by Vella Day
“Small? You saw my place.”
Connor had the decency to smile. “You have a point.”
Deciding to unpack later, she followed him back through the living room into the kitchen. The rooms were open-concept, making them look large in the quaint home. Connor stepped over to the refrigerator and pulled it open. “I see my mom has been here.”
EmmaLee sidled next to him and peeked in. The fridge was stocked with eggs, milk, bread, cheese, and an assortment of fruit. “She bought all this? For me?”
Before he could comment, someone knocked on the door. When he didn’t tense, she figured he knew who it was.
“Must be my mom. She probably saw me drive in.” Connor opened the front door and once more EmmaLee followed him.
“Hey, Mom.” He kissed the older woman on the cheek then lifted something from her hands. “Come on in.”
As soon as his mother stepped in, Mrs. McKinnon’s gaze shot to her. “You must be EmmaLee.”
“I am.” She ran a hand over her mussed blonde hair. This was not how she’d expected to meet the family—tired looking and without makeup.
His mother was tall and trim, making EmmaLee wonder if shifters resembled their animal counterpart. Would werebears be quite large and dragons enormous? If she had been a shifter, she wondered what she’d have been. A fox perhaps? Assuming there was a blonde fox breed.
When his mom hugged her, EmmaLee tensed, mostly because she wasn’t used to affection. The aunt she lived with certainly never gave her much.
“Welcome to Silver Lake,” Mrs. McKinnon said.
“Thank you.”
“Is Dad home?” Connor asked, placing the casserole his mother had brought with her on the kitchen counter.
“He is.”
“Would you mind chatting with EmmaLee while I speak to him about something? I’ll only be a few minutes.”
This was totally uncharacteristic of him. He never trusted anyone before to watch over her.
“I’d be happy to.”
Since his mom was also a werewolf, she probably could defend both of them against Slater. As soon as Connor left, his mom faced her. “I’m so glad Connor was able to convince you to move here. I know how hard it must have been to leave your old life behind.”
She sounded like she believed EmmaLee would be here permanently. “I merely took a leave of absence. As soon as the man who attacked me is caught, I will return home.”
A dark shadow crossed her face but disappeared as quickly. “If Connor has anything to do with it, the man will be as good as gone. Have you two had lunch?” Her tone switched from proud yet serious to upbeat.
“No.” After they spoke with Drew, Connor had made her pack then rush out.
“Then how about some now? I made a casserole.”
EmmaLee was blown away by her kindness. “That would be great. What can I do to help?”
“Just rest. I’m not used to having Connor out of town for so long, and I miss doing nice things for him. My husband fusses too much to let me pamper him.”
She almost choked. In the last few days, after she started to feel like her old self again, she’d tried to cook for Connor, but he rarely let her, saying he was capable of taking care of himself. “He’s okay with that?”
His mom waved a hand. “No, but I try to do it anyway. If Finn—he’s my youngest son—weren’t so busy, I could dote on him. He and Connor are the last to find a mate, and I want to take advantage of them being single for as long as I can. I have Chelsea, who’s Finn’s twin, and she loves the attention. Even though my children are adults, and some are mated now, it fills my heart to take care of them in little ways.”
“It sounds like you have a wonderful family.” Vinea had mentioned how closely knit they were. Her friend had also commented how hard it had been for her to gain their acceptance. That wasn’t surprising, given she had been a goddess from the dark realm.
His mom smiled. “We do, and you? Do you have family in Georgia?”
A knife-like ache stabbed her. “Not any longer. Both my parents died fourteen years ago.” Or rather, they were murdered, but EmmaLee wasn’t ready to talk about that. The case had never been solved and most likely never would be.
“I’m sorry. Losing both must have been so hard.”
“It was.”
“Did you live with relatives then?”
“Yes.” At times, she’d believed it was worse than living on the streets and fending for herself.
*
“Do you have any idea where this Coghill fellow is?” Connor’s dad asked.
