Outfoxed

Chapter Four

The next morning, the clock continued to tick. Gabby had been dithering by her bedroom door for an hour, wondering if Grady was still out there on the couch. She drew in a deep breath and let it out, knowing she had only herself to blame for the awkward situation in which she now found herself. That’s what you get when you take advantage of a man who’s just been dumped by the woman he loves, idiot.

Though he’d been with her every step of the way, she remembered how vulnerable she’d been when she’d gone through the same thing. Like she didn’t matter, wasn’t good enough. She’d have jumped at the chance for a handsome man to make her feel better, then lamented it the very next day. No, she didn’t fault him for being with her. If anything, she wanted to slap herself for not being a better friend, someone for him to lean on, not screw into oblivion.

She shivered, remembering how hard he’d been, how great those magical fingers and mouth of his had felt on her skin. How the hell could Joy choose Dean over Grady?

Knowing she couldn’t keep putting off the inevitable, she pushed open the door and braced herself, praying she could make it through the morning without going up in flames in embarrassment, or worse, dealing with an aggravated catamount with huge claws. Grady made one impressive, deadly feline.

But instead of the moody/angry/sad man she expected to find on the couch, she saw her pillows neatly stacked and a blanket folded over the arm of the sofa. On the kitchen table, the vase she kept under the sink was filled with wildflowers that made the room smell fresh and sweet. By the vase lay a piece of paper covered with Grady’s masculine scrawl.

Dear Gabby.

I wanted to talk to you in person, but I have the early shift at work today and didn’t want to wake you. I can’t thank you enough for last night. You’re such a generous, caring, beautiful woman. I’m sorry you had to be involved with my mess with Dean. But please don’t regret what happened last night. I don’t. I would have made you something to eat for breakfast, but I can’t cook. I hunt. And I didn’t think a deer carcass on your counter would go with the neat theme you have going on in this place. So accept the flowers and my sincere friendship. And don’t be upset about last night. Really. Because I want to do it again. Just you and me, and for no other reason than we both want to.

Grady

Warmth unfurled, her heart full at the fact Grady not only wasn’t going to be weird about things, but that he wanted to explore more with her. She reread the note several times, lingering over one specific detail. He’d mentioned his problems with Dean and not Joy. She wanted to take that as a good sign. Had Dean been wrong? Perhaps Grady liked Joy a lot, but the thought of permanence had scared him. Gabby had never sensed Grady to be less than an honorable man, and to just jump into bed with her after catching the love of his life with his brother? It didn’t make sense, considering he hadn’t shown any regret about it in his note. Or had she been wrong about him? Was he just another jerk out to get laid and used his breakup with Joy as an excuse? She didn’t want to believe it. Not of Grady.

In any case, not having to face him took a load off her mind, and she readied for work humming under her breath, the scent of wildflowers and the faint reminder of Grady lingering in the air.

Grady Chastell, hunk, incredible lover and wordsmith. Who knew he had it in him?

Grady shoved Dean against the wall again. “Fuckhead. I don’t know whether to thank you or fucking kill you.” He didn’t spare Joy a glance as she watched him pound on his brother. The woman sat on his couch in his living room, dressed in one of his T-shirts, her legs bare, her spiky hair framing a sultry face and lively eyes. But from the look of things, she’d slept alone last night. He didn’t scent Dean on her at all. One problem solved, at least.

“Let go. You’re strangling me.” Dean tried to pry Grady’s fingers from around his throat. “Can’t…breathe…”

“Oh geez. Grady, ease up, will you?” Joy sighed. “As entertaining as this is, I have enough problems with crazy cats down South. Another dead body is going to put me in the proverbial doghouse with Miles, big time. I’m only allotted one kill a year according to big brother.”

Grady eased off Dean. They both looked at Joy in surprise. She was normally the easiest to get along with of all the Bermins. Not as shy as Amy, as stuck up as Stacey, or as businesslike as Melissa. She was sexy, friendly and stirred as much desire in Grady as his pregnant sister-in-law now did. He didn’t know why, but he’d never thought of Joy as anything more than a sister.

