Reluctant Heat

by Jaden Sinclair

  “So what happened this time?” Adrian sounded like he was aggravated and he should be. If one of them got into it with Ben Fallen, then that meant his father was going to come knocking on their door with trouble. “Fox?”

  “Ben and a few of his buddies had Lindsey boxed in, pushing and kicking her around,” Ash answered.

  Fox closed his eyes and groaned softly. He didn’t want to hear the rest, even though he knew he couldn’t avoid it.

  “And?” Adrian demanded.

  “And nothing,” Fox snapped, picked his plate up and put it in the sink, keeping his back to the family.

  “He punched him in the nose and took off with Lindsey,” Ash finished.

  “Will you shut the hell up!” Fox snapped, slamming his fists on the counter.

  “Okay, breakfast is over,” Adrian stated. Fox followed his brothers and pushed away from the table. “Sit down.” Fox turned and went back to his seat, sitting down, averting his eyes from his father. “You said you didn’t have feelings for her. That was the only reason I let her spend so much time around here over the years.”

  “I don’t.”

  “Fox, I see it. Something happened. What changed?”

  Fox glanced at his father. What the hell should he tell him? No, I don’t have feelings for her, but I kissed her and liked it. Liked it a whole hell of a lot!

  Adrian Laswell was still a very good looking guy. Not one speck of gray touched his golden head. In fact with sparkling blue eyes he still looked like a man in his prime. At six-two, brick body and thicker arms now that he owned and worked the marina, his father was definitely a man that many didn’t want to mess with.

  “I’m waiting.”

  Fox leaned back in the chair and rubbed his face with both hands. “I saw Ben knock her down to the ground and, I don’t know, I saw red. When he kicked her I really lost it and hit him. I mean I wanted to kill him then. All my—” He met his father’s eyes.

  “Composure flew right out the door,” Adrian finished for him. “Been there, done that.”

  “Yeah, well it gets even better.”

  “Oh, I’m going to take a guess here and say he kissed her.” Skyler Laswell stood in the doorway of the kitchen, her arms crossed over her chest, her blue eyes sparkling in that motherly knowing way.

  Adrian looked from Skyler to Fox fast. “No you didn’t.” Fox didn’t deny it or look at his father. “Are you shitting me? You just said you didn’t have feelings for her!”

  “Adrian, chill,” Skyler said. “Fox, you’re not a little boy. You’re a grown man, but I will tell you this. To mess with a human could be a bit complicated. You have to be very sure about this, but you also have to do what feels right.”

  “That’s just it, Ma. I don’t know what feels right at the moment.”

  “What does your heart want?” she asked.

  “Don’t know about my heart, but my animal wants to go back and kiss her again.”

  “Shit,” Adrian groaned under his breath.

  “I also freaked out about kissing her and sort of left.” He lowered his head into his hands, fisting his hair, pulling on the strands. “I bet she thinks that I got all disgusted about kissing her.”

  “Why would she think that?” Adrian asked.

  “She thinks no one is interested in her.” Fox looked up at his father. “She was depressed over never having been kissed.”

  “And then you went and kissed her.” Adrian nodded before looking at Skyler. “And he was supposed to be the one we didn’t have to worry about.”

  “Not the end of the world,” Skyler remarked.

  “Yeah, tell that to your brothers,” Adrian shot back before giving his full attention to Fox. “You need to talk to her. Don’t make her think or feel like shit because you,” he pointed a finger at him, “kissed her.”

  “Dad I had to force myself to walk away.” Fox had to get it off his shoulders. True, both of his uncles were mated to humans and both of his cousins as well. And it was important as hell to keep what they were a secret, but it didn’t do shit to still the want he was feeling. Besides, Lindsey knew what they were, had known for a very long time now. “I wanted nothing more than to go back there and do a hell of a lot more than just kiss her.” His stomach tightened when he saw the exchanged looks between his parents. “What?”

  Skyler came over to the table and sat down. She kept glancing at his father, which made Fox very nervous.

  “Will someone please tell me what’s going on?” he demanded.

