by Vella Day
“Sure. How about Nate’s Pizzeria?”
She had been thinking more along the lines of the Lake Steakhouse, where the booths were more secluded and no one would rush them. However, with the way he came up with the pizza place so quickly, he must have a hankering for some. “Works for me.”
“How about I pick you up at seven? I’m in the middle of running down a clue or I’d come over now.”
“That’s okay. Seven is perfect.”
Once Kip disconnected, she started the car. With over an hour before their date, she had time to shower and change. It had been bad enough entering the Silver Lake Café smelling bad, and then having to order take-out because she didn’t want to offend anyone.
When she had returned to work with her meal in hand, she’d quickly donned one of the white lab coats she and Missy wore when giving facials. Even though she’d rinsed some of the spots from her pants, she hadn’t been able to remove all of the garbage stains. The whole event of running into the can and then tossing the container in the air still rattled her.
To save Kip the inconvenience of having to drive back to the Cove, she probably should have asked him to meet her at the restaurant, but she liked going together. It made for a more romantic date.
Two minutes later, she arrived at her house and rushed inside. She couldn’t wait to wash up, and even figured she had time to luxuriate under the warm water for a bit. After dumping her clothes in the laundry, she jumped in the shower and scrubbed every inch of her body.
After a wonderful fifteen-minute shower, she dried then went in search of the perfect outfit for tonight. She had put Kip through a lot recently, and she wanted to make it up to him. More than ever, she needed his guidance and wanted to show him just how much she cared for him.
Because he liked the pair of straight-legged jeans that had rips in the thighs, she chose them. She had to admit they looked really good with her short leather boots. To go with the sexy jeans, she slipped on a black camisole and then drew on a deep blue lacy top over it. When she’d worn this outfit a few months ago, Kip had said the top matched her eyes. Because the evening could turn chilly when they left the restaurant, she grabbed a sweater to take with her.
After she dabbed on some light makeup, she was ready. Because she’d had a good night’s sleep, she almost appeared refreshed. Too bad there wasn’t a makeup fix for her stomach. Every time she pictured that flying can and the possibility someone had seen her, acid would burn another hole in her gut.
Right on time, the bell rang, and she rushed to answer it. When she pulled open the door, she had to swallow her desire. Kip’s silky black hair was still wet and slicked back, but he had tied the longer hair in the back with a leather strap. His usual white shirt was replaced with a starched black button down one that gave him that devil-may-care attitude look. Hot and sexy didn’t come close to describing his appearance. The jeans and boots alone made her drool.
“Hey.” She smiled then did a second sweep of his body.
“Hey, yourself.” He stepped inside, leaned over, and kissed her. Sparks flew. As much as she wanted to have a repeat performance of the last time he stopped over, not only was she hungry, Teagan needed his opinion on what to do about the trashcan incident. Another such performance could end in disaster.
Regardless of her good intentions to stop, she indulged in his wonderful scent and luscious lips until her stomach grumbled, and she broke off the kiss. “Sorry about that.”
“Never be sorry to kiss me.”
“I meant for my stomach grumbling.”
He chuckled. “I figured.”
From the way his eyelids lowered and his mouth had parted, he was waiting for her to resume what was just started, but she had important matters to discuss. “Let me get my purse.”
Needing to put some distance between them, or take a chance on giving into her urges, Teagan dashed to the bedroom and grabbed her purse and sweater before returning to the living room. “All set.”
After locking up, she slid into the front seat of Kip’s truck.
He jammed the key into the ignition and fired up the engine. “I have to admit, I was surprised you called so soon after our discussion.”
She figured he would be. “I needed to talk to you.”
His jaw tightened. “About?”
“I had an incident today.”
He glanced over at her. “What kind of incident?” His voice had turned sharp and protective.
“Let me back up so you’ll understand why it happened.” She started by describing her conversation with Rosa. “She made me see that my visions can help people because I can warn them.”
His brows rose and the corner of his lip quirked up. “Haven’t I been telling you that all along?”
More guilt assaulted her. “Yes. You were right, but it was because I cared so much for you that I pulled away.”
His shoulders relaxed, but she didn’t miss the grunt. “So we’re good?”
“We’re good,” she said.
“This incident?” he asked as he turned onto the road and headed toward town. “Tell me about it.”
“I know I hurt you by not rushing over to the hospital after Randy was stabbed, and I wanted to make it up to you.”
He slowed, probably so he could take longer to shoot her a look of concern. “What did you do?”
“I haven’t done anything yet. I thought I’d get Ophelia’s opinion on how I could help. She seems to have a magic all of her own and knows things others don’t. Izzy swears by her as does Elana.”
“What did she say?” While his words came out even, she knew him well enough to tell he wasn’t pleased. He turned down Main Street and headed north toward the restaurant.
“She saw a black aura over the Wendayans, which isn’t surprising.” He nodded. “She also said we can’t change destiny but that if I use my powers for the good, the aura will lift.”
“That was a bit cryptic.”
“That’s what I thought, and when I asked her about it, she smiled and walked away.”
