She wasn’t lying, but she was certainly skimming the truth. He didn’t blame her; mental health issues carried such a stigma. He was just glad she’d found herself, and apparently happiness as well.
He wished happiness would come to him like that, out of the blue. In all his life, Riley could remember one year of perfect happiness. Once he’d left the boat and gone to college, life had never held the charm he remembered from his youth. He’d give anything for another year at sea on the Melody, swimming in the moonlight with Kai.
He smiled at the memory. He’d never even learned the young man’s last name. Still, he remembered the feel of the water, the reflection of the moon in Kai’s gleaming smile. As always, his heart contracted just a little. First love, and though he didn’t like to think about it, his only love. Odd for a man his age. He’d certainly put effort into romance.
In the corner, Genie inhaled deeply, abruptly; it was almost as though she’d been in a trance. Coco glanced in her direction and the women exchanged a smile.
“Anyhow, things are on track for me now. And Riley, I don’t think I’d have survived if it wasn’t for you. I just wanted to let you know you’re my hero. I won’t forget what you’ve done for me.” She rose, moved behind the desk, and he stood, enfolding her tiny form in his arms. She squeezed him tightly. “I’ll be around. If you need anything, please call me.” She stepped back from him and pulled a business card from her pocket. “I’m still practicing law, but our investor is more interested in doing good deeds. Since I’m not getting the big payouts like I used to, I’m working with Antonio on investigations as well. And I’m having a blast!”
He hugged her once again. “And you, Coco, if you need anything, you know where I am.” When she turned back to her friend, Riley caught a glimpse of tears in her eyes. And suddenly, he choked up as well. They hadn’t been close. It was difficult to be friends with someone as mad as she’d seemed, yet Coco had been part of his daily life. He’d kept her fed and housed and watched for her to come home after she’d been gone a while. Watching her leave with her boyfriend had been difficult. He hadn’t been expecting to see her again. He certainly hadn’t expected to see her sane and relatively normal!
Genie rose and Riley followed the women out into the shop. Kimber was on a ladder, draping netting around a new wall display. She’d mounted a vintage surfboard up high, where it dominated most of the wall space. She’d tacked up vintage photos of surfers from around the world. The board had belonged to his dad, and later, to Riley. It was a dinosaur, but that old board had been around the world more than once.
Genie and Coco glanced up at Kimber and looked away quickly. Suddenly, Riley found himself awash in magic. He shivered. The three women all exchanged smiles that looked suspiciously… clever. Dangerous.
“Hi, Coco. It was good to see you again.” Kimber wiggled her fingers and returned to her work.
He didn’t imagine the flare of the little blonde’s nostrils, as though she was scenting the air. “You too, Kimber. Don’t go falling off that ladder.” He got the impression Coco wouldn’t mind bumping into that ladder. Her mismatched eyes held a gleam of mischief. Funny thing was, they’d never seemed to take notice of each other when Coco was still hanging around. Something had changed.
Okay, so he wasn’t a half-believer, he was a whole believer, and something momentous had just taken place. He stood in the doorway, watching as Coco and Genie headed off down the street. When he could no longer see them, he gazed out at the ocean. As always, it called to him. It was a beautiful sight, white sand running down to the vivid blue water. Surfers and kite boarders battled for space on the waves, and tanned, toned bodies littered the beach. Far off in the distance, clouds were building on the horizon. Whitecaps were beginning to peak from the water like frothy-maned horses. He estimated another thirty minutes of sun then the rentals would start coming back in.
Far out in the deeper water, a single man rode a long board. He was too far for Riley to see well, but he was dark and graceful, and the wave grew disproportionately large. He held his breath as the rider came in closer. The wave broke and the man vanished.
Riley shivered again. Spooky day.
