Legends of Havenwood Falls 2

by Belinda Boring

  “I’ll be over in a bit, pumpkin. Save me some popcorn.”

  Colleen promised she would and reminded him to put her bicycle in the back of the station wagon. After hanging up her apron and grabbing her purse, she went back through the market and out the front door, making sure to lock it. She stepped onto the sidewalk and froze in place when she saw a sleek black Corvette parked alongside the curb. The convertible top was down, and Viktor sat behind the steering wheel. He had an arm stretched out along the front seat and his other arm propped against the top of the door. This position put him at the perfect angle to watch the market entrance.

  “Viktor, what are you doing here?”

  “I came to see you.” He got out of his car and moved toward her. The way he walked, with his intense dark eyes focused on her, he came across as predatory, and she instinctively took a step back. Just then, she heard someone running, and she turned to see Mickey Ahusaka running down the sidewalk, his hair streaming behind him like a thick, black ribbon. He came to a sudden stop, in between her and Viktor.

  “Shoot, you’re closed?” he asked, looking over her shoulder at the darkened storefront window.

  “Yes, we are. Sorry.”

  Mickey frowned and let out a sigh. “My mom called because my little brother is sick. Since I live around the corner, she asked me to pick up some Pepto-Bismol.”

  Colleen glanced at her watch. The movie would be starting at eight thirty, once the sun set. She still had time.

  “Come on,” she said and pulled the store keys out of her purse. “We can’t let Nahele suffer all night.” Unlocking the door, she flicked on the lights and called to her dad, knowing he would have heard the bell above the door. She crossed to the hygiene and home remedy aisle to grab a bottle of Pepto. “Is one bottle enough?” she asked Mickey.

  When he didn’t answer, she looked up to discover he wasn’t in the store. Walking over to the window, she peered out and saw him talking to Viktor. It didn’t look like a friendly conversation either, by the way they squared off. Seconds later, Viktor spun around and climbed into his car. Mickey watched him leave before coming into the store.

  “Sorry,” he said.

  “What was that all about?”

  “Nothing.” Mickey shrugged nonchalantly, and Colleen didn’t believe him for a second. She knew male posturing when she saw it, and if she wasn’t mistaken, Mickey scared Viktor off, but why? “Thanks for opening the store back up. You’re a real peach.” He flashed a brilliant smile, which stood out against his darker skin.

  They walked out together. Mickey stood with his shoulders hunched and hands in the pockets of his Levi’s as he waited for her to lock the door. She pulled on the handle, double checking that it was secure.

  “Well, good night, Mickey. I hope that fixes your brother right up.” Colleen made to leave.

  “Going to the movies?” Mickey asked, catching up to her at the crosswalk. Colleen nodded and started across the street, since there weren’t any cars in sight. “I’ll walk with you.”

  “Don’t you have to get that to your brother?” She glanced at his hand holding the bottle of pink medicine.

  “I’ll see you safely to the park first.”

  “If you insist.” Colleen shook her head, unable to imagine what dangers Mickey thought she’d encounter on the short walk.

  Picking her way in between people sitting on the grass, using only the flickering light from the giant movie screen to see, Colleen made her way to the large oak tree, where her family had planned to sit. Mickey followed her like a shadow. Pausing occasionally, Colleen was distracted by the movie. She had arrived just as a plane had crashed and Tarzan, a big strapping beast of a man wearing only a loincloth, heroically rescued the passengers. She found her family sitting on a large plaid picnic blanket. Her mom had brought a Tupperware container of popcorn and a cooler full of bottles of Coca-Cola. Once Colleen was situated next to her sister, Mickey whispered good night.

  “What was that all about?” Kelly asked. “Are you kissing him, too?”

  “No!” she hissed, thankful it was dark so nobody saw her cheeks flare red.

  Her dad joined them not too long after, and they finished watching the movie. Once it was over, her parents left. They didn’t have any interest in watching a horror movie about a bunch of teenagers.

