Her scowl vanished and her mouth rounded into an O of shock—her eyes widening. She’d figured out exactly what he was as well.
This had just gone from shit to shittastic. She’d had a clear look at his face now, and if his image was being splashed around the shifter communities as he suspected it was, she would remember him.
Cold sweat broke out on the back of his neck. There was no going back now. When she walked out of here tonight, he was going with her.
Amping up his resolve, he forced another smile and continued his approach.
“This seat taken?” He gestured at the empty chair beside her.
She didn’t blink. Didn’t look away from him. “Yes.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
He paused a moment. Keep it charming, Larson. “By me?”
“No, and excuse me if I don’t say nice try.”
“Well, technically, you just did.”
Again she just stared at him, those big blue eyes full of wariness.
Knowing he wasn’t actually going to get an invitation, he grabbed the chair and sat down in it anyway.
Her mouth tightened. “Can I help you with something?”
“Aren’t you going to thank me for the drink?”
“No. In fact, let me give you back the two dollars you’ll have to pay.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Did you realize you were going to strike out with Esther and decide maybe someone closer to your age was a better bet anyway?”
“I wasn’t hitting on her.”
“Kind of looked like you were from where I sat. And you know what? That’s just weird.”
The unfamiliar sensation of heat stealing up his neck had his jaw clenching. What the hell? She’d looked so quiet. So docile.
“Why are you talking to me?”
“Why not? Do you have a jealous husband at home?” Or mate. He didn’t sense she was mated, though. Hmm, maybe the fact that she was a shifter as well could work out to his advantage.
“No.”
Bingo. He’d be willing to bet she lived alone too.
“What are you doing here?” Her hand clenched around the glass in her hand, and her gaze dipped to the table.
“I came to hear some music.”
“Not the bar. Here. Central California.” Her voice dropped half an octave so only he would hear it, and she glanced at him again. “If I’m not mistaken, you have Pacific Northwest pack written all over you.”
She was good. Smart. And direct as hell. This wasn’t boding well for him.
“Just passing through town. Sensed we had something in common and thought I’d have a drink with you.” All while spewing that bullshit, he kept his expression friendly. Or tried.
“Hmmph. And you know what? You smile weird. Almost as if you’ve never done it before or something. Like it hurts.”
Well it kind of did hurt keeping a smile up for this long. A surly frown tugged at his mouth, but he held it back.
“This next song goes out to Sage.”
Her gasp was nearly inaudible, as her head spun exorcist fast toward the stage.
“You look lovely tonight, my little sunflower.”
Nathan frowned. Sunflower? What the fuck?
“I can’t believe it.” Sage’s whisper drew Nathan’s attention away from the pretty boy musician on stage and back to the female shifter across from him.
“Believe what?”
“He’s never done that before. He’s never acknowledged me like this.”
Secret lovers or something? Irritation slid through him. That wouldn’t do.
“It’s you,” she continued, casting him a quick glance. “It’s you being here, talking to me. I think he got jealous. Oh, thank you so much. I don’t even know your name.”
“Stan.” The lie slid past his lips without a thought.
“Well, thank you, Stan. For the drink and for everything.” Her attention was once more on the stage. Her eyes glittered with adoration as she stared at the musician.
She had a crush on the guy, and big time. Which wasn’t good no matter how you looked at it. She was a shifter. Why was she looking outside her own kind? If he were her alpha he’d have pulled her aside a while ago and woken her ass up to reality.
But she wasn’t in his pack. Hell, she looked as if she preferred hanging solo and avoiding the pack. There was no one else around who had shifter blood that he could sense.
“He’s amazing…” Her whimsical sigh had Nathan glancing at the stage again.
The musician was nothing to write home about. Nice enough voice, maybe, but a little too pretty. Hair that could use a cut, a little on the skinny side, and just overall kind of tepid looking.
The words to the song registered. Something about a woman’s beauty being comparable to a sunrise over snow-capped mountains.
Barf.
And this Sage girl was eating it up. Every last note that came out of his mouth.
He leaned back in his chair and her gaze darted to him, flashing with panic.
“You’re not leaving, are you?”
Deciding to milk it a bit, he gave a small shrug. “Well, I was thinking about it, but if you’d rather I stay—”
“Please do. I don’t mind anymore…” She gave him a small grin. “You’re turning out to be good luck.”
She didn’t have a clue. Not a single fucking clue. Give it a few hours and she’d be eating those words.
Chapter Two
Was it weird there was some strange, larger-than-life shifter hanging out at her table? Meh, maybe a little bit, but Sage would’ve asked the headless horseman to join her if it got Leaf’s attention.
Leaf hadn’t been able to stop looking her way. For the first time ever, he seemed more than a little interested.
Her heart hadn’t stopped racing since he’d dedicated that song to her.
“So what’s this dude’s name?”
“What?” She cast Stan a glance, somewhat annoyed to be pulled from her thoughts. “Leaf.”
“Leaf? Like a leaf from a tree?” He scowled, which seemed to fit him much more than a smile.
“That’s awfully judgmental. Do you think of me as an herb?”
