Tad glanced from Megan to the group forming on the wooden sidewalk. He could take Meg’s proposed mate down. No doubt about it. He was far from being a wimp, but then Magnum would go on a killing spree, as Meg’s father alluded to moments before. Plus, he couldn’t take the chance she would get caught in the middle, along with any other innocents. Not the time to fight this battle, as much as he’d like to.
He eyed the alpha.
“I have to go now,” Megan said.
“Meg.”
She got up and moved over to her father, not bothering to look at him again.
So he did as she asked, not glancing back, not questioning if anything she said could be true. And not a day went by he didn’t regret it.
Present day….
Tad walked out to his Dodge Viper, a waif hanging on each arm and not enough room in the car for the trio. Thank God. An hour ago, he’d wanted to screw his problems away, and he should’ve known better. Mr. Happy never cooperated. DBS: Dysfunctional Boner Syndrome. Why bother?
They’d rubbed up against him like a couple of cats for half the night. The foremost thought on his mind was to shower and get their scent off his body. And he couldn’t do it soon enough. A man would need bleach and a wire scrub brush to de-skank from these two. What had he been thinking? Yeah, he needed to break his dry spell, but not with these women. Only one would do.
Ditch these bitches. His wolf howled and paced, snapping and growling. He shoved the women away. “Night, ladies.”
“Tad,” his blonde companion whined. “Don’t you want to take us to your place?” She licked her lips and looked directly at his crotch. His reaction, not one to be proud of. His dick wanted to crawl up inside him in retreat. “I’m great with my mouth. And we could….” She smiled at her companion. “Double your pleasure.”
Right. He raked his gaze up and down the million dollar pair of skanks, not even feeling the least spark of attraction. Not even a twofer or blowjob could entice him. “Nope.”
Elise—or Evelyn?—stomped her spike heel, causing her braless breasts to jiggle. Her friend, Sarah, or something that sounded like that, or maybe not, glared through him. A new low. He didn’t even know their names. Not like that would’ve stopped him before.
“Sorry, babes. I have to pack for a trip.”
“We could help you.”
Right. He wasn’t in the mood for that kind of help. Hell, now all he wanted was to get as far as he could from the women. “I said no.” He opened his door and slid into the driver’s seat, gripping the leather-covered wheel.
“It’s true, isn’t it? You’re gay.” And it seemed his secret had started to get out. Unable to perform—not his finest moment, but in his defense, they were a couple of silicone dolls and about as unappealing as the blow-up type. At least the blow-up dolls couldn’t talk.
“No. I’m not gay. I’m not into sluts.”
“You’re an asshole.”
“Now that, I am.” A major asshole. “Could you step back?”
They glanced down at their feet and shuffled in reverse, probably more afraid of damaging their designer heels than the bodily injury the tires could inflict. Plastic. So damn plastic. He’d long ago become weary of the fake world he’d sold his soul to. Time to get back to reality, no matter the cost. He shut the door and started the car. Giving them a quick salute, he slammed the Viper into gear, leaving them in a cloud of burnt rubber.
When he pulled into his parking garage, Tad hopped out and dialed his brother. He leaned forward, bracing his elbows on the roof of the Viper, trying to calm down. He wanted to destroy things, kill, wolf out. Just thinking about her sent him over the edge. He should have challenged that son of a bitch instead of running like a coward. He should have….
“Hello.”
“It’s Tad.”
“Do you know what time it is, Romeo?”
“Don’t call me that.” God, he hated when his brother used that nickname. “Night’s young. It’s only two.”
“In the morning. I haven’t heard from you in five years, and when you finally decide to call, you do it while I’m sleeping?”
“Yeah. I’m coming home.”
“What made you change your mind?”
“Your wedding invitation.”
“Don’t fucking lie to me. Why?”
“I’m tired. I want to come home and recharge. I’ll be there in twenty-four hours.” Tad didn’t wait for a reply but hung up. He’d wanted to ask about Meg. How she’d faired these last five years, if she’d made a life with another wolf? But he’d chickened out, afraid he wouldn’t like the answer. One way or the other, he’d know soon enough, and it had him strung tight, ready to snap.
