Chuckles permeated the diner.
“Burke and Fridrik will knock you senseless if you say anything about their baby girl,” the apparent kicker said.
“How are those old men anyway?” another patron asked.
“Doing well,” she answered with a sparkle of humor in her eyes. “But then you know that. They were down here the other morning.”
Another round of soft laughter.
“She’s a smart one.”
“What do they think of this one?” the man named Bill asked, motioning his coffee cup toward Javier.
“Javier’s just a family friend passing through.” Her smile faded. “I’m going to give him a tour of Leavenworth, show him the sights.”
One of them snorted. “Tourist then.”
“Yep. Just a tourist,” Heidi said, her smile completely gone now. She turned her attention back to her coffee and didn’t look at him at all.
Every time Heidi got quiet, a shadow of sadness descended on her, and Javier had the urge to wrap her in his arms, comfort her concerns and make a promise he couldn’t keep. He lifted his mug and swallowed the acrid, burned liquid. At least it was hot and had the caffeine he needed to kick his brain into gear.
Their conversation the night before about the possibility of her conceiving his child had almost made him cave in to his desires. When he’d asked her about her one, if she believed there was one match as her brothers and fathers did, he’d not only heard her sadness, he’d felt it in his soul.
Especially when she’d pulled away and tried to be so nonchalant about the whole discussion.
She’d been beautiful with her nephews, so natural. Imagining her as a mother was easy. Envisioning her with his children made something in his chest warm where for two years there’d only been ice and hate and an unquenchable need for revenge.
His fathers hadn’t instilled the idea of there being only one woman for him and his brother. They’d been taught, though, that they would know their mate when she stepped into their lives. And he had.
He’d awoken in the hospital with Isabela leaning over him listening to his heart through her stethoscope. In that instant, he’d mentally claimed her for what he thought would be forever. A long, fulfilled life.
They hadn’t had a long life together, and he no longer had a brother. He was alone, his entire world focused on avenging the murder of his family, his future. No thought of a time after Durchenko’s death had even occurred to him. Once his revenge was exacted, he could crawl into a hole and die, join his family in the afterlife, for all he cared.
Until he met Heidi.
A healer, like Isabela. Strong and independent, which was nothing like his Isabela had been. His mate had needed, craved, his and Juan’s dominance, their protection. Only they’d failed her.
Heidi was the caretaker in her family. Calling to check on her fathers, making sure her sister-in-law would handle preparation of the evening meal. He could see that sweet Heidi had taken on the role of mother to her brothers when their own had died. But who took care of her? Sure, her brothers tried to protect her from dangers, but when was the last time someone asked Heidi what she needed? From the way she shut down when the topic of children arose, he assumed there were topics off limits to her family, subjects too painful for her to face.
She expected to never have children of her own.
Yet there was a possibility he could give her what was obviously a deep desire of hers. A small part of him had even contemplated forgetting to use condoms last night, but the thought of her having children—his children—while he spent the next months, possibly years, tracking Durchenko... He couldn’t do it. He’d wanted to, he could not deny that, but he was selfish too. When Isabela died—and his sons within her—he’d known that was the end of his line. The end of all hope for children from his seed. But now, there was a possibility—a slim one if he chose to believe in the Falke family lore—and his heart ached to take the chance.
He despised the part of himself that contemplated giving up the hunt for Durchenko in order to stay here and spend the rest of his life trying to conceive children with Heidi. It was a betrayal not only to Isabela but also his brother and their sons if he let Durchenko live.
What if Heidi was his one? Isabela had been the mate for him and Juan, but since they were gone, was it possible he’d been given a second chance? Was Heidi his hope for a future?
Heidi made his blood sing. When they touched, the spark was undeniable. Tangible. His emotions tumbled. He craved not only Heidi’s touch, but her soul. Was he experiencing the call to mate as he had once before?
He thought if he had met her under different circumstances, if he was not seeking vengeance, that perhaps he would have recognized her as a mate.
Was it possible for there to be more than one woman for a lone shifter male?
Could he walk away from her, possibly never to return? He might spend the rest of his life hunting that Russian bastard. If that was how long it took, he owed it to his brother and mate. Asking Heidi to wait for him wasn’t fair.
“Here ya go.”
Javier jerked in surprise when Joe dropped a platter of food onto the table in front of him. He hadn’t realized he’d been daydreaming so deeply.
“Thank you. This looks very appetizing.”
“Of course it’s good,” Joe said with a frown. “Talks funny, doesn’t he?”
Heidi laughed. “He’s from Mexico.”
“Pretty big for a Mexican, ain’t he?”
Javier decided to stay out of the debate that sprang up around him, every man in the room seeming to have an opinion on the size of Mexicans.
“It’s the best steak and eggs in town, I swear,” Heidi whispered, picking up her fork and using the edge to cut her slice of ham. “Besides, they’re harmless. My mom and dads used to bring us here every Sunday for breakfast, and I swear every one of these men sat in the same seats then as they do now. Except—” she put a bite in her mouth and chewed quickly, “—back then Joe’s wife ran the counter, and getting something other than ham and eggs for breakfast was easier.”