She rapped on a side table. “Now that I have your attention, listen up. Grady, this is partly my fault. Dean told me how pathetic you’ve been, and I wanted to help.”

“Thanks,” Grady growled at his brother.

“Um, sure. No problem.” Dean squirmed to get free, but Grady locked onto his shirt and didn’t let go. “Come on, bro. I can smell her all over you. It worked, didn’t it?”

“Only because I had to lie to her for some sympathy. Christ, I really am pathetic.” He groaned and released his brother, then slumped against the wall. “When she learns I lied to her, she’s going to hate me. There’s no way this won’t blow up in my face. And she was so sweet. So great.” The thought of losing her made his animal spirit hiss in agitation. Now that he’d had a taste of his mate, he had no intention of letting her go. What a mistake to trust one of Dean’s—Joy’s—schemes.

“Now, now.” Joy eased off the couch and sauntered to his side. “We’ll keep this quiet, just between the three of us.”

“Four,” he corrected, unable to forget Gabby’s participation in this mess. The only bright spot in their harebrained plot.

“Four of us.” Joy nodded.

Next to her, Dean did the same. “I swear, Grady. This will work. The woman is into you. The other night at dinner, after you left, she stared at your empty chair for the rest of the meal. And whenever you’re around, she sneaks glances. Right, Joy?”

“Yeah. Even I noticed. I don’t know why she hasn’t gone out with you. Although that dance number I heard about might have thrown her off.”

Grady glared at his brother, who wisely stepped behind the smaller female. “Who the hell hasn’t heard about my bet from hell?”

Dean snorted. “Not my problem you suck at cards and can’t dance.”

Grady nudged Joy aside and leaped at his brother, who swore but couldn’t move fast enough to dodge Grady. He had Dean in a headlock and was about to smash his face into the ground when his cell phone rang.

“Shit. What time is it?” he asked, panting.

“Eight-thirty,” Joy answered, too perky for words.

“Hell. I’m supposed to cover for Monty today.” A stellar idea popped into his brain as he rubbed Dean’s face into the rug. “But since you put me in this mess, you’re going to help me out of it. You cover for me for the next few days. I need time to fix this.”

“Fix what?” Dean asked. “This setup couldn’t be more perfect.”

“I have to try to convince Gabby I’m not such a dick that I’d jump into bed with her after finding you doing my soulmate.” He sneered. “Could you have come up with a worse story to get us together?” He included Joy in his distaste.

She had the nerve to look sorry.

“I’ll do it,” Dean mumbled against the braided rug. “Swear.”

“And you’ll stop interfering. Say it.”

“I’ll stop interfering. Joy too.” Dean turned his face and gasped. “Just trying to help, you big pussy.”

Joy’s muffled laughter didn’t improve Grady’s mood, but the idea of having time to be with Gabby soothed his annoyed cat.

He moved off his younger brother and stalked away. “I’m hitting the shower. You two make sure you both steer clear of Gabby. I don’t need you telling her more lies and getting me in more trouble with her. And for God’s sake, don’t let Miles hear you’re having sex.” He stopped and turned to face them. “That was something you made up, right?”

The horror on their faces relieved him.

“He’s like a brother. No offense, Dean, but gross.”

“She’s like an annoying little sister. Ew.”

“Annoying?” Joy turned on Dean and proceeded to chew him out.

Although they’d created a major hurdle to overcome, Grady finally had the opportunity he’d been dying for—to mate the woman he loved. The future he wanted seemed suddenly within reach.

With a smile, he headed for the shower and tried to figure out where to go from here. Flowers. Check. A note explaining how much he still wanted her. Check. Hmm. Now how to get in bed with Gabby and not look like a rebound guy or an asshole just out for sex. That would take some real planning…

“I followed the credit cards, like you said.” Ronnie Gates sniffed at the waitress who passed him by and winked at her, pleased to see her flush. He’d just taken her up against the wall in the closet. A hard fuck for that little gal would more than serve as her tip. Not a bad ride, but he’d had better.