Chapter Two
He locked the shop door and stepped out into the storm. The wind caught his hair, so Riley scraped it back, pulling the top half into a ponytail. He cast a critical eye out to the ocean. This storm hadn’t shown up on the weather reports, but would most likely blow itself out without too much havoc. The breeze was warm and damp, and fine misty rain whirled through the air, caressing his cheeks. Days like this reminded him of other times and places. He took a deep breath and smiled. There was no point in grabbing an umbrella or covering his head. The wind made certain that he was damp from head to toe.
Riley started down the sidewalk; his condo was just a few blocks away from work. Over the past few years, his world had narrowed. Once his father passed, he’d taken the insurance money from the Melody and had taken over the shop, converting it from fishing and tackle to water sports and surf wear. It’d been years since he’d been sailing. He moved in a predictable pattern: from home to the beach, then on to work. Afterward, he’d hang at a local bar or go on a date with a pretty tourist. Then on home, or sometimes to a blanket somewhere on the beach.
Lately though, the girls had become women and the beach blankets had given way to upscale hotel rooms. Frankly, it surprised him that the women were still interested. He wouldn’t be seeing the sunny side of forty again. He wondered what they were looking for when they stared at him. Freedom? A carefree life in paradise? The idea made him smile; his life was pretty much without care. No one really cared for Dave Riley.
He hopped a curb and quickly crossed the street, catching the appreciative gaze of a pair of college-age girls. They smiled and paused to talk to him, but Riley kept walking. It wasn’t till he caught sight of the young surfer that he stopped. The man had blond hair kissed by the sun. His smiling face was unlined; his body was taut and muscular. When Riley stopped, the surfer stopped too. He stood, gazing at his reflection, watching it slowly age until middle-aged Riley looked back at him.
Shit.
He glanced around at the nearly empty street. There must be magic in the air. Either that, or Kimber had slipped something in his coffee.
A neon light flickered behind him and he turned, blinking in surprise. Had that bar been there before? The Final Cut was all weathered wood and neon on a street of plaster and palms. It was both quaint and upscale. He noted the businesses which surrounded it; he’d spent hours in the bookshop next door. The hair salon on the other side was familiar as well. Curious, he crossed the street, wetting his feet in shallow puddles. His deck shoes squeaked with water.
Under New Ownership.
Well damn. He’d seen this place before, but was certain it was in another part of town, not down here by his shop. He gripped the brass handle and pulled the door. It stuck for a moment and then gave way. The cool air escaped with a sigh, chilling his face.
He stepped in.
It wasn’t unusual in any way. There were a few televisions mounted on the walls, sporting events playing on them. Oddly, the patrons didn’t seem to be paying attention to the televisions. They sat at the tables in clusters, or occasionally alone. He actually heard the murmur of conversation over the volume of the TV sets. A parrot squawked. He glanced at the bar, seeing the colorful bird and a bald man the size of a wall. The big bald guy lounged at the bar, dwarfing the stool he sat on. He carefully watched the room through dark glasses. When he stared directly at Riley, the image of a massive bear formed in his imagination. His skin prickled and Riley moved further into the bar.
He took a chair at an empty table, picking up the menu and scanning the room over the edge of the laminated page. Everything appeared normal, but the atmosphere of the place made him a bit breathless. He glanced up as the waitress arrived at his table. He swallowed at the vision of beauty she made.
“I’ll have a Sierra…�
�
She set a napkin and a bottle of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale on his table and walked away.
“… uh… I’ll have that…” He turned in his seat, watching her disappear. He sighed deeply and lifted the bottle to his mouth.
From where he sat, he had a good view of the room as well as the doorway. He lingered over his beer, and just as he finished, the dark-haired waitress brought another. He made a point of looking up, and when he saw the lovely features, he coughed. She was a he -- and a lovely he at that! His shoulder length hair hung in a ponytail, and his pouty lips gleamed as though they’d been glossed. A short apron covered his shorts, and when he walked away, his ass swayed provocatively. Riley grinned. He was exactly his type of woman, but not at all his type of man.
It didn’t matter. He’d still leave a hefty tip.
