“If that is all this city has to offer, I’ll quite happily stay single!” She had laughed as she told Carly when she had gotten home that night after their awful date.
Carly had rolled her eyes and nodded knowingly, as if she had been through it many times herself.
But now that Natalie was heading back to Lost Creek, she thought of all of what could be waiting for her. She was sure that somewhere within the confines of the town, she could maybe, just maybe, meet someone special.
“A girl can dream anyway,” she said aloud and then instantly felt herself blush. She had momentarily forgotten where she was and she noticed a woman across the aisle flick her eyes over to stare at her and Natalie felt herself sink down even further into the seat.
The bus continued to push forward and even though the heating was now blasting through and keeping her warm, just looking outside made her bones chill and turn to ice. The sky was gray, and the ground was white and thick with snow. She had forgotten what it felt like to spend a winter out toward the mountains, and even though it looked incredibly intimidating, it was also really beautiful. The world was still and crisp, soft and white, as if it almost could have been heaven itself. Natalie sat forward and looked at how the snow looked like a thick blanket and imagined jumping into it and rolling until it enveloped her.
That was how she and her brother had spent most of their childhood winters in Lost Creek. Running around the woodland at the base of the mountains, having snowball fights, building igloos and snowmen, and making angels in the powder. She also remembered the groups of boys that were always hanging around and how her parents always warned them to stay away. They would turn up in the forest when her and her brother, Ax, were least expecting it, and they would watch them, mock them, and make them feel as if they were trespassing. Even though the forest belonged to no one and they were all residents of the town. They were different than her and Ax. Even though they were similar ages, there was something about them that screamed feral; they were wild, untamed, and had qualities about them that certainly weren’t fully human. Natalie remembered thinking of how they could be like animals, sometimes. She was sure she had once even heard them growl.
“They’re trouble, those boys,” her dad would say. “Don’t let them get to you, but don’t be mixing with them neither.”
Ax had snorted and walked out of the room as if he couldn’t care less. But it was something Natalie had always remembered. And she had always wondered what exactly her father meant. She knew they had all just been children, but she had always kept an eye on that group of boys and she had been surprised when they all appeared to disappear into the wilderness, one at a time, and never really be a proper part of the town again.
The bus lurched as it bounced over an uneven bit of ground and it snapped her out of her memories. Natalie looked out the window and focused on where she was, and it was with a rush of excitement that she realized she was starting to recognize the roads and scenery around her.
She was close to home. Lost Creek wasn’t far up ahead.
She rubbed her hands together and bit her bottom lip as she began to stuff all her belongings back into her purse and pulled her raccoon fur coat around her shoulders. She raised the hood in anticipation, knowing the second she set foot off the bus, the cold air would bite her deep.
As the road began to thin and bend up high into the mountains, her heart began to race. For a place she knew so well, it was almost as if she was about to arrive somewhere new for the first time.
But maybe that’s because I’m different now… she thought.
She wasn’t the same person who had left all those months before. She had grown and she was more experienced at life. She was returning to her hometown with a stronger mindset and a real sense of who she was and of what she wanted.
When the sign came into view up ahead, Natalie grinned from ear to ear. She could see the images of wolves and bears flanking the words that stirred a fondness in her heart.
Welcome to Lost Creek…
It had been fourteen months, but now that she was looking at the outskirts of her hometown, it was almost as if no time had passed at all.
“Lost Creek, next stop up ahead,” the driver said over the microphone from the front of the bus.
There wasn’t a single movement from elsewhere on the bus, the only person making tracks to disembark was Natalie, and it made her feel even more excited.
As she slowly made her way down the center to the front, she gripped onto the tops of the seats and just hoped she wouldn’t stumble as she approached the driver.
“Going skiing?” he asked her as she sat down on the seat right at the front and watched through the huge windshield as Lost Creek’s all too familiar Main Street swirled into view as snow flurried down ahead of them.
“No,” Natalie smiled contently. “I’m actually going home.”
3.
The bus driver was rooting around in the holding area as he tried to find Natalie’s bags. He had been looking for over five minutes and she could feel the penetrating eyes of all of the disgruntled passengers bearing down on her. As she stood there watching him, the anticipation was building within her, she almost didn’t want to turn and look behind her until she knew she could immerse herself in it all properly.
But the town was alive and buzzing, she could hear it, she could feel it, and she couldn’t wait to take a glance. She looked back over her shoulder just as the bus driver heaved her heavy bag down onto the sidewalk.
“There you go,” he breathed.
“Thanks,” Natalie smiled as he quickly made his way back to the door and it juddered closed behind him. The bus hissed to life and pulled away from the curb, leaving Natalie there to see everything in all its glory.
Main Street. Glistening and warm with people, twinkling lights and the happy conversation of tourists and town’s folk. Natalie couldn’t keep the smile from her face. She really had missed it.
