Hopefully not more than a few days worth. Then they’d be able to come back into town and regroup before going back out. If they even had to. I mean how long could Chauncey cling to that stupid fake print?
Speaking of.
“Do you guys have that happen often?”
Hagen had a mouthful of cookie. He tucked it into his cheek. “Have what happen?”
“The fake print.” Rhea took a bite of her own cookie and chewed for a second. In all the craziness of the day she hadn’t really spent any time considering where it came from. But now that she was...
She looked at Hagen. His eyes dropped.
“It was you?” It made sense. His family’s livelihood appeared to be completely tied up in the town’s Bigfoot tourism. Without occasional evidence there would be no hunters staying in their B&B. Drinking at their bar. Shopping at their store.
It might make sense but it didn’t feel right. Hagen and his family didn’t feel like the kind of people to do that. Each one felt honest and warm. Even Jerrik.
“No.” Hagen finally looked up at her. “It wasn’t me and no, things like that don’t normally happen around here.”
He was holding back.
She was going to let him.
When he saw the print this morning Hagen was angry. Very angry. It didn’t make sense that he was involved. But it also didn’t make sense that he was holding something back now.
But he was.
“Hopefully that’s all there is.” Rhea finished her cookie and dusted her hands together eying Hagen’s drink. “Maybe Chauncey will lose interest once he realizes this is a wild goose chase.”
Hagen pulled another glass from one of the tall cupboards and filled it with milk. He held it out to her. “Not a believer?”
She took the cup and gave him a smile as she held it to her lips. “No.”
“Interesting.” He watched her. “Then why are you here?”
“Stewart.” Rhea downed the last of her milk. “He’s very convincing.”
Hagen took her empty glass and set it in the sink. “He’s not the only one. You got Chauncey to give up a fair bit of money today.”
“He won’t even notice it missing.” She shook her head. “I can’t imagine what it would be like to have money like that. The things you could accomplish.”
She’d bet her hind teeth he didn’t appreciate it either.
“Yeah, but then you end up a brat like Chauncey.” Hagen gave her a grin as he rinsed his own glass in the sink.
“True.” She grinned back.
Hagen wiped his hand on a kitchen towel. It was an odd vision. A giant of a man. Long hair, full beard, muscles that spoke of strength and power instead of weights and reps. In the kitchen, washing dishes.
Rhea cleared her throat and stepped back, reaching down for her bag. She wasn’t here to gawk at the finest Greenlea had to offer. No matter how intriguing the scenery.
Hagen stepped toward her, the sudden advance of his strong energy making her breath catch. He stopped, holding perfectly still.
She held her breath, letting the force of his complicated emotional cloud float around her, trying to pick apart the pieces, hoping for a little insight into why she felt him so much stronger than anyone else.
He stepped back, taking the puzzle with him, just out of reach. “What did you need from my mom?”
Holy hell she almost forgot. And maybe it would have been good thing. Then she for sure would not have been tempted to put her mouth anywhere close to his if the opportunity arose.
“I needed a toothbrush.” She slipped on her backpack. “I went across the street but the store was closed. I thought your mom might have an extra.”
Hagen stepped close to her. This time she saw him coming and braced for the impact. It felt like the weight of warm bathwater pressing against her skin. Lapping against her flesh as he moved. Surrounding her body in heat that almost buzzed with intensity.
He looked down at her, his long blonde waves shadowing the lines of his face. “I can take you there now.” His eyes studied hers. “I’ll make sure you have everything you need.”
Her knees went weak. Jesus Christ the man knew how to make a woman want him and he probably did it without even trying.
Rhea straightened and swallowed hard, fighting against the nearly overwhelming way he made her feel. It was one more reason she should maybe consider not looking at him like a dog in heat. Hagen was easy to want but she imagined he’d be difficult to forget.
Especially for someone like her.
8
Rhea waved over her shoulder at him as she walked across the street. If Hagen didn’t know better he would have thought more of the way Rhea slowly moved up and down each aisle, taking her sweet time choosing each item she wanted for their excursion.
