Escaping Love (8 page)

She wondered what Clint would think of the trees and how the ground never seemed to dry out. It rained all the time but even without the sun filtering
down to the ground it was still beautiful. Would she ever be able to go back? Time was running out. She expected to find the queen the first day. Now, it had been almost a week since she left home on her mission.

The Presentation took place in a week from today. Despite everything she
couldn’t let her family face the consequences of her desertion alone. Something had to be decided before then or she would have to go back.

The water started to turn cold so she vacated her haven for the moment. She needed to find out why her cup of cider had been laced with catnip. If it had happened to anyone else it might have been funny but not when she became the victim.

After slipping on clean clothes and sigh
ing when she had to yet again roll the bottoms of her pants, she headed downstairs. She paused when everyone but the man she thought would be waiting for looked up from around the table. The smell of blueberry muffins and citrus tickled her nose. She practically floated to the empty chair next to Jesse. Plates of fresh fruit decorated the table like a tropical feast. Every color known to man seemed to be represented by a selection of fruit.

Her stomach voiced its excitement. Oh sweet ambrosia, sliced papaya sat not mere inches from her. She filled her plate and smiled when Jesse handed her slices of lime. Her cider incident slipped away as her taste buds danced in ecstasy.

“This really hits the spot.”

“It is good
, isn’t it? I’m glad I’m not the only one that likes to eat healthy.”

“Meat’s healthy
. We even raise everything ourselves.”

Alex and Jesse exchanged glances. “Sure it is
, Momma, and you’re an excellent cook.”

Clara seemed unconvinced by their sweetness. The girls smiled at each other
then blanched when the thunderous stomps sounded down the stairs.

“Sounds like someone’s grumpy this
mornin’.”

“Crap.” Alex meant to deal with the
whole catnip thing before Clint made an appearance.

Too Late
.

“You.”
He stalked toward Kane. “What the hell were you thinking last night?”

“As entertaining as this is, I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“Don’t play coy with me, you devil’s hound. I know you spiked her cider last night. You caused a lot of trouble.”

“Again, I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“Bull. Let’s take this outside. I wouldn’t want to be responsible for breaking anything in the house.”

Kane shrugged, cracked his neck, and rose from the table. He looked at Clara.

“Thank you for breakfast.”

Then he walked outside followed by a fuming Clint. Alex had never seen him that angry. Not that she’d know him that long but even when
the cabin got blown up he didn’t act this angry. He reminded her of one of those cartoon people turning red with steam coming out of their ears, ready to pop their top.

She started to get up from the table when Clara shook her head. “No use
gettin’ up, sugar. The boys are gonna fight out whatever is bothering them no matter how much we try to intercede.”

Jesse snorted. “What put a spur in his side?”

“Come again?” Alex hated all the weird turns of phrase.

“What is Clint so pissed about?”

“Someone put catnip in my cider last night. It had some less than desirable effects on me. Clint thinks Kane is responsible.”

“Oh shit, that wasn’t Kane
, sugar—that was me.”

Both girls blinked at Clara while the words sunk in.

“It was you? Why would you drug me?”

“I didn’t mean to drug you. The catnip was for me. It helps me relax before bed. The cups must have gotten switched around.”

Jesse rose from the table muttering something about stupid males followed by a string of curses.

Alex follow
ed and watched in awe as the leggy redhead pulled the two shifter males apart by their ears.

“Now you listen here, you will stop this fighting and apologize. Kane didn’t drug Alex. It was a misunderstanding.”

Clint growled at her.

She twisted his ear
, turning the growl into a whine. “I told you, Clint Matthew, I don’t like it when you growl at me, not when we were kids and sure as heck not now.”

Kane snickered
, earning a glare from her.

“Now
apologize or do I have to get the hose?”

“He started it,” Kane grumbled.

“I don’t hear anything like an apology.”

She must have twisted Clint’s ear again.

“Ow, you harpy. Fine, I’m sorry.”

She looked expectantly at Kane
. He rolled his eyes and looked at Clint.

“Even though you are the one that attacked me, I am sorry you were wrong.”

“That’s it. That was your apology?”

Kane shrugged.

“Whatever, now can we please go finish breakfast? I need to head into town. You still coming?”

“I’m not sure. You promise not to hurt me again?” A small smile formed at the edge of Kane’s mouth.

Jesse grinned. “Nope. Dust yourselves off before you come inside.”

Then she turned around and skipped up the steps and into the house.

Both men were rubbing their reddened ears when Alex smiled at their frowning faces, “You know, I really like her. She’s feisty.”

~****~

Clint was losing his ever-loving mind. Females would do that to a guy. His sister and his Little Cat sat across from the breakfast table giggling as if they were in high school. Meanwhile, he was next to Kane with his ear smarting to beat the dickens. How was he supposed to know that Kane didn’t put the stuff in her drink?

This morning had started out so promising. He hoped the events from last night hadn’t been just the catnip. He wanted her to want him. Because he wanted her like crazy. Maybe if he just s
ealed the deal with her once he could get her out of his system. After all, their arrangement couldn’t be anything more than temporary. Unless, Jenny and Gryph returned and gave Alex the freedom she wanted. Then maybe.

He took a drink of his scalding hot coffee
, letting the burn bring him to a clearer state of mind. The liquid mud coated his throat. Clara knew how he liked it. His momma had always said if you brew a pot of coffee and could put a horse shoe in and it would stand erect, then it was made right. He didn’t know if she had ever really tried it, but with as stiff as the brown liquid was he wouldn’t be surprised if it was more than just one of Clara’s charming sayings.

