“Are you serious?” she asked finally.
“Deadly,” smiled Bodhi. “It’s yours. Now come on, let me buy you a drink to celebrate.”
Arlo winked at the two of them and Bodhi held out his arm like a mock gentleman. Natalie took a step back and shook her head.
“Come on guys,” she said. “I couldn’t possibly ask you to do that.”
“But you didn’t,” Bodhi said. “Arlo, did you hear her asking?”
Arlo shook his head.
“Nope,” he confirmed. “I didn’t hear her ask for anything except for the price… and I think we’ve just told you it.”
“You two really are mad,” she said with a half laugh.
“Maybe a little,” Bodhi said. “But I believe all the best people are.”
He smiled at her and when she stared deeply into his incredible eyes, she felt a rush of excitement rising within her. She had gone from one extreme to the other with Bodhi and his twin in a matter of seconds. But she definitely preferred it at this end. He had a protective edge about him, and she liked it.
“Come on,” he said. “We’re not taking no for an answer.”
Bodhi reached out and grabbed hold of her arm and began to pull her toward the door.
“You can have the keys first thing,” Arlo said with a grin as she looked back over her shoulder. “Now go and have a good night, you crazy kids!” He let out a roaring laughter and Bodhi wrapped an arm around Natalie’s shoulder as he opened the door and led her out into the night.
Kodhi was still leaning against the window, smoking his cigarette, and he looked up to them with a distinctive sneer as soon as he caught sight of them together. He looked at Bodhi’s arm wrapped around Natalie’s shoulder and he rolled his eyes.
“Young love, huh…” he said as if he was bored.
“Go and sleep it off, brother,” Bodhi said as he tapped Kodhi on the back with his big right hand. “I’ll be seeing you in the morning.”
Kodhi nodded and reached into his pocket for his packet of smokes.
“Jeez,” Natalie whispered when she was sure that they had walked far enough away from Kodhi for him to not be able to hear them. “What’s his problem?”
Bodhi looked down at her and breathed out deeply.
“It’s a long story,” he sighed. “But let’s not worry about him, we’ve got better things to be talking about tonight.”
He squeezed her shoulder so that she was closer to him and she could feel his immense power. She nodded her head in agreement and drifted along next to him, not even fully aware of where they were heading.
“Where would you like to go?” he asked her. “I know we said Arlo’s, but I figured maybe we could stay up this end of town.”
“Sure,” Natalie agreed. “I’m in your hands. I haven’t been back to Lost Creek for a long time, I don’t know where’s good anymore.”
“Oh this is the good end of town, all right,” he laughed. “The other end, where Arlo’s is, well that’s slowly dying a death since the wolves… Since another set of guys starting buying off all the properties.”
He mumbled the last half of the sentence as if he wished he hadn’t even started it, and even though Natalie was pretty sure she had heard him refer to someone as “the wolves”, she didn’t want to pry, so she let it slide.
“Well, it certainly feels very festive up here,” she said as she stopped for a moment and looked back down the hill as Main Street trailed away toward the intersection. They had climbed up the mountain slightly as they had been walking, but it had been so gradual she had barely even noticed.
All of the taverns either side of the street were full and alive with people and laughter. The restaurants were all casting out a cozy glow, and the tourists on the street looked happy and satisfied, as if they were all at peace with the world around them. Music drifted out into the street and Natalie could hear guitars coming from somewhere.
“The music?” she asked. “Since when were there ever live music nights in the middle of the week?” she laughed.
“Since Lost Creek started getting invaded by all the wealthy city folk,” he laughed. “It’s so busy here now, every day is a party, especially in the winter when the ski season is in full swing.”
“I love it,” Natalie beamed. “It’s so good to be home.”
Bodhi stopped and looked around, they were in the middle of a wide cluster of bars, cafes and places to eat, the choice was overwhelming, but Natalie knew exactly where she wanted to go.
“Well let’s go and check out the music then,” she smiled. “I’ve just moved back here from the city, maybe I should try and find some of my people.”
“Oh they’re definitely not your people,” Bodhi laughed. “You couldn’t be any less like them if you tried.”
“I know, right,” she giggled. “I couldn’t wait to get the hell out of there and back to the safety of home.”
Bodhi led her toward the door to the tavern where the soft and hypnotic music drifted out to meet them. The lights were on low inside and there was candles casting the majority of light around the room. It was warm in there with big log fires and animal skin rugs all across the floor. She was sure she saw Bodhi’s eyes flash with fire as he caught sight of the stags heads mounted on the walls, and something within him momentarily changed, as if he was agitated and focused on something she couldn’t see. He sniffed the air and bit his bottom lip before Natalie touched him lightly on the arm and he seemed to snap out of his trance.
“Are you okay?” she asked. “It looked like you were zoning out on me there.”
“There’s no chance of that happening,” he said smoothly. “You’ve definitely got my full attention.”
Natalie’s belly started to dance with butterflies and she felt herself blushing. It had been such a long time since she had truly been attracted to anyone, and even longer since she had received this kind of attention, and it felt damn good.
