Captivated By The Cougar (Seneca Falls Shifters Book 2)
Page 3
The trip from the lodge to Al Thompson’s property was made in under thirty minutes. Reese drove his truck onto a narrow drive, sparsely covered with gravel that hadn’t seen the sharp edge of a grate in quite a few years.
When he pulled into a small clearing and parked, I wasn’t surprised to see that Al Thompson lived in a run-down manufactured home with peeling paint on the siding and mismatched shingles on the roof. The yard wasn’t much better. Patches of weeds grew sporadically in someone’s abandoned attempt at growing a lawn. Dead and decayed stems of what used to be flowers littered the long bed along the side of the house. I surveyed the area to the left as I exited the vehicle, noting three old cars, all too rusted and stripped to clearly distinguish the make and models.
The only vehicle that still appeared to have any life left in it was an old Ford pickup, a 1990s model. The front right bumper was sanded white and didn’t match the faded blue paint on the rest of the exterior.
We’d barely made it a few steps when an older man who I assumed was Al stepped out onto the dilapidated porch stretching across the front of the home. “You boys lost?” He sauntered down three creaking stairs, then leaned his back against the end of the handrail.
Though his demeanor seemed calm, I scented a hint of wariness and fear. I doubted many visitors found their way onto Al’s property. I could see him getting a visit from a tourist heading in the wrong direction on the main access road after visiting the falls, but they’d have to make a considerable effort to find their way to Al’s home.
“No, we’re looking for Al Thompson.”
“I’m Al.” His tone held a hint of suspicion, he narrowed his gaze and eyed Reese skeptically. “And you are?”
“Reese Reynolds.” He tipped his head in my direction. “And this is Preston.”
I gave the old guy a nod, studying his body language for signs of guilty behavior, and seeing none.
Al scratched the short silver hairs on his chin. “You by any chance related to James Reynolds?”
“I’m his grandson,” Reese said.
“Thought that might be the case. You’re too young to be his good-for-nuthin’ son, but you got his looks and the same color hair.”
Reese hid his flinch well. I had a feeling Al’s assessment of Clayton Reynolds was close to correct. Reese never talked about his father much, and I’d never met the man. All I knew about Clayton was that he’d abandoned Nick before he was born and hadn’t been around much when Berkley and Reese were growing up.
“Heard some of his kin took over the resort. I’m guessing that would be you.”
“Yes, along with my sister, Berkley, and brother, Nick.”
“James was a good man, always treated me right. Not like some of the others”—he ground his teeth—“livin’ in these parts.”
Al was human, but the way he’d said “others” made me wonder if he knew shifters existed. I figured it was a question better left for later, when Reese and I were alone.
“Was sorry to hear about his passin’.” Al swept his hand through the few thinning strands of silver on the top of his head. “What can I do for you?”
“We found a bear trap on our property not far from here and wanted to know if you had any idea who might have left it there.” Reese used a diplomatic tone, but his hardened glare let Al know he was on the list of suspects.
Al made a noise between a groan and a growl. “Let me get my grandson.” He marched back up the stairs and shouted through the screen door. “Eli, get yer ass out here!”
“I swear whatever it is, I didn’t do it.” A young kid pushed open the screen and stomped outside. One glance in our direction and he paused, his defiant gaze becoming wary.
Judging by the mussed condition of his short brown hair, faded black T-shirt and worn jeans, I estimated him to be in his early twenties. One good whiff of his scent and I knew he was responsible for laying the trap. I crossed my arms and gave Reese an acknowledging nod, then leveled an accusing glare in Eli’s direction.
Al must have noticed our silent communication, because he didn’t give Eli a chance to say anything else. “Please tell me that you and your idiot cousin haven’t been setting traps again?”
Eli’s gaze nervously shot from his grandfather to us. “Well…I…”
Al frowned and dropped his head forward. “Did you set any traps on the resort’s property?”
“Yeah, but ole man Reynolds is dead.” Eli jutted out his chin, the defiance back in his voice. “Ronnie said it would be okay because there ain’t no one livin’ there.”
“Well, it’s not okay. Poaching is against the law.” Al pointed at Reese. “This here is James’s grandson, and he’s running the resort now. What do you think is going to happen if any of their guests get caught in one of your traps?”
Eli’s eyes widened and his face paled. “There’s people staying there?” He shoved shaking hands into his front pockets. It seemed as if this was the first time he’d considered the possibility of someone other than an animal getting hurt by his actions. “I’m sorry, mister. I didn’t know…”
Al rolled his eyes, his face red. “You get yer ass over there right now and get them traps off his property.” He glanced at Reese. “That is if it’s okay with you.”
“I’d appreciate it, and thank you,” Reese said.
“No problem.” Al shooed Eli back inside the house. “After you get done, we’re going to drive over to Hanford and have a talk with your knucklehead cousin and my brother.” Al’s heavy sigh and deep inhale made me think he wanted to do more than talk to the two younger men.
I turned and followed Reese back to the truck. If Eli’s thoughtless actions hadn’t been dangerous, I would have felt sorry for the kid and the lecture he was going to receive after we left.
