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* * *
“Look,” Lucas said several hours later, after lunchtime had come and gone. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m getting kind of bored of just sitting around and waiting for a bear to show up. You interested in shooting some targets or something? Loser buys the next case of beer.”
He’d spent all morning and early afternoon hunched in a blind in the middle of the forest, observing a hollow stump a hundred yards away.
It contained fragrant bear bait concealed deep in its interior, where a bear would have to work to get at it. In doing so, it would be a sitting duck for the hunters.
While Idaho was one of the few states to allow the use of baits to attract black bears, it was only permitted during certain times of the year. And Lucas knew perfectly well that right now, all black bears were out of season.
And hunting grizzly bears was currently banned altogether.
Bickham had assured him that his custom-crafted bait was a sure thing when it came to attracting bears, both black bears and grizzly bears. Hell, the fact that it used cinnamon buns from that fantastic bakery in town meant that it would probably attract humans, too.
But just like yesterday and the day before, they hadn’t spotted any big game. Only birds and a few ground squirrels.
Lucas held his breath, hoping. He needed bullets from their guns, dammit! It was the only way of determining whether Bickham and Silvers were actually the ones who’d shot Rob, or if he was barking up the wrong tree and needed to start over with a different set of suspects.
His two companions looked at each other.
“Sure, sounds fun,” Silvers said.
At the same time, Bickham shook his head. “Nah, I hate wasting ammo, and we’ll scare off the game for sure. Don’t worry, Lucas. I’m sure we’ll get you that bear or elk. Just gotta be patient, okay?”
As an ambush hunter, patience was supposed to be a cougar’s specialty. Why was Lucas so all-fired eager to get this case wrapped up and go home?
Because the longer I hang around here, the more difficult it will be to stick to my word about keeping my distance from Malia.
* * *
As she moved through her day, Malia’s thoughts kept returning to the text message she’d woken up to.
Lucas doesn’t want to see me anymore? Didn’t he enjoy our dinner and dessert as much as I did?
She thought he had, but his text stirred up a storm of insecurities.
Last night, the attraction had seemed mutual. He’d told her that he was open to seeing her again.
What happened to change his mind? Did someone from the pack decide to talk to him?The thought of their well-meaning but frustrating meddling made her growl. After her ill-advised conversation with Maggie, Ellie, and Great Uncle Bill earlier, everyone had probably heard about Lucas and her by now.
She spent the entire morning stewing over her cowardice with Great Uncle Bill.Instead of telling him that Lucas was a possible informant, I should have told him that my dating life was none of his business!
But had she really been prepared to sleep with Lucas because she thought he might reveal some information about Rob’s shooting?
Or was there more to it?
Definitely more. Her wolf liked everything about the tall, confident cougar shifter.
And, truth be told, so did Malia. She longed to kiss him again…and do other things.
The way he’d touched and stroked her had the power to reignite the hot throb of desire between her legs every time she remembered it. She craved another taste of the wicked skill he’d demonstrated with his mouth and fingers.
I want more,she decided as she pulled into a riverside picnic area to take her lunch break.But I can’t text him. I don’t want to come across as pathetic and needy.
Court him tonight, her wolf urged her.Feed him. He wants you. I know it. You know it.
The chime of a new text message distracted her from her thoughts.
Had Lucas reconsidered? She eagerly unlocked her phone, and discovered that the message was from Rob.
