Shephard (Mountain Men of Danger Falls #1)

Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

D enise

“You look beautiful,” he whispered as he lifted my veil. “The perfect bride.”

His words were laced with seduction, soft and alluring. My heart swelled from the love we shared. When I finally opened my eyes, I was ready to stare into those of my gorgeous husband. Shock tore through me and I let off a bloodcurdling scream.

There was no handsome man standing in front of me.

Only a monster in a tuxedo.

Woof!

Jerking up, I was forced to slam on the brakes, the backend of my truck swerving from one side of the road to the other. “Shit. Shit. Shit!”

I’d fallen asleep at the wheel, the last two exhausting days taking more of a toll on me than I’d thought. Terrified I was going to crash, I sucked in my breath and threw out my arm across my beautiful pup.

I skidded for a second time, the goddamn mountain getting close. So close. So…

When I came to a jerking halt, the seatbelt drove into me as I was shoved forward. Groaning, I took gasping breaths before throwing my arms across the steering wheel.

Woof. Woof. Woof.

Pepper nuzzled my arm, more anxious than I’d seen her ever before. And she’d had some traumatic experiences in her life.

“I know. I know, girl. I can’t make it. I don’t know what to do.”

She wagged her tail hard enough it thumped against the door and the seat, and just about everything else inside the cab.

“What is it?” She never acted this way unless she had something to tell me. I glanced out the rearview mirror, half laughing. “A motel. Here? In the middle of nowhere?” Maybe God was looking out for me after all. “I guess my choice has been made. Huh?” I didn’t want to die here today and a hundred extra miles wasn’t doable. Even as stubborn as I was, I wasn’t stupid.

I only hoped I hadn’t damaged the car in my creative spurt of driving. “Say a little prayer, girl.” At least I only had to crawl about two hundred yards.

Fortunately, the old sturdy Jeep roared to life. She just kept on ticking. I rolled into the parking lot, holding my breath. There were at least six motorcycles positioned in front of a bar and grill, which could mean nothing or could spell trouble depending on the crew. There were other vehicles as well, which meant the place was likely the only spot to take respite for a long stretch of the road.

I’d come a different route, but I knew the area well enough. Small towns were nestled here and there, a few touristy spots in between and little else. I was lucky I’d had divine intervention.

The hotel appeared old and a little like something from a horror flick given the horrific rainstorm, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. At least the open sign was partially lit and there were other vehicles parked in front of a few of the rooms.

“Well, girl. Let’s grab a room. Maybe after we check in, I’ll head over to the grill and grab us both a hamburger. Would you like that?”

Pepper was one particular pooch. She cocked her head and I rolled my eyes. “Okay. Cheeseburger it is. I know. And fries.” After all the dangerous work she’d engaged in for years, she deserved as many burgers as she wanted.

I groaned again as I glanced out the window at the torrential rain. At least it wasn’t snowing like it was in the mountains.

I hadn’t brought much with me, keeping my visit to two days only. Still, it had been two days too long. At least I had a clean shirt. “Come on, girl. It’s pouring.”

My baby girl responded to my commands without hesitation. Fortunately, Pepper only had to pee, doing that quickly so I wouldn’t look even more like a drowned rat.

Together, we raced into the small motel office, Pepper immediately shaking off excess water.

Onto the floor.

The grumpy-looking dude who entered the tiny space behind the old jewelry store counter eyed me cautiously, but the way he glanced at my pup was positively repulsive. I knew some folks were terrified of this breed in particular, but I knew instinctively the man behind the counter just hated all living creatures.

Pepper gave a slight woof, the sound more like she was huffing. At least her partial verbal okay meant the guy wasn’t a really bad dude or I might wrestle him to the floor for sheer fun.

“What can I do for you?” he asked, doing his best to regroup.

“I need a room for the night.”

“That I can do, but we don’t take dogs. It will need to stay in your vehicle.”

