Paranormal Dating Agency: Where He Leads (Kindle Worlds Novella)

by Nicole Garcia

  “Yeah, but…”

  “No butts. Now didn’t you mention that woman you met at the resort said you could come back and stay with her anytime?”

  “Yeah, but…”

  “No butts I said. Go call her and tell her you’re coming for a visit. And I don’t want you to come back here until you figure out what it is you’re looking for. Maybe a change of environment in the relaxing mountains will give you some inspiration.”

  Tatum turned and gave him a faint smile. “Have I told you how much I love you lately?”

  “All the time.”

  After giving him a quick peck on his cheek, she grabbed her jacket off the chair and headed for the door. “Call you when I get there.”

  Chapter Three

  “Ronin!”

  Jett’s brother came out of the bathroom, clad in a towel hung low on his waist with a wall full of steam leaking from the door behind him. “What?”

  “Did you see my phone?”

  “Why would I know where your phone is?”

  “I didn’t ask you if you knew where my phone was. I asked if you had seen it.”

  “No, I didn’t see it.”

  Ronin sauntered over to the kitchen island, snatching up his phone from the counter and handed it over to Jett. “Here, call yourself so you can find it.”

  “That’s not going to do any good if it’s on silent.”

  “Well, excuse the Hell outta me. Next time remember where you put your own shit.”

  “Leave me alone please. And go back in the bathroom, you’re dripping all over the floor.”

  “I wouldn’t be dripping if you didn’t call me out here to look for your phone.”

  “Get out of here.”

  “Gladly.”

  Jett frantically searched the apartment for his phone. The day when he could move out wasn’t coming soon enough. Thankfully, the renovations on the cabin he bought not far from the resort were almost concluded. It would only be another week or two until the contractors finished the job. He was counting down the days and the anticipation was killing him. Living with his brother for the past six months was driving him insane. He’d moved in with him hoping it would make it easier on his finances as he waited for his condo to sell. He had outgrown it and wanted to be close to work and the woods anyway. It wasn’t even a week before he regretted his decision to share Ronin’s apartment. He should have known better, but he allowed his brother to convince him all would be hunky-dory and they’d get along great. Fat chance. They never saw eye to eye on anything and living together only made them go at each other’s throats more often.

  The problem was they were too much alike. Their personalities clashed all the time, but Jett knew when there was a time to be serious. Ronin, on the other hand, thought everything was a game and responsibility wasn’t in his vocabulary; unless he was at work. But that was because he had no choice in the matter, otherwise, he’d be out of a job.

  Jett flipped the couch cushions, flinging the small throw pillows over his shoulders as he continued to look for his lost phone. He could have sworn he left the on the coffee table when he walked in last night before falling asleep on the couch. He needed his phone. There was no way he could go to work without it. What if someone got hurt on the hike and needed medical attention. Sure, he knew first aid, it was a requirement for the job, but what if something serious happened. What if Eira went into labor and Adonis needed him to take over at the hotel? What if his brother was in a rock climbing accident? So many things flashed in his mind, which caused him to search the apartment at a more frantic pace.

  “Where the fuck is it?!”

  Ronin stepped out of his room dressed in a pair of dark blue jeans and t-shirt. His bare feet slapped against the hardwood floor and he brushed the hair still damp and stuck to his forehead away from his face. “Where did you have it last?”

  “If I knew where I had it last, I would know where to look for it instead of trashing the place and wasting my time.”

  “That attitude will get you nowhere.”

  “Can you just help me find it before I’m late for work? I have a tour in twenty minutes.”

  “What did you do after you came in last night?”

  Jett stood up straight and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to recall if he did anything other than watch T.V. “Nothing. I walked in, took off my jacket and shoes and sat here on the couch. I didn’t even get undressed. I just conked out here.”

  Ronin slid his hand in between the creases of the sofa, then got on his hands and knees to look under the couch. “It’s under here you idiot. Lift it up.”

  “How did it get under there?”

  “How the fuck should I know? You probably kicked it under here with your enormous feet.”

  “My feet are not enormous.”

  “Says you.”

  Ronin stood, handing Jett his phone. “Here, now get of here and go to work.”

  “Don’t you have to have to go too.”

  “Don’t you check the weather report? It’s gonna rain today. Climbing up the side of a mountain on wet, slippery rocks, potentially falling to my death isn’t my idea of a good time.”

  “Shit. I guess I’m going to have my work cut out for me.”

  “Why don’t you just cancel the tour?”

  “It should be okay if it only drizzles. As long as it doesn’t downpour, the show must go on.”

  “Okay, well, if you need a hand just call me. I don’t have much planned for today.”

  “I don’t think I will, but thanks. See you later.”

  The sun hiding behind the grey clouds made the air outside cooler than it had been the day before. Light rain falling on Jett and his clients wasn’t making the hike easy for them either. He had to make sure they went at a slow enough pace where no one would fall. The last thing he needed was a human hurting themselves. His job was to watch out for them, not cause them harm. He’d asked the tourists if they wanted to cancel the hiking trip for another day, but they all agreed on moving forward. So, there was really nothing he could do if everyone wanted to press on.

