by Brenda Trim
The other officer nodded and drew out a pad of paper and pen. “Can you tell us what happened?”
Liv explained the events leading up to the explosion while the officer scribbled on his notepad. He followed up with several questions which she answered. When he finished, he turned toward the building. “We’ll find the cause, Mrs. Scott. I promise.”
Minutes later, Lawson’s beat-up truck barreled into the lot, and came to an abrupt stop near Zane’s vehicle. Lawson and Bart jumped out of the front seats, but what shocked Zane was when Brenlee stepped from the rear seat of the truck.
Lawson rushed to Liv and pulled her into an embrace, and Brenlee ran to Zane. “My God. Are you okay?” she screeched and threw her arms around his neck.
Zane was stunned at the worry in her tone but didn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around her waist and hold her tightly. Brenlee’s sweet scent calmed his frayed nerves. “I’m fine. Thank you for coming,” he murmured in her ear.
“I was with Lawson when he got the call from Liv. I insisted on coming. What happened?” She inquired as she stared up at him. Her light brown eyes were filled with concern, making Zane reach for her cheek and caress it.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he declared then proceeded to tell her what happened.
“This reminds me of what happened at Jeremiah’s house,” Brenlee observed as she glanced to the building. When she pulled away Zane immediately missed her closeness.
“That’s what Liv said.” Zane watched the firemen extinguish the fire. The flames were under control, thankfully, and it seemed the immediate danger was minimized.
“How soon will we know the cause?” Lawson asked one of the officers.
The man bristled at his words then turned to Liv. “You didn’t mention you were connected to a shifter.”
Liv turned to the cop, and anger flashed in her dark green eyes. “Why should that matter?”
“Surely, I don’t need to explain that to you,” he snapped harshly. “Do any shifters work here?”
“My mate could’ve been killed tonight. And, she’s human, asshole! Are you implying a shifter did this?” Lawson barked as he towered over the two officers.
Zane stepped to Lawson’s left side, and Bart took stance at his right. Clearly, the former Governor was as concerned as Zane that Lawson might lose his temper. A confrontation was the last thing they needed at the moment.
“We can’t rule out the possibility. Rest assured we will find the cause, even if it was a shifter. When we have more information, I’ll call you,” the officer that had asked all the questions relayed.
Liv placed her hand on Lawson’s chest, and the male’s anger appeared to dissipate. “Let’s go home. There’s nothing more we can do right now.”
Lawson nodded. “Okay. You’ve been through enough for one day,” he replied and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, leading her toward his truck.
“What about my Jeep?” she asked.
Lawson turned to Bart. “Can you drive the Jeep back to Safe Haven?” he asked and reached inside his truck then pulled a keyring from the ignition. “I’ve got the spare.”
“Sure, no problem,” Bart replied and took the key from Lawson’s hand then walked toward the red vehicle.
When Brenlee headed toward Lawson’s truck, Zane grabbed her hand. “Ride back with me?”
“Hey, Lawson. I’ll go back with Zane if that’s okay,” she called out to her brother.
“Sounds good. See you back at the hotel. And be careful,” Lawson said with a stern look. Liv gave Zane a weary smile as the couple headed to Lawson’s truck.
Zane walked to the passenger side and opened the door for Brenlee. She crawled inside the cab of his truck and he shut the door then ran to the driver side. Once seated behind the wheel, he turned to Brenlee and smiled. “So, ready for that date?”
“You’re joking, right?”
“Not at all.”
“Zane, after what just happened, I think we should cancel those plans. I need to get back and see if Lawson and Liv need anything,” she informed him.
“And, I think we need to stick to the plan, especially after what happened. Lawson and Liv will take care of each other. Personally, I’m stressed as hell and need to decompress,” Zane confessed as he started the truck.
She stared at him for several long seconds then released a heavy sigh. “I need to grab a jacket first. And, you never said what we’re doing. I can’t handle crowds right now.”
“Good, because it’s just going to be the two of us,” he said with a wink. “You can’t say no now.”