I moved closer to the counter, immediately reaching for my credentials. I could have handled this situation one of two ways. My preferred method would entail unnecessary violence, or so my sergeant had accused me of more than once. I chose the less violent of the two methods by pulling out my park ranger card.

In this part of the country, we were considered as important if not more so than a sheriff of any department. We not only could handle reconnaissance for search and rescue, but were damn good trackers of criminals believing they could escape into the mountains. Our department’s record and reputation were stellar.

We could also arrest lowlife assholes when necessary.

I leaned over the counter, shoving my ID in his face. “This dog is not just a dog. She’s a silver star recipient, expert bomb and drug sniffer who in her spare time has run into burning buildings to save lives after collaring a murderer and arsonist. I think as highly trained as she is that she will do just dandy sleeping next to me on one of your shitty little beds. Don’t you?”

To me, there was nothing like the sight of making a man sweat. Call me one of ‘those’ women, the bitter kind with an ax to grind. The truth was, I did. I hated all men. Sure, they were pretty to look at and even taste occasionally, but they weren’t necessary in the scheme of life. My favorite saying was that all a successful woman needed was red wine and her dog.

Even his lower lip was trembling. “Sure. Sure. I’ll give you our deluxe room too.”

I wanted to laugh. Deluxe in this roadside shithole? Not possible.

The jerk was quick with checking us in, his shyness at handing me the old-fashioned key allowing a smile to cross my face. I was one mean girl. After reaching the exterior door, I stopped and shot the man a look. “Tell me the cheeseburgers are at least edible at the dive next door.”

Nothing shocked me any longer. His face lit up. I could tell he’d had one too many of the burgers with a glance at his big belly. “They are perfectly charred with the right amount of melting cheese. Add a pickle and some onions, a touch of mayo, and you have the perfect burger. And the fries are deep fried twice to give them an extra crispy coating. Perfection. Don’t forget to add on your favorite beverage. The beer is always ice cold.”

The man was a walking, talking advertisement, but his animation was amusing. “You sold me. My baby is hungry and she gets exactly what she wants.”

A little shock factor never hurt anyone.

We headed to the deluxe room, the dark interior causing a different kind of laugh. At least the bed was king-sized. Maybe that was the deluxe part. I tossed my bag onto the dresser, taking out the second bag carrying two additional handguns and immediately placing it under the bed. Assholes liked to steal from empty hotel rooms, although Pepper would feast on a thief’s arm. Still, I was a safety girl. That much I’d learned in my former life.

I pulled out her travel bowls and the doggy bag of dog food I’d shoved into my duffle. “I’ll give you a little teaser prior to bringing your cheeseburger back to the room. Okay?”

Pepper was sitting on her haunches, her tail swishing back and forth. When she woofed twice, I grinned, holding up two fingers. “I remember. Two big, fat cheeseburgers. Don’t worry. Mommy needs to eat first.”

How many times had this beautiful pup saved my life over the last three years? Countless times. I’d fought to bring her back with me from overseas, but didn’t regret the angst, time, or money in doing so. She was my world.

After freshening up, which entailed combing through my wet hair and pulling the long strands into a ponytail, I gave myself a passing grade. Nothing better. I was no beauty queen, although men had called me beautiful before. Those dudes had just been trying to get me into bed.

I added a thin jacket, debating taking a weapon. Yeah, it was a good idea if the place was full of the rowdy type. “I’ll be back, baby. Don’t tear up the place.”

As if she would.

I was surprised to see the rain had moved from a severe flooding storm to slapping you in the face when you walked. I scurried across the broken parking lot, cursing when I almost fell into a crater-sized pothole. The closer I came to the bar and grill, the louder the music. I was more of a rock and classic kind of girl; the honkytonk country touristy bullshit I’d been subjected to since moving to the state had assaulted my senses more than once.

But it was what people expected, just like seeing cowboys in big Stetson hats. Once inside, I was shocked by how huge and actually nice the place was. I wouldn’t call it a dive by any stretch of the imagination. It was large, the bar area illuminated nicely. There was a stage, a dance floor, and plenty of tables. Along with a separate area with pool tables and dartboards. I could see why the place was hopping.

