by Lynn Hagen
Brac Village 6
Keaton's Lessons
Keaton Richards owns Jammin' Juice Hut. His life is simple, worry-free, and he loves owning his own business. But when events start unfolding after a mysterious stranger shows up at his shop, Keaton begins to question not only his sanity, but if he should pursue the edgy and secretive man he finds himself enthralled with.
Kade Marshall served fifteen years in prison for two crimes—one he committed and one he had nothing to do with. The only thing he wants to do is put his past behind him and start living again. But when feelings of doubt and depression start to creep in, Kade isn’t so sure coming home to Brac Village was the smartest thing for him.
In Keaton’s plight to save Kade, he teaches the man the meaning of life, love, and how to live once again. But will that be enough or will Kade walk away from Keaton, feeling that his mate deserves so much better than an ex-con?
Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Paranormal, Shape-shifter
Length: 36,236 words
KEATON’S LESSONS
Brac Village 6
Lynn Hagen
EVERLASTING CLASSIC
MANLOVE
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Everlasting Classic ManLove
KEATON’S LESSONS
Copyright © 2013 by Lynn Hagen
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62242-905-9
First E-book Publication: May 2013
Cover design by Siren Publishing
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KEATON’S LESSONS
Brac Village 6
LYNN HAGEN
Copyright © 2013
Chapter One
Kade Marshall scrubbed at his jaw as his eyes scanned over the local paper, looking in the wanted section and finding nothing that he could apply for. It had been a little over two weeks since his brother Bishop had picked him up and let Kade stay at his place. Since coming here Kade had been searching the paper daily to no avail.
There was absolutely nothing to find for someone with very little skills.
Kade was pretty sure he wouldn’t find an opening for an ex-con whose only skill was woodworking. Although Bishop wasn’t complaining, Kade wanted to pull his own weight around here. The feeling of mooching off of his brother was eating at him. He had taken care of his own needs his entire life and wasn’t going to start depending on others—even if it was family.
Having to live with Bishop was one thing. Having his brother take care of all of his expenses was unacceptable.
“No luck?” Bishop asked as he walked into the living room and set a cup of coffee down in front of Kade. His brother sat next to him and kicked his feet up on the coffee table.
“There’s nothing useful in here. The new clothing store is hiring, but I don’t know a damn thing about fashion. The diner is looking for another waiter, but I have never waited tables in my life.” Kade tossed the paper onto the couch cushion next to him and sat back, his frustration growing. It had been Bishop who suggested Kade move back here to Brac Village with him. Maybe living in this small town wasn’t the best thing for him.
Bishop patted him on the thigh. “Something will give. Don’t get frustrated and give up. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that our alpha will not let you fall on your face.” His brother sat forward, and the look in his eyes told Kade that he had just thought of something brilliant. “Why don’t you go talk to Maverick? A few months back he was advertising loans for people to start their own businesses. You can open up your own handmade furniture shop.”
That sounded like a dream come true, except Kade didn’t know anyone who would give a loan to a man fresh out of prison. It was true that Maverick was a pretty decent guy, but Kade was almost positive he would be turned down.
“Just think about it.” Bishop left Kade to sit there and mull over the possibility that maybe he could own his own business. It would be nice. Kade wouldn’t have to worry about a boss or anyone he worked with looking down on him for his past.
He just didn’t know the first thing about running a business. Maybe he would look into the possibility. Until then he at least needed to find a few odd jobs to put some money in his pocket. It sucked being broke. Bishop had given him some cash to tide him over until he found work and Kade was trying his hardest to hold on to what he had and not spend it.
Deciding he would hit some of the businesses in town and see if they needed anything done, Kade went into the guest bedroom where he was currently sleeping and got dressed. If there were any fancy places in town, Kade would not be going there because he only owned jeans and T-shirts.
Kade caught Bishop before his brother left for work. “Can you drop me off in town?”
“Hop in,” Bishop said right before he yawned. “We have to make this quick. I’m already running behind.”
“You’re a high school shop teacher. I already know you don’t have a class until second period.” Kade hopped into the passenger side of his brother’s brand-
new, shiny Dodge Charger. God, this was a sweet ride. Kade would love to own something like this. Hell, right now he’d be happy as hell just to be working.
