Chapter 2
TWO
Declan
She stood, soaking wet and covered in mud. Her red curls were pure chaos around her laughing face, and her clothes clung to her athletic body that had the perfect amount of curves.
When she caught me staring at her, her smile faded, and she stared back. I just made out the hazel color of her wide eyes from where I stood. Her scent, rich chocolate and tangy citrus, was barely noticeable over the mud masking it. But I still recognized her for what she was to me.
Mate.
My bear wanted out. He wanted to protect his mate. But she appeared a willing participant in the madness happening in front of me.
A roar slipped out when I spied Austin sneaking up behind her with a handful of mud. Everyone skidded to a stop and faced me. Guilty looks crossed my brothers’ faces as they surveyed the muddy mess they’d created.
Mason, the only brother to join me at the pond, rounded the corner to stand next to me, his limp more pronounced after the morning on horseback. “Thought we were supposed to clean up, not make a mess.”
“We were just having some fun.” Ethan tried to run his fingers through his hair, but the mud-caked locks got in his way. His grin was sheepish. “We may have gone a little overboard.”
My mate was still staring at me. I shoved down the urge to puff out my chest and posture for her, but I removed my hat so she could get a better look.
I’d been told I was easy on the eyes—something I hoped my mate would agree with.
When I spoke, a raspiness that wasn’t usually there colored my voice.
“Not the usual way to welcome our company. You must be Chloe.”
My words seemed to jolt her out of her stare, and she flashed me a grin. “It was perfect. I got some great photos before I joined the fun.”
She walked over to the barn, her arm almost brushing mine as she passed.
I wanted to reach out and touch her—feel her skin, even covered in mud as she was—but I resisted the pull.
She didn’t know she was my mate and may not welcome my touch.
Yet. My bear rumbled beneath the surface, and Mason glanced my way, a question in his eyes.
I shook my head, not willing to tell him why my bear was acting out.
Chloe stepped closer to me, her gaze trained on her camera as she flipped through the shots she’d taken. She turned it toward me. “Check out this one. You want to draw guests in. This will help.”
The photo showed Gabriel and Luke wrestling while Austin sprayed them with the hose.
All three were laughing. In the background, I could just make out Ethan approaching with those plastic water guns that he and Austin insisted we needed.
I frowned. “We’re opening a dude ranch, not hosting a kid’s birthday party. ”
“First, it shows the ranch is a place for fun. That will get some people excited.” She slid her gaze toward my mud-covered brothers and gave a slow grin. “Second, the shirtless man candy will bring in a demographic all on their own.”
Jealousy flared at her appreciative tone. I wanted my mate to only look that way at me. Austin strutted like he was on a runway and winked at Chloe, who laughed at his antics, eyes sparkling. I frowned, angry words coming out before I could rethink them.
“This is still a working ranch. We didn’t hire you to turn it into a circus.”
Her light dimmed, and her shoulders stiffened. I caught glares from my brothers and an eyebrow raise from Mason. My mate mumbled something about getting her things and stalked off toward the front of the house. I scrubbed my hand over my face. I was not off to a good start with her.
“I’ll go help her.” Ethan started to follow her, but I stopped him.
“You go get cleaned up. I’ll take care of it.” I shoved my hat back on my head. “This mess is mine to clean up.”
Chloe
I knew better than to get all fluttery over a shifter.
It was a crush that would go nowhere. A woman couldn’t possibly compete against a fated mate—not that I’d ever try.
I’d seen the bond between my sister and her mate, and I’d never want to get in the way of that.
Besides, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome was obviously a grump.
Who cared if the mere sound of his voice sent shivers down my spine?
Now, if I had a crush on one of his brothers, that would have been different. I could see myself having a harmless flirtation with them. They were fun and not too serious. But they did nothing to make my knees weak or my heart beat faster.
I stomped over to my car, grumbling under my breath about my bad luck as I opened the trunk to pull out my backpack.
Before I could grab it, a hand reached past me and lifted the packed bag with ease.
I spun around, stepping back to press against the car when I realized how close the man I’d just been thinking about stood.
The heat from his body radiated toward me, and his hat was back on, shielding us from the sun.
“Sorry for snapping at you.” His voice rumbled out of him, deep and low.
I wondered what kind of shifter he was. Based on his size, I’d guess bear.
