by Leela Ash
Except for the fact that he had made a move on her the night before. That kind of put a damper on the whole situation.
It wasn’t that she didn’t like Dean. She really, really did. The issue had more to do with her own insecurities. She was just a small town girl from California with no dad to speak of and a mother that seemed to care more about what she looked like than what she was doing with her life. The only support she’d ever had was from Leah. Otherwise, she was a self-made woman who had put herself through school and used old-fashioned hard work to achieve her goals.
She didn’t hold a candle, physically or otherwise, to women who were born with everything handed to them on a silver platter, or with women like Dean’s ex-wife, who seemed to be sticking it to him for all it was worth. She knew the divorce was hitting him hard, but fucking around with an intern wasn’t the way to cope with that. And she couldn’t play second-fiddle to a woman like Kiera. There was no way she would ever be able to compare.
“Good evening.”
The masculine rumble of Dean’s voice electrified Janie immediately, and she turned around to greet Dean, who looked tired, almost haggard.
“Are you all right?” she asked, frowning. “You don’t look like you feel very well.”
“It’s just been a long day,” Dean said, avoiding her gaze. “Come now. Let’s grab dinner before we meet up with those hooligans.”
Janie laughed but shook her head. “They’re not hooligans. They’re kids with nothing to lose who need something to look forward to. Let’s try to give them a chance, all right?”
Dean’s eyes were suddenly fixed on her, intense and dark, and Janie shifted under their scrutiny. He walked to the limousine and opened one of the doors for Janie to enter. She smiled gratefully at him before he joined her on the other side of the limo, let in by the chauffer. It was all very elegant, and Janie took in the experience in awe. There was a bucket of ice and champagne between them, but neither made any effort to break it out as the driver settled into his seat and began his trek beyond the limits of Stonybrooke and toward the city.
“I thought I would treat you to a five-star experience,” Dean said. “There aren’t many places in the world I love to eat, and you’ve already been to one of them. So I thought I’d take you to the other.”
“But they’re both so close to home,” Janie said, a little bit puzzled by the fact. Still, it was amusing, and Dean nodded.
“I am loyal to this place, for whatever reason. It’s where I’ve laid my roots and hope to stay for the rest of my life. There’s no reason why not.”
“Agreed,” Janie said.
They were quiet for a moment before Dean finally turned to her, his voice lowered.
“I’m sorry about last night. I shouldn’t have done that. I’ve got to admit, I’m in kind of a vulnerable place right now. The divorce has left me with a lot of things to deal with, and I guess, somehow, you make me feel…I just really love to be around you. And I don’t know why. But I shouldn’t have allowed that to interfere with our working relationship.”
Janie blushed. In a way, she had hoped he might try again, because after he left, all she could think about was feeling his hands roaming her body and succumbing to the power of his touch. It had been a long, sleepless night, haunted by possibilities and the memories of Dean’s body. But she had to control herself.
“I forgive you,” she said carefully, trying to figure out what to say to him. She had been burning to talk to him about their relationship; to maybe find some peace in the chaotic physical and emotional entanglement they were beginning to share. But if he was going to stick with an apology then there was no reason she should make herself vulnerable by talking too much about what she had wanted to do with him.
“It was harsh of me to accuse you of sleeping with your other interns. That wasn’t very professional. I can tell that things have been difficult for you lately…because of the divorce and all…and maybe it was a sore spot that I shouldn’t have ventured into.”
To Janie’s surprise, Dean laughed.
“How are you supposed to know what I do in my spare time? Of course it would make sense for you to come to that conclusion. I’m honestly shocked at myself for my lack of restraint. And I want to assure you that it will never happen again.”
Janie opened her mouth to respond, but closed it again. It would never happen again? That was an oddly disappointing thing to say. What if she wanted it to happen? Maybe under different circumstances…like if they weren’t working together, perhaps. But she was exactly where she wanted to be, professionally anyway, and it was better to stick to the plan. Nothing could get in her way if she did that.
They finally pulled into the parking lot for the restaurant and Dean smiled at her.
“Let’s get in there,” Dean said, his eyes sparkling. “I’m starving.”
Janie’s heart thudded hard in her chest. It was going to be difficult to stop having feelings for Dean. That much was certain. But she was just going to have to try. After all, her career was at stake.
***
“Welcome!”
As soon as they walked into the restaurant, Dean and Janie was ushered swiftly away to an upstairs dining hall surrounded by huge windows that looked out over the beautiful lights of the city. There were only a few tables, spaced far apart from each other, and in the center was a baby grand piano with a woman sitting at the keys, playing a soft, pleasant melody.
“This place is incredible,” Janie breathed.
“I’m glad you think so,” Dean said, but for some reason, he looked agitated. He kept looking over his shoulder and frowning.
“What’s the matter?” Janie finally asked, after he’d done it for the fifth time after they sat down at their table.
“I smell bear shifters,” Dean said quietly. “I mean, we’re in the city, so it’s probably not a big deal…it’s just…”
Before Dean could finish his sentence, a terrifying growl escaped his lips as a loud group ascended the stairs toward them and sat down at a table on the other side of the room.
