Bridge Hollow Shifters: The Complete Collection

by Samantha Leal

  Jannie loved the idea of shifters. She had read and studied the myth for years and was truly a believer. She knew many people didn’t have much faith when it came to the paranormal, or of anything outside of what they had been conditioned to believe, but Jannie had always been drawn to things that others couldn’t explain.

  When she was younger, she had heard so many tales about this mountain town. She remembered her grandmother telling her stories late at night when she went to spend the weekends with her, and of how her grandfather had been here once long, long ago. It had sparked something inside of her that she had never been able to shake, and now that she was finally here, it was as if she were ticking off a huge section of her bucket list.

  She wanted to write a book, and she wanted to know if the legends of the shifters were real. It had almost been like a sign from God when she had been watching the news one day, not long after her breakup from Dylan, and had heard the town mentioned. She had sat forward and turned up the volume, listening intently to what the presenter was saying.

  She heard the words die offs, strange weather phenomena, mystery and disappearance. And as soon as she pulled out her laptop and began to search the town, she was sucked back in all over again and she found that her obsession hadn’t faded.

  It had all come together when she had been given the opportunity to take a sabbatical from work, and she had been saving long enough to afford a good vacation. Lucky for her, instead of traveling to Europe like she had always planned, she decided to lease the cabin on an amazing deal, head out East and see what she could find in the mountains. It was a productive move. She was spending less, and she was going to hopefully find her inspiration and finally write the novel she always thought she had in her.

  It was a win, win.

  She climbed the step ladder up to the mezzanine floor and smiled when she saw how perfect it matched the photographs on the listing. It was a large space, but with not a whole lot of room to stand with the vault of the ceiling. It was clear that the owner had converted the attic into this awesome answer to extra space, and the windows and skylights all looked out over the lake, which flooded the room with light and made it feel big and open.

  She wandered to the bookshelves and traced her fingertips along the spines of some of the old books. There were classics, more obscure titles and reference books, and a few newer looking, battered paperbacks that could have easily been left behind by other people who had rented the cabin over the years.

  She looked at the comfy floor cushions scattered around the place, and then she saw the perfect space for a desk. She clapped her hands together and pulled the tape measure she had placed in her back pocket out, before she started to size up the area.

  Outside, she heard the sounds of an engine and water spray, as if someone were jet skiing or power boating on the lake, and she found herself leaving her current task behind, dropping the tape measure to the floor, and stepping to the windows. She looked down to the lake and, as she had expected, she saw a man on a jet ski, bobbing up and down, and creating waves as he went.

  “What are you up to…?” She smiled to herself as she watched him for a moment more. The lake wasn’t overly large, but there were at least four other houses around it, dotted in equal distances. They all had their own docks, for a boat or a jet ski, and she noticed that only one of them was empty. It was the house directly opposite hers. She squinted to try and make out how many windows it had and if they were dark or lit up, but it was just a little too far to tell in the bright light of day.

  She looked back to the man bobbing up and down on the water, and watched as he circled around, clearly enjoying himself and burning off some steam.

  She smiled and then turned back to look at the tape measure lying on the floor before she had the bright spark of an idea.

  If she wanted to get to know people in town, there was no time like the present.

  She opened the back doors leading out onto the deck that ran along the back of the house and wandered onto the grass that led down to the jetty and the lake. The man was still hurtling around on the jet ski, circling the lake and making great white waves as he went. She stopped and held her hand up to shield her eyes from the sun, and in the sobering clean air, she wondered if it was the two glasses of wine that had made her so brave and eager to make friends.

  She became aware that he had seen her, and she raised her hand in a shy wave. The jet ski circled once more and then the man waved back. Even from that distance, she could tell he had big muscles; his arms looked thick and tattooed, even from her viewing space on the dock, and it instantly made her prickle with tension.

  Oh great, she thought. Another bad boy… And here I thought I would be out here with simple mountain folk…

  She stood her ground and watched as he began to power the ski toward her, and he slowed down as he got closer and kicked up a spray as he brought it to a stop.

  “Hey,” he called to her. He was close to her dock, and she walked down to him slowly, still shielding her eyes from the sun and unable to see his face from powerful rays. The sun was behind him, and it was keeping his features hidden in his own shadow, but as she approached him, she slowly began to make him out, and her nerves began to jangle.

  Man, oh man… This guy was HOT.

  He smiled at her and leaned forward onto the handlebars of the jet ski. He was tall, dark and incredibly handsome, and the tattoos that snaked their way down his big, tanned forearms only made her heart flutter even more. He cocked his head to the side, and she closed her mouth, unsure of whether it had been fully hanging open in shock, or just slightly ajar.

  “Hi,” she managed to croak.

  He was like nothing she had ever seen before. And it was worrying. He smiled again, and she was sure she saw a hint of green flash over his eyes.

  “You okay?” he asked her with a wry smile.

  She nodded and looked away, trying to gain her composure and not look like a complete fool. Her heart was pounding, and her palms were sweating. She had never had a reaction like this to anyone and she couldn’t make sense of why it was happening to her here like this.

