Foxy Lady

Chapter Seven

“Julia!”

It just figured Gerald would be the first person they’d run into when they hit town. Ty’s friend wore jeans and a pullover sweater, with that natural windblown look all the women in town seemed to favor. Personally, Ty didn’t see anything remarkable about Gerald except his ability to get under Ty’s skin.

Julia left the truck and Ty set it in park. Finding new tires for the vehicle had been a hassle, but fortunately a friendly mechanic in Kettle Falls had helped him out. With Meghan and Jason now in Whitefish and Gabby driving to her house ahead of them, Ty had hoped to spend more alone time with Julia before the rest of the world intruded. Apparently, seeking privacy in his own home had been a dumb thing to do.

Gerald gave her a big hug and froze. He took a careful step back and glanced from her to Ty with a shit-eating grin on his face.

Ty sighed. “Hell.”

“Well it’s about time! So you finally did it. I told you she wouldn’t say no.”

Julia didn’t look so happy to see him anymore.

“Actually, she asked me,” Ty added with a sly grin.

Julia groaned. “Ty…”

“Really?” Gerald asked. Ty could picture his whiskers twitching with curiosity.

Ty shook his head. “Long story. Gerald, what are you doing here?”

“Ah, we had some problems while you were gone. One of the raptors spotted you driving home and gave me a call.”

“I was gone for a few days. What the hell couldn’t my deputies have handled?”

Gerald exhaled loudly. Not good. “That’s just it. John tried to handle an altercation with the wolves that didn’t go so well. Not after you threw a bunch of them in jail before you left. Anyway, somehow Sophie got involved—”

“What the hell does she have to do with this? She’s the only wolf I know who doesn’t cause trouble.”

“The thing is, a few bears were horsing around in the grocery store. So Sophie intervened. She suffered a broken arm—”

“What?”

“The bears didn’t mean it. And then Monty got involved. Next thing you know there’s blood and fur all over the place. John showed up to ease tensions and Monty attacked him.”

“I’m sure Monty only attacked him because he smelled another bear and sensed a threat,” Julia offered.

Ty glared at her. “Don’t help him.” He turned back to Gerald. “Is everyone okay?”

“John’s pretty beat up but he’s healing at County. Sophie’s arm’s in a cast. Monty’s locked up and going nuts.”

Julia frowned. “He doesn’t like to be caged. You need to set him free.”

“How the hell do you know what he likes?” Ty didn’t like her familiarity with the gray wolf. Monty Grayclaw turned peace into problems whenever he opened his mouth. Time to talk to Burke—again—about the newest member of his pride. Maybe this time he’d cite Monty. Some community service might do the gray wolf some good.

Gerald smirked. “You’re looking mighty green there, Ty.”

“Asshole.”

Julia huffed. “Nice language, Sheriff.”

“Really. And around a lady.” Gerald had to add his two cents.

“My foxy lady. Mine. Now how long has he been locked up?” Ty asked through gritted teeth, wishing for once someone else had been elected town sheriff.

“A day.”

“Great.” Ty ran a hand through his hair. He had to settle things down. But he also wanted to tend to Julia. If he left her alone, she’d take off, putting more distance between them they didn’t need. “Hold on a minute, Julia.” He pulled his friend aside. “I need to go into town. Don’t let her leave.”

“You know I can hear you, right?” Julia asked with feigned politeness.

Ty ignored her. “We have a lot to talk about. See if you can get her to open up to you. For some reason I’ve never been able to figure out, she likes you.”

“Sure thing.” Gerald glanced at Julia and sighed. “You always were a lucky bastard, Ty.”

“Yeah, I am. You lay one paw on her, I’ll gut you, best friend or not.”

“I’m wounded.”

Ty didn’t find him amusing, even less so when Gerald didn’t bother to hold back a grin.

“Sure thing, Ty. Me and Mrs. Sheriff will while away the hours talking about your finer points. Feel free to pick up some food before you come back. I ate your last bit of ham, and, uh, the rest of the stuff in your fridge too.”

