Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 60481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
“Straight to the house. No going near the creek!” Wes called as he followed her out of the building at a slower pace. When we got outside and had a clear view of Remy and the house, he tucked his hands in his jeans pockets.
“So you found your mate, and she’s got a kid?” he asked. “Didn’t hear there was a new shifter joining our pack.”
News like that would have spread, especially on a ranch run by the pack alpha. They’d have been welcomed in, and with the good weather we’d had, they probably even would have hosted a barbecue or something.
“Um, yeah. The kid’s part shifter. Definitely.” I thought of him up on those rafters. I had a feeling he skipped the top of the monkey bars on purpose. “But Clio’s not.”
We watched as Marina came out the back door and waited for Remy, hands on hips. When the five-year-old got to her, she got a hug. Before they went inside, Marina waved down to us, knowing Wes would be watching for it.
“You sure she’s not a shifter?” he asked. “Maybe all the oil and grease fumes blocked her scent. Clint didn’t know Becky was his mate because he had his nose busted.”
I touched my nose instinctively. “Not a chance,” I replied. “I picked up her scent right away.”
So had my wolf. And my dick. Cinnamon and sugar. She’d smelled like heaven.
Both were pissed that we’d driven away from our mate because I couldn’t have claimed her then and there. I sure as hell wasn’t going to tell my boss I’d pulled off the road on the way back to the ranch because I couldn’t wait a second longer to come. I’d moved the seat back, opened my jeans, and wrapped my Clio-scented hand around my rock hard dick and made myself come.
I definitely wasn’t telling him it had taken me just seconds to explode. Talking about her now made my jeans tight.
He touched his chin as he commented, “She must’ve been with a shifter.”
“Obviously.”
He crossed his arms over his broad chest. “And has to know her son’s a shifter.”
“Maybe. He climbed up onto the rafter over the shop.” I grinned. “Sneaky and quick.” I raised my hand to stop the questions that he was dying to ask. “I don’t have any answers. All I know is that I can’t have a mate and a kid and live in the bunkhouse. I need to get to that rodeo and work the connections I made to get more orders.”
Orders for semen straws, semen collected from my prized bull that I sold to ranchers to inseminate their animals and produce quality stock for the rodeo. Prized bulls were big money.
Wes nodded. “‘Bout time you got a fire under you. Your business is going to take off if you put some time into it. While I’m sure Boyd has a number of connections, let me know if you need any help from me or mine.”
I nodded. Wes had also been in the rodeo with me and Boyd. Their friendship had been what brought Wes here to Wolf Ranch to settle after he retired. “Thanks. I appreciate the offer. I need a place for all of us. Hell, I owe Boyd a beer or twelve for making me buy that land south of here with my competition winnings. But there’s no house. Nothing.”
I paused, looked at Wes and rolled my shoulders back.
“I need to be worthy.”
He frowned, as if what I was saying made no sense. “You wanted to become the man of the house when your father died. You were, what, twelve? Skipped college to make money in the rodeo circuit to care for your mother and sisters. I’d say that’s worthy.”
I nodded. “Well, Clio didn’t give me the time of day. She didn’t take me seriously, even for a date. She probably thinks I’m too young. Proposing the three of us move in with my mother sure as hell isn’t going to help that.”
Wes laughed. “You’re probably right. Well, you really need to talk to Rob about this.”
“Talk to Rob about what?”
Startled, I swung at the voice, at Rob coming around the corner of the building.
“Christ, you’re stealthier in cowboy boots than you are on wolf paws.” I tipped my Stetson back.
Rob grinned. “How’s the foal?”
He entered the stable, and we didn’t have much choice but to follow.
“She’s doing well.” Wes leaned against the interior wall as Rob looked in on the horse. “Charlie was here a little while ago checking on her.” He raised his brows pointedly at me.
Rob swung around to face me. “What’s going on?”
“You know anything about JT, a half-shifter in Remy’s class?” I led with the part Rob would care about.
Rob went still, a frown between his brows. “A five-year-old halfling?”
I nodded. “They’re new to town. A human mom named Clio. She works at Ernie’s, and I’m guessing they moved into that apartment above the garage that he used to rent out.”