Shifters Forsaken: Shifter Romance Collection Bks 1-5

by Mia Taylor

  Her eyes widened.

  “You have Wi-Fi___33?” she gasped. “Really?”

  “I don’t live in a cave,” he retorted, sounding hurt that she would wonder about his amenities. “Of course I have Wi-Fi___33. I work remotely.”

  “YOU WORK?”

  Vivian wished another bolt of lightning would crash right through the window and strike her dead.

  What the hell is wrong with me? I sound like my mother!

  Vaughan looked about as impressed as she expected and he scowled furiously, the warmth in his eyes completely diminished.

  “I’m going to make something to eat,” he snapped. “I’ll leave you to your phone call or whatever.”

  She wanted to call out and apologize to him for being so rude and making assumptions about him, ones she had no business making, but the words stuck on the roof of her mouth like peanut butter.

  He started banging around the kitchen angrily and Vivian exhaled in disappointment.

  The sense of peace she had stolen from the cabin was slipping away faster than she could hope to reclaim it.

  Apologize! What is stopping you?

  “Vaughan, I—”

  At that moment, her cell phone rang, stalling her sentence, and the sound caused her to jump. It was the first time she’d heard the ringtone since leaving home and it sounded perverse up there, away from the world.

  Maybe for a moment, she had let herself believe that they were the only two people left alone in the world and that was where the sense of comfort had come.

  But now, it was gone and reality settled in around her like a black, noxious fog. Vaughan turned his back and pretended to busy himself in the cupboards but Vivian could tell he had one ear on her conversation.

  Again, she released a deep sigh and accepted the call.

  “Hello, Mother,” she groaned.

  Chapter Six

  An Easy Truce

  The rain showed no signs of letting up and it was difficult to tell how Vivian felt about that. The phone call she’d had with her mother seemed to have left her in a place of stoicism but Vaughan could easily see that she was deflated by whatever words her mother had spoken.

  He laid out a breakfast of eggs, grits and toast, pulling the bacon off a cast iron frying pan and laying it in a pile of paper towels to soak up the grease.

  “Come and eat,” he told her begrudgingly. He had been put off by her quick judgment of him but he didn’t want to add to her seemingly foul mood.

  Vivian looked up from the couch and eyed him warily.

  “I’m not hungry,” she told him but there was no insolence in her voice.

  “When was the last time you ate?” he asked and she opened her mouth to reply but frowned instead.

  “I can’t remember,” she finally answered, slowly rising to her feet.

  “You need to eat. The mountain air is thinner. You’ll find yourself more tired. You need to keep your strength up for your… vacationing.”

  She joined him at the simple, round, wooden table and sat on a chair facing him.

  Vaughan gestured at her with his chin.

  “Dig in. You can’t tell me you’re not hungry now.”

  Her aqua eyes told him that she had reconsidered her position and she offered him a wan smile.

  “I am,” she replied. “Thank you, Vaughan.”

  He shrugged nonchalantly. At his feet, the dogs stared up at him imploringly.

  “Get lost you two,” he growled lovingly at them. “Can’t you see we have company?”

  Murphy yapped in protest but the two sauntered off, watching them eat from a distance.

  “Vaughan…”

  He looked at her.

  “I didn’t mean to offend you earlier. I think I’m just overwhelmed by this entire mountain experience.”

  He shrugged again and shook his head.

  “Doesn’t matter,” he replied even though he was still somewhat annoyed. “And to answer your question, yes, I do work.”

  Her cheeks turned crimson and she nodded.

  “Of course you do. I mean, even if you didn’t traditionally work for someone, maintaining yourself up here is harder work than anything I’ve ever done in my life.”

  Vaughan softened. At least she wasn’t completely oblivious to what was required to live in the mountains.

  “It gets easier,” he replied, jamming a piece of toast in his mouth and chewing. He could feel himself growing warmer under her gaze now and he darted his eyes toward his plate to avoid further embarrassment.

  “How long have you lived up here?”

  “Almost ten years. I was lucky to have found this place. The old man who owned it had just passed away and his son was eager to get rid of it. He lived out of state somewhere and didn’t want the hassle of taking care of it.”

  “You own it then?”

  His head jerked up and he peered at her, wondering if there was more disbelief in her voice but she only stared back with interest.

  “I worked out an arrangement with him but I own it now, yes.”

  “You don’t sound like you’re from the south,” Vivian commented. She followed up the statement by taking a chomp out of a piece of bacon.

  “You don’t have an accent.”

  “Neither do you.”

  Suddenly, Vaughan felt like he was under interrogation and he didn’t like it.

  Was I right about her? Is she up here looking for me?

  He willed himself to be rational. If it hadn’t started storming, they would have been back at her car already and she would have disappeared into the mountainside, never to be seen again.

  It was your idea for her to stay here until the storm passed, he reminded himself.

  “I grew up in Richmond,” Vivian answered. “But I’ve been in New York for the last five years. They don’t call it the melting pot for nothing. We all start to sound the same after a while.”

  Vaughan chuckled and wiped his hands with a piece of paper towel before settling back against his chair to study her face.