“No, and that worries me. The Billard police have no leads either. I doubt he’s left town for good. His things are still in his apartment.”
“As I told you before, we’re happy to have EmmaLee stay at the guesthouse, but wouldn’t you feel more comfortable if she stayed in the office safe room?”
“It’s occupied at the moment.”
His father padded over to the refrigerator. “I see. Will you join me for a beer?”
“Sure.” It didn’t matter it was only lunchtime.
His dad handed him a bottle and motioned they should sit at the table. “Tell me what’s really going on. What are you hiding?”
Connor debated not telling his dad the truth, but he needed the guidance. “I never could hide anything from you, could I? Okay, here it is: EmmaLee is my mate.”
His dad’s grin nearly touched his ears. “That’s fantastic, son. Then what’s the problem?” His eyes darkened, and his smile disappeared. “Doesn’t she want to mate with you?”
“I’ve not asked her. You must know how hard it is being around her now. Even if the safe room were unoccupied, if I put her there, I wouldn’t be able to get any work done. My wolf would go berserk if she were that close. Plus, EmmaLee doesn’t know she’s my mate.”
“Why not? When I first met your mom, I told her right away.”
“There’s a difference. Mom was a shifter; she would have already known she was your mate before you told her.” Connor had heard the story of their meeting many times. “Though if I recall, Mom told you to take a hike.”
Dad waved a hand. “She was playing hard to get.”
“EmmaLee is not that way. She likes me, but she’s cautious. It’s almost as if she thinks I might harm her.”
His father tipped back his beer. “She knows you’re a shifter, right?”
“Yes. She’s Vinea’s friend. Devon’s mate told her everything about our world and hers.”
“I don’t see the problem then.”
He didn’t need this pressure. Connor was under enough stress as it was. “Remember her ex-boyfriend beat her up, repeatedly. It’s why I’m protecting her.”
“Because of that you think she’s not ready to commit to a relationship?”
“Wouldn’t you be afraid?”
His father leaned back in his seat, twisting the beer bottle in his hands. “How well do you know her?”
“Just what I told you.”
His dad shook his head. “Son, if you plan to mate with her, you need to understand her.”
“I understand enough. She’s intelligent, inquisitive, and determined to get her master’s degree.”
“I’ll ask again. What’s the problem?”
“She’s obsessed with learning more about shifters—dragon shifters in particular.” He held his breath waiting to see if his all-knowing dad would shed some light on whether they existed.
“Dragons. Are you kidding me?”
Damn. “Yes. She’s convinced they are real.”
“Maybe they are.”
“Not you too!” Connor said. Was he the only skeptic?
“Listen. Figure out why she’s obsessed, and you might learn to understand her better. Communication is the key to a good relationship. Without it, life can be hard. This applies to everyone. Remember, EmmaLee isn’t a shifter, so she won’t get the signs like you do regarding being your mate. Be patient with her, son.”
His
father’s words resonated with him. “I’ll try.”
“Good, now what else can I do to help?”
“Make sure nothing happens to her while I’m at work.”
“Fine. How much freedom are you willing to give her?”
*
Just as his mother pulled the casserole from the oven, Connor returned, and relief shot through her. For the last few weeks, Connor hadn’t left her side, and EmmaLee hadn’t realized how much she’d grown accustomed to him being close by.
His mom gave Connor a knowing look. “Have a good talk with Dad?”
“Yes.”
She smiled. “Good. I’ll leave you two alone then. The casserole is done. Let it cool a bit and then you both can have some lunch.” Mrs. McKinnon squeezed EmmaLee’s shoulder. “If you need anything else, please stop by. And feel free to make the place your own.”
“Thank you.”
As soon as she left, Connor motioned they sit at the table. “I hope she didn’t grill you too much,” he said.
“No, she was amazingly sweet. You’re lucky to have a mom like that.”
“I am. Sorry I left you, but I wanted to speak with my dad and ask if he could watch you while I’m a work.”
