James knocked on the open door and stuck his head in. “Hey.”
“Hi.” She waved him forward. “James this is Max, who is here as security. Max, my assistant James.”
“Security?” James looked between the two of them.
“After the break-in, Alex thought we needed to be more careful. Max is going to help get the house and studio better covered and is staying until the person is caught.”
“Wow!” James stuck his hands in his pockets.
He was young, still attending college, and a very talented artist himself. They’d met at the gallery and she had been taken with his enthusiasm for art. “I didn’t realize it was such a big deal.”
Cassie frowned. “Of course it is. Someone broke into my home and the studio. Months of work was destroyed!”
James nodded. “Yeah, it’s just no one was hurt and Canyon is usually such a safe place.”
“I’m here to make sure it stays that way,” Max said.
Cassie noticed he was watching James closely. She knew that he had to be suspicious of everyone who had access to the studio, but there was no way she would believe that James had been involved.
“I guess I was just hoping it was a mistake or something. It’s scary.”
“It’ll be okay, hon,” she assured him while wrapping an arm around his shoulders.
His bleached, spiked hair tickled her cheek when she embraced him.
“Wow!” James noticed the canvas of the black wolf and broke away. “This is so awesome!”
She met Max’s gaze and smiled. She thought the man was pretty awesome himself.
“I’m going to get started,” Max stated, “so don’t leave the house without letting me know.”
“No problem,” she assured Max. “We’re going to go through the inventory list from the gallery to see just how many more pieces I need. I don’t want Alex to cancel the show if he doesn’t have to.”
Max glanced over his shoulder to where James was admiring the painting from different angles. Max’s hand brushed against hers as he strolled from the room. The tingle that followed his touch gave Cassie something to look forward to.
Max turned the screw to secure the last additional camera Alex had purchased and sighed with relief. He’d been at it for hours. He was finally comfortable about the new security around the entire Wilson ranch.
“Hey, man.”
Max looked over at Alex who had joined him on the porch. The man held out a beer and Max almost moaned in gratitude. It was damn hot out today and he was tired. He climbed down from the stool he was using for mounting the camera above the front door and accepted the cold bottle.
He rubbed it over his forehead before taking a long pull. “Thanks, I needed that.”
Alex nodded. “Looks like you got the last one up.”
“Yeah, I also put new locks on all the windows and installed a chain on the front door. Cassie seems to use the balcony doors a lot and I want to get some better locks for that.”
“She likes to smell the fresh air,” Alex said.
Max noted that Alex seemed a little uneasy. He took another long drink and lifted an eyebrow. “Everything okay?”
Alex shook his head. “Let’s sit.”
Max followed him to the wooden porch chairs then settled down with his beer. “What’s up?”
“You’ve heard about the Church for Humanity?”
“Sure, they are the ones who are trying to get the government to make shifters register.”
“They’re also the reason that the wolf Council worked so hard in setting up the new shifter Coalition. The main guy was arrested in Nevada for kidnapping and all sorts of other crimes against the wolves.”
“I remember reading about it right after I got home,” Max told him.
“I received another letter today at the gallery that they want the showing canceled due to the
nature
of the show pieces.”
“Cassie’s work?” Max guessed.
Alex leaned forward and rubbed his hand over his face. “Yeah. I called and left a message for Alpha Shawn, but he hasn’t called back yet. I’m worried. I know our Pack isn’t public, but the church can cause us all kinds of trouble.”
“Do you think they might be responsible for the break-in?”
Alex blew out a breath. “I don’t know. I mean, how would they have known we weren’t home?”
“Someone was watching.”
“And if someone is watching, what else have they seen? We shift all the time. Almost everyone around these parts does.”
Max could completely see why Alex was worried. The members of the church had been getting more and more vocal about how unnatural the shifters were. After their leader had been convicted, it had seemed to spread to being downright nasty between the church and shifter communities. “We need to call the Council.”
“That’s why I wanted to talk to Shawn. He’ll be able to contact them and maybe even the Coalition.”
