"I've seen what happens when we're not prepared," he said quietly. "People get hurt. Property gets destroyed. Lives get ruined."
Joy heard the weight behind those words, the echo of some past failure. But she also heard how he wielded that fear like justification for any overreach.
"I understand you're trying to help," she said carefully. "And I appreciate that the threat is real. But I need to be part of any decisions about my property."
"Then be part of it. Let me do the installation tomorrow?—"
"No." Joy pulled on her jacket. "If you want to do a security assessment, you can do that tomorrow morning. Eight o'clock. One walk-through, with me present the entire time. That's all I'm agreeing to right now."
"That's not enough?—"
"That's what I'm offering." She stood, her mountain lion grace keeping the movement smooth despite her shaking hands. "Take it or leave it."
Andre's hands clenched on the folder. "Fine. Tomorrow morning."
"Come to the main gate and wait for me." Joy turned to leave, then paused. "And Andre? If I find out you've been on my property without permission, we're done. Whatever this is, it's over."
She left without waiting for his response. The morning sun felt too bright as she walked to her truck. Her mountain lion prowled restlessly, torn between claiming her mate and protecting her independence. Joy gripped her keys tight enough to leavemarks. She'd given Andre a chance. Whether he'd respect her boundaries remained to be seen.
Chapter
Six
Andre parkedat Timber Bear Ranch's main gate, cutting the engine and checking his watch. Seven-fifteen. Forty-five minutes early, but his bear wouldn't let him wait at home any longer.
Through the windshield, the ranch stretched out in the dawn light. Vast. Vulnerable. His mate was somewhere beyond that gate, unprotected.
The minutes crawled. Seven-sixteen. Seven-seventeen. His bear paced beneath his skin, clawing for freedom. Check the perimeter. Mark the boundaries. Keep her safe.
He forced himself to stay seated. Joy had been clear. Eight o'clock at the main gate. Not seven-fifteen. Not even seven fifty-nine. Eight.
A ranch truck rumbled past, the driver giving him a long look. Andre stared straight ahead. He probably looked like a stalker sitting here. The thought made his jaw clench, but not enough to make him leave.
Seven thirty-two.
The morning brightened by degrees. Mist rose from the fields, burning off as the sun climbed. Birds started their morning chorus. A motor rumbled in the distance. These were normal ranch sounds that should have been soothing, but they only reminded him how exposed everything was. How easy it would be for someone to slip through those fence lines, approach her tiny house while she slept.
His fingers drummed against his thigh. He'd driven the perimeter road at four-seventeen, unable to sleep after nightmares of flames and screaming. Just a quick patrol, he'd told himself. Just to make sure. The ranch's current security cameras would have caught him, but he'd deal with that if it came up.
Seven forty-eight.
Andre climbed out to stretch his legs. The morning air was crisp, carrying scents of cattle and pine. He walked a slow circle around his patrol car, working out the kinks from sitting still too long. His bear rumbled approval at the movement, wanting to run, to hunt, to claim.
At exactly eight o'clock, Joy appeared.
She came on foot, which surprised him. He'd expected her truck. Instead she walked down the gravel drive with that fluid mountain lion grace that made his mouth go dry. Jeans and a green flannel, hair pulled back in a practical ponytail. No makeup, no pretense. Just Joy in her element.
"Right on time," she said when she reached him. Her tone was carefully neutral.
"I try to be punctual." His voice came out rougher than intended.
Joy studied him for a moment. Then she walked past him to his patrol car, placing her palm flat on the hood. The metal was stone cold despite the morning starting to warm.
"Interesting." She turned back to face him. "Your engine's been cold for a while."
Andre's stomach dropped. "I got here early."
"How early?" She crossed her arms. "Because our security system logged your patrol car on the perimeter road at four-seventeen this morning."
