Shifting Destinies: A Paranormal Interracial Story (HIdden Hills Shifters Book 3)

by Day, Vella

  She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “I have to make arrangements. I need to contact his clients. I have to be there for him.” The words came out so rushed she hiccupped. She wouldn’t get paid for her work, but she needed to do this for him.

  Wade inhaled then exhaled, studying her. “Okay, but I’m coming with you.”

  She wasn’t certain that was a good idea. As much as she’d appreciate the company, she had a feeling this would only make her want him more.

  Chapter Seven

  Emmaline sat at her desk, not really knowing where to begin, and debating whether she should call all of Mr. Francolini’s clients first, or try to locate her boss’s next of kin. She looked up at Wade. “Do you think I should find another lawyer to take over his cases?”

  “If I were a client, I’d feel better knowing someone would be there to pick up the pieces. Would you like me to ask around who might be available? Or do you have someone in mind?”

  She was the one who was knowledgeable about the other lawyers. Besides, this wasn’t Wade’s responsibility. “I’ll take care of it.”

  “What would you like me to do then?”

  She had to think. “I’m guessing I’ll have to pack up all of his things at some point.” A well of emotion bubbled, and she lowered her head into her hands. “I thought he looked paler than usual. If only I’d said something, he might have sought help sooner.” She looked up, her eyes watering. “Do you think it was a heart attack?”

  Wade stepped over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sure we can find out if you want, but this wasn’t your fault, you know.”

  She sniffled. “Perhaps, but it’s just not fair. He had so much more to give.”

  Wade nodded then glanced away for a moment. “Would you like me to buy some boxes and start packing?”

  The idea of shutting down the office seemed so final. Wade was being incredibly helpful, though she wasn’t sure why. She needed the aid, but damn, the man was worming his way into her heart, something she needed to avoid at all costs. “That would be wonderful.”

  * * *

  The week after her boss’s death continued to be a nightmare. Emmaline had spent every day at the office trying to sort through the files, calling the clients, and locating Mr. Francolini’s daughter—who she eventually did find, but only after Agnes Browning called to inquire after Harold Francolini. She gave Emmaline the information about his daughter, Janelle, who lived in Raleigh, North Carolina. Fortunately, his daughter was able to drive to Hidden Hills that day, and boy was the woman a whirlwind of efficiency. She succeeded in not only getting the death certificate signed, but she organized the service within hours of her arrival.

  Her dad, she’d said, had died of a heart attack, and because he wanted to be cremated, she would hold the service at the local mortuary in two days. Emmaline had been pleased that a good number of people attended. Wade had come with her and had been her rock every time she broke down.

  On Saturday, he told her that he needed to get back to Pittsburgh, and she totally understood. It was better that he leave because having him around aroused too many feelings. No sooner had he left, though, than the depression set in. Or maybe it was just the pregnancy blues. She had to constantly remind herself that wolves should not be mated to bears.

  By Tuesday—over a week after Mr. Francolini’s death—she closed the office for the last time and handed the keys over to the landlord. Emmaline hadn’t felt this lost since the first day she’d been sent to boarding school.

  The partial solution to her dilemma was to find another job, only she had no idea what that might be. She’d searched the want ads endlessly but had come up empty handed.

  Regardless of her employment situation, she had to give more thought to her growing baby. She finally called Piper at the hospital to ask for her recommendation of a obstetrician. For some reason, going to Storm didn’t settle well with her. Piper was surprised and excited for Em and suggested she see a Dr. Samuels. While the man was human, he’d dealt with shifter babies before.

  “I promise I’ll give you the details when we meet,” Em said.

  “No problem. Mum’s the word until then.”

  Not wanting to procrastinate further, Emmaline made an appointment with him for the following week. She held no illusion about her pregnancy anymore. The increased morning sickness confirmed it, not to mention the pregnancy test itself. Now, more than ever, she had to find employment as it wasn’t just about her anymore.