  “I can’t believe you came back after living in the big city. Unless you hated it.”

  Somehow, he didn’t think that was the case. Nothing about Vivian screamed southern girl to him. He suspected that if she’d had a choice in the matter, she would have stayed in New York and forgotten all about her Richmond roots.

  “I hated many aspects of it.”

  Abruptly she stopped talking as though she was afraid of disclosing too much about herself but Vaughan leaned forward with interest.

  “I lost my job.”

  He arched an eyebrow.

  “In New York?”

  Vivian nodded.

  “I—I was hoping that it was going to open doors in my field but I got laid off before anything could happen. I looked around for more work but soon after, I found out…”

  She cleared her throat and shot her eyes away. Whatever she was about to say was clearly painful for her and Vaughan didn’t push her.

  “I got a divorce,” she managed after a few seconds. “It didn’t help matters. We didn’t have a lot of money to begin with and by the time it was all said and done, I didn’t have anything left, not even a month’s worth of rent, let alone money to move from the place where he’d left me.”

  The last words seemed to stick in her throat and Vaughan felt a pang of pity and a twinge of envy.

  “Do you still love him?” he heard himself asking and immediately he wished he could take the question back. It was none of his business. The woman may be in his home but she was still a stranger. She had no reason to disclose how she felt about her ex.

  “God no!” she laughed. “He was a cheating ass. The only reason I found out that he was running around throughout our entire marriage was because I lost my job. I mean, I’m not going to lie and say it didn’t bruise the old ego but at the end, I realized that we never really had anything in common. Sometimes I think that I only married him—”

  She cut herself off, her eyes widen
ing in shock as she realized what she was about to say.

  “Why?”

  Vivian shook her short bob and turned her head but Vaughan could still see the pink of her cheeks.

  “God, I feel like a teenaged brat for even saying it,” she sighed. “But sometimes I wondered if I didn’t hook up with Leon just to spite my parents like they always suspected.”

  Vaughan peered at her speculatively.

  “I don’t know you very well, Vivian, but I have to believe that you aren’t the kind of person who would marry someone to annoy your parents. You never loved your husband?”

  “I did!” she proclaimed vehemently. “Of course I did.”

  “Well then, you can’t let your parents get into your head.”

  She returned his look, a small smile playing out over her Patrician features and again, Vaughan was struck by how lovely she was. He was sure he’d never been as taken with a woman as he was with Vivian and he didn’t know how he felt about it.

  Get a grip on yourself. In a couple hours, this woman will be gone from your life. Whatever ideas you think you have, get them out.

  More thunder rumbled outside and Vivian turned to look outside, her face twisting with worry.

  “Are they calling for much rain?” she asked and Vaughan felt a stab of disappointment.

  She’s already dying to get out of here.

  “Honestly, I have no idea. I’ll check online.”

  He rose quickly, hoping she couldn’t read the expression on his face, and headed toward the laptop sitting on the coffee table.

  He also noted the time.

  “I have to get some work done soon,” he warned her, logging onto the computer. There were only fifteen minutes until his first session started.

  “Oh… uh, should I…” Vivian looked around helplessly. “Wait outside?”

  He snorted.

  “Of course not, but while I’m working, I need you to be really quiet and stay out of the shot, okay?”

  Her face contorted into confusion.

  “The shot?” she murmured. “Are you like a… cam model or something?”

  Vaughan began to laugh, his chuckles filling the cabin over the sound of the rain.

  “I don’t know how much of a market there is out there for men like me for internet porn,” he gasped when he managed to get a word in. Vivian’s face was scarlet.

  “I keep putting my foot in my mouth,” Vivian mumbled. “I’m sorry. Just ignore me. I promise to stop talking.”

  “Please don’t,” he snickered. “You’re the best entertainment I’ve had in years.”

  Their gazes locked over the screen and once more, Vaughan was electrified by the power that seemed to course between them.

  Stop it! There is a reason that you’re here, removed from the world. You can’t afford to let anyone close to you, not when you’re not sure what you’re capable of.

  He turned his attention back to the computer, breaking the intensity between them.

  “Oh…”

  “What? What’s wrong?”

  He grunted softly and pointed at the screen even though he knew she couldn’t see it from where she sat.

  “There’s a flood warning coming through. The rain isn’t due to let up until tomorrow.”

  A slight look of panic crossed her face and Vaughan knew Vivian was thinking about her parents who were undoubtedly expecting her back with their vehicle.

  Her eyes moved toward the window and then back to him and he could already see what she was thinking before she said it.

  “It’s a bad idea,” he told her flatly. “Even if I didn’t have to work in the next ten minutes, by the time we get back to your car and fill it with gas, the road might be flooded and even if it’s not—you might get stranded making your way back down and then where will you be? Your best bet is to stay here until it lets up and then we’ll go.”

  She sighed and nodded.

  “I’m sorry, you’re right,” she conceded.

  Does she seemed relieved that I talked her down?

  It was hard to say but he certainly saw some sense of comfort on her face as she rose to deal with the breakfast dishes.

  “Just leave those,” Vaughan told her. “I’ll do them when I’m offline.”