  “Son, I don’t know how to really break this carefully, so I’m just going to come right out with it,” Adrian said. “Lindsey might be your mate.”

  “Come on.” Fox stood up with a short chuckle. “Don’t you think I’d know before now if she was my mate? I mean, she has been over here so much with Darian and Lyssa. I think I’m smart enough to pick up that.”

  “Sometimes it happens like this,” Skyler added. “Your cousin, Drake, didn’t know about Carrick until much later on.”

  Fox shook his head. “I’m sorry but Lindsey isn’t my mate.” He started to leave the room when Adrian called out to him.

  “Fox!” Fox didn’t stop because he’d heard enough.

  Okay, so he might have some feelings for Lindsey, but she for sure wasn’t his mate. He was a shifter. That meant he was going to mate with a shifter, not a human. That just wasn’t what was in his cards.

  But what if it was? “Shut up,” he growled to himself as he took the stairs two at time up towards his room. He needed to go to his boat and work. The master bedroom was just about finished and he needed to get the bed bolted down.

  One thing for sure, he needed to talk to Lindsey. He needed to let her know that just because he kissed her didn’t mean they couldn’t be friends any longer. They were still friends. Friends help out when needed. She wanted to know what a kiss was like, so he helped her out with it. That was it.

  Or was it?

  “I’ve never been more confused in my life as I am now,” he groaned, dropping face first onto his bed.

  Chapter Two

  Lindsey slammed the phone down, ran a hand through her hair, and finally let the scream out that she’d been holding since her boss called her.

  Fired! She was fired from her job, thanks to Ben Fallen’s damn father. She needed to work since she could never count on any help from her father—she needed that damned job! She only worked part time for Jewels, now she was going to have to see about getting more hours to cover the bills her father left her to pay. Great!

  Taking a deep breath, she picked up the trash that she was starting to take out and stormed to the back door. What was she going to do now? She had no idea where her father was or when he might come back.

  She shoved the trash in the can, glanced up, and froze. Fox was heading her way in his truck. Her mouth went dry, her heart began to pound, and her lips tingled with memories of the kiss he gave her. But as much as she might want to experience it again, the last thing she wanted right now was to face him.

  With as much dignity as she could muster, which wasn’t a lot, she turned and walked quickly back to the house. She wanted to run, but figured he’d see that.

  She just got into the house when he pulled up, and she was able to catch a glimpse of him getting out of the truck before the engine was completely turned off. Biting on her thumb nail she backed away from the door, only to jump and yelp when he banged on the front, not the back door.

  “Lindsey, open up.”

  She groaned, sighed, and went to the door, opening it a crack. “Now’s not a good time, Fox.”

  He pushed his way inside and though she tried, she couldn’t stop him. “I just heard about you losing your job.”

  “Good news gets around fast.” She didn’t bother keeping the sarcasm away.

  “Yeah, well Ben tends to brag about shit he’s done.” He looked around the front room before his blue eyes landed on her. Right off, Lindsey felt something different now when they were to
gether. Their friendship had changed, all because of a kiss. “I think we should talk.”

  Lindsey snorted and rolled her eyes, “I’m fine, Fox. It was just a kiss. Nothing more. I’m not expecting romantic diners and shit. I’m fine. Really.” She gave him a smile before heading into the kitchen. “We’re still friends.”

  She heard him exhale and had to bite the inside of her lip while she cleaned up her breakfast dishes. “I think I’m going to see if Jewels could use me full time now. It’s the only job I’ve got that Ben hasn’t screwed up for me.” She looked at him and thought her heart was going to break. Fox’s eyes changed...became darker. “Have you been to the club to see her? She’s a knockout.” That time she couldn’t keep the disappointment out of her voice.

  Fox’s eyes landed on her quickly and he frowned.

  She tried to smile but failed. “Guess I better change and get the uniform back to the café so I can get my last check.”

  She left him standing in the middle of her front room and went down the hall to her bedroom. Keeping it together was going to be harder than she thought. Closing the door, she leaned back and took several deep breaths.