  Not wanting to be by herself today, she headed to the café to do more searching on her laptop. No sooner had she settled in with her coffee and sweet roll than her cell rang. Excitement raced through her at the thought it might be Wade, but when she checked the screen, she had to swallow her disappointment. It was Agnes, the woman who helped find her boss’s daughter, Janelle. The white-haired woman, who looked to be about her boss’s age, had been as upset about Mr. Francolini’s death as Emmaline had been. She’d mentioned that ever since his wife’s passing, they’d become good friends.

  “Hello, Agnes.” They’d not only spoken over the phone a few times, they’d met at the funeral.

  “Janelle gave me your number. I hope you don’t mind that I’m calling your cell, but the office number was no longer in service.”

  “No, not at all.” I wanted to let you know that I will be retiring soon as the personal assistant for Mr. Emerson of Emerson Investments, and he’ll be looking for a replacement. I thought with you out of a job, you might be interested in coming in for an interview.”

  Emmaline’s heart beat fast. “That is so kind of you, but I know nothing about investments.”

  “You don’t need to. Mr. Emerson just needs someone to handle his appointments when he’s in town. You might be asked to make airline reservations and ensure he meets with his clients when he’s supposed to, but that’s about it. He’s a very busy man. Would you be interested in an interview with him tomorrow?”

  Emmaline was nearly speechless. This sounded almost too good to be true. Her job as a paralegal was quite stressful and working for Mr. Emerson—a man who wasn’t in the office very often—might be less so. “Absolutely.”

  “How does ten in the morning sound?”

  “Perfect. What’s the address?”

  Agnes gave her the details. For the next half hour, Emmaline sat there thinking how lucky she was that she’d met this woman, though she wished it had been under better circumstances. Funny how things happened to work out when one least expected it. Perhaps it was fate that brought the two of them together.

  Feeling better than she had in a while, she decided to take a walk over to the library and visit with Tasha for a few minutes. Ever since her boss’s death, she hadn’t spent much time with her or Chey. Now she’d relish the connection.

  As soon as she walked into Tasha’s workplace, Emmaline could feel the excitement. Em poked her head into the side room where Tasha often frequented and spotted her sitting on the floor surrounded by ten kids. It was reading hour, and Emmaline’s hand shot to her belly. Her friend looked so content reading to them. Standing at the entrance, Emmaline listened and soon had a smile on her face. Tasha finally looked up and waved.

  After ten more minutes, she closed the book and told the children reading time was over. They moaned, but then jumped up and rushed out to meet their parents who’d gathered in the area behind Em.

  “Hey there,” Tasha said. “How are you doing?”

  “I got a job interview.”

  Tasha hugged her. “That’s wonderful. Where?”

  She explained about Agnes’s call and how the woman was retiring. “I was wondering if you know anything about the firm.”

  “No, but I think this calls for a celebration. Do you want to head over to the Cove Bar?”

  Emmaline wanted to go in part because she needed the company, and because it was time to tell Tasha about her condition. The hard part would be convincing her not to let Burke know. “Sure.”

&nb
sp; After Tasha clocked out, they walked across the street to the bar. When Emmaline ordered iced tea, along with Tasha, her friend’s brows rose, but she said nothing. She was the one who often didn’t drink during the week, not Emmaline.

  They found a seat in their usual corner. Emmaline wished Chey could have joined them but she wouldn’t be off work for a while. “I have something to tell you.”

  Tasha smiled. “You know how much I like gossip.”

  There was no way to broach the topic easily, so Emmaline just spit it out. “I’m pregnant.”

  Thankfully their drinks hadn’t been delivered or else Emmaline was certain the tea would have been all over the table. “You’re what?”

  “You heard me. I’m pregnant.”

  “Not that I really need to ask, but who is the father?”

  “Wade.”

  Tasha pressed her lips together. “Does he know?”

  “No. And before you ask, I’m not going to tell him.”

  Tasha’s mouth opened. “And how do you propose to keep that from him?”

