by Liv Brywood
Damn it.
He sniffed the tracks. Yep, gator shifters. Those boys didn’t know the first thing about respecting another man’s property. They shouldn’t be in this part of the bayou at all, let alone this close to the ranch.
He roared. As soon as he found them, he’d rip them to shreds. He followed the trail until it ended at an old, overgrown road. They’d probably run away when they’d heard him coming. Cowards.
Across the river, bushes shook. A familiar, tantalizing scent drifted on the wind. Kim. What on earth was she doing out here at twilight? Every animal in the bayou would be heading out to catch their dinner.
He carefully picked a path through the trees. If she spotted his huge bear, she’d probably panic and run. But he couldn’t risk losing sight of her. Although he was reasonably sure the Thompson brothers were long gone, there were other predators in the bayou.
She sat on a downed log which was precariously perched over the river. As she dipped her feet into the water, fading sunlight backlit her golden hair. A gust of wind pushed her scent across the water. He inhaled her addictive sweetness. If she smelled this good, what would she taste like?
Chapter 3
The next morning, Kim stepped outside of the cottage in an attempt to get better cell phone reception. As she waved her phone through the air, she kicked herself for not printing a map to the fairgrounds. Maybe it would be easier to just swallow her pride and ask Zack, but that would ruin her plan. She wanted to arrive early so she could scope out the venue.
She cursed and shoved the phone into her back pocket. If she drove into town, she could stop at a gas station and ask for directions. She wouldn’t have to talk to Zack. The man had trouble written all over him, so the less time she spent with him the better. If that cocky jerk lasted outlasted her in the competition, she’d eat her cowboy boots. She kicked a rock in frustration before stomping toward her car.
After hopping in, she drove along the dirt path toward the main road. She glanced at the rearview mirror and spotted Zack strolling through the dust she’d kicked up. Good. He’d have to get used to eating her dust.
As she headed down the highway toward town, she pushed back her shoulders and held her head high. A confident posture would go a long way toward convincing the judges that she deserved her own T.V. show.
When she reached the main drag in the town of Lost Hills, she scanned the cross streets.
“Wrangler Avenue. It should be right around—”
A loud rumble shook the vehicle.
“What the heck?”
She pulled over and parked on the side of the road.
“God, please. Not right now.”
She stepped out of the car and slammed the door. Great, a flat tire. Just what she needed, and in the middle of nowhere, no less. Where was roadside assistance when you needed it? So much for getting a head start on the competition.
As Kim popped the trunk, a motorcycle roared up the street. She turned and shielded her eyes from the summer sun. The bike’s shiny chrome surfaces shimmered as the rider approached. The driver slowed down and pulled in behind her. The driver’s helmet depicted a huge bear, its jaws open in an angry roar. The powerful image captivated her until the man took the helmet off. Her stomach plunged as spikes of adrenaline shot through her limbs.
“Looks like you’ve got a flat,” Zack said.
“Obviously.” Of course he’d be the one to find her when she had a problem.
“Need some help?”
“No, I’m fine,” she said. “I know how to change a tire. I was born and raised in Texas.”
“I have no doubt that you’re capable of anything,” he said with a grin.
“Was that a compliment or a passive insult?” she asked, unable to tell if he was being sarcastic or not.
“Are you always this testy?”
“Only when my car decides to break down.”
“Do you have a spare?” he asked.
“Of course.” She reached into the trunk and pulled out the extra tire. It was flat. “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Looks like that one’s flat too.”
She wanted to wipe the smirk off of his gorgeous face.
“Hop on and I’ll give you a ride.” He patted the seat behind him.
“There’s no way in hell I’ll ride on that death mobile.”
“This baby’s safer than most cars,” he said. “Besides, I’m a good driver.”
“You don’t exactly look like Mr. Safety.”
Wearing tight jeans and black leather jacket, he looked like he’d just stepped out of a biker bar. He exuded a feral energy that made her squirm. But when he raised his eyebrows and burst out laughing, their magnetic attraction ground to a halt.
“What’s so funny?” She put her hands on her hips and glared.
“I’m sorry, but, Mr. Safety? My brothers would have fun with that one. For the record, I wasn’t laughing at you, but you’re cute when you’re pissed off.”
His compliment threw her completely off-balance. What was he up to? She shifted from one foot to another, unsure of what to do or how to respond. Should she thank him? Was he flirting with her? Was he intentionally trying to make her even more frazzled than she already was? Jerk.
“I’m not here for anything other than the competition, so you can save your compliments,” she snapped.
“Good, because I don’t date.”
“I highly doubt you’re into celibacy,” she said wryly.
“You’re right. I don’t date, but I love to fuck.” He sauntered toward her. “I like it long, hard, rough, and I can go all night. Now, are you coming with me or not?”
Her mouth went dry. Of course he didn’t date. Bad boys never did. Which is exactly why she refused to date men like him. And since she had absolutely no intention of dating him she didn’t have to think about his chiseled abs anymore. Not at all. Not even for a minute.
