Wild Cat (Alaska Wild Nights Book 2)

by Tiffinie Helmer

  “Like what?”

  Avery sent him an exasperated look from under his brows.

  “Do you mean marriage? Why can’t you marry her? You’d be the luckiest man alive to have her as your wife.”

  “Dawson’s don’t have the best track record when it comes to marriage.”

  “You can’t measure what’s happened with me and my marriages against marriage in general. I picked the wrong type of women. Always have gone for a pattern. Cat is the right kind of woman—the kind that’s dependable, loyal, and loving. She’s nothing like your mother and stepmothers.”

  “What about Grandad?”

  “How do you think I went for the wrong type of woman? I learned that from him. You, on the other hand, have steered clear of them. Well, except for that time you dated Leia Atwood in high school. I was a bit worried there for a time, but you wised up and moved on. Plus, marriage takes two people to make it work. Believe it or not, I wasn’t the best of husbands.”

  “What if I’m not a good husband?”

  “Do you love her, son?”

  Avery glanced off into the distance. “I’m afraid I do. She’s all I think about. She haunts my dreams, my every waking moment,” he reluctantly admitted.

  “See, I never felt that way about my wives. I’d hoped to, but those feelings never developed.”

  “Why did you marry them then?”

  “Well, I married your mother because I got her pregnant. Then I married Tabitha because I wanted you to have a mother. After she took off, leaving Drew behind, I married again to try and provide him with a mother. I’ve failed each time.”

  “Would you marry again?”

  “If I fell in love, then yes, I would give it another try. I’m older and wiser now. And I have hope that there’s still a love out there for me. Don’t ever give up on love, son. To do that is to give up on life.”

  Chapter 22

  Catriona opened the back of her Subaru to grab the paint-prep materials she’d purchased from Heart Hammering Supplies. Her brothers had finished cleaning up the mess created from taking down the wall and repaired the drywall so she could start painting. Once that was done, they would finish patching the floor.

  “Cat!”

  She turned to see her former boss, Todd coming toward her.

  What the hell does he want?

  Last week, when she’d arrived at Heart Springs Enteral to pick up her personal items, she’d been met with her stuff already packed, and she hadn’t been allowed to clean out her office. Someone had riffled through all her things, cleared out her computer files, and so forth.

  “We need to talk,” Todd said.

  “What about?”

  “You starting up yoga classes. I told you if you did that you’d be in violation of your contract.”

  “Not this again. I read over your noncompete clause. Nowhere does it state I can’t teach yoga, just that I can’t use the company’s class format or roster. You made sure I didn’t take any files off my computer. So, no violation.”

  “Yet, members of your class are talking about switching when you open this Magic Heart business.”

  “Mystic Heart, and it isn’t my problem if you can’t keep the members there. You know Randi isn’t ready to take over.”

  “You gave me little choice, not giving me notice to train or hire someone else.”

  “I gave you notice, you told me not to come in. Now excuse me. I have work to do.” She turned her back to dismiss him. She was so done with this conversation.

  He grabbed her arm, swung her around, and got in her face. “We were good together. I saw a future for us. Why did you have to ruin it?”

  “Get your hand off me.”

  “Cat—”

  “Right now, or you’re going to regret it. I won’t be manhandled by you or anyone. You want to know why we aren’t together? The more time I spent with you, the less I liked you. You are controlling, demanding, and unwilling to see anything other than your way. Now. Let. Go. Of. Me.”

  Instead of doing what she said, he stepped in closer, pushing her against the side of her car. She saw the anger and violence in his eyes, barely checked, and steeled herself for what was coming next.

  Avery gazed out the window. He’d been watching for Catronia and hated how often he caught himself waiting for a brief glimpse of her. It had been days since he’d talked to her. Not since she’d told him to leave her alone. He should be happy about that, but as the days went on, he missed her more and more. Just ask his employees who he barked at for no reason. His attitude would rival a bear coming out of hibernation. He was surly, horny, and hungry for Catronia.