Kip searched for a parking spot on the street. Finding none, he slipped down the alley between the Pizzeria and the craft shop and parked in back. He then undid his seatbelt and twisted toward her. “You still haven’t told me what this incident was.”
“I’ll tell you when we get inside.”
Kip came over to her side and opened her door. She slipped out and just as she placed her hand in his warm palm, the light above the parking lot extinguished. For a few seconds, it was eerily dark behind the restaurant. Then the light blinked on.
He squeezed her hand. “Was it bad?”
She looked up at him. “Was what bad?”
“What happened?”
If anyone had seen her little demonstration, it would have been catastrophic. “I hope not. I kind of lost my temper and caused something to sail through the air.”
“Tea-gan.” He dragged out her name in a playful admonishing tone.
“No one saw me.”
They were almost to the sidewalk that led to the restaurant when a cool blast of air rushed up her shirt. She stopped. Not only didn’t she want to have this conversation in the alley, she was cold. “I need to go back to the truck. I left my sweater on the front seat.”
“I’ll get it. Wait here.”
As Kip jogged back toward the truck, she sauntered toward the rear parking lot, her arms crossed over her chest to prevent the chill from seeping through her lacy top. The light that had illuminated the alley extinguished once more and she halted, not wanting to step in one of the potholes littering the alleyway.
The truck door squeaked open. As it closed, someone clamped a hand over her mouth and around her waist, and every one of her senses shot to high alert. Adrenaline supercharged her fight instinct, and she kicked her assailant’s shin with the heel of her boot. He groaned, but didn’t let up the pressure one bit.
Because of the man’s hand over her mouth, her grunts came out muffled. She did, however, ma
nage to grip his wrists, but try as she may to pry open his fingers, he didn’t budge. She twisted and struggled to get out of the man’s grasp, but he tightened his hold with his other hand.
“You’re coming with me,” he said as he dragged her toward the sidewalk.
Not if she could help it.
Chapter Eight
‡
When the light went out in the back lot, Kip cursed. Adding to his frustration, he’d barely managed to thread the key in the lock and grab her sweater when he heard what sounded like a scuffle in the alley. As much as he feared using his powers in public, he had to make an exception. Teagan was out there.
“Teagan? Are you okay?”
When she didn’t answer him, his heart began to jackhammer in his chest. Needing to see what was happening, he raised his arm and sent enough current through the bulb to light it. Oh, shit. What he saw in the alley nearly stopped his heart.
He dropped the keys and her sweater and took off, envious of his shifter friends who could take the form of a wolf or a bear. Somehow, the wolves and bears had managed to hide their existence from the humans, but if Kip had been able to turn into a snarling wolf, this would have been the time to let out the secret.
The man holding Teagan captive looked behind him, as if he expected back up, and then returned his focus on dragging her toward the street.
“Lift your legs,” Kip shouted, as he continued to close the gap between them. He figured the more drag she placed on him the harder it would be to kidnap her.
Teagan did as Kip suggested, hitting his arms with her elbows and kicking him with her heels. The man let her go, and when she tumbled to the ground, Teagan let out a strangled cry. Kip didn’t think it was possible for his heart to squeeze any tighter.
Before her attacker reached the sidewalk, he raised his arm and shot out the strongest electric bolt he’d ever delivered, not caring if he fried the bastard or outright killed him. The man stutter-stepped, and then landed face down on the sidewalk.
When he didn’t move, reality slammed into him. There would be too many questions to answer if the man died. Oh, fuck. Get up!
Where was the man’s backup, and why wasn’t someone screaming for help? Hell, he was yards from the restaurant entrance.
As if the man heard him, he rose to his knees then stumbled to his feet. Seconds later he disappeared around the corner. As much as Kip wanted to capture and have him arrested, he needed to tend to Teagan first.
When he reached her, she was sitting on the ground, her breaths coming out too fast. He knelt in front of her and gathered her into his arms. “Did he hurt you?”
“Not really.” Her voice shook as she sucked in breaths of air. “I was so scared.”
For a horrifying second, he had feared the man might have been a Changeling and had stabbed her. “Let’s get you up. The ground’s cold.”
Just as Kip helped her stand, her legs gave way. Before she slid back to the ground, he lifted Teagan up into his arms in one fell swoop to carry her. “I’m taking you to the truck.”
“I’m good.” He didn’t believe her. Not only did her voice shake, she was shivering uncontrollably, and he doubted it was a result of the temperature.
“No, you aren’t fine.” Teagan always wanted to believe she was the strongest woman in the world, but she was vulnerable like everyone else.
As they neared the parking lot behind the restaurant, the overhead lights flickered again. Fuck. If the town had better maintenance, the potential kidnapper might not have tried to take her. From now on, he wouldn’t let Teagan out of his sight.
At the truck, he retrieved his keys and her sweater from the ground then helped her inside. Once seated behind the wheel he faced her. “I shouldn’t have left you alone back there.”
“It wasn’t your fault that I didn’t want to walk down that dark alley again.”
They didn’t need to be hashing out who was, or wasn’t at fault. “Did the man say anything?”