“Fuck!” Max muttered. This just got worse every minute. If they did have to bring the Coalition in, there was no way they would be able to remain hidden. “What are we going to tell Cassie?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure we should tell her anything right now. She needs to concentrate on the upcoming show and I don’t want her more worried than she already is.”
“Then maybe you shouldn’t discuss it on my front porch.”
Max jerked his head to the side and saw Cassie standing in the doorway. Alex groaned and stood.
“I’m sorry, Cass, but I didn’t want to scare you.” Alex held out his hand.
Cassie moved to him and snuggled into his arms. “I’m a big girl, Alex. You can’t protect me from everything.” She looked over at Max. “Plus I’ve got a pretty good bodyguard.”
Max grinned, although he fought not to blush. He really admired how calmly Cassie seemed to handle everything. Yes, she was struggling, but her natural instincts seemed to take over and she showed trust in the men around her.
Alex chuckled and patted her back. She stepped away then leaned against the rail while Alex retook his chair.
“You can’t keep things from me, Alex. If there is more going on than just a break in, I need to know.”
Alex nodded. “I know, you’re right.”
“We’ll handle this,” she told him. “But what about the boys? Are they safe here?”
“I sure hope so,” Alex said just as his cell phone rang. He dug it out of his pocket. “That’s Shawn. I need to take this.”
Max waved him off and waited until he’d walked down the porch steps. He then turned his attention to Cassie. “You okay?”
“Yeah. No. I don’t know,” she said, sighing deeply. “I can’t help but wonder if I caused all this with my paintings? Is the Pack in danger because of me?”
Max stood and encircled her in his arms. “No, I don’t believe so. These people are so hell bent on causing trouble for us they could have found anything.”
She laid her head against his chest. “I hate the idea of someone watching us. Planning ways to hurt us. I don’t understand why they can’t just let us be.”
Max buried his hand in her hair and tightened his embrace. “Ever since the beginning of time, people have feared what they don’t understand. This will pass. We have the Council and now the Coalition. It’s going to be okay.”
“I’m glad you’re here. Everything is crazy and happening fast, but I feel safe with you. Like I can get back to my art and not worry about what is going on around me.”
“I’m glad I can give you that kind of security,” he replied. It was funny that from the moment he’d set eyes on Cassie, he had felt something settle deep inside him. Like even his wolf was at home with this woman. “And we’ll figure out what to do about the church.”
Her eyes sparkled as she gazed up at him. “Kiss me again?”
He cupped her cheek while he lowered his head. “Yes,” he whispered against her lips, brushing his over hers.
She pushed into the kiss eagerly and responded so beautifully that he had to draw back so he didn’t end up embarrassing them both. Her brother might return at any time.
“Be good,” he warned playfully when she tried to chase his mouth.
She lifted a brow. “Oh, I can be so very good.”
He snorted, stepping back. “Not with your brother close by,” he teased, popping her on the ass with a light slap.
Her carefree laughter warmed his heart. They might have a lot of concern, but they would get through it. He would make damn sure.
Max spotted Alex heading back toward them and retook his seat. Cassie smirked at him and returned to lean against the rail.
“Shawn is calling the Council right now. He and Chase will come over to the house as soon as they can,” Alex informed them as he stepped up to the porch.
“I’m going to call Jacob and make sure he can make it too. I thought we could have a barbeque. It’s a nice evening and we need to return to some sort of routine.”
“Sounds good,” Cassie agreed. “I’ll make a few side dishes. The least we can do is feed everyone if we’re going to put them in danger.”
“Hey!” Alex strode up the steps and to his sister. “This is not your fault.”
“I know,” she said softly. “Really, I do, but I can’t help but… This sucks!”
Alex nodded as he chuckled. “It does. Just remember there are five artists in the showing, four of them are shifters, and we don’t even know why this show is being targeted. We’ve had many over the years. Let us figure this out.”
She nodded. “I’m going to go start on some food.”