Talk about bursting her bubble. Not that she expected Connor to stay with her, but—well, she hadn’t thought he’d keep her jailed in the guesthouse with a babysitter. She had hoped he’d wanted her to stay at his office. He’d told her it contained a safe room. “Am I allowed to leave here?” It was one of the draws of being one state away from Slater.
“If you remain in the compound, you should be safe.”
“You mean this gated community?”
“Yes. We call it a compound because everyone here is a shifter. You’ll be safe. Dad and Rye will make certain everyone is aware of what’s happened to you. I’ve asked my brother to circulate a photo of Slater so they can apprehend him if he shows up.”
Having everyone know what a sap she’d been would make her uncomfortable, but that couldn’t be helped. “Do you have to give them the sordid details?”
“They needed to know what they’re up against, which is that Slater Coghill is dangerous. That’s all.”
“Okay.” Having all those shifters look out for her did help calm her. “Who’s Rye?”
“He’s my older brother. He’s also our Clan’s Alpha.”
“Oh. Does that make you the Beta?”
His eyes widened. “You have been doing your homework, but no, the Beta is Kalan Murdoch. His father was the Beta before him.”
She needed to change a few things in her thesis. “Got it.”
“I know this won’t be easy for you, but give me a few days to figure out where it’s safe for you to go outside of the compound.”
That was all she could ask for. “Thanks.”
He sniffed. “This casserole smells amazing. Let’s eat. I’ve missed my mom’s cooking.”
She inhaled but couldn’t smell much. Then she remembered about a shifter’s acute sense of smell. Connor stepped over to the kitchen counter, picked up the potholders, and carried the dish to the table.
“What should I do?” she asked.
He returned to the kitchen and removed two plates from the cabinet. He handed her one. “Just help yourself.”
What she’d really like to do was help herself to him.
Chapter Four
‡
Connor was in a foul mood this morning. Not only had sleeping on a too-short sofa at the guesthouse put him in a foul mood, his wolf was panting, wanting to be near EmmaLee. Hell, he wanted to be near her too, but he had work to do. Knowing she would be safe should have helped him get back into the flow of things, but so far it hadn’t. Nothing short of mating with her would, and neither of them was ready for that.
Although his wolf and his cock would argue that fact, Connor had to control those emotions. Everything about her drew him in. She was smart, caring, honest, and that damn body of hers called to him. Cripes, if he didn’t get a grip, he would probably jump her at the first available opportunity. EmmaLee was torture on his libido.
He adjusted the hard-on in his jeans. Fabulous. By the end of the day my dick will look like I had a zipper tattooed onto it.
Before he’d even booted up his computer to begin work, a knock sounded on his office door, and Sam Pompley strolled in. “Hey, I heard you were back. How did things go?”
Connor looked up from his laptop. “We came back into town yesterday, and EmmaLee is settled in at my parents’ guesthouse. Of course, she balked at first about leaving Billard, but eventually she saw things my way.”
Sam laughed. “I’m anxious to meet her. She sounds a lot like Lexi—stubborn to a fault.”
“EmmaLee’s definitely an interesting woman, I’ll hand you that. I think she and Lexi will get along quite well.”
Sam nodded and then frowned. “Any leads on this Slater asshole?”
“Not yet. To be honest, I really don’t have the time or desire to chase all over the country looking for him. I’d say good riddance, but I couldn’t live with myself if I let my guard down and he came after EmmaLee. I have to make sure she stays safe.”
“Makes sense. What do you think of using Ronan?”
“Ronan?” Even though he was Sam’s mate’s brother, he lived in Vermont, not Tennessee.
“Why not? He’s a shifter bounty hunter. Being an independent contractor, he chooses his own clients and works where and when he wants.”
That made sense. “With Devon running the office in Pittsburg and not wanting to be away from Vinea for long stretches, Ronan would be a welcome addition. I’ll speak with Lexi to see whether she thinks he might help. Hopefully, he has the time and desire to lend a hand.”
