There were a few cars parked in a gravel lot, probably other guests and Daphne, the woman who owned the place.
The five-story building looked like it had been completely remodeled, or at least partially remodeled. The old shed in the back was torn down, but the porch was a real porch, and the lawn was maintained. There was a fresh coat of paint on everything, and there was still plenty of forest behind the building.
This would be the perfect spot to hide out during my stay in Forbidden. Close enough that I could get to Gram’s birthday party and get out without a long drive, and far enough from town that I didn’t have to risk being spotted.
I parked and climbed out, grabbing my bag from the passenger seat.
My chest tightened as I breathed in the fresh fall air. It smelled like mountains and forest, like running through a freshly mowed field chasing fireflies, and going skinny dipping in the lake. It smelled like home.
I headed up to the porch, and the front door opened before I could knock. A harsh chemical smell hit me like a punch in the sinuses. I flinched, fighting back the tears that gushed into my eyes.
The woman in the doorway gave me a quizzical look, like she knew my secret, like she knew that I was a shifter. She was most definitely human. I could tell both by her scent and because she could stand being inside with all that bleach.
“Hi, I’m Daphne.”
She wore skinny jeans and an oversized flannel shirt with a tiny belt to accentuate her tiny waist. Her blond hair was curled and her lips were coated in bright red lipstick. She looked like the type who strived for perfection in everything—a tall order when renovating and repurposing an old building.
Her smile was warm and she offered me her hand. I accepted.
“Anna,” I said. I tried not to wrinkle my nose at the strong bleach scents, but failed.
Daphne noticed my expression and said, “I apologize for the cleaning smell. I’ve had some rough guests. But the mess and the chemicals are just on the first floor. I’ll have you upstairs and away from it. And everything will be done by morning. Don’t you worry.”
“I’m sure it will be fine,” I said.
As long as it was outside of Forbidden, anything would be fine.
“My boyfriend is sensitive to the bleach scent, too, so he’s spending the night away. Come on in, let’s get you situated.” She held the door open for me.
I followed her in, breathing through my mouth. The entry had a chandelier and a little desk. The paint was bright and cheery, with little decorative details all over the place. It was hard to believe this was the same asylum I’d sneaked into as a kid. When we were younger, we used to tell ghost stories in the dark. When we were older, we played drinking games and dared each other to go into the upstairs rooms.
Daphne led me down the hall and up the stairs. “What brings you to Forbidden?”
“Just passing through,” I said.
Whispered moans came from one of the rooms as we walked by.
I raised my eyebrows, and Daphne blushed.
“Those are the newlyweds,” she said. “Jack and Alice. They’re...very active.”
“Sounds like,” I said with a giggle.
Smothering a giggle of her own, Daphne continued, “If you have a chance, you should check out the hot springs. There are also hiking trails. We do boat rides at the lake, and we have an exclusive deal with a great pilot who does aerial tours.”
“I don’t need much, thanks.”
“There’s a pub downtown that sells great burgers, and—”
“Can I eat in?”
Daphne stopped in front of one of the rooms. There was a lot of noise coming from the room next door.
“And that’s Scrotal Eclipse of the Heart,” Daphne sighed.
Scrotal Eclipse of the Heart?
The corner of Daphne’s mouth quirked up as she took in what I could only assume was a vexed expression on my face. “I know. Apparently they’re some kind of music group looking for inspiration in the occult. Not exactly the clientele I was hoping to attract.”
Why let them stay? I wondered.
“I wouldn’t have booked them if I’d known what I was getting myself into. But it wasn’t Razor, Blade, Rooster, or Baldy who called to book the room. It was Mitchell. Benign enough name.” Daphne shook her head. “Unfortunately, due to construction, this is the only room I have available for you.”
“It’s fine, really.”
Daphne peered at my face, this time with curiosity.
“Anyway, of course you can eat in,” she said. “I cook for every meal, just let me know which you’ll be eating in and I’ll make sure there’s plenty for you.”
“Plan on me for every meal,” I said.
She opened the door. “Make yourself at home, and let me know if you need anything. If it gets too noisy next door, I’ll deal with that, too.”
“Thank you.” I stepped in and shut the door behind me. She was perfectly sweet, but I was tense and not really in the mood for idle chatter. I was out of work mode, smack in the middle of survival territory. I just had to make it through three nights, which was the earliest I could get a flight back. Then this whole thing would be over, and I could leave.
I set my bag on the floor and flopped down onto the bed. The mattress was soft but firm, and it smelled brand new. Everything in the room did, which was a nice surprise, especially after the chemicals downstairs.
I dropped my shoes off, and they clattered to the floor. When I closed my eyes, I saw James’s face. Light brown hair hung down over his eyes, hiding the only part of his expression that ever showed how he really felt. His jaw was hard and stern, and freshly shaved. And when I tried to reach out, his eyes flicked to mine, turquoise pools that showed the hidden artist who felt everything so deeply.
