by Vella Day
“I didn’t want you to need something in the middle of the night and find the place empty. Safe or not, when you’re alone in a strange place, it can be scary.”
Did he speak from experience? Had he woken up in some hellhole and been alone? As much as she wanted to know the answer, learning too much about him would make it harder to leave when the time came. “Thank you.”
He glanced over at her and smiled, causing her body to nearly swoon.
You can’t leave now. He’s your mate, her wolf reminded her.
Just watch me, she shot back. If Sam is my mate, I don’t want trouble to find him too.
That’s a lame excuse, her wolf responded. You’re just scared.
Maybe I am. Now butt out.
A phone rang and she automatically looked for her purse, only to remember she’d had no reason to bring it. She wasn’t about to use any traceable credit cards either. Sam pressed a button on the dash. “What’s up?”
“I contacted my brother, and Devon said he’d catch an afternoon flight to Vermont.”
Her heart nearly stopped. What was this man planning to do? Tell Justin where she was? Or confront him? Neither scenario would end well.
“That’s great. I appreciate it. Keep me posted,” Sam said.
“Will do. Watch over Lexi, and tell her this will be over soon.”
“I will.” Sam disconnected and glanced over at her. “You okay with us butting into your affairs?”
Chapter Four
‡
After learning how aggressive Lexi was, he and Connor should have asked her permission first, before interfering in her life, but it was too late now; Devon was already on his way to Vermont.
“Depends on what this Devon person plans to do. Will he approach Justin?” she asked.
Clearly, she had no idea what he and his company did. “No. Devon will be gathering information on the side, trying to find out what Kapok is up to. If your stalker is planning to come after you, we’ll know about it in advance.” Her eyes lit up, making him want to do nice things for her every day just to see that expression.
“Really? That’s awesome. I’ll never be able to thank you.”
Being willing to stay here will be thanks enough. Not voicing his thoughts, Sam continued to head down Maple Avenue toward the Silver Lake Café, hoping it wasn’t too busy on a Sunday morning. Between church not letting out for another half hour and the fresh snowfall, he figured the place wouldn’t be packed.
Wanting Lexi to have a good sense of the town, Sam pointed to the restaurant with the red awning. “There’s Nate’s Pizzeria where Connor picked up the food from last night.”
“That pizza was fantastic. I’ll be stopping by there in the future.”
The word future had a nice ring to it. “Have you contacted your brother to let him know you’re okay?” She seemed smart about not using credit cards, but was she willing to cut off all communications?
“No. I didn’t want anyone to be able to trace my phone. Or is that an old wives’ tale perpetuated by the movie industry?”
He liked her quick mind. “No, phones can be traced. It takes some equipment and some know-how to do it, but you were smart not to call.” McKinnon and Associates had a burner phone, but he’d wait until he heard back from Devon before offering it to her. Her brother might convince her to return home, claiming he could protect her. For many reasons, Sam was against that idea.
“I can’t email either.” She slumped down in her seat, and Sam ached for her. He’d been in a few situations overseas where their communication devices had been down, and that really sucked. For the first month after he returned from that war torn zone, he’d had dreams of bombs going off and then learning that his communication devices were down, preventing him from warning his team to keep back.
“Just lay low for a few more days. Once we gather some intel, we’ll know how to proceed.”
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this. I can never repay you.”
Oh, yes you can. “Staying safe is payment enough.”
Sam understood that he’d have to take it slow between them. Even though Lexi had shown she was capable of letting go of her worries for a short while—like when she’d tossed that snowball at him—fear still resided in her eyes. Until Justin Kapok was caught, Sam wouldn’t put any pressure on her.
What if she comes onto me? If they truly were mates, her body would be going crazy with need. Then again, the recent events of the past might be so overwhelming that her mind might not be capable of thinking along those lines.
It was also possible he’d misread the signs about her being his mate. His inability to do mind control on her might have been a fluke. A horn honked, and Sam tapped his brakes.
He might not be in the service any longer, but he was still a soldier at heart and should be capable of staying on task regardless of what was happening around him. Right. Just being with Lexi distracted him.
“Here we are,” he said with as much cheer as he could muster. He had to park three blocks from the restaurant. “Church is still in session, which means they’ve taken up every available space.” He nodded to the building across the street.
“That’s okay. Since the wind isn’t blowing, I’d rather walk anyway. The suite is beautiful, but it can be a bit claustrophobic at times. I’m a true lover of light and the outdoors.”
“I understand, but having no windows in a safe place is a necessary evil.” He jumped out of his truck and rushed over to her side. Before he could open her door, Lexi had already slipped out, clearly not used to chivalry. “Watch your step. Ice can form under the snow.”
She laughed. “Remember, I’m from Vermont. I’m used to this stuff.”
He hadn’t been thinking, and that was a first for him. Lexi must be emitting some kind of blocking signal that prevented all rational thought.
Once they reached the restaurant, Sam managed to open the door before Lexi could reach the wooden handle. Inside, noise filled the small space. Surprisingly, the café was fairly packed. Damn. He hoped they didn’t have a long wait. While he had a ton of questions he wanted to ask her, Sam decided it might be better to let her lead the discussion since she had no real reason to trust him yet.