“I’m leaving early, smarty-pants, because there’s a staff meeting this morning.” Bishop pulled from the drive and headed toward town. It had been years since Kade visited town. He had been locked up for fifteen years and wondered how much Brac Village had changed.
He prayed it still wasn’t the dirt-poor town he remembered. If it was, he had no hope of finding any work. But Bishop had said that the alpha had given out loans. It had to mean some new businesses were up and running.
When Bishop entered the town limits Kade was speechless. Brac Village had definitely changed. It didn’t even look like the place where Kade had grown up. He felt like a damn stranger as his eyes darted from one building to the next, taking in a floral shop, barbeque restaurant, bakery, and so many more businesses that his head was spinning.
The Café looked like it had been remodeled and he saw that the bookstore was still there. Maybe he would find some work after all.
Kade pulled in front of Santiago Cycles. “This is where I let you off. If you can’t find a way back to the house then call me and I’ll pick you up after work.”
“Thanks.” Kade got out and closed the door, watching as his brother pulled away. He wasn’t sure where to begin. Since he was in front of the motorcycle shop, Kade decided to start there.
Pulling open the glass door, Kade walked in, his eyes bouncing from the racks of leather clothes to the sweet-ass bike sitting in what looked like a showroom. The shop wasn’t really big, but hell if Kade wasn’t in heaven.
“Can I help you?”
Kade stuck his hand out. “Kade Marshall. Was wondering if you had any work you needed done.”
The man shook his hand as his eyes assessed Kade. “Law Santiago. Are you a mechanic?”
And here was where Kade’s lack of skills was going to shut any job proposal down. He didn’t know the first thing about motorcycles or anything mechanical. He had been hoping that the bike shop would need somebody to work the register, but it seemed they needed someone to fix bikes.
That was not a skill he possessed. “No, I’m not a mechanic. I just came in to see if you needed any odd jobs done around here.”
The man rubbed at his chin as he glanced around the shop and then looked back at Kade. “Marshall…you’re Bishop’s baby brother, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I am.” Kade wasn’t sure how well Law knew Bishop. Did this guy know where Kade had just spent the last decade and a half? It was a funny thing that Kade couldn’t wait to get his freedom, but now that he was finally back home, he wasn’t sure freedom had been the best thing for him. His worst fear was not being able to make it on the outside.
If it hadn’t been for Bishop, Kade didn’t know where he would be right now.
“Welcome home,” Law said. “I honestly wish there was something around here I could give you to do. But I already hired an ornery coyote.”
“Thanks.” Kade took a step back, ready to get out of there. He really wished that Bishop hadn’t told anyone about Kade serving time. He didn’t know Law, but it seemed the guy was pretty good friends with Bishop.
“You’re welcome here anytime,” Law said as Kade walked out. Even though he had been turned down, Kade was not going to give up. He stood on the street, glancing around and wondering where he should go next.
He began to walk through Brac Village, cutting down a few streets and seeing just how much the town had grown. Kade stopped walking when he saw a place called Jammin’ Juice Hut. What an odd name.
Curious, Kade crossed the street. There was a neon sign in the window that read Organic Juice Bar. The sign advertised that they served shakes, smoothies, and coffee. Kade had never tried anything organic.
Just thinking the word organic and his leopard was turning up its nose. Kade ignored his cat and walked inside. His eyes zeroed in on the big display case that had trays of fresh fruit that was sliced up and sitting out for all to see. Above the counter was a menu, and Kade saw that they also served food. What in the hell was a bean sprout salad?
He started feeling out of depth. He had no clue what hummus was or what it was used for. There were a lot of soy items on the menu as well. He read the word falafel and was clueless.
“You need something to drink or are you hungry?”
Kade’s eyes drifted down from the menu to stare at a man with eyes the color of sapphires. They were dark and so blue that they almost looked like they held a mixture of purple as well. Kade’s leopard was going nuts as he took a step back. “I’m just looking right now.”
The man gave a nod of his head, his shoulder-length blond hair swaying slightly forward. He was smiling at Kade, totally unaware that he was looking at his mate. Kade moved over when another customer walked up to the counter, but his eyes never left the handsome face that he was drinking in.