Her mouth twisted and she rolled her eyes, but Zane didn’t care. He was a man with a plan and couldn’t wait to spend some time alone with the alluring Brenlee.
Chapter 7
Brenlee rummaged through her closet, looking for a jacket. Zane gave her no clue where he was taking her, but she figured it best to be prepared in case they were going to be outside. She stopped by the bathroom mirror and checked her hair and makeup. She looked like hell but didn’t have time to touch up her tear-streaked face. The handsome attorney was waiting in her living room.
Most of the rooms at Safe Haven had been renovated to accommodate the families living there. She and her siblings had suites on the upper floor, so their living space was quite substantial. Hers had a separate bedroom and bath, as well as a small kitchen with a dining area and a living room. She rarely used the kitchen because she preferred to eat with the pack in the large dining room on the main floor.
Exiting the bedroom, she noted Zane was looking at the framed photos hanging on one wall. “Is this your mother?” He asked.
She walked over and looked at the photo of her mom and dad. “Yeah. That was her hundredth birthday.”
Zane looked over at her and his mouth dropped. “Did I hear you right? Your mom looks like she’s about thirty here.”
Brenlee smiled and nodded. “I assumed you knew that about shifters.”
Shaking his head, Zane stared at her in shock. “Are you immortal?”
“No, but we age slowly. Bet you can’t guess my age,” she challenged and turned to give Zane a view of her profile.
“Two hundred-fifty,” he teased and Brenlee punched his side. He grunted and grabbed his waist. “I’m kidding, of course. Hopefully, you’re at least twenty-one, or I can’t offer you any beer.”
“Ha ha. Yes, I’m old enough to drink. I’m sixty-one. The baby of my family, actually,” she confessed as she glanced at the picture of her parents again. She missed them more than anything. Some days she wished the pain would go away, but she knew better. Nothing was going to make their loss any easier to deal with.
“That’s unreal. Sixty-one, huh? Can’t say I’ve ever been interested in an older woman,” he teased with a chuckle.
“Are you saying you’re interested? Thought we agreed on the friend thing,” Brenlee asked with a raised brow as she crossed her arms. She couldn’t deny his declaration sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach. Problem was that she hadn’t changed her mind about Zane even if she liked having a handsome male like him admit he was attracted to her.
“I can’t deny that you’re sexy as hell for an older woman,” he said, and his mouth lifted at the corner. “And kiss like a porn star.”
Laughter burst from her. Uncontrollable sexual urges plagued her anytime she was around him making her feel like a nymphomaniac. “Porn star, smorn star. I’d better grab my cane on the way out. You ready, Zaney,” Brenlee countered in a raspy voice as she hobbled toward the door.
Zane chuckled then grabbed her hand, spinning her so she faced him. “My grandmother calls me that. But, seriously, you’re the hottest sixty-one-year-old I’ve ever laid eyes on,” he professed making her laugh once again. The male had a great sense of humor, and Haylee’s words sprang to mind. “Laughter and lays,” she muttered under her breath as she tugged him out the door of her suite.
They took the rickety elevator to the first floor, and practically bum
ped into Liv and Lawson as they exited. “Where are you guys going?” Lawson asked and extended his arm, preventing the elevator doors from closing.
“Um, not sure,” Brenlee answered and glanced to Zane with a shrug.
“Don’t worry. We’re staying on the property,” Zane assured her brother. Lawson nodded in response as he and Liv stepped inside the elevator car.
Liv smiled and tossed a wink toward Zane. Brenlee looked curiously at the exchange between the two. Had they talked about tonight when he was at S&K? If so, what did he tell Liv?
“Good. I don’t want Bren leaving until I know it’s safe,” Lawson informed them. A second later Liv called out, “Have fun!” right before the doors closed.
“Can we use one of the four-wheelers?” Zane asked as they walked through the main entry of the hotel and headed toward the kitchen.
“I kinda figured that when you said we were staying on the property,” Brenlee retorted. He squeezed her hand in response while they continued walking.
Ashley held out a small cooler as they entered the large cooking area. “You’re the best!” Zane told Ashley as he grabbed the cooler and kept going.