“What? No. Sage suits you. You look like a Sage.”
“Hmm. Okay.” Whatever that meant. Really, it would be nice if he’d just be quiet and keep making Leaf jealous. He’d be finishing up with his set in a few minutes, and then would likely come over.
Not that Stan wasn’t interesting. In fact, when he’d walked into the bar it was hard not to stare. He was attractive in that way some women loved. Dark features, tall, with big wide shoulders, and he radiated danger—even if he tried to hide it behind that constipated-looking smile.
She hadn’t even realized he was shifter until he’d been striding across the floor to her. But now there was no doubt that not only did he hold the same wolf gene she did, but was probably some kind of leader within his pack. If not their alpha. Clearly this was a man who was used to giving orders, not taking them.
That should’ve made her a little uneasy, but more so it just made her irritated. Being an alpha wasn’t enough to intimidate her. She was all too familiar with them.
Her opinion on alphas? They were just arrogant, bossy men with overblown egos. Sure, they were great leaders, but did that really cancel out the attitude that tended to go along with it?
Which is why you suck at being part of the pack, Sage.
She took another sip of seltzer and kept her attention on Leaf and his music. Which, surprisingly, wasn’t as easy to do with Stan beside her.
The realization irritated her a bit, but then she reminded herself that Stan had been monumental in getting Leaf to notice her.
From the corner of her eye, she snuck another glance at Stan. Something was off with him. Sure, on the surface most people would see him at face value. Casual. Relaxed. Not too exciting.
But she wasn’t most people. She wasn’t human, and her shif
ter blood allowed her to pick up on the telltale signs that he wasn’t as comfortable as he seemed.
There was too much tension in his body. And his eyes…they never stopped looking around the room. His breathing seemed almost measured, forced, as if he’d rather be anywhere but here.
And underneath it all, she sensed exhaustion.
So why was he here? She’d asked earlier and he’d given some bogus answer she didn’t buy for a minute.
The smattering of applause brought her attention back to the man on stage.
“Thank you, everyone.” Leaf set down his guitar and stood up. “I’m going to take a half-hour break, and then I’ll be back to play another set.”
All thoughts of Stan vanished again as Leaf made his way toward her table.
Her pulse quickened as disbelief soared through her. This was happening. This was really happening.
“Hello again, my little sunflower.” Leaf pulled a chair from a nearby table and turned it around, sitting backward on it. “Mind if I join you?”
“N-no of course not.” Oh God, she was stuttering. Were her cheeks pink? They felt warm.
Leaf gave a slow, knowing smile, and slid a gaze over her. His focus lingered on her chest area, and now she knew she was blushing.
The tank top was thin and showed off her full breasts more than she was used to. It had seemed like a good idea earlier tonight—when she’d wanted to look attractive for him. Now she had his attention, and it was almost leering, sending a wave of discomfort through her.
Shrug it off, Sage, you’ve been dreaming about this kind of attention from him for years now! Don’t get your panties in a bunch.
Leaf had always known who she was—their paths had crossed at more than just his concerts—but until tonight his interest in her romantically had been lukewarm at best.
“I don’t believe we’ve met.”
She blinked at his words, and then realized he wasn’t talking to her.
Crap. Stan. She’d forgotten all about him the minute Leaf had pulled up a chair.
“No. We haven’t.” Stan’s words were flat and held very little emotion. “I’m Stan. A friend of Sage’s just passing through town.”
A friend? Really? Well now that was certainly stretching it, but the moment she saw the flash of jealousy in Leaf’s eyes, she ran with it.
“College friend. He’ll be gone again soon, won’t you?”
She felt more than heard the rumbling in his chest as he laughed softly.
“Tonight, as a matter of fact.”
She cast him a hard glance from beneath her lashes. “I’ll be sorry to see you go.”
“Will you?” Amusement flashed in his green eyes as they held hers.
Not even a little bit. Arrogant asshole. What the hell did he want with her?
Leaf cleared his throat. “Sunflower, let me buy you a glass of wine?”
“She prefers seltzer water.”
Oh no way. Did he really just try and answer for her?
“Thank you, Leaf. I’d love a glass of red.”
The flicker of triumph in Leaf’s gaze before he left had her resisting the urge to roll her eyes. What was it about men and a little competition? Not that she was complaining, because it was somewhat of a novelty for her.
“So it’s not that you don’t drink, it just has to be the right guy offering?”
Stiffening at Stan’s soft words, she again looked up at him.
“Does it really matter? What is it you want from me, Stan? I’m still not all sure why you’ve come to sit with me in the first place.”
“You’re pretty.”
She didn’t hide her small snort of dismay. “Not pretty enough to be your type.”
His smile hardened not just on his mouth, but his eyes. “You have no idea what my type is, little sunflower.”
Anger rushed through her blood, and she clenched her fingers around the glass of seltzer water. He was mocking Leaf’s endearment. She’d never thought it a source of humor before, but the way he mimicked it made her realize it did sound a little silly.
“I honestly don’t give a rat’s ass what your type is, Stan. Trust me, I’m not it.”