  “I’ll have to tell him at some point, or else he’ll do the math and figure it out.”

  Their drinks arrived, but neither touched their glass. “Why don’t you want him to know?” Tasha ran her hand up and down the sides of her tea.

  Emmaline had given that a lot of thought. “At first, I believed Wade was this playboy, and now I can see he’s really a good guy.”

  “Like my Burke.” Em nodded. “Then what’s the problem?”

  Surely, Tasha would understand. “No offense to your breed, but Wade’s a bear, and I’m a wolf.”

  “So?”

  “My parents will be furious.” That sounded lame. “Damn, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

  Tasha placed a hand over hers. “You have to tell him, honey.”

  “What if he suggests we get married?”

  “Would that be so terrible?” Tasha picked up her tea and sipped.

  “I don’t need him to take care of me. I can do that myself, but if he wants to be part of our child’s life, I’ll agree to that. I just don’t want him to suggest marriage out of obligation.”

  “You’ve given me suggestions in the past, so now it’s my turn. Tell him how you feel. You won’t know what he’s thinking unless you come clean.”

  Emmaline lifted the glass to her lips and held it there mostly for comfort. She took a sip then set it down. “I’m not even sure when he’s coming to town next.”

  “You could call him.”

  “I’m not doing this over the phone.” Maybe she had decided to tell Wade then and wasn’t even aware of it. Suddenly, things seemed to be a little brighter. She looked up at Tasha. “You’re right; he does deserve to know.”

  * * *

  Emmaline was nervous. She’d donned her best suit and even sported some high heels for the interview. It wouldn’t hurt if Mr. Emerson found her attractive even though he’d had Agnes as his assistant for a long time.

  When Em entered the office building, a buzzer above the door sounded, announcing her arrival. She looked around, a little surprised at the small space. A compact, but well-appointed lobby ended at a hallway, implying the offices were in back. The leather chairs looked expensive, as did the prints on the walls.

  Footsteps sounded, and then a smiling Agnes appeared. “Hello, Emmaline. Mr. Emerson has stepped out for a few minutes, but if you come with me, we can go over some information first.”

  As she followed the older woman, Emmaline debated whether to mention she was pregnant since her condition might make a difference in whether Mr. Emerson thought she could handle the job. There might be times when she had to leave and take care of a sick child.

  At this point, she wasn’t even sure what she would do with her baby while she was at work. Daycare was an option, but that was expensive. Em doubted her mother would volunteer to help out, especially when she learned the baby would be half bear. She didn’t want to think about the six weeks she’d need after the baby was born either. She sighed. Not having been offered the job, it was premature to even be thinking about this.

  Agnes opened the door to a rather sterile looking office that seemed unused. “Have a seat. As you know, Harold and I were friends. He spoke of you many times, about what a great job you did.”

  “Thank you.” She was thrilled since Mr. Francolini didn’t dole out compliments very often.

  Agnes picked up a pen. “Tell me what you’re looking for in a job.”

  She hadn’t expected that question. “A nice boss. Good hours? Decent pay?” She felt as if she were sinking with each word.

  Agnes laughed. “That works. I think you will find Mr. Emerson very easy to work for. He’s demanding only in that he expects you to do what he asks.”

  “I’m very conscientious.”

  “I’m sure you are, dear.” Agnes asked for her contact information, her educational level, and any other jobs she’d held. Then she stood. “Why don’t you take a seat back in the lobby, and I’ll find you when Mr. Emerson arrives. I know he’ll want to go over the job in more detail with you.”

  Hope and excitement rushed through her. The fact the boss might still be interested was a good sign. Once she was settled in the lobby, Agnes disappeared down the hall. A stack of magazines, mostly involving investment strategies, sat on the table next to her. Em picked up one and searched for something interesting to read.

  A few minutes later, the door buzzer sounded, signaling a new arrival. She looked up and froze. Holy howls. It was Wade dressed in blue jeans and a T-shirt, looking amazingly hot.

