by Athena Blaez
Devan finished his beer and rose to his feet. McBride waved Devan off when he pulled out his wallet. “These were on me, boys. I probably wasn’t much help to you,” and McBride stood to follow them out to the truck.
“You were. I don’t know if this has any bearing on the death of my pup,” Ryder said, “but there’s something going on and nothing seems to be fitting together.”
“If Charlie’s around, he’s involved.” McBride shook their hands and backed up so they could get in Devan’s truck. “Keep me updated if you can. I don’t want trouble spilling over this way, so your problem is my problem. You can reach me here,” and he handed them both a card.
“Thanks, Gage. We’ll be in touch if we learn anything,” Devan said, hanging his hat in the cab of his truck before climbing in behind the wheel.
Ryder didn’t know what to think about what they’d learned, if they had learned anything at all. But the shadowy figure behind Ernie Hasting’s sudden reappearance couldn’t be coincidence.
He didn’t like any of this at all. There were too many disparate pieces in motion that weren’t making any sense.
Chapter 11
“How was your mom’s doctor’s visit?” Katrina whizzed around the counter to store her purse.
“You didn’t say anything about the new windows out front,” Sean said, pointing to the front of the shop.
“Oh hello,” she said, looking startled as she noticed the windows for the first time. “When did they do that?”
“This morning.” Sean frowned at his handiwork. They were able to salvage two of the three display cases because he had the old ones after they had been replaced. He applauded himself having the foresight to not get rid of them.
However, now he had to figure out how to cram all the merchandise in without it becoming overcrowded.
Katrina shooed him out of the way and started removing trays. “About your mother?”
“Oh,” Sean stood back to watch Katrina rearrange his morning’s work. Already it was looking more organized. “Not good. Chemo doesn’t seem to be slowing progression down.”
“Sean,” Katrina said, straightening. She pulled him into a hug. “I’m so sorry. How is she taking it?”
“She’s in a good mood. She said in the car that she welcomes finally being relieved of the pain.” Sean took several gulping breaths to keep his focus so he wouldn’t lose it there in the shop.
Katrina cupped his face. “And how are you handling it?”
“Apparently not as well as she is,” Sean said with a watery sigh. “I’m just trying to focus on getting the shop back on its feet.”
“Well, it looks like it’s coming along. And we have customers.”
Sean wiped at his eyes when the door chimed to indicate it had opened.
“Go in the back and make coffee. I heard shouting next door as I came in. An older woman was arguing with Jeremy. No doubt he will be in soon enough to tell you all about the latest drama.” Katrina ran a comforting hand down his back. “I can handle things up here.”
“Thanks, Kat.” Sean kissed her cheek and ducked into the back of his shop to pull himself back together.
He sat at his desk, thumping his cell phone lightly on the calendar blotter. With an accidental swipe of his thumb, he pulled up Ryder’s number. Sean stared at the nine-digit number and almost hit the home button.
Instead, he hit call and held it to his ear while it rang.
“Hey.” Ryder’s voice was low and growly. It was almost as if he felt the vibration go in his ear and down his spine. “How are you?”
“Hanging on. My mother had a doctor’s appointment a couple of days ago.”
“How did it go? I meant to call last night but didn’t get home until late.”
“It went…” Sean trailed off. “Ryder, are you busy tonight? Can I see you?”
“Tell me when to pick you up and I’ll make the time for you.”
Something tight in Sean’s chest unraveled. “I’ll be closing a little early if foot traffic is slow.”
“Same. I’ll give a call before I head over.” Ryder paused. “If it’s okay to sit in your shop with you.”
“I’ll welcome the company. Katrina leaves for home around six so I won’t leave before then.”
“I’ll see you at five minutes after six.”
Sean chuckled. “Door will be open. See you then.” He killed the call and twisted in his chair to see Jeremy standing there in the doorway. Not expecting to see anyone, Sean jerked in sudden realization that he hadn’t heard Jeremy at all.
