Deep River Shifters 4 Book Box Set

by Lisa Daniels

  Alaric allowed a soft smile to grace his lips, and Eva was reminded that he was once listed as one of the hottest men the previous year. Her shyness threatened to return—talking to Alaric was nothing like talking to Ryland. She had been watching Ryland for years and it was impossible not to feel some kind of connection, no matter how fake it was. Alaric had gotten where he was based on his brain, and that was intimidating. He reached out and took her hand. “You have a nice smile. Now, let’s see what kind of dress it matches the best.”

  Eva pulled her hand away, but continued to walk just a step or two behind Alaric.

  Running a hand through his hair, Alaric grinned back at her, “Do you have a favorite color?”

  “Yes, but peach is the color that matches my blonde hair and pale skin, so that will look the best.”

  The smile vanished for a moment before he plastered a less sincere one on his face. “This isn’t about what people have told you looks best based on a formula. You should choose something that makes you happy. While I have no doubt that peach will look great, it won’t accent your eyes the way a sea green dress would. It is more like a peach dress will convince you to be a wallflower, and that is not something I want to see. From what I hear, you are quite lively in comfortable settings.”

  Feeling very self-conscious, Eva wasn’t certain what to say.

  Alaric continued talking, “I think I know what dress I would like to see on you, but unfortunately there isn’t time for a special job. Perhaps…” he turned his head and looked Eva up and down, “yes, I think that might do alright. Fashion really isn’t my area, though, so you will have to let me know if I’m too far off the mark.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I can manage if needed.”

  “Do you like this kind of thing?”

  “Not particularly. Dressing up for functions and events is more like a chore or obligation. I stopped enjoying it before I reached my teenage years.”

  “Functions? Serenity didn’t say you had a job.” He watched her out of the side of his eye.

  “I don’t.” Eva cursed herself silently. Regular people didn’t talk about functions, they talked about gatherings and get-togethers. “I just, um, had a different kind of upbringing. The point is that I know how to dress, so if you can get me to the shops, I can select something.”

  “Alright. And I really am sorry about all of this. I suppose this is a good chance to start getting accustomed to the kinds of things I’ve been avoiding my whole life. Nothing quite like cleaning up behind Ryland to teach me what I need to know.”

  Eva frowned, not entirely sure what he meant. “Is this what you meant earlier about giving up your business to be responsible? And giving up your freedom?”

  “Yes, something like that. Although I gave up my business a few years ago. I’ve just been biding my time, and recent… events have made it impossible to continue being selfish. Although I do have limits as to how far I can be forced to do the right thing.”

  Eva couldn’t help but laugh. The way he talked seemed very familiar. “I know what you mean. Sometimes you have to take refuge in little rebellions to feel human.”

  “Hmmm, yes, feel human. I suppose that is one way to put it.” Alaric was giving her a strange look, and he appeared to be rather focused on a phrase that Eva usually used off the cuff. With a smile, he returned to his more affable self. “It sounds like you had a different kind of childhood, too. Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask questions because I know how invasive other people’s curiosity can be.”

  “Given how far you climbed in the business world in such a short span of time, it isn’t surprising that people would be curious. From what Serenity has said, it isn’t like what you do is predictable or conventional. And once curious, hu—” she caught herself before she said ‘humans’ again, “people are very difficult to convince to drop things.”

  Alaric laughed, “Yes, they require strict training. It’s a shame we can’t crate train them.”

  It was Eva’s turn to laugh. “Yeah, that would definitely make things a lot easier.”

  They had walked down a long corridor during their discussion. Alaric opened a set of double doors and ushered her through. “After you.”

  Eva gave a sheepish smile and put her head down as she went through the doors. On the other side was a large area that looked a lot more like a mini-mall than a person’s residence. She had seen a lot of nice homes, but this was something else. Rooted to the spot, Eva took in her surroundings. “Why do you have all of this at your home?”

  “Oh, this isn’t my home. This is a place for entertaining people and spending time with company.”

  “That’s very 19th century. A place just for entertaining.”

  “Yes, well, I have a very big family, and this is a place where we can all be together. The shopping area makes it easy for everyone to get what they want when they need it. It’s also open to the public. After all, this area is really poor, and I can afford to offer them incredibly low prices.” Eva gave him a look of incredulity. “Kids get stuff for free, and there is no charge for the food at the three restaurants. For some of them, this is the only way they get meals on a daily basis. I don’t think it is right for anyone to starve in this day and age. The only caveat is that they have to eat healthy because there is no junk food here.”

  Eva looked at the impressive sight. The place had two floors, and she could see the food area on the floor below them. She recognized the names, but none of the restaurants were from the U.S. There were a couple of shoe shops, an outdoor shop, about a dozen clothing and accessory places, and the food court. “And my family thought they were charitable and classy,” she muttered.

  Alaric watched her for a moment, the wheels in his head clearly turning. When she realized that she had talked aloud, Eva coughed and said, “I didn’t know you were married. Serenity never mentioned that.”

  A smile tugged at one corner of his mouth. “Is that disappointment in your voice?”

