Falling for Shifters: A Limited Edition Autumn Shifters Collection

by Lacey Carter Andersen

  "You have little else. I've searched through your cupboards. Don't you eat?"

  "Not really," Ben said. "Not here, anyway."

  "You go into town often?"

  "No, I... uh..." Ben scowled. She knew he was a shifter. He didn't need to hide it, but he still felt uncomfortable referring to himself as a cougar. He'd been taught as a young child to never speak to others about his abilities. Most of society didn't know about the supernatural. They lived in ignorance to those few people in their midst that were born or sometimes cursed with supernatural abilities. There were a few that knew who had made a vow to destroy all creatures that were not strictly human. Sort of like Grünwald's men.

  "Well?" Roxie prompted when he didn't finish his answer.

  He waved his hand, holding the beer toward the door. "I eat out there. In the wild."

  "You mean berries and... Oh." Her eyes widened as the realization of what he was referring to dawned. "I see," she said, then nodded and forced a shrugged like it didn't bother her that he ate the animals that the wilderness provided the cougar. "Well, fewer dishes that way."

  The corner of his mouth turned up into a hint of a smile. He could see the shock on her face. It didn't bother him that she found his diet unappetizing. It amused him how she tried to pretend it didn't make her queasy just thinking about it. Still, it was nice that she made the attempt.

  "I'm going to take a shower," he said, recognizing that he might still carry the odor of his night traversing the wilderness. "Do you need anything before I get in?"

  "Uh... No," she said, hesitantly.

  He paused, wondering if she'd change her mind. She hadn't sounded convincing.

  When she didn't add anything, he nodded. Setting the empty bottle on the counter, he left the room.

  As he undressed, he kept listening for sounds of movement in the other room. The walls in the cabin were thin. He should be able to hear her walking or doing... whatever. But he heard nothing. She must still be sitting on the sofa. He kept listening, even after he'd stepped into the shower stall.

  He closed his eyes, tilted his chin upward, and let the warm water cascade over his body. Thoughts of Roxie invaded his mind. Her blonde hair was long, reaching to the middle of her back. It had a soft, natural wave, so it wasn't exactly straight. She had warm, expressive amber eyes. They always seemed to smile.

  She was beautiful. More than beautiful. She was breathtaking. Tall, leggy and with curves in all the right places. Her rounded belly embellished her figure, reminding him of some fertility goddess in mythology. Instead of dampening his attraction, it only increased it.

  Aside from her obvious good looks, her personality intrigued him. She was no simpering damsel in distress. When he entered the cabin, instead of cowering in a closet thinking it might be bad guys approaching, she stood firm with weapon in hand to face them. Roxie wasn't one to back down from a challenge. He could see that clearly in her eyes.

  She had a gutsy attitude unlike a lot of women he'd known. He liked it. Hell, he more than liked it. He admired it.

  Perhaps instead of eating and sleeping outside as he had been, he’d stay closer to the cabin. That moment of worry he’d had earlier haunted him. It was unlikely Grünwald’s men would return here, but not impossible.

  His brother had brought her here to keep her safe. Ben would see to it that she remained that way.

  He tried to force thoughts of Roxie from his mind, but the more he tried, the stronger the images grew. His attraction to her was strong. Not instantaneous, but it was growing. Rapidly.

  He was keenly aware that it had been a long time since he'd had a woman. There wasn't a lot of social activity while he secluded himself on the mountain. Even those rare times when he ventured into town, he didn't go seeking the warmth of a woman's bed. He wanted more than that when the time came.

  Before his self-induced isolation, he'd been the unwanted guest of Hans Grünwald for several long months. Those months had changed him. Hardened him. Torture might do that to a guy.

  Ben was certainly not the same. He'd never been as reckless or carefree as his brother. Billy had always been the easy-going one. Easily approachable. In a crowd, Billy was the life of the party while Ben stayed along the outskirts, content to enjoy the peaceful tranquility of observation. Maybe that's why, after they escaped Grünwald's clutches, Billy sought sanctuary within the cities with the crowded lifestyle while Ben ran to the mountains, content with the solitude.

