The Panther's Rival

by Emilia Hartley

  Jo tried to ignore the glare Tom was boring into the back of Nick’s head. “So it’s vacant right now?”

  Nick nodded. “From the sound of things, your boss isn’t the nicest fella in the world—”

  “You’re telling me,” Jo muttered, seeing a spark of laughter in Nick’s eyes.

  “So yeah, it’s probably nicer than anything he’d have you book in the surrounding towns.” Nick grinned, and it sent a happy shiver down Jo’s spine. “We’d be more than happy to help you with decent accommodation. Why not treat it as a vacation? Might make you feel better.”

  Jo tried to frown, but the look wouldn’t hold. She knew that the happier, more personable Nick Brewer was affecting her, but she didn’t want it to cloud her judgment. Whether her attraction to him was or wasn’t interfering, she didn’t really have anywhere else to stay. “Is it far?” she asked, reluctantly.

  “Not at all,” he confirmed. “Only a mile or so up the road. It’s warm and dry and stocked with everything you’d need. You’ll have the only key and no one will disturb you, promise.”

  Jo stole one quick glance at Tom’s hard expression and wondered if he really approved, but she wasn’t really in the position to decline, regardless. “Fine,” she sighed. “I accept.” Nick visibly relaxed at her answer, but Tom seemed to tense up for some reason. She hoped she didn't sound ungrateful. She really did appreciate all the accommodations the Brewers has offered to her, but no amount of kind smiles, sparkling eyes, and rippling muscular bodies could hide the fact that she would be following strange men to a vacant cabin somewhere in the woodland. She was smart enough to remain at least a little wary.

  “Great,” Tom muttered, his voice strictly business. He rifled through the paperwork explaining all the repairs for Jo’s car, not bothering to make eye contact. “We’ll need your number in case of emergencies, then you’re good to go for the night.”

  “I’ll give you mine,” Nick interrupted almost too eagerly. “And I’ll drive you. U-unless you prefer to walk. I guess it is only a mile,” he muttered, looking a bit flustered.

  “Whoa there, calm down,” Jo said with a small smile. She had to admit, it was pretty amusing to see such a strong, burly man tumbling clumsily over his words like that, even if it was a bit odd. “I’d appreciate a ride. A miles an awful long way in the dark and cold in a town I’ve never been to before.” She shrugged. “Plus, I’ll have to tote luggage for my stay, so…” She looked up at him with an expectant smile.

  “So I’ll drive you,” Nick answered with a brilliant smile of his own. He really did have a stunning grin, Jo noticed.

  She brushed a lock of hair behind her ear to hide her averted gaze. “Thanks,” she murmured. “I really am grateful.”

  She turned to grab her purse before heading out the back way to where her car was prepped for repair. “A strange man wants to take me out to take me out to his cabin in the woods and I’m not saying no. What the hell is wrong with me?” she muttered under the breath as she stepped out into the cold.

  ***

  Nick pushed himself away from the wall, holding off his grin until he was sure the departing woman wouldn’t see. His sharp hearing had easily picked up every word she’d said as she left the office, and he found difficult not to chuckle. Even his bear seemed content, a satisfied rumble resonating through his chest as they watched her go.

  “What the hell are you doing, Nick?” Tom hissed, remaining quiet just in case Jo was still within earshot. “You’re letting her stay in the cabin?”

  Nick shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “She’ll be fine.”

  “Okay, ignoring what a complete moron you’ve been today, it’s dangerous for a human there right now. The Northern Wind—”

  “—tucked tail and scurried away like cowards forever ago.” Nick finished. “Seriously, Tom, we chased them off. We’ve known more peace this month than we have in a long time. There honestly isn’t a better time for a rogue human to hole up in our unused cabin than right now.”

  “They won’t be gone for good. You know that. Lucas always returns with more bears and crueler plans than before.”

  “And we fight them off every time,” Nick retorted.

  “She can’t stay there, Nick,” Tom barked.

  A growl tore from Nick’s throat as he turned on his brother with muscles tensed. “I don’t see you coming up with any bright ideas! She wouldn’t even have to stay anywhere near Rawlins if it weren’t for us! We wrecked her car; we caused her delay here in town. So, we as alpha bears need to step forward and clean up this mess we’ve made. So, if you have any alternatives, I’m all ears!”

