I thumped down into a chair and put my head in my hands. With all the recent drama I had completely forgotten the litigation between my cousins and I. How could I face everything and try to save my ranch?
“It will be okay.”
The breath caught in my throat at his words. The wave of fear I had been battling since this morning crested and crashed over me. I was terrified. So scared of the new knowledge of lupines and witches, frightened of becoming a wolf or losing my home, anxious for Cash and afraid for my friendship with Jesse and what might happen if I constantly had to lie to her. This is more than any girl should have to deal with, I thought bitterly.
A sob broke free as my head thudded against the table. I heard Cash sit next to me before I was cradled in warm, strong arms. Soft kisses feathered against my hair as he murmured quiet reassurances over and over. I let my tears fall unabated, sobs wracking my chest until Cash’s love flowing through our bond and his sweet words worked their magic and I could breathe again.
“It’s going to be alright, Shells. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to keep you safe and we’ll deal with whatever comes together, Okay?” I nodded wetly against his neck. “And Jesse will forgive you as soon as you give her something else to think about.”
Confused, I lifted my head and blinked at him. “Like wha—oh!”
After I pulled myself back together, Cash left me to steel myself for my meeting with Jesse. I showered, washing away the dirt and grime on my skin, and an hour later I was warm and pink from scrubbing myself thoroughly with a loofa until every inch of me felt squeaky clean. In my head, if I looked and smelled like myself I’d stay that way.
“No fur for me,” I muttered as I French braided my hair. “My bad hair days are awful enough without having bad hair all over days.” Yeah, keep telling yourself that, sunshine. I quashed my inner snark and avoided that subject by turning my thoughts towards Jesse and how I could avoid a broken nose. Does that healing thing work both ways? I worried until Cash’s comfort flooded our bond.
“Nosy dog,” I said smiling to myself.
By the time I was finished getting ready and mentally prepping it was lunchtime so I headed over to the General Store, rationalizing that Jesse was much less likely to kill me if there were witnesses. Less likely, yeah right. My grip on the steering wheel of the Blazer was so tight the vinyl squeaked.
The parking lot at the store was full from the quarry workers eating lunch so I had to park on the street and walk but I used the time to go over my official story. You see, Cash got shot so I spent five days in the hospital with him until he was out of the woods. My phone? The battery died. The hospital’s phone? Well, they forgot to pay their phone bill so—oh! She’s never going to buy this!
I kicked a rock with my foot in frustration, Ow, and then mounted the steps to the entrance of the store with all the enthusiasm of a woman trudging to her own execution. But before I could raise my hand to open the door it shot open and I was faced with five feet two inches of brunette fury.
I opened my mouth to speak but was cut off by Jesse’s raised finger in my face, forcing me to walk backward until we were both standing in the parking lot. I could have sworn I saw lightning flash in her chocolate brown eyes.
“Where the hell have you been?” Jesse asked flatly.
Oh crap, I thought, I’m so dead. Yelling I could take, screaming I could handle, but this dead calm tone of voice had my life flashing before my eyes.
“Um—Cash got shot and the bad guy got away?”
Her anger didn’t wane at all. Instead she crossed her arms over her chest and glared harder. “So he was shot but still healthy enough to drive you home this morning? I saw him drive by on my way to work.”
Crap! Explanations flitted through my mind at the speed of sound but each was just as quickly discarded as inadequate. Like the chick clinging to that door in Titanic I grabbed onto the only thing I could think of and held on for dear life. “I’m engaged?”
I watched her face intently and didn’t miss the surprise that flared in her eyes. “Is that a question?” She snapped.
I had expected the whole “engaged” thing to work as a get out of jail free card and was baffled at the rancor in her voice. “No, I’m engaged,” I said quietly, confusion and hurt coloring my voice. “Cash asked me this morning. I’m sorry I didn’t call, Jesse. I really am.”
I really thought that even though I had messed up big time by not letting her know I was okay, which wasn’t my fault, stupid lupines, Jesse would still be quick to forgive me, especially since I dropped the “engaged bomb”.
