Tara glanced at Penny. Animal crackers were like the woman’s favorite food. No way had anyone forgotten where they were. Penny tipped her chin toward the red-headed man, indicating Tara should go toward him.
Kann’s hands were in fists at his sides. So were Raish’s. Owen was advancing slowly. So was the other large blond-haired man—whose name escaped her. Only the redhead was hanging back.
“I’m having one of those moments,” Penny said with a forced laugh, her gaze never dropping from Raish for a second. Her hand slipped under her jacket, probably fingering one of her many weapons kept on her person at all times. Guns. Knives. With Penny it could be anything. The woman had skills. “Would you help Tor and I find them please.”
Tara nodded, still unable to speak. The tension was so thick it was like the air had turned solid in the expanse of a few seconds.
Raish eyed her as she moved. His eyes flashed gold too, creeping her out further. What the hell was wrong with her? She was going to have to throw out those vitamins she’d taken this morning. They had to have gone bad. Or she hadn’t eaten enough breakfast. Or a combo of the two.
She sidestepped from behind the counter and moved toward Penny.
Kann stepped forward, blocking the empty space she had to cross between her and Raish. Low rumbles were echoing through the small store from multiple places. What the hell was going on? Instinctively she looked around for a pissed off dog, but that was ridiculous. There weren’t any dogs in the store. Just a lot of men.
Who growled?
Penny grabbed Tara’s arm and pulled her along quickly until they were in the far corner of the store, next to the potatoes and onions.
“Has he been in here before?” Tor asked, getting a little closer to Tara’s face than she was comfortable. Penny shoved on the guy’s shoulder like he was her little brother and not some two-hundred-fifty-pound-muscle-bound-mountain-man.
“Could you not breathe on her. You’re going to piss off Owen just as much as the other guy.”
“Owen is—Ahhh.” The man canted his head and then looked in the direction they’d come. She couldn’t see Owen or Kann or Raish or the other man whose name she didn’t know. There were more low rumbles. Angry voices. Then the door jangled, letting her know someone had either left or another person had come into the store. He backed off Tara quickly and moved to stand next to Penny.
“Name’s Tor. I don’t believe we’ve met.” He held out his hand.
Tara stared at it for a moment before shaking it. “Penny. What’s going on? Do you guys know the creepy guy at my counter?”
“Enough to know he’s not a good person and you need to call us if he shows up again.”
“Why would you care?”
“Because this is our town. And you’re our friend,” Penny said. “Kann adores your mother and this store and it would break his heart if anything happened to you or the store again.”
“All of us would be upset,” Tor added. “Just so the record’s straight.”
“Wait…The break-in?”
Tor and Penny nodded at the same time.
“This guy was involved?” Anger boiled in her gut. How dare he? And now he was here, threatening her?
“We can’t prove it. But call it a hunch.” Tor crossed his arms over his chest and sighed. “And Col won’t let us hunt…nevermind.”
His words trailed off and Tara stared at him. Hunt? What the hell kind of comment was that? They weren’t cops. That much she knew for sure. How the hell did they know this guy was involved in the break-in that had trashed the store a couple months ago?
“He’s not from town,” Tara stated, watching Tor glance over his shoulder every few seconds.
Tor shook his head. “No, but they aren’t far.” He moved again, blocking both women from the front of the store, moving and adjusting as they moved, always keeping the aisle blocked. Keeping her and Penny safe. What kind of training had these guys had? They didn’t seem like military, but they weren’t just lumberjacks either.
“Way to be under the radar, tiger,” Penny said, mirth making her bright blue eyes dance.
Tor blushed and frowned at the same time. “You just called me a tiger.”
Penny shrugged and gave him a sly smile. “It’s a figure of speech.”
Who are these people?
The bell above the door chimed again. Tara turned around and took a couple of steps toward the front of the store again, but Tor again shifted to stand in front of her, raising his hands to signal a ‘wait’.