It would be easy to let himself think it was because she didn’t mind being around him. Maybe even liked it.
The same way he could read more into the kiss they shared. Ignore the fact that she’d been nursing a bottle of whiskey and was coming down off an adrenaline fueled high, and he could believe the attraction he felt toward her was reciprocated. That Rhea wanted him to accompany the group for reasons beyond needing his help.
It would be a mistake of inexperience to think any of those things. One he didn’t plan to make.
She turned one last time and smiled at him. No wave. Just a beautiful smile.
A smile that made a small part of him want to consider that maybe he was wrong. Maybe everything Christine’s vision could be...
It was.
He watched as she walked into the B&B, her pile of crimson locks the last bit to go out of sight. The woman was beautiful. He’d give his mother and Christine that. She had a way of looking at a person that felt like she saw it all. Even things you didn’t see yourself.
It was unnerving.
Hagen slipped out the front door of the shop and pulled it shut. He had to get his own bag packed and time was running out. Once the door was locked tight he walked up the street to the narrow building that housed their small police station. Not a necessary addition to most towns their size but with a reputation as the Bigfoot hotspot of the Appalachians, Greenlea brought in all kinds and their visitor demographic was heavy on the testosterone.
Hagen stepped into the quiet of Jerrik’s fluorescent lit office. His brother was at the computer, eyes glued to the screen as he scrolled, his finger working the tiny roller of his mouse. “Something happening?”
Jerrik didn’t stop or look his way. “Nah. I just like to keep my eyes on things.” His finger slowed. “Some of these guys are under the impression the mountains are a great place to hide.”
“I can’t imagine that’s a good thing for them to think.” A lot of people, the majority of the ones he was taking out today included, thought hanging out in the mountains would be like a camp out. All toasted marshmallows and sleeping under the stars.
Jerrik shrugged. “Some of ‘em manage to make it a week.” He grinned at Hagen over the top of his monitor. “Usually by then they’re almost dead of dehydration though.”
The ornery twinkle in his brother’s eyes was hard to miss. Jerrik found his calling when he became a deputy. There was nothing he loved more than putting the bad eggs of the world in their place. Now he could do it legally.
Hagen sat down in the chair across from Jerrik’s desk. “Sorry about earlier.”
Jerrik leaned back in his seat and studied Hagen. “You really don’t believe in Christine’s vision do you?”
“No.” The word came out forceful. Convincing. Sounding more convicted than he felt right now.
Jerrik leaned forward. “Then why are you going up there? Just tell them no and leave them on their own.”
“Just because I don’t think she’s the woman Christine believes is destined to be mine doesn’t mean I think Rhea should be on her own with a group of idiots who wouldn’t know their dick from a rattlesnake.” That was it. His reasons for going were plain and simple
.
Jerrik raised an eyebrow. “So you’re only going up there to be nice?”
“I’m nice.” Hagen snapped the word out. “I just told you I was sorry for kicking your ass.”
“What in the he—” Jerrik shot up from his seat. “You didn’t kick my ass. You caught me off guard and tackled me.” Jerrik paused, his eyes narrowing. “Was that just you being nice to her too? Defending her honor. You’re suddenly awful chivalrous.”
“Be careful or I’ll do it again.” Hagen smiled up at his baby brother. “See? Nice.”
Jerrik glared down at him. Thick stubble now shadowed his normally clean shaven jaw and the hair on his arms stood on end. Ropey veins stood out under his skin as Jerrik’s muscles expanded with his anger. “Why are you here?”
“I need you to keep your ears open while I’m gone. I don’t know how hard these guys are going to be to keep track of.” Hagen could only imagine what would happen if Chauncey saw something he thought was relevant. He’d probably take off like a toddler after a puppy. “If I get into trouble I might need you.”
