“Ah… what’s going on?” The bartender’s voice cut through my buzzing senses.
I seconded that.
What the hell?
Holding a hand to my head, I struggled to stand. “I—”
“Are you alright?” The quiet voice filled my ears again.
No!
Heat flooded me, and I shifted on the spot, wishing I could put my sax down and remove my jean jacket.
“What just happened?” I asked.
I almost didn’t want to meet his eyes again. But that was ridiculous. His eyes didn’t make my legs give way. Squaring my shoulders, I looked into his direct, brown gaze.
Not brown.
I’d never seen his colour iris before, but the word honey came to mind.
More importantly, I didn’t feel like a horse had kicked me in the chest again when our gazes met. My shoulders eased.
The trio watched me in silence.
“I haven’t eaten much today,” I hedged. That didn’t explain what just happened. My legs had never given out from hunger. Or at all.
“Please, have a meal at the bar on me,” he answered, never breaking in scanning my face. His eyes dipped down lower, and where usually I’d take the chance to return the perving favour, his face was too fascinating for me to shift my attention just yet.
And that was… crazy.
The silence in our neck of the bar grew heavy.
“Andie was the saxophone culprit, boss,” Asshole murmured. He caught me when my legs gave way, so maybe I’d suspend his Asshole status.
I crossed my arms. “Seriously. I was only going to play for thirty minutes. It’s not my problem the music in here sucks.”
“Finding entertainers to come to the valley is difficult,” he answered.
His voice. Why did it affect me so much? Maybe it was the tone, honey like his gaze, and as smooth as Sam Smith’s songs.
I lifted my hair off my neck. Didn’t this place have any damn windows?
Air.
I needed air.
Breaking eye contact made me realise we’d been locked in a staring contest. Shaking my head, I dragged my purse around and poured the contents of my old cap inside. I jammed the nautical hat over my wavy curls, all the better to block the sight of honey eyes with.
“Would you be interested in playing here Thursdays through Sundays?” he asked, stepping forward.
Every inch of me was aware of the smaller space between us. I eyed the exit around the giant. “I’m leaving on Monday. Thanks for the offer.”
Unable to resist, I peeked up and glimpsed the struggle on his face.
“If you change your mind, you know where we are,” he said eventually, jaw clenched.
If I had to pick an emotion, I’d say he was horrified.
This just catapulted into nope territory.
A quick peek told me Dimples’s mouth was ajar and the bartender had forgotten about pouring a beer.
Yeah, something was up. And I wasn’t sticking around to figure out what.
Spinning on my heel, I hurried for the door, ignoring the bouncer’s glower as I burst from The Dens.
6
I answered my phone.
“Andie? Hey, it’s Herc here. How are you finding the apartment?”
The apartment was freakin’ amazing. “It’s great. Are you sure I don’t need to pay you anything for staying here?”
Because I have two dollars to spare.
“No, really. I won’t hear of it. So I spoke with two of your mother’s old friends. One returns to the valley on Tuesday, and the other is sick, but she’d love to chat once she’s better. When did you say that you needed to return home?”
My heart sank. “Monday at the latest. It takes nine hours to drive there.”
The word home felt strange in relation to Queen’s Way. I’d lived there my entire life yet didn’t feel one scrap of the belonging I felt here. There had to be something wrong with that.
The line went quiet. “I suppose they could always call you, but reception isn’t great out where they are. There’s no way you could extend your visit?”
I was out of grievance, holiday, and sick leave. My workplace had been more than understanding of my situation. More understanding than any other job I’d worked. But their understanding was growing thin.
With Mum’s ginormous debt to pay, I really, really needed that job. “I wish staying longer was possible, but I can’t swing it.”
A booming knock at the front door made me jump.
“Shit,” I blurted.
“What’s that?” Herc asked.
Crap. “Sorry, someone’s knocking.”
Herc sighed. “Loudly bordering on obnoxiously?”
“That about sums it up.”
“I expect my daughter is on the other side. I told her to give you space—”
I arched a brow. “Not a problem, but I’ll hang up before she succeeds in teaching the door a lesson.”
Tossing the phone on the bed, I straightened and marched to the entrance, swinging it wide.
“Whoa,” we chorused.
Mirrors aside, who was used to seeing themselves?
“Freaky,” I whispered.
The young woman added, “Very. You’re my cousin, Andie.”
Her emerald green eyes didn’t move from mine as she invaded my personal space. Yeah, I could see how some people could take her manner the wrong way.
“I am,” I quipped. “You’re my cousin, Rhona.”
She sent me a dry look. “I squeezed the details of you from Father last night. I had to see my lookalike with my own eyes.” She circled me. “Shoot. We really look similar. Creepy.”
“I think so. Should I circle you after?”
She blinked before laughing. “I’m glad you’re not a weakling. I’m not sure how that would have worked.”
The woman couldn’t be more different from her mild-mannered father. “How old are you?” I asked.
“Twenty.”
Only a year apart. Cool. And weird. Extra strange because Rhona was an overstepper of boundaries. I struggled to deal with those people for long being the exact opposite in personality.