Tad tossed his phone in his open window. Fuck packing or showering. He threw the door open and slid behind the wheel. Time to go home.
He’d get clothes there. After all, he came from a family of “retrievers,” and supplies weren’t an issue.
Chapter Two
“Royal Flush. Pay up, bitches.” Miss Lonnie, the eldest of the group of matrons playing poker in Gee’s bar, reached for the chips, not quite making contact with them. She stretched and sighed. “A little help, please.”
“You should use a booster seat.” A tall, Native American woman shoved the pile toward her.
Miss Lonnie grinned. “Not all of us can be Amazons, dear.”
“I swear she’s cheating, but I haven’t figured it out yet,” a woman in a velour track suit, with short dark hair said, and pointed at her. “But I will. Mark my words. I. Will.”
“No, just dumb luck.” Miss Kathy eyed her. “And I’m not an Amazon. I only look tall from way down there.”
Miss Lonnie snorted and then smiled again. “I heard the most delicious rumor today.” She stacked her chips into neat piles before her, casting a mischievous glance at the other three women.
“Oh do tell,” said a woman in a bright floral top, her graying hair hanging in a braid down her back. “I love gossip and haven’t had a chance to partake lately, with all the wedding plans going on and the baking I’ve had to do. Human marriage ceremonies are quite complex, and, dare I say, a little redundant. I just say fuck ’em and bite them. It’s much simpler.”
“Claire!” Miss Lonnie said, with a smirk on her face. “That’s not very ladylike.”
The older woman shrugged. “It’s true. A little something, something and a chomp from your wolf; there’s no better way to claim your mate.”
“So.” Miss Fern, the woman in the track suit, leaned forward. “The rumor?”
“I heard it in town this very morning….” Miss Lonnie eyed the empty pitcher on the table. “Gee, dear. Would you bring us some more of that fabulous lemonade?”
Gee looked up from the bar and grunted, heading for the kitchen.
“It’s water with lemons.” Miss Kathy rolled her eyes.
“Toe-may-toes—Toe-ma-toes. Gee makes it special for us.”
“He turns on the tap and dumps sliced lemons in it from the cocktail tray. Big whoop. Will you get on with the gossip already?” Miss Kathy snapped, sitting back and crossing her arms.
“She’s as cranky as her nephew sometimes,” Miss. Lonnie said.
“I just don’t have patience for theatrics.”
Leaning forward, Miss Lonnie lowered her voice. “Fine, fine. Listen up. Tad Dawson is returning to Los Lobos, for the wedding. I knew we thought he wouldn’t, but it’s true.”
The ladies gasped collectively.
Miss Lonnie gave them a smug nod. “I heard it from a reliable source. Betty’s mother’s cousin’s father’s middle daughter who works in the fashion industry.”
“She cuts hair.” Miss Fern blinked. “How is that fashion industry?”
“Well, it’s a beauty shop. Close enough. They hear everything there.”
“Does Meg know?” Miss Kathy asked.
“I don’t think so.”
“Oh my,” Clair
e whispered. “This is going to be interesting for sure.”
“So ladies.” Miss Lonnie put her fist in the center and waited. “Let’s bring Romeo down.”
All four women bumped fists.
Gee set the pitcher between them, shaking his head as he walked off.
“Don’t think we’ve forgotten about you, big guy!”
Nine years before….
Tad crawled out a window and down a rose-covered trellis. A three-quarter moon hung overhead, casting the world in a yellow glow. As he reached the bottom, a blonde head poked out followed by another. “You forgot your boots.”
“Yeah.” He grinned. “Toss them down to me, sugar? Just as they hit the ground, the porch light came on. “Shit. Gotta run.”
“Call us!”
Not going to happen. He didn’t see a female more than once, if he could help it. Tad snagged his boots and took off, running as fast as he could. He jogged for a good forty-five minutes before the family spread came into view. As he reached the cabin, his father waited for him outside. “Just got done talking to the alpha.”