As soon as we were on the road, I called Bryson to let him know what we’d discovered and to watch for Eli to make sure he removed all the traps. Reese hadn’t said anything since we got in the truck. He stared at the road, seemingly preoccupied by something. He was one of those guys who didn’t think it was necessary to make conversation unless he had something important to say. I leaned back in my seat and got comfortable, figuring he’d get around to sharing whatever was on his mind when he was ready.
Reese’s contemplation lasted only the few minutes it took him to leave the drive and turn onto the access road. “So.” He tapped his fingertips along the rim of the steering wheel. It was a subconscious movement, Reese’s way of centering his thoughts, choosing the right words before saying what he felt was important. “When are you going to get off your ass and claim my sister?”
Talk about a bombshell and getting Reese’s approval all at once. Discussing his sister wasn’t even in the realm of my expectations. Though my relationship with Berkley wasn’t a topic I wanted to share, not with her brother, not ever, it was a relief to hear I had his support.
I’d always known Reese was smart and extremely perceptive when it came to the people and situations around him. I should have known trying to keep my connection to Berkley a secret until she was ready to accept me would be a waste of time. I shifted uneasily in my seat and glanced in his direction. “About that…”
Chapter Three
BERKLEY
No fucking way! I blinked, hoping what I was seeing, or, more importantly, who I was seeing, wasn’t really there.
I tried to convince myself that life, karma, the great shifter wizard, or any number of other titles I’d chosen to label “fate” for the roller coaster that had become my life the last two years couldn’t possibly be this twisted.
Boy, was I wrong.
My heart pounded, my chest tightened, and I impressed myself by not stumbling through the entryway leading into the lodge’s lobby. It was like reliving the last few weeks of college all over again. Even though I’d stayed in touch with a few of my dorm mates, the ones who’d become good friends, Maris St. John, the lying, backstabbing, manipulative stealer of boyfriends was not one of them.
Once I’d put in my four years of cramming hard and working my ass off waiting tables to get my business degree, I’d left the East Coast, along with its bad memories, and returned home to the Midwest. I’d had every intention of finding a marketing job and focusing on my career. All the goals and plans I’d perceived for my future changed when my grandfather was killed in a car accident, leaving my two brothers and me the resort.
Dealing with disappointing males seemed to be an area where I was meant to excel. It was bad enough that I’d spent most of my life dealing with the rejection of a father who was too busy with his own personal agenda to spend any quality time with his children. Now I had to be reminded of Drew’s betrayal by having to deal with his girlfriend. The only thing that could possibly make this worse would be for him to come walking through the main entrance.
Luckily, when I’d gotten over my initial shock and glanced around the room, the only other person I saw was Sherri, Maris’s cousin. Her appearance hadn’t changed since the last time I’d seen her. She still cut her straight chestnut hair so that it bobbed an inch above her shoulders. She wore faded jeans and a pastel yellow blouse that did nothing to complement her pale complexion or enhance the light brown of her eyes.
She was standing off to the side, trying to make herself appear invisible and doing a great job. Being meek and avoiding confrontation was her way of avoiding Maris’s drama.
Maris hadn’t noticed me yet. She was too busy arguing with poor Nina, or rather, she was ranting at Nina, who was cringing on the other side of the reservation desk. Hiding in my office wasn’t going to make the problem go away, nor was it going to help Nina. She was a darned good employee and the guests loved her. The last thing I wanted was to lose her because of Maris’s behavior.
I headed into the lobby, deliberately clicking my heels on the wooden floor with each step. I stopped several feet from Maris, intentionally ignored her, and focused my attention on Nina. “Is there a problem here?”
Nina slumped her tensed shoulders and sighed with relief.
“Yes, there’s a problem,” Maris interrupted, jerking her head in my direction. “I’m not happy with…” Her words trailed off as recognition flashed across her face. “Berkley.” She forced a smile, the lilt in her tone sounding more acidic than sweet.
Her surprise was a practiced act, one I’d witnessed too many times before. It had the bile in my stomach churning, and I was tempted to slink behind the desk and cringe with Nina. “Maris, is that you?” Until I figured out what devious antics she had planned, I decided feigning ignorance was best. “I hardly recognized you with the new hair color.” Though I didn’t say it out loud, the red was so bright, she could have passed as a lighthouse beacon. Maris was a cougar shifter, and I’d bet a month’s worth of paychecks it pissed off her cat every time she went to the salon to have her roots done.
Having enhanced senses was a plus until you inhaled a nasty-smelling chemical that burned the inside of your nostrils.
“You know me. I love to try out new things.” Maris flipped her long strands over her right shoulder.
Yeah, like other people’s boyfriends. I remained in place and suffered through a hug. It was the kind of hug you were supposed to get from a best friend, not a mortal enemy whose hair you were dying to rip out—one strand at a time.
Along with the unwanted affection, my nostrils received a heavy dose of perfume. It drowned out all other scents, made my eyes water, and had me fighting the impulse to wrinkle my nose. Maris was prone to expensive tastes, and her colognes were no exception. This fragrance, however, was repugnant, not something she normally wore, and definitely a waste of her money. “Do you work here?” Maris asked, innocently pretending that we both didn’t know she already knew the answer.