  “I don’t see why any of that’s our problem!” Tom replied, and Nick could see him fighting off the urge to force the change and rise to the challenge he’d given. They both knew that’d be the way to solve their problems quickest, but with Jo just outside gathering her luggage, they didn’t have the luxury of a quick, clean, brawl.

  Nick rolled his eyes. “Oh, please. Don’t play dumb now, Tom. You know full well why we’re responsible for her now.” Nick turned to walk outside, only for Tom to grab his arm. His jaw clenched and suddenly, he wasn’t as in control of his bear as he’d been only a moment ago. The urge to tear bear from human flesh was growing almost too strong to resist. He could feel the heat of a roar crawling up his throat, but he forced it back down.

  “Walk away, Tom,” Nick said slowly and deliberately, both to calm himself and his brother. Tom’s eyes only narrowed in response, his hot breath frosting the air. His eyes glinted with the glow of the bear, a warning that the change was about to begin. “I said stand down,” Nick growled, his teeth clenched. “We’ll take care of our issues after the human’s out of eyeshot.”

  Shoving Nick hard, Tom turned around in a rage and stormed into the garage. “You’re making a mistake,” he called over his shoulder, the words disappearing on the chilly wind.

  No, I’m not. Of that thought Nick was absolutely sure. Of course there was more going on between him and Jo than either were probably willing to admit, considering they only just met earlier in the day, but Nick truly felt that it went beyond some flirty chemistry. He had an intuition, an urge to help her because she was down. He wanted to aid her in her struggle, and right the wrongs she didn’t even know he’d committed with a ferocity that he’d never known for another human or bear before her.

  More than his sense of duty, he’d never wanted for someone the way he knew he wanted for her. He’d never really been a fan of flings and one night stands, but as he’d watched her saunter away to get her things, he couldn’t help but have a stray thought of what it would be like to hold those hips of hers in the warmth of his bed. Of course, he’d waved the fantasy away quickly enough, but there was no denying it. Humans are strictly off-limits. They don’t interfere with us, and we don’t interfere with them. That’s how it’s always been…

  She was human, he was not. Humans were much too fragile, too delicate, too… weak. But still he couldn’t ignore that he felt a pang of lust for Jo Barrowman. It was too dangerous, just like Tom had said, but he couldn’t stop himself from giving his all to help her. He remembered the way the tears had pooled in her eyes, her buoyant hair falling around her heart-shaped face—so vulnerable and soft… He wasn’t used to that.

  Nick was used to strength and power and fierceness and she was the exact opposite. Everything he wasn’t. He wanted… needed to protect that. Protect her. Whether or not Tom liked it, the best place for her safety while she stayed in Rawlins was under their watch. Lust or lust not, he knew that this was the right move. So he stuck to his guns.

  Despite this, he knew that his mind wasn’t right. He wasn’t himself. He wanted to talk, to smile, to laugh with this woman he’d only just met. It felt weird, dangerous really. Something’s wrong with you, Nick, he thought to himself. You really should stay away from her…

  But he knew he wouldn’t.

  Chapter Five

  Jo paced anxiously in the
office, muttering to herself as she waited for Nick to pull his car around front. “Are you sure this is a good idea, Jo? I mean, these men are strangers!” Every word she whispered frantically to herself only made her anxiety grow. Paranoia crept just under her skin, and horror stories of ax murders and serial kills kept flashing in her mind. Would she get put on one of those ‘Missing Person’ posters if she were gone too long? Would anyone even care enough to notice if she was gone?

  A car pulled up close to the door and Nick stepped out, beckoning her over. Jo feigned a small smile, pushing down the nerves that were rising in her chest.

  Nick’s smile was as warm as a furnace. “Do you want me to put your things in the car or do you have it?”

  Jo shook off the butterflies that started fluttering deep in her belly from the moment she saw that grin. “Oh, yeah. Some help would be great. Thank you,” She couldn’t help but watch as he easily hefted bag after bag into the trunk of his car. Despite the chill of the night air, Nick only wore a t-shirt, putting his rippling muscles on full display as he lowered the luggage into the car. She wondered absently how he could stand the bite of this cold, holding her arms close to her as a gust of wind tossed her hair awry. The faintest wash of goosebumps decorated his tanned skin, and lasted only for a quickly fleeting moment before he was back to his unaffected self.