  “We already know what living with teenagers is like,” her dad joked before leaving. As soon as they left, Kelly slipped away to hang with her friends and to swoon over Michael Landon. David’s friend Billy appeared out of nowhere and immediately descended upon the popcorn. Colleen stood up to stretch, and that’s when she noticed Mickey’s brother sitting not even twenty feet away, looking as healthy as a horse. This caused her brow to wrinkle in confusion. Between Patty, Viktor, and Mickey, just what the hell was going on?

  Chapter 10

  Having only been back in Fort Collins for one night, Daniel already missed the peacefulness of Havenwood Falls. He hadn’t realized how loud and confining city living could be. Being around more people, more traffic, more noise, more everything made his skin crawl. How quickly he had adjusted to his temporary cabin in the woods.

  Shuffling into the kitchen, following the smell of coffee percolating on the stove, he smiled when he saw his mom stirring a pan full of eggs.

  “I missed your cooking,” he said, kissing her on the cheek before reaching over her head to grab a mug out of the cabinet.

  “Soon you’ll find yourself a wife, and you’ll only want her cooking,” she teased. At the mention of a wife, Daniel’s shoulders tightened. He felt them draw up like he was a puppet on a string. Of course, his mom noticed. She didn’t miss anything. “Daniel?”

  Sighing, he sat down at the table and wrapped his large hands around the mug. He hadn’t told her about Colleen, because he was still coming to terms with finding his mate. His mom carried the pan of eggs over and dropped several scoopfuls on his plate. A platter of bacon and toast was already on the table. He grabbed several slices as his mom sat down across from him.

  “Is there something you’re not telling me?” she pried.

  Daniel finished chewing and swallowing before answering. “I found my mate, Mom, in Havenwood Falls.”

  “Oh, that’s wonderful, Danny!” She set her fork down and reached across the table, giving his hand a squeeze. “What are the odds—a new job and finding your mate, all in the same week.” She must have seen the conflict written on his face, because when she looked at him, her expression morphed into one of concern. “What’s wrong? This should be a joyous occasion.”

  “I know, it’s just, well, it’s complicated.”

  “How so?”

  “She’s human.”

  His mom paused and slowly brought the napkin up from her lap and wiped the corner of her mouth. “Well, I can see that would be a complication if she doesn’t know shifters exist, but it won’t be the first interspecies relationship. We’re compatible with humans.”

  “That’s just it, Mom. We’re not compatible. Humans are dangerous. What if I tell her and she flips out? Next thing you know, I’m either being put down or I’m held prisoner in a government lab somewhere, being experimented on.”

  “Oh, Danny, no! God damn him!”

  Daniel sat back in shock when his mom threw her napkin on the table and stood up.

  “Who?”

  “Your father.”

  “What? Why?” Now it was Daniel’s turn to jump up out of his chair.

  She started to clear the table, angrily scraping food into the trash can. Filling up the sink with hot sudsy water, she tossed the dishes in, sending a burst of bubbles into the air. Daniel had seen this reaction many times before. Whenever his mom was angry or upset, she cleaned. She scrubbed every surface until she calmed down. It took a few minutes for that moment to come. Finally, with her head lowered and shoulders hunched, she dropped the dishcloth in the soapy water.

  “I love your father, but . . . ,” she started, turning around to face h
im. Tears shimmered in her blue eyes, but they didn’t spill. “His mistrust, his fear of humans—he poisoned you with it. His experience in Sunset Creek shaped his entire life. I could never understand, because my childhood was normal, safe. I’ve never felt hunted or threatened. Your father and I argued something fierce about how he was letting his prejudices rub off on you.” She sighed and smoothed the skirt on her pale blue dress before crossing the room to sit back down in her chair. “Not all humans are bad. You know that. You’ve worked alongside them, gone to school with them.”

  “I know that,” Daniel said, sitting down across from her. “But I kept my distance and for good reason. Remember, in Kentucky, that colored man who was beaten for making a pass at a white woman? Remember the segregation? All because of different skin color.” Daniel cringed whenever he saw a sign posted at a business announcing it was for whites only. It didn’t take much to imagine a sign that read “humans only.” He didn’t see that ever happening in Havenwood Falls, though. There the supernatural went about their lives unbeknownst to the humans.