  Another car pulled up in front, and he glanced up. Not her.

  Get your head screwed on straight, Dawson.

  He should go into his office and work, close himself away without a plate-glass window that sat directly across from Cat’s shop.

  It’s what he should do, but he couldn’t seem to make himself. Business was slow this afternoon. What he wouldn’t give for a fight to break out. Bashing some heads together would help his mood considerably.

  He heard a car door slam. There she was. Finally, he could quit watching for her. Knowing that she was there seemed to soothe the beast inside him somewhat. A BMW screeched to a stop next to Cat and Todd Ellis unfolded himself from the expensive vehicle. No one needed a car like that in Alaska.

  What was he doing here?

  He strode up to Cat who had stopped gathering items from the back of her Subaru. She backed up a step, and Ellis advanced threateningly. They exchanged some words, angry ones by the look of it, then he grabbed her arm.

  Avery threw down the towel he’d been using to wipe the spotless counter and vaulted over the bar, running for the door.

  “Boss?” Leif asked.

  “You’re in charge,” he hollered back, yanking the door open and rushing toward Cat.

  Ellis stood, yelling at Cat, leaning over her, his face inches from hers where he’d pushed her against the side of the car.

  “Get your hands off her!” Avery shouted.

  Ellis turned. “This is none of your business.”

  “The hell it isn’t.”

  “Todd, you should leave,” Cat said, her voice wobbly.

  “Not until you see reason.”

  “You’re the one who has to see reason.”

  Avery moved toward Todd. “I suggest you get back in your dick mobile and leave her the hell alone. I see you around her again, and you’ll leave in an ambulance.” If not a body bag.

  “You haven’t heard the last of this, Catriona.”

  “Yes, I have. I’ve consulted a lawyer, I’m in the right. If you need clarification, you should do the same.”

  Ellis stomped off and got into his car, backing out of the parking spot, the BMW fishtailed as it tried to find purchase on the icy road.

  “What the hell was that all about?” Avery demanded.

  “A misunderstanding that will soon be cleared up the minute Todd starts thinking straight.”

  “That was no ‘misunderstanding.’ He was threatening you.”

  “I’ve been threatened before. I can handle it. Go back to work.”

  “No.”

  “What do you mean ‘no’?”

  “We need to talk.”

  “No, we don’t. We’ve said all that needs to be said to each other.”

  “The hell we have. You had your say, now you need to hear mine.”

  They were gathering an audience. Avery could feel eyes on them coming from the Pump House. He grabbed her arm. “Come on.”

  “What? You can grab me, but Todd can’t?”

  “That’s exactly right.” He pulled her into her shop. She twisted out of his hold as soon as they were inside away from prying eyes.

  She folded her arms across her chest, looking adorably angry staring at him with those electric-green eyes. “Say what you have to say, and then leave me alone.”

  “That’s just it. I can’t leave you al
one. I don’t want to. You win, all right. Let’s get married.”

  She stared at him, stunned, then her lips twisted into a snarl. “No.”

  “No? What do you mean no? It’s what you wanted.”

  “Not like this it isn’t.”

  “What the hell do you want from me, woman?”

  “If you don’t know by now, you will never know.”

  He growled and advanced toward her, his hands fisting at his sides. “You said you loved me.”

  “I do.”

  “Then why the hell won’t you marry me?”

  “Because you really don’t want to marry me. You just want me in your bed.”

  True, but if it took marrying her to get her there, he was finally ready to step up.

  “You want to be in my bed too,” he pointed out.

  “Regardless, you don’t ask a woman to marry you like this. In fact, you ask, you don’t state that we get married.”

  “Damn it, Cat, you’re driving me crazy. I can’t get enough of you. If this is love, I don’t know if I like it, but I can’t breathe without you. You don’t know what it’s like to feel like this.”

  Her face softened. “I think I have a pretty good idea.”