“Another hot date?”
“Not all that hot.” Sean motioned Jeremy in and cleared off a chair for him to sit.
“Liar. He’s totally hot. If you’re not tapping it, you’re dead or something. Unless…” Jeremy snapped his fingers. “You’re totally doing him in your dreams regularly aren’t you. Kinky—”
“God, you’re incorrigible. Don’t you have more customers to fight with?”
Jeremy kicked his feet out and slouched in the chair. “Nope. Just the one. She called me a charlatan. Me! A fake.” He snorted. “As if. She wanted a refund because I didn’t tell her what she wanted to hear. I could have but…it wasn’t the right thing to do.”
Sean smirked and Jeremy pointed an accusing finger. “Don’t change the subject on me.”
“Which one?” Sean asked innocently.
“The one that you were going to divulge the events of your two dates with the hot wolf-guy.”
“There’s nothing to divulge. We went to dinner twice and just talked.”
“Heaven help me. That’s it?”
“I’m not…it’s not…” Sean threw his hands up. “He’s not pushy and I’m not pushy and we’re just taking things as they come, okay? He’s got shit he’s dealing with and doesn’t need me as a complication.”
Jeremy snorted. “That’s not how dating works, you know.”
“We’re not dating!”
“So what’s this with him coming over after Katrina leaves?”
Sean scrubbed at his face. “Okay, fine. I wanted to see him tonight. Is that alright with you?”
“It’s perfectly fine with me. I’m glad you’re finally getting out of the house.” Jeremy held up his hands. “I know you are taking care of your mother. I told you to call me any time to come sit with her if you were worried about leaving her alone. I’ve been brushing up on my gin game in the hopes that one day I’ll beat her. Dude, you got to give me the chance.”
Sean glanced up at the wall clock. “Would you be willing to do it today and stay overnight?”
Jeremy’s mouth fell open. “Does this mean…”
“Yes. Maybe. I don’t know. I just think…I need some time, that’s all.”
“The doctor didn’t have good news, then?” Jeremy leaned forward to rest his hand on Sean’s arm.
Sean shook his head. He closed his eyes to focus on his breathing. “I’m losing my mom, Jeremy.”
“I know, man. I’m so sorry. Your mom is in safe hands, okay?”
With a nod, Sean opened his eyes and smiled. “You’ve been a good friend, Jeremy Morrison.”
“Gawd,” Jeremy said with a dramatic flop in the chair. “You make it sound like this is the last time. I expect you to tap me more often if you’re gonna keep seeing Ryder. Sean, he’s a good guy from what I’ve picked up from him. And he’s genuine in his concern for you. Don’t throw it away. Your mom will kick your ass.”
“She would.”
Jeremy jumped to his feet. “So, when do you want me there?”
“Just head over when you close up for the day. I have to warn you, if you see a large dog sleeping in her bushes, that’s um…you know…one of Ryder’s people.”
“You know, I had heard the rumors and my Grams used to talk about all the werewolves in the area but we all thought she was crazy.”
Sean snickered. “Yeah. I need to ask my mom if she has always known, since she grew up here. Ryder says they’re like th
is open secret or something. But I don’t ever remember hearing her talk about them. Ever.”
“And here I thought Aurora was Boringsville USA.” Jeremy dragged Sean into a hug. “So you go out with your nice werewolf boyfriend—”
“He’s not my boyfriend—”
“—and I’ll be at your house all night, letting your mom kick my ass at gin rummy.”
“She was the Holiday Classic Champion five years running when she was younger, you know.”
“Even losing, I learn from the best. It’s my new mission in life. To pick up the mantle of beating gin rummy champion since her lazy son doesn’t seem interested.”
Sean gave Jeremy a friendly shove. “Go back to work and shout at more customers.”
