by Vella Day
Regardless of whether she had any control over her fate or not, she still dreamed of Dalton. Then the underdeveloped rational side of her brain told her the gods would never pit someone who was so straight-laced and uptight with someone like her. He’d balk for sure. Anna loved art and all things relating to nature, and she bet Dalton feasted on spreadsheets and logic.
It was silly to even dream about something like that since she wasn’t buying into the concept of a destined mate. However, no harm ever came from a little make believe.
Just in case she was wrong, at the next session she asked James how someone could tell if two people were destined to be together. All he would say was that the answer would be in the shifter’s eyes.
Great. The whole window of his soul thing didn’t help her at all.
Bottom line, she needed to push the whole idea aside, and let nature take its course. She had to admit the whole biting stuff scared her, despite the end result being worth it. If a shifter bit his human mate, then the human became a shifter too. Having an ability like that would seriously allow her to protect herself.
James did stress that the shifters and Wendayans worked together in Silver Lake, and that the shifters protected their fellow witches. In the end, it didn’t matter if her mate turned out to be a shifter or not. Someone would be there to protect her, and Anna received great comfort from that fact.
For weeks after that talk, her head didn’t stop spinning from all the information James had so calmly tossed out at her. But weird shit like that wasn’t all they’d discussed. They had talked about her life growing up and her need to find her birth parents. She’d always believed that knowing why they’d given her up might help heal her belief that she’d somehow been unlovable. James told Anna that she personally had nothing to do with her parents’ decision. Circumstances might have dictated that they give her up. While probably true, she’d come this far in her search and would like to learn their identities.
They’d briefly talked about her powers and why she only could detect the traumatic past of a person if they had unresolved issues surrounding it.
So here she was at his house for the last time. Anna had finally put to rest what had happened to her, yet a bit of melancholy had seeped in. She liked talking to the old man. Not only was James wise and so sure of himself, he possessed an aura of pure knowledge. What she wouldn’t give to unlock what made him tick.
Anna smiled thinking back to the first time she’d arrived at the ancient looking stone house. It had given her the creeps for sure with its dark interior, but after a few weeks, she began to feel safe inside. It might have been because James didn’t judge her or because he was the only person she’d never been able to get any kind of reading from when she had touched him. No, that wasn’t true. She hadn’t been able to get a reading from Dalton either. Each of them seemed to be able to block her talents whenever she touched them. While she’d never asked James, she wouldn’t be surprised if he, too, was some kind of Wendayan like Dalton.
Anna knocked on his door and James answered quickly. “Anna, how nice to see you again. Please come in.”
The smell of freshly baked cookies caused her stomach to grumble. As soon as she entered the main room, she spotted a plate filled with chocolate chip cookies on the table.
“My wife baked them,” he said answering her unasked question.
“She did?” Anna had assumed the woman had passed. Never once had she been around when Anna visited, though it was possible she worked the night shift at a hospital or perhaps was a waitress at an all-night diner.
“Yes, last night, but Naliana had to leave today. Otherwise, the two of you could have met.” She didn’t need to touch his arm to feel his pain—not that she could see into his past either.
“I’m sorry.”
He smiled, but the joy didn’t reach his eyes. “Thank you. She’ll return in a month.”
“A month? That must be tough to be separated for so long.”
“Indeed. Shall we begin?”
Chapter Two
‡
Once their hour session concluded, Anna thanked James for all his help. While she’d never forget the man who’d held her captive, she understood a bit more why he’d taken her, and why he hadn’t gone after Jillian directly. James was certain that if the man had known Jillian was a tiger shifter instead of say a werewolf, he never would have attempted to silence her in the first place.
Before Anna left, she needed a favor from James. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
She doubted that, but he might answer this one. “As I’ve mentioned, I’ve always wanted to find my birth parents. Two years ago, I learned my mother’s name was Mary Carlyle and that she might be living in Silver Lake.” She’d found no trace of her father, which saddened her.
“Ah, so that was the real reason you came to live here,” James said.
“That and I never liked the really cold weather out west.”
He smiled. “I understand. What is it you wish to know?”
“You’ve lived here a long time. Do you know anyone by that name?” Or can you help me find her? She’d never voice her request. James was a therapist and not a detective though she found it strange he had no certificates anywhere on his walls. When she’d asked Dalton what James’s last name was, he said he didn’t know. At first, she was leery of the man, but he’d proven to be amazing.
“Hmm. Carlyle you say? No I haven’t, but she should be easy to find.”
“Here’s the thing. I’ve asked around, and no one has heard of her.” James was her last hope. “I’m guessing she’s married and has a different last name, or else she only passed through here.”
“I’ll see what I can find and let you know if anything comes up,” James said.
Anna did a mental fist pump and then surprised James with a hug. “Thank you for everything.”
When Anna walked out, she thought she’d be relieved to put the past behind, but she was still unsettled, not so much about the assault, but about Dalton and shifters in general. A ton of questions kept popping up at the oddest times.
