by Renee Rose
Markle tensed, his lower jaw jutting out. “If I track the wolf over here, you’re damn right I’m going to follow it to your property.”
A low, collective growl rippled through the pack, every shifter suddenly stepping forward to flank their alpha and form a united front. This was the Wolf pack. No one fucked with us. We could take this one guy out, finish him and bury him in the back forty for no one to find for fifty years. Sadly, he’d probably be missed, maybe by his mother, and we didn’t need anyone else snooping around.
“No. You won’t.” There was no mistaking the menace in Rob’s voice.
Markle glared at Rob for a long moment, but there was nothing he could do. With an angry scoff, he yanked the reins to turn his horse around, then kicked its ribs and rode off without another word.
“Fucking dick,” I muttered as soon as I deemed him out of earshot.
“You boys see what you can find out about those prints,” Rob ordered.
“I’ll bet they don’t exist,” Levi said. “You think it’s true about Shefield’s place? We can’t have that asshole next door.” He took his hat off, scratched the back of his neck, then settled it back in place.
Rob shook his head. “I sure as fuck hope not.” He looked at me. “You see if you can find anything out about it. Go to Cody’s tonight, too. He seemed to like you the best.”
I huffed at that. Totally doubtful, but I could use my fame to my advantage, at least with Markle.
“Make sure no one joins him on his hunt,” he added.
I nodded, headed off toward the main house to shower. It was pathetic how buoyed I felt to have Rob give me a task for once. To trust me to handle something, other than the things I’d fucked up.
“I’m on it,” I called.
Cody’s it was. And maybe I’d find a little more out about my sweet doctor while I was mingling with the humans. My patience with giving her some space was pretty much over. My wolf, and dick, were in agreement on that one.
11
AUDREY
I didn’t know how to dress like a cowgirl. I had no boots. Definitely no hat. I’d settled on a button-down blouse—not flannel or even plaid, sadly—and a black jean skirt with a frayed hem that probably looked way more urban than western. It was the best I could do. I’d have to go shopping on my next day off for some real Montana clothes.
I left my hair long and ensured I had on makeup. I figured Becky would send me home or doctor me up with stuff from her purse in the bathroom mirror otherwise.
I was primped, spritzed and ready to have a good time.
The sun hadn’t set yet—it stayed light late in the summer this far north—but the air was cooling off quickly. I parked my little car in between all the huge pickup trucks in the dirt lot outside Cody’s and slung my purse over my shoulder to cross my body. I performed lifesaving surgeries and brought babies into the world. I was only walking into a bar for a little fun. There was nothing to be nervous about.
My palms were sweaty as I walked in the door, the blast of loud music and the scent of french fries and beer hit me hard. It was early still, so the place wasn’t packed, but Becky was right that it was the place to be.
I took a quick glance around, looking for Becky. I’d purposely come a little late, so I wouldn’t arrive first.
It had worked.
Becky stood at the bar holding a beer and talking with a tight cluster of people. She’d grown up in Cooper Valley and had many friends. I wasn’t sure if it was a blessing or curse to run into someone you knew even if you were in the feminine hygiene aisle at the market. For me, I hoped to avoid Jett Markle in the produce section from now on.
I smiled and headed toward them and then nearly stopped short, my heart suddenly jammed up in my throat.
Was that Boyd Wolf at the bar?
At that moment, the cluster shifted, and I got a clear view of the rodeo champ, casually leaning against the sleek wood surface, a knot of women all around him. He spotted me at the same moment, and we locked gazes. It was like in the movies, where suddenly all the background sound became muffled. Like I had cotton in my ears.
A blast of conflicting emotions hit me at once. My knees went weak as if my body were already holding up and waving the white flag of surrender, calling out, I’m yours, big guy! Come and get me! At the same time, sharp irritation with the groupies pushing their big breasts out and leaning into his space brought on the bitter taste of jealousy—which wasn’t like me at all. Add to that anger at Boyd for turning me into this mess of hormones, and I was one turned on and frustrated woman.
How dare he eat me out in his barn then flirt with a handful of other women! Sure, they were gorgeous, young and… gorgeous. Had he forgotten about me already? Yeah, he probably had.
