The Call of Her Heart (Whiskey Springs Pack Book 2)

by Stella Night

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Amazon Links

  The Call of Her Heart

  (The Whiskey Springs Pack Book 2)

  by

  Stella Night

  Copyright 2017 STELLA NIGHT

  All Rights Reserved

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or person, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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  Enjoy!

  Chapter 1

  “I can’t stand to see her this way.”

  “We just have to give her time, Ella. That’s the only thing that will help.”

  Celia Masters could hear her brother and his wife whispering behind her, in the back of Old Masters Bookstore. She stood in the doorway leading to Main Street and gazed at the charred ruins of the Hungry Boar Restaurant.

  The beautiful early autumn day in Whiskey Springs, Texas should have filled her with joy, but deep sadness caused her shoulders to sag. She didn’t notice the birds singing or the children playing on the sidewalk. A few tourists filed by but she did not see them. All she saw was the burnt-out husk of the Hungry Boar looking like some dark imitation of Stonehenge.

  Eyes still on the blackened timbers of the restaurant, Celia spoke over her shoulder. “You two know I can hear you, right? Super wolfie hearing, remember? I’m fine. Stop worrying.”

  Ella Masters emerged from the back of the store, baby on her hip. She hugged Celia close with her free hand and said “It’s just that we care so much about you, sweetie.”

  Ella’s baby Eli cooed as he reached for his Aunt Celia. The sound tugged at her heart, bringing up a different sadness. A sadness for something she could never have.

  Still, Celia couldn’t help but smile as she reached for the little boy. She balanced him on her hip and looked from her brother Josh back to Ella. She glanced out the door again.

  Shaking her head, she said, “You two have better things to do than worry about me. Like taking this handsome guy for a walk.” She nuzzled the baby one more time before handing him back to Ella.

  “Josh, come take your son. Your sister and I need to talk.” Ella handed the baby to his father, then hooked her arm through Celia’s. They walked through the bookstore, then entered the kitchen situated behind the storeroom. Ella nudged Celia toward a chair, then sat across the table from her. “Okay, spill it.”

  Celia regarded her sister-in-law and thought about how lucky she and Josh were that this woman stumbled into Old Masters Books two and a half years ago. Ella was human but she took to the shifter lifestyle easily, and the pack had accepted her, for the most part, with open arms. Josh Masters gained a mate, sealing his position as Alpha, and Celia gained a sister and best friend.

  “It’s nothing,” Celia said. “I’m fine.” Ella tilted her head, her blue eyes steady as she met Celia’s eyes. Celia looked around the kitchen then her gaze came back to her sister-in-law. “Okay. I’m not fine. I don’t know what to do. I’m just sad all the time. I feel like I’m moving in slow motion or something.”

  “Oh honey! It’s only been three months and everyone grieves in their own way. We’re not trying to rush you or anything. I know that it’s difficult to lose someone you love.” Ella covered Celia’s hands with her own.

  Celia gently pulled her hands away. She walked over to the counter and leaned against it. “That’s just it. I wasn’t in love with Rick. I mean, I’m sad he’s gone - he was a good friend. It’s more that I feel, I don’t know, guilty.”

  Ella’s brow furrowed. “Why do you feel guilty?”

  “I feel guilty because I wasn’t in love with him.” Celia sat down again. “He was in love with me. He told me so all the time. I just didn’t feel the same way about him. I tried. Heaven knows, I tried. But I guess I was just happy with us being friends.” She sniffed as a tear rolled down her cheek. She reached up to brush it away.

  “You shouldn’t feel guilty about that.” Ella squeezed Celia’s hand.

  “I know, and I don’t feel guilty about that exactly.” Celia heaved a sigh. “I feel guilty because on the night of the fire, I finally told him I couldn’t see him anymore. So, instead of going out with me that night, he went home. And because of that, he died.” More tears flowed down her cheeks. “And if losing a friend hurts this badly I don’t ever want to fall in love. I don’t think I could stand the pain if I lost someone I was in love with.”

  Ella stood and put her arms around Celia. She rocked her back and forth gently. “It’s okay. Just let it out.”

  Celia sniffed and wiped away her tears. “This is all I’ve been thinking of for the past three months. If I had just gone out with him one more time, he would still be alive.”

  Ella paused for a moment then said, “Maybe and maybe not. But, you know, you will find someone who will change your mind about love.”

  Celia shook her head. “No, I don’t think I ever want to find someone. It’s all too confusing, too messy, too painful.”

  Ella sat down next to her sister-in-law. She reached up and brushed the hair out of Celia’s eyes and smiled at her. “Celia honey, what does your wolf say?”

