by Vella Day
“Yes. She’s now a bear. So?”
“That means her brother should be human.”
He set the hot pan in the sink and the contact with the water made it sizzle. “Your point?”
She crossed her heart. “As goddess is my witness, Brian gave off a shifter signature, faint though it was.”
He shook his head. “You probably sensed the other shifters in the room and became confused. Were you drinking?”
Her mouth dropped open. “No, I’d just arrived. And why would you doubt me?”
“I’ve met Brian. He’s all human. No shifter blood in him.”
He’s your mate! Only you can tell. She wished her tiger would go to sleep, especially since her animal was being so freakin’ horny with no basis for it. Tell your brother how your body vibrated with intense need, and then how you could feel my claws dig into your belly because I was begging for my release.
Ignoring her little inner demon, she conceded. “Fine. Maybe he’s not a shifter, but I was curious about him. I asked him how long he’d been in Silver Lake, to which he promptly set down his drink, excused himself, and walked out of the party.”
Dalton slid the plate of eggs in front of her. “Eat these. I’ll make more.”
“No, you take them. I’ll fix myself a sandwich.”
He pulled the plate back toward him. “Are you upset that he didn’t fall for your siren ways?” Dalton asked, acting like the typical, smug big brother.
She waved a hand. “I don’t have siren ways. All I wanted was to find out more about him. Between you and Elana, I’ve learned that he had a rough life.”
Dalton shoveled a forkful of eggs in his mouth, chewed, and then swallowed. “True.”
“Anyway, as soon as Brian left, Elana went into labor and stopped breathing.”
Dalton dropped his fork, and it clanked against the edge of the plate. “Is she okay? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Both she and baby Aiden are fine. Sorry. I’m still a little dizzy from all that running.” Even now, her muscles were shaking. “I had to carry her in my arms from the Cove to the hospital, but we made it in time. Rye said the baby had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. I think when Elana sensed her shifter baby choking, she lost her own air for a few seconds.”
“That’s some scary shit about the baby and about you having to run all that way. Did anyone see you?”
“I doubt it. If they did, they wouldn’t know what the blur was. Besides, if anyone is going to get caught, it’s you. I haven’t used my Wendayan talents but a handful of times. Seems to me, you use yours more often.”
He shook his head. “I use my talents sparingly. Hell, Kalan doesn’t even know what I’m capable of.”
“I think he’ll figure it out now that he knows what I can do.”
Dalton lowered his head and finished off his plate of eggs. “I thought you wanted a sandwich.”
She had wanted something to eat, but now she’d lost her appetite. Dalton was a very private man, and she hoped she hadn’t messed things up between her brother and Kalan.
Chapter Six
‡
For the last few hours, Brian had walked the aisles of the lumber department, making certain that all the pieces of wood were lined up perfectly. It was the only way to keep his mind off Jillian and how he’d almost screwed up with his sister. What had he been thinking tossing a near stranger the bear and then asking her to deliver the present to Elana?
Answer? He hadn’t been. It was all Jillian’s fault too, with her wide-set eyes the color of the sky on a cloudless day and hair the same hue as the richest golden oak. Her delicate face highlighted her perfectly formed pink lips and long lashes, so much so that no man could resist her. Being five inches shorter than him, made her even more perfect.
Why someone like her even bothered talking to him at the party was anyone’s guess. No woman as beautiful and soft as she was ever had before.
Thankfully, after a decent night’s sleep, he was calmer. Of course, having the anxiety pills kick in helped too. Though after the way his body reacted to her last night, he might need something stronger to take the edge off his racing mind.
A small smile lifted his lips as he remembered the look on his sister’s face when he walked into her hospital room carrying the bear. Her eyes had sparkled. Buying the teddy bear had been the perfect present. He’d found it a few weeks ago and had to get it for her. The only thing he wished had turned out differently was for her son, Aiden to have been there. Elana said the doctors were still checking him out.