“What is it?” Janie whispered. But Dean didn’t seem to hear her. His eyes were locked on the other table, and Janie ventured a peek of her own. When she did, she gasped. It was Kiera, sitting amid a group of huge, broad men with thick hair and beards. They were all in dark brown business suits and talking loudly amongst themselves. It took a few moments before Kiera managed to look across the restaurant and catch Dean’s eye.
“Well hello there, pet,” Kiera said, standing from her seat and striding across the room. “And who might this be?”
A trail of large bearded men followed Kiera on her trek across the restaurant, and soon, the whole table was surrounded by Kiera and her crew.
“That’s none of your concern,” Dean answered, his voice still deep and growling. It was a sound that gave Janie goosebumps.
“Actually, I think it is. I wouldn’t want her putting her grubby little paws on anything that is rightfully mine.”
“Nothing in my possession is rightfully yours,” Dean snarled. “Except my contempt.”
“Oh, ouch!” Kiera said, and the men surrounding the table all burst out laughing. Why was it that bullies were always the same? Was there safety in numbers or something? Janie couldn’t tell.
“Get the hell away from this table,” Dean warned.
Janie was terrified of what might happen if they didn’t do as he instructed. Although he was getting up there in years, Dean was certainly well-muscled and spry. She had experienced that for herself, and it was a memory that she was all too fond of. Still, the idea of a brawl right there in the five-star restaurant seemed intimidating.
“We’re not going anywhere,” the biggest of the men said. He was standing close to Kiera and draped a thick arm over her shoulder possessively. “We’re going to stay here and honor our woman.”
“Your…what?”
Dean’s eyes quickly turned from angry, to confused, to furious all in a matter of
seconds.
“You heard him. She’s ours now. Finders keepers!”
“Yeah!”
“Get the hell out of here, man!”
“You heard them,” Kiera said, her eyes flashing maliciously. Janie had never hated anybody on first sight as much as she hated Kiera. It seemed like she didn’t have a nice bone in her body. “It’s probably better for you and your little friend here if you get lost. None of us are going to be able to eat in peace, you know. Somebody’s got to give.”
“Best get your asses moving then,” Dean said stubbornly. “Because we’re staying put. I’m not going to be scared off by some hairy group of rabble rousers and their whore.”
The group roared with anger and Dean jumped to his feet, snarling and baring his teeth at them all.
“Please, everybody just stop fighting,” Janie said, standing between Dean and the group of men. “It’s not going to solve-”
Suddenly, Janie was being pushed aside and she fell to the floor, smacking her head hard on the corner of one of the tables. She cried out in pain on impact and gripped the wound. It was bleeding pretty badly, and everybody froze in their places as if they could smell the blood.
“You should not have done that,” Dean said darkly, shifting into his wolf form and snarling menacingly. He lunged at the tallest of the bear shifters and tackled him to the ground before the man had a chance to change into his wolf form, nipping at the man’s face ferociously.
“Hey! No shifting in here! There are rules! This is a dining establishment!” a frantic waiter exclaimed suddenly, waving a dishtowel in the air as if that would be ammunition enough to break up the fight.
The men froze in place and began to snicker. Dean was the only one who had transformed into his wolf form. Everybody else still hadn’t had time to react.
“What happened to her?” the waiter exclaimed, gesturing wildly at Janie, who was sprawled out on the floor holding her head.
The men suddenly seemed released from the spell and all began to clamor at once.
“Enough, enough,” the waiter said. “Please, everybody just leave. We will forgive the offense this once, but if it happens again, you are all banned for life. Do you understand me?”
Dean flared his nostrils before shifting back into his human form. He scowled at Kiera across the room.
“You and that sorry group of misfits over there are going to regret what you’ve done. You hear me?”
“Mr. Resner, please! We’ve had enough of a scene here today. Now if you’ll please just get back into your limousine and come back once everybody has cooled off, I think that would be best.”
Dean said nothing, but picked Janie up and held her close to his chest before he strolled out of the restaurant without even bothering to dress himself. And how would he? The clothes he’d been wearing were in tatters on the floor. Who knew how he managed not to lose his wallet every time he got the urge to shapeshift?
“Are you all right?” Dean asked once he finally got Janie into the limo. He pulled out a pair of sweatpants from a small compartment she hadn’t noticed and slipped them on over his impressive body. She blushed.
All eyes had been on the world’s sexiest entrepreneur as he strolled carelessly out of the restaurant, naked and cradling her to his chest as if she were the most precious thing on earth. Her head was still bleeding, and Dean sighed heavily.
“I’ll be all right.”
“I don’t think we’ll be able to meet the team with you in this condition. Let me give them a call.”
Janie said nothing as Dean took out his cell phone and handed it to her. “I need you to put the number in if you know it.”
“Of course,” Janie said, closing her eyes to try to remember the phone number for the coach.
Finally, the line was ringing and she handed the phone over to Dean.
