Claiming His Mate (2 page)

Besides, why did they want the place so badly? There was fuck all around here. Her property sat on the edge of Collins on the border of Los Lobos, the next small town over. From what she’d learned from locals and her own observations, the wooded area boasted a healthy population of wildlife. Any sort of development in this area would be a threat to those animals, and she hardly wanted that on her conscience.

Michelle finished drying off and slapped a Snoopy Band-Aid on her leg. She stared at her reflection in the mirror above the sink and groaned. Great. She looked like a raccoon from lack of sleep. For whatever stupid reason, some wolf thought it would be fun to bay at the moon all night.
Outside
her damn bedroom window. She loved nature as much as the next person, but come on. If she hadn’t thought the beast would attack her, she would’ve lobbed a piece of her aunt’s old crockery at him.

Right, T-minus thirty minutes before Jace arrived to pick her up for their supposed double date. She realized it was only a front for his sister’s sake, but Michelle’s stomach still fluttered. This would be the first time she’d been out in two years since her parents’ deaths. After the loss, she’d buried herself in work, let relationships with her friends slip, and resigned herself to a solitary life. She wasn’t sure why’d she’d allowed herself to slide into a self-imposed exile.

But the realization of what she’d become had driven her to accept her inheritance and move to Collins instead of selling her aunt’s old place. She’d needed the drastic change to break up the monotony of her life.

Hell, she should be grateful Jace had asked her out at all, even if it was just as a cover. Plus, it didn’t hurt he was a serious piece of eye candy. She’d have some new material to fuel her fantasies. Lord knows he starred in them just about every other night as it was.

The phone blared beside her again, dragging her away from daydreams of a naked Jace tied to her bed. She frowned when she recognized the number.
Might as well get it over with
.

She snatched the phone from the counter and swiped the screen to answer. “Yes?”

“Ms. Michelle Sanders?” A deep voice rumbled in her ear.

“This is she.”

“This is Carl Marston. Again. We spoke a couple weeks ago, but you haven’t returned my calls since then.”

Apparently he hadn’t taken the hint. “That’s because I have no interest in selling my property, Mr. Marston. I would appreciate—”

“I would advise you to reconsider, Ms. Sanders.” A bite of rancor colored his voice. “We’ve offered you a respectable sum, and my partner has grown rather impatient with your evasion. I would hate for something to happen that puts you in dire straits. I’m sure we might not be as generous later.”

Michelle’s mouth dropped open. Though his voicemails had become more forceful and laden with heavily veiled warnings, the bastard had never just outright threatened her as he did now.

“Listen, I’m not changing my mind. Now leave me the hell alone, and don’t call me again.” She ended the call before the slimeball could sling another threat at her.

What an asshole. Hopefully, they’d give her a moment’s rest now and stop calling her twenty times a day. She raked a hand through her damp hair. Right, she was wasting time. Jace would be here soon, and she was still wrapped in a towel.

Twenty minutes later, the doorbell buzzed. With one last glance in the mirror, Michelle darted to the front door. She sucked in a steadying breath, opened the door, and then almost choked on her own saliva.

On her front step, the tanned, muscular figure wearing dark blue jeans and a gray button-down rolled to his elbows made the pulse hammer in her neck. The smell of his spicy cologne hit her nose, and she had the sudden urge to lick the side of his clean-shaven cheek for good measure. His warm, dark brown eyes gleamed from the porch light. Across his handsome face, the crooked trademark grin he usually wore was in place. The same panty-singeing smile that did funny things below her waist. Sons of mothers, she was tingling in places she shouldn’t be tingling.

Why, by all that was holy in this world, did Jace Matthews have to be gay?

***

Jace stuffed his hands in the pockets of his pants to keep from grabbing the woman in front of him. Christ, he wanted to explore every delicious inch of her.

She’d dressed in a pair of jeans that lovingly hugged her curvy hips. The blue top she wore matched her eyes and accentuated the delectable cleavage he couldn’t wait to get his mouth on. Her blonde hair was pulled in a ponytail, and her glasses perched on her cute little nose. She gazed up at him with innocent eyes and parted, plump lips. One short-termed mission in his life was to kiss that sexy mouth before the night was over.

