by Zoe Chant
Give me a break.
Opening her bedroom door and heading out into the corridor, Natalie considered heading to the bathroom for a quick shower before going to breakfast. She felt she ought to look more put-together than she had yesterday – after all, what good was a cleaner who couldn’t clean herself?
But first, she supposed, she should check on Micah.
She knocked gently on his bedroom door. “Micah, sweetheart? Are you up?”
No answer. Natalie smiled. Micah was usually an early riser, but he’d had a long day yesterday.
Still, she couldn’t have him sleeping in too late. She didn’t want him to get out of his routine, since she’d be taking him to enroll in Cedar Hill’s small elementary school in a few days’ time.
“Micah, honey, it’s time to get u –”
Natalie pushed the door open, and froze.
The bed was empty.
The sheets were rumpled and the comforter pushed back, and Barry the stegosaurus lay on his side next the pillow. But Micah wasn’t there.
“Micah?” Natalie said, her heart thumping suddenly in her chest.
Don’t panic. Don’t panic.
But as much as she tried to tell herself not to, she felt terror clawing at her throat. The image of the loan shark at her door, with his terrifying smile, popped back into her head.
But he couldn’t have – he’s not here –
Clenching her fists, Natalie tried to calm down and think rationally.
“Micah?” she called again, turning away from the bedroom and heading down the hall toward the kitchen.
But there was no one there, either.
Natalie stood in the middle of the room, fists clenched, frozen in indecision.
Where could he be?
It was then that she heard it: wild, high-pitched childish laughter, coming from beyond the door leading to the yard.
Without pausing for thought, Natalie went to the door and pushed it open, emerging onto the porch that ringed the mansion. Sunlight blinded her for a moment, but after her eyes adjusted she could see an expansive yard, the lawn looking a bit ragged after winter, with newly budding trees scattered over it.
Natalie sucked in a quick breath as she spotted Micah, laughing uproariously, running in circles through the trees, pursued by the little girl they had met yesterday.
In the muddle of her relief, Natalie had to think hard to remember her name – oh, Faith, that’s right, I think – as the girl’s laughter rose to a shriek.
“I’m a lion and I’m gonna catch you!”
The girl’s voice rang through the yard as she crouched into a pounce, before throwing herself forward at Micah.
“Nooooooooo!” Micah yelled, jumping away, twisting to escape her and laughing in a way Natalie hadn’t heard him laugh in years.
“Raaaaar! Come back, dinner!”
Natalie stood on the porch, her hand still resting on the handle of the door, and felt her heartbeat slowly returning to normal.
Or, not normal.
Her heart might not have been thumping against her ribs in panic anymore, but it was still far from normal. Instead, she could feel it clenching in joy.
How long had it been since she had seen Micah playing like this, all his usual shy seriousness evaporating into delighted laughter? How long since she had had the chance to take him somewhere where he could just play, like a carefree child?
She watched as he rolled over on the lawn, always just a moment ahead of Faith’s grasping fingers, hooked like claws, as she tried to catch him.
“Hey Faith, you be careful not to play too rough, now!”
Natalie started slightly at the sound of the male voice from the far side of the garden. She looked over to see Casey standing there, a bowl in one hand and a shiny red apple in the other, a smile on his face. Natalie swallowed, drawing back slightly. She watched as he crossed the yard with a long, easy stride, his muscular legs hugged by the old, faded jeans he was wearing.
“I heard someone yelling about dinner, so I thought you two could do with a snack,” he said as he reached them.
“Food!” Faith yelled, immediately breaking off from her pursuit of Micah and rushing over to Casey. “FOOD!”
Casey laughed and handed her the bowl. “Here, I got you some apples.” He grinned at Micah. “I got the feeling yesterday you liked them – I cut Faith’s up, but I remembered you prefer them whole.”
Micah trotted over to him, looking a little shy. “Is it for me?”
“Sure it is,” Casey said. He tossed the apple gently to Micah. “Help yourself.”