  “Hey, Cat, did you know the door to your car is wide open…” Ryder entered carrying a bundle of wood flooring and came to a quick stop. “Have I interrupted something? I have, haven’t I?”

  “No, I think we’re done here,” Cat said. “Goodbye, Avery.”

  With a frustrated sound, Avery reached for her, kissing her in front of Ryder. She melted into him and he groaned, releasing her. “We are far from being done, Catriona.”

  With that he walked past an open-mouthed Ryder and returned to the Pump House, a plan to get her back already forming in his head. But he had to do some shopping first.

  Christ, he hated to shop.

  Chapter 23

  Avery snuck into Cat’s place. He’d been watching for her to leave so he could put his plan into action. She’d been back and forth all day, carrying in all sorts of building and painting supplies. He didn’t know how much time he had and he’d employed Drew to help him lug in the items he’d gathered. Luckily, Cat hadn’t locked the place up. He didn’t want to explain how he broke in. Regardless of what he had planned, he knew she wouldn’t take that lightly.

  “What’s all this?” Drew asked. “You setting up a special date or something?”

  Something like that. The most important date of his life so far. “Just hurry and hang those lights.”

  “I never thought you’d go for this romantic stuff. Seriously, aren’t twinkling lights over the top?”

  “Just shut up and do what you’re told. And hurry it up.”

  Drew grumbled under his breath, but he got busy hanging the twinkling lights around the room while Avery scattered rose petals over the floor. He had a tray of chocolate-covered strawberries he’d conned Leif into preparing and a bucket of chilled champagne sitting on the white, linen tablecloth he’d covered her display table with. A dozen long-stem roses lay across the middle, wrapped in a white bow.

  Next, he hooked his iPhone up to the speakers he’d grabbed from his apartment and set his playlist to play.

  “Damn, that is some sappy music,” Drew commented when the Everly Brothers started to sing, All I Have to is Dream.

  He’d stacked the playlist with every damn romantic song he could think of, including the Righteous Brothers, Elvis Presley, and Roy Orbison. It was interesting that they were all sixties songs.

  “You should be taking notes. Women like this kind of shit.” He should know, he’d spent the whole night researching the best ways to propose marriage. There were some pretty wild ideas out there. One involved a hot air balloon, which this time of year in Alaska made no sense. They’d die of exposure before he could get the words out.

  A car pulled up outside.

  “Crap, she’s here. Get lost.” Nerves flared to life and he started to sweat.

  “How do you expect me to get lost?” Drew asked.

  “There’s got to be a back door in here somewhere. Find it. If you can’t, then hide.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yes, seriously. Now beat it.”

  Drew headed toward the stairs.

  Avery heard another car, followed by multiple door slams.

  Shit, she wasn’t alone.

  Jack was the first to enter, followed by Hank, who took in the scene with one glance, his face splitting into the biggest smile Avery had ever seen on his dad’s face.

  Cat and the rest of her family followed, including Ash who gave him a knowing nod and a thumbs up. They all wore ratty clothes to work in some carrying gallons of paint, rollers, and drop cloths.

  He’d crashed a damn paint party.

  “Avery?” Cat stepped forward, the crowd parting for her, all grins. Well, Kennadee seemed more skeptical than the rest. “What is all this?”

  Well, here goes nothing.

  So what if he had an audience? All that mattered was Cat and what answer she’d give him. If she turned him down again, he’d slink off no more miserable than he already was without her. He already knew what that felt like.

  The Righteous Brothers started singing Unchained Melody, and he lowered himself to one knee in front of her. She gasped, her hand rushing up to cover her mouth. That had to be a good sign, didn’t it?

  He took the velvet box out of his pocket and flipped open the top to reveal a bright green emerald the color of her eyes surrounded by a circle of diamonds.