Damn, she sounded like a whiny little girl. Why was she letting him get under her skin so easily? Even as the question lingered in her head, she knew it was because of his shifter blood. The territorial attitude some male shifters could show toward their female counterparts.
She wasn’t stupid. She knew any shifter with a penis got a little put out at the idea of their females flirting with humans. Tough. She wasn’t in this man’s pack and definitely not his responsibility.
“Maybe I’m not your cup of tea, but you should at least be seeking out your own kind, Sage.”
His deceptively soft words of warning had her mind screaming BINGO. She’d nailed it with the dating outside their species bit.
This man was so much like her brother it made her want to scream and dump her drink over his head.
“You really should run home to your own pack, Stan. You have no authority over me, and frankly, I’m not about to give much credence to your opinion anyway.”
Something flashed in his eyes. Something dark and urgent that made her realize his words might’ve been on her taste in men, but his mind had shifted somewhere else.
The hairs on the back of her neck lifted, and again instinct warned her this man wasn’t as innocuous as he tried to portray himself to be. He hadn’t randomly stumbled in here and decided to flirt with her.
“A glass of red.” Leaf returned, a cheerful smile on his face as he set the glass in front of her.
“Thank you.” Grateful for the distraction, she picked up the glass and took a sip.
Sitting down across from her—again backward in the chair, he murmured, “How did you like my set of songs tonight?”
“Your songs? Oh, they’re wonderful. They always are. You’re so talented, Leaf.” Was she gushing? She kind of felt like she was gushing.
“Thank you.” Leaf gave a solemn nod. “It’s my blessing, and my curse.”
“Really?”
Stan’s flat drawl had her shooting him a warning look. Okay, he could leave now. Anytime.
But Leaf was oblivious to Stan’s lightly veiled sarcasm and sighed.
“Yes. God has gifted me with the voice of an angel, and I’m compelled to travel and share that gift.” Taking a sip of his own drink, Leaf shrugged. “Unfortunately, the monetary reimbursements are not always adequate. But who am I to deny the people my talents.”
“That’s it.” Stan’s chair scraped sharply on the wooden floor. “I’m going to take a piss.”
Oh jeez, really? Sage closed her eyes briefly. She opened them again just in time to see disgust flash across Leaf’s face.
“He’s rather coarse, isn’t he?”
She chose her words carefully. “Just a little rough around the edges.”
“And you know him from school?”
“Yes.” At his skeptical look, she quickly changed the subject. “I love to watch you sing, Leaf. You’re so inspiring. I actually write better after I’ve seen you perform.”
Okay, that was a bit of a lie, but padding his ego wasn’t all together awful, was it?
The look of distaste became one of preening. “I do have the tendency to inspire.”
Sage had to push aside the irritation that, just as every other time she’d seen him, he didn’t even acknowledge her writing.
Maybe he was intimidated by the fact she was successful at her career and probably made three times as much as him.
Not that he wasn’t successful, just on a different level. A smaller audience.
Her writing gave her a bit of anonymity and she didn’t tell all that many people who she was or what she did for a living. Sometimes their demeanor toward her would change. Often they’d make silly little comments about smutty books and she just didn’t want to deal.
But she’d told Leaf a few months ago, and he’d seemed unfazed. Mayb
e a little curious and he’d asked a few tawdry questions that she’d wished he hadn’t, but that kind of came with the territory.
She watched him pull out a small bag filled with what looked like tobacco and paper.
“I’m going to have a smoke outside. Care to join me, sunflower?”
“Oh. I don’t smoke.”
“I know you don’t.” He finished rolling his own cigarette and touched the top of her hand and met her gaze. “But I’d love your company.”
Oh. If she went outside, she suspected he’d be doing more than smoking.
What about Stan?
She blinked. Where had that come from? Stan? Stan? She didn’t even have any idea who Stan even was or what he wanted with her. What she did know was that this was her opportunity, and like hell was she going to blow it.
“Sure. I’ll join you.”
Chapter Three
Where the fuck had they gone?
Nathan stood in the middle of the bar and slid a glance around the interior.
But again the realization hit that Sage and Leaf were nowhere in sight.
He’d only been gone five minutes. Another glance at the table showed that her glass of wine was still there, and only half drunk.
But her sweater that had been hanging over the back of a chair was gone.
They’d gone outside. Shit.
He was out the door with more speed than he should’ve used, but his wolf was just beneath the surface and on the hunt.
Sage couldn’t leave here without him tonight. No way, no how. He needed her. Her shelter and her silence. Because once she saw his picture circulating—and it wouldn’t be long—she’d be singing like her lover boy.
A quick search of the perimeter turned up the pair at the end of the parking lot, just behind a series of large boulders.
Though the smell of cigarette smoke had helped lead him to them just as quickly.
He paused, taking a moment to observe the scene before him. He was far enough away that if he were human he wouldn’t have been able to see much. But his shifter senses gave him sharper vision—even with the darkness falling.
Leaf had Sage maneuvered against a boulder—his mouth was on hers and one of his hands hovered just above her breast.
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