by Rayna Tyler
“One of the advantages of spending time in this area. You learn about all the secret places that aren’t listed on the travel brochures,” Bryson said as he unfolded a blanket and spread it on the ground.
Once Mitch had finished with Bear, a closed-door exam that lasted about ten minutes, Bryson spent a few more silent moments pacing across the reception area before asking me out on a picnic. He used the excuse of owing me a lunch because the one we’d had at the lodge was interrupted by his coworker. I didn’t think it was necessary since I’d finished eating long before Seth had walked into the kitchen. Though I was a little hesitant about going on my first date since Caleb, a part of me had been excited by the prospect of spending more time with Bryson, so I hadn’t argued the point.
I’d known him for only a couple of days but being with him was the safest I’d felt in a very long time. I was drawn to him in a way I’d never experienced with any other guy, and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to explore the connection further.
My brother, who’d disappeared during the event, magically reappeared and offered to take care of Bear. An offer that seemed too well timed not to be suspicious.
“Have you always lived in this area?” I sat on one corner of the blanket with my legs tucked to my side, then tugged on the hem of my skirt to keep it from hiking up my thigh.
“Born and raised.” He grabbed two bottles of water out of an ice chest, then settled next to me, his large frame taking up a considerable amount of the blanket. After handing me one of the bottles, he snagged the large wicker basket containing our lunch and set it down in front of us.
I smiled at Bryson’s brief explanation. In the short time I’d spent with him, I’d learned he was a man of few words and said only what he thought was necessary to make his point. I was a social creature, but I hated conversations filled with meaningless small talk. I appreciated his directness and how easy it was to talk to him.
Throughout our lunch at the lodge, the topic of a girlfriend had never come up. Bryson wasn’t wearing a ring, so I didn’t think he was married. He might not be considered overly charming, but he was a handsome guy with the most amazing dark brown eyes. His height neared six feet, and with the angled jaw, broad shoulders, and muscular physique, he probably had women throwing themselves at him regularly.
If he was in a relationship he’d forgotten to mention, I’d rather deal with the disappointing news now than hear about it later, after I’d allowed my emotions to get involved. Although, I feared it might already be too late for the emotional part. “Do you have family in the area?” I hoped the question didn’t seem too obvious.
“Yep.” He opened the basket and pulled out several white plastic containers sealed with matching lids and set them on the blanket. “My parents live over in Hanford, and my brother and his wife live in a suburb near Denver.”
I clasped my hands in my lap. “Is that where you live? In Hanford?”
He stopped what he was doing and placed his hand over mine. I was mesmerized by the intelligence in his intense gaze. A gaze that seemed to push past my outer appearance and see the real me underneath. It was a little unnerving, yet reassuring at the same time.
“I own a house on a property in the woods not far from the resort. I live alone. I have no wife, no girlfriend, no kids, though someday I’d like to have a family.”
I licked my lip, entranced by the refreshing honesty. He slipped his hand to my nape, drawing me closer, his lips covering mine. His kiss, though gentle, was filled with enough passion to ignite a fire in my core.
When he pulled away, his hand lingered on my cheek. “If there’s anything you want to know about me, anything personal, all you have to do is ask.”
“Okay,” I answered through a breathless pant.
“Let’s see what Berkley packed for us.” He grinned and returned his attention to the basket, then continued to extract the contents, which included several more containers, some napkins and utensils. Once he had the covers removed, I noticed that Berkley had gone out of her way to prepare us a special lunch.
There were sandwiches made with freshly baked bread, rotisserie chicken, and a variety of sliced vegetables. The potato salad had been made from scratch, and so were the peanut butter cookies.
“Does this mean you don’t know how to cook?” I asked.
Bryson snorted. “I can prepare a meal when I have to, but when it comes to cooking, Berkley is the best. And since she volunteered, I wasn’t going to tell her no.”