  “I love you, Catriona Wilde. Please marry me, be my wife, make a life with me, be the mother of my children, and make me the happiest man in Heartbreak. I know I don’t deserve you, but then no one does in my book. You are the only woman for me, and while marrying a Dawson is a high-risk endeavor, I promise to work every day at making you happy so that you never doubt how very much I love you.”

  The room went still as everyone waited for Cat’s answer. She lowered her hand and gave him a look full of sass. Damn it, she wasn’t going to make this easy and just give him a simple one-word answer. But he hadn’t expected any less from the woman he loved.

  “Now this is more like it,” she said.

  “Cat, put the man out of his misery,” Jack said. Avery totally agreed with Jack, who he hoped would be his future father-in-law.

  “This is my proposal, and I want to enjoy it,” Cat returned.

  “Are you sure you want to marry such a merciless woman?” Ryder asked Avery.

  “Yes,” Avery quickly responded. He hadn’t blinked in so long, not wanting to miss any minute change in Cat’s expression, that his eyes started to burn. At least he hoped that’s what was happening and tears weren’t forming. God knew his emotions were all over the place as he waited her out.

  “Would you stand, Avery?” Cat asked, her tone soft.

  Slowly, he got to his feet. She stepped toward him and cupped his face in her hands, a smile spreading over her lips as she reached up to kiss him.

  He grabbed her, overwhelmed with fear, so afraid that she was kissing him goodbye that he held on tight, too tight, fisting his hands behind her in the cotton of her t-shirt. He thought he heard one of her sister’s sigh, while another declared, “How romantic.”

  Cat broke the kiss and gazed into his eyes. “Yes, Avery Carrick Dawson, I will marry you.”

  With an ecstatic shout, he picked her up and swung her around, her giddy laughter filling the room along with hoots and hollers from her family and his. Drew had snuck down the stairs and witnessed the whole thing, a sappy smile on his face.

  Both Hank and Jack fist-bumped and then gave each other a man hug, slapping each other on the back. Ash pulled Sorene into his arms and kissed her. Kennadee’s skepticism changed into a welcoming smile, while Zoe dabbed at happy tears. Ryder and Dare shared a look.

  “There goes another one,” Dare muttered. “At this rate, you’ll be next.”

  “Bite your tongue, bro,” Ryder re
turned, giving his twin a push.

  Avery set Cat down on her feet and slid the ring on her finger. Cat reached up and wiped at the moisture leaking from his eyes. Softly, she said, “Now that’s how you ask a woman to marry you. I love you, Avery.”

  “Please, don’t ever stop.”

  Regardless of the crowd, he kissed her, wondering when they’d be able to sneak away.

  Cat broke the kiss, a twinkle in her eyes. She picked up the bottle of champagne and took Avery’s hand. “Please excuse us. I need to be alone with my fiancé.”

  “Now, don’t be starting the honeymoon before the wedding vows,” Jack said.

  “And here I thought you wanted grandchildren as soon as possible?” Cat said.

  “Legitimate grandchildren.”

  Cat winked and pulled Avery from the Mystic Heart. He’d known she was trouble from their first date, and he hated himself for fighting his feelings for so long. No longer—she was his, he was hers, and he would spend his lifetime not giving her any reason to doubt that. Once they breached the door, he swung her up into his arms and raced for his apartment, loving the sound of her laughter.

  THE END

  *Continue reading for a preview of Wild Fire (Alaska Wild Nights Book 3) coming out on April 29th, 2018. Also, please remember to leave a review. Thank you!

  Preview of Wild Fire (Alaska Wild Nights Book 3)

  Prologue

  Hank met Pete at the Pump House, high from his latest matchmaking success. Two daughters engaged. Two more to go, then he’d start working on the boys. They needed to season a bit anyway. Actually, settling Zoe down might be his hardest challenge. He’d have to find a man with a strong enough character to stand up to her so that she didn’t walk all over him. The girl had a way with wrapping men around her little finger, even at such a young age. Lord knows, he’d been under her spell since she came screaming into the world nineteen years ago. Where did the time go?