Marie Harte - Foxy Lady

“Well, I can see now where Jason gets his disposition. The family’s actually quite nice, if you ignore Ned Sr. and three of his four sons.”

Gabby nodded. “Ned’s been staring at you since you arrived. You’re going to have to talk to him at some point.”

“I know. No time like the present.”

Tilda and Meghan stood to gather plates. Though the men didn’t offer to help, they did compliment her for the meal. Gabby and Julia rose as well and helped clear the table.

Julia reached for Ned’s plate. “Ned, can we talk?”

Ned pushed back his chair and stood faster than she could blink. “Been waiting all night to talk to you.” He glanced in the direction Ty had gone and nodded to himself.

Julia sighed, handed Gabby the plate, then motioned to the back door. “How about on the porch?” In private. She looked pointedly at his brothers.

Itchy quickly said, “We’ll go with you.”

“Yeah. I don’t want to miss this,” Snitchy added with an evil grin.

Julia held back a growl. “Ned? I want to talk to you. Alone .”

He glanced from Itchy and Snitchy to her. “Good idea.” He shoved his brothers back and herded her toward the back door.

From the other room, Julia heard Ty and Ned’s father swearing over the muted sound of the television. What the hell was he doing with Ned Sr.?

The pair of them bemoaned Gonzaga and cheered Syracuse. Good Lord. He was bonding with that odious man over basketball?

Ned prodded her outside, past the surprised faces of his mother and her sister, and she shivered at the brisk wind slapping her face.

“Nice weather, huh?” He leaned against the porch rail and crossed his arms. “See, I can make small talk.”

“Ah, okay. Ned, I just wanted you to understand—”

“I cut my hair. Had Mama iron my jeans.”

She stared at him in bemusement. “Right. So I just thought we should clear the air. You don’t—”

“Don’t need fancy manners to impress a woman. I drive a big rig, did you know that? An International.”

“International?”

“Yeah. I drive a flatbed from the mill to lumber factories around the state. It’s my own rig.”

“Rig?”

“My own truck,” he said with pride. “I’m an independent contractor, Julia. Make a good living.”

“Er, okay.”

“So about Saturday—”

This time she interrupted him. “Ned, you won’t take no for an answer. You shot out the tires on my SUV!” Not to mention Ty’s tires, but she didn’t think it prudent to mention Ty just now.

He frowned. “I got angry. What the hell did you expect me to do when you’re parading around with that jackass? What do you see in a guy like that?”

Besides smarts, a sexy body and a wily fox? “I’ve known Ty since we were young. We grew up together. He’s the love of my life.” All so true, and so devastating to a young woman who had nothing to offer a prodigal son from one of the finest fox families in town.

“Love.” He snorted. “That’s not real. Hell, look around you. You really think Jason and Meghan are going to last?”

She didn’t, and the notion suddenly depressed her. She sighed. “Ned, I don’t love you. I don’t even like you half the time. The only things I know about you are that you’re a bully and you’re stubborn. You live here, right?”

He scowled. “You like me fine enough. Yeah, I live here. Nowhere is my home.”

“Well, mine is in Montana, and I don’t ever plan on leaving it.”

“You’re here now.”

Like talking to a brick wall. “I’m here for Meghan. She’s only here because of Jason. She’s leaving for Seattle in a few days.” The sooner the better. Julia preferred Seattle to this place. For all that Ned’s relatives seemed friendlier than she’d expected, there were still way too many Williamses in the area for comfort.

“Look, Julia, I know this is sudden for you. But I like you. I really like you.” He sounded so earnest.

She felt her first stirring of sympathy for the big guy. Though a bully with a temper, he had feelings. And then he finished his thought, and her empathy vanished.

“You’re fuckin’ hot. I’m the town catch. You and me together? Perfect. I’ll give it to you good, baby. And hell, things work out, maybe we’ll make a go of it. A kid would make Mama happy. I don’t see the problem.”

“You wouldn’t. Sorry to break it to you, Ned, but we—you and me—are not happening.”

The meanness returned to his gaze. Danger threatened. Flight or fight for Julia meant flight. On four feet, no one had ever managed to catch her. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the freedom to turn at random in Nowhere. She was really starting to hate this place.

“I’m sick of asking. So now I’m telling you. No one says no to Ned Williams. You’re mine.” The smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Think of it this way. I can take care of you and your sisters. Nothing bad can happen to Gabby and Meghan if I’m with you, you get me?”

His obstinacy she’d tolerated. Threats against her family ended it. Rage swelled, and the careful control she exercised at all times started to slip.

“You don’t like to be told no. I get it. But I don’t like to be told what to do either.” He’d hurt her family if she refused him? She gave her fury full reign. Stubborn men. A sister who wouldn’t listen. Relatives who hated her. Responsibilities for everything thanks to a foolish mother and an irresponsible father. No longer keeping her attitude in check, Julia railed at Ned, heaping her frustrations and indignities upon him.

“You don’t own me, Ned. No one does. I’m tired of being told what to do, how to act, what to say. I don’t like Nowhere. I don’t like my sister falling for an outsider. I don’t like arrogant assholes who think they know what’s best for me and everyone around me.” She poked him in the chest, startling him with her aggression. Take that Ned, Uncle Harry, Aunt Lynn and Ty. “I’m going home. Gabby and Meghan are coming with me. And if you so much as look at my family the wrong way, I’ll cut you off at the knees.”

The animal desire to defend herself came out of nowhere. A lifetime of hiding secrets, of fitting in despite her need to live her own life, and wishing for what could never be, bombarded her like sharp needles prickling at her flesh. Now, for the first time, she intended to fight. Pain pushed through her fingertips until the lethal edge of claws appeared. Her teeth pricked her gums, and the bones of her jaw tingled with the need to realign.

Ned stared in horror at her face, but she didn’t care. Before she could strike out at him, Ty wrapped his arms around her from behind. She hadn’t heard him approach.

“Easy, baby. It’s okay. No one’s forcing you to do anything you don’t want to do,” he crooned in her ear, his scent so alluring she inhaled deeply to take more of it in.

It took her a moment to calm down, and when she did, she noticed Ned’s shock.

Hell.

“Son of a bitch,” he whispered, turned on his heel without another word and slammed into the house.

Julia shook as the rage left her. Appalled to have lost control like that, she struggled in Ty’s arms.

“It’s okay,” he said softly. “It really is. You didn’t change more than your eyes and claws, a trick of the light. Everything else will keep. Don’t worry. You’re fine.” His soothing voice transitioned her discomfort into another form altogether. Her sex throbbed as he spoke, and then his words suddenly ceased into an intense silence.

He turned her in his arms and kissed her. A wild, earthy, sexual meeting of the mouths that promised a blissful outcome if they hurried out of their clothes.