  Celia barked a laugh. “That’s just it. My wolf never says anything.” She stood and emptied the coffee from her cup into the sink. “My wolf doesn’t communicate with me and I can’t shift. I’m a sad excuse for a shifter, especially since I’m the Alpha’s sister.”

  “But you have shifted— “

  “I know, I know. But the night you were in danger is the only time I’ve shifted. And I know that’s not unusual for women like me. Mrs. Gilbert and I have had long talks about it.

  Halfling women just aren’t always the same as halfling men, and certainly not like full blood shifters. I mean, my hearing is phenomenal. But everything else?” She waved the thought off with a flick of her hand. She chuckled nervously and brushed another tear away. “But none of that makes me feel better.” She turned and looked at her sister-in-law.

  Ella’s sapphire eyes were filled with sympathy. “Your brother and I are worried about you.” She stood and put her arm around Celia again. “Just let us know what we can do, and we will do it. We want you to be happy.”

  Celia returned the hug. “I appreciate that. And I promise, if I can think of something, you and Josh will be the first people to know.”

  “Why don’t we come up with something to keep you busy? Something that takes you away from the bookstore. And maybe puts you some place where you don’t have to see the wreckage of the restaurant every day.”


  Celia scanned her sister-in-law’s face. “Well, like what? And I know you and Josh need my help. I’d feel bad about leaving you to run the store all alone.”

  Ella laughed. “You and I both know Josh’s store is mainly for show. I can handle it.” She paused for a moment. “What about the day care center you mentioned? You’ve talked about having a place for the little ones so their mothers can run. You’d still be able to help out here part time if you wanted to.”

  Celia looked down at her boots, hesitant to meet Ella’s gaze. “Aw, that’s just a pipe dream. I don’t have the money to put something like that together.”

  “You will if your brother and I help you. And I’ll even help you find a place.”

  Celia’s mouth dropped open as she looked at her sister-in-law. “You would do that for me?”

  “Honey, I would do anything for you. You’re not just Josh’s sister, you’re mine too. And if having that will make you happy, well then, I want to help you get it. I’ll talk to Josh tonight. But right now, there is a little boy out there who needs a nap.”

  Arm in arm, the two women walked back to the store front. Celia smiled at the picture that her brother made. He was holding little Eli and pointing at different books. Their tawny heads were close together. Occasionally, the little boy would coo or giggle at something his father said.

  What I would give for my own little boy or girl? I guess some things just aren’t meant to be.

  When he heard the women approaching, Josh turned. His brown eyes scanned his sister’s face. Then he turned to his wife. Ella’s barely perceptible nod seemed to give him the answer he was looking for. He took his sister in his arms and kissed the top of her head. He gently pushed her away as he ruffled her hair.

  “Hey, I hear hard work is good for whatever ails your soul.” The dimples in Josh’s cheeks deepened with his smile.

  “Yeah? Who sold you that line of bullshit?” Celia laughed, then realized it had been months since she had done so. She took a deep breath and stood in the doorway, once more surveying the main street of Whiskey Springs.

  The crowd of tourists was lighter than it should be at this time of year, and the only place to eat now was the local Dairy Queen. It seemed that the Hungry Boar, the one real restaurant in town, used to draw a huge crowd. At first, crowds gathered as the death of the owners and their son had made the news statewide. But now, in the middle of what should have been Whiskey Springs’ busiest tourist season, crowds were sparse.

  Celia’s eye caught movement in the middle of the blackened ruins of the Hungry Boar.

  “What the holy hell?”

  She stormed out of the book store before Josh and Ella could stop her.

  Chapter 2

  Logan Nilsson held up a photo and compared it to the remaining shell of the building. With his stack of photos and pages of notes, he figured he would get a head start on his investigation.

  Luckily the weather had been hot and dry since the fire, so most of the evidence would still be intact. But in central Texas the weather could change at the drop of a hat. After checking into a hotel in Kerrville, he had come straight to the location of the fire intending to check in with Josh Masters later.

  Restaurant fires weren’t unusual. They happened all the time. But since three people died in this particular fire, everyone from the county fire marshal to the insurance company that covered the business wanted to make sure all the bases were covered. That’s where private arson investigators like Logan came in.

  He had read through the county fire marshal’s notes a couple of days ago. No one had actually used the word “arson,” opting instead for “suspicious circumstances”. Since coroners’ reports took an average of three to six months, he wouldn’t have access to that for a few more weeks. The fire marshal had assumed the fire was what killed the family, but Logan tried to not assume anything in this business.

  As he looked around, things began to pop out of the ashes at him. He started looking for more details than were visible in the photos.

  His gut instinct kicked in immediately. With a can of fluorescent orange paint, he began marking a few areas in what was left of the Hungry Boar. If he was right, a pattern would emerge and he could come to a definitive conclusion and head back home to Boerne in a day or two.

