by Meg Ripley
He was a fool like any other man around a beautiful woman, shifter or not. She gave him an unsettled feeling inside, one that he’d first interpreted as meaning she couldn’t be trusted. But after their startling revelation in the car—and the way he’d just blatantly laid the biggest secret he’d ever been trusted with on the line—Jack had to wonder if he was wrong. There was more to it than that, though. No doubt, Erica was a knockout. From the way her dark lashes contrasted with the brilliance of her eyes to the tempting sway of her hips as she walked, his fox wouldn’t let him deny that for a second. Regardless of how his inner beast craved her, he had a mission at hand.
Snagging a Coke and a can of Pringles, he headed up to the checkout just as Erica did the same. “Here. I’ll get it.” He gestured for her to put her items on the counter as he reached for his wallet.
Holding her shoulders back defiantly, her eyes met his. “It’s all right. I can get it.” She hugged her bottle of water and a couple of snack bags closer to her body.
He tipped his head toward the counter once more. “Come on. Just let me do this.”
“I don’t care who the hell pays for it, as long as someone does,” said the cashier in a bored tone.
Erica pursed her lips for a moment, then took a step backward. “Fine.”
Jack paid quickly and stepped outside, but he didn’t get in the car just yet. He leaned against the driver’s door, taking in their surroundings. They’d crossed the border into Illinois, but they hadn’t exactly reached civilization. The worn wood paneling of the gas station made it look like something out of an old Western, and the counters on the pumps were still analog. Citizens who slowly drove by in their battered trucks eyed him suspiciously. He’d spotted a bank and a dollar store, but the place seemed to mostly be made up of bungalows and single-wide trailers. These extended even down the river, where old flood damage could clearly be seen.
It was, he realized, not much different than the way people lived in the desert. They eked out their living in any way they could, as evidenced by the logging truck that rumbled by at full capacity. It wasn’t any place special, and there were far grander cities that people could move to in order to expand their horizons, but they chose to stay in a place they understood. It might not be a good plan from the perspective of an outsider, but it was what worked for them.
The car rocked slightly behind him as Erica got in the passenger seat and slammed the door. With a sigh, Jack followed suit. He put the key in the ignition, but he didn’t start the engine. “Erica, I propose a truce.”
Her thin brows drew together as she turned to scowl at him. “Oh?”
Jack waved his receipt in the air. “It’s the closest thing I have to a white flag right now. I know this has been an odd trip so far, to say the least. But the fact is, the two of us are professionals. We have a job to do, and we’ve been selected for it because we’re more than capable.”
“Despite our little secrets?” she asked, arching a brow.
“Maybe even because of them.” It was something he’d had a lot of time to think about as the road swiftly moved beneath them on the way there. Jack knew that being a shifter had made a massive difference in the success of his career. He wouldn’t have made it this far if he hadn’t been able to tap into the primal instincts of his fox side. Surely, Erica’s psychic abilities had served her in much the same way. She knew when things were happening, and even if she couldn’t always explain them, it had boosted her success rate on her missions.
“I suppose that’s true.”
He was making headway with her now, so Jack went ahead and started the car. “I think so. You also have to consider that the two of us are going to be working closely together while we figure out what’s going on with this guy. Mr. Worth did say he wanted us to get to know each other.”
That elicited a small but tired laugh from Erica. “I have a feeling that’s not what he meant.”
He looked away from her as he pulled out of the gas station. God, she was gorgeous when she smiled. She’d been a magnificent and spiritual creature earlier that day as she’d argued with him and tried so hard to sway him, and it’d been a completely different kind of beauty, one of power and passion. It was one that was better admired from afar, yet it drew him like a moth to a flame. But the light in her eyes was warmer when she wasn’t engaged in a full-on battle, and he found it incredibly attractive.
Jack glared at a passing truck as he waited for his turn to pull out onto the highway. Erica was special, yes. She knew his true identity. But that didn’t mean he should put his guard down for one second or let himself get sucked in by the allure of those brilliant eyes and the soft curves of her body, no matter how much he wanted to. His fox panted with urgency at being so close to her, and he chewed the inside of his lip in an effort to calm it down. Jack was level-headed and cautious. He didn’t do anything impulsively, acting only on plans he’d carefully thought out. Erica was changing that about him, and it didn’t seem like a good thing.
“No, probably not, but we’ll have to work with what we’ve got,” he finally said as he accelerated onto the main road and headed for the larger town where their destination lay. “After all, if we really had been best friends since childhood, we would’ve already known these things about each other. Tell me something else.”
“What do you want to know?”
Jack was no psychic, but he could tell Erica was putting a wall up around herself. If she felt vulnerable after sharing such vital information, then he couldn’t blame her. She was the first human he’d ever told, and it wasn’t an experience he was eager to have again. “Something basic and simple. Where were you born?”
“Lake Placid, New York.”
“I’ve heard that’s a nice area, but I’ve never been there.”