Julia snickered.

Ty’s heart softened hearing his mate laugh. He gave her a solid kiss on the mouth, scowled at Gerald, then drove to the station.

He found Monty pacing like a demon in a cell all his own between two drunken bears on one side and four beaten-up raptors on the other. Another group of wolves occupied the fourth cell. Wolves in jail—no surprise there. His deputies quickly explained what had occurred in his absence. Laura, a grizzly and the senior officer, vowed to have a talk with Gerald Winters and his big mouth. They’d had everything handled, or so she said.

The groups behind bars ranted about the department the minute they saw Ty.

“Save it,” he barked and pulled Monty out. The gray wolf snarled but didn’t attack. Once out of sight of the cell, he visibly shook as Ty led him to his office. “What the hell happened to you?”

A long time ago, Ty had been close to Monty. The gray wolf had a decent sense of humor, a hard head that had suffered many a blow during childhood stunts, and a savvy poker face. He’d disappeared years ago, leaving his friends and family behind with more questions than answers.

Since he’d been back, he’d been in one scrape after another. After joining the Catamount Pride, Monty had seemed to be trying to clean up his act. Seemed being the key word.

“You have shitty timing, Monty,” Ty muttered, concerned about Monty’s condition. “Damn, son, you look like crap.”

Monty bared his teeth in a semblance of a grin and sat. “Thanks.”

Ty dug into his desk drawer and found a Snickers. He tossed it to Monty and watched the wolf gobble it down. He handed him a glass of water and watched it disappear as well. “They didn’t feed you?” Anger surged, but before he could yell for Laura, Monty stopped him.

“I didn’t eat what they brought. I’m a vegetarian now.”

Ty’s jaw dropped.

Monty grinned. “Kidding. I just hate being caged. Had some problems with confinement during my lost years. Don’t worry, I’m feeling much better.” With a steady hand, he brushed back black hair threaded with silver.

“Okay, wolf. Tell me the whole of it.”

Monty grimaced. “I followed a few wolves talking about taking vengeance on the town sheriff. They had plans for you, Ty. None of it sounded good. Well, I followed them into the grocery store, only to find two bears messing with Sophie. So yeah, I got distracted.”

Of course he did. Ty had seen the way Monty watched Sophie. A pretty little wolf and new to the town, she’d been quite the curiosity for a while. Not aggressive like the wolves of her Order, Sophie worked hard and didn’t give anyone trouble. He had a feeling Monty was soft on the woman, especially after hearing about the damage the wolf had done on her behalf.

Monty continued. “Those bears aren’t cubs anymore. Assholes are huge and old enough to know better. They were tossing her between them like a fucking rag doll. One of them threw her so hard she hit a rack and it fell on her, breaking her arm. I saw red and attacked.”

Ty sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. So much for the bears and wolves getting along. Stovall, the bears’ leader, would blow a gasket. Normally, the giant of a man with a heart of gold would try to reason out their difficulties. But a wolf attack days after someone had bludgeoned his truck… Shit. “Does Stovall know?”

“How the hell should I know? I’ve been cooped up in here while your damned deputies have been playing house,” Monty said in a louder voice.

Low growls from outside the office answered him.

“You’re just making friends all over the place, aren’t you? I take it you attacked John because you smelled bear?”

The wolf flushed. “Ah, yeah. I’m really sorry about that. I went into protective overdrive with Sophie. Laura at least let me know Sophie’s okay.”

“But the oaf wouldn’t see her when she came to visit,” Laura yelled from the other room.

So much for the privacy of his office. Ty rubbed his eyes tiredly, really wishing he’d spent his first evening at home sequestered with Julia and not his job.

“But enough about me. What’s that pretty scent all over you?” The interest on the wolf’s face alarmed him. Monty had a way with women. Ty thought of him as Gerald in wolf form, but not as smooth. The wildness around Monty’s eyes clearly reflected the animal inside.