The notch had been made, and he’d moved on. Fine. I could move on, too.
So I did what any self-respecting woman would do. No, not bolt for the door and go home to cry my eyes out over a carton of ice cream. I tossed my hair back and strutted over to Becky. I ignored Boyd completely.
As if that were possible because every guy I walked past wasn’t as tall, as brawny or as imposing. None were as handsome or had the same lethal smile. None of them were Boyd.
He was at my elbow in a flash. “Hey there, darlin’. It must be my lucky night. I didn’t know you would be here.”
Color me blind, but I would’ve sworn he sounded sincere. Except that didn’t make sense since I was able to see the women he’d left by the bar giving me death glares. They had their sights set on him. I didn’t blame them, but I wanted to rip their eyes out. I’d thought we’d had a connection, but then that made me sound like a high schooler. The connection had been his mouth on my pussy. Nothing more. I was just another conquest for Boyd Wolf.
“I didn’t know you would be here, either,” I said primly, trying to angle my body more toward Becky.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t picking up what I was putting down because she kept backing up and facing away, like she was giving me space to flirt with Boyd.
Dang it.
“What can I get you to drink?” he asked, his fingers circling my elbow and steering me toward the bar. The far side of the bar where the buckle bunnies weren’t clustered.
“Oh, um…” I shook my head, trying to force some sense back into it. “I’ll get my own drink. I don’t want to keep you from your… friends.”
Disappointment streaked across his expression but quickly disappeared as he leaned a little closer. “You’re not going to punish me for not letting you give me that full examination, are you, Doc? I kind of liked examining you much better.”
I turned to face the bar in the hope of hiding my blush. “Nope. I’m off-duty tonight, so you’re off the hook. I won’t bother you a bit, especially since you seem so… fit.” I glanced down at his chest, which was clearly delineated in panty melting detail beneath a crisp white t-shirt. It was tucked into a pair of jeans that molded to every inch of his long legs and well-formed ass and nice bulge and… crap. Look higher at the belt buckle! It was huge, like a frisbee but in silver. Clearly, it was a championship something or other, but I didn’t dare ask about it for sounding like an idiot.
I ordered a shot of Patrón and gave Boyd my back, stepping around to stand beside Becky and sticking out my hand to meet her friends. Friends who were ignoring me and staring wide eyed at Boyd. “Hi, I’m Audrey.”
I shouldn’t have been disappointed when Boyd took the hint and stepped away. I didn’t actually see him do it, more like felt it. That had been my intention, to give him the cold shoulder, and yet I registered the loss of his nearness viscerally. My nipples hardened, and my pussy clenched as if telling me they wanted him back. They wanted his very skilled hands and mouth on them and didn’t want to let the opportunity slip away.
My pussy had been in charge in Boyd’s barn and while it got his head between my legs and a fantastic orgasm, that was all. Sure, I’d be using that for my vibrator-time fantasies for the rest of my life, but my
bed wouldn’t have Boyd in it because he’d be in some other woman’s.
Tonight, I’d think with my mind, and my pussy would just have to deal. I tossed back the shot, then winced as the biting flavor went down hard and fast.
“Um, Audrey, you didn’t tell me you knew Boyd Wolf,” Becky said, her eyes shifting from me to somewhere over my shoulder where he’d gone. Probably back to his bunny hutch.
“He, uh, got hurt at the rodeo over the weekend. Remember I told you I was going to work the event?”
“Lucky girl,” she replied, leaning in to be heard over the growing crowd and the music.
“Becky! He was hurt,” I countered. I didn’t like anyone to make light of a situation where someone had been injured.
“He doesn’t look hurt to me,” she said, licking her lips. As if she wanted not only a slice but the whole dang chocolate cake.
“His gaggle of girlfriends will take care of him.” I tried to hide the hurt in my voice. I wasn’t ready to tell her about my trip to Wolf Ranch or what happened in the barn.
She slowly shook her head as she sucked on the straw of her iced margarita. “I think he wants you to do that, and I don’t mean heal any wounds he might have. I’m thinking he needs relief of a different kind.”