  And now, Roxanne had crashed into his peaceful existence, bringing her doe-like eyes and snarky tongue into his home.

  He needed to take care. She was Billy's woman.

  Ben needed to remember that.

  Chapter Five

  The next few days passed in a blur of boredom for Roxanne. She learned quickly that Benjamin Evans liked his routine and resented her intrusion.

  It started with supper that first night he'd come back to the cabin. After his shower, she'd taken some supplies that Billy thankfully had the foresight to bring along with them and cook a nice supper for two. There was no microwave. Roxanne was not one to cook often on the stove. Plus, the stove was propane, not electric. It didn't take her long to discover that cooking on a propane stove differed slightly from electric.

  She burnt the chicken.

  Ben was a man of few words. Instead of sentences, he used growls and grunts. She took their meaning full well.

  He didn't much like her. Or her cooking.

  That didn't bother Roxie.

  At first.

  He slept on the sofa, even though she insisted he take the bed. He didn't argue, just grabbed some blankets and without another word, stretched out on the sofa. When she woke the next morning, he was gone. She hadn't heard him leave.

  He returned a few hours later, knocking this time. He seemed distracted by her presence. Like he didn't know how to behave with her there. She didn't find it uncomfortable, merely amusing.

  By supper that next day, she began to suspect he was a man of routine. And she was a major disruption to that routine. He'd gone into the kitchen to cook their supper. She'd tried to help. It did not go well.

  After bumping into him a time or two, he'd gruffly asked her to wait in the living room until he finished cooking their food.

  And the days continued.

  Since there was no television and no cellphone reception, Roxanne had limited options of keeping busy. First, she cleaned. The cabin wasn't dirty, merely neglected. There was a layer of dust on the bookshelves and end tables. So, while he was out, she took it upon herself to dust. Then she took it a step further and began scrubbing the floors, washing the windows, airing out the rugs. She cleaned and cleaned until the cabin sparkled and the scent of lemons filled the air.

  When Ben returned home, knocking again to announce his presence, he promptly began sneezing when he entered. She found out the hard way that Ben was allergic to the scent of lemons. That’s why the cleaning spray she’d found was buried deep in the cupboards.

  After that, Roxie decided she needed to get out of the cabin for a while. Being cooped up inside wasn't healthy. The fresh air of the wilderness would do her good, so she decided to take a walk in the woods.

  She hadn't gone far when a cougar appeared, suddenly out of thin air. She'd stopped, recognizing it as the same one she'd seen the first day she'd arrived. Understanding it was Ben didn't make it easier. The sight of the animal was breathtaking. She'd never been so close to a wild animal such as this.

  The encounter wasn't pleasant, however. When she assumed he'd come to accompany her on her walk, a deep rumble growled low in his throat. The hair on the back on her neck rose. She'd backed away and returned to the cabin, vowing to never set foot outside again. Later, when Ben returned, in as few words as possible, he explained the forest was dangerous. She was not to go wandering off.

  Roxie ran out of things to do to keep her occupied, so one day she raided his bookshelf. The entire contents of his small library comprised nonfiction. Histo
ry, science and geography filled the shelves. None of that appealed to her. She wasn't an avid reader, but she read the occasional novel. A nice cozy mystery comforted her during sleepless nights.

  There was nothing like that here.

  After rearranging the books in alphabetical order to give herself something to do, Roxie chose a book on the history of pirates to fill the endless hours of waiting for Billy's return to rescue her.

  Ben did not look pleased when he returned that evening to see his shelf which had been organized by subject now rearranged alphabetically by author.

  "What else am I supposed to do?" Roxanne shouted, snapping the thick book on pirates closed. "I'm bored. There's nothing to do here."

  Ben continued staring at his bookshelf, hands on hips. The permanent frown on Ben's face tugged his lips downward.

  "You don't have television. There's no cell reception. I can't call anybody to talk. I can't go for a walk in the woods. You don't want me to clean. You don't like my cooking all that much. I am literally running out of options here. Please give me something." Roxanne leaned her elbow on the sofa, watching him.