“Thank you,” Brenlee managed to say to Ashley before he pulled her out the back door.
They tossed the cooler in the storage compartment on the ATV, and Zane hopped behind the wheel. Brenlee took a seat behind him and, in the next breath, the four-wheeler roared to life. When Zande twisted the accelerator, the vehicle sped toward the forest then quickly veered right. Brenlee wasn’t sure where they were going but hoped Zane did because she’d never gone this direction before.
She leaned closer and placed her mouth to his ear. “Um, I hope you know where you’re going because I don’t.” He shuddered and Brenlee smiled. The night air was cool, but not cold so it wasn’t the weather causing him to shiver.
“I got this,” he muttered and revved the engine. The ATV drove toward a narrow trail leading to the adjacent property of Safe Haven. Brenlee hadn’t had a chance to check out the land and made a mental note to shift in the next few days so her wolf could explore it.
They drove for about ten minutes until they reached a clearing. Zane stopped the four-wheeler near a large rock formation. It had to be at least fifty feet long and about fifteen feet wide. When he turned off the engine Brenlee looked at the boulder, wondering if this was his idea of a joke.
“Nice rock,” she commented with a twist of her mouth.
“Are you familiar with the history of this town?” He asked.
“No. Is this where Hollow Rock gets its name?” She guessed when she noticed a tunnel going through the massive structure.
“Yes. It’s the only one of its kind in the area, and speculators think it might be an ancient meteorite,” Zane explained as he climbed off the vehicle then offered Brenlee a hand. He walked toward the boulder, and continued, “Many years ago, it was used by Indians as shelter. See how it’s charred on the inside,” he added and flashed the light from his cell into the tunnel.
Brenlee peered inside the opening and saw the blackened rock. “Wow, that’s fascinating. I had no idea this was here.”
“I googled the area the first night I stayed in the loft and found the story behind the city’s name. There’s also a stream not too far from here. This is an incredible historic site. I hope Bart’s offer goes through. What an acquisition this would be,” he said as he turned around, perusing the area. “Come on,” he encouraged and took off into the dark.
Brenlee zipped her jacket and followed. Zane had his flashlight to lead the way, but Brenlee’s enhanced vision didn’t need it. Her wolf howled, demanding she shift. Soon, she promised her animal.
“Hey, check this out,” Zane called out from up ahead.
Brenlee quickened her steps, fighting the thick foliage. Her wolf loved this kind of terrain. Brenlee? Not so much. She pushed through until she found Zane standing near an opening. “Is that a cave?” she asked as she brushed the hair from her face. It felt like she had walked through a spider web and she was covered in the sticky strands.
“Yeah. This is so cool,” he exclaimed, and she could hear the enthusiasm in his tone.
“You’re one of those nerdy history buffs, aren’t you?
“Maybe,” he replied with a grin. And, damn if those butterflies didn’t start swarming again at the sexy sight. “We’ve got to go in,” he insisted.
“Fine, but if I see even one bat, I’m out,” she promised as she followed him into the dank cave.
“Don’t tell me you’re scared of bats,” Zane teased.
“They’re disgusting. Have you ever smelled those things?” She replied as she entered the space. Her voice echoed through the narrow interior.
“I’ll give you that. They do stink, but this is incredible,” he remarked as he shone his phone light on the interior walls. “We could be the first people to explore this place in centuries. What if there’s rare minerals or gems inside? It could be a jackpot for the pack.”
Brenlee couldn’t help but smile at Zane’s excitement. He was like a little kid, and she found her own anticipation building over the prospect at finding something inside the cave.
As they traveled deeper into the cavern, the pathway widened. Brenlee went on alert, wondering if they would encounter creatures other than bats. Larger ones. Her wolf growled, letting her know she would protect her and Zane from anything that crossed their path.
Sounds of water tickled her sensitive ears. “Do you hear that?” she asked and tugged at the hem of his sweater.
“I do. It’s this way,” he replied and shone the light high above his head.
A sulfur scent attacked Brenlee’s senses. “Ew, what’s that awful smell?”