She glanced around the apartment, facing me after. “I’ve just returned from a course in Bluff City, and I’m catching up with my friends at the lake today. Wanna come?”
My plans for the day included finding the elusive supermarket, calling Logan, and exploring the town. That plan was comfortable, but I had a number of days to know Rhona better.
Maybe the time had come to actually act twenty-one.
“Thanks for the invite,” I said. “Sure.”
She kicked back the top of one suitcase. “Got a swimsuit?”
“I do. But don’t go through my stuff,” I said calmly.
Rhona peered back at me. “Sorry.”
“Not a problem. I’m just used to my own space.” I opened the other suitcase and rummaged for my black bikini, dragging out a jean skirt and flip-flops.
“That’d be nice,” she replied, shooting a look at my sax. “Can’t say I’ve ever had much of that.”
“I guess the manor gets pretty busy.”
“That’s one word for it.”
I partially closed the bathroom door, ripping off my tank and shorts. Slipping into the bikini, I tied the strings, adjusting my boobs in the mirror. I had awesome cleavage according to a survey carried out on three past boyfriends. I stepped into the jean skirt and flip-flops, mussing my hair.
“Hey, I only brought my bike, but Dad said you have a car. Is it alright if we take that to the lake? I can buddy ride you, but it’s a decent bike out there.”
I lowered my hands. Dang. “How far away is the lake?”
“Forty-five minutes by bike,” she called.
Double dang. Ella F was on petrol rations. But with the small amount of money from busking, I could make it work without breaking into my savings more. “That’s fine.”
She arched a brow. “Are you sure? Because we c
an bike. I’m used to it—we bike whenever we can.”
Yikes, I was the poor cousin. “I just need to keep an eye on how much petrol I use. I usually walk, so I’m not sure how much my car drinks. Driving to the lake should be fine.”
The drive was, thankfully, only twenty minutes, including a bumpy five minutes down a dirt road.
I followed Rhona through the trees to the lake, listening to the shouts and laughter ahead.
Thick trees opened into a sandy beach, and I gasped at the glistening water.
The mountain ranges bordering the valley were reflected on the calm surface. All manner of trees bordered the lake. Some had toppled into the lake recently and the logs bobbed in clusters on the opposite side.
“Beautiful, huh?” Rhona said. After her big show entering the apartment, she didn’t speak much on the drive here.
“That’s one word for it,” I replied.
Rhona was quickly surrounded when we reached the water.
For everyone being a little scared of her, she had more friends than I’d had in my life. I murmured hellos to the sea of strangers. This lake gathering was exactly like the one in the photo of Herc and Mum. Every single person here knew everyone else. They’d grown up together. For them, a lake day like this was a regular occurrence.
The entire situation blew my mind.
Boggled my mind. And not in a good way.
I untangled myself from the hoard and found a spot to sit apart from the—what had to be—thirty young people.
The amount of change was the problem. Mum died two weeks ago. Then the debt. Vacating the house. The car. The road trip. Forest attack craziness. The talk with Hercules, and meeting Rhona today.
More change within days than my entire life put together.
I was literally quaking inside, but when I was back in Queen’s, I’d kick myself for not making the most of this.
“Hey, Andie.”
Glancing up, I recognised the female guard from the manor gates. “Hey...”
Shit. What was her name?
She grinned. “Don’t worry. I don’t think I told you my name. I’m Cameron.”
“You’re part of the boy’s name for girls’ club too.” I raised my clenched hand for a fist bump, which she didn’t hesitate to deliver.
She sat. “We’ve got to stick together.”
I eyed the gorgeous male beside her. He wasn’t as tall as The Dens men—or, perhaps, as old—but he’d definitely bathed in the magic man spring.
“This is Wade,” Cameron said. “He wanted to talk to you but was too scared to come without me.”
The curly blond shot her a glare and she smirked.
What was the dynamic there? “You guys are together?”
They both shook with laughter.
Cameron raised a hand. “Women for me. Don’t suppose you’re interested? The lesbian population in Deception Valley is almost non-existent.”
“Not on the market,” I replied, smiling. “I’m straight anyway.”
She sighed dramatically.
“Nice to meet you,” Wade said, outstretching his hand.
I took it, liking his open expression and grey eyes. “So how long have you guys known Rhona?”
Their expressions smoothed. Wade sat on my other side.
“Our entire lives,” Cameron said, clearing her throat.
My lips twitched. “You don’t like her.”
“Like,” Wade repeated as though tasting the word. “I’m not sure I like or dislike Rhona. She’s like pepper. Pepper is a necessary seasoning. You couldn’t do without it, but get some up your nose and you’ll choke. That’s how I feel.”
Laughter burst from my lips as I checked Rhona wasn’t nearby. “That kind of sounds like dislike.”
“She’s fine,” Cameron said, tipping her face to the sky, eyes closed.
Wade leaned back on his hands. “We heard your mother recently passed away. I’m really sorry for your pain.”
People here had a way of letting me know they cared. It was so new.
“I appreciate that. She suffered for a long time, and I’m glad she’s free now.” A lump rose in my throat.