Jerrik eased back down in his chair, his agitated body relaxing. He was much more prone to the change than Hagen. Maybe because self-control wasn’t his strong suit. Maybe because, unlike Hagen, Jerrik embraced the beast within them. Treated it like their family had for centuries.
As an advantage.
“What about Magni?” Jerrik sank into his seat and into himself, all signs of the change gone except for the specks of hair across his chin and jaw.
Maybe his brother was more in control than Hagen thought. “I was going to talk to him too but I don’t know that I’ll have time.” Their uncle was notoriously difficult to track down, even for them. Magni spent hours in the woods. Walking. “Can you fill him in for me?”
Jerrik gave a nod. “Still want me to keep him out of the area while you’re out there?”
Hagen wanted the answer to come easily. A quick confirmation that he still wanted Chauncey and his group to come up empty and cut their trip short, convinced there was nothing to see in the mountains around Greenlea.
But then they might go somewhere else. As much as Rhea said she didn’t want to go into the woods without him, would an offer of triple pay sway her? Make her decide to risk it?
“Let me think about it.”
Jerrik rubbed his now bristly chin, one thumb running back and forth over his solid jaw. “If they find at least a little something it could be real good for us.”
It was true. The plans they had for Greenlea were just beginning. “I know.” As much as Hagen hated the idea of a million more Chauncey’s wandering around town it would be fantastic for business. “Are we ready to handle it?”
Jerrik grinned at him. “As ready as we’ll ever be.”
Hagen blew out a breath. If Chauncey found evidence of what the world referred to as Bigfoot it would mean millions of people would discover Greenlea and come knocking, their wallets open.
Long-term it was the best thing for his family and his town. They were the only employers for miles, bringing money into an area where poverty was the norm.
Short-term though.
Short-term it would be a pain in his ass. His mother was like a dog with a bone when it came to Rhea and she would take every opportunity to try to force her agenda on them both.
Then again, maybe finding something in the woods would help that too. The less they were in town, the less his mother could meddle. Hagen hated it, but maybe giving Chauncey just a little might solve all his problems.
Not all. Most.
There was still being alone in the woods with Rhea. Pretending she didn’t draw him in like no woman before her had. As if the way she looked at him didn’t burn him up inside.
Like a tiny part of him didn’t wonder.
Hagen set his jaw and looked at Jerrik.
“Give them just a little bit.”
****
“So we just sit here and wait?” Chauncey looked at Hagen, his face illuminated by the small fire burning in the center of their campsite.
Rhea pulled her sweatshirt over her head, the neckline snagging on her ponytail. She pulled harder, feeling her hair tie slip down as the hoodie finally dropped into place. “Do you feel prepared to wander around in the woods unsupervised already?”
Just because she was here didn’t mean she had to be amused by the situation. In fact her aggravation was growing by the minute. So far the group was shocked to discover there would be no tent pitching in the middle of the woods and the heavy overhead foliage meant any fire they built had to be carefully contained and kept to a minimum.
If she was nice, Rhea would have given them a heads up and suggested everyone bring something heavy to wear after the sun went down. Unfortunately for them she wasn’t feeling particularly warm. Toward them at least.
Currently she was snuggled up quite nicely in her sweatshirt and pants, propped against a tree, working a puzzle book by the light of her LED headlamp. Prepared as fuck for this nightmare of a camp out.
“No one is going out unsupervised.” Hagen stepped out from the thick shadows surrounding the tiny halo of light their minute fire provided. He narrowed his eyes at Chauncey. “Especially you.”
Chauncey leaned back, his brow wrinkling in either confusion or offense. If she cared which one Rhea would have kept looking. She didn’t. Her puzzle was way more interesting than watching anything Chauncey did.
Fortunately millions of people disagreed with her and ate up everything that came out of his mouth. It was a fact she planned to capitalize on as soon as possible. As soon as they were done here she was going to cash in their bargain. Strike while the iron was hot.
More like before the iron conveniently forgot.