Ryder was actually early when he showed up. Sean took advantage of the extra manpower and put him to work in the back, sorting some of the inventory Sean wanted to rotate out on the floor. While Sean dealt with an older couple looking to buy their college age daughter a string of pearls, he heard Ryder and Katrina laughing in the stock room.
Business slowed to nothing as the sun went down. It was fast approaching the end of tourist season and Sean would soon be able to put his winter hours into effect.
“Alright,” Katrina said as she breezed through. “Ryder and I are done, Sean. I am heading home to cook the kiddo dinner and help with algebra. The exciting life of a single mother.”
“I’m serious about the offer. If you need any tutoring help, I know people who can help you out,” Ryder said as he walked out behind her.
“I appreciate the offer and I’ll let you know.” She tipped on her toes to kiss Ryder’s cheek, then pulled Sean into another motherly hug. “I’m out. I’ll see you tomorrow!”
“Night, Kat,” Sean called out to her. Once she was gone, he stared at Ryder until the other man grew uncomfortable.
“What?” Ryder asked.
“She kissed you.”
“On the cheek.”
“She never kisses me on the cheek.”
“She hugged you.”
Sean thought about it. “True. But…she barely knows you.”
Ryder’s smile was boyish and charming. The blush was rather sweet, for a big rough guy who could apparently change into a wolf. At least, according to his dream.
“Aaaah,” Sean said. “I get it now. I see exactly why. It’s the dimples.”
Ryder shrugged. He pulled up a stool and sat on the customer side of the counter. “Did you want to go to dinner tonight?”
Sean pressed his lips into a line. What did he want? After all, he had made arrangements to see that his mother wasn’t alone for the night. “Actually, I was kind of hoping we could go back to your place and just chill for a bit.”
He wasn’t locked in to staying out all night. But having the freedom to do so was rather nice.
Ryder was speechless for a brief moment. He recovered and pushed his hand through his hair. “Sure. It’s fine with me. We can pick up a pizza on the way to the house. Maybe find a movie or something. Is…everything okay, Sean? Do I need to make sure your mother has someone with her?”
“I’ve um…got that covered. Jeremy will stay the night with her.”
Understanding hit Ryder and he circled around the counter to draw Sean into a loose hug. “Are you sure? We could just go to your house.”
Sean laughed nervously. “God…I feel like I’m in high school. Ryder…I um…this is going to sound crazy and if you say no then I will totally understand but tonight…I just need to be with you. I’m not asking for sex.”
He searched Ryder’s face for some kind of sign. What kind of sign, he wasn’t sure. Some indication that more was expected? That he didn’t want Sean to come over unless it was for sex? Or that maybe Ryder was okay with Sean being with him all night with no expectations of anything.
For all his boyish charm, Ryder was a remarkably hard man to read. “If that’s not okay, it’s fine. We can do something else. Or not. God, this was a stupid idea.”
Ryder started to chuckle. “You’re kind of rusty at all this.”
Sean’s face heated. “Rusty would indicate that I’ve done this regularly before.”
“Sean. Shut up. You want someone to chill with. There’s no expectation for anything. I am happy for your company as well. I live a little remotely and having you there will be nice. So relax. Do we need to head to your place for clothes or your toothbrush?”
“I have a change bag here. I can use it.” Sean gestured towards his office. “For the times I end up staying late.”
“Then grab your gear and start locking up. I’ll call in our order of pizza and we’ll head to my place.”
Sean nodded hesitantly. He pulled back a little, then stopped. Ryder didn’t move, his hands resting lightly on Sean’s hips. A quick glance around the shop to make sure no one had walked in while they were talking, he pushed to his toes and planted a chaste kiss to Ryder’s mouth.
At least, it started out chaste. It deepened quickly when Ryder cupped his face to hold him in place. Sean’s fingers dug into Ryder’s arms as he held on, allowing himself this small moment of indulgence. To kiss Ryder Cole was to open himself to the possibilities of a life he never knew existed.