Natalie’s heart was in her throat as she watched Micah lift the apple to his mouth and tuck into it with relish. He loved apples, but her budget would only stretch to real fresh fruit once a week.
Clearly, things were different here.
As Micah and Faith munched happily, Natalie found her eyes drifting back to Casey.
He remembered Micah likes apples.
It seemed such a small thing – but for some reason, it made her heart swell up in her chest. He’d remembered her son liked to eat apples.
Maybe it was the fact she’d been on her own for so long, but the idea that Casey had only met Micah yesterday, but had already learned his favorite food and was looking out for him when he played in the yard made her feel… overwhelmed.
That he was the most gorgeous man Natalie had ever seen was just the icing on the cake.
Or the beefcake, Natalie thought, letting her gaze run appreciatively over Casey’s muscular form again.
“I’m finished!” Faith said, handing her bowl back to Casey. She tugged at Micah’s sleeve. “C’mon, let’s play.”
“Let Micah finish what he’s chewing,” Casey said gently. “And what do you say?”
“Thank you, Uncle Casey,” Faith dutifully intoned, clearly waiting impatiently for Micah to finish.
“Thank you,” Micah echoed when he was finished, putting the core neatly into the bowl.
“I’m gonna chase you,” Faith announced to Micah. “But you have three seconds to get away. One… two…”
Micah shrieked and raced off across the yard, before Faith tore after him in hot pursuit, growling and roaring.
“Mommy!” Micah looked up and saw her, raising his arms to wave at her. “Mooooooommy! Faith is trying to eat me! Help me!”
“No way – you’re on your own!” Natalie called back, laughing. “You think I’m any match for a lion?”
“Grrrrrr!” Faith growled, baring her teeth.
Natalie laughed, but she felt her face flush as she saw Casey turn toward her from the corner of her eye.
“I hope they didn’t wake you up,” he called to her as he began to walk toward her.
Natalie swallowed as she looked at him – he was dressed in worn jeans and a flannel shirt, rolled up to his elbows to expose his thick, muscular forearms. Not that the shirt did much to hide the bulge of his biceps or pecs, anyway. Stubble clung to the strong arch of his jaw. In the morning light, his eyes looked almost caramel-colored, and she found herself staring into them, unable to look away.
“No, no, not at all,” she stammered. “I was just…”
She was suddenly highly aware that she was still wearing her robe, her bare feet sticking out of the bottom of her pajama pants.
So much for looking more put together this morning, she thought, as she felt her face beginning to color.
“I only just woke up now,” she finally finished, trying to sound as dignified as she possibly could in these circumstances. “And honestly, even if they had woken me up, I wouldn’t have minded.” She looked out to where Micah and Faith were now leaning over one of the bushes, earnestly examining something that had caught their eye. “It’s just so good to see Micah so happy.”
She had murmured the words without thinking. Embarrassed, she glanced at Casey, but there was nothing but understanding in his eyes.
“This is a great place to grow up,” he said. “I know you�
��ll love it out here. Both of you.”
Natalie swallowed. He’s talking as if we’ll be here permanently, when I don’t even know if I’m going to get the job yet.
Casey looked suddenly sheepish, as if he realized what he’d said. “I’ve got a couple of coffees over on the side there,” he said quickly. “I thought you might need some this morning, after your long trip. C’mon.”
Natalie wordlessly followed him to where two steaming mugs of coffee waited for them on a small table on the porch.
He brings Micah an apple and me a coffee? Is this guy for real?
“Here you go.” Casey turned back to her, holding out one of the mugs.
Natalie stared at the coffee a moment before her brain started working again. “Oh – oh, thank you.”
“I wasn’t sure how you take it,” Casey said. “So… it’s black.”
“That’s fine. I’ve never been a milk and sugar type of woman.”
Stop flirting with him, Natalie told herself firmly as she reached out for the cup. Nothing could be less appropriate.