“Because you’ll be an easy target for anything hungry out there and I don’t feel like explaining to your daddy why his sweet angel baby’s high-tops are the only thing he has to bury.” Hagen slowly lowered himself to the ground, sitting far enough and too far away at the same time.
She liked having him close. Maybe because she was so intrigued by the strength of his energy. Maybe because he was beautiful to look at. Maybe just because it felt like they were on the same team. To a certain extent they were. Everyone else was in over their head with this job. Without his help she could never have handled this.
“How are you doing?” Hagen’s voice was low in her ear.
Was he closer now than he was a minute ago? Had to be. The strong energy Rhea could identify as Hagen’s with her eyes closed, nudged against her, making her shiver in spite of the warmth of her heavy sweatshirt.
His strong brow furrowed. “Are you cold?”
“No.” The word came out breathy making her sound like a lovesick girl. Or maybe a seductress.
And she was neither of those.
Rhea took a deep breath trying to regain control of her mind and body while Hagen’s heavy energy moved around her, over her, into her. She jumped up needing to put a little space between them before her brain became any more scrambled. “I think I just need to go to the ladies.”
“There are no bathrooms here Rhea.” Chauncey leaned to Stewart and whispered in her best friend’s ear.
Stewart looked at her. His eyes narrowed as Chauncey’s mouth moved. He leaned away from Chauncey. “She knows there’s not really a bathroom here. My girl was being funny.”
Chauncey’s eyes went wide at Stewart’s rebuttal. “Ugh.” He wrinkled his nose. “I know. I was just teasing.” He glanced at Rhea, then back at Stewart. “I can be funny too.”
“Yeah but not on purpose. That’s different.” Hagen pushed his large body up off the ground and turned to Rhea. “Let’s go.”
Rhea looked up at him, confused. “Go where?”
He raised his eyebrows. “You said you had to go.”
“Yeah, but I’m fine going alone.” She smiled up at him, hoping to find a way out of this ‘no one roams unattended’ rule he just set. Surely he didn’t mean it applied to h
er. This wasn’t her first time doing something like this. I mean she had a SheGoes for God’s sake. One she’d used before. “It’s not really a two-man job.”
He looked down at her, his lips barely turning up. “Not two men.” He held up one finger. “Just one.” He turned the finger and pointed at his own chest. “No one goes out alone.”
If Hagen thought she would just let him stand there while she did her business, listening to her pee in the woods he was wrong. “No.” She planted her feet, expecting his aggravation to hit her like a wall. “I’m going alone.”
Instead amusement tickled around her. The only physical sign of the way he really felt was a subtle twinkle in his eyes, like seeing the stars from the city. There if you looked hard enough, but easily missed.
Hagen stayed put. He definitely thought she would be intimidated by the way he continued to stare down at her, his jaw set and his arms crossed over the width of his chest.
Silly man.
Maybe she would just use his own words against him. See how that made him feel. “Fine. I’ll just have Heath go with me then.”
The tiny sparkles in his eyes froze over and the wall of emotion she expected before hit her like a tsunami.
“No.” He stepped close, the toes of his boots almost touching the toes of hers. “No one but me.”
That familiar blend of anger and frustration enveloped her. Even as her heart raced at the overwhelming strength of his energy Rhea’s stomach clenched at his nearness. It was unbelievably exhilarating. She wanted to close her eyes and soak it in, try to separate out her feelings from his, understand the reasons for both.
But then he would think she was backing down and nothing was farther from the truth. If he expected her to shy away in fear when he was angry then Hagen was in for a big surprise.
Because she liked it.
Rhea smiled at him. “You don’t scare me.” She leaned close to him. “I’m. Going. Alone.”
Hagen’s eyes lost focus for a split second. He glanced over her shoulder.
His energy around her shifted, pulling back. Just as it was almost gone, it blasted through her with a force she would swear blew her hair back. Without thinking she looked over her shoulder as if she could see it disappearing into the forest behind her.
Hagen Page 9