Sweet Seduction (Cowbear Haven Book 1)

by Vanessa Devereaux

  “I’m a bargain shopper.”

  He opened the truck door for her and he noticed she was going to have trouble getting up inside the cab. She’d grabbed the side of it but wasn’t getting very far.

  “Here let me help you.”

  Instead of offering his arm, he foolishly put his hands on either side of her waist and lifted her up. All he really wanted to do was turn her around and kiss those sweet lips of hers but he wouldn’t go down a road he knew he couldn’t turn back from.

  “Thanks,” she said, after she’d planted her butt on the seat.

  He closed the door and then ran around to the driver’s side and hauled himself into the truck.

  “Maybe I should get myself a cowboy hat,” Joely said, glancing at his.

  “Plenty of places in town you can buy one if that’s what you really want.”

  “Do I look the cowboy hat sort of girl?” she asked him.

  He looked over at her before starting the ignition.

  “You look more the big floppy straw hat and floral dress sort of girl to me.”

  “Really.”

  He nodded before pulling out of the driveway and heading down the road to exit the property.

  Leaving this place always made him nervous. Cowbear Haven was just that, a sort of sanctuary where his sort could feel safe again.

  “Your hands are shaking. You okay?” Joely asked him.

  He hadn’t realized they were until he saw them with his own eyes. He could hardly grip the damn steering wheel.

  “I guess I don’t like making these trips to town,” Trey said.

  “Yeah, guys hate shopping.”

  “I wish it was as simple as that,” Trey said, turning onto the main road and realizing he was in their domain now and not his own.

  “Is it really that bad? I mean are people that ignorant? I guess they are because the bus driver would only drop me off about a mile from the gates.”

  “I didn’t know that. Why didn’t you have me come pick you up?”

  “The exercise was good for me.”

  He liked her positive attitude.

  “How long have you lived here?” she asked.

  “Three years and four months.”

  He almost added, two weeks, and three days because he remembered the Bear Run that day.

  “And before that?”

  He looked at her.

  “Do you really want to know? Not that I think you’re being nosey or anything but the details aren’t that nice.”

  “So it’s true…I mean you guys all escaped from Winn Valley.”

  Just hearing the words Winn Valley made his body cringe and tears to his eyes.

  “Yeah, that’s where we’re from.” He unknowingly put his hand on the back of his neck feeling the raised tattooed mark with his lab number. He should really think about getting it removed. They should all think about getting them removed.

  “I’m sorry people feel the way they do about werebears.”

  He smiled. Yeah, he liked Joely a lot even if she couldn’t cook to save her life.

  She reached across and turned on the radio. He’d never used the thing because he always liked to drive in silence. They’d left music playing at night in the labs and it was more torture than a boredom reliever. Well, at least that’s what the lab assistants had told them it was being used for.

  “You like to dance?” she asked him.

  Wow, that had come out of the blue.

  “I’ve never danced so I don’t know,” Trey said.

  “Then I’m going to have to teach you.” She began moving around in the seat and snapping her fingers to the beat. He burst out laughing, feeling himself relax for just a minute until the town came into view and his laugh turn to a grimace. His heartbeat picked up and his stomach began doing its familiar somersaults.

  “Are you all right?” Joely asked him.

  Joely’s question jarred him out of his current thoughts. He wiped a bead of sweat that was about to slide into his mouth.

  “You look really pale all of a sudden,” she said.

  “I’m fine, it’s just I…”

  For once he was going to be honest. Maybe if he opened up to her she would do the same and tell him where she’d pretended to being a cook.

  “It’s just I get this horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach when I drive into town.”

  “I can always make the trips for you to pick up supplies.”

  “I can’t let you do that.”

  “I’m capable,” she said.

  He’d offended her and he hadn’t intended to do that.

  “It’s not that I don’t think you could do it but I have to face my fears. Everyone has to do that at some point.”

  DL had taught him that and he was right.

  Trey pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant supply store and turned off the ignition, suddenly frozen in his seat, hands almost glued to the steering wheel.

  He looked at Joely. Now he felt a complete idiot. First of all, she’d called him adorable, and now she was going to think he was a wimp.

  “Don’t worry because I’m with you this time around,” Joely said.

  He didn’t know why but that made him feel better. Not that he thought she could physically protect him but someone was finally on his side and it gave him the same feeling he used to have when DL had been alive.

  He got out of the truck and Joely walked beside him as they made their way to the door.

  “How about we both grab one of this carts and we’ll load everything onto them,” Trey suggested.

  They took two carts and made their way inside. The woman at the front desk glanced over at them but then quickly looked away. Joely swung her bag crosswise over her body and took the list from him.

  “We go through this many eggs a week?” she asked.

  “Oh yeah and sometimes we run out,” Trey told her.

  “Ten bags of flour, three bags of sugar…”

  “I think we should get more because you’ll be making the birthday cake and doing a whole lot more baking I assume.”

  He suddenly relaxed while getting back into teasing her mode.

  “I probably will,” she said, walking down the aisle ahead of him.

