by Liv Brywood
Daisy frowned as the guy with the shotgun turned and raced off into the woods. Whatever, if he didn’t want to join them, it was his loss.
“You coming back in?” Meadow called.
“Yeah.”
Daisy splashed back into the chilly water and paddled over to her friend. Andy and River roughhoused farther away from the shore. Good thing Andy hadn’t seen the way the guy stood in the shadows drooling over her body. He would have kicked his ass. She didn’t mind. It had been a while since she’d met someone as hot as the ripped farm boy.
“Aren’t you glad we stayed now?” Meadow asked. “Too bad Mr. Hunky didn’t come join us.”
“Are you kidding? Andy would have a cow if he saw the look in that guy’s eyes.”
“We should go check out his farm,” Meadow said.
“No way,” Daisy said. “We’re supposed to be leaving today. For all we know, he went back to get his dad.”
“I guarantee he’s not running off to get his dad. He’s probably jacking off in the woods,” Meadow said.
“Who’s jacking off in the woods?” Andy asked.
“No one,” Daisy said while glaring at Meadow. Her friend’s big mouth almost busted them. Not that she’d done anything wrong. But her brother could be overprotective about guys.
“We should stay another night,” River said as he swam toward them.
“No way,” Daisy said. “If that guy comes back with his dad, we’re dead.”
“He won’t come back. He was just bluffing,” River said.
“But the guy in town said—”
“The guy in town was totally gassed,” River said. “He probably made it up.”
“The farmer guy did show up with a shotgun,” Andy said.
“Yeah, I think we should leave,” Daisy said.
“The sun’s already behind the mountain,” River said. “It’s going to set soon and I don’t want to be out driving around in the dark.”
“Chicken,” Meadow teased.
“No. There’s buffalo and wolves and stuff in Yellowstone. If we hit one, it’s going to mess up the bus. I don’t want to take that chance,” River said.
“He’s right.” Andy glanced at the mountain. “I didn’t realize how late it was getting. Let’s camp out one more night. We can leave in the morning. Let’s gather some firewood before the sun sets and we can build a campfire.”
“Sounds good,” Meadow said. She grabbed Daisy’s arm and bounded out of the water.
“Slow down,” Daisy yelped.
“Hurry up and put your dress on. We can ditch the boys and go check out Mr. Shotgun and his crazy dad.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Daisy pulled a gauzy, white cotton dress over her head. “We shouldn’t wander off too far.”
“You’re such a square sometimes,” Meadow huffed. “You need to get laid. I’d let Mr. Shotgun plow my field any day.”
“What?” River scowled at his girlfriend.
“I only have eyes for you, babe,” Meadow said as she wrapped him in a tight embrace. She winked at Daisy over his shoulder. When she pulled away, she flashed him a sexy smile. “We’ll go look for some dryer wood while you guys set up a pit.”
Daisy marveled at her friend’s ability to wrap River around her finger. In a way, she envied their relationship. Even though things got rocky from time to time, she didn’t doubt that they truly loved each other. But Daisy didn’t want to be tied down to anyone or anything. She loved her freedom too much to give it up for a man.
“Don’t wander off too far,” Andy said.
“We won’t,” Daisy promised.
She grabbed Meadow’s hand and dragged her into the forest. Just because she didn’t want to commit to anyone didn’t mean she wanted to join a convent. She hadn’t been with anyone since Tony. He’d hurt her enough to make her consider a life of celibacy, but she couldn’t go through with it. She liked making love far too much to give it up for the rest of her life.
As they strolled through the forest, her impulsive nature drew her through the woods toward the farm. She just wanted one more glimpse of the hot stranger. Even though she’d never get to talk to him again, he could fuel her fantasies until she found a new boyfriend.
“We’re going to the farm, aren’t we?” Meadow asked with a mischievous grin.
“Maybe,” Daisy said. “But you can’t tell Andy. He’d kill me.”
“You’re such a spaz. He might yell at you and puff up like an ostrich, but deep down, he loves you. He wants to protect you from scum like Tony.”