Tangie Anderson, the hostess, smiled up at him from her podium. She’d asked him out numerous times, but Sam had always turned her down, stating he was in the middle of a case and didn’t have time. The last thing he needed right now was for one of his sister’s friends to flirt with him or make a scene.
Wanting to show Tangie that he and Lexi were together, he placed a hand on Lexi’s back. “Table for two.”
The light in Tangie’s eyes dimmed. She then checked the paper on her stand. “Sure, follow me.”
She led them to a booth in the back, which was perfect for having a private conversation. He motioned that Lexi slide in first and then he sat across from her.
“Connie will be your server.” Tangie spun around and headed back, wiggling her hips, probably hoping to entice him. Poor woman didn’t stand a chance.
“I need to confess something,” Lexi said, looking off to the side.
His chest tightened, immediately thinking she might have made up some detail in her story. Hopefully that wasn’t the case, especially since several of Connor’s men were working to help her. “About what?”
“My last name isn’t Daniels. That was my mom’s maiden name. My real name is Lexi Laramie.”
He repeated her name in his head, liking the way it rolled off his tongue. “Okay. I’ll let Connor know. Anything else?”
“No.”
Asking her why she lied wasn’t necessary. If he’d been in her shoes, he might not have told the truth right away either. She’d come clean possibly because she trusted him, and that made his chest swell with pride.
Their server came over and they both ordered coffee. “So what do you do when you’re not saving runaway women?” she asked, seemingly relieved at having cleared the air.
&nbs
p; Sam laughed at her description of him. “As I mentioned, I was in the service. I returned to Silver Lake less than a year ago, and I’m still trying to adjust to civilian life. When Connor learned of my talent, he offered me a job, and I’ve been trying to hone my craft ever since.”
“Connor sounds like a great guy. He gave you a chance, and now, he’s helping me too.”
Sam was pleased she understood how close people were in this town. “He is.”
“If you work all the time, what do you do for fun?”
To be honest, Sam was a bit surprised she wanted to learn anything about him, especially since her goal was to leave town as soon as possible. He suspected that she was just making small talk, but he was happy to tell her anything she wanted to know. “I enjoy physical activities. In the summer months I run, and in winter I like to snowboard. Growing up, I hiked all the time.”
Her eyes widened. “Hmm. I pictured you as the type to be at the rifle range every weekend, even when you were still in school and had to study.”
He laughed at her image of him. “I won’t deny I spent time practicing those skills, but I was a bit reckless until I enlisted. Hell, my buddies and I did crap that was way too dangerous. Back then, I thought I was invincible.”
She smiled. “That sounds like Ronan.”
“Ronan?”
“My brother. He’s three years older than me and is fearless—or rather he was fearless when we were growing up. Now, he’s a lot more cautious.”
From the way she spoke of her brother, she was very fond of him. “What does he do for a living?”
“He’s a bounty hunter.”
Sam refrained from showing any enthusiasm, but inside he was thrilled. It meant Lexi would understand if he had to be called out in the middle of the night on some assignment—not that she’d be staying he reminded himself. Men like her brother put their lives on the line every day, just like Sam.
“Excellent. Has he ever been able to use his wolf to take down a perpetrator?” Sam made sure to keep his voice low to prevent anyone from overhearing.
Her brows furrowed, and she glanced to the side. “I have no idea. I don’t think it’s something he would tell me. He thinks I’d worry too much, which I would. Even though our Clan isn’t very large, we want to make sure we aren’t found out. So far, the townsfolk are blissfully unaware of werewolves.”
“Our residents don’t know that wolves, bears, or tigers exist either.”
She mouthed wolves and bears and tigers. “Oh, my!”
He chuckled. “I can see I have to bring you up to speed.” Sam leaned forward and, once more, made sure to keep his voice low. “Connor is a wolf, but Jackson, another member of our team, is a bear. His brother’s partner in the sheriff’s department is a tiger. Kip, the last member of the team is a Wendayan. Kip and I are the only two who aren’t shifters. We both have unique talents that help us foil the bad guys however.”
Just then the server returned with their coffees. “Have you two decided?”
Sam planned to order his usual, but he motioned Lexi to go first.
“Two eggs over easy, two strips of bacon, and an English muffin please,” she said.
The server jotted it down. “For you Sam?”
“My usual.”
Connie nodded and headed back to the kitchen. “If you eat here a lot,” Lexi said, “how do you stay so fit?”
He patted his stomach. “That’s sweet of you to say.” In reality, he was thrilled she noticed. “I like to work out. I think I mentioned that Connor’s father built a gym in the basement so we could stay fit. Part of the space is for sparring and is large enough to accommodate the shifters to exercise their animals as well.”
“That is impressive.”
“When we have to fight the Changelings, it’s often in animal form for those that can shift.”
She held up her hands then glanced around. “Changelings?”
“Shh.”
“Sorry.”
“When we’re back at the office, I’ll tell you about them.”
“I can’t wait.”