She stood very still for a long moment, eyes scanning over my face until she spoke. “Well, okay then.” Then she lunged at me.
Fully expecting punching, kicking or biting I braced myself but not enough to withstand one hundred fifteen pounds of best friend squealing and barreling me into a parked car. When I pried myself out of her bear hug enough to see her face she was crying and giggling at the same time.
“You’re getting married!” she squealed. “Hallelujah! I thought I’d never see the day!”
“Hey! That’s messed up. I always wanted to get married, you know that. I just took a while to find the right guy.” I growled.
“Oh, I have to buy a stack of bridal magazines right now! There’s so much to do, we’ve got to get started.”
I could almost hear the groaning protests of metal gears not rated to whir that fast in her head. I laughed in relief and gave her a big hug before turning her back toward the store. My legs were wobbly, and I needed a coke to restore my composure.
Jesse was still rattling things off and I barely heard her, lost in my own joy. I was going to marry the best, handsomest man I’d ever laid eyes on and my best friend was still speaking to me. Now all I needed was to get rid of my squatter and life would be just about perfect.
Cash must have felt my happiness because I felt his own surge through our special connection. Yup, things are looking up!
A hamburger, fries and a Coke later and Jesse nearly had my entire wedding planned down to the color of the linens. I didn’t really care about which shade of pink the napkins should be—I let my mind wander until she snapped her fingers in front of my face.
“Alright, obviously this is all the wedding fun you can stand for now. Are we going to do Hobb’s this year? I’d like to go with your new fiancé so I can get to know him better, since he’s going to become family.”
I smacked my forehead with my palm. “That’s right! I forgot tomorrow is Halloween. Of course we are going to do Hobb’s. Cash would get a kick out of it, and I’m sure James would like to get out of the house.” I smiled to myself at the picture of Mr. Three-piece-suit sitting in straw on a wagon for the “haunted hayride”.
“Well, we’ll need to leave here by five to make it there in time. You know how crowded it gets the day of, plus I want to make sure we get to do the forest and the hayride.”
I nodded even while suppressing a shiver. The haunted forest always creeped me out more than the other attractions. I couldn’t help but wonder if the bogeymen that jumped out at you were actually the employees or some random psycho who snuck in a costume. This year you have a real werewolf to protect you! I thought smugly.
Eventually Jesse had to beg off and go back to work so I finished the rest of my burger and headed back over to Cash’s place. I could tell that he wasn’t there, but James was, so I decided to spend time with my new brother while I waited.
I was in such a state of bliss that I didn’t notice his black mood until I walked in the house and saw him brooding on the couch, in exactly the same spot he was when I left that morning. All the windows were shuttered and the room was as dark as it could be made at one in the afternoon.
I walked over and frowned down at him. “What’s your damage, lost your bone?” Apparently my attempt at humor went unappreciated. In my head he got darker as he turned the full force of his gunmetal glare on me. I gasped. Light glowe
d behind his eyes, and I could tell the beast was just barely held under the surface.
“So,” he spat, “you two are getting married. Isn’t that precious.” Stunned by his malicious attitude I took a step back but it only afforded him space to stand and stalk close to me. I could smell the vodka on his breath and it made me recoil in disgust. “Big brother gets to ride off into the sunset with his soul mate and everyone can live happily ever after. What bullshit.”
Rancor rolled off of him in malevolent waves I felt physically and emotionally on my body. I tried to back away but his hands snaked out like lightning and gripped my arms painfully.
“Cash screws around half his life ‘finding what makes him happy’,” James ridiculed. “And I stay home and never put a toe out of line. But here I am, with a hole in my chest while Cash gets a perfect woman he doesn’t deserve. How is that fair? Tell me!”
He shook me hard at the last, my teeth rattling in my head. Alright, enough of this crap…
“Oh man up, Alice!” I spat back at him. “Why don’t you just finish with your little pity party and grow a pair?” Shock flooded his face and I smiled to myself. Didn’t see that one coming, did you big scary werewolf man?