“Only that I was coming with him.”
“Did you feel a gun to your back or a knife?”
“No.”
That provided him with some solace. Kip started the engine.
She reached out and clasped his wrist. “Aren’t we going to eat?”
“How about we order something in?”
“Okay, but don’t we need to report the crime?” Once more her voice wavered.
Kip pulled out of the lot. “I’ll contact Kalan.” He pressed the button on his dash and requested the computer to call him.
Kalan picked up. “What’s up?”
“Teagan was attacked in the alleyway next to Nate’s Pizzeria.”
“Is she okay?”
“Just shaken,” he replied, and then gave him the details.
“Could it have been a Changeling?” Kalan asked.
Kip didn’t have the ability to sense a shifter. “It could have been.”
“How badly did you zap him?”
Kip had never tried to harm a human before, so unless he spoke with the person afterward, he couldn’t know for sure. “He stumbled then ran away.”
“That’s probably for the best. You take care of Teagan, and I’ll handle the aftermath. If he is a Changeling, he probably won’t go to the hospital. There would be too many questions he won’t want to admit to, such as what he was doing in the alley.”
“Appreciate it.”
“Did you get a look at him?” Kalan asked.
“No. The streetlight was off for much of it. He was taller than Teagan, and he wore a cap, so I couldn’t see his face.”
“That’s okay. If I learn anything, I’ll let you know. Keep an eye on her. Whoever wanted her might come back.”
His gut soured. “I will.” Kip ended the call.
“Thank you for calling him. I trust Kalan will do everything he can to find this man,” she said. She then planted a hand on her chest. “Oh, shit.”
Kip passed the sheriff’s department then slowed and parked. He needed to see Teagan’s features when she next spoke. He faced her. “Tell me.”
“Remember I said I had a little anger issue today and that something kind of flew in the air?”
He ground his teeth together. “Yes. Don’t tell me someone saw you.”
She shrugged. “I looked around right after it happened but didn’t anyone. It was possible someone did though. If so, I figured he’d think a gust of wind had picked up the can and smashed it into the side of the truck.”
“What? Okay, start from the beginning.”
She detailed how she’d been texting and ran into the trashcan and knocked it over. As she stepped back and threw up her arms in disgust, the can flew. “When I was picking up the trash, a young girl and then a man helped me.”
“That seems innocent enough, but it’s equally possible a Changeling spotted you—or worse, the man who helped was a Changeling. It could be the reason you were targeted tonight.”
She twisted toward him. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“I hope we’re wrong, but if he was one of them, we need to let Kalan find him.” Wanting to get her home to safety, he pulled back onto Main Street and headed toward the Cove.
“I have a ton of food at the house,” she said. “Why don’t I throw something together for dinner?”
He smiled for the first time since her attack. “That would be great.”
*
Teagan was working hard not to show how scared she really was. “You know what really sucks? I can’t tell when I might be in danger. My visions are always about others.”
Kip reached out and squeezed her hand. “You have enough rattling around in that pretty head of yours and don’t need to freak out when you see something. Be thankful that you were put here on earth to warn others.”
He’d told her that many times, but only now did she really believe him. “That’s probably true.”
When her house came into view, she blew out a breath, though she wasn’t naïve enough to beli
eve the danger was over. Kip parked and escorted her inside. Having him close helped reduce her worry.
“You want to take a shower or something?” he asked.
That was sweet of him to think about her comfort. “I’ll change at least. My butt’s still damp from landing in that stupid puddle. And these were my favorite jeans too. I hope I can get the stain out.”
“While you put on something comfy, I’ll fix us a drink.”
A hint of a smile drew up her lips. “Now you’re talkin’.”
When Kip stepped into the kitchen, she headed back to the bedroom. Because that odious man had pressed up against her, she stripped down to her underwear and tossed her clothes into the laundry basket. Teagan then tugged on a pair of black flannel pajama bottoms that were an old pair of yoga pants, a pair of warm socks, and a long-sleeve black T-shirt. They’d look like twins, but right now she was only thinking about being comfortable.
When she returned to the living room, Kip was stretched out on the sofa with two glasses of red wine in front of him. He looked so fucking good that she wanted to delve into his hot body and forget about her near catastrophe. She didn’t even want to think about what might have happened if she’d driven herself to the restaurant and been attacked while she’d waited for Kip to arrive. She visibly shivered at that thought.
Kip jumped up. “You okay? He picked up her sweater she’d tossed on the back of the sofa and handed it to her. “Why don’t you put this on?”
“I’m good. I was just thinking how lucky I was to have had you close by when that man assaulted me.”
He hugged her and pressed his face against the top of her head. “Yeah, I’m glad I was there too.”
When he leaned back, all she could think about was having Kip Landon—again. How had she ever thought it would be better if she put distance between them? She wanted his strength, his kindness, and yes, she wanted his cock. “I want to forget everything that happened today.” Except talking with Ophelia, that is. “Do you think you can help me?”
Blue sparks shot from his body, and because she was pressed up against him, his desire was evident.
“I know I can help with that. Are you sure you’re up for the ride?”