  "What do you want?"

  "The keys to the pickup."

  Ben's head tilted in her direction, his gaze flashing to hers. The look on his face didn't need words. His expression said it clearly. Are you out of your mind?

  "I can go into town while you're out in the woods doing... whatever it is you do out there." She wiggled her hand at the door. "Come on, the least I could do is get a good book to read. Maybe an entire stack to last me through the winter. Plus, I'd like to check in with Billy. See how he's doing."

  Ben turned away, his gaze going back to the books as he considered her request. Or she thought he considered it. When he walked into the kitchen, he started preparing supper, not saying a word. She allowed him time until the silence stretched endlessly.

  Finally, she couldn't take it any longer.

  "Well?" She prompted, watching him slice a small block of cheese. She learned he didn't much appreciate her help in the kitchen, so she stayed seated on the sofa.

  "Well, what?"

  "Can I have the keys to the pickup?"

  "No."

  She frowned. "Why not?"

  "It's too dangerous. Billy wants you to stay here."

  "To hell with what Billy wants," Roxanne shouted. She pulled herself awkwardly from the sofa, clinging to her belly and a pillow. Once she stood, she threw the pillow onto the sofa, wishing it were Billy's head. "Billy has no authority over me. I'm here because I allowed him to bring me here. I don't have to stay. I'm not a prisoner."

  "No one said you were."

  "Then I can go into town whenever I want."

  Ben nodded, placing a piece of cheese into his mouth. "Yes."

  "Good," Roxanne said. She sighed with relief.

  "Without the pickup truck."

  "Oh, come on!" She picked up the pillow on the sofa only to throw it back down again.

  When she looked back at Ben, she thought she saw his lips curling into a shadow of a smile, but she could be mistaken. Maybe he grimaced because he didn't much like the cheese.

  "You can't keep me here," Roxanne said, huffing with fury. "I'll walk to town. Don't think I won't."

  "Go ahead," Ben said, waving the knife toward the door in between slicing the cheese. "I'm not stopping you."

  "I'm sure you wouldn't," Roxanne said. "You can't stand the sight of me. You'd be glad to get rid of me."

  His gaze flashed to hers. He frowned.

  "I know I'm an inconvenience," she continued. "I know I'm in your way. I've turned your cabin upside down, but I can't help it. I'm not used to all this... this... quiet!" She flung her arms up in exasperation. "I'm a city girl. I can't even get a good night's sleep because it’s too quiet! There's not enough noise. Not even smog. Even the air is too clean here."

  She was ranting now. She knew it. She felt it but couldn't stop it. Her anger and frustration were boiling. She'd held it back for days. Hell, she'd lost track of the days. How long had she been here? Two weeks? It might be a month for all she knew. There was no calendar on his kitchen wall filled with appointments and lists of things to do. And she'd stopped charging her cellphone since there was nothing more she could do with it other than play a game of hangman or tic-tac-toe.

  Ben set the knife on the kitchen table where he worked. "Is this a pregnancy-hormone thing?"

  He sounded innocent enough. There wasn't a hint of sarcasm in his deep, bassy voice. But that was enough to set Roxanne to steaming.

  "Ugh!" She cried out, slapping her hands on her thighs, wanting to punch something. Instead, she strode across the floor to the door, grabbed her winter jacket from a hook there and slipped it on.

  "Where are you going?"

  "To town," she snapped, flinging her hair out of the way, then zipped her jacket. "I'm finished here."

  She glanced at him once more before she left. He stared. She didn't even say goodbye as she strode out of the cabin, slamming the door behind her. The rush of cold air hit her squarely in the face, taking her breath away for a quick moment. The temperature did nothing to cool her frustration. She stepped off the small porch and onto the gravel of the driveway. Stomping, she headed for the dirt road leading to the cabin.