He couldn’t forget the ache
in his gut from waking up next to Alex. Wanting to be closer to her but still being revved up from last night, he pushed her too far and made her literally run from his grasp.

No problem though he liked the c
hase. It appealed to his inner predator. He could picture her in cat form darting between the sagebrush with moonlight shining down on her white pelt. He’d find her, pin her to the ground, force her to shift, strip off her clothes, and make love to her beneath a blanket of stars.

He must have uttered a curse because everyone at the table just stared at him. He drank more of his cooling coffee
, ignoring their questioning faces.

“Okay, I better get on the road. You ready?”

Kane nodded and Clint sent him a clear message with his eyes saying, ‘Anything you do to her, the same thing happens to you, but I do it.’

Kane gave him a nod but rolled his eyes and waited by the door leading to the
front. At least he wouldn’t have to worry about Jesse getting caught up in a bunch of shifter bull.

Gryph and Jenny better hurry up from their honeymoon. He
understood the need to be with someone you cared about, but the couple had been gone a little longer than expected without a word. Not hearing from them didn’t bother him. Gryph didn’t see the need to check in. He’d been that way ever since they were kids, a no news is good news sort of thing. Just to be safe he’d call the satellite phone and leave a message. He needed to get the situation with Alex taken care of.

“Take care
, big brother.” Jesse gave him a bear hug then turned toward Alex. “It was real nice meeting ya. Come back and see me. Don’t worry about bringing the stick in the mud with ya. You’re more fun than him anyhow. Oh and Alex, good luck with Ol’ Gus.”

Clint smiled
evilly. Old Gus might prove too much for her. Clara found him roaming around on the south forty a few days after she found Clint. Near as she could figure, he was wild raised and that was why he was so damn crabby.

“Bye, be safe
. Don’t worry—now that I found another girl that loves papaya and lime as much as me, there’s no way I won’t stay in contact.”

“Good to hear it.”

With tear-stricken eyes Clara squeezed Jesse as if she would never see the poor girl ever again. “Love ya, call me when you get there. Don’t forget to mind the speed limit on Drifters Bend. The law’s been sneaking around down there, and keep your eyes on the road. You know it’s rutting season for the males.”

“I will. Love
ya, Momma.” She practically dragged a shocked Kane out the door and made a beeline for her car. But Clara persisted.

“Wear your seatbelt and no texting and driving.
Bye Kane, safe travels.”

Alex shared a look with him and giggled.

“So are you ready for your chores?”

She sobered. “Yes, I am. When do we start?”

“Right now.”

“Okay, let me finish my coffee.”

She topped off her cup leaving room for the gobs of vanilla creamer she added. He stared at the cup when a strange feeling of envy rooted itself in his chest like a spring sapling. He briefly wished he was the cup in her hands, the one that got to kiss her sleepy lips every morning slowly waking her up.

“Hurry up,” he grumped at her.

She looked at him briefly with confusion then followed him to the back of the house. The room by the back door was used to store extra leather gloves, muddy boots, and coats. Kindling for the fire place sat in a wooden chest to the left, and supplies, in case a winter storm knocked out the power, sat on a shelf just above that.

“Grab a pair of gloves from that group over there. You wouldn’t want your delicate hands to get blisters.
”

She put her hands on her hips and jetted out her chin. Even though she stood a good foot shorter than him she still managed to look down her nose at him.

She was so darn cute, he could just devour her starting with her cute, little toes working his way up to her sweet, bitable lips. Seeming to struggle with her next words, she deflated and grabbed a pair of light-colored gloves.

“So what kind of animal is Gus?”

Her words trembled slightly. Maybe it was mean to torment her but he couldn’t help it.

“Jesse didn’t tell you? He’s a darn ornery critter. Mean as a snake. You need to be really careful not to get on his bad side.”

“Is he big?”

“He thinks he is.
Gotta attitude big enough to fill the whole state of Wyoming. You’ll just have to see for yourself. He’s down by the barn. We have to keep him away from the other animals. He tends to cause a lot of damage. So let’s go meet him.”

Her eyes were the size of saucers. It took every bit of control he had to keep from busting up laughing.

Most of what he said would prove to be true. Old Gus liked certain people. Clint wasn’t one of them.

She followed in silence
, twisting the front of her shirt while staring at the ground. He stopped just in front of the corral, waiting for her to see all that the mighty Gus had to offer.

She punched him in the shoulder.

“You are so mean. That’s it—this tiny little pony is the animal that gives you so much grief? I’ve seen wild boar bigger and meaner than him.”

“His not a pony
, darlin’. He’s a donkey. Don’t let his looks deceive you. He’s Satan’s mighty steed.”

She snorted. “Yeah
, okay. Just tell me what I need to do.”

“The little gr
ay shed over there is where we keep his feed. Grain him once a day, the scoop to measure is in the can, give him two leaves of grass, once in the morning and once at night. Muck out his stall and let him out into the larger pasture after you feed him in the morning. He’ll come home right before his second meal. Make sure you lock the gate to the pasture or the little devil will run out after he’s done eating. Any questions?”

She looked
as though she did have some, but she just shook her head no. She’d be fine. He’d check on her later. After this morning’s close call he needed to awaken her passion. One thing he could do was sweep a girl off her feet. He’d plan a surprise for her. He knew just the thing too.