Second Chance Mates (12 page)

"Our old stomping ground. Soon as we
could legally get a drink, that's where we all started hanging out.
You still go there, Clara? The crowd still hang there,
right?"

They followed her to the kitchen
waiting as she played with the wildflower stems, tweaking them this
way and that. "I haven't been there in...heck, I don't know. More
months than I have fingers to count on. I guess everyone still
hangs there."

"Let's go. Tonight. They have bands,
Luke, and if I remember rightly, Clara is an excellent
dancer."

Clara laughed. "Am not. Why don't you
guys go. I'll curl up with a book. We can catch up
after."

Cade took the vase, moving into the
living room to position it on the table.

"It wouldn't be any fun without you,"
said Luke. "Besides I only know two people in town and if you don't
go, I'll have a whole fifty percent less people to talk
to."

"I doubt that. You'll have girls around
you all night."

Luke leaned over her, and whispered in
her ear, just loud enough for her to hear, "But none of them would
be you."

"C'mon Clara,” Cade pleaded, his eyes
sparkling, “put on a pretty dress. I'll drive."

She rocked back on her heels, looked up
at the two men staring hopefully down at her. Hadn't she sworn she
would change her life? To be happy again? "Sure," she agreed,
before she could change her mind. "Let's go. It’ll be
fun."

***

"That was easy," remarked Cade, a note
of surprise in his voice. "I thought she'd take a lot more
persuading."

Luke looked at the empty doorway and
closed his eyes, imaging Clara's scent. He didn't know what had
changed but for the first time since they'd met, she'd been truly
aroused for him and unafraid to show it. Not the burst of primal
excitement he'd gotten from her initially, not the occasional
sexual interest she'd tried, and failed, to disguise; this time it
had been different. She had been receptive, had willing touched him
and been held by him, however briefly. He could still feel the
shape of her body against his, the soft swell of her backside
pressing against him. It had taken some surreptitious angling to
keep his erection from pressing hard into the small of her back
because he didn't want to alarm her.

No, her scent had definitely changed,
like she was actually considering him for a mate. Not only that,
but allowing him to gauge how receptive she would be. Very
receptive apparently, if he wasn't wrong. The realization had made
him harder than hell, then hesitant, and now he was just plain
determined.

Clara was going to be his, and soon.
She wanted him. He wanted her, and he knew he would give her
anything she wanted, would gladly commit to her right now, even
though he'd never lain with her. That would be something else he
would gladly rectify, preferably as soon as possible.

"What's gotten into you, man? You've
gone all moon eyed."

"Nothing," Luke said gruffly. "You
really think taking her out is a good idea?" He had a much better
idea. Cade could go out and leave him and Clara alone. He'd cook,
they'd drink wine, they'd talk and when the time was right he would
kiss her, hopefully even take her to bed where he would spend all
night loving her.

"I promised her family I'd get her out
more."

Knowing that her family knew what was
best for her didn't stop Luke adding a mental ‘probably’. Damn it,
if he was to be her mate, he would help her all he could, at her
pace. He wanted to protest but didn't want to come over possessive.
After all, he realized with annoyance, when it came to Clara he was
pretty much last in line. The idea chafed at his heart. When it
came to her, he wanted to be first. He wanted to love her, adore
her, protect her and hear her loving words whispered to
him.

"Think I'm going to take a shower,"
Cade said. "That barn is dusty."

"You reek too."

"Thanks, man. Can always count on you
to keep it real. Get ready, okay? We'll grab something to eat in
town then work on putting a smile on Clara's face."

Luke couldn't be certain, but he was
fairly sure he had a good shot at putting a smile on Clara's face.
Not that he would rub it in, but if she chose him, he would work
every day to bring happiness to her life. But even that didn’t push
back the realization that Cade was thinking exactly the same
thing.

To hell with it. He’d find a way to
cope. Anything for Clara.