The crowd of mostly men turned their heads, some appearing like famished predators, but most returned to their beers and heady buzz after I issued my harsh look. It worked for most. A spot was open at the bar and at this point, it was mine. I had no intention of engaging in useless conversation with anyone. It wasn’t worth it and I was tired.

The bartender was burly, as to be expected in such a lively place. He eyed me the same as most men, wondering why I’d arrived alone. I wasn’t in the mood to share why I was way too far away from my peaceful cabin.

“You want a beer?”

“Wine if you have something like that. Merlot to be exact.”

He grinned. “We got everything and it’s all good.”

The man had a bar towel positioned over his right shoulder, constantly scanning the entire bar as if looking for trouble.

“Cheeseburgers. I heard they were top notch.”

His chuckle was friendly enough. “They’re pretty damn good.”

“Then I’ll take three with French fries on the side.”

“Hungry lady.”

“I have a companion you wouldn’t appreciate. Two in a to-go box.”

“Whatever you say. I’ll have your wine in a few seconds for you.”

I nodded in appreciation and studied the bar itself. Over the three shelves of liquor bottles several photographs were presented, some in black and white and others in vivid color, all depicting the bar in various years. Celebrities had enjoyed a burger or two in the joint over the years. It was amazing what you could find off the beaten path. I didn’t get out nearly as much as I should.

The wine arrived seconds later, complete with a dainty cocktail napkin. The bartender had obviously mistaken me for a lady. I was shocked to find the vintage a few steps higher than rotgut. I was doing my best to relax when the last two days had been anything but relaxing. My father was fading fast. I should spend more time with him, but he and I had a pretty shitty history. His prison stint hadn’t helped. Still, I was the only family the ailing man had.

I was cognizant my chair was the sudden center of attention only a minute later. What was it about men that they felt the best thing to do was to crowd your space? Sighing, I took another sip of wine, debating grabbing my weapon for another round of shock factor. I thought better of it until the first jerk placed his hand on the back of my chair.

“Howdy, sugar. Looking for company?”

I didn’t need to say anything, merely giving him a glance that should drive the cowboy wannabe into the ground. He threw up his hands, backing away with a surprised look on his face. The second jerk who tried less than two minutes later received a look harsh enough he should have caught fire. Finally, the group of men hovering around me seemed to get the message. Stay away from the bitch.

The cheeseburger arrived only moments later, a second glass of wine as well and I wasn’t disappointed. The food was fabulous, so much so I gobbled the burger within a few minutes, the fries not long afterwards. I’d been told I could eat like a guy. After washing it down with a gulp of wine, I took a deep breath. Maybe there were still diamonds in the rough.

So my mother used to say, God rest her soul.

If she had one.

The bartender had been decent, placing the to-go boxes in a nice, hefty bag with handles. Easy peasy.

My tummy satisfied, I spun the barstool around, curious as to the makeup of the customers. The people living in Danger Falls were a combination of rich folks who’d longed to retire in the great wilderness and those who’d grown up in the area, trying their best to carve out a life. Maybe I’d become jaded in the ten months since I’d arrived, but I rarely stopped and observed people and their behavior. Even if it was necessary in my job.

What I noticed was that instead of being rowdy, folks seemed happy to be enjoying an evening out. They were likely hard-working individuals living paycheck to paycheck. Someone caught my eye and I could tell he didn’t want to be there any more than I did.

Everyone was relaxing, except for the grumpy dude tossing darts with such ferocity, I was shocked the dartboard survived. From where I was sitting, I could tell he was huge, at least six foot four if not taller. And talk about muscles. The man was built like some bodybuilder yet seemed as if he’d gotten every hard muscle by dirty work, not spending hours in a gym.

