by Ashley Shay
“I’d love to meet her.”
He shifted his glance back to her. “I’m sorry. What?”
“I’d love to meet her.”
“Oh, you mean Suzannah.”
She looked confused for a moment. For some insane moment, he thought she’d meant Jillian, and that of course would have been impossible considering Jillian had been poisoned from the inside out by a lunatic shifter while Tyler had been away, working some kind of undercover operation in Boston. He could barely remember it now. He punished himself every day for the choices he’d made.
He once again tried desperately to repair the damage. “For a moment I thought you meant Rosa.” He shrugged. “You’ll be working rather closely with her at times.”
“I’d love to meet your housekeeper as well, but I thought maybe meeting…Suzannah? Why did I think her name was Suzie?”
“Oh that.” Tyler watched as Suzie pressed her lips against the glass and blew air out. Her little cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk. “Her real name is Suzannah, but after her mother died, she started to call herself Suzie. I still think of her as Suzannah, but she won’t answer to anything but Suzie.”
Tyler stood and reached for the shade. That was when he heard Cougar yelling, “Suzannah, what did I tell you?”
Suzie twisted her face toward her uncle’s voice, and Tyler heard her say, “Who’s Suzannah?” A cute, but very obvious, smirk settled on his daughter’s face, and Tyler heard Carly laugh behind him. She wouldn’t be laughing for long once Justin got his hands on the girl.
Cougar appeared in the window frame, and his low growl of rage came through the closed window. “I said to get your ass down now,” he snarled.
“Oh my,” Carly whispered. “He’s…he’s…” She ran her fingers into her cleavage, caressing the skin there unconsciously.
The aroma of Carly’s arousal spiked tenfold. Tyler knew what she saw. Justin was every bit as good looking as Dusty, but Justin had something his older twin would never have—a quiet rage that seethed through every pore of his body. It made him both alluring and attractive to the female of the species, all species. Like Suzie, Justin had ceased responding to his name and adopted another when their mother died. He’d buried Justin Lucas somewhere deep and become someone called Cougar. Justin had never emerged again.
Cougar glanced in the window, and his eyes widened then narrowed as they fell on Carly. Even as he reached out to grab Suzie by the waist, his gaze remained locked on Carly, roaming over her like the prey he hunted in the woods. He lifted Suzie out of the window box, and his big body covered Suzie’s face and mercifully her angry frown. Suzie shrieked in protest as Cougar bent to put her on the ground. He continued to stare in the window.
Tyler mouthed, “Go away,” then tugged the shade down. He ignored the other shriek he heard from Suzie and fell back into his chair. He hadn’t asked Carly one question yet, and already he felt drained.
“Will they be okay? He looked so…so…”
“It’s how he always looks,” Tyler said. “Don’t worry about it. They live to torment each other, and they can take it. Where were we?”
“We were discussing your wife’s death and Suzie’s name change.”
“Oh, yes. If you could enlighten me beyond anything the shrinks have said, please do.”
“Well, if you’ve already consulted a psychiatrist…”
“We have. And believe me, Miss Barnes, for all their psychobabble, nothing helped. Your insight is as welcome.”
“Well, okay then,” Carly said. “It’s probably to distance herself. The memories of her mother must be very painful to her. That happens sometimes in these cases. A child either clings desperately to every memory they can find, or they do the opposite and push the memories deep down where they can’t be hurt by them. My degree is in child psychology. I always meant to get my master’s, but financial constraints forced me to put that on hold. Believe me, though, that coursework has come in handy working in a school for rich and privileged children. You’d be surprised at some of the things I’ve seen. I’ll do my best to help Suzie work through her issues in the course of my duties.” She blushed prettily. “If you hire me that is. May I meet her now?”
“Hmm…well, that might not be the best thing at the moment. As you saw, she’s a bit rambunctious, and after what you just saw with Cougar, I can’t imagine she’s—”
“Who’s Cougar?”
“My brother Justin. We call him Cougar.”