“I hope his new girlfriend cheats on him. Maybe then he’d change his ways,” Daisy said.
“Doubt it.”
“I can dream, right?” Daisy asked.
“Yes… just not about him. He should be dead to you,” Meadow said.
“He is.”
Daisy pushed between two bushes as she skirted the tree line. She was ready to head back when the farmhouse finally came into view. A large covered porch wrapped around the plain white building. A steeply sloped roof formed an inverted V over the second story of the house. A rocking chair swayed in the breeze.
“Wow, it’s really nice,” Meadow said.
“It’s pretty in a country kind of way,” Daisy said.
It couldn’t compare to her parents’ Victorian in San Francisco, but this was a totally different world. In the city, most of the houses were crammed together with only a foot of space separating them. She couldn’t look out her bedroom window without catching a glimpse of old man Withers’s naked ass. She shuddered. Getting old was going to suck. All those wrinkles.
“There he is,” Meadow whispered.
Daisy pulled her friend behind a huge pine tree before peeking around it. Mr. Shotgun strolled through the field on the left side of the house. He leaned a large wicker basket on one hip. Beads of sweat formed on his naked chest. As he bent to pluck a ripe tomato from a vine, his chest muscles flexed and rippled with strength.
“Hot damn,” Meadow murmured.
“He could nail me any day,” Daisy said.
“You should go talk to him.”
“No way. He can’t know that we’re still on his land.”
Meadow huffed and then leaned out for a better look at the sexy stranger. Daisy pushed her back.
“Hey, cool it,” Daisy said. “If he sees us, we’re going to have to leave tonight. You heard what River said about driving in the dark.”
“I know, but his muscles. Damn, man. I can’t stop scoping them out.”
“I’ll make sure to tell River you said that,” Daisy teased.
A twinge of jealousy raced up her spine. Meadow already had someone. She didn’t need another boyfriend. Daisy was sick of hearing her friend pant on top of River in the tent at night. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she wanted someone too. Maybe after they dropped off her brother in Canada, she’d be able to find a man of her own.
“Oooh, did you see that guy?” Meadow pointed at another man who stood on the front porch of the house.
Much younger and with far less defined muscles, the teenager didn’t warrant a second glance. She turned her attention back to Mr. Shotgun. When he squatted down to cut a bunch of broccoli off of their stalks, his jeans clung to his firm butt. Her mouth went dry.
“Let me know if I should wipe up the drool on your chin,” Meadow said with a smirk.
Daisy swiped her hand across her chin but it came back dry.
“I’m not drooling,” she snapped.
“Could have fooled me,” Meadow said. “You look like you want to march across the field and flop down on top of the cabbage and go at it like wild animals.”
“Just because you and River screw like rabbits doesn’t mean I want to follow suit,” Daisy said. “We should be heading back before the guys get suspicious.”
“Or before you race out there and fling yourself at Mr. Hottie’s feet,” Meadow added.
Daisy rolled her eyes. As much as she loved her friend, she could al
so be a pain in the butt sometimes. She turned and walked several trees deep into the forest. Meadow crunched through the dried pine needles and fallen branches a few steps behind her.
As they made their way back toward the campsite, Daisy stopped to pick up dry twigs and smaller branches. Meadow also collected an armful of firewood. By the time they reached camp, they carried enough wood to make their extended trip believable.
Andy placed the final large rock around the center of a deep pit. He stepped back to survey his handiwork.
“That looks great,” Daisy said.
“We found the rocks around the bend. There’s a small stream that dumps into the lake over there.” Andy pointed toward the left side of the lake.
“Babe, I missed you so much,” Meadow squealed as she raced into River’s arms.
“Me too, babe,” River said.
Daisy turned her back on them and wandered over to the bus. She pulled the ice chest out and set it on the ground. Ear-splitting laughter carried over from where Meadow and River frolicked. Daisy sighed. Maybe one day she’d have the kind of carefree relationship they had. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but it was better than being totally alone.
