by V. Vaughn
People screamed, but Brock burst forward and grabbed James Salvo by the scruff of the suit jacket. He pulled him back across the deck. James screamed and beat at him with his bags. When Brock pulled him back to the ramp, the troopers came in and surrounded them both.
They took James into custody. Ginger came up behind him, holding a blanket. He roared as he shifted back. Ginger handed him the blanket, and he wrapped it around his waist.
As they brought James by, Ginger took a deep breath. “Why did you do it?” she shouted at him.
The troopers tried to take him but he struggled against them and stared at Ginger. “I knew there was gold on that land. I was going to sell the claim and take it all. Your dad’s been useless for years. He didn’t deserve it and neither did you.” James turned his sneer on Brock. “You were supposed to bleed out on that mountain, damn shifter.”
“What’s wrong with you?” Ginger sapped. Brock put his arms around her protectively. The troopers pushed James forward.
“You should talk, little girl,” James said.
Ginger hid her face in Brock’s chest. The troopers pushed James down the ramp and out of sight. “I’m sorry you had to see that,” Brock whispered.
“I wanted to know. Now I do. Greedy, bitter man. So senseless.”
She shook her head against his chest. He walked with her down the ramp and back to the car.
Later, after they’d given their statements, Brock took Ginger back to his house. The bag of gold had been recovered from the cases James had in his possession and was estimated at being worth half a million dollars.
Ginger sat in his living room, staring blankly at the television with her legs pressed up under her. He could tell she was tired and confused. He handed her a cup of tea mixed from herbs grown in the greenhouses and gardens of the Montgomery homestead.
She cupped it in her hands and sniffed the steam. Brock slid into the couch beside her, not knowing what to do or say. In a few days, most likely the authorities would return her gold and her property to her. Then what would she do? Would she still want him?
What they’d shared had been deeply special to him. Even if his bear hadn’t been roaring in his head most of the time he’d known her, she was still the sweetest, sexiest woman he’d ever known.
“What do you think you’ll do when they return your money?” he asked her.
“I don’t know. There really isn’t anything for me back in Seattle. I guess, pay off my student loans. Pay the taxes on my dad’s land. With that kind of money in the bank, I won’t have to sell it.”
“What do you think you’ll do with the land?”
“I have no idea. I can’t live out there. No way.”
“Winter is coming. Being up on the mountain would be a bad idea for someone without experience.”
“There’s no way I’m doing that.”
“You can stay here,” he said, his heart beating more quickly.
“I know, Brock. I understand what it means to be a shifter’s mate. I’ve heard the stories, and you’ve explained it. It’s just… humans don’t have an equivalent. We don’t just fall in love like that.”
“We can take all the time you need, sweetheart.”
“I don’t want to be the one to hold you back,” she said, looking up into his eyes. Hers were shining with unshed tears. He rubbed the pad of his thumb over her cheek and kissed her forehead.
“You could never hold me back. I don’t need anyone or anything but you. Do you understand?”
“I guess. It’s just a little scary. You just met me. How could you possibly know you want to spend the rest of your life with me?”
“For a shifter, mating is instinct. We know the one by sight and scent. Plus, Babs Bula sent you to me. There’s no better recommendation than that.”
A smile broke over her worried face and she giggled. “I still don’t understand how she could have known.”
He threaded his fingers through hers and held her hand, both of them laughing softly. “I don’t understand it either. Some things in life are better left alone.”
“Do you think she’s really a fairy godmother?”
“There are no such things,” he said, shaking his head. The thought had crossed his mind a few times, but stuff like that didn’t exist. He knew all the shifter races in the world. He also knew there were no other supernatural creatures anywhere on the planet, let alone fairies.
“Before shifters came out sixty-five years ago, no one believed they were real either,” she teased.
“I’m pretty sure Babs is just a human or a shifter with too much time on her manicured hands,” he countered.
“And an incredible intuition about finding people’s mates.”
“This is true. She did send you to me.”
Ginger sighed and put her teacup down, leaning against his chest. He enfolded her in his arms, feeling her close to him. It filled him with pride and a desire to protect and provide for her that was so strong, he had to take a deep breath and let it out.
“I never expected for something like this to happen,” Ginger whispered. “When my dad died, I was alone. I don’t have any other family. I don’t have anyone. All my friends in school I left two years ago to take care of my dad. Everyone I knew before I left for New York has moved on with their lives. When I came up here, I had no idea if I’d even be able to make it back to Seattle. It was my last ditch effort to salvage something of my life. And it wasn’t particularly well planned out.”
“Are you glad you met me?” he asked, not sure where she was going with all this.
“Of course I am. I’m just so confused. Everything moved so fast. Now I have a man. A man like you.” She looked up into his face, her eyes dripping tears. “It’s better than the money. It’s better than catching the bad guy. It’s everything. I just don’t know if I deserve it. I don’t know how to make it make sense in my mind.”
“It doesn’t have to make sense.”
“You’re too good to be true, Brock. Girls like me don’t end up with men like you.”