She glanced toward the drawn shade. “I can see how that’s entirely appropriate,” she murmured. “He seems rather…wild.”
Damn him.
“Anyway, Miss Barnes, we’ve found it best to prepare Suzie when she’s meeting guests. She can be a bit of a…” He struggled to find a word that wouldn’t make Carly run screaming from the house.
“Challenge?” Her eyes came back to him, and she smiled one of the most beautiful smiles Tyler had ever seen. Damn. This was not going to be a good idea.
“Exactly.” He scrubbed his hand over his face, trying to ease the tingles under his skin.
“I like a challenge, Mr. Lucas.”
He caved like a ton of bricks. “Call me Tyler. It’s going to get confusing if you call us all Mr. Lucas.”
She laughed with that lilting melody he’d already come to adore.
Tyler started to rise from the chair and held out his hand. She leaned forward, and her blouse gaped, offering an enticing glimpse of creamy flesh. The door burst open and smacked against a side table, and in stormed forty pounds of fury. She marched up to him, her hands clenched in tight fists beneath the lacy cuff of her pink shirt. She lifted her face, and if “pissed off” had a name, it would be Suzie.
“I’m mad at Uncle Cougar,” Suzie gritted out, “and I’m mad at you.”
“I can see that,” Tyler said. “But can we try to be civilized about this?”
“No we can not,” she ground out.
Tyler glanced at Carly to see her reaction. She was trying desperately to wipe the tiny smile from her face, obviously not wanting to be on the receiving end once Suzie had chewed him up and spit him out.
“You trampled all over Rosa’s flowers.”
“I’ll tell her I’m sorry.” Suzie took a step closer and lifted her face. Her cowgirl hat dropped from her head and hung on her back by a string. “But I’m not going to be sorry for this.”
Horrified, Tyler watched as Suzie’s skin shivered with tiny movements.
“Oh no,” he whispered. He put his hands on her shoulders, rubbing frantically, trying to calm her down. Shit. Little rubs had always worked when she was a toddler. This time, however, it wasn’t out of her control. She was totally in control and knew it.
“I’ll do it, Daddy. I really will. I mean it.”
Thoughts tumbled through his mind. A new doll? That bike she’d wanted? He’d already capitulated on that horse.
“Looks like you could use some help.” Carly’s eyes challenged him to deny her.
“You have no idea.”
“Hello, Suzie, it’s very nice to meet you. My name is Carly Barnes.”
To his amazement, delight, and complete relief, the rippling stopped, and Suzie’s skin smoothed out. A tiny smile crept over his daughter’s face, and then she spun on her heel.
“Hi, Carly,” she said shyly. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
“Damn,” Tyler muttered.
He finally admitted to himself he’d already lost the battle. When he’d shaken Carly’s hand, he’d known he wanted to touch more of her, smell more of her, see more of her. And now this…this miracle.
“You’re hired, Miss Barnes. When can you start?”
Chapter Four
Gabe stood in the doorway watching Carly pack the few belongings she’d been allowed to bring with her. “I’ll take you shopping and then make sure you get to the ranch safely. After that, you contact me only if there’s a problem. Understand?”
Carly nodded, humming to herself
as she tossed clothing haphazardly into the suitcase. He got the feeling those clothes would be in the trash as soon as she got new ones. He couldn’t blame her. They weren’t meant for Texas, or for Carly Barnes for that matter. Carla Barnhardt was as dead as this wardrobe, and seemingly, she’d been as easily buried. He didn’t know what had happened at Cattail Ranch, but he’d sent in a mouse and a peacock had emerged. She looked radiant, happy, almost like a woman in love. Shit. He hoped she didn’t fall for Tyler. When they’d all lost Jillian the year before, Tyler had fallen into such deep grief, he’d pushed everyone away—his brothers, his daughter, his friends. When he’d finally pulled himself out of his depression, he’d quit the agency and sworn to keep far away from fragile humans, particularly the females. Gabe gave thanks almost every day that Suzie had been born with the ability. Tyler would have locked her up and thrown away the key without it.
