“So he viewed the cameras to spy on me…?” Natasha frowned in disgust.
Mom sighed. “It was probably just to make sure everything was okay.”
“What do you mean everything was okay? Of course, everything’s okay. Jacques works at Reverie. Why would he not be okay?”
“People aren’t always what they seem, honey. I’m not just saying this because he’s a shifter. It’s just that—”
Natasha held up her hand. “Okay, I’m done with this conversation. I don’t think it’s okay that my every move is being watched while I’m at work. I knew it was a bad idea for me to accept a position there with Dad. He’s too suspicious over everything I do.”
“No, honey. It wasn’t. Jacques—your male friend—is under investigation. Your dad didn’t say exactly what for, but he insisted we have a talk together over dinner to discuss it. We don’t want the same thing to happen to you here like it did in Miami. This is a relatively safe town. We look out for one another here. It’s nothing like Miami, but if you get caught up with the wrong people while you’re living here, you could put yourself at risk.”
“I’m an adult. I take full responsibility for what happened to me in Miami. My lesson is learned, but I think I’m just as qualified to make my own decisions without you and Dad snooping into my affairs. If this is about me living under your roof, make no mistake, I’ll do whatever I need to move into my own place as quickly as possible.”
“You don’t have to do that.” Mom sighed and rushed over to Natasha, putting an arm over her shoulder. “I’m sorry. Maybe I judged too soon. Your dad and I talked briefly this afternoon about it. He didn’t have enough time to explain then, but he was really worried about this whole thing, which makes me really worried about you. I’m sure we’ll get to the bottom of this when he gets home and he’ll tell us why this Jacques person irks him so much.”
“It’s not about what irks him. This is my life,” Natasha said. “But you’re right. I want to know what he says. I’m sure there’s an explanation for it. Jacques’s a good guy.”
Mom visibly swallowed. “I hope so.”
After helping her mom with prep and cleanup, Natasha took the stack of letters she’d retrieved from the post office and headed upstairs again to rest before dinner.
She thought things couldn’t have gotten any worse…but it did. Among the pile of junk mail and suspicious mailings, she discovered a past due bill from the old apartment she had shared with her ex-fiancé. A quick call to the leasing office revealed that Stephan hadn’t moved out when the leased expired and had been living in the unit month to month without paying rent. Since the lease was in both their names, apparently she’d been deemed equally responsible to settle the bill.
“Unbelievable!”
Natasha grasped her cell phone. She was ready to curse him out. Yet, she’d had enough of him. She wanted nothing to do with him. Didn’t want to speak with him, hear his voice…didn’t want to be associated with him in any way. What she did hope was that karma ran its course and gave Stephan what he deserved. She wasn’t going to stress over this.
Half of her paycheck was supposed to go to a savings account set up specifically for a down payment on a new place, but to keep the past due bill from going on her credit and wrecking it any further, she paid the arrears over the phone.
By the time she got through with balancing her checkbook and estimating the number of paychecks it would take her to become solvent again and out of her parent’s home, she wasn’t hungry anymore. She grabbed a bag of chips and a candy bar from the junk food stash in her room and buried herself under the covers.
When Natasha woke up, she realized that it was pitch black outside. A quick glance at the clock near her bedside confirmed that she’d been asleep for several hours. On the nightstand was also a note from her Mom: I didn’t want to wake you. I told your dad to let you sleep. I know you needed the rest. Your plate is in the kitchen. There’s cheesecake in the fridge.
She swung her legs over the bed and went downstairs in search of the lasagna. Lucky for her, Mom and Dad had already gone to bed. She didn’t want to talk to them about her friendship with Jacques anyway. It seemed that her dad had already made up his mind about Jacques. But so had she…
Chapter 6
“Jacques, it’s me.”
“Hello beautiful.”
Natasha felt her grin widen at the sound of Jacques’s voice and at his sweet endearment. She couldn’t wait to see him. She fidgeted with the keys in her palm as she waited in the parking lot of a shopping center.
“I’m done with my appointments,” she said.
“How did they go?” he asked.
“Oh, it was just a routine physical. Time consuming, but I did get some reading done.”
“Cool.”
“So, hey…I’m near this place that serves those Chicago-style deep dish pizzas we talked about. I was thinking I could order a few slices and then bring you lunch. How does that sound?”
“I’d like that. I haven’t eaten all morning.”
“Why don’t you meet me out by the lake? I know you said you like eating lunch there because of the view.”
“Sounds perfect. See you in about thirty minutes then?” he asked.
“Yeah, it shouldn’t take that long though. Looks like folks are moving in and out of the restaurant fairly quickly. What do you like on your pizza?”
“Take a guess.”
She rolled her eyes. “The works. Of course.”
He chuckled. “Of course.”
“Okay, I’ll see you when I get there.”
When Natasha hung up the phone and caught a glimpse of herself in the rearview mirror, she had the cheesiest grin on her face. Her cheeks were slightly rosy from blushing. She knew exactly where this was headed. There was no denying her body’s emotional response to Jacques, even when he wasn’t around her.
