LA Shifters: Shifter Romance

by Sky Winters

  “Pete is still here? My God, he must be ninety by now!”

  “Gotta be. Still the only cop in town.”

  “Wow. Well, thanks for the heads up. I’m going to head to bed now and I’ll see you in the morning before you leave.”

  “I think I’ll turn in too. I just wanted to make sure you were okay before I did.”

  “Thank you, Stephanie. Goodnight.”

  Stephanie said goodnight and made her way upstairs to the guest room across the hall from where Angelina’s father slept. He had moved up there after her mother died, into Angelina’s old room. He said it was less painful to sleep there than the bedroom he had shared with her mother for forty years. Angelina had moved into the master bedroom on her visits, finding a strange comfort that her father could not in being surrounded by her mother’s old things.

  The following morning, she climbed out of bed and showered before making her way to the kitchen to start breakfast. There wasn’t a lot to make it with. Groceries were very low. Hopefully, the truck wouldn’t be out of commission very long or she would have to get one of her cousins to take her into the nearest town to rent a car to get around in. It was tempting to do so anyway, but much more of an expense than she could afford with having given up her job to come take care of her father. His Alzheimer’s had gotten consistently worse and she felt it was time to be with him rather than leaving him to the care of strangers.

  She put on a fresh pot of coffee prior to scrambling the last of the eggs and country ham in the refrigerator. Popping some bread in to toast, she heard the sound so footsteps on the stairs and turned to see her father standing there in his pajamas still.

  “Rose! You look beautiful!”

  “No, Dad. It’s me, Stephanie.”

  “Stephanie? No, Stephanie left. She’s not here.”

  “Yes, Dad. Look at me. I’m Stephanie.”

  Her Dad puzzled at her face for a bit, shaking his head. There was no sign of recognition in his eyes as he looked at her solemnly before speaking again.

  “Stephanie left us. She didn’t like it here.”

  “Dad, that’s not true . . .,” she began to say, but he interrupted her with a wave of his hand.

  “Now, Rose. Don’t get upset. It happens with these kids. You know? They get sassy and think they need to get out and see someplace bigger, better. She’ll come home when she gets tired of the big city. Don’t you worry.”

  Angelina sighed and pulled the toast up, replacing it with two more pieces while she prepared him a plate and poured him some coffee. Sitting it in front of the chair he had always sat in, she watched as he quietly sat down to eat without another word. He looked so much older and more frail than the man he had once been. It was heartbreaking to see him like this and she had to hold back tears as she turned to fix a plate for Stephanie, who was coming down the stairs.

  “Oh, thank you. I’m sorry there aren’t more groceries in the house. I didn’t have a chance to go myself before you came. Do you want me to take you to get some things before I go since you didn’t make it last night?”

  “No. I’ll be fine. My Aunt Kay is coming later this morning to visit and said she would pick up some things for me and take me back into town if I needed more.”

  “Okay then.”

  Stephanie sat down at the table to eat and Angelina joined her once the last pieces of toast popped up. By the time they were finished, it was time for Stephanie to go. They said their goodbyes and Angelina watched her go, her father standing beside her as the woman pulled away from the driveway.

  “I’m going to miss her.”

  “Yeah? You liked Stephanie?”

  “Who? I’m talking about my daughter, Angelina. She’s leaving for New York to go to school.”

  “I see. I’m sure she will do well.”

  “Yes. She is quite a girl.”

  Angelina smiled at him softly and began clearing away the dishes into the dishwasher. The sound of her phone ringing stopped her.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, Angelina? This is Anson Hawthorne.”

  “Hey, there. Did you get the truck towed?”

  “Yes. Already had it up on the rack and looked it over. You’ll be happy enough to know it was nothing major. Looks like there was some trash in the tank that got gummed up in the carburetor. I got it all cleaned up and it’s back to purring like a kitten. Truck has been well maintained other than that.”

  “That is good news. When can I pick it up?”

  “It’s ready now.”

  “Already? That was fast. How much do I owe you?”

  “Nothing if you are still signed on for that dinner date.”

  “I’m afraid I can’t. My Aunt will be here in an hour to stay with Dad for a while so that I can try making it to the grocery store again, but I won’t have anyone to stay with him later.”

  “I tell you what. I’ll come pick you up on my bike and take you to lunch instead of dinner. You can pick up the truck afterward and stop by the grocery store before you go back.”

  “I don’t know about being on the back of a bike.”

  “Come on. Where is your sense of adventure? Besides, I’m an excellent driver . . . excellent driver.”

  “I hope your driving is better than your Rain Man impression.”

  “I thought my impression was pretty good.”

  “Keep your day job.”

  “Fair enough. So, pick you up in about an hour then?”

  “Sure. I appreciate your help.”

  “No problem at all.”

  Hanging up the phone, Angelina found that she felt more excited about the prospect of his picking her up for lunch than she should. The idea of being wrapped around him on the back of a bike seemed pretty enticing. She knew she should heed the warnings about him, but her mind just kept drifting into thoughts about what it might be like to kiss him. Shaking it off, she finished up the dishes and got ready for her lunch date. By the time she was done, someone was knocking on the front door.

