Goading the Enforcer(4)

He couldn't stop the flush that worked up his neck. "It shouldn't have   happened." The softly spoken words nearly tore out his heart, but there   it was and under his alpha's watchful gaze, he kept talking. "I'm not   sure I want to try to turn a self-professed straight man into my mate.   Besides," he added, "could I learn to trust a guy like that to give up   women for me?" he asked, rubbing a hand over his face. "I mean, he's an   assassin. His life is cloaked in lies and death. I'm your enforcer. I   don't-"

"Ye've dealt yer own killing blows, Carson," Declan cut in gently. "And   since many times it was at my behest, how does that make ye different?"   Before he could reply, Declan held up his hand. "I understand about  the  lies and the problem about him giving up women. He's a human and  they  don't always feel the same pull we do." He wrapped a big hand  around  Carson's shoulder and squeezed. "Ye do have a lot to think  about, me  friend. Going after yer mate could be life changing for ye.  Take a day.  Decide if it's worth it." He smiled. "Ye have me support  either way."

Carson nodded, relieved that his alpha understood. He pulled open the door and stepped into the chilly night air.

"Just remember one thing," Declan said, causing him to turn back and   look at him. The big man stared at him hard before whispering, "Ye only   get one."

Carson watched his alpha disappear into the house, feeling more confused than he could ever remember.





Chapter Three


Jared stood in the shadows of the darkened hallway and watched Declan   escort Carson to the door. Their murmur of words after they'd stepped   outside made it impossible for him to hear what else was said. He   probably shouldn't have eavesdropped on their conversation, but he   couldn't help himself. The habit was too ingrained to stop just because   he wasn't on a job. He smirked. Well, technically, now I am on a job.  So  much for a vacation.

The smile faded just as quickly as he remembered the two men's   conversation. So, Carson thinks I'm his mate. That put an interesting   spin on things, didn't it? He didn't blame the man for not jumping him   and trying to claim him. Jared couldn't really even tell himself how   he'd respond to that. He'd admit that the kiss was hot, but he'd never   been interested in a guy before. What was it about Carson that drew him?   Huh. Mate-bond, maybe?

"Hey, what are you doing?" Grady's voice had him spinning. He hadn't   even heard him approach, which told Jared just how out of it he'd been.   Jared stared at his friend, searching for an answer. Is Grady my  friend?  Maybe."I think we need to talk," he finally said. "Is there a  pub  nearby? I'd like to buy you and Gordon a beer."                       
       
           



       

That had Grady's brows lifting. "Sure. It's a bit out of your way   though. The closest one is in Stone Ridge, which is fifteen minutes in   the other direction." "No big deal," he said, shrugging. "I'm a night   owl, so a long drive in the dark won't be an issue for me."

"If you're not expected anywhere, you can crash in our spare bedroom," Grady offered, leading the way back to Gordon.

"Maybe," he replied, know if he could sleep trusted the tiger, he wasn't quite so comfortable with the man's mate.

He watched Grady greet Gordon with a deep kiss and found himself   wondering what it would be like to be in a committed relationship. His   work had never made such a thing possible. He supposed that meant   Carson's worry was well founded. Why the hell does that bother me so   much?

When they walked outside, Gordon let out a long, low whistle. "Damn. Nice ride!"

Jared grinned. "Yeah. What can I say? I'm a car snob. I always special order something when I'm not at home."

"Where do you call home, Jared?" the big man asked.

"Boston," he answered. "I went to college there and liked it so much that I had to buy a place just north of there."

"Follow me," Grady said and Jared lifted his hand in acknowledgement.

To his surprise, they never reached the town. Grady pulled his truck   into the driveway of a small house and shut the vehicle off. Stepping   from his car, Jared took in the two story, darkly painted home,   wondering what the man was up to. He obeyed warily when Grady motioned   for him to join him on the porch.

Grady must have noticed his tension, damn cop instincts, because the man   grinned and leaned against the railing. "Sorry for the change of   plans," he said when Jared got close enough, his voice carrying softly   on the evening wind. "It unwilling to commit. He didn't in Grady's home.   Although he occurred to me that one of the reasons we're using you is   because your face isn't known. I didn't want you seen at a bar with me   where someone could report our meeting."

Jared nodded. "I can get behind that," he said, seeing the sense in   Grady's explanation. Stepping on the porch and following the tiger   shifter into the room, he teased, "Of course, then you'll miss out on   that free beer."

The other man laughed, leading him into the small house. "We'll take you up on it another time."

He walked through a small foyer and into the living room. Jared glanced   around, taking in the large flat screen TV and a pair of reclining love   seats. Hooked to the TV was an impressive sound system. He walked over   to it and looked closely at the set-up before turning and grinning at   Grady. "Nice. Like your toys, huh?

Grady laughed. "Not me. That's all Gordon."

Gordon walked into the room and grinned. "Can't watch my soaps without   surround sound," he stated, handing them each a Bud Light.

For a second, Jared stared at Gordon before he started laughing. "You   almost had me there, Gordon. Good one!" He took a sip of his beer and   settled onto one of the sofas.

Laughing along with him, Gordon and Grady settled onto the other small   couch. "It's really for the football games," Gordon admitted. "I'm a   diehard Dolphins fan."

"You're a little out of your fan area, aren't you?" Jared teased.

Gordon shrugged, his mirth disappearing. "You know I used to live in Georgia."

"Ah. Yes, of course." Jared nodded. He took another sip of the beer   before pinning his hazel-eyed gaze on the big man. "No hard feelings,   Gordon. I was returning a debt." Before the other man could pry, he   said, "So tell me about Carson. He's part of the … " He paused and   grinned. "What do you call someone important in a pack?"

Grady chuckled. "He's the pack enforcer and would you be asking about him because you made out with him?"

Schooling his features into an amused smirk, Jared replied, "It was a   very nice kiss, but no. I'm interested in the posturing. If it hadn't   been for the alpha, I'm fairly certain he'd have refused my option out   of hand. Why is that?"

"Well, yeah, he's the one in charge of finding the place's weakness, so   for you to point out an entry so easily definitely would raise his   hackles," Grady allowed.

Jared nodded, wondering how much more he could pry without sending   Grady's cop instincts into overdrive. He took another swallow of beer,   buying time. "Well, I definitely don't want him thinking I'm stepping on   his toes." Then he smiled, "Although, riling him was entertaining."                       
       
           



       

Rolling his eyes, Grady warned, "Do you really have a death wish? Carson is a formidable enemy if you piss him off."

It was just the opening he needed. "Well, then perhaps I should make   certain he knows I'm not a threat. I want to work with him to save   Dagus's life." He cocked his head, amused at the irony. He'd come on   vacation and found himself in a situation where he was saving a life   instead of taking it. "Where does he live? I'll find time to visit him   in the morning after my tux fitting."

"Tux fitting?"

Jared grinned. "I did come to town for my sister's wedding, after all."

Grady nodded. "Of course."

Grady rattled off Carson's address and Jared committed it to memory.   They sat and talked for an hour about the problems they'd been facing   with the scientists in the area. Jared found himself seething at the   treatment of the shifters and had to mentally take a deep breath to calm   down.