As she estimated, it took less than ten minutes for the staff to process the order. The lake near the Reverie building was only a fifteen-minute drive, so she’d be there in no time.
Chapter 7
Once Natasha was with Jacques, she was at ease and no longer anxious. She was where she wanted to be and with whom she wanted to be with. Even when they talked about their problems together, it never caused her any stress. Talking about her past issues with Jacques was…pure relief.
They’d just finished their deep-dish pizzas with the half empty box sitting on a long beach towel that Natasha always kept in her car. But this time, she wasn’t at the beach alone…she was seated by the lake under a dogwood tree with a hot shifter—the man she looked forward to being with.
“Do you ever wish that you could see your parents again?” she asked him.
Their conversation had gotten pretty deep over the last several minutes.
Jacques took a few long swigs of water and placed the bottle nearby on the grass. “I stopped wishing a very long time ago. The older I grew without them in my life, the more I gave up hope that they would ever come back. I used to tell people that they were dead. I didn’t want to have to keep explaining that I was left behind. Most of my Pack mates know better though. They know I’m a Shalane.”
“Shalane. You used that when you introduced yourself to me.”
“It’s my mother’s surname. The Shalane bloodline is a mix of both shifters and those of the Cherokee wolf tribe.”
“You’re Native American?”
He nodded. “And my father is French.”
“Sounds like your family has a lot of history here.”
“They do. On both sides. My understanding is that most of the Shalane’s who are like me branched out into other regions with every new major change of leadership in Aspen Valley and that includes both humans and shifters.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Many reasons. Maybe personal…maybe political. But maybe it was just time to move on.”
“Will you move on one day?”
He paused and gave her a though
tful stare. “I don’t know. I haven’t decided yet. It’s like something is holding me here. There are so many memories, both good and bad, plus I’m a pretty loyal guy to my Pack and anyone here who I would consider a friend.”
“And you always have the opportunity to make more good memories,” she suggested.
“Of course,” he said, his stormy gray eyes seemed to lighten. “Like this one.”
She blushed. “Yes…like this.”
Natasha stared out over the lake at the flock of ducks moving about in the water. With it being a little after one, the sun was highest in the sky, providing just the right amount of warmth and creating a nice backdrop against the surface of the lake. Nothing but fresh breeze floated toward them, reminding her of the peaceful jogs she used to go on along the wooded trails behind her apartment building in Florida.
“Now I understand why you like having lunch out here,” she said.
“I’ve come almost every day except for the times I’ve been out with you.”
She nudged him on the arm playfully. “Well, why didn’t you say so? This is much better than the congestion of the cafeteria.”
He smiled. “Sometimes I need a change of scenery anyway. It’s good for the soul.”
Jacques leaned back against the dogwood and folded his hands behind his head. He closed his eyes and tilted his face toward the sun. Natasha realized that he was more perfect than he realized despite the flaws he claimed to have.
“Can I ask you something really personal?” he inquired while she was stealing glances at him.
“Yes.”
He opened his eyes and turned his full attention toward her. “I don’t think your dad likes me.”
“My dad is suspicious of everyone,” she replied.
“No really. He…ah…let me just put it this way…it’s clear to me that he wants me no where near you.”
“Fortunately, I’m not six years old any more. I talk to who I want.” She shrugged. “He’ll live.”
“I don’t want to upset anyone,” he said.
She smiled. “Well, I’m certainly not upset. Doesn’t that matter?”
“It most certainly does. I know you’ve been through a lot and I’d hate to cause any more stress in your life, especially if you’re getting flak from your parents because of me.”
“Since you and I have been talking, I haven’t been feeling sorry for myself anymore over my breakup. I know that’s kind of personal, but I went through a rough time after realizing that I wasted so much time with him.”
“Did you love him?”
Natasha swallowed and frowned. “Yes. We were almost married.”
“Do you think you could ever be with someone again?”
“Yes. I mean, I hope so. I want to. I don’t want to be alone,” she replied.
“Me either,” he said, quietly. “I never wanted to be alone.”
That’s when it finally dawned on her. Besides those he knew from his Pack, he had no one here. No family. He was practically alone.
“Well you’re not alone anymore, because I’m here,” she said.
As he assessed her with nothing but adoration, his eyes narrowed and his irises turn to vertical slits. His animal had awakened…or maybe the wolf had always been present. Whenever she was with him, it always felt that something else—someone else—was among them. He made her feel safe.
“Yes, Natasha…you’re finally here.”
She did something seemingly out of character for her. She leaned in and kissed him. A gentle press of her lips against him felt like magic to her. She pulled back, a little lightheaded. It was funny how all it took was one touch, one kiss, and she was already craving more of him.
His lips were slightly parted and he blinked once…twice, as though he were in disbelief.
“Sorry…I shouldn’t have kissed you like that.”
“Don’t be sorry for that because…” He slid his palms gently across her cheek and then back to settle on the back of her neck. “…Because now I’m going to kiss you like this.”