“You look beautiful, Michelle.” He gave her his most charming smile.

She flushed a pretty pink. “You, too.”

He laughed and couldn’t resist teasing her. “Thanks, honey.” He winked. “That was just the look I told Janice at the salon I was going for.”

Her eyes widened and she lifted a hand to her mouth. “Oh, sorry. I meant you look handsome.” She dropped her hand and took a step back. “Forgive me, I’m being rude. Would you care to come in?”

Oooo-kay. That joke was an epic fail
. Damn it, he should’ve listened to his sister. She’d warned him he had a horrible sense of humor.

He shook his head. “No, thanks. If you’re ready, we’ll go.”

The sooner he got this
date
over with, the sooner he’d get her home. And hopefully into bed. His wolf had ridden him hard since he’d touched her three days ago. Hell, his beast had him lingering outside of her house last night, announcing to all others in range that she was his.

Jace waited on the bottom step while she locked up, then escorted her to the passenger side of his truck and helped her inside. It was hard to keep his hands to himself when the enticing citrus scent of her perfume wrapped around his heightened senses.

When he’d settled in the driver’s seat, he peeked at her to see she sat primly, her knees locked together, handbag clutched in her lap. “You can relax, you know. I’m not going to maul you.”
Not yet, anyway
.

She snorted and glanced his way. “Sorry. Force of habit, I guess. It’s been a while since I’ve been out anywhere. Especially since I moved to Collins.”

“Where’d you move from? And why here?” He asked, even though he knew the answers. Once her aunt died and his pack learned the woman’s niece would inherit the land adjoining theirs, they’d checked Michelle out a bit before Jace had stepped foot in her bookstore. It was imperative for them to protect Black Hill territory at all costs.

“I’m originally from Oregon. My Aunt Cecelia left me this place in her will. I never really knew the lady, aside from meeting her a handful of times as a kid, but she was my mom’s sister and my only surviving relative. Actually, I didn’t even know she’d died until her attorney contacted me to settle her estate.”

“Ms. Cecelia was a bit of an odd lady, but extremely kind. She mostly kept to herself, and everyone let her be.”

Jace and his pack had often watched over Cecelia and her land while they patrolled their territory. He couldn’t help but smile, remembering the woman who’d ventured into the woods on numerous occasions, leaving a cache of food in the hopes of befriending the wolves she’d spied running on her land. Not one single member of the Black Hills pack believed the woman’s death had been an accident.

He stole a glance at her from the corner of his eyes. “Are you missing Oregon much?”

She stared out the front window and appeared to consider his question. “Not really. After my parents died, I suppose I fell into a rut. You know, go to work, come home, go to bed, wake up, and do it all over. I wanted the change moving here would bring.” She shrugged. “I miss a few of my friends, but I can still visit from time to time.”

“I’m sorry to hear about your parents.”

She shrugged and turned her head toward the passenger window. “Thanks. It was two years ago, so I’ve adjusted to not having them around anymore. I still miss them, though.”

“What happened?” The words were out of his mouth before he could recall them.

Silence filled the interior of the truck for a minute. Before he could apologize, she spoke. “It was a car crash. The roads were slick and it was a foggy day. An oncoming driver swerved into their lane, and my dad lost control of the car.”

Now he really felt like a dickhead for asking.

She quickly changed subjects. “So, what about you? How long have you lived in Los Lobos?”

He was thankful for the change. “All my life. Born and raised. Probably will die there.” She shifted to face him, and he could easily read the curiosity in her features from across the dark cabin. “My family’s always been real close, so everything I know and love is there. No reason for me to seek it elsewhere when I have everything I could ever want right in front of my face.” He glanced at her and grinned.

She gave him one of her sunny smiles which made him fucking melt inside. “I wish I had your optimistic outlook, Jace. So where is it you’re taking me? I’m starving.”

“Hope you like bar food, because there isn’t exactly a McDonald’s on every corner as you probably found out when you moved here.”

“Yeah, I discovered that real quick. At the present moment, I hardly care. As long as it’s hot and fresh, I’m good.”

“Hot, I can guarantee. Not too sure about fresh.” He laughed.

The rest of their ride passed with a steady stream of easy-going conversation. Jace was convinced he’d never spoken to another female, aside from his sister, so comfortably.

