by Liv Brywood
“I don’t know about fun, but it’ll be interesting for sure. I didn’t come to watch,” she said. “I’m here to compete.”
He stopped so suddenly that she ran into the back of him. It was like running into a flesh-covered brick wall. She lost her balance and stumbled backward. In lightning-fast move, he turned to catch her in his arms. He pulled her hard against his chest. The intimate embrace stole her breath. When she finally inhaled, she could taste his scent on her tongue.
She bit her bottom lip as his gaze dropped to her mouth. Every inch of his body was pressed against hers, leaving nothing to the imagination. His solid erection pressed against her belly. Impossible. They’d just met. He couldn’t be interested already, could he? Or maybe he just walked around ready. Maybe he was the kind of man who could yank down your pants and bend you over a table at a moment’s notice.
Heat coiled in her sex. If he moved even a fraction of an inch closer, she’d kiss him. She wouldn’t be able to resist those lips. Full and smooth, soft and inviting. Seductive. Alluring. Off-limits.
She looked away, unable to meet his heated gaze. She’d never been so wet, so eager to jump into bed with someone she’d just met. The unsettling realization snapped her out of her lusty daze.
When he finally stepped back, she exhaled a breath. She already craved his touch. And this was one craving she definitely couldn’t give in to.
“We’re here,” he said.
His neutral tone surprised her. Maybe she’d misread the desire in his eyes. But a second ago, she’d been sure he was ready to fling her over his shoulder and carry her off to his bed. Something had changed, but what? Had she upset him in some way?
Quit it, she scolded herself. It doesn’t matter. You have no time for whatever this is anyway.
After unlocking the door, she stepped into an adorable one-room cottage. A small lemon-yellow-colored kitchen took up half of the length of one wall. Splashes of bright oranges and reds decorated everything from the quilt on the king-size bed across the room, to the cushions on the overstuffed sofa. All of the wood in the cottage matched, giving it a cabin-like feel. A door led to a larger-than-expected bathroom, complete with a footed bathtub/shower combo.
It was perfect!
“If you need anything, let me know,” he said. “I’m always around.”
“Thank you.”
He strolled toward the entrance. As he paused at the threshold, a sly smile spread across his face. “I look forward to beating you in the barbecue competition this week.”
He closed the door before she could react.
He was one of her rivals. Him.
She fell back onto the bed in shock. What had she gotten herself into? He’d rake her over the coals and back in a heartbeat. Bad boy to the core, she knew guys like him back home, but she’d avoided them at all costs. They were nothing but trouble. All of her wicked fantasies about him evaporated. Entertaining dirty thoughts about undressing her competition was completely out of the question.
After shaking off the sudden spike in anxiety, she pulled out her phone and called her mom.
“I was getting worried,” her mom said. “I was about to call you. Did you make it there safely?”
“I’m fine, Mom. Please try not to worry. It’s not good for you and it won’t help you recover.”
“I’m your mother so I’ll always worry,” her mom said. “So what’s it like? Tell me everything.”
“The hotels were all sold out, but I found a cottage to rent. It’s on a huge, beautiful ranch. You’d love it here. The cottage is adorable and it has everything I need, including a small kitchen. I’ll be able to practice my recipes before the competition.”
“When does it start?” her mom asked.
“Tomorrow.”
“I wish I could have gone with you,” her mom said.
“I know,” Kim said. “But you need to rest.”
Her mom’s audible sigh carried across the line.
“Well it sounds divine, and you sound happy,” her mom said. “Have you met the naked chef yet?”
“Sebastian Barclay isn’t the naked one.” Kim chuckled.
“That’s right. Well, there has to be some sexy cowboys around. It’s still Texas.”
“Actually, I met one guy already. He works on the ranch.”
“Ooh! What does he look like?”
“Tall, handsome, and definitely a flirt,” Kim said.
“He flirted with you? Does that mean I’ll actually get to spoil some grandbabies soon?”
“I barely know him and you’re already planning grandkids.” Kim shook her head. Her mom wouldn’t stop begging her to find a nice man so she could finally settle down. The first few times she’d made the comment, it had been funny. Now it was getting downright annoying. She hoisted her suitcase onto the bed and began to unpack.
“You can’t fault me for wanting to see my grandbabies before I die,” her mom said.
Kim hurled a T-shirt into a dresser drawer. “You’ve got to stop talking about death. If something happens to you while I’m away—”
“Nothing will happen. Gayle took me to my last treatment today.”
Thank God for Gayle, her mom’s best friend. There was no way in hell Kim would have left her mom alone without making sure someone would be there to take care of her. When Gayle had heard about the contest, she’d offered to help take her mom to doctors’ appointments while Kim was away. Kim didn’t want to inconvenience her, but she’d refused to take no for an answer.
“How did the appointment go?” Kim asked.
“It’s never a party, but I made it through the treatment. I’m glad it will be the last time I have to sit in a room full of half-dead people. It’s so depressing.”
“When will we know whether or not the treatment worked?” Kim asked.
“Doctor Hartfield wants me to go back for a few tests next week. But I have a good feeling about this round. The next time I see him, he’s going to tell me the cancer’s in remission. I can feel it in my bones. Now stop worrying about me, young lady, and go flirt with that new cowboy of yours.”