  “I’m Jannie,” she smiled finally as she prepared herself to look back at him. “I’ve just arrived and was looking for a bit of advice.”

  “I’m Dash,” he said as he smiled up at her from the water. He seemed to be as confused as she was, but she couldn’t tell if it was because he was interested in her, or because he thought she was an idiot. His eyes seemed to be boring into her, as if she were standing there naked and exposed for him to see. He was still bobbing up and down slowly on the jet ski and she could see that his legs were also tanned, wet and muscular.

  “Hi,” she smiled again shyly.

  He raised his eyebrows and glared at her. It was clear, neither of them knew what to say, and were both as dumbfounded as the other.

  “You here on vacation?” he finally asked her, to break the awkward silence.

  Jannie nodded.

  “Well, kind of,” she blurted out at the same time. “I’m here for a while, to write a book.”

  His eyebrows raised again, and he looked down his nose at her.

  “Oh really?” he asked cockily. “What are you, a journalist?”

  Jannie wondered what she had done wrong, and she stepped back a little.

  “No…,” she stammered. “I mean, I have been in the past, but I’m not here on a story. I just wanted somewhere to hole up for a while and concentrate.”

  “And what better place to come than a town full of scandal?” he smirked. He was beginning to sound more and more standoffish by the second, but there was still something open about him.

  Jannie crossed her arms over her chest and felt her walls springing up.

  “Anyway,” she said, to change the subject. “I don’t know the area and was just wondering if you could point me in the right direction… I’m looking for somewhere I can buy a cheap desk. Nothing too fancy, just something that will see me over temporarily
whilst I’m here.”

  “A desk?” he asked, almost condescendingly.

  “Yeah,” she said back sternly. “I need a desk to work, and there isn’t one inside.”

  “What’s wrong with the dining table?” he asked with a shrug.

  She looked at him and found herself taking a step further back. This guy was intense. But he was also making her feel intense too. She felt like they could start arguing at any moment, as if fireworks were about to explode between them.

  “I need a designated office space,” she said matter-of-factly.

  He shrugged his shoulders, as if he wasn’t even interested, and then he looked out across the water and to the house on the other side of the lake. She could see, now that she was down there, that the windows all looked dark but the back door that opened out onto a veranda appeared to be open and a large black dog was lounging on the decking, looking out over the lake and watching his master.

  “There are a few stores in town, antique shops and what have you,” he said. “But I’m not sure what you’d find there. You may have to travel further afield. This isn’t exactly the kind of town known for its furniture,” he half laughed.

  “Oh, okay,” she said as she kicked at the dirt with the tip of her boot. “No worries, thanks for the information anyway.”

  She went to turn away, afraid he didn’t want to speak with her any longer.

  “But,” he interjected. “I actually have one you could borrow… it’s just sitting in my attic. It hasn’t been used for years.”

  She looked up at him, at the green tinge of his eyes and the strong dark brows that were heavy on his head. Everything about him screamed danger, from the bulging muscles down to the tattoos. The black hair, the attitude she couldn’t figure out, and the way his lip curled when he spoke to her as if he were playing a game, but there was something about him that intrigued her and made her want to know more.

  “Really?” she asked nervously.

  “Sure,” he grinned. “Plus, it won’t cost you a dime.”

  Jannie smiled and her shoulders relaxed. Since she had locked eyes with him, her guard had been up, and he had been a little rude to her too, but now, she was starting to feel as if she could let herself go.

  The wine was still warm and buzzy inside of her, she looked back across the water to the house opposite and when she squinted, she could just about see that the dog was now standing, watching them, and she imagined his tail wagging.

  “Is that your place?” she asked as she pointed across.

  Dash looked back at her and nodded his head.

  “So, it’s not far, it’s not a hassle for me to bring it across for you.”

  She bit her bottom lip and smiled sheepishly. He was so sexy, and now he was being hot and cold too, it was making her even more interested in who the hell this Dash was.

  “Okay,” she said. “As long as you don’t mind, that would be great.”

  He nodded his head and revved the jet ski back to life.

  “Give me a couple hours,” he said as he began to move slowly across the water. “I’ll come over at dusk.”

  He powered the machine to life and kicked up a spray of water as he blasted back out across the lake. Jannie stood fixed to the ground, completely dumbfounded and unsure of what the hell had just happened. It certainly wasn’t what she had been expecting, but she was grateful, nonetheless.

  Dash.

  The helpful face of Bridge Hollow she hadn’t known she needed.

  She turned and headed back to the house before he had the chance to dock on his side and see her still staring. She smiled to herself as she stepped inside and closed the doors behind her without casting her eyes up to where he may be on the other side of the lake.

  She had a couple hours, and then he would be bringing her a desk. She better make sure that the place was tidy, and she that was ready.

  4.

  She looked in the mirror and leaned in toward her reflection, checking her make-up and softly running her fingers through her hair. Jannie had never been the type of girl to get dolled up, but something about Dash was making her so nervous, she felt the intense need to make sure she at least spritzed on a bit of perfume before he arrived with the desk.

