She couldn’t believe it. How did she know all that? “Is there a hotline that you all use? The phone tree when someone is uncouth to another member. Are all of you Jade’s bodyguards and chastise everyone that upsets the little princess?”
“One, I saw you run by crying. Second, there is a camera down by the pond and we monitor it for any possible danger. The fireworks between you guys were off the charts too. And third, Quinn called me and told me to talk with Jade. She was upset and left the store and came home after you were so rude to her. Why, Raven? Jade has bent over backward for you. I guess I’m asking because I consider both of you my friends and I know Jade wants to be your friend and has tried, but like today, you keep pushing her away. Why?”
“Well, who asked her? And the camera being down at the pond, well, that’s another thing that pisses me off. Nobody told me. Nobody tells me anything anymore. Ever since the Death Hunters started getting mates, everything is like a big secret. But I’m the one they are keeping the secrets from. Do I need to leave? Is this why everyone is treating me like this?”
Geer grabbed Raven’s hand and pulled her to the couch. “Sit.” She sat then turned and faced her. “Raven, nobody is keeping secrets from you. I promise. And no, you can’t leave, and nobody wants you to. What’s going on in that head of yours?”
Raven wanted to cry. She wanted to get it out of her system. Everything inside her was off. Her senses were heightened. Or…Maybe it was her. Maybe she was sick. “I just feel funny inside. I was okay until I got home and I can’t describe it.”
Greer grabbed her hand and held it. “It’s okay. We all go through it. Things are changing here, and you feel left out, but you're not.”
“I don’t feel left out. I’m happy for you all. Really, I am.”
Greer tilted her head to the side. “I think it’s because of Caz. You are attracted to him, are you not?”
They both turned when Reed walked in with the man that had been plaguing her thoughts all day. “Raven.” Reed rushed over and hugged her. She couldn’t help but laugh at her male best friend. “I missed you. Tonight, is game night. I have our fourth person for tonight. Caz knows how to play Spades. You and me and Greer and Caz.” Reed turned and looked at his mate. “I brought the food, baby.”
She wanted to say no, make up any excuse she could, but Reed went out and bought all kinds of food from Get Your Grub. Plus, she was starving. But now she had to spend the rest of her night with him and his scent.
Chapter Four
“We win, again,” Caz said, slamming his cards on the table. Caz and Greer slapped each other’s hands in the air. Narrowing her eyes at the tiger, Raven wanted to smash him in the face. But that would mean she was a sore loser. Which she was. She hated to lose. Reed would never let her live it down if she did and she really did like Greer. This was Greer’s home and she wouldn’t disrespect her with making a scene.
Greer got up. “I need a break.”
Everyone in the room felt the same way. Maybe it was all the growling she was doing.
Raven walked outside and inhaled the fresh air. She needed space from Caz Milton. Never had a scent affected her so much. Plus, he sat directly across from her too. That little look he gave her when he had a great hand. He was making her so mad.
“You don’t talk much, do ya?” Caz said, walking outside. He couldn’t seem to leave her alone.
Raven sighed, “Only when I have something to say.”
“I get that,” Caz said, bringing her to stare at this strange man.
“What do you get?”
Caz sat in one of the rocking chairs, probably thinking of an answer. “You should have been a cat shifter. You watch and wait. I bet you are a great tracker. You have the patience for it. You don’t mind working alone. You avoid being around other people. I get that you’re not a big talker. Same with me.”
Raven snorted and looked out toward the woods.
“What? You think I talk too much?” Caz asked.
Turning, she stared at him. “I don’t know you enough to say that.”
“Then why are you acting so frosty?”
Raven narrowed her eyes at the tiger. “Frosty?”
“Yeah, you are. Almost to the point of being rude,” Caz said.
Immediately, she didn’t like the smirk on his face. “I’m not frosty and I’m not rude. I just—”
“What, you don’t have something to say.”
“Yes. That’s right. I don’t have anything to say.”
Caz got up and stood beside her. “What does it take to smile at someone or to say hello to them. I heard how rude you were to Jade today. Why? What did she do to you?”
Raven’s eyes turned to her animal. She jumped from the side of the tree house to the front porch. Landing, she stomped away. How dare this man who didn’t even know her accuse her of being rude. Jade this, poor Jade that. Nobody ever cared if she was upset or someone hurt her feelings.
She could hear him yelling at her to come back. Absolutely not. What a stupid man. Maybe she needed to take the next assignment. That was what she would do. Talk to the alpha.
Walking down the path, she heard something coming. She turned just in time for a bag to be thrust into her face. “You left this,” Caz said.
“Oh…” Raven took the bag and was about to turn around when he jumped in front of her.
“Frosty...see what I mean. You can’t even say thank you. Is it me or are you always like this?”
Raven shook her head. She wanted to call him a butthead, but she knew it would only keep him going. She inhaled and there it was again, peaches. “Do you wear cologne that smells like peaches?”
His nostrils flared. Finally, she got him with that one. “No. I don’t wear cologne. Most shifters don’t but you know that or at least you should know that.”
“Of course, I know that. I’m not stupid.”
“Then why on earth would you think I wore cologne that smells like peaches? Goodness woman, really?” he said sarcastically.
“Stop patronizing me. Okay, you don’t wear cologne. You can leave now.”
But the tiger didn’t leave. He stood there. He looked like he was contemplating something and she didn’t like it one bit. Before she could walk around him, he wrapped his arms around her and smashed her body against him and slammed his mouth over hers. Everything happened so fast, she froze.
Jerking his mouth away, his eyes had turned to his animal as he stared at her. A growl rattled up Caz’s throat. “Why do you make me so mad?” Then he kissed her again, but this time it was different. This time he pulled her close and held her like she was a piece of fragile china. His hands moved up her arms causing tiny storms to ignite inside her with each soft touch. Without thought, she opened her mouth allowing him entrance.
She had never tasted anything as sweet as these lips of Caz Milton’s lips. It was the sound of someone coming that jerked her away from this...What are you doing, Raven? How stupid can you be?
Raven realized she was still in his arms. “Let me go.”
“Don’t act like you didn’t like it,” Caz said, pushing his hands in the air, backing away as she stumbled backward.