“Never you mind.”

His old friend frowned. “It’s more than just her scent. Yours is mingled with it. Damn. Never thought I’d see the day. Who’s the lucky fox?”

“Julia Easton.” Ty didn’t look away from Monty, sending a signal the only way he knew how without bashing Monty’s brains in. “She’s mine.”

Monty finally glanced away, acknowledging Ty’s claim. “Congrats. Sucker.” He snickered and groaned, fingering his jaw. “By the way, tell Laura to watch that right hook. She put a bit too much bear behind that punch.”

“I heard that,” Laura yelled.

“Damn woman hears everything,” Ty murmured. “Okay, Monty. I’m letting you go. Make things right with John. He won’t hold a grudge. And go see Sophie if it’ll make her feel better.”

“I will. I’m really sorry about this. But I’m telling you right now, I see those bears harassing her again, I won’t stop with broken bones. I’ll kill the bastards.”

“Perfect. Now take your testosterone somewhere else. I’ll deal with the bears. Oh, and a word of advice? Take a shower before you go see Sophie. You stink.”

“Dick. Later, Sheriff.” Monty flipped him off and left the office.

Ty worked some damage control with the bears and wolves, made a call to Burke to let him know the rowdiest member of his small pride would be returning shortly and to keep a leash, and preferably a muzzle, on the gray wolf. Then he signed a few things needing his attention and headed home.

On the short drive back to his place, he thought about the cats and wondered. Burke didn’t much care who joined his pride so long as the Shifter would give his or her loyalty. If things didn’t work out with the foxes, he and Julia could always move there. It would hurt to leave his family and the friends he’d made throughout his life, but he’d still see them every day. He just wouldn’t have that tight connection he’d always had.

He couldn’t imagine leaving Julia to fend for herself if push came to shove. To make a choice between his clan and his mate proved easy. Julia was his future. One he needed to return to before Gerald scared her away for good.

“I’m so glad you’re back. You worried me,” Gerald said, a lecture in his tone.

Julia groaned. “Go ahead, get it off your chest.”

She’d worked for Gerald for five years and knew the silver fox better than he knew himself. His glib tongue and roving eye masked a serious, responsible Shifter who wanted to settle down and support the community. Problem was, no woman could keep Gerald’s interest for longer than a few weeks at most. Julia had lost count of how many flowers she’d ordered for him. The Date Breaker Bouquet, for the lady who ails you.

Gerald frowned at her. “I wish you would have told me about your problems with Meghan.”

“Ty told you?”

“Yeah. He told me about everything. About Meghan, about your dad.”

Tears welled though she tried to blink them away. “I trusted him.”

“And he trusts me. If there’s a legal loophole in this town, I know about it. If there’s anything I can dig out of the council members, I’ll find it. Come on, Julia. We’re friends. You know I’d never betray you. And you have to know Ty won’t either.”

Rationally, she agreed with him. But it chafed her Ty hadn’t thought to ask her permission before sharing family secrets.

“So did you really propose to Ty?”

She leaned her head back on the couch and counted to ten. “No. I did not propose to Ty. The fox accepted an offer I never made, and somehow I’m wearing his scent.”

“Somehow?” Gerald murmured.

She blushed and snapped back, “I know how it happened. I just mean I hadn’t thought it would be anything more than, uh, something physical.”

“Bullshit.”

She blinked at Gerald and sat up straight. “What?”

“Honey, I’ve watched you two dance around each other for years. Whenever he’d come into the office, you avoided his gaze. But you’d watch him all the same. Not like anyone else who ever approached you. You gave them all the cold shoulder. Ty was different.”

“Come on, Gerald.”

“You know it’s true. You care for him, don’t you?”

“I guess.”