  “How about you get the baking stuff and I’ll go over the freezer and get the frozen items.”

  “Sounds like a plan to me,” Joely said.

  Trey wheeled the cart over to the stand-up freezer. He noticed a young couple with a baby standing there. He smiled but they quickly run away shielding their child with their bodies as they did so.

  He shook his head. He wasn’t aware they thought the werebears were out to hurt babies. They loved children in fact. Trey began loading the cart with packages of hotdogs which all the guys loved.

  “Sure you shouldn’t be loading up that thing with dog food.”

  Trey looked up to see two guys leaning against the freezer, toothpicks in their mouths that they were switching from side to side. He ignored them but then they began edging toward him.

  “Okay guys, just back up because I don’t want any trouble,” Trey said.

  “You hear that? He don’t want any trouble. Guess you should stay put with your other freaky dirt bags then.”

  “Just who the hell are you calling a dirt bag?”

  It was Joely and she was now staring down the two guys with her hands on her hips.

  “Well, if it’s not a human woman standing up for a dirty fucking bear. What’s the attraction baby? Does being overweight mean you can’t find yourself a normal man? I suggest you take half of that food out of your cart, you’ll lose some weight, and maybe a real man will show some interest.”

  That was it. He wasn’t going to have them talk to her like that.

  “Hey, you apologize to the young lady,” Trey said. “You can insult me all you want but you don’t degrade a woman like you just did.”

  Before he knew it one of them at thrown a bag of frozen steaks at him and he felt the sharp plastic
wrap on it cut the skin right below his eye. A fraction higher and they could have blinded him but he was going to keep calm. He didn’t want any trouble especially in front of Joely.

  “Why you shits,” Joely shouted at them.

  Luckily they’d had their fun for the day because they simple laughed and walked away.

  “You okay Trey? Here let me take a look.”

  “It’s okay, just a scratch.”

  “It’s bleeding all down your face.”

  She grabbed a tissue, stood on tiptoes and dabbed it. Her touch was so gentle and if concern and empathy could travel through someone’s hand than he was feeling that radiate from Joely fingertips.

  “You want me to finish up shopping so you can go sit in the car and wait for this to stop bleeding?” she asked.

  No, that would be letting two jerks win and werebears never ran and hid.

  “I’m fine. Let’s continue with the shopping and pretend this never happened.”

  *****

  He was a sweetheart. He’d stepped up to defend her from the insults the guys had thrown at her. She’d been aware that Trey knew the consequences of answering those jerks back which made it all the more special, and brave too. Bits of the tissue she’d used to stop the bleeding were now stuck to his face as they loaded the food into the back of the truck. She almost wanted to laugh but knew it was inappropriate.

  “Any other place we have to go?” Joely asked him.

  “Feed store to pick up some things for the horses.”

  Yeah, she’d forgotten Cowbear Haven was a working ranch. She got into the truck and Trey started the ignition.

  “Is there an art store in town?” she asked him. She should have brought her supplies with her but she’d been more concerned about getting out of town than all her belongings.

  “I’ve ever seen it but that doesn’t mean there isn’t one. He pulled out his phone and began typing. “Looks like there’s one over in the old granary building on Second Street. You need to go there?”

  “Yeah I’d like to pick up some supplies so I can do some painting.”

  Trey looked at her and raised his eyebrows. “So you’re an artist as well as a cook. That’s pretty impressive.”

  She shrugged her shoulders. If she could cook like she painted they’d be in for some gourmet meals.

  “How about I drop you off at the art store while I go pick up the supplies from the feed store and then I’ll come back to collect you?”

  “That would be great.”

  The idea of going to a feed store didn’t sound that thrilling and this way she could take her time and browse.

  Trey turned into a side street and sure enough there was a sign saying Finley’s Art store and café.

  “I’ll be back in about 15-20 minutes,” Trey told her.

  Joely got out of the truck and turned back to Trey. “If anyone gives you trouble just come get me.”

  He winked at her and then put the truck into gear.

  She watched as he drove away before she made her way to the store. She always knew a good art store by the smell of the place. She put her nose in the air and knew she’d hit pay dirt with Finley’s. Joely stepped inside and smiled. She always felt a sense of pure excitement the first time she entered a new art store. She guessed she was a bit like little kid in a toy store or candy factory.

  She’d have to control her urges and not overspend. Once she saw a canvas, paints and brushes, all her common sense went out of the window. She walked to the section that housed the canvases. She’d love to paint the horses at the ranch, the mountains to the left of the property, and most of all she wanted to paint Trey. Capture his strong jawline and those beautiful eyes of his.

  “Can I help you find anything?”

  A male voice made her jump. She turned to see a man in his seventies now standing beside her.

  “I’m just admiring the variety of canvases you carry,” Joely said.

  “That’s because this is quite the artist’s community.”

  “Really, I never knew that.”

  “Oh yeah, we have five whose work is often displayed in all the top galleries in both LA and New York.”

  “I’m impressed.”

  “And what’s your medium?”

