The Wolf and the Bobcat: (4 page)

Chapter Five

11
th
January

Deanna woke to find a soft, warm body lying next to her. For a second, she actually thought her mystery wolf had found her, and crept into her bed. No, it was just Darcy.
She was annoyed at how disappointed she was by that.

When she got home last night, she had gone straight to Dennis and Darcy’s room and banged on their door. A very disheveled Darcy opened it, and Deanna fell into her arms sobbing.

A disgruntled Dennis had been dispatched to obtain some morning after pills. Thankfully, he had a friend at the hospital who could help. Driving home, Deanna had gone over and over it in her head, counting back the days to her last period. This was definitely not one of her safe days.

Darcy listened to her cries and worries and then just held her. The puma, god love her, didn’t judge her at all. When Dennis returned, she had hurriedly gulped down a pill and then Darcy put her to bed. She was pleased that the puma had stayed with her. She’d been more than a little agitated.

For a brief moment last night she feared she was turning into her mother. She saw a future of one-night stands, motherhood and too much alcohol stretching before her.
And it downright terrified her
.

Being a mother wasn’t that scary, she did want kids someday, but by then she was hoping to have been married for at least a few years. She didn’t really want it to be a result of a one-night stand with a horny wolf, even if he was the handsomest, sexiest…

Ugh!
Deanna grunted and sat up. At least she didn’t drink a lot last night, so there was no hangover.

Darcy rolled over and yawned. “Hey, you okay?”

Deanna nodded. “Thank you for staying with me, I’m sorry I ruined your plans last night.”

Darcy guffawed. “Anytime sweetie, and I’d hardly say staying in bed all night amounted to plans. Even so, I better go check on my mate, he’s probably a little grumpy by now.”

“I’m sorry…”

“Pshaw! I love it when he’s grumpy; he’s so cute! I call him my grumpasauras rex!”

Darcy got out of bed and pulled on her robe. Before she left, she placed a small kiss on her sister-in-law’s forehead.

Deanna let out a long breath, and forced herself to get up. Can’t mope around in bed all day, as much as she might want to. Of course, if she had company, that would be even better…

No, stop! She had to stop fantasizing about that damn wolf. She was mad at him, so mad!

Of course, it wasn't like she tried to stop him and ask him if he was wearing a condom. She was too wrapped up in the moment, too turned on to want to interrupt their lovemaking. He probably felt the same way.

Did he feel the same way about her? Was his every waking thought consumed by his desire for her? Did he dream of her body the way she did of his?

Deanna felt a fluttering in her heart, the thought that he might, thrilled her. But the thought that he might not…

She shook her head and in irritation pulled out some clothes and underwear, slamming the draws. Why wouldn’t he feel that way about her? What was wrong with her? Didn’t she deserve to be the object of a man’s affection? Didn’t she deserve to be treated like a queen?

Mental slap!
She was getting angry over nothing! She had no idea how her mystery wolf felt about her, and it didn’t matter anyway.
No siree!

Now, if she could only get her wailing bobcat to believe that.

*

14
th
January

Casey took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
He could do this.

Carly Finlay, his wolf pack’s Omega, opened the door and looked at him wonderingly. “Casey? Is everything alright?”

Casey clasped his hands together. “May I come in?”

Carly blinked. “Of course, sorry, that was rude of me.”

Carly led him into her living room and offered him a drink, which he duly declined.

He imagined she was more than a little surprised to see him. He’d never gone out of his way to seek her company before. Carly, as the Omega, was the smallest, and gentlest of all the pack, but was also connected to everyone emotionally and could manipulate emotions. Not something that had ever appealed to him, his feelings were just fine where they were – buried. His wolf snapped his jaws disapprovingly; it wasn’t a healthy way to live.
And then there were those burgeoning, warm, and almost all-consuming feelings for that little bobcat…

No, he shouldn’t think about her right now. He’d been obsessing over their last encounter since it happened; he ought to give his mind and lusty imagination a rest. Oh, if only he could; not that he actually wanted too, and his wolf wouldn’t allow that anyway.
The damn beast was besotted with the sexy cat.

Carly chewed her lip. Casey reflected that she was kind of cute. He’d never really considered her as a viable female before; she wasn’t his type. To be honest, he’d always gone for tall, scary blondes. And always regretted it…
time to get a new type
. Perhaps his type was a small, petite, golden blonde bobcat. His wolf howled in agreement.

After a few minutes of silence, Carly smiled tightly. “Not, that you’re not welcome here, Casey, but was there something you wanted?”

Casey dug his hands into his pockets, on finding his lucky charm he felt immediately reassured, and his wolf growled encouragingly. “I heard you were opening a cake shop… and I… umm… I was wondering if you would be hiring.”

Carly’s face showed her obvious surprise. “You? You want to work in a cake shop?” she asked slowly.

Casey felt heat dust his cheeks. “Yes,” he replied, softly.

He knew he would get ribbed by his friends for this, he knew other males in the pack would consider it to be unmanly, and not the act of a male wolf, but at this point he could give a crap. Since an early age, it became very apparent to Casey that he wasn’t exactly cut out for manual labor. He found out the hard way when trying to help out his carpenter father…
his thumb was sewn back on, and everything healed, so it was just best forgotten.
Growing up, Casey did, however, enjoy baking with his grandmother, Jeanette. He always looked forward to visiting his grandmother after school every day, because it meant they were going to do some baking. It was a love he’d assiduously kept hidden from his friends, but he figured it was time he got over it and grew a pair.

“Well, I… I…” Carly looked flustered. “I guess I’m just a little surprised.” She looked at him doubtfully. “I’m actually looking for people who can bake, and who like baking.”