“You know what? That’s a hot spr––.” Zane trailed off when a pool of water came into view.
It wasn’t big but, right there, in the middle of the cave was a hot spring. Zane shone his light over the water while Brenlee walked to the edge and placed her hand in the liquid. “It feels like bath water.”
“I’ve never bathed in a natural spring,” Zane said as he crouched by her side. “Ahh,” he moaned as he dipped his palm into the water.
“Right? Makes you want to jump in,” Brenlee professed and swirled her hand through the warm liquid.
Zane gazed at her with a lifted brow. “I dare you.”
“What? I was kidding,” she sputtered.
“Bock-bock,” he taunted and flapped his arms like a chicken.
Brenlee narrowed her eyes. “And, what are we supposed to do? Strip? Is this your way of getting me naked?”
“Yes, and no. I had no idea this was here, or I would’ve told you to bring a change of clothes. But, we’re here now, so let’s go for it,” he encouraged and nudged her arm.
When Brenlee didn’t jump at his offer, Zane added, “How about this? I’ll go back to the four-wheeler and grab the beer, and you can undress while I’m gone. I promise I won’t try any funny business or lay a hand on your sixty-one-year-old body,” he teased with a wink.
Brenlee considered his suggestion. She admitted the water was inviting, especially since she was used to the smell now. And, she was tired of playing it conservative all the time. She was feeling adventurous, and the thought of sitting in the hot spring while sipping on a beer sounded divine.
“Okay, deal. And, there’s a flashlight in the ATV’s storage compartment. Grab that so you don’t run down the battery on your phone,” she suggested with a smile of her own. She wasn’t a chicken, dammit!
“Be back in a flash, so you better strip fast, Miss Scott,” he demanded and took off into the darkness. She could see his cell light leading him out of the cave.
Once Zane was gone, darkness descended. It was pitch black in the cave, and even her enhanced vision strained to see her hand in front of her face. Brenlee reached for her boot and slipped it off then removed the rest of her clothes. It was odd stripping in total darkness. Eerie even. She listened for any strange noise
s as she folded her clothes, as best as she could, then placed them near the edge of the spring.
Suddenly, it dawned on Brenlee that she would have to put her clothes back on at some point, and that Zane would be there when that happened. She considered putting her clothes back on but decided against it. If he returned, and she had reneged on their deal, she’d never hear the end of it.
Brenlee slipped into the warm water, relishing the feel against her skin. The temperature was hotter than she expected, and she eased in until she felt the bottom. The soft, mushy texture worked its way between her toes. The water was waist deep, which left her torso exposed. Okay, that wasn’t going to work. She reached into the water, searching for a ledge or something to sit on. Luckily, there were several formations below the water that would provide adequate seating.
Brenlee wanted to dip lower but didn’t want to get her hair wet. A soaked head would make for a miserable ride back to the hotel. She recalled a hair tie in her jean pocket and scrambled to where she left her pile of clothes. She rummaged through her garments until she located her front pocket, then secured her hair in a messy bun. Not the sexiest look, but better than freezing her ass of on the way back home.
Once she found a comfortable spot to sit on, Brenlee made herself comfortable. The spring really was soothing, she thought and closed her eyes. She recalled reading the benefits of a hot spring. They were supposed to increase your blood circulation, reduce stress and relieve pain. She even recalled they were supposed to help one sleep better. She had no idea how true any of that was. All Brenlee knew was she felt extremely relaxed at the moment.
Footsteps sounded, telling her Zane was coming. Her heart kicked up a notch and pounded against her chest. What the hell was she thinking when she agreed to this? Her burst of bravery evaporated, and she wanted to duck beneath the water and disappear. A beam of light infiltrated the room, and Zane’s footsteps followed. Luckily, her back was to him, so he couldn’t see she was freaking out.
Panic assailed, and Brenlee quickly glimpsed her form beneath the surface. Could he see her naked body? The water wasn’t exactly murky, but it wasn’t clear, either. Hopefully, her body was hidden enough that he couldn’t make out her private areas.