My mouth dropped open as I stared at her. “I think you’re very wrong.”
She shook her head. “You might have the fancy medical degree, but I know men, and that one wants you. Don’t deny you want him right back.”
I stared at her. She stared at me. Her friends, thank God, were chatting between themselves, and I didn’t have to explain this to them. “Fine. I do want him. But—”
She grinned and cut me off. “I’m so glad to hear that. Hi, Boyd.”
I gasped, spun on my heel. Right there in front of my face was his chiseled chest. Oh. My. God.
Slowly, I tipped my chin up until I was looking into Boyd Wolf’s gorgeous face, split by his signature grin. “The feeling’s mutual, darlin’. Sorry for stepping away, I needed to get my beer.” He held up a longneck between his fingers.
“I… I thought—” I thought a sinkhole should open up and swallow me, but that wasn’t going to happen.
“I thought we had a good time yesterday.” He winked.
“Yesterday?” Becky asked. “Wasn’t the rodeo over the weekend?”
“It was, but I couldn’t resist myself.” Boyd tipped his head in my direction. “This woman’s got me on my knees with want.”
While Boyd spoke to Becky, his words were meant just for me.
I blushed and shook my head. I’d gone to Wolf Ranch to check on him but hadn’t done so. Instead of me getting him out of his shirt to see where the bull had struck him, he’d gotten me out of my pants… and panties.
He wasn’t injured. I’d clearly been wrong. Unless he had an ingrown toenail, I couldn’t see a thing wrong with the guy. He definitely didn’t look like someone who’d been gored by a bull.
I didn’t understand it, but the proof of it was him standing before me.
“I’m sorry, Boyd, but this isn’t my thing.”
“What isn’t?”
I hardened my resolve. “You’re a fun time. But I’m looking for something serious. And you’re not sticking around.” I pointed at him and circled my finger, directly at his huge belt buckle, which blatantly indicated his profession and imminent return to the circuit.
There. I made it about his job, not that I thought he was a man-whore. Although why I believed he had feelings that required sparing was beyond me. A guy like him probably had this conversation fifty times a year. I’d looked up the rodeo circuit schedule, and it covered half the west over a six month span.
Boyd looked chagrined by my words, but I didn’t want to read too much into that. He wasn’t getting lucky tonight with me. He’d survive. Since he could probably talk the underpants off a nun if given the chance, I decided fleeing was my best strategy.
“Excuse me,” I said, then beelined for the bathroom, hiding in there for as long as I could.
When I came out, I was relieved to see Becky nearby with no sign of Boyd. Well, relieved, but also disappointed. Not in myself or Boyd because it wasn’t his fault he was a player but that the chemistry was impossible to resist. I wanted to hang out with him, maybe even have a little fling, but I knew it was better to cut him out now than to be hurt later. I took a breath, headed toward Becky.
I didn’t make it to her side.
Jett Markle, Mr. Bad Date, stepped in my path, a smug grin on his face.
12
AUDREY
“Audrey, so great to see you.” Jett reached out and clasped my shoulder. He probably thought he was showing warmth, but it was everything I could do not to flinch. He and Boyd were of similar size, but while I felt protected by Boyd, Jett felt imposing. The fact that he hadn’t gotten the idea that the first date was also the only date creeped me out. Fortunately, we weren’t alone. The bar was now packed.
“I’ll buy you a drink.” His grip propelled me to the bar. Damn, could the guy be any pushier?
Seriously.
I assumed this was how he made it big in the hedge fund world.
Considering I just turned down a far more appealing drink offer, I found it hard to even be polite. I dug in my heels and resisted his hold on me, which made my arm tug in its socket. “No, Jett. I don’t want a drink with you.” My action and loud words attracted the attention of everyone around us. I usually didn’t want to be the center of attention, but now I was glad for it.
He stopped and turned to look down at me, but he didn’t let go of my shoulder.
“I’m here with a friend,” I said.
Before I finished speaking, I felt a hand on my lower back and knew instantly who it was.