  “You alright?” Nick asked, snapping Jo from her ogling.

  “Oh, uh, yeah,” she stammered, trying to hide her embarrassment. “I was just wondering how you’re not cold in this weather.”

  Nick looked down at his bare are and thin t-shirt before shrugging. “I guess I’m just used to the cold. Lived here my entire life, so I guess it kinda grows on ya.” He shook his head as if something flustered him.

  “Ah,” she replied, tugging the coat a little closer to stifle another shiver.

  Seeing her body quiver, Nick tipped his head towards the front of the car with a smile. “Why don’t you just get in? I’ll be finished here in just a sec.”

  Jo nodded jerkily. “Good idea.” She scurried happily into the passenger seat, immediately huddling close to the heat blasting from the vents.

  True to his word, Nick was only a few moments behind her, sliding into the driver’s seat before she’d even had time to fully thaw. As he closed the driver side door, Jo just bare caught a glimpse of Tom watching them from the workshop, a look of mild chagrin etched on his face. Long gone was the cheerful mechanic that greeted her with a handshake and a smile.

  “I really do hope it’s alright for me to stay at the cabin,” she ventured as they drove away. “I’m not secretly putting you guys out or anything, am I?”

  Nick chuckled. “No, not at all. We stay in the rooms at the shop. Easier to work that way. So the cabin’s almost always going empty.” He gave her a quick glance. “We’re happy to be able to give you the place for a while. Gives us a chance to knock off the dust and cobwebs.”

  Jo nodded, finally accepting his answer. “Okay. Thanks.”

  Conversation tapered off after that, but as Jo looked at the evening scenery of the tiny town, she could still feel Nick’s eyes on her every so often. It wasn’t a creepy kind of linger, but she got the sense that he was worried about her. What? Why would he be worried about her? She softly shook her head. He could be worried about anything, not just her. Hell, maybe he was wondering if she was an axe murderer or serial killer, she mused lightly.

  “So, what’s the hubbub in San Francisco, if you don’t mind my asking?” Nick asked after the silence stretched on for a bit.

  “Not at all,” Jo replied, offering Nick a polite smile. She couldn’t help but feel her nerves bubble up for reasons that had nothing to do with murder for once. “I work for an art gallery. I have to meet a prospective client, a pretty notable one, to try and convince him that we’re the best gallery to display his work.”

  “Oh?” Nick asked, interested. “Which gallery is that? I know we have a few in the towns surrounding us.”

  “Oh, none of those, sadly. It’s call Liberty Art, based in Chicago, Illinois.” She saw his mouth drop slightly in surprise. “Yeah, yeah, I know. It’s a bit of a road trip, but… anything to save a dollar.”

  Something that felt like rage washed over Nick in a surprising wave. “Chicago! That’s like a two day drive at least!” He gave her an incredulous look. “Couldn’t your boss have just saved you the time and paid for a flight?”

  She shrugged. “Not in the budget, I’m afraid.”

  “Oh come on, he couldn’t have been saving too much,” he exclaimed, taking Jo by surprise.

  “Yeah, I know,” she replied, wondering if it wasn’t Nick who was overreacting, but her who was underreacting? Brian had been treating her this way for a while now. Maybe she was just numb to the injustice.

  Nick blew out a long, cool breath, and Jo watched as he loosened his grip on the steering wheel to something more normal. “I reckon your boss should start treating his employees a little better,” he grumbled. The anger in his voice was chilling, even passed the cold of the night.

  Jo glanced at him, taking in the fierce expression on his face and the steely glint in his eyes. His frustration for her, over the way she was being treated, it made her feel glad that she’d hung up on Brian. Seeing Nick as angry as she should have been this whole time, she was finally beginning to realize that she did deserve better, didn’t she? She nodded her resolve. “Maybe I will treat this like a vacation, after all,” she murmured.

