Page 23 of Claiming Her Cougar (Shifting Pines #2)

LIAM

“Hey, man. All good?” Logan asks as he enters my pool house.

I look up from my laptop where I’m typing up notes from the last outlets I visited in Virginia.

“Why? What have you heard?”

Did Mallory tell Daphne about us—about the us that can never be?

Logan’s eyes widen.

Crap.

“I haven’t heard anything,” he says. “What’s going on?”

Crappity crap crap.

“Nothing,” I assure him. “Just typing up my notes from the last centers I visited. Everything was in good shape.”

“Great.” He walks over to my fridge to grab a bottle of water. How nice that he feels he can make himself at home. “So, what’s going on? Don’t bother saying nothing. I can ask Daphne?—”

“What would asking Daphne do?”

“She could tell us if Mallory said anything that would shed light on why you’re in a mood.”

“No.”

“No, Mallory wouldn’t have anything to say? No, she wouldn’t say anything if she had something to say? No, Daphne wouldn’t tell me?” Logan chuckles. “It’s not the last one. Daph would tell me.”

“Why are you here?” I ask tiredly, pinching the bridge of my nose.

I am not in the mood for this today. I got home a few hours ago, and I just want to finish these notes, open a beer, and sit on the couch, watching some hockey while moping.

I could shift and go for a run, but I’m not in the mood for that either.

Settling next to me on the couch, Logan rests his ankle on his knee and takes a sip of water. “Daph and I are going Christmas tree shopping on Saturday. Mallory’s family has a Christmas tree farm. Did you want to go with us?”

“Is Mallory going?” I feel like a desperate teenager asking, but I want to know.

“Does it matter?”

I haven’t punched my cousin with any kind of force since we were teenagers, and then it was mostly a joke. I’m not in a joking mood now.

“Okay.” He sighs. “I’ll stop teasing you. She’s not going. Daphne invited her. She said she wants to stay home and hibernate. Daph says she looks miserable and tired, but she won’t talk about it. Flat out refuses to discuss it.”

Now it’s my turn to sigh. I don’t know if her mood is because of our conversation a couple nights ago or something else, but I don’t want her tired and upset. If it’s over our conversation, that doesn’t make sense. It was her decision that our relationship wasn’t going to develop into anything.

“Nah, I don’t want to go. You two will be all huggy kissy and take forever to pick out a tree.” I am not in the mood for that. “You can borrow my truck if you want, so you can haul it home.”

Logan claps me on the shoulder. “Thanks. That was going to be my next question.”

“No problem. Did you just want to take it tonight? I’m not doing anything with it tomorrow. I can use the Bronco for wherever I go.”

“I think the moms are going with us. If so, your mom can drive it to our house Saturday morning when we meet up.”

“Okay. Whatever works. I don’t care.”

Logan swallows a sip of water. “Are you going to the company Christmas party?”

It’s been a couple of years since I’ve gone. I should make an appearance. The food is good. I don’t see too many people in the company since I travel so much, and when I’m home, I work from here and not from the office.

“Yeah. I should show my face. It’s been a few years.”

“Uh-huh. Daphne and Mallory are going shopping on Sunday for stuff to wear.”

I put my laptop on the coffee table and go to the fridge to grab a beer. My mind isn’t on my notes. I raise the bottle to Logan to see if he wants one. He shakes his head.

Opening the bottle, I take a swig of my beer as I pace my living room.

“I just don’t get it. She likes me too, but she says no to dating me or having a relationship.”

I will probably regret telling Logan anything because he’ll run his mouth to Daphne, who may then talk to Mallory.

That’ll be awkward. But fuck it, it’s already awkward.

We’re going to be together at work stuff, and with Logan and Daphne, and we’ll have to ignore that at least one of us is attracted to the other.

“We’re talking about Mallory, right?”

I glare.

Logan holds up his hands defensively. “Hey, just making sure we’re on the same page. Okay, so you asked Mallory out, and she turned you down?”

“I didn’t ask her out.” I sigh. Again. “I didn’t get the chance to. She told me why we’re a no-go before I had the opportunity.”

“Ouch,” Logan says sympathetically. “So, why not? You had that night in Vegas, and she still,” he emphasizes still because he’s an asshole sometimes, “seems to like you, and it looks like you’re compatible.”

