really well. She picked up on my interest and attraction to you guys, and she never intended to come tonight. Look, Kate and I want to be together, but we both know we’re not getting everything we need from each other, so we found our own solution—outside friendships.”
Gage’s brow furrowed and his expression turned dark. “So you’re saying Kate has other men? Or women?”
Shiloh shook his head. “No, she hasn’t met anyone she’s interested in, but I have, and she’s okay with it as long as I’m careful. Up ’til now, it’s only been one-night flings. This feels different, and I’d like to see where it leads, but I don’t want to rub her nose in it. We’re sensitive to each other’s feelings.”
“You don’t have to worry. We don’t want to hurt her either. Right, Tanner?” Gage asked.
“Of course. What happens between us stays between us.”
Shi sighed in relief. “Good, I’m leaving with the rodeo after tomorrow’s show. I’ll be back in a week. You have my cell number. Use it if you want to.”
Chapter Six
Tanner kept one hand on the steering wheel. The other fiddled with the AC. “Are you sure this is a good idea? We don’t even know if she’s at home.”
“Well how else are we going to find out?” Gage shook his head in disgust. “Maybe I should have just come out and asked Shiloh . Ah, excuse me, but are you sure Kate will be home tomorrow so we can fuck her? And by the way, she’s a wolf.”
“Well at least we know how she keeps her secret. He admitted they have separate lives, and he travels a lot. That would make it a lot easier.”
“Yeah, and living so far out, she can run without worrying about being caught.” Gage leaned back in his seat and looked at the passing landscape: dry creek beds, tumbleweeds, dust devils,hazy heat waves, as if they were in a fucking desert. “Although I’d bet she’s not doing much running in this heat.”
“Yeah, about as much as we are,” Tanner complained. “I don’t think she’ll be happy to see us.”
“You don’t know that. Shiloh wasn’t the only one we connected with. Kate felt something, too. She didn’t show up because she doesn’t step on Shiloh ’s toes. Besides, she’s on the down-low and hiding. Actually, they both are. The cowboy identifies as straight but prefers sex with men, and Kate…well, Kate’s hiding who she really is, and I want to know what she’s afraid of.”
Tanner snorted. “Us, for starters.”
“Right. Don’t barge in there like a wolf in a china shop.”
“What do you take me for, anyway?” Tanner chuckled.
“I can’t trust you. Look what you got us into last night.”
“Me? You’re the one who made the date. And you had a good time, didn’t you?”
“Okay, okay. I’ll take half the blame. Just keep your eyes on the road, and be good when we get to her house.”
“I promise I’ll be on my best behavior.”
They rode in silence for a few miles. Then Gage spoke up. “I’m surprised she puts up with his fooling around. Wolves are territorial. Despite the Alpha’s crazy breeding schedules, we don’t like our rightful partners running with strangers.” Gage paused for effect.
“I hope you’re not insinuating that I would do something like that.”
Gage laughed. “Course not. You can hardly keep up with me.”
“You’re so full of wolf shit, your eyes are brown. I think I held up my end pretty good last night.”
Gage cupped his crotch. “Yes, you did, sweetheart. I’m getting a hard-on just thinking about.”
“Want me to stop the car and take care of that?”
Gage sighed regretfully. “No, I don’t want to meet her smelling like I just got fucked.”
“Gotcha.” Tanner agreed. “And she puts up with it because it suits them. They’re using each other. He’s in the closet, playing macho cowboy, and Kate is the beard. She’s hiding, and he’s providing security. But is she hiding from her own kind or someone else? It’s important to find