The chuckle at his ear pleased him, and he smiled into the phone, wishing his brother could see him. “He’s in Cougar Falls,” he continued in a low voice, “with those asshole Chastells, no doubt.”

Lex, his pride leader, brother and the man he idolized like no other, agreed. “Burke is a favorite of Dad’s, so he won’t be easy to deal with. Bermin and those sluts will have been crying about running away, so the cats will be forewarned. If we have to take them in Cougar Falls, we’ll need to slip inside and smuggle them out. I want the women unharmed, mostly.”

“But not untouched,” Ronnie corrected.

“Just Stacey. The others are fair game.”

Ronnie grinned, and a young man sitting nearby quickly looked away. Good to know some people had respect for the top predators in this world. “When are the others coming?”

“I’ll have Quince and a dozen cats on a plane in a few days. I want you to wait and watch. With any luck, Miles and the girls won’t stay. He has family scattered around the Northwest, and we know the fucker is all about family.” He sneered, no doubt remembering how fiercely Miles had fought to free his siblings from Lex’s grasp. “If we don’t have to rip them out of Cougar Falls, we won’t. The fewer Ac-taw involved in this, the better.”

“Yeah.”

“If they move out sooner, call me. I’ll give them ’til the end of the week before we nail them. Whatever you do, Ronnie, don’t let them see you.” The deep growl over the phone sent shivers down Ronnie’s spine. Even though he and Lex were brothers, there was a definite pecking order in the pride. Lex was king, and he never let anyone forget it.

“I won’t. I swear.” Ronnie ran a hand over his brow, tracing the scar he’d had since the day he and Lex had first met. The scar was a reminder to obey without question. That or face sure death.

“I know. I trust you, brother mine. That’s why you’re in Montana and Quince is here helping me with the rest of the dickheads who think they can tell me no. Fucking Miles stirred up a heap of trouble he’s going to pay for.” Lex spoke to someone else then returned to Ronnie. “Don’t fuck it up. I need those females. Just remember, Stacey Bermin is mine.”

As if Ronnie needed to be told that. When hadn’t his brother lusted after the high and mighty bitch? “Sure thing. No worries. I got this, Lex. And if the Chastells stick their noses in too far, we’ll cut them off, right?”

Lex chuckled. “Right. Good to know we think alike.”

No words could have made Ronnie prouder. “I’ll keep in touch. I’m just finishing breakfast, then I’ll set up watch near Glacier National Park.” He caught the waitress’s eye. He had time for another fuck, especially if he simply had to wait and watch. No way would Miles and that harem of pussy move with speed, not with the asshole’s sisters dragging their fine asses.

And speaking of asses… He gave the waitress a nod and glanced at the back of the diner. Wouldn’t she be a lucky girl? As fortunate as Stacey and her pretty little sisters were going to be once he found them and dragged them back home, where they belonged.

“Good luck.” Lex disconnected, and Ronnie tucked his phone away.

He ordered another omelet and headed for the restroom. Before he reached it, he ducked into the utility closet where the hot young blonde waited for him. He glanced at her nametag. Right. Becky. When Becky smiled and opened her blouse, he smiled back. What a beautiful day.

Monday evening, Grady found Gabby downtown at her shop on Main Street. Gabby’s Greats, a sewing place that seemed to thrive, catered mostly to folks—women—needing curtains and alterations. But men generated a bit of her business as well. He nodded to a few male foxes leaving the store with frowns and did his best not to grin. She’s mine, assholes. Get lost.

One of them curled his lip at Grady. Instead of returning the sentiment, Grady winked and let him pass.

“Lousy cats,” the fox muttered.

Grady knew the bastards were jealous Gabby had gone to live at the pride. If the foxes hadn’t been so snooty, she probably would have stayed with her clan. But too many of them preferred full-blooded foxes to half-breeds. Burke didn’t give a shit what you were, so long as you had decent sense and a backbone to defend the pride. In that he truly respected his brother.