They walked to the back of the room where there was a small, circular table with a candle in the middle right next to a roaring fire. The window was directly behind it and the seats were big, soft and inviting. As Natalie sat down, she felt as if she was in a Christmas movie, and as Bodhi sat down with her, she was sure she could see wandering eyes of other women around the room checking him out. And could she blame them? He was incredible to look at, and he certainly commanded attention whenever he entered a room.
He pulled up a chair next to her and smiled his wicked smile.
“What do you fancy?” he asked.
“I thought I was supposed to be thanking you for saving my life,” she said playfully. “I’m pretty sure I should be asking you that question.”
Bodhi shook his head.
“No chance,” he said. “A gentleman never lets a lady get the first drink.”
“Only the first?” she raised her eyebrows.
“Hmm, we’ll see how good you do, maybe I’ll push to a few more,” he winked and Natalie couldn’t help but laugh. He was witty, sexy and incredibly quick, and their chemistry was on fire. She had been waiting her whole life to meet someone like Bodhi, she was almost having a hard time actually believing he was real.
A waitress approached the table and set down two coasters.
“What are you guys drinking?” she asked as she chewed on some gum.
“We want a bottle of Malbec,” Bodhi said without hesitation, and without breaking Natalie’s eye contact.
She didn’t even know what that was, but she wasn’t about to argue with him. She loved the fact that he was taking charge.
“Sure thing, Bodhi,” the girl said as she turned and walked back toward the bar.
The guy on the guitar was still strumming away, and his voice was dancing dreamily around the room. It was so warm and cozy in there, it felt like they were in an alternate universe in contrast to the harsh cold of the outside.
“So,” Bodhi asked. “Are you going to take the space?” he raised his eyebrows.
Natalie
bit her bottom lip and grinned.
“I’m not so sure that would be a good idea, now,” she said.
“What do you mean?” he asked with genuine shock.
“You know what I mean,” she said cheekily. “You asked Arlo not to charge me. But what happens when he decides he wants to? And then I’m all set up? What if I’ve put all that work in and then I can’t afford to keep it?”
Bodhi threw his head back and laughed, and then shook it.
“Do not be ridiculous,” he said. “That’s never going to happen, we’ll have an agreement in place, signed, by tomorrow morning. If you want it, it’s yours. Free of charge and no questions asked.”
“But why?” she said. “I don’t understand, why are you being so nice to me?”
Bodhi leaned in closer and whispered…
“I think you know why I’m being so nice to you,” he said. “There’s something here, between you and me, and I look after the ones I care about.”
Her heart hammered inside her chest and she felt a tingle run the full length of her spine.
“But we don’t even know each other,” she whispered playfully as she leaned in to mirror him.
“I know enough,” he grinned and his eyes sparkled. “And I know I like what I’ve seen of you so far.”
The waitress arrived back at the table with a bottle of red wine and two large, round wine glasses. She uncorked the bottle and when she went to pour a tiny bit into the bottom of Bodhi’s glass, he waved her away.
“I know it’s good,” he said as he winked at Natalie.
The waitress left them alone and Bodhi filled both their glasses before he passed one across to Natalie.
“Okay,” he said as he raised his and motioned for her to do the same. “This is a toast… To new friends… And new beginnings.”
Natalie was enchanted by him, and she couldn’t pull herself away.
“Take the space,” he said. “I promise you won’t regret it.”
Natalie had no idea if she was making the biggest mistake of her life, but she could tell he was being genuine, and he clearly wanted to help her. Was she really in a position to be turning down such a generous offer? She knew, without even thinking about it, the answer was no.
Bodhi was still holding his glass over the center of the table and Natalie finally caved and did the same.
“To new friends,” she said as she stared deep into his eyes. “New beginnings… and a new town, even though I know it well.”
“You don’t know it well enough,” he said. “But you will, and I know you’re going to love it.”
He clinked his glass against hers and they both took a long, drawn out sip.
“So come on,” he said with a cheeky grin. “I want to know all about you, start to finish, and don’t leave out any of the gory details.”
Natalie burst out laughing and nodded.
“Okay,” she said. “But then it’s your turn.”
“Deal,” Bodhi grinned.
She took another sip of her wine and already felt warmed right through. As first dates went, this one was certainly the best she had ever experienced, and they had barely even got started…
8.
The wine took hold of her quickly and she found herself opening up and relaxing as if she had known Bodhi for years. There was something incredibly easy about spending time with him, it was hard for her to believe that they had only just met a day earlier, and under such strange circumstances.
Natalie filled him in on the past year and a half of her life, she told him all about her time in the city, working late nights and not having the nerve to follow her dreams. She told him how the place had ruined her, how it had stolen her spirit, but now that she was home, she was ready to finally go after what she wanted. And as he listened to her, he reached out across the table and took hold of her hand.
“You’re smart,” he said. “I like that.”
“Thank you,” she smiled sheepishly. “But I’m not so sure about that. Maybe I’m just driven with a few good ideas.”