The problem was none of them were safe, not while Viper still roamed the country with impunity, killing without remorse, without conscience. Tyler had spent nine years pursuing the vilest, most dangerous, and deadliest shifter Gabe had ever witnessed, and when that trail had gotten too close, Viper had struck. While Tyler followed leads in Boston, Viper found a way onto Cattail. The Bureau, Homeland Security, and Justice were still trying to determine how he’d managed to bypass top-notch security as well as mystical wards employed as additional protection. Despite all that, Viper had no trouble worming his way into the Lucas house and attacking the one and only woman the Lucas brothers and Gabe had ever loved.
They’d all lost more than a wife that day. They’d also lost Ben Lucas, the brothers’ father and Gabe’s uncle, but besides being the paternal leader of their family, Ben had also been the Catamount County alpha. Ben Lucas had given his life saving Suzie from sure death, holding Viper off until Shane, Dustin, and Cougar arrived. Even with his healing abilities and additional help from magical sources, they’d been unable to save Ben’s life. Gabe still had a hard time thinking of the aftermath, and thinking that Viper had resurfaced and Gabe had willingly put the Lucas family back in harm’s way didn’t sit well with him. He compromised his principles every day though, and this was a decision he hadn’t made lightly. Tyler Lucas and his colony offered the best possible chance of keeping Carly Barnes alive.
The reason was that, after Jillian and Ben died, there wasn’t a place in the country more secure than Cattail. As the new alpha of the Catamount colony, Tyler embraced his duties with a fervor that shocked everyone. He would have peace and contentment in his jurisdiction, but mostly, he would have shifters free from harm. He’d made sure cougar country was safe for all shifters and their human family members as well.
Gabe glanced again at Carly. She tossed a dark blouse toward the nearest trashcan, flipping it up like a basketball. She gave a little laugh when it sank into the bin with a thump. He’d be glad to get her out of his hands and safely into Tyler’s, but he had a feeling this favor was going to cost him plenty. If Tyler and the brothers fell for Carly, Gabe would once again find himself sucked into a relationship with a human female. He might be worried about Tyler falling for her, but he worried about himself as well. Jillian’s death had nearly killed him too. Little Ms. Barnes already had her hooks into him, and if things progressed beyond where they were, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to resist her scent much longer.
When she closed the suitcase, he strode over and picked it up. “Let’s go.”
“Are you in a hurry to get rid of me, Marshal?”
“Just doin’ my duty, ma’am. You’ll be safer when you’re settled in.” And I’ll be able to breathe when you’re out of my hair. Groaning inwardly, he remembered he still had half a day of shopping looming in front of him. Please don’t let her be the type to try everything on five times before making a decision. Or worse, she could ask his opinion on how she looked. He didn’t think he could handle watching her if she displayed any more skin than she did right now.
Gabe looked longingly at the bar as they exited the hotel. Outside, he put the bag into her trunk then leaned on the hood of his government-approved sedan. “Don’t get too far ahead of me.”
She shook her head, and silky strands of hair brushed her cheek. “Of course not. Safety first. I remember.”
“I’ve programmed the address in the GPS. Just follow it. You know how to use a GPS, right?”
“Of course, silly.”
His brows shot up. Had she just called him silly? Carla Barnhardt would never have been so lighthearted, or so bold.
He watched her get in and buckle up, and then she pulled out with complete ease. She’d apparently already adjusted to Texas life because she blended seamlessly into the early-afternoon San Antonio traffic.
When they reached the Western-themed strip mall, Gabe found a parking spot close to one of the high-end boutique dress shops. He had the feeling that since the government planned on picking up the tab, Carly would gravitate to the more exclusive stores. Hell, he could understand that. She’d basically given up her life to save a United States senator. The least the government could do was pick up the tab for a new wardrobe.