One thing she could say about James was that he’d provided her with a sense of security. She would miss that now that her sessions were over. He’d refused payment for his services, which was doubly odd, but it meant she couldn’t keep going and rehashing the same old stuff with him. It was time to move on—time to take back control of her life.
Even though it was a little after six, she wasn’t looking forward to returning to her tiny apartment and being by herself. When her boss’s brother moved out of the apartment above the store where she worked, Elana had suggested Anna rent the place, if only to cut down on driving to and from work.
Anna had agreed, but they both knew the commute wasn’t the issue. It was driving that bothered her, as Anna had an unhealthy fear of being run off the road again. It was why James suggested she take shooting lessons. He believed it would help her feel more secure. She’d agreed.
So for the last month, Anna had gone to the shooting range twice a week, not only to practice, but also in hopes of running into Dalton. After all, he was a cop, and cops need to practice their skills too. When she closed her eyes, she imagined him standing behind her, with his arms wrapped along hers, helping her with her aim.
Anna was the first to admit that she wasn’t enamored with Dalton just because he’d saved her or because he was drop dead gorgeous. Sure, he was tall, maybe six-one, with broad shoulders and slim hips, but it was his intriguing smile that sent sparks shimmying up her body just from looking at him. His medium brown hair had a slight wave that was thick on top. He combed it back, highlighting his straight nose and piercing brown eyes. The fact he often had a five o’clock shadow, even early in the day, gave him that sexy bad boy look. While she enjoyed being near him, his demeanor was often too serious, but with a little loosening up, he’d be fun to be around.
While the shifter mystique still intrigued her, she wanted
to learn more about him specifically—what made him tick and why he was so driven. Even before she knew about shifters, the two of them had bonded—or so she wanted to believe. When she was in the hospital after the assault, Dalton had visited a few times just to talk. He actually blamed himself for not arriving sooner, and no matter how many times she told him she was eternally grateful that he’d found her at all, he still believed he and McKinnon and Associates could have done more.
When he’d first stopped in at the hospital, her face had been too swollen to talk, so Dalton carried on a rather one-sided conversation. He chatted about where he’d grown up, his love of law enforcement, and why he’d moved to Silver Lake. While he never came out and said it, she sensed Dalton had grown up lonely—just like her. The only difference was that when she was sad, she would escape to the woods where she’d look for animals, colorful mushrooms, and butterflies, or merely seek out the mountain views. The majestic slabs of granite always seemed to renew her soul. Dalton’s answer to life seemed to be burying himself in work.
After she returned home from the hospital, he called a few times to make sure she was doing okay, and he even stopped by the flower shop to see her. She truly thought he’d ask her out, only he never did. It was almost as if he was afraid she’d break or something. Anna might have been emotionally distraught in the beginning, but three months with James had done wonders for her mental health.
Now that she was stronger, Anna yearned to change Dalton’s mind about her fragile state, but then thought better of it. As a shifter, he’d end up breaking her heart the moment his fated mate walked into his life. Besides, Jillian had told her Dalton was married to his job. A straight-laced cop like him wouldn’t want a woman he believed might crumble at any moment. It didn’t matter he held her gaze longer than necessary when he came by or that he seemed to heal her from the inside out one cell at a time. She just couldn’t chance becoming too attached. If he walked out of her life, she’d be devastated.
In the end, she decided it would be better if she just steered clear of him, which was easier said than done. His eyes contained such sadness and longing that they spoke to her on a deeper level. How could anyone ignore that? Answer? She couldn’t.
Without paying attention to where she was driving, she found herself in front of the shooting range. It was a fitting place to end up. It was her place to let off steam.
Anna had purchased a new weapon, one that was heavier than the first one. The gun she had owned had been used to shoot Jillian, and she wanted nothing to do with that fateful event. She’d thought the cops would have confiscated the weapon, but she’d later learned that much of the crime against her hadn’t even been reported. Now she understood why. Shifters had killed Whitlaw, and humans didn’t know they existed, which forced the shifter cops to create a different version of what had gone down.
Once inside the range, Anna bought a box of bullets. With her ear protection in hand, she found an empty stall. As she loaded her gun, the hairs on her neck rose, and her heart dropped to her stomach, forcing her to twist around. Instead of looking into the eyes of a killer, Dalton was there. His inscrutable gaze was focused on her face, and his eyes had turned a lighter color. Other than being serious, she couldn’t pinpoint his mood.
While she wanted to pretend as if meeting him didn’t affect her, she couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “Hey.”
“I’m glad to see you’re practicing. How’s it coming?” Dalton asked, nodding to her weapon. He moved closer, causing her pulse to soar.
He smelled expensive, as if he’d gone to France and had the manufacturer make a scent just for him—sexy and strong like mountain air. “I’m slowly improving. At least I hit the target now.”
“That so? Why don’t you show me? I might be able to give you some pointers.”
Her throat turned dry fearing she might disappoint him. She glanced away. “That’s okay.”
Stop it. I need to act strong and prove to him I’m not afraid of my own shadow.