“Oh.”
“Care to tell me what you were doing at Lily and Rose Driver’s tonight?”
“No.”
“If you can’t keep your dick in your pants, Magnum told me to tell you, he’ll get you fixed.”
Tad swallowed. “Ouch.”
“I don’t think he was kidding. This is the fourth and fifth she-wolf you’ve visited this week, and he doesn’t like it.”
“They didn’t seem to mind.”
“Your alpha does.”
Present day….
Tad walked into Gee’s bar. Three in the afternoon, and the only patrons were a group of Los Lobos’s matrons who sat at a corner table, playing cards, and some guy chatting with Gee by the bar, a giant of a man. He had no neck, the largest shoulders Tad had ever seen, and if he stood, he’d bet he had a couple inches on the bear. His clothing conflicted with the rest of him. The man wore what had to be a three thousand dollar designer suit, but he had shaggy hair that most likely hadn’t seen a barber in the better part of a year, and, from all appearances, he lacked a razor to clean the scruff all over his face. Had getting dressed been an afterthought?
Knowing it would be rude to continue to stare, Tad turned around, taking in the fancy new interior of Gee’s establishment, whistling. He’d never thought the old wolves’ dive could look so good. Damn. “Upgrading to first class, Gee?”
Grunt.
“Speak of the devil,” one of the women said.
Tad looked over to the table of women and lifted his hand in greeting. All four ladies waved back, if not a bit too vigorously. Boy, they sure seemed excited to see him. Chalk that one up as a first.
“Run.”
Tad turned to the tall bruin standing on the other side of the bar. “Excuse me?”
The bear stared. His friend twisted in his seat to watch him as well.
“Are you going to stand here all day, or do you plan to order something?”
“I’m looking for my brother.”
“Do I look like his keeper?” Gee growled.
Tad furrowed his brow. “No. I just….”
“Then, if you’re not ordering, leave. I’ve got work to do.”
“Looks like you’re talking.” Tad sniffed, catching an odd scent with a hint of stockyard. What was that smell? He turned back to Gee’s visitor. “You’re a shifter, but not a wolf, bear, or cat. What are you?”
The big guy grinned. “Bison.”
Tad blinked. Buffalo? There were buffalo shifters? Get out!
“He’s an old friend.” Gee stared.
Gee has friends?
And then it hit him. “Bear—bull, I know there’s a stock market joke in there somewhere.”
“Actually, since you mentioned it, I am a broker. I’m here to talk with Gee about diversifying his portfolio, but I’m also expanding my client base if you’re interested in sitting down to chat about your personal finances.” He held out a card for him to take.
Tad blinked again. Gee has a portfolio? As a Dawson, a member of a family of retrievers, he should know this stuff. He’d really fallen out of touch with life back home, but he didn’t think he’d missed that much, until now. Things had changed since he’d left, and it was crazy how Los Lobos had transformed. What else was different? Tad plucked the cream-colored card from the bison’s fingers, staring at the name. Hank Taurus, Financial Representative, Buffalo, NY. He choked back a laugh. “Seriously?”
“Are you ordering or leaving?” Gee glared.
Tad threw his hands up. “Fine. Leaving.”
“Yoo-hoo! We know where he is, dear.”
Tad turned around again. The hair on his nape rose, and a feeling of unease rolled through him. If he didn’t know better, he’d say he had a stalker. Odd.
Miss Fern beckoned him over.
“I wouldn’t go over there if I were you.”
“Why?” Tad screwed up his face.
Gee started laughing and slapped him on the back, shoving him toward them. “On second thought, this might be entertaining.”
Why did he feel like a lamb thrown to the wolves all of a sudden? Tad glanced back, swallowed, and looked at the door. “Thanks anyway, ladies. I think I’ll start at the family cabin.”
Tad walked out the door and down Main Street. He went a block before he stopped and glanced around, really absorbing the scene. It had been a while since he’d been here, and from the letters his mother wrote him, he knew Drew had taken Magnum down and assumed his role as alpha. But damn, just damn. Nobody bothered to mention the rebuild of Los Lobos.