  “That sounds like a wonderful plan,” Nick assured. He seemed to visibly rest after her answer, all his fight melting away into and the easy contentment he’d carried when he first entered the car. Just like that, his anger was gone as he rounded a corner and the cabin finally came into view.

  “Thank goodness,” Jo whispered softly to herself, hopefully quiet enough that Nick couldn’t hear.

  He grinned widely at her. “Turns out I’m not a serial killer after all.”

  “I wasn’t thinking that,” she retorted too quickly, a redness tingling her cheeks that had nothing to do with the cold.

  Nick didn’t reply, flashing another smile before killing the ignition and exiting the car. Jo followed eagerly behind.

  The outside of the cabin was certainly rustic. Encircled by trees on three sides and a clear view of the road on the fourth side, it was entirely surrounded by beautiful sights, sounds, and smells. Jo took in a huge breath, appreciating the heavy scent of pine on the brisk cool air. “This looks amazing,” she sighed, taking in the twilight view of the land.

  Nick shrugged noncommittally. “It’s not much,” he commented, tossing her the key, “but it does us well whenever we need something a little more rural. A place to get away.” He flashed her a small smile and she could feel the frost melting from her fingertips. “Please, go on up. I’ll get your bags.”

  She nodded immediately, but stuck around outside in the cold a bit longer to watch him walk away. She didn’t mean to stare at him, but he moved like he was made of water, his motions liquid, his muscles rippling. Everything in a constant of ebb and flow, like he was meant to be more than the tall, brooding muscleman that he appeared to be. Maybe that’s what she was seeing of him as of late. Maybe the Nick she met when she first entered Rawlins hadn’t gotten out of his shell yet. She hid a smile as she turned to enter the cabin. She could at least admit to herself that she was excited to see where this new and friendlier Nick would take things.

  Opening the door, the sight made her breath catch. The inside of the log cabin was absolutely stunning. It appeared to have two levels. The first floor had comfortable sofas and chairs surrounding a fire, and on the other side sat a table, chairs, and almost an entire kitchen! Walking a little further in, Jo discovered a tiny reading corner, partially hidden by an entire wooden cabinet of books. The literature scaled from classics like Dickens and Bronte to modern bestsellers like Rowling and King; a book for every reader.

  Claiming the wooden staircase to the second level
she spotted two beds in two small rooms, with a bathroom connecting the middle. The entire cabin was both practical and beautiful. With a pang of guilt, Jo realized that upon hearing ‘cabin’, she’d expected a rundown rickety dump with bearskin rugs, shot gun displays, and singing bass on the mantle. She hadn’t expected anything like this!

  “What do you think?” Nick’s voice echoed through the cabin and curled around her like the softest scarf, beckoning her back downstairs to greet him. His eyes flared as he watched her stunned expression, her eyes filled with surprise.

  “This is absolutely beautiful!” She passed a glance over him with a light air of suspicion. “Are you sure you meant to let me stay here for free?”

  Nick tucked his hands into his pockets and managed to look a little bashful. “Like I said, it’s on the house. I’m just glad you like it.”

  “I love it,” Jo admitted, eyes gleaming. Since when had her life gotten so lucky?

  Nick chuckled, hiding his eyes as he turned back toward the front door. “Anyway, your bags are at the door, and with that, my work here is done.” He tossed her a smile. “I’m going to head straight back to the shop to help Tom get started on what we can do with your car.” He glanced away a moment before looking back. “Afterwards, I was wondering if maybe you’d like some dinner later? I mean, yeah the refrigerator has a few things…but hardly a meal. There’s this fantastic Chinese takeout in town… if you want.”

  Jo could see him inconspicuously gnawing on the inside of his lip, as though he were unsure about his suggestion. There was something darker than a dinner date flickering in his gaze, and Jo noticed with a happy shiver that it most certainly wasn’t just a hunger for Chinese food.

  “I suppose so,” Jo replied, after a second of hesitation. “That would be nice.” Her inner warning lights were flashing and alarms were ringing in her ears, but she couldn’t stop herself from accepting the offer. There was an allure about him that she just couldn’t get enough of. She’d met him as the muscular stoic mirror of his brother, steeping in mystery and more than a little intimidation. Now he was evolving into something more, and she found herself wanting to spend even more time with this man.