The hard feel of his shoulders, his arms, his chest, they all remained in my mind. The feeling of acceptance, of someone truly knowing me...I’d had that with him. And I hadn’t found that again, not even close.
I drifted off to sleep to the sound of heavy metal music from the room next door, exhausted from reliving memories and struggling with the forbidden feelings I’d tried so hard to put behind me.
I woke the way I’d gone to sleep, to the sound of loud music. My room was still dark, so the sun had not yet risen.
I needed a shower, but more than that I needed to move. Full of restless energy, there was nothing like taking to the forest for a run. I snuck downstairs and headed outside, careful not to disturb anyone.
I circled around back, enjoying the feel of the grass between my toes.
The crickets and locusts created a chorus of chirps. I headed out into the woods, far enough away that no one would see me from the bed and breakfast, and I stripped off my clothes and left them in a heap on the grass. I thought of hanging them on the clothesline along with some of the B&B’s towels, but I was too eager to start my run.
Crisp fall air bit my skin. I shifted into my mountain lion. It had been too long since I’d run like this. There weren't a lot of opportunities in the city, but the forest was freedom for shifters.
I followed a thin trail through the trees. Then I left the path and ran. I ran and I ran until the sun rose above the horizon.
Feeling better, I headed back toward my clothes.
And I remembered the last time I’d done this in Forbidden. We had run naked in the woods, first as animals—James a wolf and me a lion. And then as humans. It was only a few miles from here, and it was the last time we’d run together.
The scents of oils, canvas, and coffee clouded my brain. But I knew they were only from the memory.
I shifted back to human form and walked toward the tree where I’d left my clothes. Footsteps approached me in the grass.
I froze.
And I saw him.
He now wore his light brown hair a couple of inches longer. His jaw was strong and stubborn as always, and those turquoise green eyes made my heart leap and stutter just as much as they had ten years ago.
He was standing over my clothes.
Fuck. I ducked behind the nearby clothesline and wrapped myself in a towel.
James freaking O’Malley.
Chapter 4
James
Anna stood in front of me, her chin raised in defiance.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked.
“I’m a paying guest.”
I shook my head. Unbelievable. I was supposed to be working on the basement today. When I’d smelled her, right after getting out of my truck, I’d thought I was mistaken. And I knew I shouldn’t go after her tantalizing scent, but I couldn’t help myself—the wolf had been in control. And I’d followed along like a stupid idiot, thinking there was no way this was actually her.
After all these years, here she was. The woman in the picture.
My mate.
At least, I’d thought she was my mate. But then she’d left, making me doubt everything under the fucking sun.
Ten years had passed, but she looked the same. Beautiful skin, golden eyes. Her black hair was loose around her shoulders.
She wore the towel wrapped around her body like a queen, even though I could smell her nervousness.
No doubt she could smell my anger.
I wondered if she could also smell my repressed lust.
Because as horribly awkward as this was, as pissed as I was, I still wanted her.
“You shouldn’t be here,” I said, my voice low.
“My reservation tells me otherwise.”
“I don’t care about your reservation. You don’t belong in Forbidden. Period.”
She opened her mouth to say something else—some snarky retort, most likely. I bent down, picked up her jeans and t-shirt, and thrust them at her.
She reached out to take them, and the towel fell.
Shrieking, she scrambled to grab the towel, but only ended up flinging it away from her by accident.
Fuck, her body was magnificent. Gorgeous tits, narrow waist, nice wide hips, perfect for grabbing. I reluctantly flicked my gaze back up to her face. Her cheeks had darkened with a blush and she stared at me with accusation in her gaze.
I snorted and started walking away, then said over my shoulder, “Nothing I haven’t seen before.”
She’d left me the first time, but now it was me leaving her. I’d thought this would feel better, but it still felt like my heart was getting yanked out of my chest cavity and dropped in a jar of paint cleaner.
Fuck work, fuck this B&B. And fuck Declan for not telling me Anna was here. I wasn’t staying on the property another second if she was present. I climbed back into my truck and drove. Down the meandering, two-lane highway, through downtown Forbidden, past the shitty one-bedroom house I was staying in. I went to the place no one would find me—the house my siblings and I had grown up in.
I didn’t actually go in the house—I hadn’t been able to make myself do that since Mom died and Dad left. None of my siblings had, which was why the detached garage was the perfect place to get some peace and quiet.
And it wasn’t like Anna would follow me.
Once I was out of my truck, I hoofed it back to the garage. I’d refit the smaller door to the side with a new lock. After letting myself in, I hit the button to open up the large automatic door.
Natural light streamed into the space. My canvases were stacked all around. Most were finished paintings, but some I’d started before abandoning, unable to get some element right, whether composition or colors or expression. Off to the side was a stack of pristine canvases.
Quickly, I built a frame and stapled the cloth in place. I didn’t allow myself time to think, just let my hands work with muscle memory. Next thing I knew, the fresh canvas was on an easel and a brush was in my hand.
I mixed oils on autopilot and stretched them in streaks across the canvas.