After heaping food on two plates, he handed one to me, along with a napkin and fork. “I’ll have you know I can grill meat better than most males in the area.”
I thought it odd that he referred to other guys as males rather than men. He wasn’t the first person I’d heard use the term and figured it must be part of the local culture.
“I’m sorry, your bragging rights only go so far. If you want me to believe you, then you’ll have to prove it.” I had no way of knowing if he’d wanted to see me again and couldn’t believe I was daring him to spend more time with me.
I’d spent so much time hiding from Caleb, hiding from life, that being able to be myself and tease a guy I was interested in felt good. Really good.
“You’re on. All I ask is that you bring an appetite.”
Chapter Five
LEAH
I awoke with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness coursing through me. Tonight was my date with Bryson, the one where he promised to show me his home and cook for me. It had been almost a week since the day he’d taken me on a picnic and given me the first of many delicious kisses that left me wanting more.
Since then, we’d been on two more dates. The first was a candlelit dinner at the lodge. The second, a movie, followed up with ice cream at a cute little shop in Ashbury.
Then there were the two or three times I spoke with him every day. For a guy who didn’t spend a lot of time socializing, Bryson had no problem conversing on the phone. More surprising were the I-can’t-wait-to-see-you texts he sent, which included cute little bear emojis. Whenever Mitch walked into a room and I mouthed that I was on the phone with Bryson, he’d give me one of his stupid grins, then leave so I could have some privacy. His understanding and refusal to pry were the things I loved most about my brother.
Before I had a chance to crawl out of bed and get ready for work, there was a knock on the door. “Morning,” Mitch said, pushing the door open a crack and peeking inside. He’d already showered and was dressed in a pale blue cotton shirt and gray pants. “Since you’ve been putting in extra hours helping me with emergencies, why don’t you take the day off?”
“But what about your regular patients? Won’t you need my help with them?”
“It’s the middle of the week, and I’m sure I can handle the three appointments on my schedule without you.” He flashed a mischievous grin. “Besides, you’re going to need all your strength for your big date tonight.”
“It’s only dinner.” I couldn’t believe my brother, the man who was notorious for threatening all my dates when I was in high school, was encouraging me to have sex with Bryson.
“If you say so.” Mitch shrugged, then smiled. “Just in case it’s not, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I’d never been much of an athlete and was impressed when my pillow smacked him in the head before he could escape out the door.
His chuckle filtered into the room, along with his fading footsteps.
Staying in bed with the intention of getting a few more hours of sleep lasted for what seemed like five minutes. All I did was think about my brother’s teasing words.
Would my date with Bryson lead to something more? And if it did, would I be ready? Thoughts of his delectable kisses and how safe I felt when he held me in his strong arms left me overheated, fighting with my pillow, and finally taking a lukewarm, nearly cold shower.
Doing menial chores around the house—my way of thanking my brother for letting me stay with him—wasn’t much better and b
arely used up the morning. With time on my hands and energy to expend, I decided to do some hiking and explore the woods on Mitch’s property.
Even though it was a sunny day and the weather was pleasant, there were areas where the trees blocked out the dense rays and the temperature would be cooler. I knew better than to enter the forest unprepared. After scribbling a note to Mitch in case he came home early, I stuffed a light jacket, a bottle of water, and a couple of energy bars into a backpack I’d retrieved from his hall closet, then headed out.
Early spring on the mountain was alive with color. The new pink blooms on the shrubbery and the fresh scent of pine filtering through the air provided an aromatic enhancement to the scenic walk. As much as I enjoyed the beauty of my surroundings, my thoughts kept drifting to Bryson and our upcoming evening together. With his easygoing smile and attentive demeanor, the man was all kinds of enticing. Brawny, yet gentle.
The more time I spent with him, the more I felt like the old me. The me before Caleb and his stalking had upended my life. In a way, I had my bullying ex-boyfriend to thank for my current situation. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be living at Mitch’s, and I never would have met Bryson. For the first time in a long time, I was finding new reasons to enjoy life again.