  The last three hours were spent walking the trails and answering questions about the local wildlife. When they came to a sheltered picnic table along the way, Jett had the guests take a breather and eat some lunch before continuing the small journey into the woods. Usually Jett would make a pit stop at the river instead where there was a small set-up for fishing, but since the weather wasn’t great, he had to divert the group to another, safer trail.

  On the way back to resort, Jett was feeling a bit...waterlogged. He loved being outdoors, but he enjoyed it most when it was cloudy and not raining like cats and dogs as it had been for the last ten minutes. All he wanted to do was take a long, hot shower and get some rest since there wasn’t going to be anymore tours for the rest of the week; the guests at the resort had other activities to participate in to keep them busy for the duration of their stay.

  Trailing behind the last guest, Jett made his way off the trail and ran up the stairs leading to the front of the resort. He took only a few steps onto the pavement when he heard the loud engine of a motorcycle coming toward him. Before he knew it, it was too late to react and get out of the way. He grabbed the handlebars of the bike, spreading his legs wide as he the bike came to a skidding stop in front of him.

  Anger built in his chest at the asshole he was practically face to face, well, face to helmet with. He exploded before the guy was off his bike. “Are you fucking insane?” Jett wasn’t worried about himself as much as he was for the humans. They were much more fragile than he was. “You could’ve killed someone!”

  The trim man clad in his black motorcycle suit, hopped off the bike and set in on its stand before he removed off his helmet. What came flowing out of the protective headgear took him completely by surprise. The person now standing in front of him wasn’t a man, not by far. He’d been thrown for a serious loop. He hadn’t even caught the familiar scent of a female. It was masked by motor oil and
gasoline, which was why he thought it was a man in the first place.

  Long, black hair spilled onto her squared shoulders as she pinned him with her dark gaze. “Am I crazy?! You’re the one who ran in the middle of the street without looking!”

  “You’re not supposed to be speeding in this area where people are walking!”

  “I can see you know! There was no one out here in the pouring rain until you decided to jump out in front of me!”

  Now they were both shouting over the sound of the rain, getting drenched in the process. Neither of them seemed to care that they could barely see each other through the thick sheets of water falling around them; at least Jett didn’t. Jett would have stood there longer to get his point across, but a blinding flash of lightning cracked a few yards away from them striking the Sugar Maple tree next to the building. The woman flinched, but her back was turned away from the scene; Jett on the other hand, had a front row seat to catastrophe that was about to ensue, and he had just enough time to push the woman out of the way of the falling branch.

  Chapter Four

  Tatum landed on her back onto the asphalt and she was waiting for her head to hit the hard ground, but it never came. Instead the back of her head was cushioned by the man’s hands. Though she could have been killed by the heavy branch that fell from the tree, that was not her immediate thought. All she could concentrate on was the man who was splayed on top of her. His hard in all the right places body gave her tingles in places she didn’t even know existed. She never felt like this before. Of course, she was no virgin, but this was something more than just mere lust. A deeper desire coursed through her veins and she had a feeling he would be the only one who could sate it.

  When the fog finally cleared from her passion dazed brain, she realized she was still angry at the guy. He had nerve screaming at her in the middle of the street for everyone to see when what happened wasn’t her fault but his. She slid out from underneath him as his hand grabbed her elbow to help her up. She yanked her arm away from him. “I don’t need any help. I can stand on my own two feet thank you very much.”

  He straightened, pulling his jacket back into place. “If that’s your way of thanking me after I saved your life, you need to try again.”

  “I don’t need to do anything but get away from you. It was your fault I was standing there to begin with.”

  Before he said anything else Tatum turned to get on her motorcycle and leave, but when her eyes focused through the falling raindrops, she froze right where she stood. Her bike, her precious baby had been struck by the fallen limb and crushed it. When the initial shock had passed, she ran and kneeled next to it to inspect the damage. In her heart she wanted to believe she could fix it, but her head and expertise on all things automotive said the bike had been damaged beyond repair. She’d never wanted to cry so much in her life. She worked so hard to get the motorcycle in running condition and now, all her hard work was for naught. Rage began to creep up her chest and flush her cheeks as she faced the man who was the cause of her heartache. To some, It was just a motorcycle, a piece of machinery of no importance, but to her it was everything. It represented a tremendous goal she was able to complete all on her own. No one had helped her fix one thing on it. She felt so much satisfaction every time she rode it and got to rub her achievement in her co-worker’s faces. She pointed to the man in front of her. “You did this!”

  “Me?”

  “Yeah, you.”

  “Hey, I wasn’t the one who almost killed someone and I sure as Hell wasn’t the one who summoned lightning to strike that tree, causing that limb to fall on your bike.”

  “If you didn’t jump out in front of me I wouldn’t have stopped where I did and my motorcycle would be in tact now.”

  “I have never seen anyone be so ungrateful in my life.”

  “What should I be grateful for?”

  “Uh, maybe because I saved your life.”

  “Well, if you think I’m going to thank you for something you caused in the first place, you are sadly mistaken.”