“What are you talking about?” he said with a chuckle. He cupped her chin in his hand and stared into her bright blue eyes. “You are perfect. I’m the one who doesn’t deserve you.”
She shook her head, freeing herself from his grasp. She looked away and dipped her head back into his chest. “I’m broken and alone,” she said, her voice muffled in his chest.
“You aren’t alone anymore. All that’s left for you to do is accept it.”
15
After James’s hearing, the authorities returned to Ginger the gold from her father’s cabin. She sold it to a local gold company and, after paying off some of her bills, put the money in the bank.
Brock had offered to help her rent a room in town so that she could take her time to think things through. She knew he was disappointed that she didn’t want to move in with him right away, but she just couldn’t do it. It was all too sudden and unexpected. Now that she had something of her own and could move on with her life, she was more certain than ever that she had to start making good choices.
Part of that was not jumping into a relationship with a man she’d only met a few days ago. No matter how perfect Brock seemed or how much she felt for him, she knew she had to get to know him better before she threw herself into his world.
A few days after she’d gotten her money back and settled some debts, she sat in the fish and chips restaurant where she’d ended up the first day she’d come to town. The food there was delicious, and it had become one of her favorite stops in town. With the weather cooling more every day, she chose to sit inside while she had her lunch. The tourists crowding the streets had thinned in the last week, and the fog had rolled in off the ocean.
She’d bought herself a computer and sat in the corner by the window researching her possibilities on the free wifi in the restaurant. With almost half a million dollars in the bank, she could do anything with her life now.
Part of her considered going back t
o school. She’d left her education in good standing, and might be able to get back into school. Nevertheless, her hand had still been crushed, and playing violin at a high level would never be possible for her, no matter how much money she had.
If she left town, she’d be leaving Brock, a man who was sure she was his one and only. They’d been seeing each other, going on dates, since she moved into her own place. Every day with Brock was lovely and sweet. Each experience was better than the last.
But she couldn’t believe he wanted her. It wasn’t just that she had been broke and desperate when they met. They were totally different people. He was tall and handsome, perfect. She was short and curvy with too much red hair and too pale skin, covered in freckles.
If their looks didn’t separate them, their backgrounds certainly did. Brock was a shifter cowboy from the woods. He was a survivalist with a huge family. A hearty Alaskan who knew how to live in the backcountry with nothing but his wits.
Ginger was a failed violinist from Seattle with no family left to her name. She knew her way around a pair of hiking boots, but the idea of spending much more time out in the wilderness gave her a minor panic attack.
How could she and Brock really fit together?
Just as she was musing over these things, a familiar face dropped into the chair across from her. Ginger looked up over her computer and closed the screen.
“Hello, dear,” Babs said, fluffing up her white curls.
“Hi Babs. How are things?” Ginger asked.
Babs pointed a perfect pink fingernail at Ginger and closed one eye. “I heard you and Brock Montgomery were seeing each other.”
“Yes. He says I’m his mate.”
“I knew it. I knew it the moment I saw you,” Babs said, congratulating herself. She clapped her hands together and then set them back on the table, leaning forward slightly. “Has he claimed you yet? Has he turned you? When’s the wedding?”
“We haven’t decided what we’re going to do,” Ginger said, lifting her water glass to her lips.
“Haven’t decided what you’re going to do?! You’re kidding, right?”
“No. I’m a human. Just because I’m supposedly his mate, doesn’t mean any of it makes any sense to me. I just lost everything. My dad, my home. I was held up at gunpoint. I want to make sure I make good decisions now that I have some choices. I’m trying to be smart.”
“Who is smart when love is involved?”
“That’s what gets people into trouble.”
“You do love him, right?” Babs asked, her gray eyes sparkling.
Ginger sighed and stared out the window. A cruise ship was in the harbor, and another load of tourists was getting off.
“I don’t know, Babs. I feel like I do. But can I trust my feelings?”
“Girl. You have no idea what a shifter man can be like. What are you afraid of?”
“I’m not afraid.”
“Yes, dear. You are.”
Ginger sighed and played with the paper straw wrapper on the table. “I’m afraid of my own heart. I’m not used to just being handed everything Brock has to offer. It’s hard for me to trust it.”
“Okay. Let me get this straight. You’ve had a hard life. Right?”
“Well, yeah.”
“So this fabulous, sexy, strong, loyal man professes his undying love to you and you do what? Hesitate? And it’s because you’ve never had anything that good before? I’m sorry, but that doesn’t sound very logical.”
“Maybe it’s not,” Ginger said.
“Reach out and grab what life has to offer you before you let it slip through your hands.”
“I know this is hard for Brock.”
“If I know shifter men, which I do, I’m sure he’s just waiting patiently with a seven hundred pound grizzly roaring in his head every minute of every day.”
Ginger pursed her lips. Was Babs trying to make her feel guilty? Maybe she was. But the fact was, either way, Ginger was stringing him along. It wasn’t actually fair of her. Brock had been so kind and sweet about everything, even renting her a room without any expectation of her returning the favor or the money to pay for it.
“You’re right,” she murmured. “Brock doesn’t deserve this. But I want to make sure I’m ready. For both of our sakes.”