I still didn’t know why I’d followed Anna’s scent. Stupid-ass move on my part. Of course I hadn’t been mistaken—her scent had been as familiar to me as anyone else’s. More familiar. For years it had lingered in my clothes, in my truck. Then I would imagine it while I slept, chase it in my dreams. Chrysanthemums and clover.
With every slash of the brush against the painting, I asked myself why she’d gone. I’d stood there at the door to Mrs. Saltzman’s townhouse rental, waiting for Anna for hours. No one could budge me, because I wanted to be there as soon as she arrived so we could walk into our home for the first time together.
When I was finished with the painting, I wasn’t surprised at the image that I’d created. Whenever I painted with her on my mind, I ended up with the same thing—an image of Anna. But I couldn’t paint her face, except sometimes in profile. Because in every single painting I’d made of her in ten years, she was doing the same damn thing.
She was walking away.
Chapter 5
Anna
Fuck this. I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs. It wasn’t like I’d even unpacked anything yet. I hadn’t promised Gram I was coming, so it wasn’t like I was breaking a commitment. I’d call her and mail her card like I’d originally planned.
I still felt bad about missing her party, but I’d tried.
“Hey, is everything—” Daphne said from the kitchen.
I stormed past and headed outside.
“Sorry, can’t talk now,” I called over my shoulder.
While moving across the porch, I noticed Caleb’s truck. I froze.
If my brother saw me, then this got a bit more complicated. He’d tell Dad that I was in town, and then they’d try to rope me back into staying.
Caleb carried a pile of lumber from the truck to the side of the building. I slipped back inside without him noticing me.
A soft touch on my shoulder made me jump.
“Hey, Anna. It’s okay if you don’t want to talk, but is everything okay?” Daphne gave me a warm smile.
And now I felt guilty about renting a room I wasn’t going to stay in. No harm no foul there, I’d just pay for the nights I’d intended to stay and she’d make out just fine.
“I have to go,” I said. “Something came up.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” Daphne said.
“Me, too.” I gave her a regretful smile. “Your place is charming, and I really like the room.”
The sound of an engine roared, and Caleb drove off.
I sighed with relief and stepped back outside. At least that was one crisis averted. The irony of all of this wasn’t lost on me. I was a therapist who was running away from her feelings. The thing was, it wasn’t necessary for me to deal with my problems to know what other people needed to do.
Making myself deal was a whole different skill that I was happy not to work on.
I jogged down to my rental and threw my bag in the car. I started the engine, pulled the throttle into reverse, and I was already feeling a hell of a lot better.
But I didn’t make it to the end of the driveway before my phone rang.
I stopped the car and looked down at my phone. The caller ID read Gram.
Fucking Caleb. He must have called her.
It rang twice, and I considered not answering. But it wasn’t Caleb calling. It was Gram.
I answered. “Hey, Gram. How are you?”
“My sweet Anna,” she said. “You’re not thinking of leaving Forbidden without coming to my birthday party, are you?”
“No?” My voice came out as an unsteady squeak. Smooth. Real smooth. “How did you know—”
“Caleb saw you.”
Of course he did. I snorted. “And he called you already to make sure he told on me, huh?”
“He did the right thing,” Gram said. “He called me to tell me you were in town. Now you’re coming to my party.”
“Yes, Gram.” There was no use trying to argue with her. She might be turning ninety, but she was the scariest, most commanding alpha I’d ever met. No matter how much I wanted to turn tail and run, I couldn’t. Not now.
“You�
��re going to have fun,” she said. “No moping.”
“I’ll be sure to smile for you,” I said in a flat tone.
“Bringing along a date to the party?” she asked.
“No date.”
“What a shame,” she said. “Did you leave your mate back in Denver instead of bringing him to my party?”
I let out a long sigh. “I haven’t taken a mate, Gram.”
“Really?”
If I didn’t know better, I’d have said she was surprised. We both knew better.
“Well, dear, you’re not getting any younger. And I’m not getting any younger,” she said. “I’d like to meet my great-grandbabies before I’m gone.”
Guilt factor. “I bet Caleb—”
“We both know that your brother can’t be counted on,” she said. “Not for this kind of thing. I’ve never seen that boy twice with the same girl.”
I nodded and sank my back against the side of my rental. Caleb had slept with just about every woman in Forbidden. He was a lot more likely to knock someone up than I was to settle down. I’d only ever been with one man, and that was a long time ago.
And it had been Gram who’d planted the seed that I shouldn’t be with James. You’re too young to settle down. Go out, live a little. I’d done those things, and James had moved on.
“I’ll be there, Gram,” I said. “I have to go. Love you.”
She said goodbye and I slid my phone back into my pocket. It was only a few hours. I could survive that. Then this would all be over and I could return home to the life I’d made for myself. I didn’t need a mate and kids to be happy. But the feeling in my stomach, the twisting swirling unease, said it wouldn’t be easy.
Chapter 6
James
Painting helped—painting always helped. So when Moira called me an hour later, I didn’t verbally rip her head off.
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