  “I’ll get it, Rose.”

  Angelina watched as her father rose, still in his pajamas and head toward the front door. She addressed him as her mother would have.

  “Carl, you are still in your pajamas. You can’t answer the door like that. Go get changed and I’ll get it.”

  He stopped and looked at her, then down at himself. He laughed a little and Angelina felt a smile spread across her face as the sound. She hadn’t heard her father’s laugh for quite a while.

  “So, I am. Okay, Rose.”

  He headed to the master bedroom to change. Angelina had noted that while he would not sleep in there, he had left his clothes in the closet. Walking to the door, she opened it to find her Aunt Kay standing outside.

  “Angelina! It’s so good to see you!”

  “Good to see you too, Aunt Kay.”

  “How is my big brother doing today?”

  “You know. He is about the same. He thinks I am Mom and that Stephanie was me leaving for New York when she departed this morning.”

  “Bless his heart.”

  Pulling Angelina into a hug, she held onto her as if it might be their last. After a moment, she let go, addressing Carl as he reappeared from the bedroom. He was dressed in his best suit. It was only Tuesday. Obviously, he thought it was time for church.

  “Well, don’t you look dapper today, Carl.”

  “Of course I do. I’m a very handsome man, Kay.”

  Angelina looked at him strangely. He recognized his sister. She wondered if it was just a fluke or a moment of clarity. Taking a chance, she spoke to him.

  “The suit is very nice, but wouldn’t you be more comfortable in your jeans?”

  “Jeans? I can’t wear jeans to church, Rose!”

  Angelina sighed. She had hoped his recognition of Kay meant he might recognize her too, but that obviously wasn’t the case.

  “For heaven’s sake, Carl. It’s only Tuesday. You’ve gotten your days mixed up.”

  “Tuesday? Rea
lly? But Angelina left this morning and I had thought she told me she was leaving Sunday morning.”

  “A misunderstanding, perhaps. Now, why don’t you go change again?”

  “I guess I will. Seem to be losing track of my days. How odd.”

  The two women watched him solemnly as he made his way back to the bedroom to change. It was a dreadful disease to have, but just as awful for those who lost their loved one to the void that seemed to suck them in and hold them hostage. They were still watching him when there was another knock at the door.

  “Oh, Aunt Kay. Dad’s truck broke down on the way to the grocery store right now and the guy that fixed it is going to give me a lift into town to pick it up, so I won’t need your car. I’ll just get it and then get my shopping done. Do you mind if I stop for lunch while I’m out?”

  “No, not at all, hon. I’m in no hurry. Besides, it’s a beautiful day and your father seems to know who I am today. Since I will have the car, I may get him out for a breath of fresh air.”

  “Are you sure? You know how he gets in unfamiliar surroundings sometimes.”

  “Absolutely. I’ll stop by and pick up your cousin Reggie on the way in case there are any problems. Don’t you fret about it. Just take your time and do what you need to do.”

  There was another knock at the door and Angelina realized that she had completely forgotten it. Walking over, she pulled it open to find Anson standing there in a pair of jeans that fit in all the right places and a t-shirt covered with the same leather MC vest as last night. He looked even more gorgeous in the daylight.

  “Well, hello there. I thought you were going to leave me standing out on the porch.”

  “Sorry about that. My aunt just got there too and was trying to explain to her what I need to do.”

  “Ah, got it. You ready to go?”

  “Yes. Let me grab my jacket. I’m not as used to the wind blowing on me as you are, I’m sure.”

  “Probably a good idea then. It can sting a bit at times.”

  She followed him to the bike and climbed on the back behind him once he was situated. She put her hands on her legs, not really knowing what to do with them. He reached behind him and pulled them around his waist instead.

  “Hold on tight. I can’t have you falling off the back.”

  Seconds later, they were roaring down the highway toward town. It was both frightening and exhilarating. Angelina felt a surge of electricity at how tightly her body was pressed to his. The last thing she needed was to get involved with someone like him. Not only was he not her type at all, but he was a criminal to boot! Why did he have to be so damned attractive though?

  The bike roared to a stop outside a garage that was nowhere near town as she had expected. It was a large metal outbuilding next to what looked like an old hunting lodge. She had a vague recollection of it having been just that years ago. It seemed like her father used to come out here with his buddies during hunting season.

  “Is this the old hunting lodge?”

  “Yeah, I bought it from the old guy that ran it when I came here and built the garage to work on bikes and sometimes, cars and trucks.”

  “But the lodge is huge. You live in it alone?”

  “I live in a portion of it alone. There are additional rooms that some of the guys in the MC stay in, but they are separated from the main quarters where I live. It’s like my half of the lodge, a large common area where we have club gatherings and then rooms on the other end. Some of the guys live here and some just stay from time to time, usually if they are too drunk to make it home. Hell, come on and I’ll show you.”

  “That’s okay. I don’t want to take up too much of your time.”

  “Maybe I want you to take up my time. I did ask you to have lunch with me. I tell you what. Since we are here to get the truck anyway, I’ll just make you some lunch. I’m a pretty mean cook.”

