Forever Fated Mates: A Shifter Romance Collection Page 31

  I paced the room, thinking. What if I move back for a little while, just until I find her, then convince her to come to Big Bend? Oh! Or maybe I could try online dating and narrow my search to women who live within 15 miles of Silicon Valley?

  I turned on my heel, and the phone rang. When I answered, Sawyer greeted me.

  “I just have a quick question for you,” he said. “It’s about the bike trail project.”

  “I have the plans all set and all we have left is—”

  “Yep. I know, but things have changed,” Sawyer interrupted.

  “What changed?” My jaw tightened. The project had been a huge one, and I’d spent a lot of time on it, making it just right. Any change would throw off the whole design and possibly the timeline as well.

  “Basically, enough people want to be able to ride motorcycles on it that the park commissioner has decided to comply.”

  “But it’s a bicycle trail.”

  “Not anymore. Sorry. The trail you designed was perfect. Even the commissioner commented on how much he liked it. Not a lot has to change, but the trail can no longer run through any parts of the park where noise is a concern.”

  I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath. My job was to do what Sawyer asked, both at work and within the clan, and he was leader of both for a reason. I respected him, and besides, it hadn’t been his idea in the first place.

  “Just tell me what needs to be done, and I’ll do it,” I assured him.

  “It’s also been decided that teams of inter-species shifters will pair up, to make sure all species are equally represented in the project.”

  My eyes flew open. “Teams?”

  “I put you with a wolf shifter, one of the only females on the project, so you’re welcome.”

  I huffed. “Being set up won’t help me. I ran the numbers and supposedly, I should have met my fated mate four years ago, back in California. I’ll never meet her now. There’s no point in dating; I already know it won’t work out.”

  Sawyer whistled. “That’s a heck of an assessment. How sure are you of your numbers?”

  “I checked them multiple times. They’re correct.”

  “Well, I just think that maybe love and life don’t always fit into a rigid plan. Don’t give up yet. She’s out there somewhere.”

  “Halfway across the country, apparently,” I muttered.

  “If that’s true, I’m sorry. But you could visit there. Wyatt reconnected with his mate when she visited the area, so it might work for you. They both said they felt drawn to each other’s location.”

  “I haven’t felt anything like that.”

  “You will. Be patient and let fate do its thing.”

  I rolled my eyes. “When do I meet my teammate?”

  “Tomorrow. Play nice, you hear?”

  “I’ll do my best, but I won’t let someone who knows nothing about park planning slow down the process, either.”

  “Thanks, Alex.”

  I didn’t sleep well that night, so when I remembered that I had to meet my new teammate in the morning, dread filled me. The last thing I wanted to do was feel the need to make small talk or try to get to know that wolf. I didn’t have the time or energy to deal full-time with another person who didn’t work like me.

  When I got into work, I found my scheduled posting on the calendar and headed back out. I was assigned to a certain portion of the new trail and I wanted to see it again in person to reassess the path. I left word at my station for my teammate to join me at the location when she arrived.

  When I pulled up and parked, I grabbed my camera and notepad and got to work, snapping several photos and jotting down some preliminary findings. Just as I was wondering what the numbers were on motorcycle decibel ratings, I heard the sound of one.

  I looked through my camera’s lens and groaned as I saw a puff of dust growing in the distance. I’d have to remember to account for the increase in dust that would occur from switching from bicycles to motorcycles.

  Standing beside my vehicle, I watched the bike approach. When she neared me, she turned the bike hard, skidding to a stop at an angle in front of me. How cliché.

  “This isn’t part of the trail yet,” I informed her.

  She climbed off the bike and lifted her sunglasses to look at me. But when I met her eyes, something woke my inner bear, sending a thrill coursing through my body.

  I thought I saw a hint of confusion cross her face, but she glared back. “All parts of this park should allow motorcycles.”

  I scoffed. “That could never happen. Do you have any idea how many different species live here? Or that they don’t appreciate loud noises disturbing them? You have roads, you don’t need to ride through these trails, too.”

  She laughed. “Oh, wow. Okay. This is going to be a fun project, isn’t it?”

  “If you don’t want to do the work, it’s no skin off my back. I work better alone.”

  She chuckled. “I have no doubt of that.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her, but the excitement surging through my veins made me want to keep her talking. “Why is that?” I challenged.

  She raised her eyebrows and gestured toward me, as if the reason was so obvious, I should see it. “Honestly? You’re kind of an asshole, and I’d bet your only friends are your books and statistics.”

  My face grew hot. “You don’t know a thing about me.”

  “No?”

  Humor still played across her plump, red lips, but when I found myself staring at them, I looked away.

  “Tell me I’m wrong, then,” she continued. “Tell me you have tons of friends and that ladies are knocking your door down.”

  I had no idea why my insides were going crazy or why I felt an inconceivable attraction to that female. Maybe I should have my testosterone levels checked. But for now, I had to try to get control of things. The sooner the project was done, the better. “I’d rather stop wasting time and get to work, if you don’t mind.”

  She nodded slowly. “That’s what I thought.”