He placed a hand on her shoulder, and when the heat spread down her body and hardened her nipples, she thankfully didn’t jerk away. A second later, something blue flitted off her hand. That was weird. The static electricity around here must be intense.
His brows rose. “Do you think I’ll judge you?”
Yes. “No.”
“You want to improve, right?”
He acted like a drill sergeant. If he’d loosen up, she might have been able to relax. “Yes. If I’m ever approached by a creep again, I want to know I can shoot my gun—and hit the mark.”
He smiled. Wow. Not only did his eyes light up, it lit up her insides too. Is that what James meant by the eyes would let her know what Dalton was thinking?
She knew what she was thinking, and it had nothing to do with shooting a gun—well not the kind of gun that had bullets. Dalton Garner was way too good looking with his tanned skin, even white teeth, and precisely cut hair. Definitely swoon worthy. Most likely, every eligible woman in town had her eyes on him, which meant she didn’t stand a chance.
Great. Anna should be happy Dalton would end up with someone else since she really didn’t need a man to complicate her life, but damn, a little fling sure would help her forget all the bad things that had happened to her.
She and Jillian had lunch a few weeks back, and Anna had asked her if her brother dated a lot. To her surprise, Jillian said she didn’t know, but that she guessed he didn’t. He’d always been focused on work. At thirty-two, he wanted to move up in rank. While commendable, a person needed to take time to smell the proverbial roses.
“Let me see your grip,” Dalton said with a clear, professional tone.
His words brought her back to why she was there. Anna saw no reason not to learn from him. He was, after all, trained. She picked up the gun and adjusted her hands. When she raised her weapon, Dalton stepped behind her, slid his hands around her shoulders just like in her dream, and then cupped her hands. Instantly, her brain ceased to function at his touch. “This isn’t right?” she asked, not able to come up with anything else to say.
“It’s close. Move your right hand up as high as it can go.”
That required about a half-inch adjustment. “Like this?”
“Yes. Your left hand is there to keep the gun steady.”
She made the adjustment. “That does feel more secure.”
“Good. Now be sure to lock your wrists over center.” He moved her hands into position, and she had to admit the grip was more solid. He then nudged the back of her left foot forward with his toe. “Always stand square to the target.”
“One of the men here told me to use something called a Weaver stance.”
“That hinders your ability to move right and left with ease. If you need your gun in a hurry, you won’t be able to get into position quickly enough that way. Trust me; you’ll want to face the target.”
“Okay.”
Dalton stepped out of view. With her grip now correct, Anna raised her weapon to eye level and took aim. She held her breath, squeezed the handle tight, and then pulled the trigger. The recoil caused the gun to move, but not as much as usual.
“You hit the target. Good job,” Dalton said.
She set her gun down, twisted around, and lifted her ear protection off one ear. “Thanks. Care to show me what you can do? I learn better when I see someone else do it correctly.”
“Sure thing.”
Anna stepped back to give him room. He loaded his weapon then readjusted his ear protection. With the experience of someone who’d practiced a lot, he lifted his weapon in one smooth motion and let six bullets rip in rapid succession. Whoa. His broad shoulders and wide stance exuded power, and she wondered if his tiger helped guide his hand.
He pressed a button on the side of the lane to bring the target closer. One bullet hit on the edge and six others were dead in the middle. “I’m impressed,” she said.
Dalton slipped his gun back into his holster. “Thanks. I’ve sp
ent endless hours practicing.”
Precise. Determined. Ambitious. Just as Jillian had described. Ask him. “Does your other talent help you with your aim?”
Every muscle froze. “My other talent?”
She looked around, not sure if she should say anything in public, not that anyone could even hear their conversation. She hadn’t wanted to be the one to discuss his ability to shift just yet, thinking he’d bring it up. “Let’s just say you appear to be as tightly controlled as say a large cat.”
His beautiful cocoa-colored eyes turned a darker shade. “How do you—”
“James and I have had some interesting discussions.”
Now it was his turn to glance around. “Have you eaten?”
She hadn’t expected that question. “No, I came straight from therapy.”
“Do you like pizza?”
“Love it.” Oh my God. Was he actually going to ask her out on a date?
“Care to join me for dinner?”
“Sure.” Her body shook with excitement. As much as she wanted to study his eyes, she didn’t dare. Pretending he was hers, if only for an hour, would be good enough.
Chapter Three
‡
Dalton sat across from Anna at a table in the back of Nate’s Pizzeria, and the cozy setting caused conflicting emotions to bombard him. Anna was kind, accepting, and intensively hot. His inner tiger wanted to drag her into bed, but Dalton refused to consider it. While he wanted someone to share his life, his job was as dangerous as it came, and he refused to put Anna in anyone’s crosshairs again.
That’s an excuse, his tiger nudged. You’re just scared.
Fuck you. What he wouldn’t give to shut up his animal. Always pushing. Always horny. The tiger was way too needy, and that was not who Dalton Garner, the man, was.
Did he like the security of having a mate? Maybe, but Anna would never accept his way of life, nor would he ask her to.