“That’s the truth.” She sounded sad, and he cursed himself for making her feel worse when his intention had been to make her feel better.
They reached Gerald’s building, and Burke knew he needed to prepare himself for whatever outlandish preparations Charlotte had made in her will. It was too good to be true that the woman would have simply willed him the property, the totem, and all that went with it.
Burke opened the door and followed Rachel into the converted post office. As steadfast as their odd little town, though in a new location, Winter and Sons had been servicing Cougar Falls since its official inception one hundred and fifty years ago. Gerald was the seventh Winter to head the law firm, and just as vigilant in serving justice as his father had been before he retired. Burke narrowed his gaze as Gerald walked out of his office and straight toward Rachel, a huge, predatory smile on his face.
A silver fox like the sheriff, Gerald did his best work soothing folks and maneuvering his way around the law. Women found him pleasing enough, and his profitable enterprise didn’t hurt him for companionship. In his mid-thirties and a fellow schoolmate growing up, Gerald, along with Ty and Joel, made for interesting companions when Burke’s brothers drove Burke crazy enough to leave the house.
And speaking of crazy… Burke glared at the sly lawyer cozying up to Rachel.
Fortunately for Gerald, Burke was in a forgiving mood. Instead of ripping his throat out for poaching on Burke’s territory—Gerald would clearly be able to scent Burke all over Rachel—Burke turned his roiling lust into fury, and kept it simmering just under the surface.
He growled under his breath, and Gerald swung wide eyes toward him, as if just noticing him. Wily bastard. Burke bared his sharpening canines and huffed audibly, shooting a small nod in Rachel’s direction before turning fully human again. Hearing him, she turned and raised a brow in question. Gerald, however, took the hint and subtly stepped closer to Burke and away from Rachel. The lawyer extended a hand and shook hers, then just as quickly let go.
“I’m so sorry for your loss, Rachel.”
His sincerity was clear, and Rachel tried to smile as her eyes welled with tears.
Catching her by the elbow, Burke led her after Gerald, who motioned for them to follow him into his office. His paralegal was nowhere to be found, and Burke wondered where she’d gone to.
Seeing the question in Burke’s eyes and his glance toward Julia’s empty desk outside, Gerald shrugged. “Had a family emergency, she said. She’ll be gone a week or more.”
“Nothing serious, I hope.” Burke liked Julia. A quiet fox, she kept to herself and always had a pleasant word for him. And even better, she’d shot his brother Grady down a dozen times or more.
“I’m not sure.” Gerald frowned and shook his head. “I’m sorry, Rachel. Not exactly polite to discuss other matters when you’re here for Charlotte’s will.”
“No, that’s okay. I’m in no rush.”
Well I am. Burke took a seat next to Rachel across from Gerald, who sat in a huge leather chair behind his desk. Let’s find that totem and get back to the important things in life. Like how I’m going to seduce Rachel before she turns all prickly again.
“It’s just that my assistant, Julia, is always a rock, always here and helping. And something came up with her family in Washington so she had to leave yesterday—”
“Gerald, can we please get on with this?” Burke sighed.
Gerald cleared his throat and smiled apologetically. “Right, well. Before we begin, is there anything I can get you, Rachel? A glass of water, a soda, or maybe some coffee?”
Rachel shook her head. “Thanks, but Burke’s right. Since we’re here, no sense putting it off any longer. You might as well tell me what Aunt Charlotte wanted done with her things.”
“Of course.”
Nice how the SOB completely ignored Burke, who could have used something to drink. In a steady drone, Gerald read through most of the generalities of the will. All of Charlotte’s personal possessions and money, investments and the like, went to Rachel.
“And as the only relative Charlotte truly cared about since your father passed away, you’ve inherited everything she considered dear to her. Including the house.”
Shit.
“The property, however…” Gerald paused, and Burke wanted to punch him for drawing this out. “The property is divided between you and the Chastells.” Gerald turned to Burke. “You’ve been wanting to buy from Charlotte forever. Well, Burke, now’s your chance. If Rachel decides to sell, everything on the property, to include the house and the material within it, becomes yours.” The totem, he meant but didn’t say. With the totem back in the hands of protectors who both understood and respected the ancient relic, peace would surely return to Cougar Falls. No more clan wars, and no more threats of strangers having a hold on something as valuable as the totem.
Rachel stared at Gerald, her gaze narrowing with suspicion as it lit on Burke. “Are you saying Mr. Chastell wants my aunt’s property? And that she steadily refused to sell it?”
Burke had a sudden ache in the pit of his belly, a feeling that often preceded something bad about to happen.
“That’s what I’m saying.” Gerald stacked his papers and squared them. “Charlotte’s property and the Chastells’ border one another. They’ve always been friendly, don’t get me wrong. But it’s no secret Burke and his brothers want to reclaim the land that their great-great grandfather gave to one of your relatives so many years ago.”
“I see.” She glared at Burke, and he stared back, confused.
“What?”
“Nothing,” she snapped. Turning back to Gerald, she pasted a sugary-sweet smile on her face. “So the house is mine, and the property is split how?”
“It’s a bit complicated. I’ll drive you out to the property so I can show you both.
Charlotte was very clear about this.” Gerald turned sharp eyes on Burke, as if willing him to listen.
Burke, however, didn’t understand what the hell had crawled up Rachel’s ass. He couldn’t deny her fury made him hot, but he didn’t understand what he’d done wrong.
Was she suddenly blaming him for their time together in the alley? It wasn’t as if he’d staged that fight with those knuckle-dragging wolf Shifters. And he sure as hell hadn’t planned to come in his jeans while dry-fucking her against a dirty brick wall.
“Burke, I said I’ll drive Rachel out to the property now. Perhaps you’d care to follow, so I only have to do this once?”
Burke nodded. “Fine, sure. Look, why don’t you go file your papers or something? I need a word with Rachel.”
“Yes, Mr. Winter. I’d like a word with Mr. Chastell as well.” Rachel’s glare could have cut steel.
Gerald glanced from Rachel to Burke and unsuccessfully masked a grin. “Fine. I’ll be waiting outside when you’re through.” Grabbing his papers and shoving them in his briefcase, he left the room, closing the door behind him.
The minute he left, Rachel stood ramrod straight and glared down her sexy little nose at Burke. “You arrogant asshole.”
“What’s your problem?” Burke honestly had no idea why she’d grown so upset.
“You thought screwing me would sway me into selling my aunt’s place to you?”
Burke scowled. “Now wait a minute, Rachel. I—”
She leaned down and poked him in the chest, hard, stirring his instincts to fight back.
Or perhaps, to turn their tussle into something more…intimate. “You wait a minute, Chastell. If you wanted to buy the place, all you had to do was ask. That scene in the alley was totally unnecessary. And not that good to boot.”