Javier cut his steak into pieces, then scooped up a forkful of scrambled eggs. “She is gone then?”
Heidi nodded. “A few years ago now. Cancer. He’s never been the same, but he’s got a soft spot for us Falke girls.”
She ate quickly, and he realized she hadn’t been lying earlier when she said she was famished.
Sometime during the night, he’d shared a portion of the third sandwich she’d brought him, but she’d put out a lot of energy in the last twelve hours. That made him grin.
“What?”
“But you’re the only Falke girl, right?”
“Beth and Dakota. Once they joined the family, the town took them in as their own. All you have to do is flirt a little and show some sincere concern for his feelings, and Joe’s a total sweetheart.”
“Perhaps all you must do is flirt.” He winked.
“Yes, he is partial to us women.”
“Young, beautiful women, I think.”
Heidi’s cheeks turned pink as she dipped her head, smiled and concentrated on the remainder of her meal.
They finished in silence, Javier listening to the conversations around him, intrigued by the patrons.
They were elders, and Javier so wanted to talk with them, learn from them. He had lost his fathers when he was young. On their own for so long, he and Juan had learned their lessons the hard way, with no guidance. In the military, he found direction from his superiors, but to sit and talk with, learn from men who had lived so long...
Javier wanted to speak with Heidi’s fathers more. Especially now that his mind was clear of medication and pain. He was curious to learn about the Falke lineage, learn more about what they knew of their shared shifter races.
With the last bite of toast in his mouth, he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet.
“How much, do you think?” he asked Heidi, who was just wiping her mout
h with her napkin.
“Hey, Joe,” she called, her voice carrying over the other men’s chatter.
“What?” he shouted from the kitchen.
“How much?”
“Ten bucks oughtta do it.”
Javier frowned. He’d just eaten a twelve-ounce T-bone, three eggs, a mountain of hash browns and toast. He dropped a twenty and a five on the table as he stood. “Thank you for breakfast, Joe,” he said when the man stuck his head out of the kitchen. “I much appreciated it.”
“Boy your size sure eats a lot.” Joe shook his head and then smiled at Heidi. “Come back real soon.”
She went to him and gave the old cook a hug. “I will. I’ll get my dads down here next weekend.”
“You see you do.”
It was obvious Joe had a tremendous crush on Heidi. When Heidi kissed his cheek, the little man fairly glowed. She seemed to have that effect on quite a few men, Javier realized, as she made her way through the diner saying her farewells.
“You bring Snooky in next week,” she said to the last elderly man near the door. “It’s time for her booster, and I want to check her arthritis.”
The bald man nodded. “Will do, Heidi. Will do.”
The air was warming as the sun rose above the treetops, dissipating the early morning chill.
“So, where do you want to start?” she asked. “You want to walk downtown? Though that’s usually better later in the day when the shops are open. I could take you out to the river. It’s really pretty there in the morning. Or we could—”
“Take me someplace special to you.” Javier held the driver’s door of the Land Rover open for her.
She climbed behind the wheel then turned and stared at him. “This whole town is special to me, Javier. The town and everyone in it.”
With a nod, he agreed. “I have seen that. But there must be somewhere you go that is extra special to you.” He wanted to know her better. Maybe if he did, he would find some flaw, something to make leaving her tomorrow easier.
“Okay,” she said softly. “There’s one place... But it’s a secret. You can’t tell anyone. Promise me.”
“I promise, chata. All of your secrets are safe with me.”
Chapter Eleven
Javier watched the scenery pass by the window as Heidi drove along the highway then turned onto a dirt track barely wide enough for the Land Rover. The trail was bumpy, and he placed a hand against the dash, the other on the door, to keep from bouncing.
“Just a bit farther. Are you up for a little hike?”
“Yes. It will do me good.” Today, the pain in his thigh was negligible. A dull ache that would most likely be gone in another day or two. Despite what he’d told Heidi, or the promise he’d made her brother, he could have left that morning. What was one more day? He’d been chasing Durchenko for two years and had come close a few times, but he always seemed to be a step or two behind him.
The road abruptly ended, a cedar tree standing tall in the middle of the track.
“Come on.” Heidi jumped out and slammed the door. Javier stepped out of the truck and breathed in the damp, earthy scent of the deep woods, cedar, pine and decaying leaves. He had the urge to change into his cat, to run, but he feared that was what had led to his current predicament.
Heidi came around the front of the vehicle and took his hand. “It’s up there.” She pointed up a fairly steep incline. “You think you can make it?”
There was challenge in her tone, in the sparkle in her eyes.
“Lead the way.”
A narrow game trail led up the incline at a slight angle to the hill, making the climb easy. Still, by the time they reached the top, the throbbing in his leg had grown, and he realized he wasn’t quite as healed as he thought.
“A little farther,” Heidi said, frowning. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Damn, he’d begun limping again. “I am fine.”