“That’s just it. I think she does like me.” I roll my eyes. “You know, we sound like teenage girls using the word like in this context.”

“OMG, I know!” Logan squeals like my sister used to when she was with her cheerleader friends, and I chuckle. How can I not laugh at a six-foot-four muscled dude sounding like some little girl from that dancing show Kennie would make me watch?

“Anyway, she won’t date me or anything because we work together, and I’m an executive. She says it would be awkward because I’ll be her boss someday.”

“No, you won’t. Didn’t you tell her about Andy?”

“I told her about Andy,” I inform him. “I even offered to resign. But that’s not the big reason we can’t be together.”

“What’s bigger than working together? She likes guys, right?”

“Yeah. She had sex with me,” I remind him.

“Oh, yeah, right. And she still likes guys after that?”

I raise a fist and Logan holds up his hands in a protective manner.

“Kidding! Jeez. So, what’s the issue?”

“I’m a cougar shifter.” I rejoin my cousin on the couch. I’m tired of pacing.

“She comes from a wolf pack, right? Surely, she’s not anti-shifter?”

“Shifting isn’t the problem.” I lean my head against the back of the couch and look up at the ceiling.

“I’m not a wolf. She needs to please her family, and she’s convinced she needs to ‘make up’ for not being a wolf shifter by marrying one.

” I can’t believe I did the air quote fingers. Now I’m the teenage girl.

“Who’s talking marriage? Go out to dinner, fool around. Keep it out of the office.”

I turn my head on the cushion to look at him. I don’t know how to explain this without sounding crazy.

“Just say it, Liam.” Logan prods me. “I can hear you thinking.”

“I know I’ve only really known her two weeks, and this is crazy, but…”

“You think she’s the one.”

“Yeah. That’s crazy, right?” I sit up and rest my forearms on my thighs, clasping my hands loosely together.

“No. Sometimes you just know,” he assures me.

“Look at our parents. They all knew from the start they were meant to be together. They didn’t always act on it if the stories are to be believed, but they knew.

” He slaps me on the shoulder. “You guys saw each other across a dance floor and then hooked up. You were both feeling something. I know you’re not a monk, but I know you aren’t a random hookup guy.

You usually at least learn something more about them than their first name before you have sex.

I don’t know Mallory well, but I don’t think what happened in Vegas is normal behavior for her either.

Sometimes our animals know what our human brains don’t. ”

“It took you and Daphne years.”

“Well, I’m a dumbass,” Logan says easily. “My heart knew from the moment she knocked me in the head with her backpack in class she was the one for me. My head was stubborn and insisted it wanted to be free and go on adventures.”

He takes a sip of his water and starts peeling the label.

“Daphne has abandonment and loss issues, so the blame doesn’t solely rest with me.

She was afraid to risk being hurt by losing someone again.

We needed the time it took for us both to grow up, admit what we wanted, and recognize what we had.

” He shrugs. “Sometimes we meet the right person at the wrong time.”

“So, what do I do? Do I just accept it? Be friends and ignore the fact I want more? Not be friends?” This is the first time we’ve had a serious talk about adult relationships. We’d talk about flings when we were kids, but we’re men now. This isn’t kid stuff.

“Can you be friends with her? If she says no for whatever reason, you obviously need to respect that.”

“Obviously. How were you able to be friends with Daphne all those years?”

“Why do you think I traveled all the time?”

I laugh. Then I look at his face and the laughter dies.

“Seriously? That’s why you became a travel photographer?” In the five years since he’s graduated college, he’s maybe been home two or three months a year, but not at one time. It would be a week or two here and there throughout the year.

“That’s why I stayed away so much. I love to travel and have a talent for photography, but I took all those assignments and didn’t come home often because it was impossible to be around Daphne so much and just be her friend.

I wanted to make her mine for years, but I had to wait for her to be ready.

” He gazes at me. “It was hell. Especially when I had to worry about assholes like you swooping in while I was gone.”

“Dude, I was never serious about flirting with Daphne. It was just fun. I always knew she was hung up on you. She knew I wasn’t serious.”

“You’re not the only guy who flirted with her. She doesn’t realize the effect she has on people. She thinks she’s invisible, but she has a way about her that attracts everyone. We went out to dinner, and our waiter flirted with her like I wasn’t even there!”

I choke on my beer because I’m laughing so hard.

“It’s not funny! She called him on it, and he told her in case she dumped me, he wanted to get in line.”