It was frightening. It was exciting. It was confusing and arousing and a mix of emotions Sean wasn’t prepared for. His friendship with Jeremy taught him how to shield himself from the strong emotions. At first, he only imagined that it was to protect this friend who was a very sensitive empath.
It was useful at that moment, allowing Sean the distance to prevent himself from being overwhelmed.
Ryder was the one who broke the kiss and Sean touched lightly at his own lips, a little embarrassed at just how needy he felt in that moment and just how hard he was with desire for the feel of the other man pressing against him.
Ryder cleared his throat. “You should grab your clothes before I lock the door and try to convince you that going into your office and messing up your paperwork is a far better idea than pizza.”
“Yeah.” Sean stepped back reluctantly, because messing up the desk really did sound like a fine idea. “I’ll be right back. Make the pizza call.”
Maybe they’d actually make it to Ryder’s place.
Ryder wasn’t kidding when he said he lived out in the middle of nowhere. As they bounced down the gravel road, Sean gave up trying to keep the pizza steady. He let it rest on the console between them, using one hand to keep it steady.
It was still nice out so they sat on Ryder’s back porch to look out over the lake. The moon was just beginning to rise in the east, the silver light shining almost as brightly as the sun. A silver ribbon ran along the calm surface of the lake. “This is a hell of a back yard,” Sean said. He grabbed another slice of pizza. “Must be hell getting out of here when it snows.”
“Usually, if I’m paying attention to the weather forecast, I can crash with someone in town if I’m needed. But I have a good staff that can keep the place running if I’m delayed or stuck.”
“Are all of your staff also part of your,” Sean waved his hand, “pack? Am I even using that word right?”
“Yeah, pack, and yes they are. They’re either wolf shifters or they’re the human family of a shifter.”
“That must be nice to have a huge extended family to draw on in times of need.”
Ryder twisted in the chair to face Sean. “You’ve been so strong for your mother, Sean. Has none of her family been able to help? They were from this area, weren’t they?”
“They’ve long since moved away or died. We tried looking for them but not very hard, I guess. I was happy to have Mom. And Jeremy. He’s a bit of a doof, but he’s a good man. I just need to get him a boyfriend so he’ll stop meddling in my life.”
“And you have me,” Ryder said.
Sean pressed his lips together. “Well, to be honest, I hardly know you.”
“You know me well enough that you came to my home in the middle of nowhere without a
ride back to town if you need to leave.” Ryder closed the pizza box and pushed it to the side. “You mean to tell me this is something you do all the time?”
When Ryder put it that way, Sean had to laugh. “No, I guess I don’t. I feel like I can trust you.”
“So if you can trust me, you can rely on me, too. You’ve taken the big step and allowed me to assign my people to watch your mother. That’s a huge thing.”
“You’re making it sound like a big deal.”
Ryder stood and leaned on the porch railing opposite where Sean sat. “Isn’t it, though? That’s a huge leap of trust and I get the impression trust is hard to come by with you.”
He had to concede the point. “You make it easy, if I have to confess.”
“Then I’m flattered. And honored to be worthy of your trust.”
Sean stood. He smoothed his hands down his thighs to push his jeans down after they had bunched up from sitting. Awkwardly, Sean shuffled over to stand between Ryder’s feet and lean his body weight against him. His arms wrapped comfortably around Ryder’s waist. The weight of Ryder’s arms draped over his shoulders. The night air was just starting to get that nip now that the sun had completely disappeared from view. “You know, I didn’t come out here for sex.”
“You said that earlier, yeah.”
“But I didn’t say it couldn’t happen. I’m just putting that out there.”
A smile crept across Ryder’s face. “I’m glad to hear it. I’d kind of like to know what it’s like to feel you wrapped around me and not have it just be a dream. Not that I’m saying the dream sex was bad. It was…”
“Intense. The sensations in them do tend to be amplified.”
“That’s good to know.”