Are you going to help out with setting up the one at the Watering Hole?"

  "Yeah. Nina and I will be there."

  "Oh, and congratulations are in order concerning locating your mother and the mating."

  "Thanks. We were going to take her to the New Year's Eve party, but it looks like she'll have to go to the one at the ranch with Kate, if Hal and his parents agree to the plan."

  "Okay, sounds good. I'm off to get the ball rolling."

  Stryker ended the call, figuring he'd be on the phone again soon and he wanted to finish the meal before that happened.

  "So he's agreeable?" Nina asked Stryker.

  "Yeah. Hopefully not too many people will be put out by the change of plans." Stryker had just finished his dinner when his phone rang again.

  Nina smiled. "Lots of plans in the works."

  "I sure hope so." He answered the phone and took his dish into the kitchen while Nina finished her meal. "Yeah, Hal. Will it work out okay for you?"

  "Yeah, we're going for it. My parents are glad to help. We'll get this done."

  "It's a go then. Bridget and Travis will have to help Ava send the message to Rudy asking for the money in the exchange for the video recordings." Stryker hoped nothing would go wrong.

  17

  Stryker was both enthusiastic and apprehensive when Leyton called, saying Chet had just dropped off their mother at Leyton and Kate's house. Chet had gone over to visit with Bridget and Travis, part of Leyton's CSF team, and Stryker couldn't help but wonder if Chet wanted to check out Ava. Being the bachelor Chet was, Stryker was certain of it.

  "You're going to be fine," Nina said, hugging Stryker after he'd changed sweaters three times. "She'll adore you just as much as I do, and it won't matter what you're wearing."

  He chuckled. "For you, maybe less is better."

  She laughed. "You've got that right. Like right after running as cougars? You bet."

  He hugged her back, loving that she was in his life, especially considering what he was going through now. He hadn't remembered ever being so nervous about anything in his life as he was now.

  They drove through the snow to Leyton's house and when they arrived, it was past bedtime for Stryker's cute little nephews, Kyle and Noah. They were now Nina's nephews, he realized, and he was eager for her to meet them too. They had seen their new grandmother and were now sleeping. Kate's parents had returned to the guesthouse after welcoming Marybeth, but they were having a house built in the countryside, so the guesthouse would be free soon. Stryker thought that maybe Marybeth could live there, if she decided to move closer to the family.

  When Stryker saw his mother, she was a blonde like Nina, pretty blue eyes, more bluish-green like Leyton's color than his, and she smiled, coming to hug him as if she had raised him from the beginning, never having been separated from him at birth. He cherished her for taking him in her arms, for loving him as her son, not waiting for him to approach her first. Not waiting to get to know him first.

  "You are as handsome as your brother," Marybeth said, sniffling and smiling through her tears. Then she turned her attention to Nina. "And your mate? Just as gorgeous as Kate. And smart too." She gave Nina just as warm a hug.

  Stryker knew she would always be part of the family, forever and ever. He was glad he'd have at least one grandparent to love his kids when he and Nina had them, since her own parents were gone.

  They settled on the sofas and chairs, and Marybeth gave Stryker his birth certificate.

  He looked at Nina, realizing this must have been when she saw his birth certificate in her future vision. Nina nodded, confirming that was when.

  Marybeth talked about how she'd yearned to raise her boys and had searched for them at a time when it was impossible to locate them. She mentioned again about the genealogy DNA and hoping to connect in that way. "I'm a retired teacher in Cheyenne. Working with kids, even though they weren't cougars, was a way for me to enjoy being around kids when I'd so wanted to raise my own."

  "We have a school here, if you ever want to work again or volunteer," Leyton said.

  "I would love that. Cougar kids? Absolutely. Though I have to admit I'm really looking forward to spending some time with my grandsons too. And, of course, my sons and daughters-in-law. I can't believe I went from having no family, to having a whole family. Mom died some years ago. I still miss her. Dad, not that long ago. I had a really tough time forgiving him for giving you both up."

  Kat
e's Toyger, Sheba, wound around everyone to greet family and the new people: Nina and Marybeth. Then Sheba jumped into Nina's lap. She laughed and petted the cat.