“That’s not a bad strategy. It probably works.”

Logan nods. “It has. We went back last weekend and saw it in action. It’s impressive when it’s not my girlfriend he’s trying to pick up.”

He puts his water bottle on the coffee table and turns to look at me. “So, what’s your plan with Mallory? Just be friends?”

I shrug. “I don’t see what else I can do. She has her reasons, and I must respect them.”

“Are you going to be all Zen spouting ‘what is meant to be, will be ’ bullshit?” Logan’s smirk shows the unlikeliness of me being able to pull that off.

“Maybe all of this is just envy from seeing you and Daphne happy. Maybe I’d be into any girl that came along right around now.

Logan scoffs. “Do you really believe that?”

“No. I think it’s Mallory.”

“Well, it’s the holidays. Find yourself some mistletoe and see what happens,” he suggests.

“Great idea, genius. Let’s throw a sexual harassment complaint into the mix.” I shake my head. “HR would love that. And our dads would rightly kick my ass.”

“So, hanging out in the friend zone for the time being? Sorry, man.”

“Whatever. This is how my parents started out. Mom didn’t want to date Dad because she was Grammy’s student teacher. She didn’t even know he was a shifter since we were still secret back then. They overcame that obstacle, so there’s hope.” I turn my head to look at my cousin. “Right?”

Logan claps me on the shoulder and stands. “There’s always hope. I think you guys have a spark. If that’s enough to overcome her hangups, I guess we’ll have to see.” He drains his water bottle, gets up, and puts it in the recycle bin under my kitchen sink.

“You know what you should do?” he asks.

“I’m afraid to ask.”

“Text Trevor and see if his sister will let you use the rink. I think skating again and burning off some aggression shooting pucks during the weeks you’re home will be good for you.”

I consider the suggestion. It’s a good one.

I nod. “Yeah, maybe I’ll do that. They should be home for break soon so we could skate together. It was fun. I missed skating. I felt it the next day though.”

“Me too. Rugby doesn’t use the same muscles.”

Standing, I put my almost empty beer bottle on the breakfast bar and walk Logan to the door.

“Thanks for coming by, man. I appreciate you listening to me.” I hold out my hand to shake. Logan takes it and pulls me into a hug, slapping me on the back.

“Anytime, Liam. Other than Daph, you’re my best friend. I want you to be happy. I love you.”

I try to clear my throat of the lump that’s just formed.

We’re fortunate we were raised by men that are comfortable showing affection, but it’s not something Logan and I typically express to each other.

We have each other’s backs, no doubt, and we love each other, but we don’t tell each other. Tonight, we do. It’s nice.

“Love you too, man.”

I watch him walk to his Jeep and get in, then wave as he drives away before closing my door.

Picking up my phone, I shoot a text to Trevor.

Since Thanksgiving, Logan, Trevor, and I have had a group chat talking about sports.

I’ve watched some videos posted of the stunts he and Randi do for cheerleading—they’re amazing.

Dude is crazy strong, and she’s fearless.

I know from the years Kendall cheered how dangerous it is, and the fact that Randi is taller than the average cheerleader makes it even more difficult and impressive.

Trevor can bench press more than either me or Logan.

Me: Hey, Trev, what’s up?

Trevor: Nothing much, studying for finals. What’s up with you?

Me: Shit, I’m sorry. Don’t want to interrupt.

Trevor: You’re good. Tbh I’ve been checking out the hottie shelving books. Totally sexy librarian vibe.

I laugh, remembering my own “productive” library study sessions. Especially that study room on the third floor of the main library…

Me: I was wondering if it would be okay to use your rink for some skating time and shooting drills?

Trevor: Sure. Just let me text Lory so she knows.

Me: Thanks. I’ll work around her schedule. I don’t want to bother her.

Trevor: She won’t care, but that way, she knows why there’s a car parked there. She uses the gym too. Usually before or after work, you probably won’t see each other.

Me: Cool.

Trevor: I’ll shoot her a text and get back to you, and I’ll be home next week. Hopefully we can skate while I’m on break.

Me: Hope so. Thanks.

Trevor: No problem. Let you know. Bye.

Me: Bye.

Skating and shooting pucks aren’t how I want to expend my tension, but it looks like that’s my option for the foreseeable future. I wonder if Trevor’s sister is single.