Cool Nights, Hot Dreams: Wolves of Aurora 1

by Athena Blaez

  “Yeah. Look I know I called at a bad time. Can I come by and talk?”

  “Um...sure. Sure. Could you do me a favor and run by the hardware store?”

  Ryder couldn’t even begin to speculate why he needed to get two sheets of plywood from the store until he drove by the shop looking for a parking place. There were already two large sheets hung where the windows used to be.

  The young man who worked next door in the psychic shop was standing on a stepladder while Sean’s employee helped to hold up the wood.

  “Need some help?” he asked as he walked up.

  “Please. My arms are getting tired and Jeremy is taking forever.”

  Ryder stepped up and relieved her of holding duty. “I got it.”

  “My savior.” Katrina shook her arms out. “I’ll let Sean know you’re here.”

  Once she stepped back inside, Ryder looked up. “What happened?”

  “Someone robbed the shop last night.”

  “Last night…” This couldn’t be a coincidence.

  “Hey, what happened to Bryan. He never showed up today. We really could have used his help.”

  Ryder squinted up at Jeremy. “Sean didn’t tell you?”

  “I’ve been out here for the past two hours.”

  “Bryan was killed last night.”

  Ryder barely had time to dodge the drill as it fell from Jeremy’s grasp. “He what?”

  “I don’t know the time of death yet but apparently he was killed last night. Some hikers found his body late this morning.”

  “Holy shit.” Jeremy covered his mouth. He was shaking.

  “Hey, are you…are you okay? Maybe you need to come down.”

  Ryder helped steady the other man as Jeremy climbed off the ladder.

  “Hey, Ry—Jeremy, are you okay?”

  Jeremy sat on the stepladder, taking huge gulps of air. “Did Ryder already tell you?”

  “He called earlier. I didn’t think it was a good idea to talk on the phone.”

  Jeremy gave Sean a look. “So you didn’t say anything? Jesus, Sean. He needs to know.”

  Sean grabbed Jeremy by the shoulder and guided him into the shop. “I will tell him, Jeremy. Come inside. Katrina, can I have you make a donut run?”

  “Sure, Sean. What’s wrong with him?”

  “His blood sugar is low.” Jeremy sagged on the stool in front of the counter, now almost fully encased not in glass but plywood. Ryder stood back while Sean sorted Katrina and Jeremy out.

  Once she was out of the shop, Sean pulled out two more stools for them all to have a seat.

  “What’s up, Sean?”

  “Last night, I had a dream.”

  Ryder sat in silence while Sean related what he had seen in his dream. Knowing what had happened with Sean and a dream before, Ryder was not going to dismiss this out of hand as a coincidence. There was too much there. It was like the air grew thick in the shop, making it hard to concentrate.

  He stood and began to pace. Pacing helped Ryder think better. “Did the police get any fingerprints?”

  Sean shook his head. “I don’t know. I’m sure they won’t tell me unless it’s relevant. Do you think they’re related?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Jeremy was glaring at Sean. “You didn’t tell him everything.”

  “It’s not relevant.”

  “You don’t know that, Sean. None of this is coincidence. There’s an ill wind blowing. I can feel it.”

  Ryder glanced curiously at Jeremy. That was an odd thing to say.

  “He really is psychic,” Sean said with a head tilt towards Jeremy. “Empath.”

  “Oh.” Ryder wasn’t sure where to file that. For many years, he believed that the only supernatural in the town of Aurora were the shifters. It was now looking like the supernatural ran a little deeper than anyone realized.

  “You don’t believe me,” Jeremy accused.

  “If you’re an empath, you’ll know that’s not true,” Ryder said calmly. “I’m just…a little surprised. That’s all. So what else happened?”

  Sean sighed. “My father was here and there was a man with him. A man that has Jeremy spooked.”

  “The guy was evil. Pure evil.”

  “Did you get a look at him?” Ryder asked.

  Sean and Jeremy both shook their heads.

  “Did you tell Sheriff Bradley?”