“Or maybe you’re an intelligent, beautiful woman with her head screwed on?” he said seriously. “And trust me, they are few and far between, so I count myself incredibly lucky I met you when I did.”
“Oh yeah?” she asked.
Bodhi nodded and sipped his wine.
“Lost Creek…” he sighed as he stared off into the distance. “It’s approaching a strange time, and I think the one thing that may save it from disappearing back into the wilderness are people like you and I. The crazy ones with vision to bring it out of the dark ages.”
“It’s not doing so bad,” she laughed. “I mean, look at this place, it’s awesome, and rammed!”
“And predictable,” he said. “I often worry about what will happen to all of the buildings down here along Main Street if trade quietens down. We need to keep things fresh and busy.”
“Oh, so now I know why you’re so eager to give me the space for free,” she said with a laugh.
Bodhi nodded and held his hands up.
“We can’t risk anyone else moving in there,” he said. “No one connected to the other end of town, anyway.”
“What do you mean?” she asked with wide eyes.
Bodhi had a look about him, similar to the one Arlo had when she had first gone into the bar earlier in the day and enquired about the empty store next to the sports bar.
“Oh look,” Bodhi said as he lifted up the bottle. “We’re pretty much dry. Are we staying here or heading somewhere a little livelier?”
He had changed the subject superbly, but Natalie didn’t mind, she had been enjoying their carefree talks, and suddenly, this all seemed to have turned very serious.
“I think we should go somewhere a bit livelier,” she said as she jumped up to her feet. “I mean, the night is still young et cetera, et cetera…”
“I like your style,” Bodhi smiled as he gripped hold of her hand and began to lead her through the crowds. His skin was red hot and his energy seemed to reverberate through her. As they crossed the room, she could feel all the eyes of the other women in the bar moving from the man singing and playing guitar at the front of the room and settling on them instead.
She could see the jealousy in their eyes, and the lust. Bodhi was such an attractive man, and he had a pull. There was something raw and different about him, but she just couldn’t put her finger on it. She couldn’t explain what it was about him that was turning her on so much, but in a weird way, it was almost as if he wasn’t all human. As if he had something more powerful and magical running through his veins.
He pushed open the door to the tavern and the icy air nipped at Natalie’s skin. Bodhi wrapped her up in his arms confidently and she let him without hesitation. The wine had taken hold of her and she was relaxed and carefree. She felt as if they had been friends for years, and even though she knew that ultimately they were definitely going to be more than friends, it still gripped her and allowed her to be one hundred percent herself. She knew she didn’t have to play games with this man. Something about him had clicked with her, and he was already becoming an important figure in her life.
The only thing that frightened her, was that if she could feel like this after only twenty-four hours…what the hell would she be like after a week? A month? A year?
She shivered.
“Are you cold? Here…” he said as he went to remove his big, thick coat.
It was so freezing cold, she felt bad accepting it, but as he protectively wrapped it around her and looked into his eyes, she realized she could get used to being treated like such a lady.
They stood and looked around Main Street and Natalie smiled at some passersby. Within them were a group of women who did a double take as they passed and checked out Bodhi with wide, appreciating eyes.
“Does that happen a lot?” Natalie asked teasingly.
“More than I’d like it to,” he said jokingly. “I mean, it really is a burden, you know?”
Natalie slapped him playfully on the arm and rolled her eyes.
“Very funny,” she said. “So, where are you taking me now?”
Bodhi whistled through his teeth and squinted into the distance.
“Well,” he said. “We have plenty of places to choose from, so I suppose wherever your heart desires.”
“No,” Natalie shook her head. “I’ve been out of town far too long and you know this place like the back of your hand. I’m going to let you pick.”
“Okay then,” Bodhi said as he grabbed hold of her hand again and led her toward one of the livelier looking taverns bustling with people. The windows were steamed up from the inside out and bodies were littering the sidewalk as people drank big tankards of beer and smoked, danced in the snow and sang along to the music.
“Lively enough?” he joked.
Natalie shrugged and he started laughing.
“I’m sure it will entertain us for ten minutes, anyway,” he said as he pulled her forward into the crowd.
As they walked through the throng of people, Natalie found herself recognizing a few from town and from her high school. Most of the people that she had grown up with had long left Lost Creek, but here, there were a few familiar faces and it made her feel even better about her decision to come home.
“This is my favorite place in town,” Bodhi said as he opened the main door to the tavern and stepped inside. “I’m here pretty much every night when we’re all not down at Arlo’s.”
It was dark inside, much like the bar they had just been to, but this one was different. The music was wild and blared through the huge, high vaulted room. Everyone was dancing and drinking, swinging each other around and kissing on the middle of a make-shift dance floor.
Natalie could never remember anywhere like this when she had still been at home. She couldn’t even begin to get her head around how much her hometown had changed in such a relatively short space of time.
“You look confused,” Bodhi said as he pulled her forward and sidled up against the bar. He pulled out a bar stool for her and wrapped his arms around her, pinning her in as he looked deep into her eyes.
Shifter Romance: BODHI (LOST CREEK SHIFTERS NOVELLAS Book 4) Page 6
