His to Seduce (8 page)

“There is no other site.”

She tipped her head and crossed her arms again, waiting for him to elaborate.

“It was the wolves.”

“The wolves?”

“They run Blackwood Ranch down in the valley.”

“And you think it was the Blackstones who dumped the garbage?” She refused to refer to them by anything but their last name.

“It had to be them. We wouldn’t have done it. We love our land too much. It’s everything to us, Chloe.” He locked eyes on hers again; his words implied more than he said. She got the message loud and clear: the land was everything to him. Not a woman, not a potential mate.
Not her.

She cleared her throat and, using the tongs she’d borrowed from the kitchen, sifted through the first bag. “I guess the evidence will tell us what we need to know then.”

Chloe didn’t look up, but she knew he hadn’t left. She could sense him standing there, watching her. Resolutely, she ignored him and continued to work. Most of the first bag was kitchen garbage. She had to focus on breathing through her mouth, to keep from inhaling the putrid scent. Coffee grounds, egg shells, and potato peels. “At the very least, this person could learn how to compost,” she snorted under her breath.

“Kade started a composting bin this last summer. The plan is to use it for a garden in the spring. So there you go—it’s not us.”

Still, she didn’t look up. “It’s not that simple.” She swept the kitchen garbage aside and moved to the next bag. The moment she sliced through the plastic, she knew this bag would be more telling. It was full of paper. The first piece she picked up had a familiar blue logo on the top and the words, “Grizzly Ridge.”

She looked up slowly and shook her head. She didn’t want it to be true. She’d been holding out, assuming it wasn’t true. Assuming that there was no way Luke or his brothers could be part of something like garbage dumping.
No way. It couldn’t be…

“What the hell?” Luke snatched the paper from her hands and she let him have it because there was more, a lot more in the bag that sat in front of her. “This isn’t what it looks like.”

“It looks like your letterhead.” She couldn’t meet his eyes.

“I know what it
looks
like.” He shook the paper. “But it isn’t ours.”

Chloe shook her head and bent to the task in front of her. If she looked up, she knew exactly what she’d see and she couldn’t bear it.

“Don’t shake your head, Chloe. Don’t look like that.” His voice grew more panicked, frantic, heated, but still, she couldn’t look up. “Don’t you dare ignore me—and take that look of pity off your face! This isn’t us, Chloe.”

She did look up then. “Luke, I’m sorry.”

He moved so quickly, she didn’t have time to react. Luke was around the picnic table, his hands on her face in a tender cradle that belied the anger and frustration she could feel flowing through him. “Chloe.” Her name on his lips was heartbreaking as he pleaded for her to listen, to understand. But that was exactly what she was trying to do. “You can’t really believe this is us.” His voice was barely more than a whisper. “You can’t believe this is
me.
”

“I…I’m—”

He swallowed her words in a kiss unlike she’d ever had before. They’d shared passion, but this was different. It was heated. Packed with emotion. Infused with a different type of need.

Chloe groaned into his mouth as her body betrayed her and came alive. He walked backward with her and pressed her against the rough wooden wall, pinning her under him. She should put a stop to it. She should push him away and finish her work. But when his hands slipped down her body to her waist and the button on her pants, the ache that had been building inside her intensified. She shucked the gloves from her hands and captured his head in her hands, forcing him to look at her.

“I need you.” The words were rough, raw. And she knew exactly what he meant, because she, too, needed him in a way unlike any she’d ever felt before. He pushed her pants down, moving to his own belt buckle, all the while holding her with his dark eyes, an unasked question there.

She nodded, giving him the permission he was seeking. A low growl escaped him and she matched it with her own as he lifted her easily and entered her in one solid stroke. Chloe bit her bottom lip to control the emotion crashing through her.

There was no doubt in her mind that she was fated to Luke. He was her mate, he was her everything, and knowing that should have made everything better. It should have quelled the storm inside her, but it only added to the chaos in her heart. As they rode out their passion together in a hard, frenzied need, instead of feeling like home, it felt like good-bye. Because nothing could ever be the same again.