But then, as she reached out for the coffee, once again their fingers brushed – just as they had when he’d taken the handle of her case the day before. And once again, she felt that strange spark of electricity between them, and their eyes met.
Natalie gasped, blinking, and snatched back her hand as if she’d been burned – and sent the coffee spilling over her hand, and over the clean white wood of the porch.
“Oh, no,” Natalie said, flustered. “I’m sorry – I’m supposed to be the cleaner, and here I am, making even more of a mess –”
Casey laughed, but Natalie couldn’t help but notice it sounded a little breathless. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve got a cloth here – it’s an easy fix.”
He started to lean down, a greasy rag in his hand, while Natalie bit her lip. His touch had sent a strange thrill through her – one she had never known before. And furthermore, by the way he had looked at her, she knew that Casey had felt it too.
“Let me help you,” she said, suddenly realizing she was standing and staring while he cleaned up the mess she’d made. Kneeling, she took a Kleenex from the pocket of her robe and got to wiping the coffee up. “This isn’t the best impression to be making on my first day. I must seem like a total klutz.”
Casey looked up at her, and for the first time, she realized how close they were to each other, kneeling together like this.
“What? No – don’t say that,” he said, the words coming in a rush. “It was – you were just surprised, that’s all.”
Natalie blinked.
Surprised by… the spark between us?
That was what she wanted to ask. But she held herself back.
Professional relationship, she reminded herself. That’s why I’m here.
But somehow, under Casey’s intense gaze, the words receded and became muddled.
“Natalie, I –” Casey licked his lips, his eyes focused on hers, the task of wiping up the coffee totally forgotten.
The only thought in her head now was how close their heads were, and how little she would have to move in order to kiss him. She watched as his eyes moved down to her lips, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.
Natalie had never felt so drawn to someone in all her life. It would be so simple to close the space between them, so simple to just press her lips to his and kiss him…
What’s happening to me?
Natalie’s head spun. She wasn’t usually like this. Staid, sensible, hard-working. That was how she thought of herself. Not one to lose her head over a man.
But now…
Casey’s lips parted, and she drew in a soft breath.
“Natalie, I… I think we need to talk about a few things.”
Casey’s voice sounded strained, and when she dropped her eyes to his hands, she saw they were bunched into tight fists.
Swallowing, Natalie forced herself to laugh. “Yeah – you’re probably right about that.”
Casey nodded, his eyes intense. “This may seem like a strange question, Natalie, but… do you know what shifters are?”
That word again, Natalie thought, frowning. Faith had said it yesterday, too. Are you shifters too? What do you turn into?
“I – I don’t think I understand,” she said, slowly. “What are you talking about?”
Casey pulled in a deep breath. “Honestly, Natalie, I know this might sound crazy, but –”
“Mooooooooom!”
Whatever he was about to say, he was cut off by Micah’s sudden yell.
Her heart in her throat, Natalie shot to her feet, looking frantically out over the yard. Had Micah or Faith fallen? Had one of them gotten hurt? Had –
The rush of her thoughts came to a sudden, screeching halt, as her mouth popped open. Micah was fine. He was standing in the middle of the yard, eyes wide, mouth even wider.
“Oh –” Natalie gasped, her hand going to her mouth.
At first, she’d thought Faith had disappeared.
And in a sense, she supposed, she had.
Where Faith had been standing not a moment before, there was now a puddle of clothes – and sitting amongst them was a small, squalling lion cub.
Chapter Six
Natalie
Natalie clutched her cup of coffee as if it was a lifeline as she sat in the lounge area of the B&B, gazing around her in a daze.
Faith had turned back into a little girl – and seemed completely unfazed by what had just happened to her. In fact, she seemed positively joyous as she wriggled in the arms of a tall woman with dark red hair, who Natalie vaguely remembered had introduced herself as Charity.
“Did you see me, Mommy? I shifted! I did it!” Faith bounced in her mother’s lap, all energy and squealing glee.
