Mistakenly Mated (10 page)

“Her wounds probably re-opened. She needs to go home,” said Caleb, praying that Kerry wouldn’t kick up a fuss this time.

She was pale and taking deep breaths.

“Wound? Kerry? What happened to her?”

“Hunting accident,” said Caleb quickly. He wrapped his arms under her and lifted her up against his chest. Kerry made a little startled sound and moaned with the pain.

“Kerry hunts,” said Bart, scratching his head.

Caleb rolled his eyes and coughed, making him focus on him for a moment. “Can you cover for her or call Susan to take the rest of her shift?”

“Yes, things here will be fine. Just make sure she gets better, alright?”

Caleb nodded. He carried her across to his car and strapped her into the passenger seat.

Kerry had her eyes closed tight. Her lips were sucked in like she’d just eaten a persimmon and her face still had no color to it.

Caleb got in and turned on the vehicle. He pulled out, heading away from people who still crowded around trying to find out what had happened.

Caleb thought about that too. That car was not just an impatient person. No cars were on that road when they started their conversation and someone who wanted to just pass would have honked their horn or yelled at them to move.

The driver deliberately tried to mow them down. They swerved a little to the left so Caleb was sure they aimed to mow Kerry down. He would have just been collateral. If he’d not shoved her, she might have been hit broad side, thrown up in the air, and killed. She was already coming off one injury, to get so injured when she hadn’t healed yet could put her into a critical condition. He made a snap decision and took a different road.

Kerry’s breathing became slow and even. Blood returned to her cheeks in small doses and her eyes fluttered open. She had her pain under control for now but Caleb needed to see under her bandages, find out how much damage had been done, and re dress it. Kerry looked around her as they turned on to Pine Ridge Road.

“Where are we going?” she asked in a breathy voice.

“To my place.”

She rolled her head towards him. “Why?”

“Honestly? Because your daddy won’t be there at any point.”

Kerry gave him a weak little smile.

He turned onto a drive and hit a little button on the fob attached to his keys. High metal gates slowly slid open to allow the car through.

The drive ended just up a small bank from the gate in a circle with a beautiful fountain made of natural stones and water flowing over them. Bushes lined the edge of the drive and up to the door where the scents of honeysuckle filled Kerry’s nose.

Caleb carried her from the car to the house as carefully as he could, pushing the door open with his shoulder. Soft New Orleans jazz played from a speaker as they entered the house. Caleb carried her into his living room and lay her down on a pristine, white couch which looked new. He pulled a throw from the back of the couch down and covered her with it.

Caleb fumbled with a control panel on the wall to turn the music off before returning to her.

“It was nice. I liked it,” she said, smiling at him.

He stroked her hair off her face and looked at her side. The blood had soaked the entire side of the shirt.“Try to get this off. I’ll get my first aid kit.”

Kerry nodded, watching him disappear through a door leading to a stainless steel kitchen.

She pulled at the T-shirt, getting it up over her good side and then peeling it down on the side wet with her blood. She cried out as it stung to pull the fabric from the wound.

Caleb came back with a large, clunky green box that read First Aid Kit in bright white letters on it. He bent down at her side and examined her skin through the blood. He opened the kit, pulling out a pack of antibacterial wipes and started cleaning her up.

Caleb saw it had opened up again but it already started to heal over again. Kerry had to have caught it hard on the gravel as she fell. Once he had all the blood mopped up, he squirted some antiseptic cream onto his finger. As gently as he could, he rubbed it along the wound, making sure it made a seal of protection around her torn flesh. When she cried out at the sting, he gently blew on her skin to ease it. Kerry watched him with great attention as he covered it over with a new piece of gauze, tapping it into place.

“There now, can you sit up?”

Kerry carefully pushed herself up into a sitting position, bringing her breasts level with Caleb’s eyes. He examined the pretty pink bra she wore that was now dappled along one side with blood. Kerry winced a little and had to stop herself from rubbing her hand flat over her side to sooth it.

Caleb watched her halt her gesture. Then he packed bits back into the box. “Do you want some Tylenol? I have some in the bathroom.”

“No. I’ll be okay in a minute. So, this is your place?” Kerry looked around her. The hall from the front door came straight into the living room. There was a couch, with two arm chairs positioned around a coffee table in front of a huge fireplace. The back wall was all windows opening out onto a deck with a fantastic view of the forest and the mountains behind that. The door to the kitchen was to the left of the fireplace and to the right, a corridor led down to more rooms. The entire floor was polished hard wood with a rug or two to break the space into sections. There was a mirror over the fireplace reflecting the room back and the bare walls.

“You need to get you some pictures,” said Kerry, turning her head to look at the smooth light colored walls. Then she turned back to at Caleb and added, “And a couch you can spill something on without ruining it.”

“Well, if you want to move in and redecorate, I won’t make a fuss.”

Kerry let her mouth hang open for a minute while he chuckled.

“You are like a dog with a bone.”

Caleb gave her his best charming smile. He watched her twitch in reaction with some amusement. Kerry was desperate for a change of subject.

“Show me the rest of the house,” Kerry said while trying to stand up on her own.

Caleb was to his own feet quick as a flash and swooped her into his arms. “Oh, no you don’t. A tour can wait. You are being put straight to bed to get some rest.”

Kerry didn’t argue with him. She let her head rest in the crook of his neck as he carried her down the hall to his bedroom. She was grateful when he sat her down on the bed. He bent down and took off her socks and shoes for her. She swung her legs round, collapsing back against his pillows.

“Now, that’s a pretty sight,” he said with a wired smile. He pulled the covers over her feet.

“Quit it. I’m all icky.”