She looked ahead and saw a mother and daughter, wrapped up warm, sitting in the center of Middle Park, chatting and reading something in a magazine. To her left, the road ran up toward the mountains and the wooden cabin-style buildings were all glowing from the inside, casting warm light across the snow that was perfectly piled up all down the sides of the roads. It felt like a wonderland. Everyone was happy and everyone had a smile on their face. It smelled of hot chocolate and marshmallows, and Natalie caught sight of The Hideout. A coffee shop that had been one of her favorite places to go when she had lived here.
“It’s good to be back,” she whispered to herself as she picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder.
She could have hung around and reminisced all afternoon, but she wanted to see her parents, and her toes were starting to freeze. She pushed forward and made her way toward the other side of the street, making sure she didn’t slip on any snow as she went. Her boots glided across the ground and she was cursing herself for being so foolish and wearing some that didn’t have any grip, and had a big, chunky heel. She had forgotten what it was like to navigate the icy roads of a small town, rather than the heavily gritted and cleared city streets. She walked slowly, trying not to drop her bags and lose her balance at the same time, but each step she took felt even tougher than the one before.
She stopped in agitation and breathed in deep, not even realizing she was practically in the middle of the street and even though the roads were quiet, there were still cars zooming up and down around her. Lights flashed in a haze and she found herself spinning on the spot, trying to get her bearings. She felt dizzy and overwhelmed, and she could hear the harsh beeeep beeeep coming toward her, but her vision was blurred and her heart felt like it was going to explode out of her chest.
She felt him before she saw him. His big, rough hands grabbed her right around the waist and lifted her up and pushed her forward so effortlessly and quickly, it was as if she were as light as a feather. She was stunned, her mouth dropped open and she went to scream but no sound would come
out. It had all happened so quickly she was on her back and lying in a big mound of snow and her bags scattered around her before she even had a chance to register what was going on. The cars zoomed past, only inches away, spraying her with a big wave of slushy snow and missing her so closely it made her whole body seize.
He was next to her, leaning up on his elbows and breathing in and out heavily.
“Jesus,” he said. “Are you fucking mad?”
Natalie turned and looked at him. She was startled and shaken, her legs were knocking together, and she couldn’t even make her voice work to answer him. It was if her whole body had gone into a panic.
“I… I…” she tried, but no words would form… And the more she looked at him and she came back to life, the more she became tongue-tied. Because he was one of the most handsome men she had ever seen.
He shook his head and jumped to his feet, shaking down the snow as he went. Natalie was still sprawled across the ground on her back, looking up at him with her mouth gaping open.
The sun was behind him, making him appear like a silhouette, but he was so big and muscular, Natalie could barely catch her breath. She tried to speak, but it came out like a mumble.
“Are you all right?” he asked her as he held out his hand.
Natalie’s back was soaking wet now, covered in slush and snow, and her bags were still scattered, her purse contents spilling all over the sidewalk.
“I… I don’t know…” she finally managed to croak.
He leaned forward and bent down, and when he came down to her eye level, she could really see him, and could take in every inch of how good looking he was.
His face was tanned with the kind of rich deepness only a skier can achieve, and his eyes glistened and shone as his mouth cracked into a wide, forgiving smile. He began to laugh and Natalie slowly started to feel the tension leaving her. She looked around, and then down at herself and how silly she looked, completely collapsed and trapped in the mound of snow.
“God,” she said as she raised her hand and rubbed her forehead with embarrassment. “I’m so sorry,” she pushed down onto the ground and tried to get to her feet, but her savior grabbed hold of her arm and took all of the hard work out of it for her.
He was so strong… So capable.
He laughed again. And she didn’t dare look up into his eyes.
“No, I’m sorry,” he said. “You’re clearly in shock.”
He took hold of her by the shoulders and turned her so they were facing each other. Natalie sucked in some air and finally braced herself to look at him properly. When she let her eyes meet with his, she was instantly thrown into turmoil. He had the most incredibly dark and engulfing irises. They were so rich and open, they were almost drinking her in. He smiled at her again and brushed a stray piece of snow from her shoulder. His eyebrows were dark and heavy on his head, and his hair was just long enough for it to fall delicately around his eyes and frame his strong jawline. Natalie had to stop herself from gulping. He was tall, tanned, handsome, and he was clearly hiding a serious set of muscles underneath his clothes. His tight… tight clothes.
She had to look away.
“Sorry,” she stammered again. “I’m such an idiot…”
“Hey,” he took hold of her shoulders again. “It’s okay. I saw you standing there, as if you were confused… and the cars, they were all hurtling toward you and I just had to move fast.”
He brushed some snow from his own jacket.
“You looked in a trance,” he said.
Natalie looked around and remembered how her mind had been spinning and how she hadn’t been able to focus.
Had she had a panic attack?
“I must have been,” she said. “I don’t know what happened.”
