by E A Price
Their eyes met, and he felt something inside him twang. Good lord, was that one of his rusty heartstrings?
“Perhaps…”
Her eyebrows arched expectantly. “Perhaps?”
“Perhaps we could go to dinner one night,” he rumbled.
“Dinner?” she murmured in frank surprise. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” he replied quickly - before the inner voice that always felt guilty for daring to have any fun could speak up. “Just the two of us.”
The most exquisite smile he’d ever seen blossomed over her lovely face. It almost left him speechless. Left him wondering why a creature like this would want to be with a man like him.
“Yes, I’d love that.”
Clay nodded partly relieved, and partly nervous.
Thirteen
Maris was virtually walking on air as she made her way through the apartment. Her feet barely touched the ground, or at least it felt that way until she stood on her cat’s tail and the beast screeched at her, shot into the kitchen and clambered onto the top of her cupboard.
Maris then spent a very unproductive hour trying to coax her down. But Fifi merely glared at her and occasionally spat at her. It was only when Maris promised to defrost and cook her some prawns that she deigned to get down. She flicked her tail haughtily and proceeded to scratch her claws over the new couch.
But even her moody feline roommate couldn’t diminish Maris’ excitement. She had a date and she wished she could shout it from the rooftop, except she wasn’t very good with heights and Clay would probably frown at her.
Her phone rang as she was digging through her freezer. Expecting her mother, she answered immediately – she was pretty much the only person who phoned her on a regular basis. Which was a little sad, but Maris wasn’t going to worry about that now.
“Hello, wonderful person!” she said brightly.
A low chuckle vibrated through her ears. “That’s a nice way to greet someone,” said the deep and somewhat smug voice.
Crap. It was also a voice she recognized.
“It’s Jason,” he said, confirming what she already feared.
“Umm, hello,” she said again.
She was wondering how on earth he got her phone number, and she thought of a brilliant way to find out the answer to that.
“How on earth did you get my phone number?” she asked, simply.
“A friend of a friend,” he said vaguely.
Maris rolled her eyes. “Look, Jason, it’s very late…”
It was half past nine, but she liked her sleep, and given that Fifi had a habit of jumping on her in the middle of the night and waking her up, she needed as much as she could get.
“What are you wearing?” he asked lowly.
“I’m hanging up now.”
She put the phone down and sighed. Yep, she knew he was a jerk the moment she saw him.
Maris shrugged. Didn’t matter she was too happy to care – because she had a date!
*
Clay looked up as Martha walked into his office. Her face scrunched in confusion, and she walked back out again. He watched in amusement as she walked back in again, still thoroughly confused. She was about to walk out again when he called, “What are you up to?”
She turned back and smiled impishly. “I’m sorry, I was just confused when I walked in here and found a man smiling at me. I didn’t think it could possibly be my grouchy brother, so I decided to check I was in the right office.”
“Oh, very funny,” he grumbled. “What do you want?”
Martha snickered. “That’s more like my brother.”
He rolled his eyes.
“Seriously though, it’s nice to see you looking a little more perky than usual.”
“You act like I’m always some kind of miserable grouch.”
Martha said nothing for a few moments. He was expecting her to chime in and say that wasn’t true, but she never did. Instead, she cleared her throat and said, “What has you looking so chipper anyway?”
“Nothing,” he said quickly.
Certainly not an upcoming date with a female. He was kind of ashamed at how much he was looking forward to it. He really shouldn’t be so excited, it had been a spur of the moment impulse, and now he was giddier than a rodent on Groundhog Day.
Martha gave him the same look she did when she knew he was lying. Like when he was thirteen and their dad wanted to know who put the dent in his new Porsche. Clay was doing batting practice just a little too close to the garage. Didn’t really matter that he denied it – their dad always blamed him even when he wasn’t guilty. His sister had always been Saint Martha as far as his family was concerned. Of course it didn’t hurt that she mated with the herd alpha when she was nineteen – she was always going to be their dad’s favorite for that.
“I ah, wanted to talk to you,” he said clearing his throat.
“Oh?”
Clay hesitated. His sister was always calm and patient, but then he had never really suggested that there was anything lacking in her behavior before.
“It’s about Marla and,” his breath hitched, “Maris.”
His sister gave him a look of interest.
“They are part of the herd, they deserve the same respect as any other herd member. I think it’s well overdue that they are treated that way. The other females treat them poorly.”
Martha stared at him for a couple of beats. He awaited her reaction, unsure what to expect.
“I think you are right,” she said finally.
“You do?”
Martha smiled sadly. “Don’t look so shocked. When my mate was alive I always tried to at least keep the herd cows civil, but since I lost him…” She sighed. “I fear I’ve allowed things to slide.”
Clay felt a twinge of guilt. His sister always tried to do her best, but losing a mate was hard - he knew that only too well from his own experience.
“Martha…”
She waved a hand and sniffed. “I’m fine, but you’re right, I’ve been far too lax. I should perhaps whip our cows into shape before they are Mira’s problem.”
