by Ally Summers
I shook my head. “No. I’m speaking as the clan’s she-alpha.” I rapped on the door and the wolf shifter opened it for me. “Grayson stands beside me. He always will.”
Celia screamed toward the ceiling. “No.”
The door closed behind me. I walked through the same tunnel back to the street level. To the sunlight. To Grayson.
He was waiting by the car when I reached the parking lot.
“How did it go?” he asked. “Are you ok?”
“I think I was fair. I know I was.” I had considered all the punishments. This was how it had to be. I could sleep at night with this ruling.
He kissed my forehead. “I want to get you home. Come on.”
Next to Grayson I had never felt so safe. So loved and so protected.
“That sounds good.”
He drove us home to the Promise Lake Estate and pulled in front of the massive front doors. He parked in the circular drive.
Before I had a chance to climb out of the car, Grayson was by my side.
I squealed when he scooped me into his arms.
“What are you doing?”
“I think this is human tradition. Is it not?”
He carried me as if I weighed no more than a bag of sugar. He kicked open the front door.
“Our life can begin.”
I looked in his eyes. “You know I love you, don’t you?”
He growled. “I do.”
My heart warmed and my body fired with carnal desire. His voice did something to me.
“And you know how much I love you,” he nipped at my neck.
I nodded. “I do.”
“And for the first time as Hawthorne Global’s CEO I’m taking time off. So we are going to use that time wisely. Very wisely.”
“Is that so?”
He strolled to the staircase. The master suite was on the second floor.
“I think I like it here in Promise Lake,” I mused.
He took the stairs two at a time.
“I think I like having you in my bed, little bear.”
I laughed. “You know I want to re-decorate your entire room.”
“Our room,” he corrected me. The double doors were already open. We still had the house to ourselves. Tomorrow that would change when the house staff descended upon us so Grayson could run the company from Promise Lake.
I sighed. “Yes, our room.”
He laid me on the bed. I pretended to crawl away from him, but he pounced playfully, causing the bed to bounce under his weight.
“Not so fast.” He pulled me under him.
I gazed up at the depth and richness of his eyes. Pools of chocolate that took my breath away.
“Tell me it will always be like this,” I pleaded.
He kissed me, brushing his firm lips over my mouth. “Always.”
Bear Play
Copyright © 2017 by Ally Summers
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
One
Oliver
From the sky the acreage didn’t seem like much, but I felt it—this was it. The trees twined together, making the canopy below thick and dense. The helicopter buzzed through wisps of clouds. I pulled the mouthpiece on my headset to my lips to tell the pilot to find a place to land. I needed to get on the ground and see it for myself.
“Take her down here, Charles,” I instructed, spotting a small clearing.
“Yes, sir. We’ll be on the ground in a few minutes.”
He took another pass over the forest before hovering close enough to the ground where I could get a better view of the land.
When the propellers finally stopped spinning I jumped from the cockpit.
“Wait here,” I barked.
One of my brothers was off on a soul-seeking mission, while the other was finally getting his priorities straight. That left me to run Hawthorne Global.
I looked over my shoulder at the pilot. He was already on his phone.
My instructions were clear: make this deal work for Hawthorne Global. Jackson had already fucked up the first proposal we had. The company had invested over a million dollars on exploration and Silverstone walked away from the deal. I didn’t know if that was what pushed my brother over the edge and caused him to leave.
Grayson had a way of putting pressure on all of us. It was impossible to live up to his standards, but it didn’t keep us from trying. He was the clan dynast. He was Hawthorne Global’s CEO. And he was my older brother.
I looked down at the ground, stooping to brush my hand over the tops of the grass blades. The soil seemed rich. I breathed in a full breath of air. It was clean out here. Beautiful. Pure.
It had been a while since I had let my bear run wild. There was something in these woods calling to him. I sniffed the air. He wanted to explore. He wanted to ramble through the forest as if there was a compass drawing me to the center.
But I didn’t have time for him. I had to get back to the office and make an offer on this tract of land. I walked back to the chopper. I’d seen enough. I’d felt it.
“Let’s go.”
I clicked the seatbelt in place while Charles started the engine and the propeller whirled overhead.
The land faded from view as we headed toward the city. I felt my animal instinct kick in again. It was tugging hard inside my chest, but I didn’t know why. Why I was drawn to the land. To the forest.
I’d never felt my bear throw himself into company business before. It was as if he was invested in this deal as everyone else on Jackson’s team.
“Anything else you want to see, sir?” the pilot asked.
“No. Just take me back to Hawthorne Global. I’ve seen enough for today. I’ve got what I need. It’s exactly what I was looking for.”
“That’s good news, sir.”
“Yes, it is.” I grinned.
This was the piece of land we needed. Everything in me told me I had to make this work. Not only to save the company millions, but also to calm this new awakening in my bear. He wanted a stake in it.