  Eva blushed furiously. “No, that’s not what I meant at all. I just… you managed to keep that quiet.” She looked down at her hands. Her voice was little more than a whisper as she said, “That’s all I meant.”

  Alaric laughed, “I’m not married. When I talk about my family, I mean my extended family. Marriage is one of those obligations I refuse to let them yoke me with. It’s for lesser beings, apparently including Ryland.”

  “What?” Eva’s head snapped up. There was a lot to unpack in what he had said, but the last part definitely caught her attention.

  “Come on, the dress shops are this way. Let’s find something that will make you the center of the attention instead of a quiet little wallflower.”

  A derisive laugh escaped her before Eva could help it. When Alaric looked at her inquiringly, she sighed, “Serenity is going to be there. Every other woman is going to be a wallflower compared to her.”

  His eyes looked her up and down. “I’ll take that as a challenge.” He turned and quickened his pace. “It may not be my area, but I am going to prove you wrong. Clearly you need to learn not to give up just because something has always been a certain way. Serenity is not the most beautiful woman in the world, and there are plenty of men who would not even be interested in her.”

  Eva was nearly jogging to keep up. “This is not necessary. I like being a wallflower. There is always someone more interesting, more intelligent, and worthier of attention.”

  Alaric came to a sudden halt, and Eva was a couple of paces in front of him when she finally stopped. The look on his face was a mix of disbelief and pain. His eyes looked over her again, but this time it was very different. He didn’t say a word. Alaric simply shook his head and pulled his phone out of his pocket. His hands moved faster than Eva could follow, and his attention was completely focused on whatever it was he was doing. Eva felt right at home being ignored, although she did feel a little disappointed. Up to that point, Alaric had been very gregarious, almost easy to talk to, but now he had done exactl
y what many people did when they first met her—found something more interesting to do. It happened every time she wasn’t interested in dating someone, and there was no way she would consider anything like that with Alaric. He was every bit as charming as Ryland, but had done everything for himself, apparently as a way of not being responsible. As they walked, she watched him, her own mind trying to figure out more about him. Her mind automatically went back to the things they had discussed, what Serenity had told her, and the bits of information she had read or heard about him from the media. The last one was entirely unreliable, but there was always an element of truth in there. It was just a matter of putting things together with the more reliable, second-hand and first-hand experience. Serenity was intelligent, but not great at reading people—that was more Eva’s area. After all, she needed to learn as much as possible from a young age more out of self-defense than interest.

  The rest of the walk was done in silence, each of them immersed in their own thoughts.

  When they reached the store, Alaric greeted the man in the shop. “Good afternoon, Gerald. We need something for the event tonight.”

  Gerald gave a short bow, “Yes sir. Is this the young lady who needs a dress?”

  “Indeed. She was able to accept the invitation at the last minute, and doesn’t have anything.” Alaric placed a hand on the man’s back and steered him towards the back of the shop. All Eva could hear was a short phrase, “Do you have anything…”

  She very much wanted to interrupt, to have a say in her dress, but the pair were talking animatedly. Within a couple of minutes the man and a woman were measuring her. They were both silver-haired and friendly. Judging by the way they talked, they had years of experience doing this. Eva took one look at their hands and couldn’t hide a smile. They were a married couple, and clearly they worked very well together. For a moment, she was jealous. It would have been nice if she hadn’t been born into a prestigious family who were going to make sure she married based on what they wanted, not on what she felt was best for her.

  The next 30 minutes were entertaining as they brought out different pieces of material. They kept holding up different colors against her, argued over flare and cut, then one would disappear into the back room, and the process would start all over again.

  Then they both disappeared off to the back without having said much to her, and never having asked her any questions about her preferences. Eva sighed as she smiled when the door closed behind them.

  “Gerald and Jaylene are quite the couple, aren’t they? Don’t worry, though. For all of their animated dialogue, they do amazing work. You won’t be disappointed.” Alaric was sitting on a seat drinking from a wine glass. He set it down and rose from the seat. Eva would have asked about the glass, but she hadn’t been watching him. Heck, she hadn’t even been aware he was still there. After the way he had acted, she guessed he had just taken off, so she had put up with whatever instructions he had left with the shop owners.

  Now that she knew he was there, Eva frowned a little. “You know, I can pick my own dress.”

  “I am quite certain you could, but I dreaded to see what bit of sidekick outfit you would choose so that you could hide off in a corner. Now you won’t be able to hide so easily.”

  “I don’t hide.” Her frown deepened.

  He simply smiled at her. “Come on. Let’s go get a coffee and talk.”

  Her eyes flitted to the wine glass. “Actually, I think I would like something a little stronger.”

  Alaric turned to look at it, then a smile spread across his face. “Alright, we will head to somewhere a little more private. Given what we are about to discuss, that will be a better idea anyway.”

  Chapter 4

  The Probing Conversation

  “What would you like?” Alaric stood behind a bar back in the residential part of the facility.

  “Red wine, please.”

  “Any type in particular?”