Jacques took her lips, moving slowly over hers, breathing in her breath and allowing her breath in his. He coaxed her lips apart and the first brush of his tongue against hers sent butterflies dancing in her belly. From there on out, they put their full efforts into deep, roving kisses. All her senses were focused on the taste of him, the smell of him, the feel of him…
She’d never felt this way before. Not with another man. Not with anyone. This was different. This feeling of blinding attraction and hungry need.
Desire stirred within her and she felt elevated just as if she was on cloud nine. And then she realized that she’d leaned in further and that he pulled her thigh over his legs so that she was half straddling him. The flat of her palm was against his chest and she panted, breathing his animalistic scent in deeply as they kissed. Her leg brushed against his hard length and she moaned against his lips. She imagined what she wanted to do with him. More than this. She needed more than this kiss.
Suddenly, there was a splash in the lake and the ducks fluttered wildly about before they took full flight above the trees. Only then did Jacques and Natasha pull away.
Natasha pressed her fingertips against her lips and slid her heated thigh from over Jacques’s legs. “Oh…”
“I forgot where I was there for a moment,” Jacques exclaimed.
“Me too,” she said, looking around her. They were alone, but she really wouldn’t have cared if they were in an arena full of viewers.
“I really hate to have to go,” he said.
“I know,” she said. “You don’t have to explain. Let me drive you back to work.”
“Sure.”
They both rose with him taking her hands and helping her up. They scooped up the trash, their belongings, and headed to her SUV. It took them all of about a few minutes to reach the Reverie building. The emotion and sexual attraction between them were still thick, especially in the cozy interior of her SUV.
“Thank you for the lunch,” he said when she pulled up next to the front door. “Is it fair to say the next one’s on me?”
She grinned. “Tomorrow. I’ll actually be at work. We can take our food down to the lake again if you like.”
“I’d like that.” He paused for a moment as if he wanted to say something else, but then he grasped the door handle and pushed it open. “Have a great night and see you tomorrow.”
After Jacques left the car, Natasha let out the biggest breath she’d exhaled in a long time.
“God, he’s a good kisser,” she exclaimed to herself.
She daydreamed about his lips on her all the way home.
Chapter 8
Natasha was both physically and emotionally tired after the day’s events. A late afternoon nap turned into several hours of peaceful rest. She woke up to the sound of someone knocking on her bedroom door.
“Come in,” she called out and sat up on the bed.
“Hi Sweetie.” Her dad pushed through the door. “You didn’t come down for dinner again this evening. Monique said you had a doctor’s appointment earlier. Are you feeling okay?”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
His brows furrowed. “Is there something you’re not telling me? You’re not pregnant are you?”
“Dad! I’m fine. It was a routine doctor’s appointment. I’m still on birth control.”
He exhaled deeply. “Okay. Whew…I was worried.”
Natasha pursed her lips and shook her head. “Any other probing questions?”
“You know what this is about.” He sat on the edge of her bed. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you since yesterday evening.”
“I know you have an issue with me being friends with Jacques,” Natasha stated, nonchalantly.
“Just friends?” he asked, throwing her an unconvincing stare.
“Would it matter if we were just friends or really really good friends? Come on, I know where this is going?”
“A buddy of mine told me that he saw you dr
opping him off around lunch time,” Dad said. “I was under the suspicion that maybe he’d gone with you on your doctor’s appointment for some odd reason or another.”
Natasha rolled her eyes. “Dad, you’re getting way ahead of yourself. Jacques and I went to lunch together. Like we always do. And yes, we are friends. We click on levels that I haven’t experienced in a long time with any man or woman.”
“You click?”
“As in, we have things in common. We talk about our issues without arguing and we understand each other,” she added after a look of confusion remained on his face.
He shook his head. “I don’t understand what there’s to understand about that, but we’ll fix that. Don’t worry.”
“Of course, you don’t understand. You’re not even trying to.”
He rose from her bed and folded his arms across his chest and glanced around her room. “I’ve been trying to get you to come out to the Country Club for weeks now. It’s not just a place for us old folks. Plenty men and women your age hang out there, mainly at the fully stocked bar, but I guess that’s self-explanatory.” He grinned.
She groaned inwardly but was silently relieved that he was done trying to convince her that Jacques was a bad person. “I’ve never liked country clubs and you know that. I tried once when I visited during a spring break and the people there were snobbish.”
“That was in another city. It’s a totally different atmosphere here.”
“Of course it is.”
“So you’ll come at least once…?”
She shrugged. “Maybe. I’ll try this if you try to accept that I still make my own decisions now.”
“You don’t need to hang out with that criminal at all, Natasha. There’s plenty of other folks your age that have more in common with you.”
Her face heated and she pressed her lips together for a moment to keep from uttering something rude. Dad was looking out for her, but what did he know of Jacques? Did he even know Jacques at all?
“Why do you have a problem with Jacques?”
Aspen Valley Wolf Pack (The Complete Series) Page 39