He stepped through the front door and caught her scent without even trying. The moment his feet hit the tile, she swung from a customer to face him. Her face turned a pretty shade of pink before she smiled down at the older raptor fingering a bolt of fabric on the counter between them.

“There you go, Millie.” Gabby’s husky voice aroused him every time. Sex and sin all wrapped up in a redhead with a smile to die for. “Now remember, I give you this, I get free ice cream through the summer.”

Not a bad deal. Millie owned the local ice cream parlor, and with the weather finally heating up, it was a bitch fighting all the kids to get a cone. He cleared his throat and nodded in Millie’s direction.

Gabby didn’t quite smother a smile. “Oh and a free cone for Grady too.”

Millie turned to look at him, no doubt remembering all the trouble he’d caused when younger. Damn Dean. As usual, he’d have gotten away with a helluva lot more if his little brother hadn’t been tagging along all the time.

“Grady Chastell, eh? This big galoot hasn’t been bothering you too much, has he?” The old bird had a twinkle in her eye that meant trouble.

He gave her a wide smile and sidestepped a few older she-bears with big ears and roving hands. Fortunately they seemed to be leaving, so only Millie remained. “Now, Millie. Is that any way to talk to a man who’s had a crush on you since he could walk?” He took her frail hand in his, kissed it and pressed it to his heart, aware of Gabby watching him with wide eyes. “You gave me my first peppermint stick. How could I not love you?”

Millie flushed and shoved him away, but not before squeezing his hand in hers first. “Oh please. Boy has less sense than looks, I can tell you that. But those looks, whooee. Gotta love those cat eyes, eh, Gabby? And he’s got that strong Chastell blood.” She turned to Gabby and in a conspiratorial tone said, “Everyone thinks Burke is the dangerous one, but Grady’s the one to watch. He’s tricky, like a fox. He’ll ease his way into your confidence, then pounce.”

“And then it’s too late.” He wiggled his brows and had both women laughing. “You need help with that, Millie?” He pointed to the fabric.

She shook her head. “No. I’ll leave it here and have someone pick it up for me tomorrow. You kids have a nice night. Grady Chastell, behave yourself.” She gave him a stern frown, but the smile in her eyes took a great deal of the sting from it. “Bye, Gabby.”

“Millie.”

He and Gabby stood in silence, watching Millie take her sweet-ass time leaving the store. Grady had to grin. He’d seen the older woman move like lightning when she wanted to, despite her advanced years.

When she finally departed, he turned to see Gabby watching him, that blush still riding her cheeks.

“So you—” he said just as she said, “How was your—” They laughed together.

God, could she get any prettier? Gabby wore her silky hair pulled back in a ponytail. Wisps had escaped the band and framed her face, making her look like a tired pixie who wanted to have mischief on her mind but hadn’t the energy to do much. He swore he could see her fox sizing him up, then her cat taking his measure. He wanted to go hunting with her, racing through the woods as cats and then watching her shift into her fox form, all sleek and silver and red.

“You first,” she said softly.

“Oh um. Yeah.” He felt like a fool, unable to think of anything else to say but, “You’re pretty.”

“Thanks.”

They stared at one another. He wondered if she remembered how good it had been between them. If only that was all he could remember, he could have chalked up his attraction to chemistry. But everything about her made him soft inside. Hearing her laugh, seeing her interact with Millie, watching her eyes light up with joy when she pleased others…

“What’s wrong?” She frowned. “Are you okay?” Gabby glanced away from him, then back. “Is it Joy?”

Joy. Fuck. The truth swam between them, an ugly reminder that he had the situation with Joy to make right. Gabby had just handed him an opportunity to wipe the slate clean.

But as he stared into her whiskey-brown eyes, he couldn’t do it. Not yet. Not until he’d made them strong enough as a couple to withstand the small fib. “Ah, no. Not at all. I just don’t want to screw up my chances with you.”

She raised a brow. “Chances?”

“For a movie and dinner. That’s all.” He put on his best smile. “I swear. That’s all.” Unless you want more. “I was thinking we’ve been living in the pride together for three months but we don’t know each other too well. And I owe you for Saturday night.”

