Second Chance Mates (24 page)

"Some asshole set it on fire," she
replied smartly.

Stanton looked around, wrinkling his
nose at the neatly clipped lawn framing either side of the freshly
graveled driveway and the fresh planter of cheerful mums parked by
her front door. "Accidents happen," he drawled. "Shame it devalued
the property. Fire can be
such
a hazard."

"What do you want, Stanton? Something
tells me you're not here to commiserate," she replied in a tired
tone that should tell him she wasn't interested. As per usual, it
fell on ignorant ears.

"That I'm not," he agreed. "Actually I
had a meeting with the bank just two weeks ago and it seems you're
struggling to pay the mortgage. I hear the land taxes are high,
too. So I've come to make you a final offer and this time, you're
going to take it."

"And if I don't?"

"If you don't, the bank will repossess
the property and I'll buy it anyway."

"What's your price?" Clara asked,
sitting up and leaning forward as if she gave a damn. Next to her
Cade put his foot down, stopped the swing moving.

Stanton looked at her in surprise. He
clearly hadn't expected her to acquiesce so easily. He named a
figure that sent laughter surging through her. It was even less
than she and Colton paid for the place. He had some
nerve!

"No, thanks," she muttered through her
laughter. "Not interested. Not even slightly."

"Then I guess I'll see you at the
auction. The bank plans to repossess in under a month."

"There won't be any auction." Clara got
to her feet and faced the man she loathed. She felt braver than
ever. "I know about your dealings with the bank but you don't seem
to have the full story. See, I'm not going to sell."

"Oh, yes you are. You don't have two
nickels to rub together."

"No," Clara said again. "I'm
not
selling. And I'm not too happy with the bank either. I moved my
money ten days ago. To save you the bother of pestering your spies,
the mortgage is paid off too thanks to the insurance money coming
through. You know if we hadn’t been looking for the insurance
papers for the barn, I might never have come across the life
insurance policy my husband and I took when we bought the farm."
That had been Colton's final gift to her: an insurance policy that
would pay off the farm, lock, stock and smokin’ barn, if anything
happened to him.

In her anguish, she hadn't even thought
about the papers until Luke had found them while the three of them
went through her paperwork, right after they made her an intriguing
offer. "Actually, seeing as you're so interested, I've taken on two
partners who are buying into the farm," she continued, trying not
to enjoy Stanton's outraged face as his plans fell apart. "The
original plans for a wildlife sanctuary are going ahead. And that
barn that so helpfully burned down? Well, turns out it's a good
thing because the insurance money will help go towards the new
purpose-built learning center."

"Rubbish," spat Stanton, but she could
see the worry in his eyes. "Where could you get two partners with
that kind of money?"

"Me for one. The farm stays with my
wife and me," said Cade, rising to stand with her just as Luke
exited the house and came to join them on the porch. Luke playfully
tossed a hammer in one hand, catching it by the handle only to send
it spinning in the air again. In the other he held a slim
folder.

"And me," added Luke. "This is our home
and we don't want you on it."

"You need to sell!" Stanton insisted,
his voice rising a notch.

"No, Stanton, we don't," said Clara.
"The farm is ours free and clear. Luke, didn't you want to tell
Stanton something?"

"You mean about the fire?"

She nodded, enjoying their play acting.
"That's right."

"Honey, do you mean the bit about the
cameras we installed around the property after all that suspicious
damage?" asked Cade, squeezing her hand so lightly it was
imperceptible to anyone watching. She returned the squeeze, noting
the amusement in his voice as he toyed with Stanton.

"That's right, the cameras that take
photos, even at night." She turned the weight of her gaze on
Stanton, watched him blanch.

"Oh,
those
pictures!" It was
almost comical the way Cade landed a palm on his forehead. "Funny
you should mention them but don't we keep a copy of them in that
folder Luke is holding?"

Luke grinned. Opening the folder, he
extracted several eight by tens, leafing through them before
passing them to Clara. He held one back. "This is my favorite," he
said, passing it to Stanton. "It's a good likeness, don't you
think?"

Clara watched as Stanton flinched, his
jaw twitching. She knew exactly which photo Stanton held. It was
the one of him stood at the open door of the barn as gasoline
flowed from the canister in his hand. In it, he looked straight at
the house, ensuring the cameras got a perfectly clear shot that was
date and time stamped.

"Forgery," he said, flinging the photo
back at Luke.

"There's video footage too," said Luke,
drawing his ace card. "Just in case you wondered, yes, you looked
pretty damn pleased with yourself when you lit the rag and threw it
into the barn."

