The kitchen door had barely closed behind Aaron when his mother came out from around the corner. “I’m gone one night, and I come back to find my son entertaining outsiders in my tavern,” Ajei said heatedly. “I won’t have it.”
Aaron cocked an eyebrow at his mother’s tone. “Nikki is not an outsider,” he said calmly.
Ajei snorted. “I can smell the city all over both of them.”
He shrugged. “According to Nikki they come from a really small town in Mississippi. That doesn't really constitute a city.”
“Being a smartass doesn’t suit you, Aaron.” She wiped her hands on her apron, then placed them on her hips. “My point is we stick to our own. Look where flirting with outsiders got your sister.”
“Hey,” Dibe said indignantly. “Leave me out of this one.”
“Normally I would agree with you,” Aaron said. “But in this case….” He sighed heavily. “In this case I have to play this one out.”
“I can’t believe you,” Dibe said. “You punished me for seeing an outsider, and now look at you—”
“I am your alpha.”
Dibe rolled her eyes. “Oh, I have to follow the rules, but you don’t.”
Ajei pointed her finger in his face. “Your sister has a point.”
Aaron stood taller instead of cowering away. “My wolf recognizes her soul; she is our soulmate,” Aaron said calmly.
Both women’s eyes saucered. “Your what?” they said collectively.
“I have found my mate.”
Dibe burst out laughing as Ajei covered her face in horror.
“Oh, where have I failed as a mother?” Ajei said in despair.
Dibe bit her thumbnail as she grinned at her brother. “She doesn’t know about you, does she? She has no clue what you are….”
Aaron frowned at his sister. “It’s complicated….”
“What you are is not complicated,” Ajei said indignantly. “You are an alpha, a true leader of your pack.”
Dibe giggled. “She doesn’t know he’s a wolf.”
“He should be proud of what he is,” Ajei said.
“I am,” Aaron said, “but for now I can’t tell her.”
“And why not?”
“As I said, it’s complicated. Nikki and her brother are here searching for the pack of werewolves that attacked and killed her family.”
“So?” Ajei said. “You are not a werewolf. We are skin walkers, and proud of our heritage.”
“I am proud of being a wolf,” Aaron said. “But I’m afraid that my new mate might not see it that way. She may view all wolves as a threat.”
Aaron opened the first file folder, thumbing through the graphic photos. Nikki was hanging onto his arm as he looked. “These photos weren’t taken around here,” Aaron said.
Seth frowned, looking at the photos again. “How do you know?”
Aaron smiled patiently. “Just look at the background. There are plenty of trees, and vegetation.”
“So, that could be anywhere.”
Aaron shook his head. “Not here.”
“I don’t see how you can say that,” Seth said heatedly. “That photo could be hometown anywhere.”
Aaron nodded. “Yes, but not here. In case you haven’t noticed, we have very few trees here anywhere. It’s mostly desert.”
“He’s right, Seth,” Nikki said. “We were in such a hurry to follow any lead that we didn’t check it out thoroughly before we left.”
“That’s headquarters’ job to check the places out before they send us anywhere.”
Aaron reached over and pulled his laptop closer to them. He did a search of the local news for the last three weeks. He pointed to the screen. “You see? There’s nothing in the news. If there had been anything even close to what’s in those photos, there’d be news printed about it.”
“So, that’s it then,” Seth said in disgust. “We’ve been sent here on a wild goose chase. I guess all that’s left to do is pack up and go back home.”
“Your case is still here,” Aaron said.
“I don’t get you, man,” Seth said in irritation. “You went through a lot of trouble to convince us that the attacks didn’t happen here, yet you turn around and tell me that our case is still here? I know you don’t want to see my sister go back home, but don’t try to keep us here on false pretenses.”
“Seth….” Nikki’s voice held a warning tone.
“No, I really don’t want to see Nikki leave, that part is true. But someone went through a lot of trouble to get you two here. I don’t think this is over. You two could be in a lot of danger.”
Seth snorted. “I can protect us both.”