Brian was already making plans to build his nephew a rocking horse for his first birthday. For sure, he’d have his own go-cart when he was ready. Aiden Murdoch would always know he was loved. Brian would see to it.
*
“When did they say you could go home?” Jillian asked Elana, who looked beautiful with her brown hair splayed over the pillow. Even her coloring was almost back to normal and her skin looked smoother than ever.
“Later this afternoon, assuming Aiden is good. I’ve been very pleased with how cautious they’ve been. I guess breech births can be tricky, and the cord around his neck scared them a bit.”
Jillian was so happy for her. “You are going to stay home for a few weeks and rest, right?”
From their conversations, Elana was driven. She still had some loans she owed Izzy’s dad, and she was determined to pay them off as quickly as possible. She’d refused to let Kalan take care of them for her, and Jillian admired her drive.
“I’ll stay home for a few days. Being a shifter will help with the healing process, and while I’ll have terrible separation anxiety leaving Aiden, Kalan’s mom said she’d watch the baby during the day. I just can’t leave Anna to fend for herself at the store. Valentine’s Day is one of our busiest holidays.”
“I can help out,” Jillian blurted without even thinking.
Elana pushed up on her elbows. “You know something about being a florist?”
Jillian laughed. “Nothing. Okay, I can tell a rose from a petunia, but that’s about all. I’m sure I can figure out how to use a cash register, and I’m wickedly good with a broom. Would that help?”
Elana smiled. “You’re this big-time lawyer. Wouldn’t you be bored doing a menial job?”
“Bored? Try sitting all day at Dalton’s house doing nothing. No. I’m going crazy not being around people.”
“Then it’s a deal. I pay ten dollars an hour.”
Jillian waved a hand. “Nonsense. I work for free. You’d be doing me a favor.” While she could use the cash, she’d never accept payment. “Besides, I’m only a trainee.”
“That would be fantastic. I really am looking forward to spending time with my baby. I’ll call Anna now. When can I tell her to expect you?”
“I’ll stop over right after lunch. How about that?”
“Perfect.”
They chatted a bit more about how nervous Elana was raising a son, especially one who would be shifting by the time he was two or three. A few minutes later, the nurse came in carrying a fussy Aiden.
“Time to feed,” the nurse said, handing Elana the baby.
He was such a beautiful child, and Jillian’s mothering instincts kicked in. She’d always pushed aside the whole concept of having children, but after seeing Aiden’s sweet face, she might have to reconsider.
That would require a mate, however, and the chances of that were slim to none.
Brian, Brian, her animal chanted.
Jillian wished she knew what she’d eaten to make her tiger so randy. It had to be the large number of shifters in this area that had woken her up.
“I’ll let you two bond. Don’t worry about your store.” Jillian smiled and waved goodbye.
After she stopped at a fast food place and chowed down a rather good chicken sandwich, she drove over to the Blooms of Hope. When she walked in, a woman about twenty-five with an armful of tattoos was working quickly behind the counter helping a man. The aroma of
flowers was pervasive, but nice.
She looked up. “I’ll be with you in a moment.”
“I’m Jillian, and I’m here to help.”
“Oh, there is a God. If you’re ready to help, can you go into the backroom and bring me two long boxes? There should be a few on the table.”
There was nothing like jumping into the proverbial deep end without a life preserver to boost her spirits. Jillian stepped behind the counter and entered the back room. Very nice. Floor to ceiling shelves covering two of the opposite walls were filled with vases, stuffed animals, ribbon, and other assorted things one needed to make the perfect bouquet.
A large table in the middle took up most of the room. On top were several pre-made boxes. Some were long and thin, perfect for packing long-stemmed roses, and others were large cubes, just the right size for a stuffed animal. Jillian picked up two of the long boxes and carried them out.
“Are these the ones?”