  “I don’t know . . ..”

  “Come on, Angelina. I don’t bite. Well, not unless invited.”

  “You aren’t making a strong case for me to stay here for lunch with comments like that.”

  “I promise that I will be a perfect gentleman. Come on. Let me make you some lunch.”

  “Okay. Why not?”

  “That’s better! Let’s go inside. I’ll show you around the place first.”

  Angelina followed him to the lodge. She felt incredibly nervous about being alone with him, but she had come this far, so she might as well. To her surprise, he walked right in the front door without a key.

  “You don’t lock your door?”

  “No. The rooms lock individually if someone chooses to, but people come and go here constantly. No point in locking the door. It’s always occupied by enough people that most intruders wouldn’t want to tangle with.”

  “I see.”

  Angelina looked around the massive center room of the lodge. A lot of the original décor from when it was a hunting lodge was present. The huge fireplace and chimney in the center of the room were quiet in the warm months, but she was sure that it got well used in the cold ones. She was relieved when he led her to the large industrial kitchen previously run by the lodge’s small bar and grill rather than his private quarters.

  “Okay, let me fire up things in here and I’ll show you the rest of the place. It takes a bit for the grill to fire up.”

  He flipped a few switches and lights came on everywhere. After starting up the grill, he motioned for her to follow him. They made their way toward a back entrance to the kitchen and passed through a hallway to a room at the end. She noted that this time, he did use a key to gain entry. Walking inside, she found herself in a cozy living room with its own fireplace. It was decorated in much what you would expect from a bachelor, but still pretty decently.

  “There isn’t much to it really. This was where the previous owner lived. It’s just this room, a bedroom and a bath. There isn’t even a kitchen. I have to use the big one, which is somewhat of a pain when I’m just cooking for myself.”

  She followed as he walked toward the bedroom and flipped on the light. It was decorated much like the living room, in dark, earthy colors you would expect from a guy. She noted that the bed was a king size and found herself wondering how comfortable it might be to spend a night in. He walked inside and opened the bathroom door, revealing a large Jacuzzi style tub that also grabbed her attention.

  “It only had a shower when I came here. I replaced it with this Jacuzzi combo. Much better.”

  “I am sure it is.”

  Angelina smiled a bit awkwardly and stepped away from the door, not waiting for him as she returned to the living room. He followed behind her, leading her back out and into the kitchen.

  “The other end of the lodge is just set up like motel rooms really. There are a dozen single rooms and one large dorm style room down there, but we pulled out all the beds and turned it into a meeting room for the club.”

  Angelina watched as he pulled ingredients from a large stainless steel fridge and put them over on a work table nearby. He threw some slices of bacon on the grill and pulled thick pieces of bread from a bag nearby.

  “Turkey club okay?”

  “Sure, sounds good.”

  “Great. There are some chips over in the pantry if you want to grab us a bag. I pretty much like anything, so whatever you want is fine. It’s right over there by the walk in freezer.”

  “You actually keep enough food in here that you still use the walk in freezer?”

  “No, we use it for bodies.”

  Angelina stopped and looked at him, wide eyed. She knew he couldn’t be seriously telling her that, but she wasn’t quite sure it was entirely a joke either.

  “That’s not funny.”

  “The look on your face says it was.”

  He laughed and flipped the bacon. Angelina shook her head and went to the pantry to find some chips. She stood marveling at the selection. Most grocery stores didn’t have this many choices and it didn’t stop with just the chips. He ha
d all sorts of dry goods and snacks in there in bulk.

  “That is a lot of food!”

  “Oh, yeah. On weekends, we open up the bar and grill to the club and any guests, so we buy a lot of stuff in bulk with the MC account.”

  “Ah, that makes sense.”

  Angelina brought the bag of chips in her hands over to where he was putting the bread on the grill to toast it while the bacon finished. He looked at the bag and smiled.

  “You’re a woman after my own heart. Those are my favorite.”

  “Mine too.”

  “Alright. Let me put these together and we’ll go back to my place and eat. Otherwise, the guys are going to start waking up soon and overrun us. Bring the chips and grab what you want to drink out of the fridge over there. I’ve got some drinks at my place, but there is more to choose from in here.”

  Angela grabbed a bottle of ginger ale and the bag of chips while he scooped up the sandwiches and put them on a plate, killing the grill and motioning for her to follow him. Sitting the sandwiches on the small counter that held a sink situated to one side of the living room, he retrieved two tray tables and set them in front of the sofa.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t have a table in here. We could go out in the lobby if you prefer, but will be overrun with bikers very soon.”

  “This is fine. It’s cozy.”

  “Good. It will give us a chance to talk without interruption for a bit.”

  “Don’t you have a garage to run?”

  “Nah. It’s not open to the public. We mostly use it to fix our bikes and personal vehicles.”

  “So, your garage is not open to the public and you don’t rent out the lodge. You must be independently wealthy.”

  “Something like that. Let’s just say I have wise investments.”

  Angelina took a bite of her sandwich and looked at him. No doubt that his investments were anything but legal and her mind was running amuck with the possibilities of what they might entail. Obviously nothing that she needed or wanted to know about.