She took his hand and led him along a new path through the thick forest. There was an undercurrent of excitement running through her. He could feel it, fairly taste it. “Chata, what is it you are going to show me?” Whatever it was must have very special meaning to her.
Just then they walked into a clearing, a glade filled with wildflowers and one ancient cedar tree standing sentinel in the middle of the space.
“This is my special place.” Heidi spun in a circle among alpine aster and wild daisies, her face tipped up to the sun.
“It is beautiful.” Javier stared at her, his heart hurting with want of things he could not claim.
Her smile was angelic when she faced him once again. “It’s mine.”
He nodded. “You belong here.”
“No, I mean this land.” She spread her arms wide. “All five acres. I bought it about a month ago.”
With a new eye, Javier looked at the land. Nice and flat, a good place to build.
“The road will come up through there.” Heidi pointed toward the west. “It’s going to cost a fortune.
I want to keep the cedar tree, but I have to have it tested to make sure it’s healthy. I don’t want to build my dream home only to have it caved in by a falling goliath.”
Javier simply nodded as she spoke.
“Nothing huge. Just a two or three bedroom cottage. But I’ve also got to have a well dug, and get the electricity brought in, both of which will cost a pretty penny.” She sighed. “I guess I wasn’t thinking about all the details when I bought it, but I’ve been coming here for years. My little spot of heaven. I’d bring a book and lunch and sit under that tree. It was only by accident that a surveyor was here one day when I came up for a little peace and quiet. The owner needed it surveyed so he could sell it. I got the seller’s name and made him an offer. He accepted with no questions asked.”
She turned away and wrapped her arms around herself. “It’s going to be a long time before I can afford to get to the point of building my house here, but I can see it. My quiet place.”
“A sanctuary,” he suggested.
“Exactly,” she whispered without facing him.
Javier moved up behind her, wrapped his arms around her and laid his cheek atop her head, breathing in the scent of her and nature. The two fragrances complemented each other. She did belong here.
“I see it, chata. And I am positive you will have your dream home one day. No one deserves it more than you. It must have been difficult, being the only female in a house of males.”
“Like a zoo.”
He grinned and hugged her tighter. “You need a quiet place for yourself.”
She nodded and turned in his arms. “Yes. Exactly. I don’t really want to leave my dads, and I know they’d never shove me out the door, but I can’t live in their house forever...in my childhood bedroom.
I’m almost thirty.” A smile flitted over her lips. “But a small-town vet doesn’t make a lot of money, so it’s going to be a while before I can move here. First the road, then the well and electricity...” She sighed and laid her head against his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist. “At least it’s a start, and it’s mine.”
She gave him a little squeeze, almost as if claiming him as hers too.
* * *
“That’s cheating!” A fierce punch to the shoulder accompanied her accusation, but it lost all effect when she giggled and stuck her tongue out at him.
Javier dropped in a few more tokens to continue the race before the arcade game’s timer expired.
“Not at all, chata. I just took the line you opened up for me.”
The motorcycle game began the countdown for a race on the next level, a new track with new challenges. He’d won the first two races but admired her competitive spirit, which had manifested the moment they’d entered Leavenworth’s premier family amusement park and entertainment center.
The good-natured rivalry began with a friendly round of putt-putt golf. She’d won by two strokes, and he’d confessed to never mastering the game’s finer elements.
Rac
ing, however, had always been something he could do, thanks in part to his brother. They’d had fun playing video games together, and both had lead feet when it came to driving. He’d even had some defensive, tactical driver training in the military, not unlike Juan had experienced with the police force.
The green light flashed, and Heidi got off to an earlier start, but he quickly accelerated to close the gap as she leaned her engineless bike into the first turn.
“You can’t beat me,” he challenged, pulling his cycle in behind hers on the screen and entrusting the computer to recalculate for his drafting techniques.
“Watch me.” She revved the throttle and leaned into the next turn.
He maintained the same line on the virtual track, trailing her every move into one curve after another until the final straightaway when he used his drafted momentum to swing out and slingshot around her, just inching past her front tire as they crossed the finish line.
Her pout was almost as adorable as her cute, little nose.
She swung her leg off the bike, and he followed after a brief hesitation. “You do not want to go another round?”
“No. I concede. You’re the better racer.”
He pulled her into an embrace and kissed the tip of her tiny nose. “And you are a much better golfer.”
She smirked and swung her arms around his neck. “I guess I’m better at knocking balls around a course than flying a motorcycle around a racetrack, but if you tell my brothers I lost, I’ll knock you upside the head.”
“You have raced against them before?”
Backing free of the hug, she nodded and gave him a big grin. “You’re looking at the Falke family champion.”
“Congratulations.” He almost asked if the brothers let her win. Maybe she had beaten some of them, but would Axel... Observing how much the excitement of competition and overall happiness animated her adorable face, Javier suspected the men would do almost anything to make their little sister happy.
And what was a little sacrificed male pride when compared to the brightness of this woman’s smile?
Falke’s Renegade pn-3 Page 11