Right as it registered that he was growing hungry, his sexbomb server brought a plate of sliders and another beer. Riley chuckled and started in on his food, watching the other patrons as he ate. There were a couple familiar faces here and there, but mostly, it just looked like a normal neighborhood bar. There was a beautiful woman in the corner, turning over cards in an elaborate tarot display. Her white clothing gleamed against her dark skin. A pair of rough looking men leaned over their table, talking quietly. At another table, a couple sat, clearly flirting. The man picked up the woman’s hand, running his lips over her wrist.
Vampires and shifters and Fae, oh my!
He laughed at himself. Okay, so Coco and her man were not your run of the mill people. Same for Genie, and even Kimber. But vamps? No way.
Nevertheless, he’d be getting out of this place before it got fully dark. Those two seemed hungry.
He finished his food and then gazed out the window facing the ocean. Sunset was rapidly approaching, and the water appeared grey and angry. In the distance, lightning forked through the sky. No doubt there were still a few die-hards out there, making the most of the weather. Once upon a time, he’d have been one of them.
He smiled, shook his head, and looked around for his server. It was time to go. To his surprise, the lovely creature was nowhere in sight. Odd, since he’d anticipated every one of Riley’s requests long before they came. He stood and dug out his wallet, pulling a pair of twenties out. Before the cash was out of his wallet, wind whipped through the room. He glanced up, expecting to see the front door open, but nobody was there. That’s when he remembered…
The bar had no windows.
He sat back down… hard.
Chapter Three
Laughter echoed through the room, piercing Riley’s abstraction. The air felt heavy and cool, as though the storm had come inside. Pressure built, and when he heard thunder rumble, he felt no surprise at all. He glanced from the closed door to the bar, and for the second time that night, he felt the floor fall away.
A man stood at the bar. He was wet as though he’d come in from the rain, but the rain wasn’t heavy enough to have drenched him so completely. His tank top and board shorts were wet, and his laughter boomed through the bar as he caught the towel the bartender tossed him. The wide shoulders and narrow hips belonged on an athlete. His bare legs were long and muscular; his skin was tanned and brown. When he turned, his profile was clearly Polynesian, with a strong nose and sensual lips.
Kai.
Riley’s cock was hard and aching. His heart constricted in his chest. For a moment, Riley worried about the sudden, clutching pain, and then realized it was simply the echo of old loss. Kai would be his age now, not a man in his twenties. And though the memory was foggy, he swore that his Kai was not quite human. He frowned. The memory was mostly constructed of emotion and sensation, the feel of warm water and a strong body suspending him. He remembered the scent of a rogue tropical storm and the taste of the young man’s kisses. For whatever reason, he also remembered wild, impossible details… a silvery green tail and a journey under the inky surface of the water.
Impossible. But whatever the case might be, the stranger wasn’t Kai. It couldn’t be. He frowned, calculating the years. Twenty? No, more than that. More like thirty. Kai was no doubt living in Hawaii now, watching his own kids or grandkids learn to surf. Or he was settled down with another man and living a mundane life somewhere. Yet Kai had been far from ordinary.
Standing, Riley dropped his cash on the table and headed for the door, doing his best to remain unnoticed. The bald bouncer tracked his movements and he felt even more hunted. He hit the swinging door and rushed out into the rapidly cooling evening. He tucked his hands into his pockets and headed toward home, and for the first time in his life, Dave Riley was frightened of the shadows.
* * *
Riley opted to skip his morning in the water. Once he arrived at the shop, the idea of hauling his board across the street and down to the beach simply seemed like too much of an effort. His knees ached and he was tired. Instead of surfing, he made coffee and went to the boathouse, gazing at the slip the Melody had once occupied. He’d redesigned the space so now smaller boats docked here. A couple boaters leased space from him; the others were rental boats.