“I don’t want to leave yet, Seth. We don’t have anything pressing to do in Mississippi. And let’s face it, this is the first real lead we’ve had on that pack since we started this.”
Seth shook his head. “But Nikki, this is a false lead.”
“Well, someone’s trying to get our attention, and I want to find out who. I don’t want to have to watch my back because we ignored this.”
“I agree with Nikki,” Aaron said.
Seth snorted again. “You would.”
“Seth, you’re welcome to go back home if you want to. I won’t stand in your way, but I’m staying,” Nikki said. “I’ve come too far to leave now, and I’m going to see this thing through. You can do what you want. I’ll manage.”
“Damn it, Nikki. I can’t leave you here.”
“I guess you’re staying with me then.”
Seth stood up from the booth. “I’m going to get a beer…I need some time to think.”
Nikki watched Seth walk away. “I feel like I’ve betrayed him.”
“You’re doing the right thing, Nikki.”
“I hope you’re right. He’s all I have.”
Aaron smiled. “He’s not all you have….”
“You and I barely know each other.”
Aaron stood and held out his hand until she placed hers on his and he led her away from the booth. “That’s something I plan to remedy.”
She laughed at his mysterious behavior. “What do you have in mind?”
He put a dollar in the jukebox and spun her around when the music started, then pulled her into his embrace, swaying to the music. “We’ll start with a slow dance, and if I’m as charming as I hope I am, we’ll soon be inseparable.”
“You say the strangest things, but I gotta tell you a girl could get used to this kind of attention.”
“Good to know,” he said, then spun her around and lunged, holding her as she went into a low dip. His mouth a mere inch from hers, Nikki caught her breath, her heart skipping a few beats, then revved up in anticipation, she just knew he was going to kiss her. She had been so lost in his gaze that she slowly came to realize the music had stopped.
Glancing around the room, then back at him as they rose back to a standing position, Nikki moistened her lips and smiled. “Are you going to kiss me or not?” Her voice was just above a whisper.
Aaron placed his forehead on hers and pulled her tighter into his embrace. She saw the same strange things go on with his eyes. It was disconcerting, and sexy as hell at the same time. “I want to…you don’t know how bad I want to.” He sighed heavily. “Anywhere but here.”
Her smile grew. “Okayyyy…. What do you have in mind?”
“Do you have a pair of tennis shoes?”
“Tennis shoes?” She pulled her head back to see if he was serious. “Uh…yeah, I have a pair in my luggage, but―”
“Good.” He grinned at her expression. “Actually, boots would be better, but the type of heels I’ve seen you wear wouldn’t be suitable for horseback, so tennis shoes might be better. Anyway, I know of this place not far from here, on Ghost Ranch. We can only get there by horseback.”
She laughed softly. When he’d said go out on a date, that wasn’t exactly what she had in mind. “Horseback, huh?”
“Yeah, you don’t like horses?”
Nikki shrugged. “I’ve never been close enough to one to find out. They’re beautiful creatures, and big.” She spread her hands out wide to emphasize her words. “Did I fail to mention how big they are?”
“You can ride with me if you’re uncomfortable on your own, but I have enough horses if you think you can manage.”
Nikki felt like she’d been officially challenged, and it really didn’t matter where they went as long as she got to spend time with him. “Oh, I’ll manage, Aaron Wolf. You just watch me.” His grin grew as she continued. “I’m going to prove to you and Seth both that I’m tougher than I look, and not just a girly-girl.”
The grin faded from Aaron’s face. “I was hoping it would just be the two of us.”
Nikki glanced over at Seth and grinned. “I don’t think that’s going to be much of a problem.” She nodded in Seth’s direction. “He seems to have hit it off with your sister.”
“Shit,” Aaron cursed under his breath.
She glanced back at Aaron. Maybe his problems with her brother were deeper than just her. She could see that he was now angry, very angry. Drawing her mouth in a grim line, she said, “What was that for?”
Aaron glared in their direction. “She knows better.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Nikki slammed her hands onto her hips. “My brother isn’t good enough for your sister?” Aaron looked back at her sharply. “If he’s not good enough for her, then maybe I’m not good enough either.”