  “Look,” I snapped. “We don’t have to like each other to work together.”

  “True.” She clapped her hands together. “Let’s get to it and get this over with.”

  2

  Roxy

  “You at least going to tell me your name?” I crossed my arms at him.

  “Alex.”

  Even his name was nerdy.

  “Roxy.” I stuck my hand out and he shook it stiffly.

  Alex opened a long roll of paper and pressed it against his car’s windows to inspect it and I looked him over again.

  Okay, stop it, I commanded my inner wolf. He is so not our type.

  And it wasn’t like I had a ‘type’ at that moment, anyway. After my last relationship disaster, I was staying as far away from love—or anything that even hinted at it—as possible. One-night hook ups here and there weren’t off the table; and I’d consider them if I felt the need. But Alex sure as hell wasn’t a candidate for one. I couldn’t understand my attraction to him at all.

  Okay, so maybe he had a cute face. But it wasn’t the rugged look I usually went for. Alex’s chin was as smooth as a baby’s behind; his hair neat and trimmed short. His uniform—the same uniform all Rangers wore—somehow looked geekier on him. Maybe it was the starched pants or his perfectly-ironed shirt. Or his dark-rimmed glasses.

  There was just one problem with the whole thing. He was still hot. Starched as it was, his uniform didn’t hide the ridges and planes of his muscles. In fact, the stiff lines of his pants and shirt made it clear just how thick his biceps and thighs were. Maybe that part made sense. So, he was built. But he also was the picture of everything I hated in the world: order and authority. Working on the project with him would be like having a parent watching over my shoulder.

  Pfft. I could be attracted to him all I want. Doesn’t mean I have to act on my idiot wolf’s pheromone-crazy desires. I’d enjoy the sight of him at work and that would be it. In fact, that might be the only
thing making the project bearable.

  “Where’s your copy of the plans?” Alex asked, turning back to me.

  I lifted my empty palms. “Don’t have one.”

  “Then how do you expect to discuss the project?”

  “Well, you have a copy of the plans right there.” I pointed, already annoyed.

  “This is the plan for the bicycle trail, not the motorcycle trail.”

  “And aren’t we the ones designing the new plans? I thought that was the whole point of this inter-species team crap.”

  “Yes, but I would have thought you’d have rough plans to show your ideas.” He rolled up his plans and stuffed them back into a long, plastic tube. “There’s nothing else we can do out here. I just wanted to get photos and see the site in person again.”

  I turned to look around me. “Where does the trail start?”

  He pointed to a place where a bright pink dot had been painted to mark a juniper tree and I made a mental note of it.

  “So, back at it tomorrow, then?” I asked.

  “I’ll be at the station, drawing up some preliminary ideas.”

  I gave him a thumbs up. “Sounds like a plan, chief.”

  He glared at me before getting into his car and driving away. Oh yeah, this is going to be a fun project.

  Sliding my sunglasses back in place, I hopped on my bike and drove off in the opposite direction, heading for the wolf shifter Ranger station. I hoped my Alpha was still there. He was about to get an earful.

  I pulled into the parking lot and saw his truck. Perfect.

  “Hey, Toby.” My keys clattered loudly against his desk as I set them down.

  He looked up from his computer. “How’d it go with the bear?”

  I shook my head. “Not gonna happen. I’m just going to work on my part alone.” I turned to walk away.

  “Roxy.” Toby gave me a serious look. “You know that’s not an option.”

  “Well, neither is working with Alex. Give me someone different, then.”

  “What exactly is the problem?” His voice took on a hard edge.

  “We’re just not compatible.”

  “Who are you compatible with? Because it doesn’t seem like you’re compatible with anyone in our clan.”

  “Look, I just need to be alone right now.”

  His face remained serious. “I know when Jax and Nina ran off together, it was hard on you. I don’t blame you. No one does. But Roxy, that can’t be your excuse forever. It’s been almost a year. That’s long enough for you to come back and be involved in the clan.”

  I gave him a hard stare back, not sure what to say. After my ex-boyfriend took off with my ex-best friend, it left me without my closest people. And I didn’t get close to people easily or quickly. It was safer for me to be alone.

  “Guess I’m more of a lone wolf,” I finally said.

  He narrowed his eyes at me. “Is that really what you want? To be clanless?”

  I swallowed hard. Even if I preferred to be alone most of the time, I still wanted the backup of a clan if I ever needed them. Clanless wolves didn’t fare well.

  “I don’t want that.”

  “Okay.” Toby’s face relaxed. “Then prove it.”

  I drew in a long breath. “Fine. I’ll work with the bear.”

  “Good start. And the clan meeting tomorrow night?”

  “I’ll be there.”

  Toby nodded. “That’s more like it.”

  I walked back out of the Ranger station and kicked a rock in my frustration. Who was Toby to decide when I was over my ex leaving? Who said I’d ever be over it? I’d still kill him or her if either of them showed their faces around Big Bend again.

