Tempting the Wild Wolf

by Rayna Tyler

  “Nick, why are you terrorizing my help?” Reese growled at the man getting to his feet.

  Nick? Was this the stepbrother Berkley had mentioned, the resort’s third partner?

  Nick squared his shoulders and faced Reese. He was every bit as tall as Reese, maybe an inch or so taller, and I commended myself on my earlier assessment. Both of them were huge mountains of muscle, contrasting in appearance yet equally attractive in their own way.

  Where Nick had the whole dark-hair-and-complexion thing covered, Reese leaned toward the lighter side. His eyes were brown with a hint of amber, and his cropped, chocolate-brown hair was laced with several lighter shades and compared closely to Berkley’s.

  “Your help”—Nick snarled and pointed in my direction—“was invading my home.”

  Invading his home? Was he kidding? It wasn’t as if I’d brought a rifle and was shooting up the place. Groaning, I grabbed my wrench off the floor and used the counter to stand. I immediately regretted the move when the blood rushed to my legs and a painful tingle shot across my skin.

  “You should have checked in.” Reese spoke to Nick and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I wasn’t expecting you back until next week. Mandy would have been done by then.”

  “It was late, and I was tired,” Nick said.

  Even though Nick’s comment irritated me, I couldn’t stop staring at him. He fascinated me more than any man I’d ever met, and I hoped I wasn’t drooling. They were too busy sharing heated looks and not paying any attention to me, so I assumed I was okay.

  I didn’t want to be trapped in the bathroom if their argument suddenly got worse. “Excuse me.” I waited until I had their full attention before continuing, “If my presence is going to bother Mr. Furball...” Sometimes I held a grudge longer than I should. “I can work on one of the other cabins.”

  Reese roughly swept his hand along the side of his head. “No, I need the work on this cabin finished first. It’s the worst one on the property. Mr. Fur...I mean Nick won’t have a problem with it, will you?” The question sounded more like an order, one he emphasized with a daring glare.

  Nick was back to scrutinizing me, and the way his gaze roamed over my body had ripples of warmth coursing through me. I had to admit I was disappointed when he finally returned his attention to Reese. “No, no problem.” There was a low growl attached to Nick’s grumble.

  “Good, meet me at the lodge. You can fill me in on your trip.” Reese stepped aside to make room for Nick to leave.

  “Should I be worried?” I asked Reese once I believed Nick was out of earshot.

  “He’s fine.” Reese didn’t sound convincing, and I didn’t feel reassured.

  “Am I going to have problems with the rest of the cabins?” I didn’t want any more surprises. I was under the impression the cabins were for paying guests and wondered why Nick wasn’t staying at the lodge with his brother and sister.

  “The rest of them are unoccupied. Nick likes his space, which is why...” Reese sighed, answering my unspoken question. “Just let me know if you need anything else, okay?”

  “Sure.” I understood the need for personal space but got the impression by Reese’s frown that there was more about Nick’s situation that he wasn’t telling me. If I wasn’t being paid well and didn’t desperately need the money to help pay the ever-growing stack of doctor bills my father had accumulated after his leg injury, I’d be tempted to tell Reese what he could do with his job.

  As soon as I heard the front door shut behind Reese, I sagged against the counter. Putting up with a territorial wolf was not what I’d signed up for when I’d agreed to do this project. Even if said wolf was gorgeous and I was attracted to his territorial bad-boy persona in the worst way.

  Chapter Two

  NICK

  After leaving the bathroom, I headed to the bedroom and slipped out of my sweats and into a pair of jeans. I’d been hard from the minute I’d inhaled Mandy’s scent—a combination of woman and wildflowers. If she was going to be in my home for a few days, wearing constricting pants would be easier to disguise any further erections.

  I grabbed the old T-shirt I’d tossed on the chair the night before, then slipped on my boots and exited the cabin. Going barefoot through the woods didn’t bother me, but because Reese had humans working on the property and at the lodge, I needed to appear somewhat presentable. Most of the employees weren’t aware that my siblings and I could shift into wolves.

