Page 3 of Austin's Answer
“Sorry to bother you, Emily. I know you’re not supposed to start until tomorrow, but I just got an emergency call about a bunch of sick horses that sounds serious. I’m on the other side of town, dealing with a uterine prolapse and will be tied up for hours.”
“Not a problem, Doc. I stopped at the clinic earlier and stocked up my vehicle, so I’m ready to go.” I turned and headed for my SUV, grateful I’d gone by the clinic before going home. “Where are the horses?”
“Right next door to you. At Shifter Ranch.”
My foot caught, and my keys dropped to the ground. “I’m sorry. Did you say Shifter Ranch?”
“I did. The other large animal vets are nervous around shifters. That’s why I hired you. I remembered you were friends with Austin.” The sound of shuffling came over the line. “I’ve been wanting to cut back my hours but didn’t feel I could until I had someone to cover Shifter Ranch.”
“I see.” My mind raced. The last place I wanted to be was Shifter Ranch, but I didn’t want to lose this job. Doc Johnson ran the only local vet clinic, and with my dad ill, I needed to be close by.
I blew out a sharp breath. “I’ll head over right now.”
“Thanks, Emily. Austin said the horses affected are in the small barn. It’s in the field behind the gallery.”
I slipped behind the wheel of my vehicle, curious about Doc’s directions. Since when did Shifter Ranch have a second barn? And a gallery?
Dad and I never talked about the neighbors. He didn’t know exactly what had happened between Austin and me, but he knew enough to avoid the topic. Now I wished he’d said something so I’d have some idea of what I was walking into.
The drive flew by way too quickly. Soon I approached the ranch sign, which had changed from the last time I saw it. It still said “Shifter Ranch” but also mentioned the gallery as well as a dude ranch. And there were large flower planters at the base of the sign. I couldn’t imagine any of the brothers planting flowers. It must have been their mom, or Mae.
I still wasn’t prepared to face Austin, but as I pulled my SUV past the main barn and parked near a path that led to a smaller barn, a man exited the building with a familiar swagger. He moved slowly, controlled. Almost gliding across the ground. He always reminded me of a wildcat stalking its prey. Not a surprise, considering he was a tiger shifter.
My heart raced. Even after all these years, just the sight of him walking affected me.
I squared my shoulders, reminding myself it had been eight years. I was no longer that seventeen-year-old girl with an unrequited crush. I was a woman. A woman who had zero intentions of falling under his spell again.
His steps faltered when I exited my vehicle, but only for a second. I ignored his approach and grabbed my bag out of the back. I straightened, turning around to face him as I heard him move closer. Despite my determination not to be affected, thelook on his face struck me. If I didn’t know better, I would say his expression held reverence.
He pulled his hat off, and sunlight glinted off his messy, dark blond hair. His green eyes had deepened over the years and held my gaze captive. They were achingly familiar, but so incredibly different at the same time.
He resembled the teenage boy I remembered the way a statue resembles a block of clay. Made of the same material but now the potential had been reached. He was just more. More masculine. More handsome. More powerful. And way more dangerous.
TWO
Austin
My first reaction when I saw Emily stepping out of her vehicle was panic. She couldn’t be here. Just the sight of her from a distance had my heart racing, telling me the years apart had done nothing to change my feelings for her.
The girl I knew was now all woman. Her dark brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and her once slender figure had filled out. She had delicious curves, and I wondered what she would feel like in my arms. She’d always been beautiful, but her features had matured, turning her into a breath-stopper.
My mouth was dry as I started toward her again. If eight years apart hadn’t changed my feelings, what would? The way my heart pounded and ached at seeing her, I doubted even finding my fated mate could compare to Emily.
My tiger perked up inside as I caught my first whiff of her scent. She smelled of prairie rose, with a hint of vanilla. The fragrance filled my senses, driving me forward to meet her. It took me a moment to realize what it meant.
Emily was my mate.
I stood behind her as she pulled a bag from the back of her vehicle. She turned to face me, and I took in every inch of her. “Em. It’s great to see you.”
Her expression was blank. “Where are the horses?”
“Em?”
“The sick horses. Doc Johnson asked me to come by.” She walked past me, leaving a good few feet between us. “This way, I assume?”
“Yes.” I hurried to catch up. When I moved next to her, she stepped farther away. My throat tightened. Did she not notice our connection? Sure, she was human, but she should still experience a tug toward me. “Em, slow down. It’s been years since I’ve seen you.”
Her jaw tightened, and she stopped, facing me with arms crossed. “We’re not long-lost friends catching up on old times, Austin. You made it clear where we stood years ago. What was it you said? Oh, right. We’re not friends. I’m just some girl who couldn’t take a hint.”