Stanton looked over his shoulder at his
bully boys. His nostrils flared but he kept his mouth shut.
Probably trying to work out how he can wriggle out of this
one
, thought Clara.

"If you want to take these photos, be
my guest." Luke returned them to the folder and held it out to the
man. Stanton made no move to take it. "Just as you arrived, I
emailed copies to the sheriff and the local paper, along with the
video footage, so we have plenty to go around."

"So as you can see," said Clara. "We
are done here. And if you ever come onto my,
our
, land again
I will have you prosecuted for trespass."

"You heard the lady. Get lost." Cade
and Luke both stepped forward, protectively shielding
her.

Luke added, "I'd tell you not to come
back, but I have a feeling you're going to be pretty busy with your
lawyers for some time."

"You bitch," spat Stanton.

Cade and Luke stepped forward again.
Stanton took stock of their looming presence, choosing flight down
her porch steps instead of fight. Without a backwards glance, he
climbed into his truck, slamming the door shut, glaring as he
waited for his bully boys to amble after him. With a squeal of
tires, they drove off, spinning dust from their wheels as they
hurtled away at breakneck speed.

Clara threw her head back and laughed.
Reaching for a hand from each of her men, she asked, "Have I
mentioned you're both awesome?"

"Twice last night, and once early this
morning." Cade laughed and she punched his arm
playfully.

"Now that business is taken care of,
there's something I want to tell you both." She linked arms with
them and they walked around the side of the house towards the
garden she was finally growing at the rear.

"If it's about the food for the party
this afternoon, I'll tell you again. All covered," said
Luke.

"No, it's not about the food, though
I'm not sure we ordered enough for the barbecue. Actually it's
something else." Clara sat on the edge of the deck, drawing them
down beside her. Behind them, the table and chairs they'd picked
out together were laden with food, and the coals of the grill were
starting to smoke, ready for the barbecue she'd invited her family
and friends too.

Jessica, her new friend was coming, and
there were a few others, people who were loyal to them, happy that
they found happiness. Later on the place would be teaming with
shifters, waiting for the moon to rise before they ran free. They’d
even agreed on a new name for the place: Colton’s Farm and
Sanctuary.

She had important news for them,
primarily the redrawn plans for the farm that included the new
learning and social center which she finalized an hour ago. Of
course, there was something she had to share with her mates first
and she'd rather share it with them alone. "You know how I love my
flower garden, and my vegetables? Well, I thought of something else
we need more. A proper garden..." she started, stopping to chew her
bottom lip and stare at the areas they'd dug over, weeded and
planted together. Now she had plans for the area immediately off
the deck, currently left to grass.

"More digging?" groaned Luke, tipping
backwards to lie on his back.

"Mmm, some, but I think you'll like
this..."

"Tell us and it's yours, sweetheart."
Cade pressed the back of her hand to his lips and kissed
it.

Taking first Cade's hand, then Luke's,
she pressed them against her belly. There was nothing for them to
feel yet, not even the faintest curve but there would be soon and
she was sure they noticed how sensitive her breasts were
lately.

"What is it?" asked Luke, concern
erupting across his face. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm pregnant," she said, suddenly
unable to contain her excitement anymore. "I'm going to have a
baby!"

"Then the garden..." Realization dawned
in Cade's eyes.

"Will be a playground." Clara smiled.
"Somewhere for the baby to play. You don't have to build it now,
but sometime in the next year or two I want our baby to have
somewhere lovely to safely play and explore."

Instantly, they squashed her between
them, peppering kisses across her lips and cheeks, their excitement
giving way to grand plans about swing sets and tree houses and
miniature log cabins perfect for a child, things she was sure their
child would love in the years to come. She felt ready to burst with
her own happiness reflected in their enthusiasm.

It was true they hadn't talked about
having children yet but Colton knew she wanted a baby, a family;
they had only just started trying when he was taken from her,
another crushing blow to the life she had envisioned. She may not
have him, and he was irreplaceable, but she had love and hope in
her life again.

The breeze lifted her hair, and drifted
across her lips in a final caress. She turned her face up to the
skies, smiling as the breeze left her, leaving her bathing in the
warmth of the late summer sun and the heady joy of the men who had
taught her to love again.

About Sabrina

Sabrina loves romance and isn’t afraid
to admit it. From contemporary tales to the paranormal, she loves
to entertain her readers with alpha heroes and feisty
heroines.

Keep up with Sabrina’s latest books
and news via her website at www.sabrinavance.com or find her on
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