  Moving from the dining area to the kitchen, Logan made notes. Then he would make a check mark or an X with the spray paint. He would come back to those later for a more detailed investigation. After the kitchen, his plan was to move to the stairs and the living areas above the restaurant. Fortunately, the stairway was still intact and fairly safe, so he wouldn’t have any problems getting up there.

  In the kitchen, he continued to take notes and make his marks. As he concentrated, he became oblivious to everything around him.

  Until something hit him on the arm.

  “Hey!” a female voice called out.

  Logan grabbed his arm. “Ow! What the hell?”

  “Who the crap are you and what the crap are you doing here?”

  Logan turned, ready to take someone’s head off, only to have his mouth drop open in surprise. The woman standing in front of him was of medium height with an athletic build. Tight jeans hugged her long legs. A red tank top showed off her toned arms and full breasts. Her tawny hair was cut short but curled around her face, highlighting hazel eyes that were flashing bronze with anger. She curled her lip in a snarl as she repeated her question.

  He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think beyond the lust that kicked him in the gut. Seconds ticked by before he could form an intelligent answer. She raised an eyebrow at him as she leaned closer. “Well?” She was actually tapping her foot.

  “Logan Nilsson. Pleased to meet you, I think.” He shifted the clipboard and can of paint, then held out his hand. He waited for her to take it.

  The vixen before him seethed with anger. She looked at his hand for a full minute. Then she brought her gaze back up to his face. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  Logan dropped his hand. He reached into his pocket for a business card. He started to hand it to her. Deciding she would probably react the same way she reacted to the handshake, he stuffed it into his pocket. “I’m investigating the fire that took place here. And you are standing in my evidence.”

  Her fists were clenched at her sides. “The fire marshal already did all that. You’re trespassing.” She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. Her eyes began to glow with golden fire.

  Logan was mesmerized. He dropped his gaze and took a deep breath to steady himself. “I’m a private arson investigator. The insurance company hired me.”

  She took a step closer to him and raised up on her toes so that they were almost nose to nose. They were definitely chest to chest. Her breasts were soft against him. He dropped the clipboard between them to hide the bulge in his jeans.

  You’re on the job, dude!

  “I don’t care who you are or who sent you.” She poked him in the chest. “You’re still trespassing.”

  “Celia!”

  They both turned their heads at the shout. Logan hadn’t met the Alpha of Whiskey Springs yet, but he would have recognized him simply from the description provided by Jack Kincaid, Logan’s fire fighter buddy in Boerne.

  The woman huffed and turned to leave. As she passed Josh, he caught her arm and said something to her. Logan wasn’t close enough to hear what they said but he certainly understood the glare she shot at him. He watched as she jerked her arm away from Masters and stomped off.

  Josh dropped his head and shook it from side to side. He walked into what remained of the Hungry Boar and offered his hand to Logan. “Josh Masters. Nice to meet you. Jack said you would be here today. I see you’ve already started your investigation.”

  Logan accepted the Alpha’s hearty handshake with a smile. There was something familiar about the man’s face that Logan couldn’t quite put a finger on.

  “Nice to meet you too.”

  “And I
see you’ve already made one impression.” Josh grinned, then turned to watch the woman cross the road and disappear into one of the shops.

  “Yeah. She’s pretty but, damn, what a temper. She’d give anyone a run for his money.”

  Josh turned back to him and raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, she does. She’s my sister.”

  Logan felt his stomach drop. That was why Josh looked so familiar. He could see the resemblance now. “Oh man, I didn’t mean — “

  Josh chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. If I’d known she was coming out to scream at you, I would have stopped her.” He glanced back across the road, then turned to Logan again. “I apologize if she got out of hand. The Geralds’ son was her friend.” He glanced down for a moment. “Listen, I know you’re busy and I don’t want to keep you. I just wanted to invite you to dinner with me and my wife tomorrow night.

  “Home cooking?” At Josh’s nod, he smiled. “Well it sure as hell beats Dairy Queen. You bet!”

  “By the way, where are you staying?”

  Logan shook his head. “I knew there wasn’t a hotel in Whiskey Springs, so I booked a hotel in Kerrville but that’s an hour each way. Pretty sure that and the food situation are gonna get old real fast.”

  Josh clapped him on the shoulder. “Call and cancel your room. I’ve made arrangements for you to stay with Mrs. Gilbert. She has an apartment she rents out for short term stays. It’s all arranged.” He pointed down the road. “It’s three blocks down. You’ll know it when you see it. Here’s the address.” He handed Logan a slip of paper. “She’s expecting you tomorrow. I figured you wouldn’t be able to get out of the hotel room before then.”