He scoffed. “You’d better get a little closer than I guess. That man will rip my head off for looking at you the wrong way, and Ty’s as close as a brother to me. Your problems are now his. And he’ll do everything he can to see that you’re happy.” He paused. “You’re happy at the office, right? You are going to come back to work with me eventually, aren’t you?”

She grinned. “Yes, Gerald. I like my job. I’m not so sure about my future in town, though. My sisters and I have kept our parentage secret for a long time, but I’m not sure how much longer we can hide from the truth.” She looked into Gerald’s light brown eyes, seeing the friend who’d been there to encourage her through years of loneliness and hard times with her aunt and uncle.

Next to Sarah and her sisters, Gerald really was her best friend.

“What’s that look?”

“You know me better than my new mate does.” She sighed. “This relationship is doomed, isn’t it? My problems are Ty’s now. He could lose his job, lose his place in town and be kicked out.” Real worry made her tremble.

Gerald frowned. “And Ty said Meghan was the drama queen. Julia, this isn’t the end of the world. So your dad was a cat. You could always settle in with the Catamount Pride. Burke’s a pain in the ass, but I consider him a good friend.” He winked at her. “And his mate’s beyond lovely. Dean and Grady might give you fits, but they all take care of each other.”

Dean and Grady, Burke’s brothers, lived to plague him with practical jokes. She’d even participated a time or two.

Gerald continued. “The pride’s an option. You know they already have two bears and a wolf living with them. But you also need to consider the simpler option—staying with the silver foxes. You don’t realize it, but your aunt and uncle are in the minority on the council. Most of us don’t care so much about social standing and breeding lines. We just want good families and strong, healthy and happy kits.”

“That’s all I want.” She bit her lip, needing to confide in someone. What Gabby had said earlier had merit, even if Julia hadn’t wanted to admit it. “But, Gerald, what if my kits aren’t kits, but cats?”

He frowned. “What?”

“My mom was fox, my dad a cat. I have both of them in me, though I’ve only ever turned fox. But Gabby, she can be either.”

His eyes widened. “Are you kidding me?”

“No, I’m not. Aunt Lynn told me what kind of a hell we’d be living in if that came to light. They’d kick us out for sure.” Hell, she’d been raised on the mantra that different equaled bad. Assimilate, be good, blend in. Was it any wonder she liked the law? A place where rules were clearly defined appealed to her need for structure and fairness.

Gerald closed his mouth around a swear. “Your aunt is a real piece of work. Julia, the ability to take multiple forms is a blessing, not a curse. Only a purist like Lynn Easton would consider Gabby anything less than a miracle.”

“But you know she’s not the only one. Say what you want about youth in the clan, but the silver foxes are led by the oldest and most powerful. They all measure standing by hereditary lines, not shifting abilities.”

He exhaled on a loud breath. “Maybe so, but the fact remains, a lot of us don’t subscribe to the petty plays for power and politicking in the clan. I have too much going on with the law firm. Ty’s busy being sheriff. I could name fifty other foxes just wanting to get by day to day without tripping over another Silver Fox ordinance. I could care less about your uncle’s motion to push arranged marriages, because I’m not going to do it. Neither are most of the single males and females I’ve talked to. I figure we just need to wait out some of our older members before we establish new policies for our kind.”

She shook her head, recognizing the look of a fox planning mischief.

“Before I get ahead of myself, I want to know if you plan on leaving me again anytime soon.” Gerald looked so put out she had to laugh. “It’s not funny. Billie Stamford types maybe ten words a minute. The raptor is ancient and thinks she knows what’s best for me.” He shuddered. “She keeps trying to pair me with her granddaughter. Now I don’t care if she’s a fox, eagle or bear, but Susie Stamford is as dumb as a rock.”

“Ouch. You’ve been using Billie as my replacement?”

He glared at her. “Yeah. Nell and Jennifer were busy. Thanks a lot. You were supposed to return days ago and didn’t. No word, nothing. Billie was the best I could get.”

“I’m sorry. But if Ty explained the situation, you know I was only trying to help Meghan.”