  “Why?” she replied. “I’m not doing anything. Just tell me when to stop making noise and I’ll stop.”

  He stared at her, fussing about as she learned her way around the kitchen. Despite her city-girl appearance, there was something remotely country about her and Vaughan had to admit that he was pleased to have her there. When was the last time anyone had done his dishes?

  Not since I lived at home with my parents, he realized, shaking his head. It wasn’t as if he had ever expected to have someone in his house, sharing his chores, but he freely enjoyed the sense of peace it gave him even though he knew better.

  So what if it’s fleeting; relish it. You’ll never have a beautiful woman fall into your lap like this again.

  The computer chimed and Vivian looked up from the sink, cocking her head curiously.

  “It’s time,” he told her and she nodded quickly, dropping a plate and wiping her hands on a tea towel before sinking back into the chair she had used at breakfast.

  Vaughan logged on and Suki’s face appeared, grinning.

  “Hello, Mr. Vaughan!” she called in her usual happy manner. “Today I am doing exam, yes?”

  “Today you are doing an exam,” Vaughan agreed. “Are you ready?”

  “No, but I will—what is the American phrase? Winglet.”

  Vaughan snickered and shook his head.

  “Wing it,” he corrected but his attention was distracted by the light giggle in the corner. Vivian slapped her hand over her mouth and lowered her eyes guiltily but he could not help but return her grin of amusement.

  When she looked back up again, he saw an appreciation in her eyes that had not been there before and Vaughan knew in that moment that there was going to be no use fighting whatever attraction he had for her.

  He had started something by bringing her back to the cabin and something told him there was no going back.

  Chapter Seven

  Security in the Eye of the Storm

  The surprises just keep on coming with this guy.

  Vivian found she couldn’t take her eyes off Vaughan as he continued with his lessons, his face transforming into a much softer, gentler man than the one she had met on the road.

  He seemed to come alive during his lessons and Vivian was just as caught up in his teachings as his students appeared to be.

  His sense of humor became apparent while he jested and teased the pupils and for almost an hour, Vivian was transfixed.

  “Okay, Suki. I’ll see you on Thursday,” he concluded. “Great job today.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Vaughan,” the girl chimed. “A great pleasure working with you.”

  Vaughan whipped his head up, his smile fading slightly as he met her eyes.

  “No offense, Vivian, but you’re making it really hard to concentrate while you’re staring at me.”

  Heat colored her cheeks and she hung her head.

  “Sorry,” she mumbled, looking around for her phone. “I didn’t realize that I was staring at you.”

  Well, that’s a big fat lie.

  “I’ll just be on my phone.”

  “The Wi-Fi password is ‘cabinfever.’”

  She grinned and nodded.

  “Thanks.”

  She watched him through her peripheral vision, wondering how a man like that had ever found his calling working with kids. It seemed so oxymoronic yet there he was, signing on with another student, his face relaxing as he started a new session.

  Could I do this? Could I live up here, teaching children in other countries without any other human contact?

  She became aware of the fact that the dogs were watching her curiously and Vivian realized that they were staring at the bacon still on the table.

  One of them licked hi
s chops and Vivian shot Vaughan a glance but he was already too involved in his work to pay her any mind.

  “One piece,” she whispered in a barely audible tone. Both hounds jumped to attention and she carefully snuck them each a strip, watching as they devoured them in seconds.

  May as well buy their love. At least they don’t want to kill me anymore.

  She turned her focus back to her phone and forced herself to remember what she had been doing on the mountain in the first place.

  I need to work too, not just gawk at the mysteriously handsome mountain man who keeps shocking me.

  As she logged onto Vaughan’s Wi-Fi, she continued her Google search, bookmarking pertinent pages on her server for future reference.

  She was surprised to learn that there were dozens of reported sightings, not just the handful she’d initially found the previous night but as she searched, Vivian’s eyes began to grow gritty. She blinked several times, hoping to alleviate the burning but the action was useless. She hadn’t slept in a day and coupled with the drive and excitement of the past few hours, she was exhausted.

  She remembered what Vaughan had said about the mountain air and she suddenly believed him.

  A long yawn escaped her lips before she could stifle it and suddenly, Vaughan was standing over her.

  “Are you okay?” he asked with concern. Vivian looked up, bleary-eyed, and realized that her head was on the table.

  “Oh my God,” she mumbled. “I fell asleep.”

  She laughed with embarrassment and tried to lift her head. It proved to be a Herculean effort but to her surprise, Vaughan leaned down and helped her to her feet. Without warning, he scooped her into his muscled arms as though she weighed less than a feather.

  “What are you doing?” she asked but there was no fight in her voice. She knew instinctively he wasn’t doing anything untoward or frightening.

  “I’m putting you to bed before you start snoring during my lessons.”

  “I… wouldn’t…” she babbled but her head fell against his strong chest and she was asleep again in the seconds it took to reach his bedroom. She barely opened her eyes again when he gently placed her on his unmade bed, tucking the covers around her gently.

  “I’m not tired,” she yawned like a toddler fighting bedtime. “I’m just…”