“Yes, honey, I saw,” Charity cooed down at her, smoothing the girl’s riotous blonde curls. “Your first shift – it’s amazing, sweetheart. You can tell your daddy all about it when he gets home tonight. My little shifter!”
Natalie felt her head spinning. Shift… shifter… is this what Casey was trying to me?
“I’m sorry, Natalie.”
As if he had read her mind, Natalie turned at the sound of Casey’s voice beside her. He ran a hand through his sun-bleached hair, his face twisted in frustration.
“This isn’t how I wanted you to find out about this. Truly. I was… I was trying to tell you.”
Natalie licked her lips, glancing down at where Micah was sitting at her feet. He didn’t seem overly concerned – in fact, he was looking at his new friend with a fairly undisguised envy.
“She… she turned into a lion cub. Didn’t she?” Natalie said, and immediately felt foolish. Though under the circumstances, she felt that she was within her rights to ask stupid questions.
Casey nodded. “Yes. That’s… that’s how it works.” He shook his head. “Dammit, I’m terrible at explaining this stuff.”
“Can you do that too?” Natalie blurted out. “Is that… is that why you asked me if I knew what shifters were?”
Casey pulled in a deep breath. “Yes. I can do that too. Everyone in my family can. It’s… genetic, I guess. Is that how you’d describe it?”
“Yes, that’s right,” Charity broke in from where she sat across the room. She turned slightly to look at Natalie, and smiled. “I realize this must be a lot to take in. I know it was for me, too – even though I already knew a little about shifters before I met Mason.”
Natalie swallowed. “You – you’re not – you can’t – ?”
Charity shook her head, still smiling. “No. I’m as human as you are. We weren’t sure if Faith here would inherit her father’s shifter genes or my human ones, though as she got older we were pretty sure she would be able to shift. I guess now we know for sure.”
“I shifted!” Faith giggled, wriggling on her mother’s lap.
“I know you did, honey,” Charity said. “How about you go over there and play with Micah now? Just while mommy t
alks to Natalie and Uncle Casey.” She looked over at Natalie. “That is, if you don’t mind.”
Natalie glanced down at Micah, to see his pleading eyes looking up at her. “Can I play with Faith some more? Pleeeease?”
He didn’t seem to have been at all frightened by what had happened. He had always been sensible and quiet, and, like a lot of the other things in his life, he just seemed to have accepted what had happened without letting it trouble him.
But still, it is a lion cub…
Still unsure, she looked up at Charity. Charity nodded, seeming to understand.
“Faith, can you promise not to shift again for a little while? At least until Daddy gets home? I’m sure he’ll want to see. You can wait until then, can’t you?”
Faith pouted, starting to complain, but on seeing the no-nonsense expression on her mother’s face she quickly stopped. “Okaaaaay.”
“All right, sweetheart. Just go over to the corner there. I’ll come get you, okay?”
Natalie watched as Micah and Faith bounced across to the corner of the room, where there was a big basket of toys for visiting children. In no time at all they were engrossed in a new game, building a castle out of Lego blocks.
“I know you must have a lot of questions,” Charity said. “And Casey and I will do our best to answer them. Like I said, I’m human – I can’t turn into anything, let alone a lion.”
Natalie bit her lip, before glancing at Casey. “Does that mean that you…?”
“Turn into a lion? Yes.” He nodded, his eyes on hers. “Everyone in my family can. My father, my brother, my cousins – we’re all lion shifters. We’ve lived on these lands for generations. They’re our pridelands.”
“Lions can get a little territorial,” Charity laughed on seeing Natalie’s questioning look. “But once someone is part of the pride, they’ll always look after them. If you’re part of the pride, you’ll always be protected and supported.”
Natalie blinked, and, almost despite herself, felt an ache of longing in her chest.
Protected and supported.
Everything she hadn’t felt over the past ten years.
She’d had no one to help her – no one to protect her when she’d felt scared, and no one to support her when either she or Micah had been sick, or to make sure the bills were paid on time.