  Kate smiled. "I knew you were good people. Sheba loved on Leyton even when he had broken into the clinic—"

  "It hadn't been locked," Leyton reminded her, smiling, his arm wrapped around her shoulders in a loving way.

  "And then took me hostage—"

  "All in the name of courting the doctor of my dreams."

  Nina laughed. Marybeth was frowning at Leyton, as if she would have taught him better if she had raised him.

  Leyton then gave an abbreviated version of the story since Nina hadn't heard it either. "I was wounded, trying to take down a rogue cougar. The clinic was supposed to be closed, but the doctor was napping in there. She was going camping, I needed medical attention, and camping sounded like a good idea to me too."

  Nina laughed again. "I like your brother."

  Stryker smiled. "Believe me, I was ready to kill him. Dan had to hold me back."

  Marybeth was smiling. "I'm glad it all worked out."

  Kate agreed. "I thought Sheba was being a traitor for not biting Leyton, but it turns out she's a good judge of character." She turned to Nina. "So when's the wedding going to be? And how can we help?"

  "Valentine's Day, so neither of us will forget," Nina said.

  "As if we'd ever forget," Stryker said, kissing her. He'd never forget the most important thing in his life—finding his forever mate and wedding her.

  "How did the two of you meet?" his mother asked.

  Nina and Stryker exchanged smiles. "Over a skunk," Nina said.

  * * *

  Nina was exhausted when she and Stryker went home, but she was so glad he'd finally met his mother and she was a delight to be around, not in the least bit uncomfortable around them, as if she'd been part of their family all along. She swore when Marybeth asked where Nina's parents were living, and Nina had told her how they'd died, it made Marybeth bond even more with her, as if she was ready to step into the role of being there for her as her mother. Not to replace her, but Marybeth was happy to have gained not only her sons, but two daughters also. And Nina knew then her mother-in-law would be there for the birth of her own children when she had them. She was really glad for that.

  "A good night," Stryker said, seemingly pleased with how it had all turned out.

  "It was great." She took his hand and led him back to the bedroom. "Magical." But this was just as magical, and she began to strip off her cougar-hunk's clothes before they made love and slept for the night. She couldn't believe tomorrow was the big day. New Year's Eve, the decorating, the party, the possible takedown of the bad guys, and bringing in the new year. The start of her new year couldn't be any better, she didn't think.

  18

  The next day, they decided that Ava would wear Nina’s special black dress for a couple of hours before Nina applied hunter’s concealment, masking her own scent, and then she’d wear her own dress to the New Year’s Eve party to convince the bad guys she was Ava if they showed up at the Watering Hole. She’d dressed before they went back to the Watering Hole and she helped Stryker hang lights. He'd gotten hot and opened up his black jacket while they were busy decorating the place. He'd worn a sweater under it, but she'd already stripped that off him and that was all right by him.

  The New Year’s Eve party was going to be the best bash ever. Nina was dressed in a short, little, black dress that had Stryker salivating. She was beautiful, and he couldn’t wait to bring in the new year and take her back home to bed. They had gone early to the Watering Hole to help with all the rest of the decorations. He raised his foot to step up on a stepping stool to hang lights, though he'd draped them around Nina in the first place, capturing her for the moment, playing with her. In one hell of a sexy way, she rested her sandaled foot against his thigh and cupped his face, and leaned down to kiss him, her bare leg resting against his bare chest. The minx. She was hot, and with the lights wrapped around her neck and waist, she looked totally sexy and inviting.

  “You have been eating me up with your gaze since the minute I put on this black dress,” she purred next to his ear, as if no one else was in the room.

  He swore it got awfully quiet when before a ton of conversation was going on concerning where to hang lights and decorations, and lots of laughter, and now, in this moment, it was totally silent.

  “My New Year’s resolution,” Stryker said, pulling on the light strands around her neck and bringing her mouth level to his lips, “is to have every New Year’s Eve and every day in between, enjoying it with you.”

  “I will go along with that resolution for my very own. That should be easy to keep.”

  They kissed then, and he loved her with all his heart. He still couldn’t believe she’d shown up in his life again, and he couldn’t be more pleased the way things had turned out. He just hoped that everything would turn out all right tonight, concerning the pharmacist and his cousin.