  As she walked, she noticed the sun had descended far lower than she'd at first surmised. The days were getting shorter. For all her willpower and determination, that small voice in the back of her head whispered reason, telling her this was a stupid idea. There was no way she was going to make it into town before full dark. And since she hadn't charged her phone in days, she had no light to see by. Even as she continued into the canopy of the forest, the light grew dimmer, the sun's rays having difficulty reaching through the autumn leaves that still clung to the trees.

  But she didn't stop. She kept going, walking on the road that would lead her to town. It was something to do, and she desperately needed something to do. Even if she knew she'd have to turn back eventually, she kept going. She didn't stop.

  It felt good to have a goal. She clung to the sensation for as long as she could, desperate for the feeling of normalcy. Of course, nothing felt normal. It hadn't for a long time. Not since the day Grünwald’s men abducted her from the parking lot of the bar where she worked as a part-time bartender.

  The muscles in her belly tightened as she walked, so she slowed her rapid pace. Sighing, guilt flooded her as she placed her hand over her growing belly.

  She was being selfish. She must remember she had another life to consider. A life she was responsible for, someone she needed to keep safe and protect.

  The baby was the only reason she agreed to let Billy drag her out here, to the middle of nowhere, to keep her safe. It wasn't much for her, but for the baby.

  And here she was, putting that baby at risk so she could let off some steam.

  The tears she'd been holding back for weeks finally let loose. They trickled down her cheeks, unchecked. She didn't sob, but she didn't stop them. She let them flow, feeling them turn to ice as soon as the brisk evening air touched them.

  A light flashed behind her, startling her. She spun, squinting to see headlights bouncing on the bumpy road, the outline of a pickup truck heading in her direction.

  There were no other roads that led to the cabin from where she stood. She didn't fear it was Grünwald's men come to find her. She knew it must be Ben.

  But, why?

  She stepped to the side of the road as she waited for the pickup truck to approach. It had grown darker since she'd left the cabin. The headlights illuminated the dirt road, making it clear to see. She hadn't realized how much her eyes had been straining in the dimming light.

  She stood on the passenger side, waiting for him. She held her breath, wondering if he might pass her, continue down the mountain without her, but she heard the squeal of rarely used breaks when he came to a stop beside her. The window slid down. The soft glow of the dashboard illuminated his face.
<
br />   "Get in."

  She didn't wait for another invitation. Walking this distance had depleted her energy. Although it had done nothing to dampen her frustration, she knew it would take too long to walk all those miles into town. She'd be stumbling in the dark for hours. What if she tripped on a rock and fell? She was pregnant. She had to be careful of such things.

  She settled herself inside the pickup, occupying herself with her seat belt for a moment as she adjusted it around her belly. Once she was settled, the pickup pulled forward.

  Neither said a word as they traveled down the mountain. Roxanne clung to the handle of the door as the vehicle bounced on the bumps and dips in the road.

  She wanted to apologize for her outburst, but the words refused to come. She wanted to ask him where they were going but was too afraid to hear his answer.

  So, she did what she was not good at and kept quiet.

  Eventually, they came to a fork in the road. Roxanne remembered it when Billy brought her here. Turning right would lead them into town, but Ben turned left instead. She glanced in his direction, but he didn't say a word. They traveled in silence for a few miles until he pulled into a clearing containing several cabins.

  "Where are we?" She couldn't keep quiet any longer.

  Ben pulled the pickup next to a jeep and parked, killing the engine.

  "These are friends," he said, looking at her. "People you can talk to."

  She saw something flicker across his face but didn't understand it. Was he insulted? Wounded? Hurt? None of that made sense. Surely, he didn't want her talking to him. He was never around to talk with, anyway. Every day, he left to go trampling through the woods doing who knows what. He never explained. Never told her what he was doing or why. He never even told her when he'd be back.

  "Come on," he said, nodding toward the cabin. "I'll introduce you."

  Chapter Six

  Travis Miller and his son, Rhody, were surprised to see Ben. The shocked expressions on their faces as they came to the door to greet him told him all he needed to know. It had been a long time since he'd traveled to their side of the mountain as a human.