She trailed off and went to pick up her bags but the man stepped in front of her and heaved them up over his shoulder effortlessly.
“Here,” he said. “I’ll help you.” He held out his arm for her to link hers through it and she gladly accepted.
She was still unsteady on her feet, and this time, it wasn’t from her stupid boots. She was all frazzled and nervous. As she held onto him, though, she could feel a power within him, something that was familiar, but that she couldn’t explain. He was different to her… And she remembered the boys in the forest when she had been a child.
“So you’re new in town?” he asked as he broke her train of thought and helped her off the main road and into the safety of Middle Park. Natalie noticed the woman who had been sitting there with her child was now watching them as if they were a crazy spectacle.
“Yeah,” Natalie said without thinking. “Well, no, I mean… I am, but I’m not…”
He started to laugh again.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” he asked, stooping low and looking into her eyes.
“I have no idea what just happened,” Natalie laughed, brushing the hair out of her eyes. “I think I may have just had a panic attack or something. Sorry, I can’t keep a thought together.”
She felt foolish saying the words and she wanted to kick herself. This guy was the best looking she had seen in a long time and she was doing a perfectly good job of making him think she was crazy.
“It’s fine,” he said smoothly. “Maybe you should sit down for a moment and regroup?”
He motioned toward one of the benches in the center of the park and Natalie nodded and smiled at him shyly.
“Here,” he said as he carried her bags over for her. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?” he asked when he set them down and turned back to face her.
“No,” she said. “Well, definitely not as much as the cars would have, anyway.” She managed to laugh and found her sense of self returning.
“Good,” he smiled. When he did, she could see how white and perfect his teeth were and it made her want to whimper. Surely, he had to have a flaw somewhere!
Strong, handsome, perfect teeth… sense of humor? Surely, men like this didn’t exist! Knowing her luck, he would be married, but as her eyes scanned his knuckles, she couldn’t see a ring.
“Thank you,” she said breathlessly. “I mean, really, thank you. Like I said, I have no idea what just happened, but if you hadn’t… intervened… I’m sure that would have been bad.”
He nodded his head slowly and started to walk toward the entrance of the park.
“I’m just glad you’re all right,” he smiled. “Well, kind of…” he winked and then he turned and began to cross the street toward a big, black pickup truck that was parked outside one of the popular sports bars.
Natalie watched as he opened the door and slipped behind the wheel, his hair falling down around his face so perfectly it was like he had just stepped out of a commercial.
He started the engine and heavy music blared out so loud it made some skiers at the side of the street jump and laugh with fright. He beeped the horn and waved to Natalie coolly as he pulled out into the traffic and sped off out of sight.
She found herself staring into the distance, even after he was long gone. And when she finally managed to break away, she sat down on the bench where he had put her bags down for her and just stared into space.
What the hell had just happened?
A sexy stranger had saved her from being mowed down by two cars… that’s what.
She had only been back in her hometown for a matter of minutes, but already, things were getting interesting. She was going to have to calm down and stop being so nervous.
“Once you get home and see Mom and Dad, you’ll feel tons better,” she whispered to herself.
And she knew she was right. Change, no matter how familiar it may be, always threw her off balance in some way. She just needed to get home and rest before she started to plan the rest of her life.
4.
She trudged up the road toward her street and watched how her breath tumbled out in front of her in a big, wispy fog. The air was so cold and her nose was numb and red. She had waited in Middle Park for a good half h
our before she had dared make a go for it again. Her encounter with the sexy stranger had left her feeling flustered and bemused. How had she been so stupid to walk into oncoming traffic and stop there, without even really thinking? Imagine if he hadn’t ran at her and saved her. She could have been dead!
She shook the thoughts from her mind and carried on up the road. The thick pine trees were dusted with snow and she loved the scent that was heavy in the air around her. It was something particular to Lost Creek. She had been in a few towns similar to this one nearby, but none of them ever smelled as fresh or as inviting as her hometown. It was one of the things that made it so unique and likeable.
Her heart started to race as she approached the turn for her family home. It felt like such a long time since she had seen either of her parents, even though they had both been to visit her a couple of times whilst she had been living in the city with Carly. She cast her mind back to the last time she had seen them. Her mother had hugged her tight and said the door at home was always open. And true to her word, as Natalie rounded the corner and saw the familiar pathway that curved up to her family’s wooden forest hideaway, the first thing she saw was that the front door was indeed, wide open.
“Mom!” she called as she started to pick up her pace and walked as fast as she could toward the front of the house. “It’s me!”
Her smile was wide and as she got to the foot of the steps that led up to the doorway, her parents’ smiling faces appeared to greet her.
“Nat!” her father beamed as he rushed down the stairs to help her, sweeping her bags up onto his shoulders as easily as he swept up some of the tallest trees in the forests.
Shifter Romance: BODHI (LOST CREEK SHIFTERS NOVELLAS Book 4) Page 2