  “Surprise me.” Eva wasn’t about to be picky. After the kind of day she had experienced, any red wine was fine by her. She had learned to stomach the cheap stuff, too—not all of her dates had the kind of money her family did.

  “You got it.” He kept the bottle hidden as he poured. Eva watched Alaric as he poured two glasses and brought them over to a small table with two comfortable seats. It felt very intimate, and Eva could imagine he had used the space to woo more than one woman, but she very much doubted that was his plan with her.

  Alaric crossed around the bar and headed toward the other seat. Eva couldn’t help but notice how graceful his movements were, not at all like the strides of the many business men and nerds that had occupied most of her acquaintance. He moved much more like the dancers she had watched at the ballet when she was young. When she had expressed an interest in meeting them, her parents had stopped taking her, she suspected mostly to keep her from taking any other kind of interest in the men who were too far beneath her family for her to entertain that kind of thought. Alaric’s movements were refined, even elegant, and Eva had to remind herself to stop staring as he neared her. The wine barely moved as he placed her glass on the table and took the seat opposite her. “There you go.”

  Eva picked it up and took a sip. Her eyes lit up as she looked at the glass. “Napa, 1989. Nice!”

  Alaric tilted his head to the side, the glass nearly at his lips. He placed it on the table, placed his chin on the back of his hand, and leaned in toward her. “It strikes me that you have said a bit about yourself, but not a whole lot. You know that comes off as more teasing than unwilling to talk. Of course, I have heard Serenity’s opinion and stories that included you, but it is obvious that there are a lot of things she didn’t say. For example, you have mentioned your family and childhood several times, usually not in a very positive light.”

  “Ask Ryland.” She took another sip, her eyes unable to meet his.

  “It does seem a little unfair,” he rose the glass and swirled the contents around a little. “You have obviously had time to do research about me, but I only have the stories from Serenity.”

  “I myself am rather dull. My hobbies are studying and—” she pursed her lips, “and something else.”

  “Dating?” He gave her a knowing look, and Eva looked away.

  Damn you, Serenity, her thoughts were very loud as she tried to think of a way out of talking about family or her main hobby. “It’s about the only rebellion I can manage. I can’t spend all of my time working on school and—” She clenched her teeth, not wanting to say any more about the kinds of obligations she had to her family. Or to bring up her family now that he had mentioned them.

  He seemed to take the hint and did not press further as he sat back. Alaric picked up his glass. Just before taking a sip, he said, “So, your vacation started with a guy groping you on the plane, huh?”

  The topic wasn’t welcome, but it was better than talking about her family or dating habits. It seemed that he was going to make her talk about something rather distasteful to her, not that he would know the topics that she ardently avoided. Drinking a little too much for a refined woman, Eva moved the wine around in her mouth as if it would erase the memory, or in some way reduce it. She closed her eyes momentarily to better enjoy the taste. After swallowing, she kept her eyes closed as she spoke, “Yes. I really am not up for talking about it. I just need to send my sister footage.” She opened her eyes and tapped the bridge of her glasses.

  Alaric tilted his head to the side. “Those are recording?”

  “Oh!” Suddenly aware that everything she had said or done since meeting up with Serenity was being broadcast back to her friend, Eva felt guilty. Quickly taking them off, she placed the glasses down. As soon as the arms were folded, the recording had stopped.

  Alaric looked down at them. “Do you mind?”

  “I am so sorry.” She could barely look at him.

  He waved a hand as he picked them up. “Don’t worry about it.” Just like earlier, his hands moved around the g
lasses quickly and efficiently. She thought about telling him how they worked, but Alaric seemed to already have figured all of that out on his own. He pulled his phone out at one point and was rapidly doing God knew what on both devices. He didn’t look up as he restarted the conversation, “Please tell me that you talked to the police about it.”

  “Yes, I did. That was why we were late getting here. I was going to send footage to my sister, and she will deal with most of the rest.”

  He looked up at her. “Your sister? Why?”

  “Because Rebekah is very good at what she does, and she can get this taken care of without me having to go to court or—” Again she stopped before saying that it would be a scandal for the family. Instead she said, “Or cause anyone else any inconvenience.”

  Alaric didn’t say anything, but he watched Eva for a moment as his hands worked between the devices. Eva was intrigued by his quick movements and ability to figure things out without any prior knowledge of the device. She was startled when he asked, “So what does your sister do?”

  “Oh, nothing terribly interesting. It is highly unlikely you would have heard of her.” Silently she prayed that Alaric wasn’t like Ryland, planning to look into her personal history. Eva very much doubted that a man like Alaric would be disinterested in using the knowledge—once a business man, even in tech, always a business man.

  “That’s fine. I know people who do plenty of boring jobs.”

  “Yeah, well,” she just let her eyes follow his hands.

  After a moment of silence, he prodded her a little further, “You said I probably wouldn’t have heard of her.”

  Eva looked up and realized he was watching her watch him, and she was leaning in far more than she had intended. Quickly, she scrambled back into her seat and began to play with her hands. “Probably isn’t nearly enough of a guarantee that you won’t know her.”

  Alaric let out a sound that she didn’t quite understand. “Alright. Your turn.”