Clay grunted. There was that – he wondered how the females of the herd would react to a human female alpha? Perhaps they were hoping they could do as they wished.
“It’s nice to see you in such a good mood anyway,” she said.
He grunted again.
Martha wrinkled her nose. “Is this to do with Bella?”
“Bella?” he repeated in surprise.
“Yes, she told me the two of you had plans for lunch, and she kept nudging me, suggesting there was more to it than a sandwich. I know the two of you used to date but…”
Clay snorted. “We have no plans.”
Bella had apparently taken his ‘maybe’ as a stepping-stone towards a marriage proposal.
Martha shrugged. “Well, perhaps you should think about it. You are allowed to be happy again you know.”
“So are you,” he retorted pointedly.
The sad smile returned and so did the twinge of guilt – oh, he was as sappy for his sister as their father had been.
“I’m sorry…”
“No, you’re quite right. It’s just hard…”
“Tell me about it,” he muttered. His eyes drifted to Crystal’s photo and he thought of Maris – beautiful, young Maris. Here he was planning a date with her, while Crystal…
Martha blew her nose noisily and glared at him. “You know I can’t even remember why I came in here now.” She shook her head. “It’ll come to me, I’ll see you later, little brother.”
He waved a goodbye and tapped his fingers on his desk. He was a large bull of a reindeer, and could be pretty dangerous when roused, when his family was in danger. He was second within the herd, with his nephew, Harlan, a close third. Though undoubtedly Harlan would become second soon enough when he settled a little - which was perhaps as it should be. Clay had fought away others to maintain his position, fighting dominance challenges to become his late br
other-in-law’s second and then his nephew’s second. But in spite of all of the males he had fought, all the challenges he had taken, he had never been so scared as he was at the prospect of his upcoming date with a leggy reindeer shifter.
Fourteen
Clay opened the door to the car for her, proffering a hand to help her out. Maris beamed at him.
“Such a gentleman.”
He coughed awkwardly, and laced his fingers with hers.
She looked at the restaurant and grinned. The place was fancy with a capital fance. It was just outside the city, and in a beautiful old, rustic building, surrounded by woodland. The restaurant was incredibly difficult to get a reservation. They also rented rooms that were infinitely expensive. Maris wondered whether Clay wanted them to get a room after dinner… she was a little disappointed as she realized he probably didn’t. Still, she was looking forward to their date. So far so good. She had chatted non-stop on the way there while he smiled and laughed at the things she said.
“I can’t wait to eat here; I’ve heard it’s amazing. George brought my mom here for their five year anniversary, though they didn’t get past their entrées.”
He had a cold and sneezed all over all the food – her mom had to take him home and nurse him for the next three days. She knew it wasn’t his fault, but Maris couldn’t help but think that it was such a George thing to do.
“You’ve never been here before?” asked Clay as they walked to the entrance.
“Well, once,” she admitted. “On a date.”
Clay harrumphed.
“He was a photographer from one of my shoots. He didn’t think he needed a reservation. He thought everyone knew who he was. I mean, he shoots shampoo campaigns, but he had this idea that he was like Andy Warhol or something. He spent half an hour yelling at the manager while I quietly slipped away and got a cab.”
Clay harrumphed again, though he was slightly mollified.
“I take it you come here often? On dates?” she teased.
“Not recently,” he grunted, “but I used to… ah...”
They stopped walking, and Maris gave him a sympathetic look. “You used to come here with your mate,” she said gently.
He nodded and grimaced. “I’m sorry.”
“Oh, Clay,” she murmured. “You don’t have to be sorry for that.”
He smiled slightly. “It’s been about twenty years since I was last here. The place has changed hands a couple of times since then.” He shook his head. “Twenty years – to think that long ago you were... ow! What was that for?” he demanded irately.
Yep, she pinched him.
Maris gave him a bored look. “I’m not interested in hearing your complaints that I’m too young for you, okay? I thought we were passed that. I’m nearly thirty.”
“You’ve got a few years to go on that yet – ow!”
Clay gave her a cross look as she snapped her fingers together.
“You looking for a third pinch, buddy?”
He chuckled. “Fine, I promise no more age talk.”
“Good. Now come on, I am famished!”
Maris started pulling him to the door. Like a true gentleman, he opened it for her, but before she could get through it, he dashed through and slammed it in her face.
*
“Clay, what a surprise!” trilled Bella walking towards him.
“Ah yes,” he muttered, wondering just how upset Maris was going to be when he tried to apologize for this.
“I’m just here with a friend.”
She took on a furtive look, and he took that to mean that she was there on a date, but didn’t want him to know. Huh. He actually did have something in common with her. Though, he suspected she didn’t want him to see her with someone because she was keeping her options open when it came to snaring her next mate. Clay didn’t want Bella to know he was there with Maris because he didn’t want it to be spread all over the herd tomorrow – like Maris needed Bella’s obnoxious friends calling her a gold digger.
“Well, don’t let me keep you.”