Kade wanted to tell the guy who he was and that fate had decided to pair them together. He had scented human. Therefore his mate was clueless. Kade wanted to keep him that way. What did he have to offer anyone? Kade did not have a place of his own or a way to support the man who had the sweetest, most innocent eyes that he had ever seen.
As his mate gathered some fruit out of the display case, Kade took that opportunity to check out the slim lines and light contours of the man’s body. He was thin and—his mate locked eyes with him, peering through the glass.
Kade didn’t smile, didn’t nod, or do anything but stare. The guy gave him a generous grin before closing the sliding glass door and turning, giving Kade his back. He heard a whirling sound and assumed a smoothie was being made.
Taking a step forward, Kade peered through the glass to check out his mate’s backside. He should leave.
He really should.
Lingering around was only torture, but Kade couldn’t seem to turn around and walk out. As badly as he wanted to forget that he found his mate and had no way to take care of him, he couldn’t seem to move.
“Have you decided yet?” his mate asked as he handed the drink to the customer and then turned toward him, still wearing that boyish grin.
Kade cleared his throat. “I’ll have a strawberry banana smoothie.”
His mate gave a light laugh, the sound flowing through Kade like silken ribbons. “Dude, you are way too buff to drink something that fattening. Our smoothies have a lot of cream in them.”
The corner of Kade’s mouth twitched. He liked the fact that his mate had complimented his body. “Then what do you recommend?” Kade moved closer, although he knew he shouldn’t.
“I’ve been trying some new blends. How about I surprise you?” The sapphire sparkled, his smile never wavering. “I promise not to poison you.”
Kade gave a light chuckle. “You’re on.”
This seemed to please the guy as he grabbed a small basket and began to fill it with fruit from the case. In all honesty, he hadn’t a clue what the guy grabbed. Kade was too busy appreciating his mate’s good looks.
The guy was what some would refer to as a surfer dude. He had a bunch of bands around both wrists, some plastic, some made of thin leather. There was also a necklace around his slim neck, also made of thin leather, but there were a few beads decorating the front. In the tone of his mate’s voice, Kade could hear the inflection of someone who didn’t take life all that seriously.
If only he could be that carefree. He envied his mate that.
“Okay, try this. Now be totally honest, dude. I need to know if I’m blending correctly.” A small cup was passed over the case, Kade’s fingers grazing the blond man’s. The contact ignited Kade’s blood. His snow leopard yowled loudly, damn near making Kade purr.
Sapphire-blue eyes watched him as he took a drink. Kade’s hand flew to his mouth as he stuck his tongue out and shook his head back and forth. He couldn’t stop the reaction. Whatever this was, it was disgusting.
His mate laughed once again, bu
t Kade was too busy trying to brush the taste off of his tongue to appreciate the musical tone. “Okay, okay. I take it I put too much whey in there.” His mate turned around and the machine began whirling again.
What the hell was whey?
When another cup was handed to him, Kade was almost too terrified to take a drink. His left eyebrow slid up as he looked across the case. “Are you sure you’re not trying to poison me?”
His mate twisted the side of his mouth and cocked his head to the side. “Just try it.”
Sending up a prayer, Kade tossed the drink back as if he were taking a shot of alcohol. He was ready to ask for a chaser but the fruity taste wasn’t half bad. “A little too much strawberry.” He handed the cup back.
“Would you like to be my guinea pig? I’ll give you a free lunch for letting me torture you.” His mate grabbed the cup out of Kade’s hand.
Why on earth was he sticking around? Finding a job should be his first priority, but the thought of leaving felt like a weight had settled in his stomach. “You have a deal.”
“All right!” His mate practically bounced as his smile grew wider. “By the way, my name is Keaton,” he said as he held his fist over the top of the display case. Kade reached up and tapped it with his own.
“Kade.”
“Get ready to be tortured, Kade.”
His skin tightened when Keaton said his name. Kade picked up an accent. It was barely detectable, but he caught the way his mate pronounced the A as if it were an I. It sounded like he was saying Kide.
“I’m going to give you something I’ve been working on. Now remember, Kade, you have to be honest about how it tastes.” Keaton began to gather more fruit. Kade groaned when he saw kiwi being tossed into the basket. He really didn’t care for that fruit, but hoped that the taste would be disguised with the others fruits it was being blended with.