I’d been so caught up in daydreaming, I hadn’t realized I’d lost track of time. I checked the clock on my cell phone and realized I’d been walking for the good part of an hour. I stopped to take a short break and down some water. After stretching the aching muscles in my calves, I turned around and headed back to Mitch’s house.
I could’ve explored a little longer, but I wanted to make sure I had enough time to get ready for my date. Fewer meandering thoughts and more focus had me reaching the trees lining the edge of the driveway in no time. I had one foot on the gravel when I heard a familiar voice. A voice I’d hoped I’d never hear again. My heart raced. I shuddered and froze.
“Leah, open up. I know you’re in there. I only want to talk.” Caleb’s voice drowned out the banging his heavy fist made on the front door. I didn’t have time to worry about how he’d found me. My main concern was getting out of there before he saw me.
If Mitch had been home, facing Caleb wouldn’t have been a problem. My brother would have kicked his ass, and after all the grief Caleb had put me through, I’d probably let him. But I was alone, and he was a muscular guy with a bad temper. He’d never actually hurt me, at least not physically, but his controlling behavior and unpredictability scared me. He’d gone to a lot of trouble to track me down, and I didn’t believe he’d only come here to talk.
My car was the only one sitting in the driveway, which meant he’d parked his vehicle somewhere out of sight so I wouldn’t see him coming. The house was too far away. Even if I did manage to get inside, I didn’t think it would stop him from breaking a window to get to me.
My car keys were in my pocket. I quickly dismissed the idea of making a run for it. If he caught me before I could get inside and lock the doors, I didn’t want to give him the chance to force me into leaving with him. My only alternative was returning to the forest and hoping he assumed I wasn’t home and decided to leave. Of course, it meant he’d come back, but by then I’d have contacted my brother and involved the police.
It tore at my heart thinking about how Caleb’s arrival would impact the future of my relationship with Bryson—the damage it would cause, the lack of trust. I should have told Bryson about my past, about the worst mistake I’d ever made. But I’d been afraid. Afraid of how he’d react, that he’d walk away. Now, everything I’d been afraid of was going to happen no matter how much I wished it wouldn’t.
I needed to stop worrying about what might happen and focus on finding a safe place to hide. Someplace where I could stop, retrieve my cell phone from the bottom of my backpack, and call my brother.
Mitch’s house was fairly isolated. His nearest neighbor was Gabe Miller. The elderly man rented out his horses and offered guided trail rides to the tourists. I knew how to find his place by car and was pretty sure which direction I needed to go by foot. If I headed toward Gabe’s place, maybe I’d get lucky and run into one of his tours.
Cautiously, and as quietly as possible, I retreated backward into the forest. Unfortunately, I’d been so focused on the ground and watching where I was walking that I hadn’t realized Caleb had moved to this side of the house and was glaring in my direction with angry brown eyes. “Leah, what are you doing out here, and why didn’t you answer me?” He’d always been worried about his appearance, kept his hair styled and face clean-shaven. Now, stubble ran along his jaw. His cotton shirt was wrinkled, and his dark hair was longer, slightly mussed, as if he hadn’t bothered to comb it in the last twenty-four hours.
Panicked, fear coursing through my veins, I froze. “Caleb you need to leave.”
He took a menacing step forward, a crazed, determined gleam in his gaze. “I’m not leaving until you talk to me. Give me a chance to make things right between us again.”
“There is no us. It’s been over for months. Why can’t you accept it and move on with your life?” I continued easing backward.
“There’s someone else, isn’t there?” He clenched his fists against his thighs. “That’s why you moved here, isn’t it?”
I curled my fingers into my palms. His words were familiar and reminded me of other arguments, other uncomfortable situations. Situations that always left me angry and trembling inside. Jealousy was one of Caleb’s many issues, and admitting I was dating someone else would only make the situation worse.
