Captivated by the Cougar

by Rayna Tyler

  I held back a snicker. Mandy had missed her calling when she became a plumber. She should have taken up acting. Even I was convinced by her sincere performance. And the little pout she made at the end of her statement was a nice touch.

  “Uh-huh.” Berkley faced forward, dropped her hands in her lap, then glanced in my direction. “Whenever you’re ready, Pres.”

  I chuckled, then cranked the ignition, knowing this was going to be a fun and enlightening forty-five-minute drive.

  NO SOONER HAD I EXITED the vehicle and collected the stack of albums from the backseat than Mandy was hooking her arm through mine. “Nick isn’t allowed to see my dress before the wedding, and I would love to have a man’s opinion on my selection. You wouldn’t mind hanging out in the store with us for a little while, would you?” She tugged me in the direction of the Fashionable Lace Bridal Shop belonging to Nina’s sister, Cassie.

  “Mandy.” Berkley, who was keeping pace on Mandy’s other side, tried to conceal the pinch she gave her friend. “I’m sure Preston would rather have a root canal than spend the afternoon watching us try on dresses.”

  There was no way I was going to miss an opportunity to spend more time with Berkley, not after Mandy was doing such a great job of keeping us together. “Actually, it would be my pleasure to stay and help out.” I grinned and held the door open with my free hand for them to enter ahead of me.

  While I waited, a tingle of unease trickled down my spine. I didn’t necessarily believe in what others called a sensing, a feeling, a knowing, but I did rely on my instincts. Instincts that were strong enough to make my cat wary.

  I scanned the area to see if I could find the source of my anxiety and caught a glimpse of Maris walking along the sidewalk on the next block. Given the antagonistic relationship she had with Berkley, I thought she might have followed us into town to cause problems. Instead of continuing in my direction, she stopped to speak with a man standing in front of a coffee shop. He was tall, casually dressed, and wearing dark sunglasses. From this distance, I couldn’t get a good enough scent to tell if he was someone who’d been to the lodge.

  Their exchange was brief and ended with him following her inside the shop. Surprisingly, I didn’t see any sign of Sherri. From what I’d observed since their arrival, Maris never let the other woman out of her sight, though it was possibly that Sherri was already inside waiting for her.

  “Did you change your mind?” Berkley stood in the doorway and was curiously watching me over her shoulder.

  “Not a chance.” I followed her into the store, making a mental note to keep a closer eye on Maris.

  Once we were inside, an older woman I assumed was a sales clerk presented Berkley and me with a warm smile, then came out from behind a long glass display counter filled with bridal accessories. “I’ll be happy to take those for you.”

  “Thanks,” I said, placing the albums in her outstretched arms.

  The woman tipped her chin toward the rear of the store. “You’ll find your friend in the back with Cassie.”

  I followed Berkley along an aisle lined with fancy white and cream-colored gowns. This wasn’t the first time I’d been inside a bridal shop. When my sister was planning her wedding, she’d dragged me along, hoping to hook me up with one of her bridesmaids.

  The store wasn’t overly large, but it was tastefully decorated. The pastel blue walls were trimmed with white wood molding, and the floor was covered with marble –style ceramic tiles.

  When we reached the back of the shop, we found a woman chatting with Mandy. Her facial features were similar to Nina’s, but she was a few inches taller and appeared to be five or so years older.

  “Wait until you see the dresses Cassie was showing me.” Mandy glanced enthusiastically at the gown she’d been perusing when Berkley and I arrived.

  “Can’t wait,” Berkley said, turning to Cassie and returning her hug. “It’s been a while. How have you been?”

  “Doing great, thanks. Nina said the renovations you made to the resort are, and I quote, awesome.” Cassie giggled and mimicked the finger-quote gesture I’d seen Nina make numerous times. “I’ve been wanting to come out but I never seem to find the time. It’s been pretty crazy around here lately. A lot of brides want to get their orders in for spring.”

  Berkley laughed. “Well, if you ever get some free time, give me a call and I’ll make sure you get a tour.”