Chapter Ten

As Cade drove into the parking lot,
Clara firmly wedged between him and Luke on the bench seat, she
couldn't recall why she had agreed to this evening out. For that
matter, she couldn't even remember when she'd last been into town
for an evening, never mind cared enough to want to. Her nerves were
shot to pieces. Clearly she’d been a hermit for way too
long.

She and Colton went out all the time,
more so before they got married, but that all seemed so long ago
now. There were always parties, and bars to go to, and evenings at
the movie theaters or hiking and other places with their friends.
Of course, some of that tailed off after they got married when all
they really wanted was each other, and tailed off a little more
when they bought the farm and were working hard. That said, they'd
still managed to host barbecues and picnics and movie screenings in
the comfort of their own home. Like so many things, that had all
ended when she lost Colton and lost the will to live.

For a moment Clara closed her eyes and
just breathed, counting silently to herself, a coping mechanism she
employed whenever she felt panic overtake her. A squeeze of her
hand just as she reached number nine reminded her who she was with.
Cade and Luke. They'd protect her. They wouldn't let her flail
among their friends.

"You okay?" asked Luke as Cade pushed
open the door and climbed out. "Don't panic," he added before she
could answer as if he could read her mind. "I'll be right beside
you. I promise."

"I'll be fine," Clara replied softly,
sliding across the seat to place her hands on Cade's shoulders as
his hands settled on her waist. He lifted her gently and set her
down.

The parking lot was already half full,
despite it not even quite eight, and she could hear laughter and
music coming from the bar. A quick scan of the long windows
confirmed she recognized a dozen or so people in there.

This won't be hard
, she told
herself.
They're your friends. It'll be okay. It's only a few
drinks then you can go home.

"Come on, baby. Time to say hello."
Cade slung an arm around her shoulder and waved a hand in reply to
a couple of guys inside who banged on the window to get his
attention. She knew the moment they realized she was the woman with
him. She could already see the whispers passing between their
friends and the double takes.
There's Clara
, she imagined
them saying,
such a young widow. So young.
And then people
not knowing what to say, which she understood because what did you
say in the face of comprehensive loss? It was easier to ignore
her.

As they entered the bar, Cade's arm
sliding down so he had her firmly by the waist—probably preventing
her from turning heel and escaping—and Luke still flanking her, she
plastered on her game face and lost count of the hi's and hugs and
squeals from her girl friends, all keen to show how pleased they
were to see her.
That she was over it. Like,
finally.

"I knew it was you," squealed Robyn,
wrapping her in a warm hug. Clara felt a brief flash of shame.
Friends since kindergarten, thick as thieves throughout high
school—not just because they were fellow lycans, but because they
genuinely adored each other—and beyond, Robyn had been her
bridesmaid but she couldn't even remember the last time they saw
each other. So much for lycans sticking together.
I’m a terrible
friend
. "And Cade! I heard you were back in town." Robyn
punched Cade's shoulder then squealed as he wrapped her in a big
hug. "That's more like it, big guy! How long are you here
for?"

Cade cut a glance at Clara. "For as
long as Clara will put up with us."

"This is Luke," said Clara, tugging
Luke forward, so she didn't have to answer any questions at that.
Luke had already reminded her he didn't know anyone but them in
their close knit town. "He's Cade's friend and they're staying with
me."

Robyn winked at her. "Lucky girl. Just
wait until the girls here there's new blood in town! Come and sit
with me. We have so much to catch up on. I'm sure the conversation
will be one sided seeing as you're a hermit now, so just shush me
when you get bored." Robyn flicked her hair over her shoulder,
grabbed Clara's hand and with that, Clara found herself tugged away
from the protective shadow of her guards and deposited in a booth
with Robyn and three other women she'd known forever. Each time she
tried to look over to Cade and Luke, Robyn blocked her
view.

"Tell me this is a new leaf," begged
Robyn, waving her hand at the waitress and pointing towards the
half drained pitcher on their table, before turning back, her blue
eyes hopeful. "You don't call, you don't write," she
joked.