He got out of the car and waited while Carly looked over her choices. She seemed pretty happy with them because she smiled. She opened the door of the car, hesitating before she stepped out. “You can go get a beer if you want. I’ll try to take only a couple of hours.”
“Tempting as that sounds, Ms. Barnes, I have to stay with you until you’re settled at the ranch.”
“You let me drive to the interview by myself,” she reminded him.
“I was three cars behind you.”
Her face fell. “Oh.”
“Now don’t get hurt. It’s my job.”
A sometimes hazardous job. He’d almost been blown off the road by Firebolt earlier in the day. He’d seen Tyler following them from the hotel on the way to the interview at Cattail. Tyler was good, but Gabe was better. Tyler had kept on top of his game, but even though retired, he couldn’t keep his nose out of people’s business and simply wait for Carly’s arrival. He’d had to scope out the situation for himself. Tyler had settled a couple car lengths behind them in the other lane for most of the trip to Catamount. When Carly had taken the exit, Tyler had veered into Gabe’s lane, and Firebolt had nearly pushed Gabe’s car into the guardrail. Tyler’d had that old junker since high school, and why he held on to it defied logic. He could have afforded a fleet of new trucks. Gabe knew, though, that Firebolt was as unique as Tyler himself, so they were suited to one another.
Carly apparently hadn’t noticed Firebolt at all. That didn’t bode well for the future if she’d not realized such a unique truck had been following them for miles and nearly run them both off the road. Still, he needed to get rid of that sad little look on her face. He liked to see her happy, and that couldn’t be good for either of them. Distance was best.
That didn’t seem to matter, though, because he heard himself say, “If it’s any consolation, I thought you seemed to be doing very well on your own, Ms. Barnes.”
The tiny pout vanished, replaced by a bright smile. She jumped from the car, slammed the door in her excitement, and looked at him over the roof of his car. Carly squinted against the reflected glare of the bright Texas sun as she moved toward the sidewalk. “We’re going to stick out like a pair of sore thumbs if you keep calling me Ms. Barnes. Can’t we be on a first name basis for a few hours…Gabriel?”
Gabe grinned and nodded. “Sure, Carly.” He joined her on the curb, settling himself close enough to her side to look like a casual friend, but not close enough that they touched. He did not need that headache. “Where to first?”
Carly had been admiring a pair of jeans in one of the store windows, and he expected her to turn in that direction. Instead, she looked pained as a little frown crossed her brow. She uttered a few tiny little words that sounded like, “Oh damn.”
Gabe instantly looked around in confusion, checking for anyone who didn’t belong. “What?”
Gabe started laughing. “It’s Texas, honey, and jeans are business attire in Catamount.”
Carly looked at him suspiciously. “Are you sure?”
Gabe nodded with conviction. “You’re gonna be living on a ranch and chasing down some five-year-old. Get real. You’re not in Kansas anymore.”
“Very funny, Gabriel, but I think Kansas is probably pretty close to this.”
“There’s nothing close to this, Carly. You’re a Texan now, so let’s go make you look like one.”
She blushed, and he struggled not to glance to her cleavage to see if the blush spread that far. He couldn’t resist, and it did. “Can I get a cowboy hat too?” she asked.
He smiled. “It’s mandatory. I see one in that window that would look great on you, and this Visa card is burning a hole in my pocket.”
He held open the door, took a brief but comprehensive look inside, and Carly practically skipped inside.
* * * *
Carly touched on several items of interest in the accessories section and looked through the racks of pretty summer dresses. Then she headed straight for the rack of Western jeans. They were low rise and boot cut, and on sale. She also suspected they would be flatteringly tight, and she couldn’t wait to show off her curves, even if they were a bit more padded than she would have liked. She scooped up an armful in her size then headed for the shirts. Her fingers tested the different fabrics, running over brushed cotton and gingham and denim before she settled on several soft gauze sleeveless and short-sleeved shirts in a variety of plaids, soft blues, and whites with Western trim. She knew the soft fabric would cling alluringly in a strong Texas wind and flutter femininely in a gentle breeze.