As his gaze raked across her body, her panties went damp. The lascivious look in his eye conjured her most wicked fantasies. This was dangerous. Distracting. She should turn and run the other way. Why tempt fate?
“Well?” he asked.
“I’ll walk.”
“Seriously? By the time you make it there, the contest will have started already. If you’re late, they’ll disqualify you. Get on,” he ordered.
An arc of erotic desire sizzled straight to her wet center. Was he this domineering in bed? No wonder he didn’t have to date. He could just command women to take their panties off and they would.
But would she?
Zack held out his helmet. Sexual temptation aside, the demanding hunk of muscle was right. By the time she made it into town, she’d be too late. Hopefully he wouldn’t ride like a maniac.
“Fine.”
She snatched the helmet from him. After closing the trunk of her car, she grabbed her bag of chef’s knives from the back seat.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay without a helmet?” she asked as she shoved it over her hair. “I wouldn’t want that overly confident brain of yours to get damaged.”
“I’ll be perfectly fine.” His smile widened to show a full set of white teeth. “Now get on behind me.” He throttled the bike to make his point.
She eyed the seat. This was going to be awkward. She couldn’t see any scenario in which she wouldn’t end up pressed against him. After securing her helmet, she slid onto the seat behind him. She rested her hands on his shoulders.
“Hold only my waist or you’re going to fall off,” he said.
She snaked her arms around him, careful to keep them wrapped around his jacket. At least that would give her some measure of protection from his rock-hard muscles. As she leaned forward, his body heat burned against her chest.
“No, like this.” He grabbed her hands and pulled them up under his jacket so they rested on his stomach. “Much better.”
Definitely not better. Worse, a lot worse. Damn, his abs were just as solid as they looked. It too
k everything in her power to keep from running her fingers over every ridge and valley. Ranch life had molded him into one rugged cowboy.
As he accelerated onto the road, she tightened her grip. She’d avoided dating men who rode bikes because she hated riding them. They were dangerous—both the bikes and the men who rode them.
Normally, she wouldn’t trust anyone enough to hop on the back of one of these things, but Zack seemed to know what he was doing. The smooth rumble of the bike and the way she’d wedged him between her thighs added an erotic undercurrent that she desperately tried to ignore.
She couldn’t fantasize about him. He was her opposite in every way: smug and overconfident. And besides, a man like him would never ask her out. He’d said so himself. He didn’t date, he fucked. A shiver of desire slid down her spine as she pictured all the things his dirty mouth could do to her. God, she was totally losing it.
By the time they’d reached the fairgrounds, she couldn’t wait to hurl herself off the bike. Arrows had been posted along the road to direct contestants toward the cooking area. Signs covered with Sebastian Barclay’s grinning face had been positioned between the arrows. At the end of the road, a huge board stood outside the arena. It listed all of the prizes in big, bold letters.
Kim took a deep breath and blew it out as she gathered up her courage. She needed to win this contest. Her mom’s medical bills were slowly ruining them. Winning the $100,000 top prize would reduce most of the stress in her life. She had to win. There was no other option. If Zack thought he was going to win, he had another thing coming.
The moment he parked, she hopped off the bike. She didn’t want to hold onto him a second longer than necessary. She yanked off the helmet and handed it to him.
“Thank you,” she said. “And good luck. You’re going to need it.”
She didn’t wait for his response as she hurried toward the registration area. After getting her competition number, a contest coordinator directed her toward the bleachers. She sat on a bench near the top. From her position, she counted forty other entrants. She hadn’t expected so many people to show up. Maybe this was going to be harder than she’d anticipated.
When Zack arrived, she couldn’t take her eyes off of him. His muscles bulged out from underneath his signature black tank top. Every woman in the contest turned to check out his snug jeans. For a moment, she was afraid that he’d climb the steps to sit with her. As he sat in the first row, she breathed a sigh of relief. Crisis averted.
Sebastian Barclay strolled into the arena and walked to the podium in front of the participants. The entire audience applauded until he held up a hand to silence them.
“Thank you,” he said. “It’s a pleasure to host the Bigger in Texas Barbecue Competition. I’m joined by two of your favorite Texan chefs who will help me judge your dishes over the next few days. We’ll narrow the field to twelve semi-finalists, two finalists, and eventually one winner, who will be crowned the Bigger in Texas Barbecue Champion.”
He gestured to pudgy man standing to his right.
“I’d like to introduce my fellow judges. Bobby Hogan owns a chain of thirty-five barbecue joints across the great state of Texas. He also manages several other restaurant chains across the south.”
Everyone clapped for Bobby while he grinned and waved to the cameras.
“And this lovely judge is Lori Taylor,” Sebastian gestured toward the slim woman standing on his left. “She’s the chef and owner of Leaves and Greens in New York City, but we won’t hold all that healthy cooking against her.”
Kim grinned. She hadn’t know the identities of the other judges until now. Lori prided herself on finding healthier alternatives to comfort food favorites like meatloaf and mashed potatoes. She hosted one of the most popular shows on the Chef’s Network. She would be the perfect judge for the type of cuisine Kim hoped to create.