“I haven’t either,” she said with a shrug. “My mother was a travel writer, and being pregnant with me didn’t stop her from doing what she wanted. She was constantly on the go, and once I was born, I was on the go with her. She slowed down a little once I was in school, but we still moved about once a year; that was the longest she could stay in any one place. She always made sure it was an area that had a lot of hotels and resorts so she’d have plenty to keep her in business for a while. I essentially grew up as a tourist.”
“That had to be rough.” It wasn’t anything particularly deep, but it was a start. It was easy for him to imagine a younger version of Erica, exploring the world city by city. Those experiences had stayed with her, he could tell. They showed every time he looked in her eyes.
Erica flapped her hand in the air. “I managed, and I certainly learned how to pack a suitcase. I was more than prepared for my current career when it came to the traveling aspect, and I can’t be upset about that. Mom still travels all the time, actually. She just takes cruises around the world and makes sure she sends postcards. What about you? Where are you from?”
“We moved around a lot, too,” he admitted. “My father was a military man, and he was stationed at Fort Benning when I was born. We stayed there for a little while, but I’ve been all over the place.”
“Did you ever settle down anywhere, or do you stay on the move?”
“I’m living in Dallas at the moment.” That was where he’d been staying ever since he was recruited by the Force, but whatever happened after that remained to be seen. “You?”
“D.C. It’s a bit too crowded, and there’s a lot of tension there that’s difficult to get away from, but that’s where my job has led me.”
The two of them continued their idle chatter for the next half hour, and Jack was sure that Erica was being just as careful to steer clear of anything related to their major revelation earlier that day. It was just as well. They needed things to be on a smooth, even keel when they arrived.
Hortonburg was supposed to be one of the largest towns in this area, but when they pulled inside the city limits, Jack couldn’t help but notice it was only a bigger version of the village they’d stopped in jus
t after crossing the Ohio River. It was spread out, with large strips of ragged grass between the buildings. The zoning laws there were loose or perhaps nonexistent, with homes and businesses mingled all along the main route. A group of teens ambled down the side of the road, where Jack noted there was no actual sidewalk, clearly looking for trouble.
Best Value Car Sales was just on the outskirts of town. Jack noted this was where the newest stores were opening, including a strip mall and a massive superstore. The lot itself wasn’t much different than any other used dealership. Rows of vehicles were grouped together by body style, creating a section each of cars, trucks, SUVs, and even a few ATVs off to the side. A tall, electronic sign proudly proclaimed the best deals they currently had on the lot, with blinking prices and bids for urgency such as “Come in Now!” and “Get Them Before They’re Gone!” It was all so very mundane, and it made Jack’s suspicion increase exponentially. If this guy did have some sort of secret terrorist cell, then he was doing a great job of covering it up.
Jack parked between the rows of vehicles and looked at Erica. “Ready to go shop for a car, best buddy?”
“Only if we can get recruited into a strange cult while we’re at it, my dude,” she replied with a spark in her eye.
The air was hot and humid, but it wasn’t nearly as bad there as it’d been further south near those old cabins. Still, it made his shirt stick to his skin. Jack plucked at the fabric as he felt his fox vibrate with vigilance. He kept a careful eye on Erica, feeling a surprising need to protect her from whatever they might encounter.
They’d only been on the lot for a couple of minutes when an enthusiastic voice hailed them from the small white building at the back of the property. “Hi there, folks! Is there anything I can help you find?”
Jack turned to face Ben Jones himself, who was walking toward them with large steps and a friendly smile. He was exactly the same as he’d been in the picture Mr. Worth had shown him, a salesman bent on pretending to be your friend so he could line his own pockets. Long gone was the idea of a used car dealer wearing a plaid polyester suit and cheap shoes. Ben was dressed in a short-sleeve button-down and khakis. Even his accent had been polished away into almost nothing, which Jack was sure was a good tactic for a rural area like this. “My friend here is looking to get a different car.”
Erica waggled her fingers at the man in a girly way Jack knew she’d never do in real life. “I want something a little newer and a little cuter.”
“Cute doesn’t matter, Erica. It’s about how well it runs and if you can afford it.” They’d agreed to keep their actual names just so there would be less to slip up on. Ben wasn’t going to bring them to his compound if he had any reason to distrust them.
She shrugged and rolled her eyes.
“What kind of budget are we working with, folks?” Ben asked politely.
“Ten to fifteen,” Erica replied.
“More like ten,” Jack corrected.
Ben slapped his hands together in a clap and kept them there. “Great. I’ve got plenty right here that will accommodate you. Please note that all the price breakdowns are posted in the windows of every vehicle. Here at Best Value, we always want you to know exactly what you’re buying. This Toyota, for example, is only six thousand, but it’s got low mileage and the history report shows no accidents. You can also see here that we’ve put it through our multi-point inspection to make sure it’s safe and running properly.”
Jack leaned over, pretending to study the price sheet while Erica peered through the front window to check out the interior. This guy was trying to sell them a car that was only a fraction of the price they’d said they were willing to spend. The vehicle looked immaculate, too. “It’s something to keep in mind.”
“How about that one over there?” Erica trotted off to check out a little coupe.