But he was nothing like my sister’s bear shifter mate, who was charming and funny.
This man was rigid, almost stern, in his delivery.
He was apologizing, though. Few men would do that.
“It’s okay.” My words had a breathless quality to them, the nearness of him affecting even my vocal cords. “I made assumptions about the kind of pictures that would be good. I need to talk to Declan about what he wants.”
“I’m Declan.”
“Oh.” My mind whirled. This was who’d hired me. I should have known. He had in charge written all over him. “Then I guess the water fight won’t make the cut.”
“To be honest, I never thought about what photos we need.” He rubbed his forehead, tipping his hat back. The sun shone on my face again, and I squinted my eyes against the bright light. Declan moved to the side, his large body shading me again. “I was hoping you’d know what we need.”
“I did some research on my way here.” I fiddled with my camera strap, giving him a grateful smile for the shadow he cast. “We’ll need to be creative, because you’re not in operation as a dude ranch yet. Unless you want to invite a bunch of fake guests for us to photograph.”
He grimaced. “I’d rather not have guests until it’s absolutely necessary. Maybe we can update with other photos after we open?”
“That could work. You’re not too far from my parents’ place. If our schedules work out, I might even come back to take them. Otherwise, I’ll try to find someone to recommend.”
“I’ll make the schedules work.” There was something in his tone I couldn’t quite read. He focused his intense gaze on me. “For now, I’ll show you to your room and you can get cleaned up. Tomorrow is soon enough to take pictures.”
I followed him to the farmhouse, my gaze catching on the way his jeans fit him perfectly as he climbed the stairs to the wide front porch.
Apparently, I had a thing for cowboys. Or maybe it was just this cowboy.
I certainly appreciated the view his brothers made, but they didn’t get my blood pumping like Declan did.
The front door opened, revealing a tiny white-haired woman wearing a floral dress. Despite her dainty appearance, I was certain she had a spine of steel. She peered around Declan, her mouth falling open when her eyes landed on me.
“Oh my. What happened? Never mind, I don’t want to know.
It must have been those boys.” She clicked her tongue and stepped back, making room for us to enter.
“I have fresh towels in your bedroom, and the bathroom near you is off limits to the boys while you’re here.
If you need anything, dear, just ask me.
I’m Mae, and I run this house. Don’t let them tell you otherwise. ”
“No one would dare.” Declan gave the woman a soft smile.
It transformed his face, smoothing out the edges of his rigid appearance.
It was gone so fast, I may have imagined it.
But imagination or not, it had my knees wobbling and my eyes wide.
Good thing he didn’t seem the type to smile a lot.
If he did, my heart might actually be in danger.
Declan led me upstairs. He pointed out the bathroom Mae had reserved for my use and then opened the door next to it.
After putting my backpack on the bed, he stepped back, giving me room to enter the cozy guest bedroom.
The decorations were more feminine than I’d expected, with a matching floral pattern on the curtains and bedspread.
Lace doilies graced the top of the dresser and under a lamp on the bedside table.
“Tomorrow, I’ll give you a tour of the ranch. Do you ride?”
“A little, but not very well.” The last time I’d been on a horse, I’d clung tightly to the saddle as it climbed a very narrow trail up a mountainside.
The guides had laughed at the gringa, but I hadn’t minded.
I was sure I was a sight. Heights normally didn’t bother me, but I wasn’t confident enough on horseback to feel comfortable as I swayed back and forth on the sturdy animal.
I’d ended up walking most of the trail, feeling much steadier on my own feet.
“We’ll fix that soon enough.” Declan tipped his hat and left the room, not giving me a chance to refute his words. I wouldn’t be here long enough to gain any real skill on horseback, and I could take pictures better from the ground, anyway.
I showered and changed before checking to make sure my cloud backup was working.
My camera automatically backed up my images to online storage, ensuring I never lost my work.
It cost me more than I earned from my first job, but was worth it for the peace of mind it gave me.
As I flipped through the images I’d taken today, I wished I’d gotten a shot of Declan, so I could study it without anyone knowing.
I sucked in a sharp breath, realizing I was headed down a dangerous path. He was not a man I could flirt with and come out unscathed. I needed to shut down this attraction, and fast. Before it went too far. He had a mate out there, and it wasn’t me.