  “Don’t you realize how hypocritical you sound?” she asked. “You’re just as prejudiced, and I’m sorry I didn’t raise you better. Despite our arguments, it wasn’t my place to go against your father. There was no convincing him, and he became set in his ways, but there has to be hope for you, Danny. This girl is your mate for a reason. Human or shifter, you have to learn to accept her.”

  “I’m trying, Mom. I’m going to ask Colleen out on a date and see how things go. With her being human, is it even possible she can feel the same mating call? Besides, someone else has been sniffing around her, and I can’t let that stand.” If he was in his mountain lion form, his hackles would have been raised. Just the thought of another man, let alone another species, making moves on his mate made him see red.

  “Daniel Matthew McCabe, you need to go claim your mate!” His mom chastised him and stood up. “Let’s go. We need to get you back to Havenwood Falls. Good thing I packed already. I can’t wait to see this town.”

  Daniel went to his room and grabbed more clothes from his closet. The Court had granted him a special pass to leave Havenwood Falls without immediately losing his memories of the town. It had taken a few minutes for his temporary tattoo to be enhanced, and the instructions were firm: as long as he was back before midnight on Monday, he would be fine. Looking around his room, he knew it wouldn’t take much to move. They had moved so much that their possessions were few, and they often never unpacked completely. His parents’ china set, a wedding present from his mom’s parents, was stowed away in a box in the hallway closet. His bedroom walls were bare, with the exception of the green-and-brown-striped wallpaper. The few pictures he had were on the top of his four-drawer dresser. There was a large framed picture of his mom and dad when they were first mated. Another picture was of Daniel when he was three years old. He sat in a straight-backed rocking chair with his baby sister, Katherine, on his lap, holding on to her so tight you could see the strain in his smile. According to his parents, Katherine passed away just six months later from pneumonia. He had vague memories of her, mainly just her scent, which was imprinted on him. After the first warm spring rain caused blossoms to open and sweetened the air, he always thought of her.

  Snapping out of the memories, he closed his suitcase. No, it wouldn’t take much to move, and he had a feeling he’d be moving to Havenwood Falls permanently. His mountain lion rumbled in agreement.

  When Daniel pulled up to the cabin later that afternoon, Mickey was waiting for him. He sat on the front steps wearing Levi’s that were folded at the bottom, forming wide cuffs. He was barefoot, and his shirt was partially unbuttoned. Daniel recognized the disheveled look as someone who had recently shifted and put their clothes on in a hurry.

  He climbed out of the truck and briefly stretched before walking around to the passenger side to open the door for his mom. She’d brain him if he forgot his manners.

  Mickey sauntered over to meet them.

  “Mickey, this is my mom, Margaret McCabe. Mom, this is Mickey Ahusaka. We work together.”

  “Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. McCabe,” Mickey said, shaking his mom’s hand.

  “Oh please, call me Maggie. It’s nice to meet you. Daniel doesn’t have many friends.” This set Mickey off, and he started laughing.

  “Mom!” Daniel said with a groan, and his mom walked away giggling.

  “Were you planning on waiting out here all day until I got back?” Daniel asked Mickey as they unloaded the truck.

  “Nah, I was flying, keeping an eye on things, and saw you coming.”

  “Is everything okay?” he asked, while his mom was busy unpacking the food from the cooler into the icebox. Mickey told him how he warned off Viktor from Colleen the night before.

  “Thanks, man, I owe you.”

  “No big.” He shrugged. “I’m glad I was there. Viktor definitely had his eye on her.”

  “Where is she now, do you know?”

  “She’s at a church picnic with her family. I doubt any vampire will try anything on church property.”

  Daniel nodded in agreement and went back outside to close up his truck.

  “I’m going to ask her out tomorrow,” he told his friend, who had followed him.