  “Not yet.” Sean smoothed his hand along the top of the counter, now a plank of plywood and not glass. “Before you say anything, I can’t afford to close the shop, okay? I need the income now more than ever. So closing is not an option.”

  “I’m uneasy about this, Sean,” Ryder said in a slow, careful voice. He was treading on slippery ground. He certainly had no rights to intervene or even give advice. They had only just recently met.

  “See? I’m not the only one,” Jeremy butted in. “I swear, Sean, you didn’t…that guy is trouble and he’s leading your father deep into a dark place.” He held up his hands to stop Sean’s protests. “I know you don’t give a shit about your father, but he is still your father and he’s still married to your mother.”

  Sean sagged against the counter. “I know.”

  “Sean.” Ryder caught his elbow. “Maybe I can help.”

  “No,” came the emphatic reply. “I do not need your money,” Sean snarled out.

  Jeremy sat, wide-eyed at Ryder. “Sean, I think you should hear him out.”

  “What the fuck, Jeremy.” Sean stood so suddenly it tipped his stool over.

  “Sean, I’m not offering money. I’m offering…protection.” He glanced over at Jeremy and saw the concern in the man’s eyes. If he had Jeremy’s support, maybe Sean would listen.

  “This is stupid. And you’re both paranoid. Now,” Sean picked up the stool and slammed it down on its legs. “I have a shop to get ready to open. Either you help, or get out.”

  “Paranoid?” Ryder planted his feet wide and he crossed his arms. “Then explain the stitches in your head.”

  Sean whirled around and jabbed a finger in Ryder’s chest. “An unfortunate side effect of having met you.”

  “You don’t mean that,” Ryder said.

  “The hell I don’t.”

  Chapter 9

  The words were out of Sean’s mouth before he could stop them. To Ryder’s credit, he didn’t react at all. He just stood there, an immovable wall that hurt his finger when he jabbed at that nicely cut chest.

  Sean shook his hand and backed away.

  “I’m going to check on things in my shop.” Jeremy slid from the stool. Sean hated that look in his friend’s eyes.

  The look that said Sean was being an ass.

  Sean did that from time to time. Like…now, for instance.

  Neither he nor Ryder moved as Jeremy left. The silence was uncomfortable, damn near to the point of maddening.

  Ryder finally moved, dropping his arms and stepping until he was all up in Sean’s personal space. Damn, the man was fine. Far away and close up. The firm hands that closed down over his shoulders almost made Sean cave and fall into his arms. He knew there he’d find safety and comfort.

  Which was exactly what he didn’t want.

  “Why won’t you take my help?”

  Sean opened and closed his mouth several times. Each time was an effort to come up with a reason, and each time nothing came out. He sat down again. “When my father left me and my mother, I vowed that I’d never need anyone ever again. He left when we needed him and he couldn’t stop being…who he was. We were better off when he left but it was hard. For a long time. There was no help for us then. Not from his family or hers. Just me and Mom and we made it just fine, thank you.”

  “It’s admirable and a testament to what a fine person you are, Sean. You’re living your life to take care of your mother. But you know there’s something wrong here. Your friend is understandably upset by all this. If he’s half the empath you say he is, you might want to take his counsel on this.”

&nb
sp; Damn, even hearing the rumbling calm in Ryder’s voice was relaxing. “It could all be nothing.”

  “Do you really think that? Have you ever had a dreamwalking experience that ever turned out to be nothing?”

  God, the man had a good memory, too. Sean exhaled slowly and tipped forward to rest his forehead in the middle of Ryder’s back. He even smelled nice. Like he’d been outside all day in the fresh air. “It’s rare,” he admitted. “Ryder, answer me this. You saw Bryan’s body?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What was he wearing?”

  “Jeans, a sweatshirt. Hoodie, I think.”

  “Color?”

  “Red, and not from the blood.”

  Sean wanted to crawl in a hole and draw the earth over on top of him. Why was this happening to him? Why now when his mother needed him most? Why, when his father was sniffing around like a snake in the grass?

  “So, what kind of protection were you talking about?” Sean leaned back and looked up at Ryder. The concern on the man’s face was touching. He gave Ryder half a smile. “Will you come sit with me all day?”