“No, my brothers and I own the resort.” I didn’t miss the way her lips slowly twisted into a satisfied sneer, a confirmation that she’d purposely orchestrated our meeting. What I wanted to know was why.
“Seems like a waste for someone who excelled in all their classes. I expected you to be working at a high-ranking advertising firm…not”—she waved her hand through the air—“a place like this.” Her tone was condescending, leaving no doubt in my mind that she found what I did distasteful. Not that I cared or wanted her approval.
Sherri still hadn’t said a word, so I glanced in her direction. She was rocking from one foot to the other, keeping her gaze averted as if something on the floor was particularly interesting. Five minutes after meeting Maris for the first time, I knew she was all about control and manipulation. By Sherri’s nervous behavior, I was pretty sure Maris hadn’t informed her that I would be here.
My wolf’s patience had reached its limit. Though she’d never cared for Maris, she’d done her best to tolerate her. At the moment, even tolerating her was asking a lot. The animal was growling and pushing hard for me to shift.
I wasn’t about to stand here in my own home and let her continue to voice her negative opinions about me and my life. I decided a little stress relief was in order, for my wolf and for me, so I went straight for Maris’s jugular—figuratively, not physically.
“How’s Drew?” The last time I’d seen him, our parting words hadn’t been pleasant ones, mostly me telling him what he could do with his apology while he tried to tell me fucking Maris had been an accident, that it had just happened. I learned later from one of Drew’s buddies who hadn’t been happy with his new choice in females that “the accident” had happened a few times.
“Will he be staying here too?” I added a heavy, yet dreamy sigh for effect, hoping my comment would get a reaction.
Maris was good at masking her emotions, but she couldn’t control the blush burning its way from her throat to her cheeks. She smoothed her hands along the front of her skirt. “No, he wanted to come, but Daddy’s keeping him busy at the firm, so this is a girls’ weekend.”
Sherri’s gasp drew my attention. Going by the ashen pallor of her already pale skin and the way she longingly glanced at the main doors, I assumed she was calculating her chances of escape.
Maris disguised her low growl with a cough and, at the same time, gave Sherri a warning glare. It was a silent command for Sherri to back up Maris’s story or suffer her wrath later.
She was a good person, and we’d always gotten along well. I never understood why Sherri put up with her cousin’s crap, why she continued to tolerate Maris’s behavior. I’d always assumed it was out of fear more than anything else.
I’d seen Sherri’s cat and knew if her human side wasn’t submissive, her animal could easily overpower Maris’s. It was during the one and only time I’d allowed a few women from our dorm to talk me into spending a weekend at a vacation home outside the city, compliments of Maris’s parents. It was great to have a quiet place to let my wolf run, but it wasn’t worth being cooped up nonstop for forty-eight hours with Maris.
Now that the small itch of dread had grown into a full-blown annoying scratch and Maris wasn’t going to divulge the reasons behind her stay, I figured it was time to find out why she’d been arguing with Nina. I glanced at my employee and smiled. “What was the problem you needed help with?”
“You might start by finding new help, someone who isn’t so rude and unpleasant.” Maris sneered at Nina. “I want a better view, and she refused to move us from a cabin to a room in the lodge.”
Panic was an easy emotion to read on Nina’s face. The poor thing was probably afraid I’d fire her. I clamped my lips together. It was one thing to vent her nastiness on me; I could take care of myself and get downright mean if necessary. But Nina…well, rude and unpleasant were words no one I knew would ever use to describe her. She had to be one of the sweetest people I’d ever met,
and having someone disrespect her was not okay.
After giving Nina a reassuring smile, I focused my attention on Maris. “Nina was following company policy. All room changes require approval from one of the owners.” It was a struggle, but I was able to keep the sarcasm out of my professional tone.
“Good.” Maris crossed her arms. “Then you can instruct her to move us.”
It took every bit of strength I possessed to keep my fists clenched and my claws contained. My wolf growled and snarled, extremely unhappy with my decision. She viewed Maris and her cat as intruders. They were in her territory, and all she could think about was slicing some fur off the bitchy kitty’s ass.
If I thought Maris would go without making a scene or finding a way to seek vengeance later, I’d personally toss her out of the lodge without my wolf’s help. Be professional, be professional, be professional. I inhaled and exhaled, then pretended the chant I used to deal with difficult guests was working. “I could, but I can’t.”
“What do you mean you can’t?” Maris huffed.
“I’m afraid all the rooms in the lodge are booked.” I was lying, and Nina’s attempt to hide an amused grin told me she knew it too. “If you aren’t interested in staying in a cabin, I’d be more than happy to refund your money and recommend a nice hotel near Hanford.” I tapped the countertop with my fingernails. “One you might find more suitable.”
“If you want a room with a view, maybe we should take Berkley’s advice and stay at the hotel,” Sherri said, hesitantly moving between us. I wasn’t sure who she was trying to protect, but I was glad she’d picked that moment to defuse the situation.
Maris shook her head, overdramatizing her disappointment. “No, the cabin will be fine.” Apparently, leaving wasn’t an option, and she must have realized she wasn’t going to get her way no matter how much she pushed.