D
awn had barely broken
over the ridge when Luke left his cabin and slammed the door behind him. The night had been long. Too long without Chloe by his side. But he couldn’t have her again. Not the way he needed her. Next to him, curled up into him, that soft, round ass pressed into his—

No.
It was best to not even think about her. That was done. They’d said their good-bye in the shed, right there in front of the
evidence
that she planned to ruin him with. And she did plan on that; he knew it. He also knew she had a job to do and she thought she was doing it. Never mind that the garbage wasn’t theirs. It
looked
like theirs. He couldn’t blame her for that. He couldn’t stop her from doing her job.

No matter how much he wanted to.

It was too important to her. Heck, it was part of who she was. Part of the woman he loved.

And that’s why he’d said good-bye. Not in so many words, of course, but they both knew what that last coupling had meant. He’d felt the intensity from her just as surely as she’d felt it from him. They couldn’t happen. They couldn’t be. Fated mates or not, it wasn’t happening. And they both knew it.

Unless he could figure something else out. And that’s just what he planned to do.

He didn’t have proof yet, but in his heart, Luke knew that all of this had started with the wolves and by the time he was finished with them, it was going to end with the wolves.

No time for breakfast, or more importantly, having anyone stop him, Luke bypassed the Den and headed straight for his truck. Confronting the Blackwoods needed to be something he did on his own. It was true that they hadn’t been thrilled that Luke and his brothers had set up on the Ridge, positioning themselves as the first eco-tourism lodge in Montana, but the Jacksons weren’t competing for the Blackwoods’ business. They’d been a working ranch for decades and in the last ten years or so had added the tourism aspect and offered dude ranch experiences. That was not at all what the Jacksons were doing. They specialized in hikes and mountain biking, and soon…fishing. In fact, Luke often arranged trail rides for their guests down at Blackwood Ranch. They’d been nothing but reasonable. If the wolves had a problem with them, sabotage was definitely not the way to deal with it. That would become very clear. Very soon.

Once he was in the truck, he didn’t bother to be quiet as he roared out of the drive and down the gravel road. No doubt Axel had heard him fire up the engine and was probably pacing at that very moment. He’d know exactly what Luke was up to. Although his older brother would no doubt like to take a more diplomatic approach to things with their neighbors, Luke was pretty sure the time for that was over.

It was time for action.

Just as he’d expected it to be, the ranch was already awake. People moved about, mostly by the barns, getting the horses ready for the day’s events. But the barns weren’t where Luke was headed. Brian Blackwood was bound to be in his office, and that’s exactly where he was going. He parked the truck right out in front of the main building, not concerned whether anyone saw him or not, and stormed through the front doors.

Luke had only been in the main ranch building once or twice before, but it wasn’t hard to find the small hallway where the offices were located. Conveniently, Brian’s was marked by a slice of wood on the front. Forgoing the knock, Luke tried the handle.

“Blackwood. We need to talk.”

The other man looked up from his work and ran a hand through his shaggy head of hair. If he was surprised to see Luke, he didn’t show it. Instead, he smiled his wolfish grin and stood. He was shorter than Luke, but still a solid man. In a fistfight, it would be an evenly paired match. Despite his itch to hit something, or someone, Luke didn’t want it to come to blows.

“Luke.” He nodded. “What brings you to the ranch this morning? Looking for a trail ride? I have a nice calm mare that would be perfect for you. Real gentle.”

“Cut the shit, Blackwood. I’m not in the mood.”

The humor melted from the other man’s face and he straightened. “I see that. What’s up?”

“I thought we were good.” Luke waved a hand between them. “You and I,” he clarified. “I thought the Jacksons and the Blackwoods were working pretty well out here. No fights, no feuds. That changes. Today.”

Brian’s face changed instantly; any traces of laughter and teasing were gone, replaced only by confusion and a good dose of wariness. Even to a wolf, a bear throwing down a challenge was nothing to be messed with. “We are good,” he said. “Whatever you think is the problem is just that—you thinking it. We have no issue with you.”