  “If I have to, yes. But I have people I can tap to come keep an eye on you.”

  “Will they work in the shop? I really can’t afford to pay anyone.” Sean spread his hands and gestured around the shop. “Especially now.”

  “That’s something you won’t worry about. I’ll take care of it. And if you don’t want them to be obvious in your shop, then they can disappear.” Ryder lifted Sean’s chin so their eyes met. “We have experience in blending in.”

  Sean let out a small laugh. “I guess you do. Fine,” he said with a final sigh. “Sure. Watch me. I’ll try not to be weirded out that people are watching my every move.”

  “When I close up my place for the day, I’ll come get you and take you home. You can introduce me to your mother.”

  “Oh hell no. No mother introducing. You’re just looking to weasel in. Make my mother like you. Then I’ll never get rid of you.”

  Ryder dragged Sean into a hug. It was unexpected but not unwelcome. Sean wrapped his arms around Ryder’s waist, falling into the solid wall of an embrace. Standing there with this man wrapped around him, Sean really did believe that the world had been shut out and all that remained were the two of them.

  Calm settled over Sean. Peace. Safety. Things Sean only felt when he was with his mother.

  “I brought Jeremy some chocolate filled—hello,” Katrina said as she entered the shop. “Sorry to interrupt this Hallmark moment, Sean.”

  “It’s fine, Kat,” Sean said. He reluctantly released Ryder, who stepped back. “We were just talking.”

  “Just talking,” she repeated skeptically. “I’ll remember that when my daughter is old enough to start dating. Do I need to give you two some more time?”

  “No,” Ryder said. His smile was boyish and a little embarrassed. God, how was it this man was able to smile like that and make Sean’s knees weak? “I need to make some arrangements. I’ll be in touch and I’ll come get you tonight for dinner.”

  “Dinner?” Sean said weakly.

  Ryder thumbed at Sean’s chin, his eyes fixated on Sean’s mouth, which made him subconsciously lick his lips. “Later. Call if you need anything.”

  “Right. Call.” Sean stood there staring after Ryder until he disappeared from view.

  “Woooow,” Katrina drawled from somewhere behind Sean. “You got it bad, buddy.”

  Sean shook his head, then turned to see her smiling smugly at him. “Oh stop,” he finally said. “You’re as bad as Jeremy.”

  “You can’t be mad at us for noticing the obvious.” Katrina looked out the door when Ryder drove by in his truck with a honk and a wave. “He is kind of cute.”

  “He’s pushy. And demanding. And—”

  “Looks very nice from behind.” Katrina unpacked the bag of pastries and set the coffee cups out on the counter. “And from the front. I bet his sideways looks good too.”

  “You’re incorrigible.”

  “Sugar?” Jeremy appeared in the door of the shop. He lifted his nose and sniffed. “And coffee?”

  “Come get it. Sean has another date with Ryder tonight.”

  “Oh!” Jeremy looked a little better than when he left. “So you two were able to work it out?”

  “Work it out what?” Katrina leaned across the counter. “Did we have a lover’s spat? Was that what I walked in on?”

  “Oh dish, girl. Dish. What did you walk in on?”

  Sean grimaced at the two of them. “That’s enough, you guys. We still have work to do before I can open the doors for business.”

  “He’s such a meanie,” Jeremy said, tearing into his donut.

  “Imagine working for him.”

  Sean ignored them and headed for the office. He had a dozen calls to make before he went home.

  There wasn’t much more for Katrina to do so he cut her loose early for the day. Jeremy finally went back to his shop to deal with his own customers. The silence in the shop was disconcerting. Being alone made the skin along the back of his neck crawl.

  At any moment, he expected to see his father in the door again with his cryptic threats.

  When Sean hit the wall, where all he was doing was sweeping the same section of floor over and over, he knew it was time to close for the day. He hadn’t had a shower and was feeling every scratch of grit and grime, irritating beneath his shirt. His head still throbbed but not as badly as before.