The rumbling had stopped. The voices had stopped.
“They’re gone,” Tor said and stepped past Tara to lead the way out of the produce section.
Sure enough the front of the store was empty.
No one was at the counter.
Not the creepy guy. Not Kann or the other blond man. Not even Owen.
Tor exited too, leaving her standing next to Penny.
“Phone.” Penny held out her hand expectantly. “Look. I know we don’t know each other well. We are sorta neighbors though.”
Tara pulled her cell from her front jeans pocket, unlocked it, and handed it to the woman.
“If that dude shows up again. Call me. Pronto. Kay?”
Tara nodded. “Sure. But shouldn’t I call the sheriff?”
Penny shook her head. “He won’t be able to do anything.”
Tara sighed. It was true. Everyone knew the new sheriff was a lazy good for nothing lump of useless. “I appreciate it.”
Penny typed in contact info into Tara’s phone and then handed it back. “Call me.”
“I will. Thanks.”
“I do still need those animal crackers.”
Tara laughed out loud. Another chunk of tension faded away. “Hang on, I’ll grab them for you.”
Tara ventured toward the dry goods line—where the lumberjack-hottie she had been ogling from afar for months had been standing only minutes before. She popped around the line, expecting to get a vision that would feed her imagination at least a week. Maybe he’d even smile at her. She wanted to see him smile. So much. He always seemed sad or angry every time she got a really good look at him…which wasn’t often. She wanted to know why he was so quiet and aloof…why wouldn’t he talk to her.
Owen came around the store plenty, but for an almost seven-foot-tall barbarian-sized guy, he was fast. Like stealthy fast. So, she caught a glimpse of him nearly every day, but that was it. Just a glimpse.
But he was gone too.
She grabbed a couple boxes of animal crackers and returned to Penny. “My treat. Thanks for saving the day.”
“You made a pregnant woman very happy.”
Tara’s eyebrows rose and she smiled. “Congrats. I didn’t know.”
“It’s still early. Thanks again.”
The bell jingled, and Tara turned toward the sound, hoping it was Owen. But Penny’s husband appeared instead. Penny left and again Tara was alone in the quiet store like nothing had happened.
But something had. Something big. She just wasn’t sure what.
“One of these days, my handsome lumberjack.” She thrust her hands into her jean pockets and sighed. “One of these days, I’m going to get you to talk to me.”
3
Thursday night meals at the community center had been a thing since Tara could remember. The large dining hall was always full of people laughing and carrying on, tonight was no exception. And even if there wasn’t a meal to help serve, there were always snacks.
Tara reached under the folding table and added more bottles of water to the line on top for people to grab on their way down the buffet. Tonight, was hot dogs and her best friend Katherine’s chili.
“So, Mrs. Grieg cleaned up last night at bingo.”
Amusement curled Tara’s lips . “I’m not surprised.” She turned to Katherine. “She plays with like ten cards at a time. Nobody else has odds like that.”
The tall brunette laughed and put down the package of napkins she’d brought o
ut from the kitchen. “I don’t know, Mrs. Sampson was close. She had at least six cards in front of her all night.”
“Oh, upping her game, was she.”
Both girls chuckled.
The elderly librarian had been Mrs. Grieg’s only competition for years. The two of them always won bingo. Everyone expected it and yet, everyone still played. Maybe the two old blue hairs were heroes to the rest of the senior population in Mystery. Maybe they were just gluttons for punishment. Either way, bingo night at the MCC was highly attended every week.
So were Thursday meals. Lots of miners came into town for a nice hot meal, instead of their usual microwave classic. One dollar for a hot plate of food and a bottle of water was something the whole town supported and donated toward to make sure the MCC always had enough funding. It was kinda like the weekly watering hole for area gossip and news—without alcohol. And trying to keep gossip down in a small town, was like trying to keep fleas off a stray dog.