“Excuse me?”

Christ. Every time he opened his mouth around her, he insulted her without meaning to. “Gabby, I’m usually pretty good with words. Just give me a minute.”

“Your note yesterday morning was nice.”

“Yeah, well, maybe I should go outside and write you another one. Then you could read it and we could go out. On a date. Together.”

She said nothing, probably waiting to see how far he could shove his foot in his mouth.

“I’d like to get to know you. In bed, sure. I’m not stupid.” He chuckled. “But out of bed too. I think we’d like each other if we knew each other better. And about the other night…” He had to get this right. “Let’s just forget all about Joy and Dean and everything, okay? Pretend they don’t exist. Because you and me, that was never about them. It was about us. You were there for me when I needed you, and I’ll never forget it.” He gently rubbed her shoulder, constantly amazed at the delicate grace of her build and the strength of muscle within.

She coughed into her hand but didn’t step away from him. “I… So you’re not upset about what happened at my place? I felt really bad that I’d taken advantage of you.”

The woman had to be joking. “No way. I didn’t want you to think I took advantage of you. You know, you being all generous and then I make a move. Joy isn’t…” What you think she is. She’s a conniving feline like my devious brother. “She’s not important, Gabby.”

What looked like relief flitted over her features. “Okay then.” She stepped back, and he regretfully let her go. “I’ll get my purse and jacket and we can head to dinner.”

“My treat,” he promised.

“With that offer, how can I refuse?”

This is so, so bad. In the raptor-run restaurant a block down the street, Gabby smiled and tried to focus on Grady’s words, not the firm lips shaping them. If anything, the distance from him the past two days had made her need even worse. It was like he’d awakened an inferno of lust inside her and she needed him to put out the flames. She hadn’t paid any attention to the men who’d come to visit her today. Even Miles, who’d stopped by her store to check out the new places in town, hadn’t turned her head.

Knowing how Grady tasted, how he felt in her hand, made it hard to do more than sigh at him. And then to watch him flirt with Millie, to tease her yet treat her with respect, to witness him gracefully sidestep the aggravating she-bears with ease without making a scene. She liked him more and more. There had to be something wrong with him…aside from the fact he couldn’t dance.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” He sounded wary.

“You’re awfully nice.”

He nearly choked on the swallow of beer he’d taken. “Nice?”

“Yeah. I’m trying to match this version of Grady with the man who taped a honk if you want me to make you purr note to the back of Burke’s pickup last week. Or the man who left his inebriated baby brother, naked as a jaybird, in front of Sonia Daly’s house.” Sonia was an older raptor who liked her men young and handsome. And drunk.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He struggled to hide a grin and stared at his half-eaten plate of food.

“And last month. Who was it that dressed a stuffed animal—a dog, not even a wolf—in Monty’s sunglasses, covered the thing with his clothes and scent, and sent him to Sophie?”

“Sophie who?”

“She told me the note promised hot nights with Scooby if she played her cards right.” Scooby. She grinned at the remembrance. Monty had been more than pissed at the time, while Sophie had thought it hilarious.

“Gabby, I’m hurt. How could you think I would do any of those horrible things?” The snort of laughter gave him away.

She joined him, and they laughed so hard they annoyed the wolves, bears and raptors trying to have a romantic dinner nearby.

A waitress came over to see what the fuss was about. Gabby started to apologize but stopped when she saw who’d come to inquire. “Sonia Daly?” she squeaked.

“Yeah.” She looked Grady up and down. “Hey Chastell, you tell your brother I’m still waiting on that date he promised me.”

“Yes, ma’am.” They waited until she left, looked at one another and burst into laughter again.

Grady didn’t wait for management to kick them out. He plunked some cash onto the table, grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the restaurant, still trying to catch her breath.

They stopped a few stores down from the restaurant. She turned to say something when their gazes caught. That tingle in her belly turned into an outright flutter of something special. Something warm and happy and right. Then he sighed her name and took her in his arms.

With the shared press of their lips, she fell headlong into love.