I had seen more of Clarence in the past few weeks since Jackson left than I had in a year. The company attorney, who also held our family’s darkest secret was working overtime. My father had trusted Clarence when he was the CEO and so did Grayson.
He sat across from me in my office. I poured us both a glass of bourbon and handed him one. It had been a long day in the chopper. Six hours to be exact.
“I found the spot for the mixed-use project,” I announced. “I need you to put in our official offer.”
The older man pulled his glasses to the end of his nose. “That sounds promising. Grayson will be pleased you’ve found something in his absence. What details do you have for me? Who is the seller?”
I looked at him. “I have no idea if it’s for sale.”
He raised his white eyebrows. “Not for sale?”
I shrugged. “It’s perfect. Exactly what Jackson and Grayson wanted. A place where people can escape from Denver, be out in the clean air, yet completely self-sustainable. Room for restaurants, shops, and apartments. Maybe even a separate neighborhood for custom homes. I can really see it. That entire concept Jackson had is going to work there.”
Clarence cleared his throat. “Oliver, I realize your area isn’t real estate, but you must know that I can’t buy up anything you want. You saw what happened with the Silverstone deal. Even an interested seller can back out at the last minute, let alone an unsuspecting one.”
“I want that land. All of it. It’s your job to get it for me. I’ll leave the details to your expertise. That’s not what I’m worried about.”
“Yes.” He sighed. “I’ll see what I can do. Give me the parcel information. I don’t want you to have high expectations. It could be more difficult than you realize.�
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“Clarence,” I growled lowly.
“All right. I’ll see what I can do to acquire it.”
I grinned. My bear felt satisfaction knowing we were headed in the right direction together.
Two
Savannah
My shoulders hurt. So did my arms and my back. I finally unpacked the last box, pulling a china platter from the bottom. I stuffed the bubble wrap in the box.
I never thought I’d finish. I had moved everything from the storage building I had in the city, along with the contents of my small apartment. It added up quickly.
“There.” I folded the cardboard sides in and tossed it on the back porch with the others. I closed the screen door and faced my new home.
I never thought I would be back here. I also hadn’t counted on my uncle leaving me his summer home when he died.
It was rustic, but cute. It needed a little work. Some fresh paint and curtains and it would look like a brand new place. Not like the hunting lodge where Uncle Seton’s buddies had congregated to play cards during deer season. The first thing I had done was take the animal heads off the walls. They were creepy and not to mention coated in years of dust.
The stone fireplace was my favorite part. It was massive. Each stone had been hand-selected from the local quarry in Promise Lake. At least that’s what my uncle had always said. And now it was mine.
The cabin needed a feminine touch. A little attention and a thorough scrubbing. I intended to work on the house until it became the haven I needed.
I poured a glass of wine and plopped on the couch to take a break. The last few days had been a whirlwind. As soon as I’d received the keys and the deed to the house, it was as if every crazy impulse I’d never had kicked in.
I packed the apartment in Denver and drove out to the cabin and started unpacking. It was a little rash and a little impulsive, but when the keys landed in my hand from my uncle’s attorney something about it felt right.
I was supposed to be here. I needed this.
The cabin called to me as loudly as if it could speak.
I took a sip of the wine. The alcohol soothed the edges of my sore muscles. I’d take a hot shower before bed, but I wanted to enjoy this moment. Live in the place where I had decided to change my life.
I didn’t consult my friends. I didn’t weigh the pros and cons. I just did it. And I was giddy about it. The same way I was flushed from drinking a glass of wine. The same way it felt when I agreed to dance with a tall stranger at a bar. The anticipation of something new and exciting was exactly what I needed.
The last few months had been dark. Darker than I ever thought possible. I touched my knee, remembering the pain of the surgery. The rehab. All the physical therapy. I hadn’t wanted help. I didn’t want anyone’s sympathy. I closed myself off from the looks of pity. I knew what people thought about me. I couldn’t stand to see it reflected in their eyes. There was almost no chance of that here. I lived in the middle of a hundred acres.
I jumped when I heard a knock on the door. I wasn’t expecting anyone. I was nowhere near ready for guests.
I carried my wine with me and cautiously unlocked the latch.
I stared at an older man in a navy suit. His gold glasses slipped to the end fo his nose. He held a worn briefcase. “Is Mr. Galloway in?” he asked.
“He died,” I blurted out.
“Oh, I had no idea.” He scratched his head, obviously confused. “I’m sorry to hear the news.”
“It was a month ago,” I explained.
I still hadn’t opened the screen door between us. It seemed awkward now.
“That’s a bit of a setback I suppose.” He paused. “Well then, who is the owner of the Galloway land?”
I scrunched my eyebrows together. I didn’t like that this stranger had appeared on my new doorstep full of questions. It felt invasive of my little sanctuary of peace and quiet.
“I can take a message if you like,” I offered. I wasn’t going to give the man any information, even if he did look like someone’s sweet grandpa. I wasn’t convinced he wasn’t going to pull a pipe from his back pocket. Under other circumstances I’m sure he would be lovely to talk to, but this wasn’t the right time.