  I could go back to being comfortable once I returned to the privacy of my cabin. Actually, I’d prefer not to leave the cabin at all. Mandy and her intoxicating scent were the reason I wanted to stay. If I wasn’t mistaken, I’d also smelled the sweet hint of strawberry, something she used to bathe with or wash her hair. I bit back a groan and imagined her naked with water cascading across her skin.

  Thinking about her made me hard again and had my wolf prancing and ready to beg for any attention she’d be willing to give us. I needed to push her from my mind and focus my thoughts on the meeting with Reese.

  It had been nearing midnight by the time I’d gotten back from my trip to Denver. I’d spent most of my life avoiding the bigger cities. Even when I lived in small towns, getting a full night of rest without worry was something I’d rarely experienced. Out here, the stress-free location coupled with the fresh mountain air lulled me into a deep sleep.

  Normally, I’d awaken at the slightest noise. I hadn’t heard Mandy enter my home and was groggy when I’d heard noises coming from the bathroom. Years of practiced control was the only thing that kept me from fully shifting. By the time I realized my wolf was partially out, I was crouched in the doorway and she’d seen me.

  At the first flash of claws, most humans would be screaming, but not Mandy. Sure, I’d scented her initial fear—a reaction to my growling—and knew I’d scared her. Instead of cowering in a corner, she’d responded with sarcasm and respectfully acknowledged the dominance of my wolf.

  I smiled, remembering Mandy’s humor and the way she’d handled the situation. Other than Berkley, no other female had ever dared to show courage when faced with the threat of my wolf.

  Mate. My wolf pushed the word into my mind. No, that couldn’t be right, I argued. What were the odds of finding the one woman specifically meant for me? And in my bathroom no less.

  Not good to impossible since I didn’t have that kind of luck. My wolf disagreed. The contrary animal didn’t care about luck. He snarled at me, convinced the female with the luscious long legs and one of the finest asses I’d ever seen was our mate.

  I paused to breathe in the fresh air and scent of pine. I fought the urge to return to the cabin and kick my brother out so I could explore my supposed connection to Mandy. Rather than test the boundaries of our newly formed relationship, I followed Reese’s instruction and hiked the worn path that weaved between the tall ash trees and to the back entrance of the main lodge.

  Out of all the buildings on the property, this one received the most maintenance and required only a minimal amount of work before it would be fully functional. The lodge had two levels, the lower containing a lobby, offices, and a restaurant. The upper floor was comprised of rooms for guests who preferred to stay at the lodge rather than rent one of the pricier cabins.

  The outside had a slanted, shingled roof, and the exterior walls were crafted with sawed logs stacked horizontally and stained with a light wood finish. The interior walls had a similar construction. There were ornate support beams evenly spaced at ceiling level throughout all the open areas. The main entrance area had a huge fireplace and hearth with a slate-rock finish.

  Opposite the offices and segregated from the guest portion of the building was an additional wing explicitly designed for the owners and any staff who might need to stay the night if the weather got too bad for traveling. That section had five bedrooms, two of which were occupied by Reese and Berkley. I’d turned down their offer to take one of the three remaining rooms. With the temperament and nature of my wolf, I�
�d learned a solitary home away from other people was usually best.

  Up until three months ago, when Berkley found me, I’d thought I was an only child and wasn’t aware I had any siblings. My mother, gone for twelve years now, led me to believe my father had died shortly after I’d been born. Truth was—according to my new half sister—the sorry son of a bitch had refused to acknowledge my existence and was alive and well with a new family somewhere on the East Coast. He’d also walked out on Berkley and Reese when they were teenagers.

  Apparently, the man didn’t believe in waiting for his true mate to start a family. He had a history of discarding one female for another and hadn’t wanted to be bothered by his children.