***
Greg waited until the moon rose up over the mountain before taking off into the woods. He’d just finished rounding up the horses for the night when high-pitched laughter pierced the silence. As he stalked toward the hippie’s camp, he clutched the shotgun in one hand. He’d never had to use it before, but he might have to fire a warning shot to get them off his family’s land. Whatever he did, it would be nothing compared to what his father would do if he caught them.
Through a break in the trees, he spotted their campsite. A blazing fire crackled in the center of the tents. As he drew closer, the scent of burning wood mingled with the sickly-sweet smell of pot. He’d never smoked it himself, but he’d caught his sister Samantha out in the woods a few times. If their dad ever caught her, she’d get a licking with the belt. He could only warn her so much. Eventually she’d learn the hard way.
When he stepped into the clearing, Daisy looked up. Her eyes went wide as her gaze raked across his body before settling on the shotgun. He shifted it to his side and pointed the barrel at the ground.
“I told you to leave,” he said.
“I know.” Daisy jumped up. “We’re going in the morning, I swear.”
“You said that last night.”
“We were going to leave—honestly—but when we got up, it was so hot outside we decided to hang in the lake until it cooled off,” Daisy said.
“It’s cool now,” Greg said. “So you have to leave.”
“Why are you so uptight, man?” the long-haired guy asked.
He puffed on the end of a joint before passing it to the other guy. Greg scowled.
“Is that pot?” he demanded.
The guy was mid-toke when he burst out laughing. He choked on the sweet smoke and sputtered.
“Of course, man,” he said.
“Want to smoke with us?” Daisy asked. “This is my brother Andy and my friends Meadow and River.”
Greg grabbed the blunt from between Andy’s fingers and then flicked it into the fire.
“What the hell, man?” River snapped. “You just threw away some California Gold. That shit’s not cheap.”
“I don’t care,” Greg said. “You need to pack up and leave.”
“Or what? Your old man’s going to shoot us?” Andy asked.
“Hey, everyone just chill,” Daisy said.
She stood and walked over to where Greg stood. Her soft, earthy scent curled into his nose to awaken his bear. The creature stretched and yawed before turning its attention to Daisy. Then he clawed at his ribcage. Greg gasped at the sudden pressure in his chest.
“Are you okay, man?” River asked. “Cop a squat before you pass out.”
Daisy grabbed his arm and helped him to the ground. She sat cross-legged beside him. The edge of her skirt draped over her thigh, revealing her long, sexy legs. He swallowed and looked away.
“Want some water?” Daisy asked.
“Sure,” he said.
She handed him a Thermos of liquid. He sniffed it before pouring a cup.
“It’s not booze,” Andy said.
“I know,” Greg said. “But can you blame me for checking?”
“No,” Daisy said. “We don’t have much, but if you want some beef jerky, I can get you some from the bus.”
“No thanks. I already had dinner,” he said.
River pulled a Zippo lighter out and lit the end of a new blunt. Greg sighed. Trying to reason with a bunch of hippies was pointless. As soon as his bear calmed down enough to allow him to get up, he’d leave.
“Where are you headed tomorrow?” Greg asked.
“Yellowstone. We’re taking the road up to Gardner.”
“Do you have family there?” he asked.
“No,” River said. “Meadow and I don’t have family. We’re each other’s family. Right, babe?”
“Mm-hmm,” she said.
“What about you?” Greg asked Daisy.
“I have my brother Andy, but other than that, I don’t really have a family anymore.”
He detected a hint of sadness in her tone. He wanted to ask her about it, but didn’t want to be rude. Prying into other people’s business wasn’t his style.
“What about your family?” Daisy asked. “Are you close to them?”
“Definitely,” he said. “I have a great family.”
“Must be nice,” River said bitterly.
“It is,” Greg said. “I have five brothers and a sister.”
“Wow, that’s a big family,” Daisy said.
“Not really. Not for a famer,” Greg said with a shrug. “What do you guys do? Do you have jobs?”