  He locked the door and pulled his new security gate closed to latch it. At least he had managed to get that done before he left for the day. The plywood for windows wasn’t optimum but hopefully whoever broke in, and he firmly believed it was his father, believed they stole everything that had value and wouldn’t be back.

  It was still daylight, which made him feel marginally safer walking home. He knew he had a shadow. When he stopped to try to catch sight of whomever Ryder had sent, Sean saw no one. They were good, whoever they were. Maybe Ryder was telling the truth about his kind’s ability to blend in. To disappear.

  Being home early afforded him the chance to cook dinner for his mother for a change and to see to her comfort before he dragged himself up the stairs for a shower. The spray of warm water as it beat over his shoulders felt so damned good. His eyes grew heavy in the wet heat. He spared a moment of mild regret that he couldn’t wash his hair. He did the best he could in cleaning his hair and scalp. In the end, he hoped Ryder wouldn’t notice.

  He texted Ryder on his way down the stairs to pick him up at home.

  “Are you going out with your young man again?” his mom asked from the comfort of her recliner. The TV screen flickered with some PBS station historical drama. His mother always did love those shows.

  “For a little while. I won’t be out too late.”

  “I hope you don’t rush home early on my account.” She reached out for his hand.

  He took it and sat on the chair arm. “You look tired, Mom.”

  “I could say the same for you. What were you and Jeremy doing at 4 a.m. this morning? For that matter, why are you home so early?”

  “We had some business to handle,” he said vaguely.

  She squeezed his hand hard. “Don’t try to mollycoddle me, Sean Emmanuel Hastings. I’m your mother. I know when you’re not being truthful.”

  “Ouch. Middle name,” Sean said with a smile. “And I don’t want to worry you.”

  “It comes with the job description. Out with it.”

  So, for the second time that day, Sean explained what he’d dreamed, how he’d been hit in the dream and brought it out with him into the waking world. The break-in. Even how his father had shown up, and their two conversations.

  Her face grew dark and her eyes flashed. “You don’t think he’ll be trouble, do you?”

  “When is he not, Mom?” Sean kissed her hand before he released it. “Do you want me to stay home?”

  “Absolutely not!” She lifted her chin proudly. “I want
you to go out and have a good time. He won’t be back for a while, anyway.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because he got what he wanted. A fresh infusion of cash.”

  Sean was immensely grateful that his mother was not blinded by her former love of the man she still had to call husband, even though he hadn’t been one for decades. She felt no loyalty or love for him at all. He was, at least, assured that she wouldn’t fall beneath his spell.

  She cupped Sean’s cheek. “I am perfectly capable of calling the police if anyone suspicious lurks around.”

  Headlights flashed across the living room as a truck pulled into the driveway. Sean kissed her forehead. “That’s my ride. You call if you need anything.”

  “The only thing I need is for you not to forget my doctor’s appointment tomorrow so don’t be so hung over that you’re useless. Have a good time, honey.”

  “Don’t wait up.” Sean kissed her again and locked the door behind him as he went out to the truck.

  Ryder was half-way out of the cab when Sean met him in the drive. “I was just coming to get you,” he said.

  “Can I have you do me a favor?” Sean asked when he came to a stop in front of Ryder.

  “If it’s in my power, I’ll do whatever you need.”

  “The shadow you had for me, can they stay here and keep an eye on my mom? Since I’ll be with you, I don’t need a bodyguard.”

  “Consider it done.” Ryder smoothed a thumb over Sean’s chin, guiding him in for a kiss. Sean leaned forward and pressed his mouth lightly on Ryder’s before rocking back. His stomach fluttered crazily when Ryder gazed at him. “Do you have any preference for dinner?”

  “Edible. Preferably nonpoisonous. I haven’t eaten since the donut run Katrina made.” Sean circled around the truck, his gaze sweeping around the neighborhood. Nothing seemed out of place. It was just the typical middle-class America neighborhood. A resident from across the street waved cheerily on his way to the mailbox. Next door, a family was doing the keystone cop drill of getting all the kids in the minivan for some trip out. Everything looked normal and calm, even though Sean felt his life was completely out of his control and as far from normal or calm as any life could get.