Marie Harte - Foxy Lady

The middle of Nowhere, Washington

Ty swore under his breath as he dodged yet another pothole in what passed for a paved road in this crappy little town. For all that folks complained about Cougar Falls, the town council would have been caught dead before letting their streets look like this.

On either side of Main Street people parked pickup trucks and four-wheel drives next to the occasional sedanall American-made. A diner, grocery store and pharmacy sat on the east side of Main, while the local hardware, sheriffs office, hunting lodge and bar took up the west. On the few side streets in this less-than-picturesque small town, eclectic shops attempted to capitalize on the area. But from what Ty had seen, the surrounding lake, forest and mountains gave Nowhere, Washington its real grandeur.

His stomach grumbled again, his high metabolism making it nearly impossible to go too long without food. Unfortunately, instinct told him if he didnt find Julia soon, the damned woman would find herself in more trouble than she could handle. Hunters. God almighty. Thoughts of the stubborn redhead awakened his libido from the hibernation hed endured in her absence. So not what he wanted right now, not with his familys constant pressure to procreate. As if that wasnt bad enough, he was missing the game tonight at Burkes place.

Trust Julia to screw up March Madness for me, he muttered as he left the main town behind and turned into a neat little convenience store. Thank God this place had a paved lot. After filling up the fuel tank on his truck, he hurried through the bitter wind.

Inside the store, Ty grabbed packets of jerky, some trail mix and a water.

That it for ya? an older man asked and rubbed his grizzled cheeks. He wore a plaid flannel shirt with a nametag pinned to the pocketBart, owner and operator.

And the gas. After Ty paid, he took out a picture of Julia and shoved it across the counter. You seen this woman?

He stared down at the same feminine perfection the old man studied. Thick, auburn hair covered her shoulders and framed a pixie-like face. Her light brown eyes flashed with humor in the picture, and he remembered her laughing at something Gerald had said. Of course, that was several months ago, back when the blasted woman had a sense of humor. Now he was lucky to get even a glare, and all because hed done the right thing.

Fuming about a night he wished he could redo, he asked again, You seen her or not?

The old man smiled. Yeah. He said nothing more.

Where is she?

Why do you want to know?

Shes a friend of mine.

Then shouldnt you know where she is?

Ty gritted his teeth. The wily old coot might as well have been Ac-taw. He danced around words as fine as any shapeshifting silver fox Ty had encountered.

Ty wanted to flash his badge and demand answers, but he had no jurisdiction here. And explaining Cougar Falls and its citizens to any outsider without council permission would not only bring danger to the people Ty had sworn to protect, but it would get him kicked out of his clan in a heartbeat. A Shifter without a clan had no place in Cougar Falls. Ty couldnt imagine living anywhere else. Ever.

He could force the old man to answer, but Ty didnt believe in bullying when a cagey fox could handle a challenge in a far better way. Nothing satisfied him so much as matching wits and coming out the winner. Especially since he couldnt afford to lose.

Ty rubbed his throat, feeling the press of responsibility tightening around his neck. He glanced at Julias picture again, worry for the slight woman increasing his urgency to find her and make sure of her safety.

Pretending to play the old mans game, he sighed and settled on as much truth as he could. Her names Julia Easton. She has two sisters, and they both look like her.

Pretty, Bart murmured, a twinkle in his eyes.

Very. Truth of the matter is that if I dont play things right, Im screwed. Woman just doesnt understand I was doing it for her own good. She treated him like he had the plague.

Woman problems. I knew it.

Woman problems. Ha. Try shapeshifting-vixen problems. Ty wished he had Julia here to shake some sense into her, but that would mean putting his hands on her pretty, pale, soft skin. Arousal centered in his groin.

He vented his frustration to the old man. Ive been wanting to get my hands on this particular woman for years. Shes cool, calm and unattainable. Never even looked at me twice while half the assholes in town are drooling all over her. Frankly, I just dont have the time or energy to fawn over the woman. Not that a Roderick should have to fawn. Dammit.

Like that, is it?

Unfortunately, yeah. Then out of the blue, she gets drunk and propositions me. What was I supposed to do? Take advantage of her?

Hell, no.

Right. So I gently turned her down. That was four weeks ago. Stubborn woman wont give me the time of day anymore.

Thats too bad.

Ty appreciated Barts sympathy. God knew his friends and family werent giving him any. My father thinks its funny. My mothers on my case to settle down and have kitskids. How can I if Julia wont even speak to me?

Now thats a problem. Bart tapped the picture, his shrewd gaze on Tys face. You planning on taking her back with you when you go?

Yes, I am.

Bart shook his head. Then things are going to go to hell in a handbasket sooner than Id thought. Your pretty gal is with her sisters in Maudes cabin on the hilltop. Another mile and a half down, make a right. Take the dirt road to the end and youll see a blue cabin.

Okay, thanks, Ty said slowly.

No, thank you. I cant wait to see Ned Williams face when you try runnin off with his fiance.

His what?

Rumor has it the weddings set for next week. Good luck, fella. Youre going to need it.

Its amazing to me we didnt abandon you at birth.

Julia! Gabby gasped in shocked laughter. Really.

Really, Julia grumbled, aiming her glare at her youngest and most troublesome sister, Meghan. Ive been out here a half dozen times in the last four months at least, thanks to your nifty little note to the family. And thats not counting all the trips I took to visit you at college. What were you thinking, Meghan? Aunt Lynn is in fits, Uncle Harry wont speak to methanks for that, at leastbut keeping quiet about you in love with an outsider is giving me ulcers.

So who asked you to keep quiet? Meghan retorted.

Youd rather the clan cut you off and force you to leave town? Choosing to go is one thing, but not having a choice to return is another.

But shes in love Gabby trailed off when she saw Julias real anger.

Love? What does the brat know about love?

Im not the brat. Im twenty-two years old! My name is Meghan, Meghan shouted and threw a pillow at Julia. Just because youre a few years older does not make you my mother.

Gabby groaned.

Julia dove in headfirst. No, our mother is right now rolling over in her grave because youre crushing on some kid fresh out of college. A miracle, really, since his backwoods family makes the possibility of a Deliverance sequel all too real.

Gabby laughed.

Meghan fumed. Shut up, Julia. Youre such a snob.

Julias eyes widened. Meghan couldnt be serious. Im a snob? Meghan, they have mounted animals on their walls! Bears, mountain lionsfoxes.

Meghan sniffed. Its not like that stuffed fox was Uncle Pete, for cripes sake. Were predators too, Ms. High and Mighty.

Gabby shifted, clearly uncomfortable with the all-too-common disagreement. Actually, Meghan, that kind of freaks me out too. I like Jason, but Im worried about you.