He nodded. “I know. But stop leaving. Between Ty and myself, we’ll work the council into allowing Meghan to date and eventually marry this outsider, if you think it’ll come to that.”

“Work the council? Don’t you mean, trick the council?”

“Your word, not mine.” Gerald’s eyes glinted with mischief. “Now let’s talk about what’s really bothering you.”

“Nothing’s bothering me.” Except that the whole time we’ve been talking, I keep thinking about Ty.

“Julia, I know you. Go ahead. Ask me anything you want to know about him. I won’t tell, I promise. Trust me, I have no intention of pissing off the only woman who can read my handwriting, run the office and make a decent pot of coffee.”

She sighed. Might as well. “Should I believe him when he says he likes me?” When he says he’ll be loyal? That those other women meant nothing to him?

“Ty doesn’t lie. Okay, he does; he’s a fox. But not about what’s important to him. Julia, I’d trust him with my life, my law practice and my mate, should I ever be lucky enough to find one. He’s a genuinely decent man, someone this town needs more than it knows.”

“But what if being with me drags him down?”

He shook his head. “Not a chance. You have no idea how important you are to him. Oh, he would never admit it, but for years when I teased him about you, he’d get that look in his eye. He had a way of asking about you without asking about you. Inquiring about things he knew you’d been a part of just so I’d tell him what you were doing without it looking like he asked about you.”

“I’m not sure what you just said.”

Gerald scoffed. “As if I couldn’t see right through him. You’re one of the few women who wouldn’t give him any attention, and the only one who mattered.”

“But he’s dated so many women.”

“So have I. But I’ve never cheated on any of them, and neither has Ty. He’s got a strict code about integrity. He doesn’t just lead, he leads by example. And he’s way into you, Julia.”

“I don’t know.” She wanted badly to believe. It would be so nice to trust, to rely on someone else for a change instead of always having to take care of everyone herself. Her aunt and uncle might as well have been the enemy. When push came to shove, she knew they’d throw her and her sisters out the door to save their own skin.

“You want proof? Wait until he comes home. I’ll show you.”

She didn’t understand what he meant and frankly didn’t want to know. They talked about a recent case Gerald had picked up and about how badly Billie ran the office.

When Ty returned several hours later, Julia had nearly dozed off next to Gerald.

Gerald poked her in the arm to get her attention. “Okay, watch this.”

“What—?”

Gerald grabbed her hand and leaned closer. “I’m telling you, Julia. You’re the one for me. Ty will never know if we—”

Ty cut him off by throwing him against a wall. Ty snarled and would have rammed his fist into Gerald’s face had Gerald not twisted out of his grasp. The attorney raced to Julia, dragged her to her feet and held her in front of him like a shield.

“Let her go and fight me, you prick,” Ty growled, moving forward with a diamond-bright glare.

“Hell, no. You’ll kill me.” Gerald laughed, breathless. “I told you. He’s got it bad.”

Julia wanted to punch Gerald herself. “You’re crazy, you know that? Ty, he’s kidding.”

Ty advanced and tried to go through Julia. “I’ll bet he was.”

Good Lord, but he was incredible. His dark hair framed a harsh face filled with menace. He clenched his fists and his forearms stood out in stark relief, the muscles on his lean frame making her breathless.

“And that’s my cue,” Gerald murmured and took off.

The door closed behind him, but only Julia’s hands kept Ty from charging after him.

“Relax.” She stroked Ty’s chest, remembering how he’d looked without his shirt. The feel of his power addicted, aroused and made her yearn. She buried her nose in his throat. “You smell so good.”

Ty kissed the top of her head and hugged her. “I can kill him later.” He tugged her closer, and she felt his erection pressing her belly. “I’d rather play with you now.”

He kissed her and the time for talk faded. Worry, fear and anger disappeared as passion filled her with an emotion she didn’t want to but couldn’t help feel—love for the man who’d claimed her. Maybe it was time to claim him right back.