“You have a gorgeous home.” I still wasn’t sure why I’d suddenly gotten the grand tour. “Thanks for showing me around.”
She walked back to the foyer near the front door and stopped. “I was wondering if you would be available to attend a fundraiser that I’m hosting next week. You’ll be paid of course.”
“I’d be happy to.” I forced myself to stop ogling her artwork and focused on Deidra. “Do you want me to promote the ranch for investors or…?”
Her dark eyes sparked with…eagerness? “The fundraiser is for genetic studies, but the attendees are affluent business owners from all over the country. I’m currently looking for one or two investors in the ranch so we can expand and purchase more property in the valley. I’m hoping you can test the waters and see if we get any bites.”
My pulse thrummed with anticipation. “My contract with you didn’t include bonuses or commissions, though. Could we negotiate some compensation based on my performance?”
Her thin brow arched. I couldn’t tell if she was impressed or offended, but she reached out to pat my arm. “Of course. I’m willing to offer a three-percent commission based on the size of the investment. Will that work for you?”
Yes! But I did my best to keep my expression even. “And what is our target goal for the ranch?”
“One million dollars. For now.”
It was getting tougher stay cool and not tip my hand. Quick math told me my cut would be $300,000. I could buy a nice home in Sedona with that. Plus, most of the boxes at my apartment were still packed anyway, so moving would be easy. I nodded slowly. “I’m in.”
A genuine smile curved her crimson lips. “Good. I’ll write up an agreement for you and e-mail it over.”
We walked through the house to the back door, but as we passed the kitchen again, I pointed to the padlocked door. “Does that lead outside or…?”
She glanced at the door, and I swore her lips pressed tightly for a second before she answered. “Wine cellar. Some of the bottles down there are worth almost as much as the house.”
I didn’t know much about wine, but this house had to be valued at a million dollars—at least. Could wine really be worth that much?
We exited the main house, and she followed me back to my office. I picked up my purse, struggling to keep from checking the time on my phone. “Thanks for the tour and the opportunity to approach potential investors. I’m excited for the future of the ranch.”
“I am, too.” She paused, then added, “I’ll expect to see you and a plus-one on Wednesday night for the fundraiser. Seven o’clock sharp. The dress code is black-tie optional.”
Wait. A plus-one?
She was at the door before I found my voice. “I need a date?”
“The invitations are for couples. Yes.”
But I was working. I tried not to frown. “All right,” I acquiesced. “I’m new in town, but I’ll find someone.”
“Maybe your brother?”
Now I did frown. Had I mentioned my brother to her before? Perhaps sensing my confusion, she added, “Didn’t you tell me you had a brother in Phoenix? I thought that was why you were looking for work in Arizona.”
I didn’t remember saying that to Deidra. Could I have forgotten? “I could ask him.”
“Good.” She smiled and left me standing alone in my office.
Suddenly, I wasn’t as excited about the opportunity to schmooze with investors. I kept replaying her comment. My interview had been with a headhunter, and then a brief meeting over Zoom with Deidra. She’d told me about the employment package, health plan, and vacation pay. I barely spoke to her, and I had no memory of mentioning my brother.
But I had told Cole about Chandler. Could he have told Deidra?
I wandered out to my car in a daze. Over the years, I’d gotten better about trusting my instincts and intuition, and right now, I was getting a bad vibe. I tried to shake it off. What would be the point in having the vet spy on her to find out she had a brother? Besides, Deidra was going to pay her handsomely for her work at the fundraiser.
My car door squeaked as I opened it and tossed my purse inside. Without making a conscious choice, I walked over to the barn. Jorge was pouring grain in the feeders and craned his neck to see me over his shoulder. “Hey, Madison. I thought you already left. Is everything okay?”
I scanned the wood beams over our heads and noticed two security cameras mounted there. Those didn’t have microphones, did they? Deidra certainly had the money for that kind of upgrade.
I shook my head. This was paranoid nonsense. I focused on Jorge and forced a smile. “Yeah. I just had a tour of the main house. It was amazing. Have you been in there before?”
“Once, yes.” He lowered the grain bucket and turned around to face me.
He was taller than me by a few inches with dark eyes that sparkled when he smiled. He’d worked at the ranch long before Deidra bought it and renamed it Serenity Farms.
“It’s much bigger now. Ms. Harlow expanded the main house after she moved in.” He glanced at the residence, his smile fading as if he’d remembered something…not good.
It wasn’t helping me squelch my paranoia.
“I guess I better get going,” I said.
He jerked my way, as if he’d forgotten I was there for a second. He nodded, his expression warming again. “See you tomorrow.”
“See you then.” I walked the rest of the way to my car, wishing I could’ve asked him more, but the cameras worried me now.
I drove to the Wolf Pack Bar without stopping at home first. When I parked, it was already ten after six. The whole way over I did my best to push the uneasiness away, but it still licked at my belly, whispering that something wasn’t right.
But was that “something” the ranch, my boss, or maybe the vet I was meeting for drinks?
CHAPTER 5
Cole
I caught her scent before I even turned around on my barstool. Madison. I could tell by the faint smell of livestock that she’d come straight from the farm. No human would’ve noticed, but I wasn’t human.
When I looked at her, she smiled and came over to me. “Sorry I’m late.”
“Long day at the ranch?”
“How did you know?” Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if she was sizing me up.
I shrugged. Even if she’d known I was a werewolf, I was smart enough not to tell her she smelled like manure. Not my first rodeo. “Just guessing since you were a few minutes late.” I paused, taking in her wary expression. “Are you all right?”
She huffed out a breath and took the stool beside me. “I think I’ve been binge-watching too much 20/20 or something.” She looked up at Ryker, our bartender and probably the largest werewolf in our pack, and said, “Can I get a Screaming Orgasm?” She paused and added, “In a big glass?”
“Sure.” Ryker nodded and started mixing.
Her drink order turned my head. Our pack owned the Wolf Pack Bar, and I’d tended it a few times. Enough to know she’d ordered a cocktail with vodka, Baileys, and Kahlúa, but hearing her say the word orgasm had parts of me imagining things I had no business thinking about. I studied her profile, reminding myself again that this woman with full lips, bright-blue eyes, and sun kisses across her pert nose was also Chandler’s sister. She was off-limits. But there was no harm in appreciating a beautiful woman. I could look.