Katherine squatted beside Tara and bumped her shoulder, together they quickly moved the entire case of bottled water from the floor to the table top. “So, you said something about a creepy guy in the store today when you came in earlier. Are you going to tell me or not?”
Tara stood and nodded toward the wall away from the buffet line. Katherine followed her quietly. Tara turned to her friend and whispered. “Long black hair. Darker, smooth skin, no beard. And the way he looked at me, Katherine. It was unnerving. He said I looked like his dead wife or mate or…I’m not even sure…”
Katherine made a soft gagging sound and put a hand on Tara’s arm. “Have you talked to the sheriff yet?”
Tara shook her head. “Penny said to call them if he showed up again. And I came straight here after I closed down the store for the evening.” Unlike big city grocery stores, Jenkins closed at five. No late-night snack runs in Mystery. Although the Liquor Shack was open almost twenty-four hours a day and they had snacks if you were really desperate…or drunk…or stoned.
“He’s not here, is he?” Katherine did a quick cursory glance across the sea of tables and eating people.
“No, I haven’t seen him, but you want to know what else was odd?”
“Well, of course. I want to know all the things. I live vicariously through you. Don’t you know I’m so busy with the MCC I barely have time to think about dating, much less actually participate.”
“You don’t need to. There’s no one in town you’re interested in.”
“Touché.” Katherine sighed. “So, spill.”
“The guy, Owen, the one that—”
“The one that won’t talk to you who you’re in love with from afar? The one who looks like Conan the barbarian dressed as a lumberjack. That Owen? I’ve seen glimpses of that endangered species. And let me just tell you, he’s the last of his kind.”
Tara snorted and frowned. “Shut up.”
“Come on. I agree that he’s hot enough to melt the snow right off the ground, but you can’t date a guy that won’t give you the time of day.”
“That’s the thing that’s so frustrating. I feel like he’s always around.”
“Like stalker around? Girl? This pattern is not boding well for your future.” Katherine did another once over of the crowd. At least a hundred people were in the room at various round banquet tables.
Tara swatted her arm and laughed. “Owen’s not creepy, but he and you know the newcomers who live out on Douglas’ land?”
Katherine nodded, gesturing for her to continue.
“They came in along with Owen. They made the other guy leave. I just wish I could’ve caught Owen before he disappeared again. At least to say thank you.”
“And to tell him that you’re willing to submit your body as a personal offering to him.”
“Oh my God, Katherine.”
“Tell me I’m lying?”
Tara opened her mouth twice and shut it twice. Visions of Owen touching her. Kissing her. Hands on parts of her body that hadn’t been touched by a man in years. Okay, maybe she was willing to submit her body as an offering. She was certainly willing to dream about doing just that.
“Seeeeee.” Katherine poked Tara’s arm and giggled softly. “Still though, why do you think he won’t talk to you? Surely a guy that formidable isn’t shy.”
Tara shrugged again. She wished she knew. She wished he would talk to her. And at the same time, she was afraid to talk to him. The last time she’d been hung up on a guy, it’d ended quickly and badly. Did she really want to give up the fantasy of Owen and be disappointed by the real thing?
She was fine alone right now. Her family was in turmoil with her dad’s cancer. Her mom needed her to be strong and take care of the store. She didn’t have time for a guy, especially a guy who had made it more than obvious he didn’t want anything from her.
But why? She couldn’t help but ask the question. Was there something wrong with her?
Katherine poked Tara’s arm hard enough to make her hiss in pain.
“What the hell?”
“You’re doubting yourself. I can see it on your face. You are amazing, and Don was an ass. There’s nothing wrong with you, so stop thinking that.”
“I don’t know how you read my mind so easily, but I will try.”
“It’s a gift. I’m special. We both are.”
Tara snorted out another laugh. “I need to get home. Get some rest. The store won’t open in the morning without me.”
“Kay, be safe. Tell your mom and dad goodnight for me when you talk to them.”