He headed for the family Hummer he’d borrowed from the business in Hot Springs, since his car wouldn’t make the logging roads in—not without dropping the muffler.
Bang, bang, bang.
Tad turned toward the source of the noise and froze in his tracks. Not three buildings over, a slender woman in jeans and a green tank top held a pneumatic nail gun. She moved around, working on the deck of a partially framed building.
“Meg?”
She stopped and looked up, flipping her dark hair over one shoulder.
Tad changed course and headed for the new construction. “Hey.”
She turned and moved away to another section of the building.
Tad followed her around the side. “Megan? Is that you?”
She spun around, lifted her hand to shield her eyes from the sun, and stared at him. “Dawson?”
“Yeah. Don’t you recognize me, Meg?”
Pthunk, pthunk, pthunk, pthunk. Meg fired a series of nails.
Tad dove out of the way and rolled behind a shed. “Hey! Is that any way to say hello?”
Pthunk, pthunk, pthunk. They struck the side of his hiding place.
“Leave.”
“Whoa, what the hell did I do?” He sniffed. Yeah, that shower he’d skipped out on. Not good. Had she caught a whiff of the women who were hanging on him before he left? Could explain her hostility.
“You really have to ask?”
“Yes.”
“Go. Leave me alone, Tad Dawson. I don’t want you here.”
“You are such a liar, Meg.” He stepped out from behind the shed. “The last time we talked, you wanted me to kiss you, to prove I’m your mate—or has that tidbit slipped your memory?”
She picked up a cordless saw and started toward him. “Oh, I remember quite clearly.”
Tad eyed the shiny blade. “What do you think you’re going to do with that?”
She smiled. “Use your imagination.” She fired it up. The whirling blade screamed.
Tad backed away. “I’ll come back when you cool down.”
“I wouldn’t recommend it.” She glared at him.
Tad stalked to his truck. Why did everyone threaten to take his nuts off? He jumped in and slammed the door, watching the woman on the deck with the evil tool in her
hands. She didn’t mean it. Did she?
Megan flipped him the bird.
Good probability. His wolf chuckled.
Who asked you?
He’d left like she’d told him to. That wasn’t the issue. The issue was he never came back. And, worse, rumor had it he continued to stick his dick in anything female that moved. He’d more than made it clear he didn’t want a mate, or her. If only he’d returned, he could have asked Magnum for her. The alpha would have tossed him at her, like every other male, but then, she’d not have fought.
But he hadn’t come back to claim her.
He’d never written her.
He’d never called.
Or even asked his family about her.
Nope. Not one damn word, and then he had the nerve to come strutting back into her life like some kind of flipping peacock and say “hey”?
Seriously? And what the hell had he been wearing—velvet pants? That wasn’t the Tad she remembered. Her Tad had been rugged and sweet. He’d protected her. He didn’t strut around in designer clothes like Mother Nature’s gift to anything female, smelling like a frontier whorehouse on a hot summer day.
The Hummer started, and Tad peeled down the street, kicking up a cloud of dust. She wasn’t the naive young girl he’d left behind, but a woman now with a mind of her own. If he thought he could come back into her life with a howdy-do and pick up where they’d left off, he had another think coming. She coughed as the dust reached her. He sure as hell wasn’t sticking his dick in her. She could smell at least two different women on him, and they weren’t even wolves. Megan wrinkled her nose and growled.
Liv walked out of her office and across the street, stopping in front of the deck. She tipped her face up and fixed Megan with a stern look. “Anything we should talk about?”
The therapist had been a godsend. And lord knew she’d had a lot of baggage to dig through. She’d flipped out and put the first wolf Magnum paired her with into a permanent coma when he succeeded in getting her on her back and stealing her innocence. Her wolf knew she didn’t belong to him and would have none of it. By all means, attacking the male her alpha gave her to should have been a death sentence, but it amused Magnum—to a certain extent.
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