  Before he could say anything further, Tatum turned on her heels and walked away, making her way to the resort. By now, there was a crowd of onlookers in front. They all observed her as she strode passed them. Some asked if she was okay and some just stood frozen in awe at the gigantic limb in the middle of the asphalt that was now on top of her bike.

  Tatum stomped up to the front desk, still fuming over the situation that took place only seconds ago. She was so angry she almost shed a tear. It took every ounce of restraint not to cry in front of that guy, but she refused to show any sign of weakness while in his presence.

  The young man at the desk greeted her with a worried expression. “What happened out there? What was that loud bang?”

  “A tree limb fell. Lightning struck it and it broke off the tree.”

  “Oh my God, was anyone hurt?”

  “Just my motorcycle.”

  “Thank goodness.” He corrected himself when Tatum furrowed her brows. “I mean Thank goodness no people were hurt.” He cleared his throat and smiled. “How can I help you?”

  “Can you direct me to Adonis’ office please?”

  She was supposed to meet Eira at her house after checking in the hotel, but now that her bike was crushed beyond repair, she had to figure out what she was going to do. Luckily, Eira’s husband Adonis worked at the resort and could maybe lend her a hand.

  “No one is allowed back there unless they’re cleared. Let me buzz him and ask if it’s okay. What’s your name?”

  “Tatum. I’m Eira’s friend.”

  He sat for a few seconds with the phone on his ear, then turned towards the elevator. “Oh, here he is now.”

  When she turned, Adonis rushed right past her, heading for the front entrance. He disappeared outside for a minute or two, then returned, looking a bit more relaxed than when he stepped off the elevator. He stopped at the desk and told the concierge to contact the fire department and electrical company to clear the area where the fallen tree had landed before facing her.

  “Tatum, right?” Adonis said, stretching his hand out to her.

  “Yeah, we met one last year. I’m looking for Eira. Is she around?”

  “No, she’s back at the house. She’s supposed to be resting, but I doubt she’d doing that. Maybe you can convince her to relax because no one around here can.”

  Tatum laughed. “Yeah, I can’t see her just sitting around doing nothing. I doubt she’ll listen to me.”

  Adonis shook his head. “In other words…”

  “You’re on your own buddy.”

  “It was worth a shot. Why don’t you go up to the house while your room is being prepared.”

  She sighed. “I would but my motorcycle is crushed.”

  “That was your bike out there? Oh my God, are you okay? Did you get hurt?”

  “No, I’m fine. I was pushed out of the way by some dickhead, who I almost ran over, which was completely his fault in the first place. If it weren’t for him, I would be riding down the road to your house right now.”

  “At least you weren’t hurt. Let me get someone to drop you off at the house for now and then we can figure out what to do about your motorcycle.”

  While Adonis pulled out his cell phone to find her a ride, she glanced toward the front entrance. Looking through the glass doors, she could see the man wearing all black approaching. Adonis stuck his cell back in his pocket and she pointed to her number one arch enemy. “That’s him!”

  Adonis turned, lowering his head with a smirk. “You’re kidding me, right?”

  “No! Do you know him?”

  “He’s my best friend.” As the man strode toward them and stopped at the desk, Adonis chuckled. “So, you’re the dickhead?”

  “What?” He said, giving Adonis a confused stare.”

  “You’re the dickhead who caused all that chaos out there.”

  “And destroyed my bike.” Tatum yelled, interrupting them.”

&nb
sp; The tall, dark, and obnoxiously handsome man snapped his head in her direction. “Are you flinging that bullshit story around town already?”

  “It is not bullshit!”

  “Yes, it is!”

  “No, it isn’t! If it weren’t for me, you would be under that tree limb, dead.”

  Tatum squinted her eyes and poked him the chest. “You just keep that, Mr. Hero, maybe if you repeat it enough times you’ll convince yourself it’s the truth.”

  He glared down at her. “That is the truth.”

  She glared right back at him. “Yeah, in your wildest dreams.”

  Adonis stepped between them, pushing them apart, which was a good thing because Tatum wanted to punch him in the face so badly. “Jett, take Tatum up to the house for me please. Eira is expecting her and I don’t want my mate worrying about her friend.”

  Before Jett could open his mouth to say anything, Tatum jumped right in. “I am not going anywhere with him! I would rather walk.” And with that she pushed past Jett, bumping him with her shoulder and headed out the front entrance of the resort.

  Chapter Five

  Jett pointed to the door. “If you think I’m getting into a car with her, you are sadly mistaken my friend.” He was so damn pissed off. He wanted to pull his hair out. He wanted to pull her hair out. If she hadn’t been a woman and hadn’t been completely turned on by her at the same time, he would have decked her by now.

  “C’mon Jett. You’re really going to let her walk all the way to my house alone?”

  “You know what Adonis, I should…”

  “But you’re not.”

  “Of course I’m not. You do know you owe me big time for this, right? She is the rudest, most ungrateful person I have ever met in my life.”

  “Give her a break Jett. She worked hard building that bike. She’s just upset. Give her time to cool down.”