  Toby had been mentioning my absences for a while now, and the clan was starting to get impatient with me, I could tell. I didn’t want to piss them off, but I just couldn’t take being around people all the time. Too much of that and it made me claustrophobic. How could I explain it to them? I needed them, but I also needed my freedom. Which would win, I wasn’t sure. But for now, I’d play along. I could deal with the bear if I had to. How long could the project take, anyway? A few weeks at most and I’d be rid of the annoying dork forever.

  I rode home, determined to draw up my own plans and show Alex up the next day at work.

  3

  Roxy

  I stayed up late to make sure that my plans for the new trail looked perfect. I couldn’t wait to see the look on Alex’s face when I showed him. Let him say something now about me being unprepared, I thought as I rolled up my plans and tucked them into my pack before hopping on my bike.

  As I rode through the early morning light, I liked the way the tall cliffs carved out blank space against the sunrise, demanding their presence be known. No one bothered the rocks for wanting to be alone. They had all the time in the world to hang out and do their thing.

  I weaved through valleys and around boulders, thinking of my plans. The trail as I designed it would be not only beautifully scenic for a ride, but it would be fun to ride on. Lots of twisty turns through the more boring areas, separated by long stretches that ran by multiple rock formations. Surely, Toby would be happy that I’d had so many good ideas, too.

  When I got to the bear Ranger station where I would meet Alex, I walked in confidently, my plans in hand. Alex was hunched over his computer, squinting at the screen and making frantic notes in a notepad.

  “Do you ever stop?” I said and turned a chair backward to face him.

  He looked at me sideways and ignored me for several minutes. I took to spinning slowly in the chair, waiting for him to do something. The bear station was too quiet for me. I liked the busyness of the wolf station, where I could hide more easily.

  “How much longer are you going to do this before we can start?” I asked.

  “Start?” He turned to face me. “I started hours ago. Where were you?”

  “Working on my plans. Wait until you see them. You won’t have to do much else.”

  He sighed, but cleared a place for me to spread out my plans. He stood beside me and watched as I pointed out key areas of the trail. When I finished, I turned to him, crossing my arms proudly.

  He blinked at me with a surprised expression.

  “Didn’t think I could pull it off, huh?”

  He shook his head. “Pull it off? The only thing you’ve pulled off is presenting the stupidest plan yet.”

  My face grew hot, and I snatched the plans off the counter. “Just because they’re different from yours? You can’t possibly let someone else take any credit, can you?”

  “Are you nuts? I wouldn’t want my name anywhere near that trail of yours. You can have all the credit you want.”

  “What exactly is so wrong with it?” I demanded.

  He huffed and spread the plans back out. “Well first, this area here is a fossil dig site. No high vibrations unless you want to ruin all the things that have been in the earth, preserved for thousands of years. Then this area here is where a nest of black-capped vireo live, which are endangered are greatly disturbed by noise and also vibrations. And, if all that wasn’t bad enough, by having the trail cross here, we’d have to remove a huge patch of hedgehog cactus, which are now under federal protection. How long have you worked in this park?”

  I steeled my jaw and rolled my plans again before tearing them to shreds. “There. Okay? Happy? My plans are long gone.”

  He sat back down. “Take a look at that.” He pointed behind us to a plan pinned up on the wall and turned back to his computer as I looked over the plan.

  Alex had taken much better care when it came to endangered species. I had to admit—though never to him—that I hadn’t much considered the park itself when I planned my trail. I’d only been thinking about what would make the best ride. Not that I didn’t care about all those species. I wouldn’t be a Ranger if that stuff didn’t matter to me. But in my excitement to make the coolest motorcycle trail ever—and to beat Alex at it—I had overlooked critical inform
ation. The fact that he was right made me more pissed than anything.

  Alex’s plan was perfect as far as the park went. But his trail was so boring that I doubted anyone would even bother riding it. I walked back over to him and sat.

  “Your plan has got to make for the most boring ride possible.”

  He didn’t look up. “It’s what will keep the park inhabitants safe.”

  “But there’d be no point in riding it.”

  He finally looked at me and smiled. “Even better. I never wanted motorcycles in the park at all.”

  “Now I see why you paid zero attention to interest, or even safety for that matter.” I jammed my finger at a particularly sharp bend over rock. “What do you think will happen when this gets wet?”

  “Why would you ride a motorcycle when it’s wet?”

  I scrunched up my face in disbelief. “Have you never ridden a motorcycle? That’s like saying why would you drive your car in the rain.”

  “Cars have roofs. Motorcycles don’t.”

  “Einstein, people ride them whether it’s raining or not. Or maybe you’d be fine with bikers crashing to their death on your bend.”

  He narrowed his eyes at me. “I’m sure we can put in a guardrail.”

  “Right. Because protecting the park is more important than protecting humans. Gotcha. You’re one of those. Do you have fifteen dogs and cats at home, too?”

  “No.” He made a face in disgust. “Too messy.”

  I laughed. “Is there nothing endearing about you at all?”

  He went back to his work, but he typed a little more furiously than he had before. I hoped I’d gotten to him. I looked over his plan again, seeing what else might not be safe, and what could be changed to make things more interesting.

  After a while, he came to stand beside me. “Where is the bend you mentioned?”

  “You mean Death Curve?” I pointed.