“Not right now,” Andy said. “But we’ll get some soon.”
He and Daisy exchanged a peculiar look, as if they were hiding something.
“What about you?” Greg asked.
“Turn on, tune in, drop out,” River said through a puff of smoke.
“What’s that mean?” Greg asked.
“It means open your mind. What you think of as your existence is just an illusion brought on by the Man.”
“What man?” Greg asked.
River shook his head and smiled before taking another toke.
“Two years ago, we were at the Human Be-In in San Francisco,” Daisy said. “Timothy Leary said ‘turn on, tune in, drop out,’ so we did. I only had six months until graduation anyway.”
“Golden Gate Park was in a purple haze that day,” River said. “It was all White Lightning and Foxes.”
“White lightning?” Greg asked.
“LSD, man,” River chuckled. “You really are hemmed up.”
“Just because I don’t do drugs doesn’t mean I can’t have fun,” Greg said.
“What do you do for fun?” Daisy asked.
“Ride horses.”
“Sounds groovy.”
“You ever ride?” he asked.
“Nope, but one day I will,” she said in a dreamy tone. “I want to ride a stallion.”
“I bet you do,” Meadow said with a grin.
Daisy glared at her friend before turning toward him. The swell of her breasts peeked over the top of her gauzy dress. The material was so thin that he could see the peach outline of her skin beneath it. He dropped his gaze to the fire as flames of lust licked down his spine. What he wouldn’t give to feel the softness of her skin under his palms.
“So you’re a farmer?” Daisy asked.
“Yeah. We have a large plot of land dedicated to everything from peas to radishes to garlic.”
“That sounds amazing,” she said.
“It’s a lot of work especially now that my brothers are away.”
“Where are they?” she asked.
“Vietnam.”
Daisy’s gaze snapped to her brother, who looked at Meadow and River. An uncomfortable silen
ce descended over the group.
“Do you have any family in ‘Nam?” he asked.
“No,” River stood and reached for Meadow’s hand. “I’m getting tired, babe. Let’s go to sleep.”
“Good idea.” She let him help her up and then brushed pine needles off her skirt. “We should all get some sleep since we have to get up early.”
Her tone carried a razor-sharp edge. Greg cocked his head to one side. Obviously something was going on that they didn’t want to share with him.
“River’s right,” Andy said. “Let’s go, Daisy.”
“I’ll turn in soon,” she said.
Andy glowered at her but stood and walked to his tent.
“Don’t stay up late,” he said before zipping himself into it.
Daisy smiled at him and put her finger over her lips. She stood and reached for his hand. When they touched, a bolt of molten heat rolled through his core. As she led him away from the campsite toward the lake, his body went on full alert. Her floral scent encapsulated him in a bubble of yearning.
It had been years since his bear had demanded anything more than food and the chance to roam through the woods. But one sniff of her scent pushed his bear into a frenzy. The beast kicked and flailed in an attempt to escape. He railed about wanting his mate.
“Ridiculous,” he murmured.
“What?” Daisy whispered.
“Nothing,” he said.
As his bear wailed and pleaded with him to claim his mate, Greg fought the beast’s energy with all of his strength. The last thing he needed was to have his bear burst out and scare her to death. No one could know his secret except for other shifters. If Daisy discovered his true nature, she’d look at him with fear and revulsion, and he couldn’t bear to see such hatred in her eyes.
No. He knew better than to ever consider a relationship with a human. As a bear shifter, he was both blessed and cursed. Eventually he’d find his true mate. Until then, he’d have to ignore his bear’s obviously incorrect claim that Daisy was his mate. Even if he wanted it to be true, it wasn’t possible. There was no way they could ever be together.
Chapter 4
Daisy looped her arm through Greg’s. She didn’t know why she felt so comfortable with him, but she did. Maybe it was the deep, rumbling sound of his voice, or the earthy scent flowing off him like a potent aphrodisiac. Whatever it was, she was totally into it.