The trio continued the usual banter for about half an hour. Mr. Jones was nothing less than polite, and he didn’t give off the type of vibes that most people in his position did. If Jack hadn’t already known about Ben’s somewhat suspicious behavior—and if he lived in the area—he’d be sending all his friends to go buy vehicles from the guy. They gave him their names and told him all about how they were new in town, but they’d heard this was the place to go for a used vehicle. They talked about the weather and how the summer promised to be a nice one.
“I think your wife will be very happy with this car,” Ben said as they headed inside to get started on the paperwork.
“Oh, she’s not my wife. We’re best friends, actually. We grew up together, and we’ve known each other forever.” Jack was secretly glad that Winston hadn’t insisted on some other farce, like honeymooners or even an engaged couple. Things were better between him and Erica now that they’d decided on their truce, but he didn’t think they could quite pull that off. Whether Ben could see it or not, Jack could still sense a certain amount of tension in the air between them. He didn’t know how to make it just go away, either.
“That’s right!” Ben tapped his forehead. “You mentioned you were friends. I’m sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry for, especially with the price you’re giving her.” He glanced at Erica, who hadn’t stopped smiling since they’d arrived. Clearly, she’d decided that the slightly ditzy female tactic was the best route for her. It worked well enough for their purposes, but he had to wonder how she felt about it.
Ben brought them into the building and sat them down in his office. “What can we do for you folks in terms of financing? We have a great local bank that we work with a lot.”
“You don’t do any in-house financing?” Jack asked. Many small lots did, and even when they had no ties to terrorism, they were usually a rip-off. He’d been cautiously watching for any signs of money laundering or other odd banking schemes that might have pointed to something shady.
Ben shook his head vehemently and waved his hand in the air, brushing away any notion of such things. “Absolutely not. I understand a lot of folks are looking for a second chance, and they’re worried the banks won’t touch them. I actually worked at a dealership that did just that sort of financing before I started this place. I saw how much it affected people’s budgets when they were so severely overcharged, and they thought it was their only option. I don’t like that idea.”
“That’s really great. In fact, everything about this place is great.” Jack glanced at Erica. They needed to get in. Buying a car and going back to Kentucky wasn’t going to get them anywhere. But Erica was just sitting there with her legs crossed, swinging one foot carelessly in the air.
Fortunately, Ben pulled out a form and poised his pen to fill it out for them, asking the one question Jack had been hoping for. “So, how did you say you heard about us?”
Jack rubbed his thumb across his upper lip. “Actually, it was your website that brought us here.”
“Oh, you’d been shopping for cars online. That’s great. I’ve really tried to improve our web presence.” Ben made a note on the form.
“Actually, we’ve been looking for something much more than a car. We found your other website, the blog about peace, happiness, and a better way of life. We watched a few of your videos, too, and we really liked we saw.”
Jack’s fox had relaxed somewhat while they’d been working on buying the car. Ben was surprisingly easy to be around. Now, though, it coiled its muscles, ready to run or strike, whatever might be necessary. Like most situations in his life, Jack had rehearsed this in his head several times over. The only thing he had to do right now was to wait and see what Ben had to say.
The salesman’s face split into a grin and he leaned back slightly in his chair. “Really? That’s fantastic.”
“No, you’re pretty fantastic.” Was Erica batting her eyelashes at him? “Everyone these days is just out to make a buck, and they don’t care how they do it. For me, I just want to be happy. I think modern life is all backward.”
Jack was on board in an instant. “Things are supposed to
be better in this day and age with all our technology, but I think it just inhibits us. We don’t look up from our screens long enough to see what’s actually going on around us.” He knew he was just echoing some of the sentiments Ben had shared in his online videos, none of which were particularly extreme. They were a rebellion against first-world lifestyles in a very peaceful way.
“I completely agree,” Ben enthused. “If I had it my way, I wouldn’t even have any computers here in the office. It’s a little hard to run a business that way, but in my personal life, I try to stay off the grid as much as possible.”
Erica clapped her hands. “I’ve been reading a lot about off-grid living! I still have so much to learn, but it’s a really exciting idea. How great would it be to actually not depend on grocery stores and utility companies?”
She was really selling it. Jack had to hand it to her. He only hoped that was what Ben wanted. The salesman smiled benevolently, steepling his fingers in front of his chest. “I do live that way, actually, when I’m not here at work.”
“That’s so awesome,” Erica gasped. “Can you give us some tips?”
Ben pressed his lips together, but he was only suppressing a smile. “I can do better than that. I can show you. If you’re truly interested, that is.”
“We are.” Jack didn’t want there to be any chance of Ben recruiting Erica without him going along. “In fact, we were thinking about buying ourselves a plot of land and giving it a shot. It turns out we can’t quite afford to get the acreage we’d need.”
Ben pursed his lips thoughtfully as he looked from Jack to Erica and back again. “I can tell you’re… special people, the kind who know how to get in touch with their more instinctive, natural sides. The kind who could go out into the wild, away from all society, and still survive. Yes?”