  “I can do this,” she whispered to herself before pushing away and taking the red skirt and white top off.

  She changed quickly into a pair of jean shorts that were long to her thighs and a baggy t-shirt and sneakers. When she came out, Fox was sitting in a chair flipping through a magazine. He shut it when he saw her but he didn’t get up.

  “You really don’t want to work at the damn club more, do you?” he asked.

  “I don’t think I have anything to worry about,” she chuckled. “I could bartend. Hell, I’ve been making my father’s drinks for him for years.” She went over to the table, put her uniform down, and picked up her purse to see if she had cash for a cab. She didn’t hear Fox come up behind her, but felt him and shivers went up her spine.

  “I’ll take you to town.”

  “You don’t have to.” She shook her head, slipping some cash into her back pocket.

  “It’s the least I can do.” She looked up at him when he came around to the other side of the table. “Because I’m pretty sure Ben got you fired because I hit him.”

  She couldn’t argue with him there.

  He drove her to the café and waited with reluctance in the truck as she went inside to drop of her uniform. Her boss didn’t say anything to her, but she could tell by his body language and eyes that he didn’t like having to fire her.

  Lindsey was the one that always covered for everyone. She was told several times that she was one of the best employees he had and was thinking about promoting her to manager soon.

  Well that one went right out the door. Like the Laswells in town, the Fallens had pull, and this rug just got taken right out of from under her feet.

  “Well that was tense.” Lindsey sighed once she was back in the truck with Fox. She kept her eyes forward instead of looking at him. Once she did, she knew without a doubt that she was going to think about that kiss.

  “Just about like it is in here,” he mumbled.

  “Okay. I’m going to walk.” She grabbed the doorknob and almost had the door open when he grabbed hold of her wrist, stopping her.

  “I’m sorry,” he rushed out. “I’m not sure how to act around you right now.”

  “It was just a damn kiss, Fox. We’re not dating, and nothing is coming out of it. Forget it, I already have.” Liar! “I refuse to let something like that ruin my only friendship.”

  He took a deep breath, nodded his head, and let it out in a rush. “You’re right. It was just a kiss. We can still be friends.”

  She also nodded and smiled at him before she looked straight ahead at the bus station down the street. She saw a man, pointed and said, “Isn’t that your brother?”

  Fox turned in the seat and frowned, “Yeah. It’s Alex. Wonder what he’s doing here?”

  He started the truck up, put it in gear, and headed toward the bus station. Together they got out and Fox went up to him while Lindsey hung back, watching.

  “Hey what’s going on?” Fox asked Alex.

  Alex turned towards Fox. His brows were drawn together, as if he was uncomfortable there, waiting.

  “Meeting Dominic and Darian,” Alex answered. “They went on a small trip and she sort of made him take a bus here,” he finished with a snicker. “Our sister has him wrapped tight.” His eyes moved to Lindsey and he nodded. “How’s it going?”

  “Been better,” she answered.

  “Ben got her fired,” Fox said.

  “Man that family is a prick,” Alex growled.

  “You don’t have to tell me,” Lindsey said.

  Alex sighed. “Someone needs to do something about them, especially Ben.”

  “Well I’m going to talk to Jewels later on about more hours,” she said. “It’s the only job I’ve got that Ben can’t touch.”

  If Lindsey was reading him right, then she heard a slight sound of disappointment in Alex’s sigh, along with the look he gave her. She didn’t know the whole story between Alex and Jewels and really didn’t want to know. She did see the looks between them, but her own life was just too crazy to worry about anyone else right now. What she did know about Jewels was the basics.

  Jewels Stanton was thirteen when she came to Cape Cod to visit her father. Rumor had it that she never met the man before. Her mother just sort of shipped her off. And poor Jewels’ father didn’t seem to know what to do with a daughter. One night when the brothers were heading home, Alex spotted Jewels sitting alone outside the club crying. He was sixteen and took the little girl under his wing. Her father didn’t mind, but seemed relieved.

