by Vella Day
“I’d like to meet him.” Zane owned a great work place back home too that he was going to miss. No matter how much he wanted to return, he doubted he could. Assuming it really was 2017, he bet the building had probably been sold or torn down. His gut churned at the thought of how things would have changed in one hundred years. “Your friend is lucky.”
“He is that.”
The road turned from dirt to smooth, but was unlike anything Zane had ever seen. The surface was black pitch, and as soon as the rubber wheels touched the surface, the noise dropped to almost zero. At the same time, the speed of the car increased, and Zane became intrigued about how that was even possible. He refused to admit that he was a bit uncomfortable moving so swiftly.
“How do you know Missy?” Zane asked this Alpha man.
“She’s my mate’s sister.”
Missy had told him that. Damn. Perhaps he had a brain injury after all. “She seems really nice and caring.”
“Missy is the best.
Zane wanted to know more since it might give him a leg up in being able to court her. “She was picking mushrooms when I met her. I take it she’s some kind of healer?”
“She is, but she’s more than just someone who waves candles and gives you potions to drink. Missy uses her magical skills to heal people. She can’t do surgery or anything, but when I was stabbed, even though I managed to shift, my injuries were extensive. Had it not been for her, I might not be alive today.”
So this human was more than what he’d first believed. In his world, most of the witches were evil. There was no way in hell that Missy was. He would have sensed it if she had been.
For the rest of the drive, Zane said nothing as he absorbed the oddities of this town. Vehicles like Missy’s and Rye’s littered the sides of the street. He’d never seen so many at one time!
Another thing was that the names of the storefronts were written in colorful lights. He’d seen light bulbs, but nothing as elaborate as these. Had he really been asleep for what seemed like an eternity?
When Rye finally pulled to a stop in front of the fire station, Zane let out a breath that the truck had stopped moving. In a flash, Rye released his bondage strap and was out of the truck. Zane tugged on his, but it wouldn’t budge. Damn.
A second later, Rye opened the passenger side door. “Push the button on the side to release it,” Rye said.
Heat raced up Zane’s face. In his world, there wasn’t anything he couldn’t do. He was a master at not only riding horses, but caring for them as well. His ironwork graced many homes and stores, and his fellow shifters often relied on his strength and agility to help them. Incompetence was foreign to him.
Zane looked up at Rye and smiled, hoping his expression hid his anxiety. Doing what Rye suggested, Zane pressed the red button, and instantly, the strap released. Hmm. That wasn’t so hard after all.
“Thanks. I admit I’m a little scared to find out what other things I might not remember.”
“Don’t worry about it. In time, everything will come back to you. Come on in and I’ll introduce you to the guys.”
Zane already remembered everything. His problem was that he’d never been exposed to this new way of life.
“I’ll speak to the Captain about that job. First though, I’ll give you a quick tour.” Rye entered the building and Zane followed.
As he walked in, Zane stopped in his tracks, stunned by the size and quality of the equipment. The fire trucks he remembered were red, like this one was, but the driver’s seat was in the open on top of the engine, and the ladder was attached to the side. This vehicle was totally enclosed, like Rye’s truck. And the ladder? Yes, it sat on top, but it was bigger than anything he’d ever seen.
“I’ll show you where we eat,” Rye said, interrupting his perusal.
As much as Zane wanted to check it out, he needed to go with Rye. “Great.”
He followed his new friend into a huge kitchen area that contained about seven tables, implying the station must have a huge staff. The icebox against the wall was silver and very large.
“You can shower through here.” Zane followed, trying to take it all in. “We have a weight room if you want to work out, though from the looks of you, you won’t need to do much of that.”
Zane chose to take that as a compliment. “Thanks.”
“Go on in. I’ll try to find something else for you to change into when you’re finished with your shower. We can’t have you sweeping floors in clothes that don’t fit.” Rye chuckled, and Zane did the same.