  “I’d like that, thanks.” Cassie directed her gaze in my direction. “I’m guessing you’re Preston, the new head of security and Berkley’s new boyfriend.”

  “What...no.” The gaze Berkley narrowed at Mandy promised retribution of the worst kind. “He’s...”

  “It’s nice to me you, Cassie. Our relationship is fairly new, and we don’t want a lot of people to know about it yet.” I pressed my hand against Berkley’s lower back and smiled when she stiffened. “Isn’t that right, darlin’?”

  The only answer she gave Cassie was an agreeable smile, during which her body stiffened and she ground her teeth so hard I was afraid they were going to crack.

  Mandy cleared her throat. “Cassie, why don’t we get started.”

  “That sounds like a great idea.” She motioned for me to take a seat in one of the three cushioned leather chairs lining the wall opposite a group of floor-length mirrors. “I understand you volunteered to give Mandy a man’s point of view on the dress selection.”

  “More like had his arm twisted,” Berkley grumbled and glared at Mandy again.

  “Berkley’s teasing,” I said, hoping to alleviate the concern that had Cassie furrowing her brows. “I’m happy to do it.”

  “Oh, good.” Cassie blew out a relieved sigh. “This is going to take a while. Can I get you something to drink? A coffee, water, juice?”

  “No, I’m good.” I removed my coat, sauntered over to one of the chairs, and took a seat with my legs stretched out comfortably in front of me. I cupped my hands behind my head and winked at Mandy. “Whenever you’re ready.”

  BERKLEY

  Eight dresses and two hours later, Mandy had finally made a decision. She’d settled on a simple white gown with a low-cut, lace-covered bodice. It had wide straps angled along the top of her forearms and a wide skirt that tapered from her waist. She was going to make a stunning bride, and I couldn’t help feeling a little jealous.

  “Do you think Nick is going to like it?” Mandy asked Preston, who’d endured the process without a single complaint.

  He nodded and winked. “I think he won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”

  “I have to agree.” I was sitting on the edge of the wide pedestal and fluffed the hem of her silky skirt. “Nick’s going to drool when he sees you in this.” I didn’t think my brother cared what Mandy was wearing. He adored her. She could show up at the wedding wearing a T-shirt and he’d still be drooling. “Your biggest problem will be keeping him at the reception instead of having him drag you back to the cabin.”

  Mandy giggled, shaking her head. “You’re probably right.” She glanced behind her to admire the back of the dress in the mirrors.

  I got to my feet, relieved to check the task of finding a gown off the wedding preparation list. The dress Mandy was wearing was a demo. Hers would need to be ordered, and she’d still need to come in for fittings and alterations. The wedding wasn’t scheduled until late spring, so those were minor tasks we could fit in any time.

  “Thanks, guys. I’ll tell Cassie I’m going to get this one.” She clutched the skirt, lifting it above her ankles as she stepped off the pedestal, then stopped in front of Preston on her way back to the changing room. “While we’re here, would you mind doing one more little favor for me?” She held her thumb and forefinger an inch apart for emphasis.

  “What kind of favor?” Preston was practically purring, and the mischievous gleam in his gaze made me nervous.

  “I’d like to get your opinion on the dress for the bridesmaids. I’ve narrowed my selection down to three, so it wouldn’t ta
ke us much longer, I promise. I’ll even throw in lunch since you’ve been such a good sport.”

  “Lunch, huh?” He scratched his chin, pretending to mull over his options. “I’d be a fool to pass up lunch with two beautiful women.” His grin widened. “I do have one request, though.”

  My nervousness jumped from mild apprehension to full-blown edgy.

  “Name it.” Mandy sounded way too eager.

  “I want Berkley to model them for me.”

  It was one thing to help select dresses from the sidelines—it was another to be tossed into the starring role. “You’re kidding, right?” I muttered, knowing my question was moot because the quirked brow and wicked gleam in his gaze told me he was dead serious.

  “Makes sense to me.” Mandy handed me a dress and urged me in the direction of the changing room. “You’re going to be a bridesmaid anyway, so why not try on a dress now and get it out of the way?”