  It was the summer before Lindsey started to hang around Darian, so she didn’t get to meet the girl, but she’d heard enough. Jewels Stanton was scrawny, strange looking from what Ben snickered about in the café. But then again, Lindsey was learning when it came to Ben Fallen, everyone who didn’t worship his feet was either trash or freaks. In Lindsey’s case, she was both.

  By the way Alex’s attention drifted away from them across the street, Lindsey had a strong feeling that Jewels was coming around. Though Alex told everyone there was nothing there—that he didn’t have feelings for her—he looked like a lost puppy when she was close by.

  And there she was.

  Beautiful! Her hair was long, silky, and black, parted down the middle and trailing down to her waist line. She wasn’t very skinny, but she wasn’t overly fat like Lindsey thought of herself. She also dressed in a way that made everyone stop and stare, as they were doing at the moment.

  Jewels wore tight cutoff jeans, a tank top that looked like it was made out of a red bandanna and cowboy boots. A thick, silver belt wrapped around her waist and she even had her belly button pierced. She saw them, waved, and jogged across the street.

  Her face was heart shaped, her nose was straight, teeth very white. Her big, bright emerald eyes lit up the second they landed on Alex.

  She smiled big. “What’re you all doing here?”

  “Damn, Jewels!” Fox gasped with a silly smile on his face. Lindsey thought he looked like a school boy with his first crush and expected him to begin drooling any minute. “You look damn good.”

  Jewels gave him her full attention. “Why, thank you.”

  Alex’s face was slightly red. “Did you forget what clothes are?” he snapped.

  “What? Am I over dressed for summer?” Jewels winked. “Linds, girl, what’s shaking?”

  “Lost my other job,” Lindsey told her. “Ben Fallen got me fired.”

  “What a prick!”

  “Yeah, well don’t be surprised if he tries to get you to fire me also.”

  “Don’t worry about that. Momma’s boy won’t pull that shit with me, and if you need more hours let me know. You’ve seen my office.”

  “I don’t think Lindsey working more hours in your damn strip joint is good for her,” Alex said.

  “Oh get ove
r yourself, Alex.” Jewels rolled her eyes. “She isn’t showing ass and tits for Christ sakes, no one does.”

  “Oh, so you’re updating it then,” he smarted back. “Does that mean you’re going to be respectable now?”

  “Be careful,” she snapped, lowering her voice. “I might just take you off the VIP list.”

  Fox snickered at that, earning him a dirty look from Alex.

  The bus pulled in and all of them stopped talking to watch as it slowly turned into the drive, shut off, and unloaded the passengers.

  “That is the last time I ride a bus like that anywhere.” Lindsey heard Dominic’s distinct voice from the bus and smiled. She really did like him.

  “So you’ve said ten times now,” Darian said, stepping off the bus. She started to look behind her at him, but then her eyes landed on Lindsey. “Lindsey!” The bags in Darian’s hand dropped to the ground and she flew towards Lindsey.

  With a big smile on her face, Lindsey grabbed Darian in a tight hug. For a few tender moments things felt like they were back to normal, only they really weren’t. Darian was still married and only here for the short summer to help her father out at the marina.

  “Oh, I’ve missed you,” Darian stated, pulling back.

  “Things haven’t been the same around here without you.” Lindsey smiled back. “So, I hope the summer goes very slowly.”

  “Please don’t say that,” Dominic grumbled.

  “Well, I’ll see you all,” Jewels said, then looked at Lindsey. “Girl, come see me later and we’ll talk about more work.”

  “Will do,” Lindsey said.

  Lindsey noticed how all the guys watched Jewels walk away. Even Darian saw it and rolled her eyes with a smile at Lindsey. She helped get Darian’s and Dominic’s bags into the back of Alex’s truck, then stood off to the side while Darian spoke to Fox, and Dominic talked to Alex. With a few glances her way from Fox, Lindsey didn’t have a good feeling.

  “Everyone ready?” Alex finally asked.

  Darian gave Fox a shove with a smile and winked at Lindsey when she walked by, on her way to Alex’s truck.