Cameron lay flat, flicking her sunnies into place. “How long have we got you for?”
“Until Monday. I’m staying as long as possible, but I have a job to get back to.” I added, “Oh, and a boyfriend.”
Both grinned.
“Sounds like he’s super important to you.” Wade cast me a look.
“There’s just a lot going on. We’ve been together a year.”
Wade leaned in, taking my hands as he stared into my eyes. “The sex is great, but your heart is untouched.”
My jaw dropped as he resumed his reclined position.
“Magic, right?” Cameron murmured.
“Some of us are born with ability,” Wade replied.
That wasn’t how I felt about Logan at all.
Cameron peered at me over her sunnies. “Do you think you’ll be back?”
The thought of never returning here made me feel ill. I’d caught myself daydreaming about living in the valley this morning. Maybe one day that could become a reality. “If I didn’t have to leave, I wouldn’t.”
“That’s nice to hear,” she said, smiling. “We love this place.”
I love it too. “I can see why.”
“Let us know if we can convince you to stay.” Wade nudged me.
My phone blared.
“It’s Logan,” I said.
“We’ll see you later,” Cameron hollered after me.
Walking toward the tree line, I answered, “Hey, Lo.”
“Hey, babe. Where’s the phone love been? You were meant to call last night.”
“I didn’t realise these things only worked one way,” I teased.
He exhaled. “Please tell me you’re halfway back.”
“I’m halfway back.”
“Thank—” He cut off. “You’re joking.”
I bit back a smirk. “Sorry, couldn’t resist it. But no, I’m here until Monday.”
“Found some stuff about Ragna?”
“Yep. And an uncle and cousin.”
“Whoa. Heavy stuff.”
I toed the sand. “Tell me about it, but it’s probably nice. Or will be when I wrap my head around them. This valley is so beautiful, Lo. Seriously. I wish I didn’t have to leave.”
“… Okay, but you are coming back.”
His question sounded more like a demand, something I’d always found sexy and irritating at the same time. Alas, bossiness was the downside to my type.
I watched the joking group splashing in the lake. Most were swimming. A few paddled kayaks. They felt like an alien species.
One million responsibilities lay between me and them. “I’m coming back.”
“Fuck. I thought you were about to break up with me.”
“The sex is too good.”
His voice lowered. “Just good?”
“Hmm, what?” I hung up, laughing at his incoming text.
*Great ;)
My skin flushed as my thoughts turned directly to the bedroom. There was a definite itch to scratch at this point. We usually saw each other every couple of days.
“Andie,” Rhona said breathlessly. A guy with curly white-blond hair had his arm draped over her shoulders. “Could we give Foley a lift back into town?”
“As long as he’s not far off the main road, sure.”
Rhona mouthed, “Thank you,” dragging the guy away as he stammered a hello.
My phone pinged again, and I bit my lip in readiness of another text from Logan.
Hi, Andie
Pictures all taken. House should be online for Monday.
Roy
My heart sank.
And there it was. A reminder of all the reasons I wasn’t one of the people splashing in the lake.
One, I didn’t have a job here. But two, the house needed to be sold, like yesterday.
I glanced at them again. What
if every weekend included a trip to the lake with friends? Fuck. I wanted that so bad.
The concept of it scared me, but I did want to know my uncle and Rhona.
I wanted to stay in this beautiful place.
I wanted to learn more about Mum and talk to her friends.
The want was so strong, it felt like need.
Brushing my hair back, I dialled Roy’s number.
“Hey, Andie.”
I hesitated. “Roy. Hi. I have an unusual question.”
“Nothing is unusual to me anymore. Not when you’ve sold houses swingers used to live in.”
That pulled me up short. “Seriously?”
“Carpeted bathrooms without windows. A secret bookcase door leading to a concrete room with a shower in the corner.”
My brows climbed. That did kind of paint my question in neutral hues.
“What can I do for you?”
This was ridiculous. Absolutely bonkers. “I went away for a long weekend, but I’d like to stick around for a while. How present do I need to be for the open homes and sale?”
“That’s your unusual question? People do that all the time. You already gave me a key for photos. No problem.”
My mouth dried. “Really?”
“Sure. I’ll go in twenty minutes prior and open windows and doors to get some air through, but otherwise, no issue.”
Hiring Marie to clean would be another cost, but an empty house wasn’t a big job… a fortnightly spruce would be fine. “Okay. Right. I… Can I get back to you to confirm? I’m unsure of my plans just yet.”
“Fine by me. Hey, I’ll send the house link through when it goes live.”
I mumbled what I hoped was an appropriate response, hanging up.
Holy shit.
Of course, none of this was viable. I couldn’t do this. Marie might not be able to clean regularly. I had barely any money. This…
This was crazy.
“Andie,” Rhona bellowed from out of view.
Jolting, I grabbed my things and picked my way through the trees after her and the guy.
“Bye, Andie!” Cameron called.
I threw a smile back to where she stood waving beside Wade.
Shifter Wars: Supernatural Battle (Werewolf Dens Book 1) Page 6