  I still wasn’t sure how Berkley had convinced me to move to the isolated mountain resort. Actually, that wasn’t true. I had my reasons for avoiding humans, people in general, and living in a secluded area was a big draw. The relationship between the three of us was tenuous at best, but I’d discovered Berkley could be very persuasive when she wanted something. Right now, she was determined to keep us together and turn us into a family. Something I’d never truly had, had tended to avoid, yet secretly yearned for.

  After entering the building, I strolled down the hall and into the largest of three offices. I was too keyed up to sit while I waited, so I walked over to the double-paned window and stared at the panoramic view outside. My thoughts returned to Mandy and the way I’d overreacted.

  Old habits caused by years of painful memories are hard to break. I knew I should have backed off as soon as I’d realized she wasn’t a threat. My wolf was curious, and it took everything I had to keep the damned thing from completing the shift. Not because my animal wanted to hurt her, but because he was intrigued by her scent. Mate, my wolf whispered again.

  I ignored him. To argue with him was a wasted effort because he wasn’t an ordinary wolf. He was part wild wolf and prone to be more aggressive and short-tempered. It was a known fact that wild wolves didn’t survive well around other shifters, and humans even less. It was why our kind avoided heavily populated areas as much as possible.

  The full-blooded ones, including some of my distant relatives, lived like gypsies, always moving, never settling down. A lot of them took odd jobs to survive. Thinking about my lineage reminded me of my mother, a loss that pained me. Faulty machinery at the small traveling carnival where we worked had taken her life when I was sixteen. Shortly afterward, I’d run away. There was no way I was going to let the sleazy owner force me to shift so he could lock me in a cage and put me on display for his customers.

  I’d spent the last twelve years taking one job after another, staying in each place only long enough to make some money before moving on to the next. I’d never gotten involved with any females for more than a few weeks. I’d never made any lasting commitments, always took care of myself, and never looked back. I’d never had a place I wanted to call home.

  Until now.

  I’d promised Berkley I’d give the family thing a year. A promise I was determined to keep no matter how difficult or uncomfortable staying in one place made me feel. As far as I was concerned, a man who didn’t honor his word wasn’t much of a man.

  I didn’t have long to wait before my enhanced hearing detected Reese’s familiar stride padding along the wooden floors in the outside hall. Though I was equally as strong and more dominant than my half brother, the wild side of my wolf recognized and respected his leadership. I sensed his power and the agitation radiating from his wolf the moment he entered the room.

  Reese propped his ass on the surface of the wooden desk rather than take a seat in the worn leather chair. It was something he did frequently when he was attempting to put someone at ease. He dangled his right leg over the edge, the toe of his boot grazing the hardwood floor.

  I preferred to remain standing and braced for the lecture I knew was coming. Unlike me, Reese is usually calm and rarely loses his temper. His demeanor is no doubt a result of the disciplined training he’d received during his four years in the military. I’d noticed on more than one occasion how he studied a situation, object, or opponent, then carefully chose his words before speaking—similar to what he was doing now.

  Reese clasped his hands together on his thigh. “I know we’ve discussed this before, but I want to make sure you understand that not all the humans working on site will be aware of our kind. Some will be helping with the renovations and others will be hired for staff once the place is up and running.”

  Even though I understood Reese’s concerns, it irritated me that he assumed I needed the reminder. I swallowed my growl and gave him the reassurance I knew he was searching for. “I’m aware, and it won’t be a problem.”

  Full wild wolves tended to go feral when provoked. It was another reason they avoided living in areas heavily populated by humans. I’d come close to going feral a few times, but could honestly say I’d never lost control of my wolf.

  “Mandy’s going to be working in your cabin for the next few days, then moving on to the rest. I’ve known her and her father for years and trust both of them.” Reese tapped the desk reflectively. “I need to know she will be safe, that you’re not going to do anything else to upset her.”

  I had no interest in explaining my actions. I wasn’t comfortable telling Reese how after I’d woken and scented Mandy, I’d been overwhelmed by the instinct to claim, not kill. A first for me. Until I could confirm one way or another whether my wolf’s suspicions were accurate, I planned to remain silent on the topic.