“To make this contest even more interesting and efficient, we’ll be splitting you up into pairs and you’ll be sharing a table,” Sebastian said. “Please raise your hand when called so your station partner can find you. Don’t worry, we will answer any questions you might have before we begin today’s round.”
As each pair was called, Kim crossed her fingers that she’d be paired up with someone who liked to keep their cooking station clean. She couldn’t stand a messy partner.
When Sebastian had called half of the pairs, a new fear sprang up. Zack still sat in the front row without a partner. This couldn’t be happening. Was God mad at her today or something? He wouldn’t—
“Kim Paulson and Zack Grant,” Sebastian said. “Station Five.”
Seriously?
Zack turned to grin at her. She scowled in response.
“Thanks,” she grumbled under her breath as she looked up to the sky. Thanks for nothing.
Zack attempted to suppress his smirk, but it was impossible. When he glanced back at Kim, she glared at him with a stubborn yet exasperated expression. She wanted to win something fierce, but why? There had to be story behind her gritty determination.
As her face turned a bright shade of red, he grinned. Being able to tease her throughout the competition would be an added bonus. He looked forward to getting under her skin. He silently thanked the judges for pairing him up with the little firecracker. They’d just made the experience that much sweeter.
His bear certainly approved. Earlier, when she’d been pressed up against him, the creature couldn’t stop inhaling her scent. At one point he’d almost hyperventilated. He’d reined in the beast with the promise that he could have a huge rack of ribs later tonight if he behaved the rest of the day. Sometimes negotiating worked, but other times, his bear’s single-minded obsession with pretty women was incorrigible.
Her scent clung to his jacket. His bear couldn’t wait to roll around in it. Maybe later. Right now he had work to do, and it didn’t involve chasing after Kim. He strolled over to the assigned cooking station and stood next to her.
“Good luck,” he whispered with a hint of sarcasm.
She frowned, but didn’t respond.
“After you find your stations, take a moment to look through the available tools,” Lori said. “You may bring your knives, but no additional outside utensils will be allowed. The competition will begin with one of my favorite staples—barbecue beans. We’re looking for unique, extraordinary flavors, so feel free to use any of the available ingredients from the tables scattered throughout the competition area. Does anyone have any questions before we begin?”
Kim’s hand shot up.
“Yes?” Lori asked.
“Can we change partners?”
Zack chuckled. Sneaky little thing. She was trying to avoid him. She wouldn’t get off that easily. Not a chance.
“I’m happy to have her as a partner,” he said. “I don’t mind sharing my station with her one bit.”
He flashed a dazzling smile at Lori. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Kim bristle. Her frustration amused him. If she didn’t insist on avoiding him so much, he wouldn’t be as interested. But the more she pushed him away, the more intrigued he became. Women usually threw themselves at his feet, but not this one. A sizzle of desire coursed through his belly. He liked a good challenge, and she seemed more than ready to give him one.
“All of the partners have been randomly selected,” Bobby snapped. “You can’t make changes now.”
Zack narrowed his gaze. Although the man’s response was exactly what he wanted, he didn’t like his tone of voice. How much trouble was this guy going to be? Apparently the network had added the filthy-rich know-it-all judge to get better ratings. His bear snarled, itching for a fight.
Kim huffed, but didn’t respond. Instead, she began pulling her knives out and slamming them onto the red-and-white checkered table next to their station.
“You have one hour to create barbecue beans worthy of $100,000,” Lori said. “Your time starts… now!”
A huge digital clock over the stands started counting down from
sixty minutes. Zack rushed to grab a pot and set it on the stove. He’d have to simmer the beans for as long as possible, and he didn’t have a second to waste.
Kim flipped on her burner and set a larger pot over it. She ran toward one of the tables, which was covered with plastic containers filled with spices.
The flame beneath her pot was much higher than what Zack usually used. He adjusted it down so that her beans wouldn’t burn.
“What the hell are you doing?” she yelled when she returned. “Are you trying to sabotage me?”
“No, I’m helping you. You set it way too high, and your beans were going to burn.”
“It’s not too high,” she snapped. “I have it set the way I want it, so keep your hands to yourself.”
“I’m telling you, they’re going to be charred at that temperature.”
“Leave my side alone and worry about your own.” She slammed her hand down on the counter, but it slipped and knocked against the hot burner. “Shit!”
“Kim!” He grabbed her wrist and inspected her palm. An angry red welt swelled up in the center of her smooth flesh. “We need to ice it before it blisters.”
“I’m fine. I’ll go do it myself.”
She yanked her hand back and cradled it against her chest. When she turned away from him, he ground his teeth together. His bear’s protective instinct kicked in. He wanted to chase after her to make sure she was okay, but she clearly didn’t want his help.
“Get a lot of ice,” he yelled.
She quickened her pace, but didn’t respond.
Several minutes later, she returned with a bandaged hand.
“How’s your hand?” he asked.
“It’s fine.”
“Let me see it,” he said.
“No. And stop talking to me. I already lost fifteen minutes and I need to focus.”
“Just let me see it for one second. I want to make sure you’re okay.”