“I’m staying with my brother because you wouldn’t stop harassing me.” Not much better as far as choices went, but I was tired of being afraid, tired of this asshole ruining my life. “Mitch will be home soon, so you need to leave before he gets back.”
“You’re lying. I called his office in Ashbury and found out that he’s working until three. It’s only two, and I plan to be long gone before he gets here.” Caleb smirked. “And you’re going with me.”
No, I’m not. Caleb stomping toward me across the driveway was all the incentive I needed to turn and run into the forest.
“Damn it, Leah. Come back!”
BRYSON
“I’ve got it covered.” No matter how much I wanted to growl, I wasn’t going to let Berkley and Mandy know how exasperated I felt that they were still questioning me about my date plans with Leah. I knew they only wanted to help but this was the third time today they’d cornered me.
“Are you sure?” Mandy asked. “We want to make sure you have everything you need for tonight.”
The ring from my cell cut through my groan. I slipped it from my pocket and saw Mitch’s name appear on the screen and wondered why he’d be calling me. Instinctively, I knew it was about Leah. My pulse quickened, and I gripped the phone tighter. “Mitch, what’s wrong? Is Leah okay?”
Concern flickered across Berkley’s and Mandy’s faces as they moved closer to overhear what Mitch had to say.
“I came home from work and found a note that she’d gone hiking. She should have been back by now. I searched near the house, but I can’t find her.” I could hear a long intake of breath before he continued. “I...I think something happened to her. I could really use your help.”
“I’m on my way.” I was already headed out of the employee kitchen and down the hallway, my pace frantic and increasing with each step.
Berkley, with her wolf’s stealth, caught up with me as I reached the parking lot. “Bryson, what’s going on?”
“Leah’s missing. I need to...” It was all I could manage before yanking the truck door open and hopping inside.
Mandy had arrived seconds before and overheard what I’d said. “I’ll find the guys.” She spun around and rushed back toward the lobby.
By guys, I knew she meant Nick, Preston, and Reese. I was good at tracking, but Nick’s wolf was better. If something bad had happened to Leah and I couldn’t detect her scent, I’d need everyone’s help
to find her.
Please let her be all right. Let me find her in time.
“Don’t worry, she’s going to be okay.” Berkley, always perceptive to others’ emotions, figured out the direction of my thoughts. “Call me on the radio as soon as you know anything. Now go. We’ll be right behind you.” She stepped away from the truck and closed the door.
I stomped on the gas pedal, not caring that I sprayed the lot with gravel. Getting to Leah was all I could think about.
Fortunately, the traffic between the resort and Mitch’s house was light. Otherwise, the twenty-minute drive I’d condensed to ten by taking the curves in the road at an accelerated rate might have ended in a head-on collision. My bear roared and bared his teeth the entire way. He didn’t care about safety either, not when our mate was in trouble.
Mitch reached my truck seconds after I skidded to a stop in his driveway. “Leah’s a careful hiker, and she wouldn’t have gone far.” He scrubbed his hand through his hair, his gaze briefly glassing over. “I don’t know what could’ve happened to her.”
“Give me a second.” I moved away from Mitch, sniffing the air until I caught a hint of lavender body wash Leah used and followed it. When I reached the tree line, I found an area where the scent was a little stronger. What I hadn’t expected to find was the odor of an unfamiliar male. Jealousy rode me hard. “Was Leah seeing someone else?” I reacted before thinking and snapped at Mitch, the gravelly growl of my bear leaking into my voice.
Mitch was walking toward me and stopped. He knew enough about shifters to recognize when our animals pushed for dominance. He shuffled a few steps backward, keeping his gaze focused on the ground. “No... No way. She was looking forward to your date.”
Mitch was right. Why would Leah be seeing someone else or invite them to her brother’s place after we’d made plans? She was a good person, would never do anything to hurt me or anyone else. If I wanted to find her, I needed to stop reacting emotionally and start thinking logically.