Coco used to keep them cleaned for him. These days, he did it himself. Though he knew the boats were spotless, he got his supplies and went over them again, wiping down vinyl, making notes of needed repairs. When he finished, he sat in one of the seats, gazing down into the water as he’d done a million times before. Maybe one day he’d catch sight of a mermaid. Coco used to insist they talked to her.
After his night in the Final Cut, he might be more inclined to believe her. He’d retraced his route on the way to work, but the bar was no longer there.
Maybe it was early onset dementia. Maybe the too-beautiful server had spiked his drink with a Roofie. Or maybe the rumors that had filtered to him were true. Maybe there really was a paranormal bar in Miami. He got up and headed back into the store. Kimber was opening up, getting ready for the morning rush of renters. During high season, he brought in extra staff. Right now, they should be able to handle the traffic.
“Funny weather we’re having.” She shot him a sidelong glance. “Storms roll in, storms roll out.”
“That’s the way it is on the ocean.” He folded his arms, staring out at the sunny morning.
“Nothing on the radar about last night’s storm. I went online and checked. It was supposed to stay clear.”
He said nothing, remembering the lone surfer out in the storm. It was the sort of behavior that ended in death, but the adrenaline high that came with it… Riley remembered days when he’d done the same thing. Days and weeks and years when he sought to clear his memory of that single night and a storm that had risen unexpectedly, tearing him and Kai apart. He remembered being under the water… struggling, until his father had dragged him to the surface, choking and near dead.
He also remembered the sensation of a storm inside of the Final Cut, and the huge, wet man. Canals with boat slips ran behind many of the businesses in this district. In fact, Coco used to travel the canals on her paddleboard, rather than walk on the sidewalks. So maybe his stranger had been in the canal… Maybe he’d come in from the ocean on a surfboard…
Didn’t matter. Customers were coming in. Kimber was already busy at the counter, passing out rental forms and checking IDs. Riley grabbed the completed slips and began to distribute everything from boogie boards to bicycles. Thankfully, he didn’t have time to think anymore.
* * *
Gloom.
Kai jammed himself into a booth at the Final Cut and stared out at the ocean. Gloom and doom. He frowned at the bank of clouds that had been forming in the distance. For nearly three decades, he’d slipped the family leash and headed for the Caribbean, haunting the islands and bays for a small catamaran called the Melody. This would be the last time. He’d traveled to the Keys on this trip, thinking maybe the man and his son had moved to other fishing waters.
The reality was, he knew it was a fool’s errand. After this much time, the boat was probably scrapped and his
young man had moved on. He’d been ready to head to land… to college. And his father had been ill; alcoholism was subtly destroying his body.
Kai was frustrated. He’d done everything just right. The ritual had certainly taken root within him. It should have bound Riley to him as well. He’d been stupid. Stupid and disobedient. His grandfather had been right; humans were not fit companions for their kind. They were too short-lived and fragile, their natures inconstant.
The Fae server brought him a plate of lightly grilled fish and a bottle of water. He paid and looked down at the food. So much time had passed and he’d wasted much of it. He was here in Miami only on an impulse. He’d been angry and defeated, and the family had given him an ultimatum. His obsession with the human was pointless and demeaning. He’d never mentioned the fact that he’d fallen in love with young Riley, or that he’d danced him to the bottom of the sea. He’d been young and foolish, not fully understanding just what he’d done to the boy… or to himself.
He picked at his food and gazed around the room. His hearing was sharp; he picked up snippets of conversation here and there. Over the fragrance of the mahi-mahi, he caught another scent… one that broke him out into simultaneous chills and heat.
“… he was cute, but human. Very human. Ever since Sam bought this place, the wards have been haywire.”
He stood, staring at the table by the window where two shapeshifters sat sipping their apple martinis. No one would guess these soccer moms went furry on a whim.
“Excuse me.” He approached their table, not bothering to tone down his size or the aura. They were paranormals. They might not know what he was, but they’d know better than to be frightened. Or they should. The woman with the chic blonde bob nearly did a spit take when she glanced up at him.
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