After the twenty minute ride from Michelle’s on the edge of Collins to the strip of storefront shops along Main Street in Los Lobos, they arrived at the Den, the only bar in town. Jace parallel parked a block away and helped Michelle out of the truck. With his arm wrapped around her waist, he guided her down the street and eased the heavy steel door open for her to pass.

At once, the twang of country music roared through the air. Jace dipped his head at the imposing form of Gee behind the bar, then searched through the crowded bar for Kate and his best friend, Stephen.

Oh, he owed his sister big time for this. She couldn’t stand to be in the same room with his friend, though Jace had no idea why. Stephen had confided in him that Kate was his mate, but his stubborn sister resisted his friend’s charms. She guarded her secrets closely and had never expressed her reasons for rejecting Stephen’s claim. Jace nearly snorted. He didn’t envy the task ahead of Stephen if he thought to claim Kate as his own.

Jace spotted the pair sitting on opposite sides of a booth in the far corner of the establishment. Kate noticed him at the same time and waved him over. He placed his hand on Michelle’s back and propelled her through the bar’s occupants, a mix of shifters and their human mates. Proud to have his own on his arm, he grinned like an idiot, nodding greetings to others in his pack as they swept past.

Once they made it to the booth, Kate scooted out of her seat and threw her arms around him. He chuckled at her show of affection and introduced her to Michelle.

“This is my baby sister, Kate.” He waved to his friend seated on the other side of the booth. “And this is my best friend, Stephen.”

Jace turned to usher Michelle in and froze at the look of panic on her face.
Oh shit, what now?

Oh. My. God.

Michelle gaped at the attractive, sandy-haired man sprawled in the booth. It was him. The bare-assed man from the forest with Jace. Holy shit, Jace was sleeping with his sister’s boyfriend.

Jace wrapped a hand around her elbow. “Everything good, Michelle?”

She flapped her mouth open and closed twice before she could reply. “Sure, yeah.” She stuck out her hand and shook Kate’s. “Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise. Jace has spoken so much about you.”

He has?
Kate gave her a warm smile that increased Michelle’s awkwardness.

Stephen leaned forward, winked, and offered his hand. “Good to finally meet you, Michelle.”

The man had to feel the nervousness vibrating through her as they shook hands.
Get your shit together
. She was just here to supply a cover for Jace’s sister. This was their private shit to deal with, not hers.

They made it through the introductions and slid into the booth. Kate seated herself beside Stephen, while Jace sat next to Michelle. She eased as far to the wall as physically possible, but Jace continued to scoot closer until the side of his leg and arm rested against hers. What the hell?

A middle-aged waitress with kinky curls soon sidled over to their table to take their orders. Before anyone had a chance to speak, Michelle blurted her order for a gin and tonic. Jace turned to her and quirked a brow in surprise. Ducking her head, she shrugged and stared at her polished nails. She couldn’t very well tell him his nearness set her on edge, and the fact his lover sat across from them, teasing Kate, didn’t put her at ease one damn bit.

Michelle tried to loosen up as she listened to the trio chatter. Her phone vibrated in her pocket, and she pulled it from her jeans. She scowled at the familiar number that flashed across her screen. Damn Marston. Again. Why wouldn’t the man leave her alone?

“Who is it?” Jace stared at the phone in her hand.

She looked up to see three pairs of eyes locked on her. She shook her head. “No one. Just some idiot.”

Kate leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “What’s going on?”

Michelle waved a dismissive hand. “It’s nothing, really. Just some creep from this land development company in Collins that won’t take no for answer.”

Jace nudged her shoulder. “What’s he want?”

“They’re pestering me to sell my aunt’s land. I’ve told them I have no interest, but this bastard, Carl Marston, keeps harassing me about it.”

She felt Jace stiffen beside her. Across the table, Kate and Stephen exchanged a marked look with Jace that Michelle couldn’t quite decipher, and then the two turned their penetrating stares on her. Goose bumps rose on her arms. She had the impression the trio knew Marston as well. Before she could question them, the waitress arrived with their drinks and food. Michelle decided to let the matter drop for now. Instead, she focused on the burger and fries in front of her.