Sam appreciated her enthusiasm.
Their meal arrived and they both dug in. He liked that Lexi had a good appetite. Too many women worried about their weight, but not her. Lexi was perfect.
“Mmm, this is so good.” She moaned, and just like that his cock hardened.
Sam’s thoughts turned to what sounds she’d make in the throes of passion, and thankfully, he was able to control his blue sparks.
Not wanting to discuss shifters any more, he changed the subject. “Have you ever been snowmobiling?”
Her eyes widened once more. “Not since I was a kid. One of my friend’s dad used to take both of us into the hills on the weekends. We always had a blast.”
Sam bet they’d have a better time. If he could show her what Silver Lake had to offer, she might reconsider her dream of walking on the Florida beaches.
He pulled out his phone. “Let me see if I can borrow one. The day is too perfect not to spend it outside.”
“I thought you wanted to show me the ropes, so to speak.”
She really seemed intent on doing a good job. “We can do that later.”
Lexi sipped her coffee, looking over the rim of her cup. “Are you spending all this time with me so I won’t be alone, or because you’re trying to take my mind off of my stalker?”
Sam winked at her. “How about if I just want to cut loose and have a carefree day? My sister and parents are always complaining that all I do is work.”
Lexi smiled and hope filled him. “Then I say we have a blast while we can.”
*
Sam was right. Spending the day outside helped take her mind off Justin, but snuggling behind the hunky man caused a whole different set of problems. For starters, blue sparks kept flying everywhere, especially when he’d take a corner a bit too fast, and she had to clutch him tight. Twice her scalp had itched, a precursor to shifting. Had she not been wearing gloves, he might have noticed how her hands had begun to change.
Everything about Sam appealed to her, but eventually he’d end up like so many of the men in her Clan. They would profess to have found their mate, yet within a few years, they would take up with a different human woman. Some had gone through several ladies, and yet these humans never seemed to catch on to what these shifter men were capable of. They just liked what they had to offer.
Her mom claimed this whole fated mate thing was true. Just look at her and Dad, she’d say. In reality, it was a bunch of bullshit. Lexi just wished her wolf would shut up about Sam being her mate and remember all the times she’d been misled by a man. She was the one who was interested in him, not the other way around. His sparks didn’t seem to be shooting off him like they were on her.
Sam suddenly maneuvered the huge machine up a steep slope. “Hang on,” he called back to her.
He didn’t need to worry; her grip was already super tight. Having her chest plastered against his back caused her imagination to go wild. She might not be able to feel the contours of his body with all the material between them, but she could imagine what it would be like to press her breasts against his naked skin.
Mate, her wolf chimed in.
Geesh, Shut up already. It’s bad enough I have to be so close to him. I don’t need you spouting lies. Or was it the truth?
The snowmobile jumped over a small hill, jarring her out of her reverie. She shouldn’t be thinking about Sam in that way. He slowed as he neared the crest, and she lifted her head to see the vista. The snow in the distance sparkled, and the air was still. The snow under them, however, was spraying in every direction, making a pretty vision.
When they reached the top, Sam stopped and cut the engine. Her head still buzzed, and her body vibrated. Lexi couldn’t remember feeling more alive. Sam tapped her leg and she eased off then removed her helmet. The air was cold on her face and ears, but it was refreshing at the same time after the long ride.
Sam took off hi
s helmet and grabbed her hand. “You’ve got to see this view.”
Heart racing from the whole exhilarating experience, she went with the flow and had to take long steps to keep up with him. For once in her life, she told her analytic side to shove it. She was here in Silver Lake for only a short time, and she wanted to enjoy it.
He led her over to where the snow covered trees ended and then pointed to a small area below. “See that empty space to the east?”
“Where the trees just seem to stop?”
“Yes. That’s Silver Lake.”
Part of her wished she could see it in the summer. She bet it would be beautiful. “I guess the town should have a lake if it was named after one.”
Sam smiled. “Indeed.” He retrieved the backpack from the compartment under the seat. “There’s a small cave down a ways where we can have our picnic.”
“There’s a cave, as in a place where bats live?”
He laughed. “I never thought you’d be afraid of a blind bat.”
“I’m not…okay maybe a little. They kind of creep me out when I’m in my human form.”
“Then I guess I’ll just have to protect you if they attack.”
Lexi shivered, despite believing he would. She followed Sam for about six hundred feet along the ridge. “I feel like I’m in heaven up here,” she said, looking all around. Being so high up made her believe no one could harm her.
“I feel the same way.”
When they reached the outcroppings, Sam stepped through a three-foot wide slit in the rocks, and she followed right behind him. The moment she entered the cave, the outside noises ceased to exist. The only sounds were their footsteps echoing off the stone walls.
“I didn’t expect it to be so much warmer in here.” She guessed there was about twenty degrees difference from when they’d been out in the open.
He turned halfway around. “That’s why I picked it. The rocks block the wind.”
She wished she could have seen the color of his eyes to judge his mood, but there was barely enough light to see her feet. At least she had her shifter sight, which made her wonder how Sam didn’t trip.