He started to leave, and she frowned. “Haven’t you just arrived?”
“Nope, just leaving,” he said, impatient to get back outside to Maris.
“Okay,” she said mildly relieved, “well, we should get together for dinner another night.”
“Yes,” he muttered absently. “Have a nice evening.”
He was through the door before she could nail him down to a time and place. He half expected to find Maris standing outside glaring at him, but no, she was gone. She wasn’t by his car and while he could scent her lingering smell – her sweet, sweet smell – the woman herself was gone.
Crap.
Fifteen
“You sure you don’t want a ride, baby?” asked the nasty male through the window of his car. The question was aimed directly at her legs.
“No thank you,” replied Maris.
He surely should be arrested for driving so slowly. Where was a cop when she needed one?
“It’s dangerous out here at night,” he leered.
“I’ll take my chances,” she said testily.
Maris believed it would be more dangerous in the car with a guy who looked to be half-octopus.
The male harrumphed, muttered a curse word and sped away. She wasn’t planning on walking all the way home – her heels were designer and pretty and would not stand up to the walk. She just wanted a little distance and then she would call a cab. Besides, the chill of the night air was cooling her embarrassment about what just happened.
Maris heard a car slow down and stop behind her. Great, another horny douche.
The door opened, and she turned around, ready to snarl at them, but it was Clay. As his warm, lovely masculine smell hit her, her ire dampened a little.
“Maris, please come and get in the car,” he implored as he walked towards her.
She folded her arms and pouted at him. “Really? You’re not going to slam the car door in my face?”
Pain and guilt warred with one another on his face. Though pain seemed to be the victor. “Maris, it’s not what you think.”
“I think you saw Bella and you were embarrassed, so you made sure she didn’t see you there at a romantic restaurant with me.”
“That’s not it,” he said softly.
Maris humphed.
“Please Maris, get in the car.”
“So why did you slam the door? If it’s not what I think,” she demanded.
“I didn’t want Bella to see you…”
Maris let out a snort and started to turn. Clay lunged forward and caught her arm. She turned and grunted at him as her inner reindeer chuffed angrily.
“I didn’t want her to see you and think you were a gold digger. I didn’t want her to think that you had moved onto me because you couldn’t have Branch.”
Maris stared at him for a few moments. “I don’t care what she thinks,” she said finally.
“Well I do,” he grumbled. “I don’t want her thinking the worst of you, or gossiping to others and telling them to think the worst.”
“They already do,” she muttered. “Besides, wouldn’t she have to find out eventually…”
She trailed off as he winced.
“Oh,” she breathed. “You weren’t planning on this going anywhere. You never thought you would have to tell anyone.”
“I like you, Maris…”
“Ah, jeez,” she snorted, shaking her arm free. “We haven’t had a single date yet, and you’re already giving me the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ speech. For the love of cream cheese, Clay! Why the hell did you invite me out on a date?!”
Clay clasped his fists in a futile gesture. “I don’t know. I just… I just like you,” he finished lamely.
“Ugh!”
“You’re so young.”
“I’m older than most of our herd are when they mate and have kids!” she fumed.
“Well, you were young when I first started this.”
“That wa
s just a kiss – and one that I initiated.”
Lord, they were just running around in circles. She thought things were finally changing, that they were finally getting somewhere, but no. They couldn’t seem to climb out of that damn rut that kept the two of them apart.
“I wanted that kiss, and you were only nineteen…”
“For heaven’s sake,” she snapped, “you have nothing to feel guilty about, Clay. Will you just get over yourself and…”
“I told Crystal I’d never mate another!” he blurted unhappily.
It was enough to knock the wind out of her sails. “Oh.”
He looked at her with a mixture of guilt and sadness. “When she was dying. We were hoping for a heart transplant, but it never came,” he said dully. “She told me she wanted me to find someone who makes me happy, and I told her I could never do that. I… I made a promise to her. I could barely breathe after I lost her. She was my everything.”
Maris reached out to touch him and thought better of it, letting her arm fall to her side with a soft thud. “I’m sorry, Clay.”
“I…”
“Clay, it’s okay, but yes, I would like a ride home, please.”
She got in the car, and they rode home in the most uncomfortable silence in the history of awkward silences.
Sixteen
Christmas came and went. Branch and Mira did not end up mating, though it was clear that they would one day – soon probably, given the heated looks that passed between them. It was a joyous time for most of the herd, though not all.
Clay could find little to be joyous about. He saw little of Maris over the remaining holiday season. Other members of the herd suspected she was off licking her wounds over losing Branch. If it weren’t for the fact that Martha was quick to shoot herd members down about that, Clay may very well have knocked out a few teeth during the festive period.
According to his sister, Martha had some big job to get to, which was why she hadn’t been around much, though he suspected she was trying her best to avoid him. Whenever he asked Martha, she just vaguely told him she was out of the country. He had tried calling Maris, had tried dropping by her place, but to no avail. He was starting to be a big yes in the stalker check box.