Casey squeezed his good luck charm. “I can and I do. I know why you’re unsure, but I’m the right person for this job. I mean unless you don’t think I’m up to it because I’m a guy…”

Carly pursed her lips, and sent him a burst of annoyance that made him quiver. “Now, don’t start that sexist crap with me, young man. I don’t think anything of the sort. If I have any doubts about you, it has nothing to do with your gender and more to do with your own arrogant and silly behavior.”

Casey’s face fell, and Carly felt a tad guilty. “I’m sorry…”

“No,” he interrupted as his wolf licked his wounds. “You’re right, but I want to change that, starting now. I think this would be a wonderful opportunity if you’ll give me a chance.”

He gave her his best puppy dog eyes, and he could see she wasn’t going to hold out.

“If you’re sure this is what you want, of course, I’ll give you a chance, Casey,” she told him kindly.

A huge grin spread over his handsome face, and he had to restrain himself from fist-pumping the air. “Thanks, Carly.”

“Why don’t you make me a few things? So I can taste them, and see how good you are.”

Casey nodded energetically. “Definitely, what would you like?”

Carly spread her hands out. “Surprise me.”

There was a knock at the door; Carly excused herself to answer it.

Casey’s wolf howled, pleased at how this was going. If this worked out, he could quit his part-time job at the horse stables. Hunter’s father had been kind enough to give him a job, but Casey was the first to admit that mucking out horses did not float his boat.

There was also the bonus that he would have a steady job, added to the fact that he had his own home, he was a much more desirable proposition for his dream girl.
Or dream bobcat
. All he had to do was find her.

He twisted her panties through his fingers.
Yep, he was carrying them around in his pocket
. He considered them his good luck charm. Although, admittedly they hadn’t given him much luck in finding her, but they were the only physical proof he had that his delectable bobcat actually existed. No way was he giving them up.

His wolf snarled at a familiar scent. For a moment he panicked, thinking it was Lisa/Laura, but no it was another puma altogether. He panicked again when he realized it was Darcy.

Darcy had dated his high school best friend, Mal Tanner, off and on. When Mal refused to make a commitment to Darcy, the angry puma had tried to make Mal jealous by sleeping with Casey. It hadn’t worked; Mal could care less.

Over the years, Mal slept with Casey’s casual girlfriend, Casey slept with Mal’s, they both flirted and competed for the same girls… Now, looking back, Casey could see that he and Mal weren’t exactly the best of friends.
And that neither of them had been very gentlemanly when it came to women
.

That had changed for Mal, now that he was mated and expecting a pup. Maybe that would be me too soon, thought Casey longingly.

His wolf pranced around like a puppy in approval, while Casey shook his head. Where the hell had that come from? A month ago, if anyone had told him he’d be dreaming about mating and having pups, he’d have told them to shut their damn mouth. Yet, here he was.

And here was Darcy.

The tall, pretty puma froze at the sight of Casey. He frowned. For a second, he almost didn’t recognize her. She was always attractive, but she used to wear skin-tight clothes, layers of make-up and teased her hair into ringlets. But now, in a pair of jeans, a man’s Captain America sweatshirt, hair in a simple braid and no make-up, she was radiant.
Not a patch on his gorgeous bobcat, but still
.

Carly looked between the two of them. “I take it you know each other…”

Darcy sucked in a breath. “You could say that.”

Casey folded his arms.

Carly took a deep breath and tried to temper the burgeoning feelings of anger. “Well, both of you are here because you would like to work in the cake shop…”

Darcy and Casey shouted out in dismay at the same time. Both stated they did not wish to work with the other. There were more than a few lingering feelings of animosity following the fallout of Mal and Darcy’s relationship.

Carly held up a hand for quiet. “Both of you calm down, I haven’t made any decisions about the shop yet. I’m sure you would both be excellent employees…”

Casey snorted. “Yeah, I’m sure she’s fine until you say something she doesn’t like and she slashes your tires.”

Darcy blanched before fury tore through her. No way did this wolf have the moral high-ground with her! “Says the boy who put sugar in his high school principal’s gas tank, after she gave him detention for a month, for making fun of the history teacher’s mole!”

“That wasn’t my fault! If Mr. Woods had any sense, he’d have that thing removed! It was like a freaking third eye!”

Darcy opened her mouth to put in a retort, but thought better of it. The old Darcy would have argued, and screamed the whole house down until she was blue in the face. But that wasn’t her anymore.
She was the new Darcy.
The Darcy who was patient, who wasn’t overly competitive, who didn’t feel the compulsive need to chase after things she didn’t really want… including ex-boyfriends. She was loved, and she had a family, and she was finally happy. She didn’t need this job, if she didn't get it she would still be okay, but she would be grateful if she did.

She breathed in and out and counted to ten. She didn’t like Casey, or the way he had treated her, not that she behaved much better, but she wasn’t going to start world war three over it.

“Carly, I’d be grateful if you would consider me to work in your shop, but I understand if you don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Casey scoffed and was about to say something, when a stern look from the little Omega silenced him.

Carly sent them both calming tendrils. “I’m happy to give you both a chance, really I just need to judge how well you bake. So, both of you make some things for me, and we’ll take it from there. Okay?”

Darcy nodded, and Casey ground out a yes.

With the tension temporarily diffused, Carly took the opportunity to usher them both out.

Casey stood on the porch eyeing the puma. “You’re… different.”

“Yes, I am. I’ve grown up, maybe you should try it sometime.” With that she haughtily walked away from him,
okay maybe she wasn’t that grown up yet
.