While people were nice where he lived—except for the demons, of course—those who lived here were more than friendly. Instantly, the image of the lovely Missy appeared. She’d been willing to take time from her chores to help him. As for Rye, never did he expect anyone to offer him a job. It was truly outstanding.
The door closed behind him, and Zane was left to himself. Storage units sat off to one side of the room, probably to keep one’s clothes in. Through an open doorway sat the shower room. Finally, there was something that hadn’t changed too much. Tall metal poles with showerheads filled the space. It was time to look presentable and then figure out a way to seek out Missy Berta.
Chapter Three
‡
“Wow, that’s some story,” Anna said. “This Zane guy is quite the character.”
That was a good word for him. “He is odd, but remember he suffered a head trauma. I can’t imagine what it would be like not to even remember where you live.”
“That would be tough. Not knowing who my birth parents were was enough to drive me crazy, let alone if I’d lost all my memories.”
“It is sad.” Missy took over the broth she’d made with the mushrooms and ginger. “I need you to drink all of this. I’ve been told it tastes rather good, and the ginger will settle your stomach pretty quickly and help reduce your other flu symptoms.”
Missy handed the bowl to Anna and then lit some candles and incense to help calm her. She then walked behind the sofa and placed her hands on Anna’s shoulders, sending her magic through her. Once Anna finished drinking the warm broth, she placed it on the coffee table and then closed her eyes.
Waiting for sleep to overtake Anna, Missy moved across from her and sat down. Between the flu and the baby, Anna looked as if she needed a few hours rest to start the recovery process.
While Anna dozed, Missy replayed this morning’s event. Anna had also commented that Missy probably shouldn’t have gone to the caves alone because she wasn’t a shifter who could defend herself. That wasn’t quite true. Missy’s ability to calm even the most ferocious beast would have given her enough time to get away—or at least given her a head start. Of course, the last time she’d encountered any kind of hostile animal had been about six years ago. And that had been a mama deer defending her newborns. Truth be told, the doe had seemed more afraid of her than Missy had been of the deer.
Anna’s body slumped, and her breathing slowed. Good. The magic and the potion were taking hold. Only then did Missy allow herself to relax. She closed her eyes and pictured Zane. While she loved big, burly men, she wasn’t a fan of beards or long shaggy hair. If Rye was able to get Zane the janitor’s job, the chief might suggest he clean up, as image was important.
Missy debated heading back into the caves to see if Zane had left behind a wallet or a set of car keys. While he claimed nothing was there, he had been disoriented and the interior had been dark. Without a flashlight, he might have missed finding them. If he’d shifted, she should find evidence of tattered clothes. This time if she went, she’d be more aware of her surroundings.
Missy replayed the event in her mind once more, looking for inconsistencies. How had Zane ended up at the caves? No vehicle was parked at the base of the mountain, which implied he might have hiked in. But if he’d been as drunk as he claimed, scaling the mountain would have been next to impossible—unless he’d been in his bear form. Most likely someone had driven him there and then helped him to the cave, t
hinking he could sleep it off there. Somewhere along the way, Zane had hit his head.
In the end, she decided it would be best if she let Rye deal with him. Hopefully, in a few days when Zane’s memory returned, he’d go home, and she wouldn’t have to worry about him anymore.
Missy expected a shot of relief to surge through her at the thought of him leaving, but instead, a bit of sadness edged its way inside. What was that about? Sure, he had a great body and seemed to possess a rather calm demeanor, but it wasn’t as if he was her fated mate. Granted, only shifters could be positive, but as a Wendayan she should have some indication. And no, it wasn’t the presence of those blue sparks. Missy dismissed them as nothing more than being lonely.
Before she could dwell on her dilemma any further, Anna’s front door opened, and Missy’s heart hitched. It was Dalton. He rushed in, looking handsome in his sheriff’s uniform. One glance at his mate and he smiled. Missy stood and motioned him toward the kitchen.
“How is she?” Dalton whispered.
