Mating Seduction-epub by Bonnie Vanak

blouse, soft fawn trousers and slipped on her polished boots. She dressed and went downstairs and read his note.
    They were having dinner on the river, just the two of them. A private, candle light dinner at one of the pack’s camping spots and then spending the night in a tent. Many tents were scattered around the river. This one had a fire pit.
    Pack an overnight bag with everything you need and leave it on the porch. I’ll arrange to transport it, he’d written. We’ll ride out to the river. I’ve already arranged everything to be there. Wear a jacket because the night will be colder.
    Shrugging into her shearling jacket, she hurried to the dining room and went out the French doors to the deck.
    Her feet made no noise in the dewy grass as she sped through the back yard to the narrow dirt pathway leading to the stables. It was a long walk.
    Faster if she shifted. But she didn’t dare risk other Lupines seeing her as wolf. Forget the Skins. If Jackson’s people knew about her problem…hell, if Jackson knew, he wouldn’t want her anymore.
    Cool air brushed against her cheeks as she followed the pathway to the stables. Birds chirped in the overhead branches and in the distance, cows lowed. Lexie drew a in a deep breath, enjoying the fresh air. This ranch had the prettiest views and operated smoothly.
    Would be nice to live here, she mused. Live here instead of a ranch that seemed dead and dying…Guilt pinched her. The thought was a betrayal of all her aunt fought for.
    She reached the stables and headed for the west entrance. A computer-printed sign hung on the stable door Jackson always left unlocked for her.
    The floor has been polished and is still wet. Please remove your boots before entering.
    Odd. She sat on a bale of hay and tugged off her boots. Floor should be dry by now… Boots in hand, Lexie tugged open the door and stepped inside.
    Something cracked beneath her left foot, sending stabbing pain shooting through her sole.  Lexie yipped.
    She limped back to the hay bale and collapsed. Blood sluggishly seeped around a shard of glass spearing her deformed foot.
    A pickup truck rambled down the dirt road and parked before the stables.Horrified, she watched the truck park and Jackson step out. She had to do this before he saw her.
    “Okay. One, two.” She took a deep breath. “Three.”
    She yanked the shard free. Pain exploded, and a scream fled her throat.
    “Lexie!” Jackson yelled.
    Oh, it hurt, it hurt so bad. She yanked off her sock, desperate to stem the blood seeping past the fingers she pressed against her sole. He couldn’t see, not now. Humiliation poured through her, as painful as the sharp glass. Lexie groped for the pink bandana around her neck and quickly tied it around her foot and slipped on her sock.
    “Lexie, what happened?” he demanded, racing to her side.
    “Stepped on something. No biggie, just a little cut.” She pointed to the glass shards inside the stable. “Someone must have had a little celebration and forgot to clean up.”
    Jackson picked up the bloodied shard of broken glass and his eyes widened. “Son of a bitch… you stepped on this? Let me see your foot.”
    “No.” She held out a hand to fend him off. “I’m fine, it’s fine, I’ll be fine.”
    Everything was a-okay fine. Lexie bit her lip as she pulled her boots back on.
    And then she scented something overbearing and flowery and went still.
    Cora appeared around the side of the stables, a tight smile on her face. “Step on something, Lexie? Maybe you should show Jackson your foot.”
    I’d roll over and die first.
    “Naw, it’s okay.”
    “What’s wrong? It’s just your feet. Afraid Jackson will think you have ugly toes?” The woman’s nasty smile widened. Suddenly Lexie knew. Cora wanted her to remove her socks, wanted Jackson to see exactly how ugly she was…
    Suspicion flooded her. “Jackson, did you put that sign on the door?”
    He ripped off the cardboard and read it, shaking his head.