Hunter Moon (Lupine Moon Series) (24 page)

 Cash grabbed my bare thigh, stilling me. “If you don’t quit that I’m going to drive off the road. It was hard enough letting you walk out of your house unmolested after watching you ‘shake it’ for me.”

 My eyes widened. I was sure he could feel the goose bumps that spread across my entire body underneath his scorching grip on my thigh. I saw that emerald light behind his eyes and coughed a little.

“So, where are we going?” I squeaked.

He stared at me for a moment more before returning his attention to the road, for which I was infinitely grateful. He hadn’t once veered over the double yellow line in the center of the road, but it was still uncomfortable having him stare me down instead of looking where he was driving.

“I told you,” he said, voice rough. “You get to pick.”

It seemed we were headed to Oakhurst, since we were going northeast on road 415. I thought about our options. Oakhurst was a small town that survived mostly on the tourists that come through on their way to Yosemite National Park. I was a Yosemite High School Badger, class of ‘04.

There were a few decent places to eat, pizzerias, diners and burger joints. My favorite was a little hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant that had the best tortilla chips with plenty of seasoning.

“Well, if Mexican food sounds good to you, there’s El Cid. They make a pretty decent margarita too.” A margarita and maybe a few shots of Patrón were definitely in order. I was sort of hoping that tequila would make
his
clothes fall off…

“Sounds great, just give me directions.” His voice sounded a bit calmer, but he still had his warm hand on my thigh and it disrupted my brain function.
Oh, I’ll give you directions…
I double entendre’d to myself.

 “So, why did you come all the way over here to California from Wyoming?”

I thought the question was fairly innocuous, but Cash seemed to be bothered by it. It was a few moments before he answered. “I didn’t want to go into the family business.”

He seemed to want the conversation to stop there, but stubborn has ever been my middle name. “So, what is the family business?” I gasped loudly and feigned horror. “You’re not a part of the Wyoming mafia are you?”

He rolled his eyes in exasperation. “No, not the mafia,” he chuckled, but then said, “sometimes it feels that way though.”

His knuckles went white on the steering wheel and I could swear I heard the metal groaning. Cash had gone all quiet and introspective so I changed the subject.

“So what made you want to become a game warden? From what I know, it’s a pretty small branch of law enforcement.”

Cash seemed more comfortable with this line of questioning. “Well, I like that I’m by myself most of the time. We’re pretty autonomous so I can make my own schedule depending on what’s in season.” His eyes grew brighter the more he talked. “I get to keep hunters honest and also be outdoors. I think I would snap and kill a bunch of people if I had to work in a cubicle.”

I was right there with him on that one. I loved being outside. I actually had little panic attacks if was in a tight space with a lot of people. Crowded elevators, airplanes, movie theatres all gave me a giant case of the heebie jeebies. I liked to think of it as a case of agoraphobia with just a dash of claustrophobia.

“I worked for a while in Southern California, but living up here is a lot better. The pace, the people, even the landscape is more like home. But this winter I wonder if I’ll know what to do with myself without snow.” He looked at me like I was missing out. It didn’t take living up North to know that having to shovel feet of snow in order to leave the house was not preferable to the temperate area in which I lived.

“At least it get below freezing every now and then. The same can’t be said about SoCal. I get enough snow every season at China Peak, anyway.” His look informed me he didn’t think much about our little ski hill.

I loved to snowboard. It was about an hour and a half drive away, but it was worth it. Snowboarding was the way I vacationed, since I couldn’t really leave the ranch once I had calves on the ground. There was a window between November and March where I didn’t have any calves so it wasn’t as nerve-wracking to be away.

“I scoff at your tiny ski resort,” he said with a very fake Russian accent. “Someday I’ll take you to Jackson Hole. Now that is a real mountain!” My eyebrows climbed high of their own accord at his statement.
He’s already thinking of someday?
Before he could see my surprise and pleasure, I smoothed out my expression.

“Do you board?” I couldn’t wrap my head around the image of 6’4” Cash barreling down the hill on a snowboard. All the snow would be melted by his hotness.

“I started off skiing, but just recently I went over to the dark side. It’s quite a bit different. Right at first I wasn’t sure I’d like not having poles.” He gave me a sardonic little smile that made me laugh.

“I felt the same way too. I learned how to ski through MASS, Mountain Area Ski School, but when I got into high school I switched over. There’s nothing worse than getting stuck on a flat spot on a board. But there’s nothing better than boarding through untouched knee deep powder. That’s my absolute favorite.” I sighed wistfully, daydreaming about flowing soundless through the trees and crisp, pine-scented winter air.

“Plus, there’s no way you can look cool skiing,” he said ruefully. I giggled

We laughed and talked the rest of the drive to El Cid, and I felt like I was on my way toward getting to know Cash. He pulled the truck into the parking lot and gave me a dirty look when I tried to open the door for myself. I raised my hands in surrender and stayed put, leering at him as he walked around to open my door.

When he did give me a hand out of the truck, he tugged me close and ran his hand through my hair. I’d left it down and it flowed long and straight down my back. He was so tall I had to look up at him, and that didn’t happen often. My bloodline harkened back to the tall Norse Vikings and every other guy I’d ever dated had been shorter than me. I enjoyed the sensation. Cash leaned down and brushed a soft, sweet kiss across my lips.