“She’s sleeping peacefully now. I expect the flu will be gone by tonight. She should feel like her old self by morning.”
Dalton stabbed a hand over his thick hair. “I can’t thank you enough, especially with all that you’ve been through today. Kalan told me Rye had to rescue some werebear with amnesia that you stumbled across.”
There were no secrets in Silver Lake. “That’s true. Other than his name, he remembers almost nothing.
“Are you sure he isn’t faking it?” Dalton asked.
How could anyone forget how to open a car door? “I wondered that, but I don’t think so. He seemed rather frustrated with his inability to remember and how to do things.”
“I’m sure Rye will get to the bottom of it.”
“I hope so—for Zane’s sake.”
Dalton glanced over at Anna. “I told Kalan I’d be taking off the next few hours to stay with her.”
In other words, he wanted to be alone with his mate. “Let me know if Anna needs anything else.”
Dalton smiled. “Will do.”
Missy was pleased that the time she spent helping Zane hadn’t caused any bad effects for Anna. As for her, the only side effect was that Missy was now starving.
Feeling bad that Teagan and her mom hadn’t been able to have lunch out, Missy called in an order to the Silver Lake Café. By the time she arrived, the three pieces of chocolate cake were ready for pick up, along with a sandwich for herself. With the special treat in tow, she headed down Maple Avenue and hung a left on Robin’s Ridge. When she passed the fire station, she couldn’t help but glance at it, wondering how Zane was faring. She didn’t picture him as the janitor type, but he did seem like a person willing to do whatever it took to achieve a goal. Right now, he needed money in order to reach home.
Once she returned to the Crystal Winds Spa, Missy parked in the alley behind the store and headed inside. Thankfully, there wasn’t a line of customers waiting for service. Teagan was helping one lady while Missy’s mom was in the office probably doing her usual accounting.
Missy knocked softly so as not to startle her and then stepped inside. Her mom looked up and slipped off her glasses. “How did it go?”
“Good.” Missy gave her a more thorough explanation about how she’d come across Zane.
“You’re telling me that while you were searching for the mushrooms, a naked man stumbled out from the back of a cave claiming to have forgotten everything?”
She wished her mom didn’t sound so skeptical. “Yes. He hit his head, which explains why he remembers very little.”
Her mom frowned at her. “You do realize how lucky you are that he wasn’t dangerous? You were all alone up there where anything could have happened.”
Missy sighed. She didn’t need another lecture. “Mom, I am a grown woman, and I had my cell phone with me. Trust me; if I felt he was dangerous I would have called for help. Plus, I did contact Izzy for the clothes and asked that she send Rye and Kalan to bring them. So you see, I was being smart and cautious.”
Her mother raised her eyebrows, reminding her to watch her tone but then gave her a little smirk. “Was he hot?”
“Mo-om. Why would you ask that?” Sometimes Missy swore her mom’s focus in life was finding someone for her to marry.
She shrugged. “It’s not every day that you run into a naked man. Now that I know he isn’t dangerous and that you are safe, we can talk about the good stuff.”
“He’s a shifter, albeit an unprepared one, who didn’t have any spare clothes nearby. I think after he passed out, his bear needed him to shift in order to heal, though he didn’t do a very good job since he still has a cut on his leg. I would have thought his healing animal would have helped with his memory, but apparently he failed at that too. And yes, from what I could tell under his beard, he is a good looking man.” Missy got lost in remembering Zane. “I will say he has quite a body: muscular biceps, defined abs, toned thighs, and he was…” Uh, oh. She’d just spoken out loud. “Um, he had very kind eyes.”
Her mom grinned, catching the slip. “So, he was completely naked when you discovered him. Was he…?”
“Oh my gosh, Mother!” Missy just stared at her wide-eyed.
“What? From the way your voice sounds, you noticed everything about him, and you’re interested in him.”
“Not in the least.”
“Really? You just described him using words like muscular and toned.”