Maybe my observation skills weren’t dead after all. He was dressed in jeans hugging a carved ass and a shirt that fit him nicely, although I couldn’t see it given his back was mostly turned to me. He was also wearing a leather jacket, which gave him a bit of a badass appearance. I had to admit, when I wanted eye candy, I went for the dangerous-looking dudes. If they had shaggy hair as well as a beard and mustache, as this dude did, my pussy was usually throbbing.

Call it a bad influence from being raised by such a religious mother.

Maybe mountain men should be on my menu from time to time.

I couldn’t help myself, pulling out three twenties and leaving it for the food and beverages. I didn’t need more tonight, but feasting on my version of chocolate before bed could provide delicious fantasies. That much I deserved.

As I moved through the crowd, I could tell the guys around him wanted to take him on. Every shot the mysterious hunk made was pretty good.

But I was better.

The thought was strangely something I needed tonight. Besting a man? A therapist would say something was terribly wrong with me. Maybe there was.

I moved closer still, catching more than just a glimpse of his periphery. Wow. The man was drop dead gorgeous in a mountain man kind of way. A decent shave and he’d be stunning. The closer I came, the more I realized I recognized the outline in his jacket pocket. He was carrying a weapon.

Not that it meant anything in these parts. It seemed everyone had weapons, so many carrying hunting rifles in their vehicles. But there was something off about him, as if he’d faced all the problems of the world and suffered because of it.

But there was no doubt he was one of the most attractive men I’d set my eyes on in a long time.

Even if he hated the dartboard with a passion.

A waiter brought the man another drink, not bothering to say a single word. The amber liquid indicated bourbon or scotch, a bottle of beer off to the side. I studied him for a few additional minutes, finishing my wine. Without bothering him, I moved closer, placing the bag of food on an empty table.

He was taking a break, holding the glass in front of his face as he studied the dartboard. Why did I have the feeling he was contemplating ripping it from the wall?

Maybe the trip had been detrimental, taking a significant toll on my psyche, but I was obviously in a mood. I couldn’t help myself, taking long strides in his direction. The moment I flanked his side, he slowly turned his head toward me with a sneer on his face. While the lights in the joint were pretty piss-poor, there was no doubt his eyes were the most awesome shade of whiskey or even cognac, deep and rich with gold highlighting his irises.

If a girl didn’t know that he was the kind of man to stay away from, she could get lost in his eyes for hours.

Not this girl.

Instead of losing myself in any way, I flexed my hand, sliding it near the waist of his supple leather jacket. He’d tossed his head over his shoulder, watching everything I did while remaining silent. I did love a man who could provide a deliriously sexy smirk.

“You’re packing,” I told him after almost identifying his handgun.

“Always.”

“Don’t worry. I always carry as well. You never know when you’re going to run into riffraff along the way.”

His nostrils flared in appreciation for my spunk. “Indeed.”

He was a man of few words. Maybe that meant his other attributes were… impressive. A girl could hope.

I pulled the glass from his hand. What shocked me was the high volume of current that immediately rushed through every cell and muscle after our fingers had touched. There was no such thing as karma, kismet, or any of that bullshit, but chemistry? Hell, yes.

He felt it too, the rugged man clenching his jaw. He said nothing as I drained his glass, gently placing it on a table. His only slight reaction was when I took the darts from his hand, giving him an entirely different heated gaze than I’d given the assholes who’d hit on me.

A hint of amusement sparked in those sexy eyes of his and he took a step away, allowing me direct access for a throw. As usual, I was pretty certain he underestimated me.

I’d been throwing darts for as long as I could remember, the one activity my father and I had enjoyed together when I was growing up. Sure, I could say that was sad all the way around, but I’d won more than my share of bets over the years from my acquired skill.

I might not be betting, but something told me I needed to concentrate. I did but couldn’t help myself, throwing one after another.

Bullseye as usual.

As if proving some unknown point, I repeated the move, catching more than one eye of the closest male customers.

Before any one of them had a chance to make an unwanted comment, I offered my only real smile of the night to the sexy hunk before retrieving the bag of goodies for Pepper.

I’d done exactly what I set out to do.

Confuse a man.