“Everything okay here, darlin’?” Boyd’s voice was soft and slow, but there was no mistaking the danger in it. The menace to Jett if I said things weren’t okay.
I was one hundred and five percent sure Boyd would happily deck the guy if I wanted. What I wasn’t sure of was whether he’d hold back, even if I told him things were fine. I didn’t want to start a fight. I didn’t want Jett to think he was being interrupted. I’d told him we were one and done and that hadn’t worked. If I told Boyd I was fine and went about my night with Becky, I had a feeling Jett would keep sending flowers, keep texting. Or worse.
There was one, very big, very tall way to get my point across to Jett that I wasn’t interested.
I turned and placed my hand on Boyd’s hard chest. His arm instantly banded around my waist, drawing me closer. “There you are!” I purred, like we were together. As in together. I stared adoringly up into his face.
Boyd looked down at me, and his easy smile came immediately, but his gaze was shrewd. I’d just told him things weren’t going to work out, and now I was fawning all over him. He might be crazy enough to climb on the back of a bull and try to stay on, but he was no idiot. His gaze traveled between me and Jett. “Was this guy bothering you, darlin’?”
“No, just a misunderstanding. I was just telling him that it wasn’t necessary to text me or send me flowers at work. Our dinner last weekend was a one-time thing.”
“Is that so?” Boyd asked.
I nodded. “Yes, clearly Jett didn’t know you were my date.” I laid my cheek against his muscled chest like we were far more than dating—like we were an exclusive couple.
Too bad that wouldn’t be the case.
Jett’s eyes narrowed, and his cheeks flushed with anger. He stared at me, but the hatred was focused over my head at Boyd. Obviously, he wasn’t used to losing the girl to a rival.
“Aw, that right?” Boyd cradled the side of my head, his thumb lightly brushing over my ear. It was way too intimate a gesture—and I liked it way too much—but he was playing along with me, acting the part of my boyfriend. “I didn’t realize another man was sending my girl text messages. Especially ones she doesn’t want.”
Wow, he was protective. I liked the fe
eling of not being the responsible one, the one who had to take care of herself, and hell, everyone around her. It was my job to help people in life and death scenarios, and in this one thing, it felt amazing to hand it off to Boyd. Crazy, but amazing. I wanted to laugh at Jett, but that would only make things worse.
What if Boyd could be boyfriend material? some silly voice in my head whispered.
But no. I mentally shook off that ridiculous idea. I already knew he couldn’t. He was surrounded by women at the rodeo, and he’d been surrounded when I got to the bar. A guy like that didn’t fall for a dorky small-town doctor like me.
But Boyd was the kind of guy if you gave him an inch, he took a mile, because the next thing I knew, he’d tilted my face up to his and brushed his lips across mine.
My eyes fell closed, and I gave in to the slightest contact. Oh my.
“Happy to be your huckleberry, darlin’,” he murmured.
I flushed and looked to see if Jett was watching, but instead I saw his back as he stalked off toward the pool tables.
I pushed at Boyd’s rock-solid chest. “Thanks, but I think I’m safe now.” Safe from Jett, but not from you.
“He didn’t hurt you, did he? Now or on your date?”
I shook my head. “We went to dinner last weekend. I met him at the restaurant. Nothing happened. I told him I wasn’t interested in more, but he didn’t get the message.”
“Texts? Flowers?”
“Yes. But thanks to you, I think he has the idea now.”
Boyd looked over my shoulder in Jett’s direction. “You have any more trouble with him, I want to know.” His gaze dropped to mine. “You hear?”
Nodding, I replied, “Yes, thanks. For all your help with Jett.”
I turned, scanning the bar for Becky. Music came from a jukebox or speakers somewhere, but a band was setting up on the stage.
Boyd had only loosened his arm around me, but it was still there, keeping my body in close proximity to his. Very close proximity, as in a piece of paper wouldn’t fit between us. “Running again? You know, I’m a champion steer roper. I’m skilled with a lasso and catching things.” He’d leaned down, so his mouth was right by my ear. I shivered, not only from his lips brushing over the swirl of my upper ear but from the idea of Boyd tying me up.