  Reese had taken the lead role in this operation, and I didn’t blame him for being frustrated. I needed to keep him pacified so he wouldn’t ask me to stay away from her completely. Not that it would matter since my wolf and I weren’t good at following orders. I would, however, prefer not to be at odds with my brother. “I won’t hurt her, if that’s what you’re insinuating.”

  Reese scratched the back of his head. “I’m not insinuating anything, and I wasn’t worried about her safety around you. Not only is she good, but she’s the only available plumber in Ashbury. We can’t afford for her to quit, not with all the other problems we’ve been having.”

  By problems, I knew he meant the break-ins and damage being done to some of the outlying cabins. It was the reason we’d hired a local bear shifter for the position of security guard. Although we had no way to prove it, we had a pretty good idea Desmond Bishop, the owner of the Hanover Regency, the expensive hotel on the property adjacent to ours, was behind the vandalism.

  Bishop had made it clear via numerous offers that he wanted the resort, or rather the land it sat on, and was determined to own it. We also suspected he was responsible for the problems we’d been having with some of the local suppliers in Hanford, another city in the area. Reese recently tried to purchase some lumber and was turned away. The representative didn’t give him any specifics other than to say he was getting pressure from an influential source to refrain from doing business with us.

  After receiving the same type of response from other vendors, I’d volunteered for the trip to Denver. I might not have many friends, but I did have connections with people from my time spent working in construction. One of those associates worked in the city, and after some casual drinking and heavy negotiating, he was willing to help us get the supplies we needed.

  “I’ll be on my best behavior.” I tried to sound as convincing as possible.

  Reese forced a smile, and it was the first time I’d notice the darkened circles beneath his eyes. I immediately felt guilty for the additional stress I’d caused him and for contemplating telling him to shove it. Truth was I had nowhere else to go. My old life wasn’t anything to rave about. The least I could do after everything my siblings had done for me was to give them my support.

  Reese raised one brow and didn’t appear to be totally convinced, so for good measure, I threw in, “I promise.”

  He grinned, shrugging some of the rigidness from his shoulders. “Thanks, I appreciate it.”r />
  Chapter Three

  MANDY

  The late-morning sun had been pounding down on this side of the cabin for the last few hours, and the warmth inside the small bathroom was almost unbearable. I raised the dusty blind covering the rectangular window above the toilet. A few grunts and groans later, I had the lower panel lifted enough to allow some fresh air in through the outer screen.

  The resort held a lot of good memories for me. Most of them involved the time during my teenage years that I’d spent with Berkley. And, on the rare occasion, with Reese when he wasn’t being a macho jerk. As with most maturing males, he’d been too busy trying to impress the local girls and didn’t want to be saddled with his younger sister.

  I blew out a heavy sigh, realizing four years had passed since I’d spent any quality time on the property or visited the lodge. The summer before Berkley started college was the last time I remembered seeing James Reynolds. What happened to the old man was a tragedy, and more than once, I’d regretted not making the time to come out and visit him.

  I stared out the window at the hill in the distance. Slivers of the main lodge peeked through the varying shades of green on the thick wall of trees behind the cabin. Not for the first time, images of Nick and his intense silver-gray eyes popped into my mind. I chastised myself for lingering and hoping I’d catch a glimpse of him returning.

  Reese, Berkley, and Nick, the brother I didn’t know existed until recently, inherited the run-down resort from their grandfather. There were ten cabins on the property. During my tour with Reese to document the much-needed repairs, he’d mentioned their plans to build more units if the resort did as well as they hoped. He also told me he didn’t trust anyone else to do the work, which was why he’d hired Jenson Plumbing.

  After my father broke his leg and damaged his ankle, his physician had ordered him to refrain from any type of exertion—what Roy Jenson considered house arrest—the workload was assigned to my capable hands.