  She was right, and I couldn’t openly disagree or tell her I’d hoped to try on my dress without a male audience. After a few minutes of deliberation, and fuming about being outmaneuvered, I slunk into the changing room, removed my clothes, and slipped into the first dress. The gown was a dark shade of burgundy, sleeveless with an open back to the waist, the sheer fabric clinging nicely to my hips. One glance in the mirror inside the small room and I had to agree with Mandy’s selection.

  As soon as I headed for the viewing area, my stomach was knotting and my pulse was racing. I’d never been self-conscious about my body or how I looked when it came to men. With Preston, it was different, I wanted his approval in the worst way. It probably had something to do with the whole mate thing, or at least that was what I told myself.

  I refused to acknowledge that this new bout of irrational emotions had anything to do with my ever-growing feelings for the man.

  I stepped into the viewing room, looking around to make sure neither Cassie nor any of her other customers were within hearing distance. I moved to the center of the pedestal and glared at Preston. “One smart remark and I’ll leave claw marks on your male parts.”

  “Is that a promise?” He smirked, the green in his eyes deepening with desire as he slowly lowered his gaze, examining every inch of me before returning to my face.

  Heat glided across my skin with the speed of a brushfire, transforming my anxiety into arousal accompanied by an achy need.

  “Darlin’, would you mind doing a little spin?”

  I slapped my hands on my hips. “Is a spin necessary, or are you trying to get a look at my ass?”

  “I will admit you have a gorgeous ass, but I need to see the entire dress in order to make a decision.” He made a twirling motion with his hand.

  Mandy dropped her hand away from her mouth. She’d no doubt been using it to cover her amusement. “Come on, Berkley. What harm will one little spin do?”

  Even though she was right, it wasn’t going to stop me from being irritated that he was getting his way. Nor was it going to stop me from having a seriously long talk with my friend about taking his side. I rolled my eyes, turned, then wiggled my hips to give him a show.

  “Happy now?” I cocked my head to the side to glimpse his reaction and beamed with satisfaction. Preston was squirming uncomfortably in his seat. He’d even draped his jacket across his lap, a sure sign that he’d been affected by my display and was trying to hide his discomfort.

  It was also a good thing Cassie and the clerk were on the other end of the store; otherwise, Preston would have had a hard time explaining why he was growling.

  Chapter Eight

  BERKLEY

  The shopping trip to Ashbury with Preston and Mandy had taken most of the day. We arrived back at the resort by late afternoon, which still gave me plenty of time to relax and change before heading out for the evening.

  I’d turned down a ride with Mandy and Nick because I knew they wouldn’t stay long. Nick had made great progress since Mandy and I were constantly working on his social abilities, helping him to adjust and learn how to have fun. Even so, I still gave him an hour, two at the most, before his wolf was agitated and he wanted to leave to collect whatever Mandy had promised him.

  I’d planned to ride with Bryson, but at the last minute, and much to his dismay, one of the evening guards had a family emergency, and he remained behind to cover the shift.

  As I drove down the highway leading to the Suds ’n’ Springs Tavern, my mind drifted to thoughts of Preston. I had to give him credit for enduring the outing Mandy and I had put him through without uttering a single complaint. An outing that would have driven most males crazy, including my brothers.

  The more time I spent with Preston, the more comfortable I became, and the more my wolf insisted I fulfill our bond and let him claim me. He was my mate, my destined match, so why was I holding back? Was Mandy right? Was I letting my past with Drew, the fact that my father had deserted my mother and abandoned all his children, affect my views about mating?

  By the time I pulled into the bar’s nearly full lot and parked, I was no closer to finding an answer. I pushed aside my frustration, deciding it was best to ponder the issue later. I was here to relax, celebrate Nina’s birthday, and hopefully have some fun.

  I enjoyed dancing, had spent many hours in this bar, and excitedly embraced the fast-paced country-western song that greeted me when I stepped inside. Most of the tables were occupied, and the dance floor in the corner was brimming to capacity with locals showing off their best dance moves to the beat.