“So stuff didn’t go your way, big deal. My life was hell for a long time, but you don’t see me bitching about it! So your girl ran away. Did you chase after her?”
James sucked in a harsh breath, pushing me away as if I had burned him and started to pace back and forth. “No, I didn’t chase her,” he grumbled. “She said she never wanted to see me again. She called me a monster.”
He sat heavily on the couch and covered his face in his hands, his voice flat. I could feel the shame, anger and pain warring with themselves in his bond. “I am a monster.”
Pain and anger, fine, but no guilt.
“She was probably scared out of her mind. You guys aren’t exactly ‘Team Jacob’ you know? I bet now, if she feels a tenth of what I feel for Cash towards you, she’s probably kicking herself for not staying and probably fighting with herself to find you and become your mate.”
James raised his head and met my eyes with his silver, and I saw something flare into life. Hope. “No,” he whispered. “Most of the time I cut myself off from her bond, because I can’t stand it, but when I do let myself feel, she’s in so much pain.” He prodded his chest. “I caused that pain.”
“No. I’d bet my whole ranch that she’s hurting because she lost you.” I knelt down in front of him and grabbed his hands. “Find her, James. Fight for her. Nothing worth having comes easy.”
“But you and Cash—”
I smiled wickedly. “He didn’t tell you how many times I tried to shoot him, did he?”
Surprise flashed across his face before a reluctant grin took its place. “No, he did not.”
I winked at him and James chuckled, leaning back against the couch. “I’ve been an idiot, haven’t I, sister?” I tried to cover how pleased I was that he’d called me his sister.
“Yup!” I chirped. “Seems to run in the family. I can’t wait to meet the other idiot Newcomb brothers.” I patted his knee affectionately. “Now go shower. You stink. We’re going to Hobb’s tonight.” I barely dodged his foot when he tried to kick me. James’ rueful chuckle followed me out of the door.
Cash was hunched down outside the door where he’d been for the past five minutes, perfectly able to hear the entire conversation, I’m sure. I sat down on his lap and cuddled into his chest. His strong arms wrapped around me and we sat in happy silence for a long while before he broke it.
“Thank you,” he said fervently.
I knew Cash meant much more by that than simply my talk with his brother so I leaned my head back and brushed my lips against his, the sensation still sending tingles through my entire body.
“I love you,” I said. “And I’ll love your brothers too, even if they are all idiots.” I smiled as Cash’s chest shook with silent laughter.
“And I’ll never stop thanking God that I’ve found you.”
I smiled. “About time too.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The car ride to Hobb’s Grove was full of joking and laughter. James’ melancholy had lifted, and he joined in by telling embarrassing stories of Cash when he was a kid. Neither of them mentioned that most of them happened fifty-plus years ago. By the time we pulled into the parking lot Jesse and I were laughing so hard tears were streaming down our faces.
Cash beamed the whole ride down and he informed me that James seemed happier than he’d been since he’d lost his mate. Everyone seemed to be having such a good time I decided not to tell Cash that I felt one of the lupines getting closer in my mind. He was still somewhere to the North of us and I figured it wasn’t that big of a deal.
We were standing in line to buy tickets when Jesse rounded on Cash.
“So,” she said with a dangerous edge in her voice. “What are your thoughts about the wedding?” She tensed, shifting her weight as if she expected him to bolt. I winced and sent the emotional version of “Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!” through our bond but Cash handled the situation effortlessly.
He smiled. “My thoughts about the wedding? Only that Shells can have whatever she wants.” Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner! I coughed to cover my laughter. I locked eyes with Cash and nearly lost it all over again. His answer was so spot on Jesse’s eyes started to mist over.
“Oh, you’re good,” I whispered.
Cash winked and stepped by me to buy our tickets for the haunted forest and hay ride. I glanced over my shoulder at Jesse and she gave me the best friend approval rating of two thumbs up. Push over.