  She jumped up. “What are you doing here?”

  Chapter Eight

  Wade hoped he hadn’t made a mistake. Many times this past year, Agnes had told him she wanted to retire, but he’d been able to talk her out of it. When Emmaline lost her job, he decided he could finally grant Agnes her wish. His biggest problem was whether Emmaline would hold it against him that he hadn’t told her who he was or what he did for a living—but he had his reasons.

  “Hi, Emmaline.” He didn’t want to tell her he was surprised to see her there because he was through with lying—or at least he would be in a moment. “I’m here to see the boss.”

  Technically, that was true since he was the boss, and he’d be looking at a mirror to make sure he looked good for her interview. Unfortunately, the animal in him was working hard to come out, and he hoped he could make it into his office before he gave into his urges. He’d like nothing more than to taste her, but if he touched her, he’d want it all.

  Not wanting her to ask any more questions, he headed toward the hallway.

  She called after him, “The boss isn’t back yet.”

  Wade held up a hand to indicate he’d heard. “I’ll sit in his office and wait for him.”

  If he looked over his shoulder and saw her face, he’d cave. She’d either be concerned for his welfare, or be angry that he’d barged in ahead of her, but that was the chance he’d have to take. What that woman did to him. If that reaction didn’t convince him she was his mate, nothing would.

  As soon as he stepped into his office, he rushed over to his closet where he kept his suit. Too often he drove in from Pittsburgh and had to clean up and change before he met with clients. He tore off his T-shirt, and just as he picked up his white button down shirt, the door eased open—a door he must have failed to close completely. It was Emmaline. Now it was his turn to freeze.

  “Wade, you shouldn’t be in here,” she whispered. “And why are you half-naked?”

  He wanted to keep it light. “Are you worried about me?”

  When she charged up to him, he wanted to kiss her more than anything. He’d already discussed his attraction to Emmaline with his father, and how she had the scent of a bear. His dad’s first words were to ask if she were pregnant. Wade denied it at first, but now, more than ever, he could smell his own breed in her. As disappointed as he was that she hadn’t confided in him, she might not even kno
w herself.

  “I am, but why are you here?” She plucked the clean shirt from his hand, set it on the desk, and handed him back his T-shirt.

  As much as he wanted to taste and ravish her again, he needed to come clean. With his T-shirt in hand, Wade sat on the edge of his desk. “We need to talk.”

  She looked behind her, probably to make sure the real boss wouldn’t walk in. “Not here, we can’t.”

  She looked so adorable being confused. “Yes, we can.”

  She stepped closer, yanked his arm, and tugged. “Come on. I’m supposed to have an interview as Mr. Emerson’s personal assistant, and I can’t afford to mess this up.”

  He smiled. “Don’t worry. You have the job.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “Yes, I do because I’m Mr. Emerson and I’m hiring you.”

  She stepped back, her mouth slightly parted. What he wouldn’t give to kiss her right now, but he wanted to see her reaction to the news first.

  “Did you just say you’re Mr. Emerson?”

  “Yes. My real name is Wade Emerson Black. Emerson was my mother’s maiden name. I chose that instead of Black Investments so that people wouldn’t confuse me with my father.”

  She retreated, but when her legs hit the chair, she dropped down, clearly in some kind of shock. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Because I wanted you to like me for who I was and not because I’m rich.” He always believed the women in Pittsburgh who chased him were mostly after his wealth.

  She glanced to the side. “Were you ever going to tell me?”

  That was a good one. “I’ll toss back the same question to you. Were you ever going to tell me you’re pregnant with my child?”

  Her mouth opened. “Burke told you?”

  “Burke knew?”

  Crap. “I confided in Tasha, and I figured she’d have told Burke. I was going to tell you when I saw you next.”

  “No one had to tell me. I’m a bear. I can smell and sense my kind inside you.”

  Her eyes darted around the room, panic written on her face. “How long have you known?” Her hand shot to her belly.