  Mickey stayed for a few minutes, but soon left so Daniel and his mom could get settled. The cabin was small. Daniel moved out of the one bedroom to the loft. Not quite a second floor, the loft was basically a small platform that extended out from the wall separating the living room from the bathroom. It cleared the ceiling by about four feet and overlooked the living room. The only access was a narrow ladder, which Daniel climbed up before tossing a pillow and sleeping bag onto the wood floor.

  After one night of sleeping in the cramped space, Daniel decided that if they were going to stay in Havenwood Falls, they were going to need a bigger place.

  The next morning, his mom drove into town with him. He showed her around the jobsite before she ventured off to explore, taking the truck in case she did any shopping. Daniel chuckled to himself as she drove away, because he knew there was no doubt that she would shop.

  As noon approached, he found himself checking his watch more frequently. He’d normally be starving, his breakfast long worked off, but nerves kept his appetite at bay. What if Colleen rejected him? She could very possibly not be attracted to him or affected by the mating call at all. He had no idea what to expect since she was human. Finally, it was lunch time, and he dismissed the crew. Mickey clapped him on the back and wished him luck. Daniel needed it—he had no idea if Colleen would even be there.

  Worry was replaced with nerves as he approached the bench and saw the back of her head, her blond hair a beacon in the shade of the tree. As he drew closer, he saw she was reading. He had already noted that was one of her hobbies, and he wanted to build her a bookcase. Hell, when they made a home together, he’d build her an entire library. Way to put the cart in front of the horse, McCabe, he cautioned himself and cleared his throat when he came to a stop in front of the bench.

  “Is this seat taken?” he asked, and Colleen jerked her head up in surprise. When she saw him, she smiled a brilliant smile that was all dimples.

  “It’s all yours,” she said and shifted over slightly to give him more room. She was wearing tan shorts that barely came to mid-thigh and showed off her gorgeous long toned legs. “I heard you left town?”

  “Only to go pick up my mom and bring her here to visit.”

  She seemed relieved at that. Daniel noticed her posture soften a bit as she relaxed against the bench.

  “I should warn you that you’re quite the talk of the town, and the busybodies are already making matchmaking plans. You should have run while you had the chance.” She teased, but he detected an edge to her tone. Was it jealousy?

  “What if I already found a match?” he asked her, reaching out and brushing a stray curl away from her cheek. Her lips parted as he tucked the hair behind her ear and gently
trailed his fingertips down her neck. Her eyes, deep brown with striations of amber, seemed to darken, and her eyelids lowered slightly.

  “What do you mean?” Colleen whispered and grabbed his hand as he was pulling away. Everything snapped into focus the moment her fingers entwined with his. His hands were calloused and rough from work. They were darker than hers, tanned and freckled from hours spent in the sun. Hers were pale and soft, yet they fit together perfectly.

  “I know you don’t know me and that I’m not from around here, but I feel drawn to you—that we’re connected somehow. I’m not going to ask if you feel it too, but I am going to ask if you’d be interested in going on a date?” He watched her closely to gauge her reaction, fully expecting her to retreat at some point, but she never did. Instead she squeezed his hand and smiled.

  “Yes! I am very interested.” Her smile was brighter than the sun and the most dazzling he had ever seen. Her natural beauty left him awestruck. The moment she said yes, a tightening in his chest released, and it was like he could breathe again. “And yes, I feel the connection, too.”

  Her cheeks flushed red when she said this, and she looked away. Her scent changed, heavy with pheromones and arousal, causing Daniel’s nostrils to flare. Keeping himself in check was akin to wrestling an angry alligator. Desire coursed through his veins after the first inhale. She wanted him as much as he wanted her.

  Colleen met his gaze again, and she slid closer, not breaking eye contact. When she sucked her lower lip in between her teeth, he was done. Closing the gap between them, he reached out with his free hand and cradled her cheek, his fingers sliding into her soft hair. Closing her eyes, she leaned her head into his touch and released her lower lip, exhaling a soft sigh.