“Really?” Luke could feel his bear roar inside him, eager to get out and run or fight. Whatever would take the edge off fastest. “Then explain the garbage,” he said. “And the woman.” He swallowed back the sour taste in his mouth, referring to Chloe so casually, but it wouldn’t do any good to let his potential enemy know that Chloe was his mate.

“You’re talking crazy.” Brian shook his head with a snort of laughter and moved to sit down again. “I don’t know anything about any garbage, and I know even less about a woman. Although, if you’re worked up about her, she’s probably worth—”

Luke moved around the desk so quickly, Brian didn’t see it coming. He slammed Brian up against the wall and pinned him with one hand on his shoulder, his other coiled in a fist. “Don’t say one more word.”

Anger flashed in Brian’s green eyes; his lips lifted to reveal his canines and a low growl started in his chest, but he made no move to get free. “So clearly she’s important to you,” he said simply. “But I still have no idea what you’re talking about. Now if you’re done with your caveman act for the moment, we can figure out exactly what the hell you’re talking about because I think it’s obvious it’s a problem.”

The other man’s calm tone soaked through Luke’s anger, and after another deep breath, he let go of Brian and backed off. “Sorry,” he grumbled. They may not be best buddies, but even as clouded as his instincts were at the moment, even Luke could see Brian didn’t know anything. If he had, he would have fought back and neither of them would be standing there as whole as they were. “But someone knows something, and I need to—”

“You need to figure it out.” Brian straightened his shirt and gestured for Luke to take a seat before he pulled his own chair up to sit. “Tell me what’s going on and I’m sure if we work together, we can come to some sort of solution. What’s this about garbage?” Brian winked at him. “And more importantly, tell me about the woman.”

“
Y
ou look
like you could use some more coffee.”

Chloe looked up from the table where she’d been cradling her head and half sleeping, half thinking, but mostly just daydreaming and looked up at Harper. She gratefully took the fresh mug of coffee the other woman offered her, pushing aside the one already in front of her. The one that had grown cold because she’d been too busy feeling sorry for herself.

“Thank you.” She forced a smile, but there was no way it came close to reaching her eyes. Even if she had been able to get a solid night’s sleep, Chloe was pretty sure she couldn’t have found much to smile about.

“Wanna talk about it?” Harper slid into the seat across from her without waiting for an invitation.

Chloe blinked hard and took a sip of the hot coffee. This woman was so unwaveringly kind to her, and Chloe had been nothing but a bitch. She shook her head in response to her own thoughts, but Harper took it as an answer.

“It’s okay,” she said. “You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. But I do know that sometimes, it can really help. I mean, I don’t know everything that’s going on and something tells me it’s a lot more than even you know, but I do know about the whole mating part.”

Chloe shook her head, hard. And almost spat out her coffee. “Oh no. You’ve got it wrong. I’m not…we’re not…I mean, it’s not like that.”

Harper lifted her mug, but it didn’t hide her knowing smile. “Sure it’s not.”

“It’s not.” Chloe put the mug down with so much force, it sloshed over the side. “I mean, it’s really not. We fooled around, yes. But…”
Why was she even telling Harper that?
Not that it was a secret, but still. Some things should be private. But she couldn’t seem to stop herself. “It’s not like we’re mates. We’re not. It’s totally not like that.” She picked up her mug again, trying for cool, calm, and collected. All things she failed miserably at.

“I’m not going to push, Chloe. But I am going to tell you that I know what it’s like to feel like you’re out of control and that something is happening
to
you. That’s part of what this mating thing is all about. And think about it from my perspective for a minute. I didn’t even know I was a bear. Can you imagine? I thought I was just going crazy.” Harper laughed and the sound was so real and so genuine, it put her at ease.

“That
would
complicate things.” She rolled the mug between her hands, letting the warmth fill her. “I certainly don’t have to worry about that.”

“No.” Harper bent her head in an effort to catch Chloe’s eye. “But you do have to worry about other things. Like your job.”

Just the mention of it sent Chloe’s stomach roiling again.

“My point is, it never seems to be easy, Chloe. Why don’t you let me help you talk it out?”

This time it was an offer she couldn’t refuse, because what was the point? She took another sip of her coffee, letting the black liquid fortify her and told Harper her story, starting at the very beginning, with her childhood and her need for independence.