Aaron’s frown deepened. “I never said he wasn’t good enough…or you….”
Nikki cocked an eyebrow and braced her arms across her chest. He’d better have a good explanation, or this date is over. “Fine, explain.”
“We’ve been having problems with Dibe. It’s not your brother, it’s any man….”
“She seems like a nice enough girl to me.”
“If I tell her no, she’ll charge ahead and do it just to spite me.”
Nikki’s frown deepened. “Aaron, she’s a grown woman. You don’t have the right to tell her no, you’re only her brother, not her keeper.”
“I am her alpha.”
“Alpha….” Nikki shook her head. “What does that even mean? I mean, I know what an alpha male is, but we’re not talking about animals, you’re her brother.”
“I am her leader…I am the dominant male; my tribe is supposed to do what I say.”
She snorted. “Just like Seth thinks I’m supposed to do what he says.” She shook her head. “Like that’s ever going to happen. As I said before, she’s a grown woman. Just leave her be.”
“Nikki….”
“No, seriously, Aaron. Seth won’t hurt her…he might snap at you, but he’s generally on his best behavior in front of a beautiful woman. He knows I’ll skin him alive if he’s not. Like you, he seems to be pretty popular with the ladies and knows his boundaries.” She stepped up to Aaron and placed her hands on his chest. “Besides, it’ll keep Seth busy. She could do worse.”
Aaron blew out a long breath. “She has, believe me.”
Nikki looked up to the horse in front of her—a tall gelding with a shiny palomino coat―while Aaron held the reins. That stirrup was dangling around the height of her waist, and she wasn’t sure how in the hell she was ever going to mount that thing. Every time she got close enough, the horse side stepped away. This date wasn’t starting off too well.
She motioned toward the horse. “Does it happen to come in a smaller size?” she joked.
Aaron laughed. “They do, but I trust this one more not to spook with you on his back. I want to keep that beautiful neck of yours intact.”
“Yes,” she said nervously, “me too.”
Aaron held out his hand to her and pulled her to him. “Here,” he said softly, and held her hand up to the horse’s soft muzzle. “Let him get to know you and he won’t be so skittish.”
The horse nuzzled her hand and snuffled. “His nose feels like velvet.” She reached her other hand up and patted the horse’s shoulder. “He’s beautiful.”
“Are you ready to ride?”
She shook her head and laughed nervously. “Aaron…I…there’s no way I’m going to be able to climb up there on my own.”
Aaron wrapped the reins around the fence post loosely, then broke out in a huge grin. “You seemed so determined to do this on your own, I was waiting for you to ask for help.”
“You know they say ‘pride goeth before the fall’…and I seriously hope I don’t fall on my ass.”
“Proverbs,” he said under his breath as he circled his arms around her. “You’re quoting the Bible?”
“I guess I am, but really it was a joke.” She shrugged, then slipped her arms around his neck. “I just meant that I hoped I didn’t make an ass out of myself.”
“You could never do that,” he teased. He kissed her nose, then when she raised her lips to kiss him, he surprised her by lifting her by the waist, over his head and into the saddle. “Comfortable?”
Nikki blinked at him a few times in shock as she automatically took the reins from him. He’d just had another perfect opportunity to kiss her and didn’t, again. This time they were alone, so his last excuse was shot. She was beginning to get really frustrated. “You are a tease.”
Aaron mounted his horse and brought him up alongside hers. “A tease…,” he repeated.
She nodded once. “I’ve never had to beg for a kiss before.”
Aaron leaned toward her in his saddle, cupping her face in the palms of his hands, and placed a heated kiss on her lips. She put her arms around his neck, moaning as he deepened the kiss as she opened to him. She felt her nipples harden as her breast brushed his chest and a fierce need for more settled into her loins.
“Nikki,” he breathed as he placed his forehead on hers and closed his eyes. “I wasn’t teasing you. I’m trying to control myself.”