  When they broke free from the kiss, he noticed a couple of people quickly tucked their phones in their pockets. Picture-taking time? He smiled and shook his head, then unraveled his mate from the lights and hung them up.

  “Hey,” Chase said, he and Shannon joining them before the festivities got started. “We don’t have to go tonight to do a séance to see my parents. I know we talked about going out on the road where they died. I asked Dottie a few minutes ago, when she and Jack arrived, and she said she didn’t want to dredge up the pain of the past.” Chased explained to Nina, “Her parents died in the same car accident.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry,” Nina said.

  “Shannon and I talked about it. We believe my parents are happy for us. There’s no sense in trying to reach them. It’s time for the living,” Chase said.

  “Sounds good to me,” Stryker said, wanting to take Nina home after the New Year’s Eve party and bring in the new year right.

  And then the drinks and snacks were being served. The band began to play, and Stryker took Nina to the floor to dance. He intended to dance with her all the night through until the night ended and they rang in the new year, while everyone else danced, drank, and ate, but watched over them too.

  He was really enjoying the closeness with Nina, the way she was rubbing against his body like a cougar would, only in human form, the way their pheromones were exciting each other's. Though he wanted to take this home and make love to her, he thoroughly enjoyed being with her like this, their first New Year's Eve party together.

  "You have all the right moves, you know," she purred in his ear, her hand rubbing up his bare chest.

  "You incite them." He was ready to ditch his jacket, she was making him so hot. Now he knew why she was wearing a slip of a short dress.

  They had a wonderful time, though they were watching for either of the men to come and kill Nina, but neither of them showed up. Leyton interrupted them for a moment, as they stopped to grab a bite to eat.

  "Everyone is safe at the New Year’s Eve party at Hal’s ranch," Leyton said as they all were served champagne, right before the countdown began.

  "That's good news."

  Though Leyton had wanted Kate to stay at Hal's ranch with her parents and Stryker and Leyton's mother, she was here, enjoying ringing in the new year with her mate, on-hand in the event there was a shooting and her quick medical training could save a life.

  "Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five! Four! Three! Two! One!" everyone shouted.

  "Happy New Year!" the whole crowd of partygoers called out and kissed their mates.

  Colorful streamers were shot all over the place and everyone cheered.

  Then everyone talked to Stryker and Nina before the place closed down for the night.

  "It appears the pharmacist didn't take the bait," Dan said, sounding disappointed.

  Everyone agreed.

  "We'll get them," Leyton said.

  "Hell, yeah," Chase and Hal said.

  Addi
e gave Nina a hug.

  Dan said, "Addie and I are following you home. We'll help make sure your place is secure. Bridget and Travis will be taking Ava home and continue watching out for her."

  "Okay, sounds good," Stryker said.

  Everyone hugged each other, wishing each other a happy New Year again.

  And then they all headed home.

  Stryker pulled into the garage, and Dan parked in the driveway. All four of them checked out the house to make sure it was clear, but nothing seemed to be amiss.

  "Are you sure you don't want to have anyone posted to help guard the place?" Dan asked.

  "Thanks, no. We'll be working together in the morning, by the way," Stryker said, taking Nina's coat and hanging it up and then doing the same with his.

  Dan smiled at Nina. "I guess I need to get you on the payroll sooner then."

  "That's okay. Unless I begin to work on a regular schedule, I'll just give tips to Stryker on what to do and not to do while he's working."

  Dan and Stryker laughed. Addie patted Nina's back. "That's the way to go."

  "Hey, I did some searching on the pharmacist and he's prior military," Dan said.

  "Figures," Stryker said.

  "Sharpshooter," Addie said.

  "Damn." Stryker had hoped the guy was a mediocre shot. He wrapped his arm around Nina's shoulders and she shook her head at the news.

  "Dishonorable discharge," Dan said, "for desertion."

  "Hell, I'm surprised he even got a job as a pharmacist," Stryker said.

  "The Muellers and I used our FBI sources and dug deep," Addie said. "He changed his name, falsified records, but he was smart enough to get through college and work as a pharmacist."