  “Mostly watercolor but I’m getting more into oils and thought I’d pick up a couple of canvases to give it a try.”

  “Then you will love the new paints I’ve just gotten in.”

  She followed him over to the side of the store. There was just about every color you could think of.

  “I love this fuchsia, oh and this periwinkle blue, and that lime green is pretty sharp too,” Joely said, not knowing which one to look at first

  “I do give a 20% discount to new customers.”

  This was getting better by the second.

  “Okay, I’ll take all three, and a package of your mixed sized canvases.”

  “You need any brushes?”

  She’d left without them too.

  “I have a sale going on with the Sheridan line,” he added.

  Her favorite brand. How did he know?

  “You’ve twisted my arm. How about I take this one, and these two,” she said, lifting them out of the terra cotta pots they were displayed in.

  “I’ll get these wrapped for you.”

  Joely followed him to the cash register.

  “You should come along to one of our social evenings and meet some fellow artists,” he told her.

  He handed her a flyer. Every Thursday, drinks and appetizers and a talk by a local artist and social evening from 7 – 9 p.m.

  She wondered if Trey would let her borrow his truck so she could drive into town. “I’ll definitely think about it.”

  “I’ll throw in my business card with our Web address and Twitter account. I can special order things too.”

  “Caught you red-handed.”

  Joely screamed when she suddenly felt a firm hand on her shoulder. Her boss’ bad guys had caught up with her, but how?

  “Did I scare you?”

  She now recognized the voice and could smell his familiar aftershave. Joely turned around to see Trey standing directly behind her.

  “Looks like you’re spending all your wages in here,” he said.

  “Just a few supplies to keep me going.”

  “We have a sale going on right now if you’re interested sir,” said the owner.

  “I’m not a painter and the only thing I can draw is my breath,” Trey said.

  “That’s very funny,” Joely said, slapping him on the arm.

  “Anyone else at Cowbear Haven interested in art? If they are I’ll give a lifetime ten percent discount,” said the owner.

  Joely was impressed that at least someone in town was open-minded.

  “It’s your hat. I recognized the logo on it. DL was an old buddy of mine,” the owner said, as Joely handed him her money. “By the way, I’m Bob Finley. DL and I served in the Army together. Miss him like crazy.”

  “Me too,” said Trey. “Me too.”

  Joely looked at him and saw both men had tears forming in their eyes which told her a lot about DL but intrigued her enough to want to know more. Maybe asking Trey would be a great way for him to relax on his next ride into town.

  “There you are my dear. Enjoy all these goodies. I’ve love to see what you create with them. Oh, and do think about coming to the social evenings.”

  “I will do that.”

  “Maybe this handsome young man will come along too. And don’t worry anyone that steps foot in here loves werebears and are always accommodating to them. If they weren’t they wouldn’t be allowed over the threshold of my store,” Bob said.

  “I like to hear that,” Trey said. “And maybe I will take you up on the offer. In fact, maybe Joely can cook something and bring it along. She’s Cowbear Haven’s new cook.”

  “Well, you have lots of talent and yes, you’ll welcome to bring food along. Cakes are very much appreciated.”


  Oh geez, she was getting deeper and deeper into this cooking thing now.

  “In fact, maybe you’d like to come along and dine at Cowbear Haven one evening,” Trey added.

  “Why, I’d love to.”

  “Joely will call you about the day and time.”

  “I’ll look forward to it.”

  “Nice meeting you,” Joely told him.

  “Same here and I can’t wait to see your artwork.”

  Oh I can assure you it’s better than anything I create in the kitchen.

  Trey put his hand on the small of her back and directed her out of the store.

  “Nice man, wish they were all like that. In fact, maybe we should shop in your home town net time,” Trey said.

  “No, no, certainly not,”

  Trey raised his eyebrow because, yes, she’d over reacted and she knew it.

  “Any reason why?” he asked.

  “They’re worse than these people. Narrow minded busy bodies you’d be wise to stay clear of them.”

  Chapter Seven

  She’d been jumpy after he’d sneaked up behind her. The scream had made her nervous and she’d seemed on edge about his suggestion that they shop in her home town.

  If he was to hazard a guess he’d say she was running away from something or someone. Old boyfriend maybe? He’d broken her heart, maybe she’d broken hers. She fascinated him more by the second and that was part of her appeal. Bears were by nature inquisitive creatures.

  He couldn’t erase the look of sheer bliss on her face when she’d been in the art store. He’d felt a welcome spirit in the place as soon as he’d walked in there. He only wished all the stores in town felt like that and had owners who were as open-minded as Bob. Trey opened the truck door for Joely and she put her bag of supplies in before climbing into the cab.

  “How about I paint you one day,” she said, once he got in beside her.

  “What you mean put paint on me?”

  He was messing with her and he laughed when she slapped his arm.

  “No, you can pose for me.”

  “Why me?”

  “Because you’re so damn adorable.”

  It was her turn to laugh.

  “I’m not very good at sitting still for more than five minutes.”

  “You’ll be just fine. And do you think you’d like to go along to one of the social evenings at the art store?”