Zane’s image jumped into her mind’s eye once more. “All I could see was his straggly hair and really full beard. Heck, his mustache covered most of his lips.” Even with all that, he was sexy as hell, but she wouldn’t tell her mom that. It made Missy wonder what he would look like all cleaned up.
“Fine. Just be careful.”
“I will. I brought you a little treat since I know you wouldn’t go out and leave Teagan alone.” She placed the bag with her mom’s dessert on her desk and left, not wanting to continue this conversation. Missy entered the main room where the customer was just leaving.
“How’s Anna?” Teagan asked.
“She’ll be fine with some rest. Dalton is watching her.” Missy handed her the bag from the café. “I bought you some dessert as a thank you for covering for me.”
“Really? That’s so sweet of you.” Teagan smiled as she opened the bag and withdrew the box. “I’m glad Anna will be okay. So what took you so long?”
For the third time today, Missy began with her search for the mushrooms. With each telling, a few more details surfaced that made her a bit more suspicious of the man. Perhaps it was time to do a little Internet research on amnesia.
*
“Good news,” Rye said as he entered the locker area carrying more clothes.
Zane had a towel wrapped around his waist and was studying how things were constructed, from the locks to the metal locker doors. He spun around to face his only friend. “Tell me.”
Rye handed him another Silver Lake Fire Department T-shirt, along with a pair of pants and boots. “Try these on. They should be a better fit. My Beta, Kalan Murdoch, dropped off the pants and boots. He is a rather large bear shifter, closer to your size.”
Zane tugged them on, and to his delight everything fit. “How do I look?”
“Like you could be a fireman.”
Zane chuckled. “Other than dousing a campfire or two, I don’t remember putting out a blaze.”
“Then your new job as janitor will suit you just fine.”
“So your boss gave his okay?”
“Yes. Pays only eight bucks an hour, but on short notice it might be the best you can get.”
“I’m just happy to have a job.”
Rye nodded. “I also called my parents. They have a guesthouse at the back of their property that’s not being used right now. You can bunk there until you get on your feet. Even if you regain your memory, you’ll need time to earn enough money to travel.”
Zane wasn’t usually one to question a pers
on’s motive, but he did wonder why Rye was being so accommodating. Zane shook his head. Right now he needed to concentrate on the present. “I can never thank you enough.”
“Doing a good job will be sufficient. Once I show you what to do, look in the fridge for a bag with your name on it. I know you haven’t eaten since yesterday.”
Try a hundred years. “Thanks.”
“Let me show you what we need you to do. How are you with a broom?”
Zane laughed. “I’m pretty damn good.”
“Then you’ll do just fine. Come with me.”
To Zane’s surprise, he was actually looking forward to being useful, even if it was only cleaning. Hard work had been his constant companion, and he wasn’t happy unless he put in a full day of labor.
When they passed the kitchen, Zane was confused. “Don’t you need to show me what to do in there?”
“No, the men take care of cooking and cleaning. There’s a lot of downtime built into their stay, and Chief doesn’t want us sitting on our asses. Most work seventy-two hours straight and then have four days off. I’ve negotiated more regular hours.”
Perhaps being the Alpha of his Clan gave him some benefits, assuming their chief was a shifter. He had to say their boss seemed like a good guy. While Zane had never worked for anyone before, he’d want a boss who didn’t tolerate slacking off.
Rye opened a door, and when he tapped the wall, the room flooded with light. How cool was that?
“I see you like our supply closet,” Rye said with a chuckle.
It was the sudden infusion of light that delighted him, but he wouldn’t let on. The massive amount of supplies likewise impressed him. “I am.”
“Your biggest area of concern will be the bathroom. You’ll have to constantly work on keeping the mold at bay. Bleach will be your best friend.” Rye tapped a large white bottle.
Zane picked up a can called Pledge. “What’s this for?”
“Dusting and all purpose cleaning.” Rye’s brows furrowed. “Are you sure you’re up for the job?”