Anna smiled. “Perfect.” She placed half a dozen roses in the box and then cut pink ribbon to length. Once Anna wrapped it lengthwise and then widthwise, she looked up. “Can you place your finger here?”
“Sure.” Images of wrapping Christmas presents with her mom flashed in her mind’s eye, and a brief high washed over her, filled with contentment and joy. Being here in Silver Lake and helping out at the store was so much less stressful than reading motions and depositions.
Once Anna finished, she smiled and handed the man the gorgeous box. As she rang him up, Jillian watched how she swiped the man’s card and what buttons she pressed on the register. “Thank you, Mr. Jenkins. I hope Mrs. Jenkins loves her gift.”
“I’m sure she will.” He smiled and then left.
When no one else came in, Anna sagged. “I am so happy you were willing to help. I’ve been swamped all day.”
“My pleasure. It gives me something to do.” While carrying in two boxes from the back and placing a finger on the ribbon wasn’t a great feat, Jillian understood that just having help around gave a person a sense of hope that she’d get through the day.
“I can’t believe I forgot to ask. How’s Elana? When she called to tell me you’d volunteered, I was so excited that I didn’t ask about the baby.”
“She’s doing great. While she’s happy, I think Elana’s a bit scared at the same time. First time mother jitters, I guess.”
Anna grinned. “I can’t wait to see the baby.”
“I only saw Aiden for a few seconds, but he’s a cute, chubby boy.” Jillian glanced around. “What do you need me to do besides making arrangements? I’m willing to sweep floors, tidy up, or work the credit card machine.”
“For starters, can you grab the red vase with the wild flowers from the second shelf and bring it over? I want show you how to use the helium machine to blow up balloons and how to attach them to the vases.”
For the next three hours, Anna ran around like crazy, helping customers and directing Jillian to grab this or that. When there was a lull, she explained how to use the credit card machine.
It wasn’t until close to five that things settled down. Just as Jillian allowed herself a pat on the back for surviving her first day, pounding feet sounded on the stairs causing Jillian’s pulse to rise. It was immediately followed by a wave of lust that nearly made her drop the two vases she was holding.
Mate, mate, urged her tiger.
Damn. She had to shut up her animal. The only possible solution was to go for a run.
You promised that before and didn’t deliver, her animal said.
I will just as soon as I ask Dalton where I can go and not be seen.
Jillian returned her attention to what had distracted her. “What is all that noise?”
Anna waved a hand. “That’s Brian, Elana’s brother. He lives in the apartment upstairs. If you think that’s noisy, the other day was even worse. When I went up to see what was going on and to ask him to keep it down, he acted as if he had no idea that saws and drills made noise. Thankfully, he agreed not to work until after the shop closed, though once Mr. Berta gets wind of it, I bet he’ll boot him out.” She smiled. “Don’t tell Elana, but Brian made a cradle for the baby.”
Jillian’s heart warmed at the idea of a man who was so uncomfortable in his skin, making something so personal for his sister’s baby. “He has to work somewhere. I guess workshops are hard to find.”
Anna chuckled. “I guess.”
Anna flipped over the Closed sign on the front door and then finished with the last arrangement that needed to be ready early tomorrow morning for pickup. Jillian swept up the scraps and straightened some of the mess in the back room.
“Let’s go home,” Anna said as she grabbed her coat from the hook near the door. “In case something happens, and you ever need to come into the store to open up, the code is 93412.”
Not wanting Anna to think she had a steel trap for a brain—which she did—Jillian pulled out her phone and put the code in her notes. “Got it.”
Heads down against the chilling wind, they both returned to their cars. Even though Jillian slid into the driver’s side and pretended she was making a call, she was waiting for Anna to leave.
As soon as she did, Jillian shut off her engine. Why she felt this urge to march up the back steps and demand answers from Brian, she didn’t know.
The idea of your mate shutting you out scares you, her tiger claimed with an all too smug attitude.