I closed my eyes and started to lean in when his arms stiffened around me. Before I could react, or even let out a yelp, he’d spun me behind him and pressed me against the truck . I searched the parking lot for whatever had set off his protective instincts, but I couldn’t see any threat. My hands were on his waist, and I could feel the vibrations from the growl that rolled out from deep in his chest.
This man growls more than Reggie does…

“What’s wrong, Cash?” I whispered over his shoulder. He shook his head and continued to scan the parking lot around us.

“Hello, big brother!”

 I squeaked. Cash spun to face me and whoever was behind me. His face was livid, and I felt bad for whoever was on the receiving end. I, however, was pushed against the side of the truck by his broad chest now and enjoyed being in between a rock and a hard place. Cash’s whole body hummed with tension.

“What the hell are you doing here, James? I thought I told you to stay at my place.”

His voice was low and menacing, and if I hadn’t so comfortable where I was, I would have been scared. I still couldn’t see his brother because Cash didn’t seem to want to let me move. Choking on the testosterone, I pushed him away and turned.

I looked James over, realizing he was Stalker Ken Doll I’d met at the general store. I looked him over with this new information in mind. He wasn’t quite as tall as his brother, reaching only about six foot, but his coloring was more striking. His full lips were twisted into a mischievous leer.

The man was walking, talking sex appeal. He wore tight black slacks and a black silk button up that showed off a well-formed chest. I knew why Cash would be worried. James could have been a Ralph Lauren model. He looked me up and down again, and I bristled at his presumption. I’m sure all his swagger and male posturing had most women swooning over him left and right, but his arrogance pissed me off. Still, he was Cash’s brother so I tried not to glare.

“I was bored,” he said, still surveying me. “I went to the bar you told me about, but it was almost empty and
she
wasn’t there.”

I knew that wasn’t entirely true. No, I wasn’t there, but the General Store bar was always hopping on a Friday night.

“I ran into, Jesse, and she told me where you two would be going. I didn’t think you’d mind.” He walked around the truck and held out a hand to me, but Cash growled.
Again with the growling…

I looked up at him. He was staring at James with the promise of death. Shoulders tight, he looked like he was a hair’s breadth away from throwing a punch. Even though James probably deserved it, I didn’t want a repeat of what happened with Jack.
Are you sure?
That little voice purred.

 I grabbed his hand, laced his fingers with mine and gave it a gentle squeeze to try and reassure him. I looked into his cobalt stare and put every ounce of my love in my eyes. He paused, looking down at me and I saw the eerie light fade from behind his eyes.

I let out a long breath and turned my gaze back to the trouble-making brother. He still had his hand out, so I took it with my free hand. Cash’s grip tightened a fraction until I let go of James’ hand. If anything, his expression appeared smugger as he took his hand back, flexing it slightly.

“Ah, I thought so. So, you’ve finally found her, eh brother?” James had stopped leering, and looked at me speculatively.

“James…” Cash warned.

James didn’t seem to realize it was a warning, or he didn’t care.

“You’ve begun mating her. Congratulations. You’d better watch yourself, though. If you don’t hurry up and finish it I’m liable to steal her away.”

James’ voice seemed jovial, but I heard a sharp edge in his words. I didn’t doubt he’d try to take me away, even from his brother.
Wait, what did he just say?

“Mating? What the—” I spun on Cash. “You told him we’ve had sex?” I hissed.

Cash shot a murderous look at his brother, but James seemed genuinely surprised at my reaction. “She’s had the dream and you’ve marked her, but she doesn’t know?” Incredulity dripped from James’ voice. Cash’s look turned homicidal, but James marched on. “When were you going to tell her?”

“When are you going to learn to shut the hell up?” Cash spat. “This is none of your business.”

He moved a step closer to his brother, whose mouth had fallen open. Part of me wanted to chuckle at that expression on such a beautiful man, but I was too confused and angry. I tugged Cash’s hand that I still held.

“It is
my
business,” I barked. “What dream is he talking about? And what mark? And for the love of all that’s holy, why did you tell him we’ve had sex when we haven’t?”

 I was silently thankful that there wasn’t anyone else in the parking lot who might hear this madness.
Thank God for small blessings.
Cash regarded me with a guilty expression, but my attention swung back to James when he started laughing.

“Cash, are you an idiot?” he wheezed. “You haven’t slept with her? How can you stand it!” He took me in with one of his lewd gazes again. “Oh man, given half the chance I’d take her home and—”

“James!” Cash roared.

He had a powerful set of lungs. It shut James up.

Cash turned towards me. “I did not tell him we were having sex.” I glared at him, searching his face for a lie, but found none. I nodded. “As for the rest, it’s neither important nor relevant right now. What’s important is that we go inside and continue our date.”

I gave him a look that promised him he’d have to give me answers eventually, and he nodded. I sucked in a deep breath and entwined my fingers with his again. We turned away from James and walked over to the front of the restaurant, but Cash stopped and spun when we heard James following us.

“Seriously, James?” Cash snapped. “You’re not coming with us. Go home.”

His voice had the distinct sound of authority and I wondered how anyone could resist following his orders. Cash was as tightly wound as a piano wire, as if he expected James to fight with him. In the end, James left.

“I’m sorry about that, Shells. Let’s just try to have a good night.”

Cash looked at me hopefully so I smiled back brightly in reassurance. I couldn’t bring myself to tell him how thoroughly James had wrecked my mood.
Sir Buzzkillington I presume...

We had wonderful Mexican food and great margaritas, but it was apparent both of us were going through the motions. Not even top shelf tequila could salvage the evening.