  I smoothed the short skirt of my black spaghetti strap dress, convincing myself that I’d chosen to wear the figure-slimming outfit because it was my favorite and not because I knew Preston was going to be here. I had to remind myself to look for Nina’s group, not spend time searching faces for a particular pair of intense emerald eyes.

  “Berkley, you came.” I turned in the direction of Nina’s voice.

  “Of course. Happy birthday.” I gave her a hug, then pulled a small gift-wrapped present out of my pocket and handed it to her. Nina wasn’t a gaudy person when it came to jewelry so I’d gotten her a pair of pierced earrings handcrafted with silver and turquoise.

  “You didn’t need to get me anything.” Nina’s voice cracked, and moisture filled her eyes.

  “Where’s everybody else?” I asked, needing a distraction since I’d never been good at dealing with other women’s tears.

  The change of subject worked, because she smiled and grabbed my hand. “We’re over here.” She tugged me through the crowd to the back corner of the bar, where several round tables had been pushed together.

  Nick and Mandy were the only ones at the table and sitting on the end farthest from the dance floor. Nina’s friends, whom I’d met on other occasions, were huddled in a group out on the floor, bouncing and flailing to the music.

  “Look who I found,” Nina said, smiling at Nick and Mandy. “Berkley, have a seat and I’ll get you something to drink. Do you have a preference?”

  “Beer’s fine.” I pulled a twenty out of my pocket. “Here, get a pitcher?”

  “Okay, thanks.” Nina snatched the bill and took off in the direction of the long wooden bar at the opposite end of the room, greeting people along the way. For someone who’d just reached the establishment’s required legal age for admittance, Nina appeared to be at home in the bar. Before tonight, she’d probably used a fake ID to sneak in with her friends, not that Mandy and I hadn’t done it ourselves. Turning twenty-one seemed like ages ago, but I remembered how great it felt to reach the milestone.

  “Hey, guys,” I said, taking a seat across the table from them.

  “Hey back,” Mandy said cheerily and took a sip of her drink.

  Nick didn’t appear quite so happy and had been studying me with trepidation from the moment I arrived at the table.

  I shrugged off my jacket and draped it over the back of the chair. I hadn’t gotten the chance to say anything to him after he’d asked Preston to keep me pinned to the ground durin
g our snowball fight. I was curious to see if he’d squirm, and asked, “So, how’s it going, Nick?” His flinch might have had something to do with the I-still-owe-you look I was giving him.

  “You’re not upset about earlier, are you?”

  “Are you talking about when you had Preston tackle me, then hold me down so you could escape? Why would I be upset about that?” I feigned a sweet smile, then grinned when he wrestled Mandy off her seat and onto his lap, his arms wrapped securely around her waist.

  “Geez, Nick, what the heck?” Mandy tugged on his arm, then groaned and leaned against his chest when she realized he wasn’t going to budge. “Are you planning on using me as a shield all night?”

  “Maybe... Depends on whether or not my sister is willing to call a truce.”

  I tapped my fingernails on the table. “I suppose I could give you a pass for tonight, but tomorrow...” Even though I had no intention of doing anything to get even, I shrugged and let him come to his own conclusion.

  Mandy turned her head, peering at him over her shoulder. “Are you going to let me up now?”

  “Nah.” He squeezed her tighter. “I’m kind of enjoying this.”

  Mandy wiggled her bottom. “Yeah, I can tell.”

  “Eww.” I wrinkled my nose. “Way more information than I needed to know. I’d tell you to get a room but...” The envious twinge was back, the longing to have what they shared, and I immediately thought of Preston.

  Trying not to appear obvious, I glanced toward the entrance and inhaled deeply, hoping to catch his scent. I sifted through the numerous odors coming from the humans and shifters in the room. Beer, sweat, and several different blends of perfume were the most prominent odors I detected. I’d been hopeful that one of them would belong to Preston, then chastised myself for being disappointed when I couldn’t capture his scent.

  Nick scrutinized my actions with a lopsided grin. “If you’re looking for Pres, he got hung up and will be here later.”

  “What makes you think I was looking for Preston?” I gave him another silent glare, letting him know he was close to ending our truce.