Not true. Brian seems sweet but very lost, and I just want to help. Brian would be better off embracing his shifter side, and maybe even moving into the compound for more support. Sure, she’d told Dalton she might have made a mistake about Brian being a Were, but in her heart—and especially in her body—she knew she was right.
Inhaling deeply, Jillian slid out of her car and hurried to the back entrance. With one hand holding her jacket tight around her body, she punched in the code with the other. After pulling the door open, she stepped inside the dark hallway, happy for the warmth. The air was a bit stale, and the area closed in, but those were minor inconveniences. She was on a mission.
At her first step, her muscles froze. What exactly was she going to ask him? Or rather, how could she find out for sure that he was a Were? If he wasn’t, and she discussed shifters in front of him, there could be bad consequences. His relationship with his sister might become more strained.
He’s your mate.
Doesn’t mean he’s a Were, she countered.
He is.
She’d have to trust her instincts this time. The fact her pulse was fluttering and a dampness was pooling between her thighs gave some credence to the whole idea that Brian Stanley might be her mate, but she wasn’t going to let her tiger know she might be a believer. All the more reason to find out who he was—or rather what he was.
Treading lightly on the steps so Brian wouldn’t hear her coming, she made it to the top landing. Suddenly, the door opened and Brian filled the frame. Guess she wasn’t as light on her feet as she thought, or else he had shifter hearing.
The man, or rather the Were, didn’t look pleased. “Jillian? What are you doing here?” The harshness in his voice was then replaced with a softening around his mouth. “Is Elana okay?”
Brian clearly loved his sister. “She’s fine. May I come in?”
He studied her as his body transformed from tense to almost rigid. Was he really considering not asking her in? If his body were vibrating half as much as hers, he would be freaking out right now, kind of like she was, and need to have her near. He lowered his gaze. “Sure.”
She stepped inside. The apartment was tiny and smelled like wood shavings—sweet and rich. Then again, maybe it was Brian’s scent doing some damage to her ability to distinguish smells. “This is cute.”
The dark leather sofa and chairs suited him.
“Thanks.” He cleared his throat. “You want a drink?”
She’d rather have answers, but a drink was better than him kicking her out. “Sure.”
Brian walked over to the kitchen and grabbed two beers from the fridge. She slipped off her long coat and placed it across the back of the sofa to let him know she planned to stay for a while.
He handed her the bottle. “What do you want?” His tone came out rather harshly again. Damn. He wasn’t making this easy, but she’d dealt with plenty of reluctant witnesses before. She could do this.
Most men wouldn’t have been so abrupt, but Brian had been raised without parents so she’d give him a pass—this time. She sipped her beer, and it went down smoothly. Perhaps because he was upset, his shifter signature was pulsing so strongly there was no mistaking he was a Were. “Why have you never told Elana that she’s your half sister?”
That came out way too angry, but Elana deserved to know.
“Excuse me?”
Her heart skipped a beat at the shock in his voice and the hardness around his eyes. Had her stupid tiger been trying to get the upper hand by somehow making her believe she smelled his shifter aura?
I’m never deceitful! her animal declared.
You better not be.
“Then how do you explain that Elana was fully human before she met Kalan, and since you’re—”
“What?” He moved so close, his presence cut off her words. It wasn’t until a few seconds had passed before he averted his intense glare. “What do you mean by fully human? As opposed to what?”
So he wanted to play the game of denial? That wouldn’t fly with her. “As opposed to being a shifter.” There. She’d said it.
“What’s a shifter?”
Jillian had to hand it to him. He was a good actor, but she’d go along. He had to know what a shifter was. Hell, he was one. “A shifter is a person who is part animal.”
Brian loomed over her, and she found it difficult to breathe. “Lady, I don’t know who you are, but I do know you’re crazier than I’ve ever been.” He slipped the beer from her fingers. “Please leave.”
For the first time in years, Jillian was at a loss for words. “Half the town of Silver Lake is made up of shifters. Why are you in denial?”