Sam slipped down onto the chair across from him. “Do we know if Slater is a shifter? It might help us decide how to approach him.”
“Devon told me Vinea recognized a shifter scent from Slater when he was with EmmaLee.”
“EmmaLee doesn’t know?”
“No, and I didn’t let on. Strangely, Vinea didn’t say whether he was a bear, wolf, or tiger.”
“Didn’t say or wouldn’t say?”
Sam would always be leery of her. “I don’t know.” He stretched out his legs, looking like he had a lot to discuss. “I find it odd that Slater never revealed his shifter status to EmmaLee given she researches the paranormal.”
“He might have known what she researched, but maybe he didn’t trust her enough to let on he had an animal side. EmmaLee told me that she never told Slater that Vinea was a goddess either. Apparently, they both were good at keeping a secret.”
“Listen, if you want me to look into this guy I will.”
“I’ll let you know how you can help once I figure it out myself,” Connor said.
Sam nodded as he got up. “Sounds good. You know where to find me.”
As soon as Sam left, Connor’s dad’s words came back to him about needing to know EmmaLee better. Not that she was close-mouthed, but the few times he’d asked about her parents, all she’d said was that they were dead.
While Jackson was the best researcher of the bunch and could probably learn everything about her youth in a few hours, Connor needed to do the digging himself. If he could keep her past just between the two of them, all the better.
He had two main questions he wanted answers to. One was why would a beautiful, smart, charming woman end up in an abusive relationship? From experience, he’d learned that it often occurred as a result of previous abuse or a troubled childhood, and the mere thought had acid burning in his gut. If her father or some authority figure beat her self-confidence down, she would be headed for heartache.
The second question, and perhaps the more important of the two was, why was she so intent on researching dragon shifters? This was more than just hanging on to some childhood fascination, and he didn’t think it stemmed from her reading a lot of romance novels that glorified the mythical creatures. No, this came from som
ething deeper. But what?
She had revealed that she’d grown up in a small rural town south of Athens, Georgia called Dunlap Gorge. There might be something in that town or in their newspaper archives that would give him a clue.
Starting with something easy, he pulled up the property appraiser’s site and found the location of the Donovan’s home on River Bend Road. It had been purchased in the eighties for fifty thousand dollars. After checking whether the taxes had been paid, he found out they had been in arrears. The property then went into foreclosure, and the land sold, implying the house was no longer standing. With her roots gone, it was no wonder EmmaLee had moved away.
Before he let his emotions get the best of him, he located the local newspaper and searched information from fourteen years ago. It took him nearly three hours before he found what he was looking for. The headlines showed the Donovan’s home engulfed in flames. The article said the burn appeared to be arson. The parents, both of whom worked at the nearby university, were survived by their twelve-year old daughter EmmaLee, Mr. Donovan’s brother Robert, and his wife Kathy. Had she gone into foster care or had her aunt and uncle taken her in? He definitely needed to find that out.
Closing the lid to his computer, Connor leaned back and closed his eyes, almost feeling the heat of the fire and the pain it had caused. Before the fire, he wondered if she’d had a happy childhood or had it been bleak?
He sighed. There would be records from the Department of Children and Family Services placing her in someone’s care. While Connor had some talent when it came to research, he didn’t like to break any laws since he was a by-the-book type of guy. Jackson, on the other hand, didn’t seem to have a problem with it. That meant it was time to ask for his help.
Connor knocked then entered Jackson’s office. “Got a minute?”
“Sure. Welcome back, by the way.” Jackson dragged a gaze down Connor’s face. “What happened to you? You look like shit. Didn’t you sleep in the last couple of weeks?” He smiled. “It’s EmmaLee, isn’t it? She kept you up all night.” Jackson wiggled his eyebrows at him.
Damn him. “No jackass. Get your mind out of the gutter. We drove here yesterday, and the traffic made it stressful.” A total lie, but he wasn’t going to explain that EmmaLee was his mate. It didn’t matter that Jackson was his best friend.