He pulled the covers up to her chin and kissed her lips very softly. “Still beautiful. Get some sleep. Bathroom is just across the hall if you need it. If you’re not up by suppertime, I’ll wake you.”

“I never miss a meal,” she said smugly, then sat upright wincing. “Momma! She expects me home.”

“I’ll call her,” Caleb said, settling her back down. “Get some rest.” Caleb drew the blinds and shut the door.

Kerry wriggled down under the covers and let her eyes fall closed.

* * * *

Kerry awoke to the sound of raised voices. She opened an eye to see the bedroom was still dark. The voices came from down the hall. She opened both her eyes and crossed herself, praying it wasn’t her daddy outside.

She got out of bed regardless that she was only in a blood caked bra and shorts and crept to the bedroom door, opening it a crack to peek out. Caleb’s voice and that of a woman she thought she recognized were coming from the living room.

Kerry crept along the wall and craned her neck to look into the large main room. Caleb paced back and forth while the statuesque blonde from the dance sat in the chair with her back to Kerry. She could see her reflection in the window. The blonde looked pissed and her arms were crossed defiantly. Kerry tried to remember what her name was.

“Avrilyne,” growled Caleb continuing his pacing. “I’m very serious!”

Avrilyne!
That was right. She was the one meant for Caleb, not her.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Quit pacing; you’re giving me a headache and you’re going to scuff the floor.”

“Someone shot at my mate and tried to run her over. If I find you had anything to do with it…”

Avrilyne snorted. “Like I’d care enough to bother. You’re not the only wolf in the pack, Caleb Vander. I’ve got better things to do.”

“I’m checking your financials. If I find anything that looks remotely like a pay off…”

“You can’t do that,” she screeched.

Caleb gave her a dark grin. “Oh, I think you’ll find I can. I will do what I have to, to protect my mate. Don’t doubt my sincerity on that.”

Avrilyne snorted derisively. “You never showed this much caring when you were with me. What makes this little bitch so special? She’s not as smart as I am or as beautiful.”

“She may not be as educated as you but do not for an instant think that makes her dumb. You look attractive but Kerry is not only that but warm. You’re not so different in that your opposites.”

Avrilyne stood up. She stomped her high heeled foot, making a tiny black mark in his floor. “Don’t you dare compare me to that corn bread hick!”

Caleb growled at her. “I’ve warned you once to watch your tongue when it comes to my mate.”

Kerry ducked her head back behind the corner. A small smile played on her lips. Caleb’s words had touched her. She didn’t want to get caught up in their fight so she went down into the bathroom to clean up.

* * * *

Caleb heard the shower turn on. He glanced towards the hallway, then back at Avrilyne who was gearing up for another round of insults.

“You have to go. She’s awake and I don’t want you here when she comes out of the shower.”

“She’s here?” screeched Avrilyne. It was the last indignity because it took her three and a half weeks of their courtship to be allowed to enter his house. Avrilyne fumed. In truth she’d never thought about killing the girl until that moment.

“I will be watching you, Avrilyne. If my mate is attacked again—believe me—we will have this conversation again.”

Avrilyne picked up her purse, wrapped her pride around her, and stormed out.

Caleb heard her car rocket down the drive and he listened for the sound of the gate closing automatically behind her. He sighed, rubbing his temples.

His father denied having anything to do with the attacks Caleb made his choice and his father was prepared to stand by and let him pay for his own mistakes. That only left Avrilyne with a motive to want Kerry dead but her stringent denials—insults aside—seemed genuine.

Killing the mate of another was death sentence. If there was one thing he could count on from Avrilyne it was that she looked out for herself first and foremost. She was the most important person to herself.

He slid open the window, stepping out onto the deck and lifted the lid off the grill. Steak, baked potatoes, and peppers grilled on the metal. They sizzled away, steam rising up as its tendrils curled into the night sky.

The moon was almost new; barely a sliver of light in the sky, soon though it would grow fat and bright once more. Then he and Kerry would be partners for life. He was pleased by the idea.

The shower cut off and he checked that everything was set up. He had plates and cutlery. The food was nearly cooked and the table was set with a lantern and some flowers. He took his electric lighter from the shelf under the grill and lit the lantern so their meal wouldn’t be by starlight alone. Caleb turned back to the grill.

He kept his ears perked so he heard it the minute Kerry’s bare feet came slapping along the wooden floor. He turned to look at her. She was swathed in his bathrobe—a thin, blue terry cloth material, tied tight with the sash at the waist.

“That looked better on you than it does on me,” Caleb said with a friendly smile.

“Thanks. I didn’t know what else to wear.”

“It’s fine. In the morning you can borrow some of my clothes. I have some T-shirts that will be a bit baggy on you but they’ll suffice.”

“In the morning? You’re asking me to spend the night.”

Caleb flushed a little at the teasing tone in her voice. “Yes. I don’t want to let you out of my sight tonight. I want you where I can protect you.”

Kerry gave a delicate little snort. “Chauvinist.”

“Feminist,” he retorted with a grin.

He flipped the steaks over. Kerry’s mouth watered. She was hungry as a horse She stepped out onto the deck and light breeze ruffled her damp hair.

Caleb inhaled the spicy scent of habanero peppers. He, too, grew hungry but not for the steak. He adjusted his belt and tried to focus on the browning meat.

“Dinners almost ready. Take a seat.” He indicated one of the chairs at the wooden table with his spatula.

Kerry sat, crossing her legs delicately. “You really shouldn’t go around threatening people,” said Kerry with a smile.

Caleb froze in plating her food. “You heard some of that?”

“Mhmm. If you’re going to go through someone’s financials, wouldn’t it be better for them not to be forewarned.”