I looped my arm through Cash’s after he bought the tickets and strolled through the gates into the central square. The entrances to the attractions were there along with several concession stands selling kettle corn and hot chocolate and a store boasting all kinds of macabre and gory Halloween paraphernalia.
Employees lurked around in spooky costumes, darting in and out of the visitors attempting to scare as many teenage girls as possible. One person was dressed as the headless horseman and another a zombie, but the one that was the most successful was dressed as a werewolf complete with bloody fangs and the tattered remains of the clothing it wore before it had “changed”.
As he prowled toward our group Jesse squealed in terror and clutched Ty while the Newcomb brothers looked at it and rolled their eyes with mocking distain. Ty wrapped his arm protectively around Jesse, eating up her scared damsel routine with evident relish. Cash on the other hand raised a sarcastic eyebrow at me and kept walking.
“So is that what a werewolf looks like?” I said affecting innocent curiosity. I heard James’ bark of laughter behind me and Cash shook his head in disgust. I quirked a finger at him, beckoning him closer to brush my lips against his ear.
“Here’s how this is going to work,” I whispered. “I’m going to pretend to be terrified and cling to you more than Saran wrap, and you get to be all manly and protective and save me from the scary monsters. Okay?” My favorite green flames lit behind his eyes and a wicked smile broke across his face as he pulled me tight against him.
“Who says I’m not the scary monster?”
He growled in my ears and I shivered in delight. His big, warm hands skimmed up my arms, caressed the sensitive skin on my neck and fisted in my hair pulling me in for a hard, hot kiss. I was instantly on fire, but it took a moment before I realized that not all the heat was my own, but his as well, shared through our bond.
The sensations of our kiss were sent back and forth between our minds, growing and multiplying until it was all I could do to keep standing. Only a soft gasp from Cash let me know I wasn’t the only one being affected by our connection.
My back arched into him as his mouth dominated mine, lips rough and demanding. I moaned in pleasure and he swallowed the sound, taking advantage of my parted lips to dart his tongue in and taste me. I clutched his shirt in both fists to keep from falling, ov
erwhelmed by him.
“Ahem, as much as we love the PDA—the next hayride starts soon.” Jesse’s sardonic tone knifed through our moment. Cash rested his forehead against mine, eyes screwed shut.
“Thanks Jesse. We’ll be right behind you.”
His voice was rough and I could feel his chest heaving underneath my hands. Someone sighed before the three of them walked to the haunted hayride gate.
It was a minute before either of us was steady enough to pull away from each other. Cash released his grip on my hair and ran his thumbs over my cheeks, giving me a chaste kiss. Chaste though it was, my lips were swollen and sensitive and I still got a zing that flooded my entire body.
“Now don’t start that again,” he growled, wrapping his arm around my waist and steering me to the hayride. I was grateful for the support. I didn’t think I had weak knees…
“It’s not my fault,” I muttered.
We were the last to climb into the back of the wagon, settling down in the hay next to James, Ty and Jesse. All three of whom were giving us exasperated looks. I’m not a teenager, I’m allowed to make out with my fiancé if I want to, I thought sullenly.
The wagon was pulled behind a red Massey Ferguson tractor, and when everyone was seated it lurched into motion. We were underway for thirty seconds before someone in a grim reaper costume dropped down over us from a tree causing everyone to start and the girls, and even a few boys, to scream.
I snuggled down against Cash’s chest and laid my head on his shoulder, enjoying the feeling of his body heat warming me until someone dressed as a demon leapt on the side of the wagon directly over us. I flinched and before I knew it Cash had shot out his hand and roughly shoved the poor guy off.
“Hey, man! Not cool!” the demon yelped from the ground.
I shot Cash a stern look and he raised his hands defensively. “What? You said I get to be manly and protective.” I laughed as Jesse screeched and hid her face against Ty when a witch swung out over her.
Hunter Moon (Lupine Moon Series) Page 21