“Hi. This is Dean Resner. Yes. We were supposed to have a meeting today, but unfortunately, my colleague has been injured and we won’t be able to make it. But next week will be fine.”
Dean was quiet as the man on the other end of the line spoke. Finally, he took a deep breath and replied.
“I understand you’re disappointed, but the one thing kids like that need to understand more than anything else is that things, even though they don’t always go their way, are not worth giving up on. The good things are hardy and will make it through, and even when they don’t, they’re going to have to be. Because what comes of your life is up to you to decide, and if you make shitty choices that affect the rest of your life because you’re disappointed for about five seconds over something that turns out not to be so bad after all, then you’re the only one responsible for your fate. Now tell those kids I’ll be there next week, and if I’m not then you have my full permission to meet up with me in my office building. We can fly you in and everything.”
Janie listened in admiration as Dean quickly calmed the irate coach, who was trying to protect his kids from disappointment and heartbreak. But Dean seemed adamant on sending them a message of strength, even before meeting them, and Janie smiled. Whether he knew it or not, Dean was a great man. And she felt beyond honored to be with him in his limo, even if it meant her head hurt like hell.
***
Before long, the limo was pulling down a long, winding driveway that had been hidden by tall grass and thick, voluminous trees. The forest was so dense that it was almost impossible to see out the window, but Janie found it fascinating. She had grown up near beaches and palm trees. Being so suddenly immersed in a new type of forest, the wild kind, not the type cultivated and maintained around towns and city areas, was incredible.
“Thank you,” Dean said to the driver once the limo stopped. It took a few seconds for Janie to realize that this was where Dean lived, and he got out of the limo and offered his hand to her.
“I thought shifters didn’t thank people,” Janie said, getting out of the car slowly. She was still a bit dizzy from her wound, although Dean had quickly wetted a clean handkerchief and pressed it carefully against her forehead during the drive. Even though it hurt, the tenderness in his touch had left her feeling weak in a completely different way.
“We don’t thank people for doing things they want to do. But Joseph is my driver. He is doing this because it’s something he has to do to earn a living. I’m sure you know the difference.”
Janie was quiet, wondering to herself about the line of opening doors for customers to ensure further business versus opening the doors for an old friend. Maybe she would never understand the nuances of shifter culture.
The place was so thick with trees that it took Janie a few minutes before she realized that they were walking in the direction of a large house. It blended in perfectly with the trees, and it was the biggest place she had ever seen. It wasn’t like a typical mansion, the marble and polished kind that human billionaires liked to flaunt. It was a practical type of elegance that seemed to suit Dean and other shifters like him.
And it was private, that was the biggest thing. Nobody would have been able to find it on their own even if they had already been there once before. It was nice in a way, though it seemed lonely.
“Come in,” Dean said. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Janie climbed several stone steps to a vast porch, and followed Dean through large double doors made of thick cedarwood. She paused in the foyer, her body trembling as a cold draft struck her from inside.
“I said come in,” Dean’s insistent voice called. The foyer alone was already bigger than the apartment she’d lived in during college. What would be in store for her next if she followed Dean’s voice?
She crept through the open archway and into an elegant little room, presented with only a long, spiraling staircase and two options; a doorway leading left and a doorway leading right.
“I’m in here,” Dean said. She heard him begin to rummage through cupboards and cursing quietly to himself as he sought something that was eluding him. Finally, he sighed in satisfaction, a disem
bodied sound that immediately brought her mind to the other types of satisfaction he might receive, and called impatiently to her to come inside.
When she finally went through the doorway on the left, she gasped in shock. It was an elegant dining room, with a huge kitchen through a door in the back, and a huge washroom to the left. Dean emerged, holding gauze, a bottle of rubbing alcohol, and antibiotic ointment, and sat Janie down promptly in one of the beautiful wooden chairs. They looked hand-carved.
“Now this might sting,” Dean said, pouring the alcohol onto a white cloth and pressing it against Janie’s wound. She flinched away but Dean held it adamantly.
“Who were those people?” Janie asked miserably.
Dean sighed heavily. “Bear shifters. Like the guys I told you about when you first moved here. Things are getting pretty bad with them. There’s even a ban on pregnancy for shifter women.”
“What? Why?”
A ban on pregnancy? That just sounded ridiculous.
“The bear shifters, long ago during the wars, used to strike against the wolves by destroying the new prodigy. To be safe, it’s been advised that women avoid pregnancy. The bear shifters are gaining more power than ever before, and the elders fear the worst. Terrible things happen to the women and the men who impregnate them once the bear shifters get a hold of a pregnant woman, and the man who comes to save her.”
Janie felt an inexplicable chill down her spine, but Dean smiled comfortingly at her. “It’s all right. You’re safe with me now.”
He finished dressing her wounds, his broad chest bare and tantalizing after being pressed so protectively against it.
“There,” Dean said with a handsome smile. “All set.”
Janie’s heart fluttered despite herself and she swallowed hard.
“Come, let’s go to the living room. It’s more comfortable there.”