“I will.” Tara choked back a sob right before Katherine pulled her in tight.
“He’s going to be okay. I know he is. I can feel it.”
Tara nodded into Katherine’s shoulder and then tapped her friend’s back. She was okay. She wasn’t going to lose it in front of the entire Thursday night crowd.
A few waves and fake smiles almost got her out of the building, but Mrs. Grieg was waving her cane in the air, insisting on her coming over to the table where she was sitting with Mrs. Sampson and several other blue hairs.
Tara pivoted, took a deep breath and wove her way through dozens of people and tables until she was standing next to Mrs. Grieg.
“The sheriff is going to cite you for reckless endangerment with that cane if you’re not careful, Mrs. Grieg.” She leaned down and gave the woman an embrace that was heartily returned.
“Psssshhh.” The old woman’s laugh reminded Tara of her mother’s before Dad had gotten sick. “I’d like to see him try. The old coot has better things to do, like find the vagrants that trashed your family’s store back in February.”
“At least they haven’t come back.” Or had they? What if Penny is right and creepy-guy is involved?
Mrs. Grieg nodded. “We missed you the other night at bingo. You call numbers so much better than Patsy’s girl.”
Tara laughed. “You shouldn’t be complaining, I heard you cleaned up.”
“Beat us all,” Mrs. Sampson said, her voice was sharp, but her eyes sparkled with amusement. The rivalry was alive and well, but there wasn’t any resentment within the group. The other ladies at the table grumbled and laughed in turn.
“I would’ve won more if Tara here had called the numbers. Patsy’s girl talks too fast. I have to work so hard to keep up.”
“I’ll be sure to let Katherine know she needs to slow it down for you next week.”
“Oh, no you don’t!” Mrs. Grieg sputtered and waved her free hand around the table. “I’ll never hear the end of it from these hooligans if I ask for special treatment. Just promise me you’ll fill in for her on occasion.”
“Of course.” Tara patted Mrs. Grieg’s shoulder and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Tara.” It was Mrs. Sampson this time. “You tell your mother we’re all praying and rooting for her Charles. If we could drive, we’d be down in Anchorage sitting with her. My daughter is bringing some food to your house this weekend for when they come back home.”
She waved one last time before making her way through the front doors and out of the building and into her car in the parking lot. Ten minutes later she was on the other side of town, pulling into her parents drive.
She’s safe.
Owen had come back to watch out for her at the community center and scouted the parking lot. He’d found no scent of the Reylean alpha wolf he and the others had chased off earlier that day.
Tara hadn’t seen him.
He’d made sure to stay in the cover of the trees once people started arriving at the center. He watched her get there. Her long red hair and glowing-with-magick-skin made a beacon his bear was hard-pressed to ignore.
But he would.
The bastards had taken an interest in Tara—not just the town or the store or him. No. Now they were sniffing around his mate. Nothing on this planet could drag him away. He would keep her safe. And he would stay away from her while doing it. She deserved a better man. One who wasn’t disgraced and hunted and an outcast.
He could do this. Right? He could stay away from her. He’d stayed at the community center until he’d been sure the wolf wasn’t coming back around tonight.
* * *
Owen slammed the door on the old beater truck Leif had helped him rebuild from junkyard parts and walked up the path to their front door. The light flipped on from the inside and Ava opened the screen as he tromped up the steps.
“Made it home.” Her voice was tired and dragged like she’d had a long day at the diner. “How’s Tara?”
Ava knew what he was doing. She knew, and she disapproved that he wasn’t talking to Tara. Ava thought Col was bluffing. She insisted that a new life came with new rules.
That wasn’t how Col felt.
And whether he wanted to or not. The town belonged to the dragon. And if Owen wanted to stay here. Stay near Tara. He had to respect the authority the dragon represented.
Bearly Hanging On: Soulmate Shifters in Mystery, Alaska Book 3 Page 3