Harper listened in silence and when Chloe finally paused, she nodded thoughtfully. “So what makes you think you can’t have it all?”

It wasn’t the question Chloe expected. “Pardon?”

Harper shrugged casually. “Forgive me, but I don’t really see the problem. You’ve found your mate.” She held up a finger, stopping Chloe’s interruption. “Whether you want to admit it or not.” Chloe closed her mouth and let the other woman continue. “And you have a career you enjoy that fulfills you. Why can’t you have it all? It doesn’t have to be a choice.”

Chloe dropped her head in her hands and rubbed her temples for a moment before she answered. “Weren’t you listening? I’m investigating claims of environmental mistreatment up here at the Ridge.”

“I got that part.”

“And I just found evidence of that on the Ridge.”

Harper waved her hand in the air. “That’s just…whatever.”

“But that’s the thing,” Chloe insisted. “It’s
not
just whatever. It’s everything.”

“It’s nothing.”

“How can you say that?”

“Because it’s not real, Chloe. You must see that.”

Chloe shook her head sadly. “What I see is the garbage that was dumped and it came from Grizzly Ridge. That’s evidence. Evidence against the Jacksons. Against Luke. It could mean a serious fine. It could mean jail time. It could mean…the end of the Ridge.”

Harper laughed. “That’s ridiculous.”

“No.” Chloe stared at her until the laughter dried up. “It’s not, Harper. I have to report what I found and depending on how serious it’s determined to be, there are all kinds of consequences that could come from this. I don’t want there to be, but there are.”

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, Harper took her time enjoying her coffee, blowing on it and sipping it carefully before she finally looked at Chloe again. “I guess that’s true,” she said simply. “Unless, of course, you do your job.”

Chloe recoiled as if she’d been slapped. “That’s exactly what I’m doing.”

“I don’t think so.”

“It is, Harper. My job is to investigate claims of environmental mistreatment.”

“And up until yesterday you found how many examples of that?”

“Well, none.”

“Right. And then you happened to stumble upon a few bags of garbage by Luke’s favorite fishing hole. Seems like a strange coincidence, don’t you think?”

Chloe shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

“Then maybe that’s the problem.” Harper pushed her chair back and moved to stand. “If you don’t understand what I’m saying, then maybe it’s time you stopped thinking with your heart and started thinking with your head.”

Her head spun. She wasn’t thinking with her heart. That was the problem. She wanted to. She wanted to protect Luke, to keep him and his family from whatever trouble there was going to be because of what she’d discovered. She wanted to protect herself. And the love she’d just begun to convince herself could be real.

“The way I see it,” Harper continued, “you’re so worried about what this discovery is going to cost you—that’s why you’re thinking with your heart. But if you opened your eyes for a minute, and put your feelings away, you’d see that you’ve missed some very important details. Details that are way too coincidental, if you ask me.” She stood then and looked down at Chloe. “Put your feelings aside and figure out what’s really going on and you might just be able to have everything you want after all.”

W
hen he finally calmed down
long enough to talk to Brian Blackwood, it hadn’t taken longer than about ten minutes for Luke to get the story of the garbage and the environmental investigation out. It had taken a lot less than that to realize Brian had absolutely no idea what he was talking about.

“You really didn’t know about it?”

Brian shook his head, and Luke could see in his eyes he was telling the truth. Also, it was at least the third time he’d asked the question. If Blackwood was lying, he would have sensed it, muddled instincts or not. Besides, wolves weren’t known for their dishonesty as a general rule, and the Jacksons had never had an issue with them before. Luke sat back in his chair.

“I believe you,” he said after a moment. “But if you didn’t know anything about it, or weren’t the source of the complaint that brought Chloe out here, then who was?”

“And who dropped the garbage?”

Luke sat up in his chair again. “Exactly. Because there’s no way in hell we did it.”

“Of course there’s not.” Brian lounged in his chair with his hands behind his head. “It doesn’t make any sense at all for you guys to dump trash on your own land. The land that’s your livelihood.”