“I’d rather have the name. I need to contact them regarding some business questions,” he replied.
“Business questions? What kind of business questions?”
It hadn’t been five minutes since I unpacked my last box and now this man was pressing me to give information.
“It really is for the owner of the estate. I’m sure you can understand it’s a sensitive discussion.” He took a step backward. “I can come back tomorrow when the owner is home.”
I exhaled. “Fine. It’s me. Ok? I’m the owner. I inherited my uncle’s property.”
His shoulders relaxed. “That’s wonderful news. May I come in? I can go over everything with you. This really is wonderful.”
The cabin was in the middle of the woods, surrounded by acres of forest. I wasn’t exactly interested in letting strange men inside. I suddenly realized my new home made me vulnerable. I didn’t have to worry about isolation in Denver. I had apartment neighbors. The walls had been so thin I could hear my neighbor unload the dishwasher.
I shook my head. “I don’t think so.” I wasn’t going to start bad habits now.
“I would rather not speak through a screen door, Miss?”
“Savannah Galloway,” I answered. “And as nice as you might be, I’d rather not have strangers show up unannounced. I’m still moving things in and it’s a mess.”
He nodded. “Understood.” He reached in his back pocket and withdrew a business card. He slipped it through the side of the screen.
I took it in my fingers and held it closer so I could read the small print.
“I’m an attorney with Hawthorne Global.”
“I see that.” There was an immediate feeling of annoyance. I hated that name.
“So surely, you can trust that I’m not a menacing axe murderer.”
I let out a giggle. He was far from it. “I’m still not sure why you are here, or why I should let you in.”
“I believe this would be much better discussed inside.”
I wasn’t going to budge.
“Mr. Clarence, if there is something you need to tell me, go ahead before I ask you to leave. I’m not opening the screen door.” My voice was firm.
“All right. A matter of this importance is usually discussed in a more conventional setting, but I see my options are limited.” He opened his briefcase. I wondered if it was as old as he was. He held up a piece of paper. “The Hawthornes would like to acquire your property. The offer for the land is two million dollars.”
My heart stopped beating. My jaw dropped. “Did you just say two million dollars?”
He nodded. “I did.” He pressed the paper to the screen with the Hawthorne letterhead engraved with gold across the top.
I swallowed. “The Hawthornes want my land?”
“Yes, they do. Very much. And they are willing to pay a generous amount for this acreage I believe.
I straightened my spine. “No offense, Mr. Clarence, but you can tell your clients to go to hell.”
I slammed the door and locked it. I had been more polite before, but after my last experience with Hawthorne Global, I wasn’t about to deal with them again.
I marched up the stairs with my glass of wine. There was a bubble bath with my name on it.
Three
Oliver
“She said what?” I roared.
This was unbelievable, not to mention completely unacceptable.
Clarence hadn’t looked up since he returned from the Galloway property. “I have relayed all the information I have, Oliver. Miss Savannah Galloway is not interested in selling her uncle’s land. She didn’t seem to have any regrets. I waited in the car for twenty minutes in case she changed her mind. I believe that was the proper amount of time to sit in her driveway.”
&n
bsp; “Who is this woman?” I stormed around my office. “I have to have that land.”
“There must be another inquiry you would like for me to make. I can try a neighbor’s property. We could look south instead.”
“No.” I glared at him. “It has to be that one.”
“We can’t force her to sell it. She owns it legally. I checked the country register of deeds. All the paperwork was filed properly. There are no loopholes I can use. I’ve exhausted all the legal options. I made sure before I prepared for our meeting today.”
“Then try another offer. A better offer.” I didn’t doubt Clarence’s legal expertise. I never had. But I wanted that tract.
“At some point, you cross the margin of return. The land can’t cost more than the project.”
“I know how it works.” Did he think because this wasn’t my department, I didn’t know the basics of profit and loss?
“The tract isn’t far from Promise Lake. Your family has quite a substantial stake in that area. If you’re set on that location, why not use Hawthorne land?”
I looked at him. “I think you know why. That would require consensus from all the brothers, and we don’t exactly have that right now.”
“Yes, of course. I’m sorry.”
“There’s only one solution.” I grabbed my suit jacket off the back of my chair. “I’m going to take care of this.”
“Oliver,” Clarence called.
“I’ll take care of it. Draw up the paperwork for the sale. It’s going to happen.”
He shook his head. “I don’t think it’s going to be that easy. She doesn’t want to sell it,” he reminded me.
“I may have never negotiated a land deal, but I’ve seized more tech companies than anyone else. I will have this land.”
I strolled out of the office and instructed my assistant to get the pilot on the roof. I needed a chopper ride to the property. If Clarence couldn’t do his job, I could do it for him. I was the only one left who was interested in saving Hawthorne Global.