Control himself? Why in the hell would he want to do that? I’m right here. What’s a girl gotta do to make him see that? “Don’t try so hard,” she said indignantly. “That much control over oneself is a bit overrated, don’t you think?” He laughed softly. “I really like you, Aaron, and I feel…I don’t know, like you’re walking on eggshells around me and trying to avoid me. At first I thought it was because of Seth, because I know how intense he can be, but now we’re alone and you’re still pushing me away. It’s really confusing me, because last night I thought we had a real connection.”
“If you only knew….” He chucked her on the chin, then placed a chaste kiss on her lips again as he pulled away, then gave his horse a soft kick to get them going. “When we get to our destination, we’ll have plenty of uninterrupted time….” He let the thought linger.
“If you bring me all that way just to push me away again, we’re going to have a problem.”
“For the record, I’m not pushing you away. You deserve my control and respect.”
“Respect me, yes.” She blew out a frustrated breath. “At the risk of sounding like a slut, Aaron, I didn’t want you to leave me last night. I’ve never wanted anything more.”
He turned in his saddle to reply. “I haven’t either. Leaving you last night was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.” She smiled at hearing his confession. She had begun to think she’d imagined the whole thing. “But Nikki, there are things you need to know about me before—”
“Aaron,” she interjected, “I know everything I need to know about you.”
“Not everything.”
Aaron kicked his horse into a fast trot and Nikki’s horse obediently followed. Soon, he brought the horses to a stop at the top of a ridge overlooking a desert valley. He turned in his saddle and smiled. “They say that dinosaurs once walked the lands here, and that millions of years later these were some of the lands of my people.”
“Navajo, right?”
Aaron’s smile grew. “Yes. Then came the Spaniards, and then the cattle rustlers.”
“Sounds like a western movie.”
Aaron nodded, then pointed to the area below. “This is box canyon. Cattle rustlers used to hide their stolen goods here along the mesa. It’s said that they spread rumors about the area being haunted to keep nosey people out. They called it Rancho de los Brujos, which means Ranch of the Witches.”
Nikki grinned. “Witches?”
“A little ironic with your background.” They both laughed. “People were very fearful and superstitious in the 1800s.”
“Were?” Nikki shook her head. “I work with this paranormal stuff. Believe me, people haven’t changed. They still fear what they don’t know or understand.” Aaron nodded. “But not you,” she continued. “You didn’t even bat an eye when I confessed that my brother and I are witches.”
“Let’s just say I’ve seen my share of paranormal stuff in my lifetime, and leave it at that for the moment.”
“I have to admit, you are a mystery to me. You seem normal enough in a very hot and sexy way, but you say the strangest things. Things that make me think that you’re much more…and the farthest thing from normal you can get.”
She saw a plethora of emotions cross his features in a matter of moments, and felt she had touched on a topic that he was uncomfortable with, but the moment was brief and he grinned again.
“Okay, Lisbeth Salander, have you uncovered enough clues yet to appease your curiosity about me?”
His reference to a fictional detective surprised her. “Not by a longshot, but before this is all over, I will know all there is to know about the warrior Aaron Wolf,” she said playfully. The grin remained, but she thought he had paled slightly. He has secrets. “You called me Lisbeth Salander, from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo? You read novels as well?”
“When I have the time.”
“Interesting. I will mark that down as another clue.”
“Really, I’m not all that interesting.” He looked away, surveying their surroundings, and if Nikki didn’t know any better she would have thought he seemed nervous now for some reason.
Nikki’s smile grew as she shifted to a more comfortable position on the saddle. “I beg to differ with you, Aaron. You’re one of the most interesting men I’ve ever met. Certainly the sexiest.”
His posture relaxed a little. When he turned to her again he was smiling. “You are a flirt,” he said in a teasing tone as he guided the horses away from the edge.
“Only with hot, sexy, Navajo warriors.”
His eyebrow shot up. “How many warriors do you know?”
“Just you.”
Aaron barked out a hearty laugh. “I believe I’m going to have my hands full with you.”
She laughed with him, thankful the mood had lightened again. “Count on it.”