“He’s not mine.” Kim laughed. “Not even close. We’re about as far apart as two people can get.”
“What does that even mean?” her mom scoffed.
“He’s one of my competitors.”
“In the barbecue competition?” her mom asked.
“Yes. What other competition could I be referring to?” Kim snapped.
“Jeez, no need to be testy. It sounds like this one’s already gotten under your skin.”
“No, he hasn’t,” Kim said.
“Is he crazy?”
“Mom!”
“What? It’s a valid question. I don’t want insane grandkids.”
“I don’t think he’s crazy,” Kim said. “But you never know.”
“So if he’s handsome and possibly sane, then what’s the problem?”
“He’s in the competition,” Kim huffed. “I’m literally going up against him tomorrow.”
“All the more reason to distract him and throw him off his game,” her mom said.
“Okay, Mom. I’m going to unpack and get some sleep.”
“Good luck tomorrow. I love you, honey.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
After ending the call, she set her phone on the nightstand. As she finished unpacking, her thoughts kept drifting back to Zack. The more she tried to stop thinking about him, the more she flashed back to the moment he’d wrapped his arms around her. She’d been dangerously close to kissing her new enemy.
Talk about crazy.
She couldn’t possibly go down that road with him. But, she could challenge his cocky swagger with her cooking skills. Maybe the desire to kick his butt would give her the extra bit of motivation she needed to win the competition.
* * *
As Zack paced the length of the front porch, his bear snarled and struggled to break free. The beast hadn’t stopped flailing since they’d met Kim. Afte
r catching a glimpse of the stunning beauty, his bear had jolted awake. Normally, the sleeping giant stayed curled up in his chest—but not today.
Her sweet smile and seductive curves had captured the beast’s imagination, and Zack couldn’t get him to settle down. Not that he could blame his bear. Her scent still lingered in the house, so he’d stepped out onto the porch for a breath of fresh air. It should have been enough to calm the beast, but it wasn’t working.
He couldn’t stop thinking about her perfect, heart-shaped lips. He’d wanted to claim them with his mouth, but he’d managed to contain his impulse. His hands still tingled with the need to caress the creamy texture of her porcelain skin. He needed to tangle his fingers in her flowing golden hair, tilt her head back, and cover her throat with fiery kisses.
The more he fantasized about what he’d love to do to her, the harder he got. This was pure madness. He’d give anything to be able to explore every inch of what lay beneath her skin-tight jeans. He’d peel them off, then dip down to kiss her through her panties. Thong or no thong? Hmm... probably no thong.
He shook his head. He had to stop thinking about her in various stages of undress. Consorting with another competitor wouldn’t help him win... unless he left her tied to the bed. Hmm, that could work on multiple levels.
But realistically, he couldn’t afford to get involved with someone who could ruin his chances of winning. He needed that money as soon as possible so that he could start to build his dream home.
Although he loved his brothers and sister with every ounce of his being, sometimes a bear just needed his own den. He wouldn’t have to share a bathroom anymore. He could walk around naked at will. And he’d be able to design a kitchen from scratch—that would be incredible.
Having his own television show would be icing on the cake. Maybe they’d let him shoot it from his new kitchen. They let that other country-kitchen chef lady do it, so why not him?
The screen door opened and his sister stepped onto the porch. She carried a pitcher of mojitos in one hand and two glasses in the other. After setting everything down, she poured the drinks. Bits of lime and sprigs of mint toppled into the glasses, while ice cubes clinked against the bottom.
“I thought you might be thirsty.” She handed him a cup. “What are you doing outside in this heat?”
“Just designing my new kitchen.” He took a sip. Tangy and sweet, the liquid slid across his tongue before blazing down his throat. “Wow, you made these a little stronger than usual.”
“There wasn’t much rum left in the bottle, so I just finished it,” she said. “Now what’s this about designing a kitchen? We just redid the kitchen two years ago.”
“Not that one, I’m talking about the one I’m going to build after I win that barbecue competition,” he said.
“Oh boy, not that again,” she said.
“Can’t a man dream about his future?”
“Why do you need your own house?” she asked. “You’re not secretly planning on getting married and raising a few kids, are you?”
“Maybe.”
“Yeah, right,” she scoffed. “You’re out dancing with a different woman each weekend. Hell will freeze over before you settle down.”
“It’s not easy to date when you’ve got a house full of siblings looking over your shoulder.”
“That doesn’t stop Jameson,” she said.
“Nothing stops him,” Zack said. “Besides, I haven’t found anyone who could make me want to spend more than a night or two in their bed.”
“Overshare,” she said.
“You asked for it.”
He grinned before taking another sip. He’d never admit that she was right. An endless string of one-night stands became tedious after a while. He was ready for a deeper connection, but he couldn’t develop one unless he had his own place.
“I heard we have someone new staying in cottage number seven,” she said.
“Yep. Kim. She’s here for the contest.”
“A rival, nice. Do you think she’ll give you a run for your money?” Beth asked.
“I doubt it,” he said.