“Okay, dear,” Babs said, patting Ginger’s injured hand. “I’m sure you’ll make the right decision. You’re a smart girl. And, you’re Brock’s mate, so you can’t be a complete idiot.”
Babs rose from the table with a sly smile on her face.
“Well, thanks,” Ginger grumbled.
Babs chuckled at her and gripped her shoulder, looking down into Ginger’s eyes. “You will make the right choice, in the end. They always do,” she said, winking, a grin on her lips.
Babs patted Ginger on the back and quickly said goodbye before she disappeared out the front door of the restaurant. Ginger breathed out a deep sigh, feeling her chest tighten up.
She was being kind of a jerk to Brock. Even though he’d never said a negative word to her. She gazed out the window and saw him walking up the sidewalk toward her. He waved when he saw her, and a moment later slid into the seat Babs had just vacated.
“Hi,” she said. “What are you doing here?”
“I just got a text from Babs to come down here ASAP. Now I see why,” he said. He looked so cute in his gray waterproof jacket, black beanie hat, and dark jeans. He had a day or two of stubble on his chin and his green eyes glinted when he looked at her.
“She was just talking to me about us,” Ginger said.
“Oh? What about?”
“Brock, I’ve been a jerk. I feel like I’m using you at this point.”
“Ginger, don’t talk like that. Everything I’ve done for you has been my pleasure. Don’t even mention it. There was something I wanted to ask you anyway. The family is having a barbecue tonight. Would you like to come up to the lodge and meet everyone? My mom is making her famous BBQ ribs.”
“That sounds really good,” she said, hesitantly.
“I think it’s time for you to meet my family. You can get a taste of what you’re in for with them.” He chuckled, but Ginger could tell he was nervous behind the bright white grin. Why was she doing this to him? She suddenly felt selfish. Nevertheless, at the same time, meeting his family was terrifying.
“I’d love to come meet the family,” she said, half lying.
“Great. I’ll pick you up at six. I’ll see you then, okay babe?”
“Yeah.”
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. They hadn’t slept together since the night they’d come down off the mountain. Brock hadn’t pressed her and she hadn’t offered. Trying to untangle her feelings and her life was hard enough without adding sex into the mix.
But when he kissed her cheek and smiled so sweetly at her, she wanted nothing more to than to feel his body move over her again.
16
Later that evening, after Ginger had dressed in a warm sweater, dark jeans and a pair of leather boots, Brock came to the door of the small room she’d rented in downtown Juneau.
She’d straightened her hair, and it hung in big, soft curls around her shoulders. Brock’s eyes widened when he saw her. “You look nice tonight,” he said, leaning forward to kiss her cheek.
“Thanks, so do you.”
Brock’s muscular frame was shown off by the black jeans and dark sweater he wore. She could smell the scent of his skin and sweet breath when he’d kissed her. Her body lit up at his touch. She reached out to him and pressed her hand to his chest, coming closer.
He reached in and circled his arm around her waist, pulling her against him. Brock swept her jaw up in his hand and tilted her face toward him, planting a passionate kiss on her mouth. Desire melted all over her and she kissed him back.
When he drew away, he took her hand. “Do you need anything else?” he asked her.
“No, this is everything.”
They walked outside into the cool evenin
g. The twilight colors over the bay and the mountains beyond the town swept across her vision. Stars already twinkled in the night sky. She could smell the ocean blowing up from docks, and smiled into the breeze.
Being here in Alaska with Brock was beginning to warm her heart. The devastation of losing her father and her home in the span of a few days was beginning to soften. In that moment, holding Brock’s hand, she could see a way to a better kind of life.
They drove out of town and onto the road leading to the Montgomery homestead and to the lodge. There were cars and trucks parked all over the front of the lodge. There hadn’t been a single car there the day Ginger had spent the night.
A violent wave of terror hit her when she opened her car door. This was Brock’s shifter family. They all had that in common. They all had fated mates whom they knew upon first meeting. Did they know that she was Brock’s fated mate? She didn’t know if she could take all of their searching eyes.
Brock took her hand and smiled at her. “You ready for this?” he asked. “The Montgomery clan can be really intense.”
She stopped and turned to him. “How bad is it?”
“Well...they’re great. I know you’re going to love them. Just don’t let them frighten you off.”
“What? How?” she asked, but it was too late, Brock had already opened the door.
As soon as they walked through, a gaggle of massive grizzly men and a few beautiful, curvy older women came toward them. Everyone spoke all at once.
“This is Ginger, everyone,” Brock said with a slightly raised voice.
They all quieted down when Brock spoke. “Ginger, this is everyone. My mom Nora and my dad Clark.” A man, looking like an older version of Brock, and a pretty, dark haired woman with soft green eyes, stepped forward.
His father shook her hand and his mother hugged her affectionately. Ginger felt instantly at ease with them, even though she wasn’t used to such a big family.
As they walked further into the party, Ginger took in all the other young Montgomery men. She’d met Shaw when James had been arrested. Brock introduced her to his brother Tate next. Tate ran his hand through his dark brown hair that hung over one eye.