Max kept himself from reaching out to her as she passed. He wanted to comfort her, to take her back to the moment when she was laughing happily. As she stepped back inside, Alex growled. Max turned to him.
Alex stood, hands fisted at his side. “I want to kill whoever is doing this to her, to us all.”
Since Max felt the same way, he couldn’t really offer anything to say.
“I’ve got to call Jacob. Stay close to her?”
“I will,” Max promised. He waited until Alex was stalking back to the main house, then Max turned and followed Cassie.
He found her at the kitchen sink scrubbing potatoes. “You okay?”
“Fine,” she answered shortly.
He moved up behind her and placed his hands on her hips.
She sighed and leaned back into him. “I forgot for a minute outside. With you. How can I be happy and so scared at the same time?”
Max nuzzled her neck. “It’s natural. You’ve got a lot thrown at you right now. It’s okay to feel good while you’re still worried. It’s okay to feel pleasure.”
She turned and faced him. “I just keep thinking if all of this wasn’t happening, I wouldn’t have met you again. You wouldn’t be here with me.”
Max leaned closer and rubbed his nose against hers. “I think we would have. Somehow we would have found each other. This, between us, is too good for us not to have found a way to each another. “
“Max,” she whispered. “Kiss me.”
Max did as she requested. He could spend forever kissing her.
Chapter Seven
Cassie felt better. She’d made potato salad, dips for chips and coleslaw for dinner, then she’d stepped into a quick, hot shower. Max hadn’t even tried to join her and she was little disappointed. She kept telling herself that they’d have time together, but she was struggling with patience. She wanted the man.
While she’d cleaned up, Max had linked all of the new cameras from her place, the main house and Jacob’s residence to his laptop. He’d taught her how to work the programs and she appreciated the fact that he was including her, showing her how he was keeping her safe.
He had the laptop on the deck table as they waited for everyone to arrive. Alex had started the grill before pulling beers out of the cooler and passing them around.
There was a nice cool breeze that Cassie welcomed as she sat next to Max, admiring him. With his head bent over the computer screen, she was able to watch him without him noticing. He was so damn attractive with his black hair and tanned, muscular body. She could still feel his hands on her from earlier in the kitchen and felt arousal shoot through her.
Max lifted his head and looked over at her. Upon catching her staring at him, he winked. “Later,” he murmured quietly.
She ducked her chin, raising her gaze to Alex and flushed when she realized her brother had been watching her while her attention had been on Max. Alex was grinning at her, but luckily footsteps sounded and she turned her head to see Alpha Shawn and Chase arriving.
Max pushed the laptop away and stood. He greeted his brother with a quick hug then he shook hands with their Alpha. She liked the way his hazel eyes brightened around the other men. He stood next to Chase and Cassie could easily see how close the two brothers were.
That was important to her. It had just been her and her siblings for so long. Both Alex and Jacob made it a point to take care of her while she did her best to take care of them. She didn’t like to leave the ranch, so they did her shopping and visited her a lot. While there was no getting out of gallery shows, one of them stayed with her the entire time.
Alex had even been the one who had hired James for her. He’d wanted the young artist to get more attention and had asked Cassie to help him. Since her and James had hit it off right away, she was happy to assist in his training.
James didn’t have a lot of money, so the income that came from protecting Cassie provided him with some cash, while at the same time, the experience of working with another artist had really brought James’ art to the front.
There would be half a dozen of James’s work in the next showing which was one reason why she didn’t want it to the postponed. This was really James’ true first shot.
Since he was human, he wouldn’t be at the barbeque, but she had spoken to him earlier about what was happening. She had assured James that the show would still proceed as planned. His art would be seen.
James had been relieved. Since he didn’t know about the shifter aspect of the break-in, he had been more upset that someone was trying to hurt the gallery.
She wished she could be honest with him. Since her Pack wasn’t in the open, she had to continue to be careful.
“What are you thinking about so hard?” Max asked as he slid to her side.
“The show. I told James it would still go on. It’s his first art exhibition and I want to make sure that he has enough support.”