“Don’t underestimate her. She might be primed and ready to kick your butt.”
“Thanks, sis,” he grumbled.
He’d been shocked by Kim’s ability to identify the spices in his signature pork rub. Most humans didn’t have such an accurate sense of smell. She might actually be good enough to make him sweat.
Heat rushed through his body. Standing around yapping with his sister wasn’t going to take the edge of off his insane hunger for Kim. He needed to get moving. A good, long run through the bayou would help dispel some of the rampant lust he had coursing through his veins.
“I’m going to take off. Thanks for the drink,” he said.
“Where are you headed?”
“I’m going to take a look around the bayou. See if I can find those idiotic Thompson brothers.”
“We don’t know if they’re the ones stealing the cows,” she said.
“Not yet, but I’d bet on them before anyone else in town. You can’t trust a gator shifter.”
“Be careful,” she called as he bounded down the steps.
“Always!”
As he jogged toward the bayou, he intentionally took a circuitous route around the cottages. He didn’t need to run into Kim and risk saying or doing something stupid. Hopefully he’d run into those gator shifters. That would be the perfect way to work out his frustration.
Although they hadn’t seen the brothers in town for months, that didn’t mean they weren’t out there lurking in the water. His bear perked up as they approached the muddy transition from pasture to swamp. Moss dripped down black-trunked trees. The scent of rotting logs and briny algae increased along with the rising humidity. Sweat formed on his brow, but he ignored it. His bear roared with approval. It was gator-hunting time.
“Where you rushing off to?” Harley asked.
Zack turned to find his brother perched on the wooden fence that defined the edge of their property. His feet dangled over the edge. Harley was relaxed but alert, which was more than Zack could say for himself.
“I needed a break, so I figured I’d do a perimeter hunt for the Thompson brothers.” Zack stripped off his shirt and hung it on a post. “I know you and Diesel did rounds earlier, but I figured I’d give it another try. Those bastards can’t hide forever.”
“I’ll come with you,” Harley said.
“No, I’m good.”
Usually he didn’t mind his brother’s company, since he could talk to Harley about anything. Zack would often confide in him when he was having a problem, but this wasn’t an ordinary problem. This one had far-reaching consequences. He’d have to rein in his lust for Kim without his brother’s help.
“You seem anxious,” Harley said.
“I’m fine.”
“I got a good look at our new lodger. She’s so pretty I damn near ran Old Bessie into the side of the barn,” Harley said. “That pissed her right off and she tried to buck me. What did you think about the new girl?”
“She seemed nice,” Zack said. “How’s Old Bessie’s right front hoof doing?”
“It’s all healed up now. I checked the pasture for any other rusted pieces of scrap metal but didn’t find anything,” Harley said. “Also, I call bullshit on you. Remy told me the new girl’s a fox. You can’t tell me you didn’t notice.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Zack rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck.
“Really?”
“Really,” Zack said. “And even if she was hot, it wouldn’t matter. She’s my competition. She’s here for the barbecue contest.”
“I wonder if she’ll give you a run for your money,” Harley said.
“I’ll cook circles around her. Just you watch.”
“So if I were to go down and say hi to her, you wouldn’t mind?” Harley leaned forward.
Mine! Zack’s bear growled so loud he couldn’t contain the
sound. Shocked by his bear’s sudden outburst, he frowned. The beast couldn’t be jealous, could he?
“I knew it,” Harley said.
“It’s nothing. My bear’s restless today, that’s all.”
“You sure about that?” Harley asked. “When’s the last time you passed up a woman like that?”
“Never.”
“They don’t pass you up either. So why’s this one different?”
“What is this, a therapy session?” Zack snapped.
“I just wondered what you thought of her. That’s all.” Harley’s shit-eating grin grated on Zack’s nerves.
“Like I told you, she’s just the competition. And I have no intention of letting her throw me off my game.”
“Yeah, I bet.” Harley laughed and shook his head as he jumped off the post. “Good luck chasing after those Thompson twins. Maybe your bear will help you get your head on straight. I’m heading back to the house. See ya later.”
Zack narrowed his eyes at his brother’s retreating form.
What the hell was that all about? Was Harley itchin’ for a fight? He had half a mind to charge after his brother and give him one. Before he could do something rash, he headed for the tree line. The sooner he shifted, the sooner he could work out all this crazy energy.
He made sure he was out of view before shifting. He welcomed the cracking, popping rush of pain as his ligaments and muscles tore. As his hands and feet morphed into paws, his back stretched to accommodate his black bear’s enormous spine. Fur sprouted all over his body as the shift completed.
After roaring a few times, all of the tension in his face relaxed. He padded through the brush toward the water’s edge. Crawfish crawled along the muddy river bank. He stepped over them while vowing to come back for a snack later. Flies and mosquitoes buzzed over a murky patch of cattails. An owl hooted in the distance, while unseen animals splashed in the water.
As he swam through the river, he searched for any sign of an alligator. The longer he went without finding one, the more agitated he became. That barbecue contest was his to win, and he’d be dammed if a pretty smile and a cute butt would stand in his way. Kim might be a strong competitor, but she was in for a battle she’d never forget.