"It's been a hard couple of years,"
Clara replied, again craning her head to see where Cade and Luke
were at. Despite her I don't need anybody attitude, Clara felt
suddenly vulnerable without them at her side but couldn't fathom
why. It wasn't like she wasn't used to doing everything alone. "Uh,
Cade insisted Luke was bored stiff and needed to see the local
nightlife."
That was it, wasn't it?
She couldn't remember.
Everything was so loud in the bar and there were so many people.
She used to revel in it. Hell, she'd be the one making the noise,
but now it overwhelmed her.

"The local nightlife being that tramp
Jessica?" Robyn sneered, nodding towards the bar. Clara stared past
her, frowning when she saw Jessica, a tall blonde with a mini skirt
barely more than a belt, practically draping herself over Luke. He
looked more amused than cross. "Well, he's a hottie all right.
Surprised it took her all over thirty seconds to get her claws into
him. Still there's always Cade. Still single, I'm
guessing?"

"Still single," Clara confirmed, though
it was partly through gritted teeth. Robyn knew the whole story
about Colton, Cade and she, about how she'd rejected him and how
he'd just left, straight after the wake. She'd listened to her wail
about it, then talk angrily. Surely she couldn't have forgotten
already?

"And still unclaimed if I'm not
mistaken." Robyn gave a feral grin. A mental flash of Robyn cooing
over Cade in their senior year made Clara's chest suddenly
constrict. Apparently she wasn't the only one forgetting; back then
Robyn had a crush on Cade and by the looks of it and the little
finger wave she gave him, combined with a shake of her mane, she
was still interested.

Why should she care? Robyn was smart,
single and successful and so was Cade. So Cade might have hinted
something towards her—well, more than hinted—that he still wanted
her and both her wolf and body both desired him, Robyn was right,
he was unclaimed and she didn't have any rights to demand another
woman take her eyes off him like she had the sudden urge to do. But
if she claimed him…

Instead she gave a curt nod and took a
sip of her beer, her eyes wandering around the packed room, until
she caught Luke's eye. He flashed a white smile at her and rolled
his eyes as Jessica hooked her arm through Cade’s, chattering none
stop, not that Clara could hear what the other woman said over the
throb of the music blasting from overhead speakers.

"Tell me about the big blond hunk."
Robyn wagged her fingers at the other women hugged around the small
table. "Enquiring minds want to know."

"He's Luke's friend. They share an
apartment and..." She paused. Actually she didn't know that much,
other than he shifted to a tiger and he made her feel faint and her
heart race. "He cooks," she finished lamely.

"That, I can work with," giggled
Lauren, a bubbly brunette who had also been a friend since school.
"I wonder if he cooks in the bedroom as well as he cooks in the
kitchen." They all hooted with laughter. Clara tried a weak
smile.

"Hush," laughed Robyn. "Clara didn't
say he cooks well."

Expectant eyes turned on
her.

"Uh, he cooks fine," she spluttered. So
much for a night out where she wouldn't have to think about Luke in
a bedroom. As the conversation continued around her, apparently all
her girl friends wanted to do was discuss Cade's return, and why,
and if he would be available for long and how hot Luke was, and
when would that bitch Jessica leave them alone? The more they
talked, and giggled, and ogled her men, the more Clara felt her
blood simmering. Even more so when she realized she'd just thought
something very propriety:
her
men.

"You don't mind if I take a shot at
Cade, do you?" Robyn whispered while the girls were distracted by
scowling at Jessica as Luke took her to the dance floor. Well,
somethings never changed. How had she never noticed how bitchy they
could all be when it looked like another woman might get something
they wanted, especially a man? Maybe it was because she'd always
been so head over heels in love with Colton and everyone had
recognized that he was off limits, otherwise they would have been
all over him too. Maybe, they had. Maybe she'd just never noticed.
That was a sobering thought.