  She left her new bedroom and wandered down the hallway to the living and kitchen area. The sun was starting to set, and it was glowing pink and gold across the lake. The view out from the windows and large glass doors was amazing, and she wrapped her arms around herself as she watched the beautiful colors reflecting on the water. The other two houses around the lake had lights on now, making it clear that they were occupied. Jannie waited for a moment and then looked toward Dash’s cabin directly opposite. The large black dog was still lounging on the veranda, and it made her smile. The whole lake area was so incredibly peaceful, it was a lovely place to spend a lazy evening.

  She looked toward the small wood burning stove with a flume that went up and through the wall to the outside of the house. It was quite Scandinavian in style; she had never seen one in a home before. There were logs beside it in a wicker basket and she wondered how she could possibly light it without burning the place to the ground.

  She turned a small lamp, beside the couch, on and turned on the television, creating some noise so the whole cabin wasn’t silent. She had been so awkward around him when they had met on the lake, she hated the idea of him walking into her new home and the silence being deafening between them.

  She found herself watching the lake again and looking for some kind of sign. But there wasn’t any sort of movement or stirring, either on the water or in the trees beside Dash’s cabin.

  She bit her bottom lip and breathed in and out deeply. She had never been a fan of waiting for someone. Even though it wasn’t a date, it reminded her of the same apprehension she experienced when she was on her way to meet a guy. She had been terrified when she had started dating Dylan, and the nerves before her first date with him had almost driven her mad. She remembered the sensation of her heart pounding fast and hard, the way her mouth went dry, and the fact that everything seemed to be happening around her in slow motion. She hadn’t even heard a word he had said when they were speaking to each other across the table in the restaurant, and he had never let her forget it. He had always taunted her, always let her know that she was below him. He was dangerous in his own way, as well as a shitty person. He had been in trouble with the law and he had stolen and hurt people. But she had been sucked right in, and when she realized it was all wrong… somehow, it was too late. He wasn’t going to let her out of it that easily.

  Dylan had been bad.

  He had been dangerous.

  He had hurt her in so many ways, she knew she never wanted to be vulnerable to a man ever again. And she was determined to stick to her word.

  She looked out across the lake again, and just as her eyes found the veranda and she saw that the dog was gone, a loud pounding knock pummeled her front door and she gasped.

  “Shit!” She jumped as she clutched her chest.

  She must have been daydreaming and remembering her bad dating past for much longer than she had realized. At least long enough for Dash to leave his cabin and make it all the way around the lake without her seeing him.

  She laughed and looked behind her to the doorway and, sure enough, she could see the shape of his head through the frosted glass on the small window at the top of the front door.

  She made her way to it and found herself running her hands through her hair again and adjusting her top. When she reached the door, she opened it wide, he was looking down at the ground but in an instant and he tilted his gaze up to hers, their eyes met again, and she felt a warm wave roll over her entire body.

  “Hey,” he said with a wry smile.

  He looked good. Better than he had at the lake. He was wearing low slung jeans, a tight black t-shirt, and a leather jacket over his broad shoulders. His hair had been washed and he smelled strongly of a delicious cologne. He looked clean and fresh
, tanned and comfortable in his own skin. And either, he was on his way out after he had been to see her or he had really made an effort to impress. She found herself smiling shyly again as she stepped to the side so he could come in.

  She noticed the dog was beside him, sitting upright, being good as gold. His eyes were an intense blue and his coat was a luxurious black.

  “Hello,” She smiled as she bent forward to reach out and give him a rub on the head, “and who is this?”

  “This is Jet.” Dash smiled as he reached out and started to roughhouse with the dog. He looked like a wolf, a playful, magnificently handsome, beast, and he was clearly very close to his owner.

  “He’s gorgeous,” Jannie said as she stood back up and began to walk down the hallway toward the kitchen. “He’s more than welcome to come in.”

  Dash whistled and the dog began to trot down the hallway too. Jannie wandered into the living area and turned around to face Dash. When she saw him walking into the room with her, her heart began to pound again.

  He looked so good.

  But he was clearly a bad guy. And she was done with bad guys.

  No more bad! No Jannie! No!

  “Wow,” he exhaled as he looked at the vaulted ceiling high above them. “This is much nicer than I thought it would be.”

  Jannie didn’t know if that was a positive or an insult.

  “Oh yeah?” she asked as she made her way to the refrigerator.

  She pulled out a beer and waved it in front of him and he put his hands on his hips.

  “For your trouble?” she said.

  “Sure, why not,” smiling as he reached out and took it from her. “Thanks.”

  She was about to go looking for the bottle opener, but Dash quickly and confidently used the edge of the island in the kitchen to pop the cap free and then he let it scatter across the countertop. Jannie reached for her glass of wine. She had poured herself another red and was just below half of the bottle, but she felt alert and on her guard. She was just glad that the edge of her nerves had been taken away and she was able to chat with ease with this hunk of a man.