Guardian Dragons of Prospect Falls: (A Paranormal Shifter Romance)

by Serena Meadows

  The afternoon passed more pleasantly than she’d anticipated, and much to her surprise, she discovered that Vincent had a wicked sense of humor. Between some of the acts and his joking remarks, she spent most of the afternoon laughing, so it was a bit of a disappointment when she realized that the last act was over. Vincent seemed equally disappointed but got to his feet and took charge of getting everything cleaned up.

  She was just tucking all the paperwork back into a box when he found her. “Everything’s all set,” he said, taking the box from her. “I told them all we’d be in contact.”

  “That’s fine. I’ll send out emails in the morning with all the details,” she said. “We do have details, right? Places for all those people to stay when they come back?”

  Vincent laughed and nodded. “Yes, I’m not completely hopeless. There’s a campground outside of town, with showers and everything, plus people in town rent out their rooms to the festival workers. It’s all somewhere in that mess in my office.”

  Charlie couldn’t help but sigh. “We’ll make that a task for tomorrow morning,” she said. “I think I’ve had enough for one day.”

  He studied her for a second. “You’ve done a good job, Charlie. Thank you for putting so much energy into this,” he said. “I made a mess of things.”

  Pleased with his praise, she asked, “Does this mean I’m a little closer to demon hunting?”

  His face turned hard, and she wished she’d just thanked him. “This has nothing to do with demons. You’ve done a good job with all this stuff, but you should know that it’s going to take a lot more than planning a party to convince me you belong out there,” he said. “You should just concentrate on doing what you’re good at and leave the dangerous stuff to the men.”

  “You mean I should just stick to woman’s work,” she spat at him, unable to stop herself.

  “Well, if it was good enough for my mother, it should be good enough for you,” he spat back at her. “Woman aren’t guardians for a reason. Men are stronger; you belong here giving your support where it’s needed. That’s the way things are.”

  Charlie could only stare at him, her mouth hanging open for a long time. “Shame on you for bringing your mother into this,” she said. “And in case you missed it, times have changed, Vincent. I may not be stronger than you are, but I have other things to offer; you’re just too stubborn and scared to take the time to look.”

  She grabbed the box out of his hands, turned, and stomped off, afraid she’d say more. When she slammed the door of her cabin, she stood holding the box, anger flowing through her, her power flaring dangerously, and she knew that she had to find a way to burn some of it off. Vincent almost had her believing that he was a decent guy, but she saw that behind that handsome face was a man who didn’t value women.

  Disappointment washed over her, and she realized that her attraction to Vincent was already a problem, that her emotions had already been triggered. Setting the box down on the table, she went back to her bedroom and put on her running clothes; she had to burn off some energy, and since she couldn’t shift, that seemed like the best idea. Hopefully, a good run would help her clear her mind, calm the wild urges she felt when she was near Vincent. She had a duty to her family, and she wasn’t going to let them down.

  Chapter Six

  ***Vincent***

  The next morning, Vincent was sitting at his desk, mulling over the fight he’d had with Charlie the day before and wondering if he was wrong. She had already proven to be more than competent, at least when it came to organization, but that was a long way from facing a deadly demon. As hard as he tried, he couldn’t see himself putting her in harm's way or risking anyone else safety.

  He was prepared for the jolt of attraction that hit him when she walked into his office, but it still took his breath away, and he wondered if he’d ever get used to it. She’d left her hair down that morning; still damp from the shower, it curled around her face and down her back. He itched to run his fingers through its silky waves but clasped his hands tightly in his lap and banished the image from his mind.

  “I was thinking I would box all this up and take it over to the cabin. I brought my truck, so it shouldn’t be a big deal to move it,” she finally said, a strange look on her face, as if she were reading his mind.

  His heart sank at the idea; he’d been looking forward to having her close that day. “Are you sure? I could find you a desk here,” he suggested.

  Charlie looked over her shoulder at Janice, who was staring at them, a nasty look on her face. “And spend the day with that? No thank you,” she said, turning back to him. “I think I’ll get more done if I spread all this out.”

  “What about a computer?” he asked, thinking he’d have her there.

  “I have my laptop,” she said, putting her hands on her hips. “Do you want me to do this or not?”

  He didn’t have much choice but to agree. “Fine, but I expect you to check in with me twice a day with updates,” he said, childishly needing to get the last word but not proud of it.

  She packed the boxes in silence, but he could feel her anger simmering just under the surface, and he wondered what she was thinking, then decided that it might be better if he didn’t know. He helped her take everything out to her truck, was sure that she was going to just get in and drive away, but she hesitated, her hand on the door handle, then turned and looked at him.

  “I know you think this is woman’s work or whatever you want to call it, and under normal circumstances, I would tell you where to stick it. But, thanks to Horace, I understand how important this is to the town, so I’m going to do my best for all the people who shouldn’t be punished for your stupidity,” she said, then got into the truck and slammed the door.

  She calmly put on her seatbelt, put the truck into reverse, looked both ways, and pulled out into the street. But she didn’t pull away, instead, her window slid slowly down, and she stuck her head out. “You know where to find me if you want an update. I’m done with Janice.”

  He watched her drive away, the first flicker of respect coming to life, a grin spreading across his face at how effectively she’d put him in his place. The only other person who’d been able to do that was his mother, and he chose not to think about that too deeply as he walked past Janice to his office. Suddenly missing his parents, he picked up the phone and dialed their number in Florida before he lost his nerve.

  When his mother’s voice came on the line, he wished he’d taken a few minutes to think about what he was going to say. “Hi, Mom. I was just thinking about you, so I called,” he said.

  “How is the festival planning going?” she asked as if she’d been reading his mind.

  He hesitated a second. “Did you ever feel that the work you did for the town was less important than what dad did?” he asked instead of answering her question.

  “Well, we both contributed to the wellbeing of the valley in our own ways,” she said. “Why? What’s going on?”

  “It’s nothing, really, just something I’ve been thinking about,” he said. “Did you ever feel like you missed out because you didn’t hunt demons like Dad?”

  His mother laughed, surprising him. “I killed enough demons in my day,” she said. “Whatever gave you the idea that I haven’t?”

  Vincent was stunned into silence. “Well, you never...I mean, I never saw you...”

  She sighed. “Well, you were pretty young the last time I went hunting with your dad,” she said. “But I thought you knew that there was a time I went hunting with him all the time.”

  “But you never talked about it; you always seemed so happy to stay behind and organize stuff,” he said, still unable to see his mother killing demons.

  “After you were born, it wasn’t as much fun as it used to be, and I decided that it was more important that you always had one parent at home,” she said. “Your dad had plenty of other shifters to help him, the young ones just coming up, and with you at home, I was happier there. Does that help?
” she asked.

  “I’m not sure,” he said.

  “Are you going to tell me what this is all about?” she asked, concern in her voice.

  “It’s nothing, really,” he said again, but his mind was spinning. “Don’t worry, everything is fine here. I was just doing some thinking.”

  “Well, if you say so,” his mother said, but he could tell that she wasn’t convinced. “I love you, Vincent, and I’m always here to talk if you need to.”

  ***Charlie***

  Morning had turned to afternoon as Charlie worked to untangle the mess she’d inherited from Vincent, angry at first, then determined when it became a challenge. But she was finally reaching into the last box for a small book tucked into the corner and planning how she was going to celebrate when she was done. It wasn’t until she had it in her hands that she realized it was much smaller than the other ledgers she’d found and looked a little closer.

  Bound in dark leather, the book looked well worn, she decided, turning it over in her hands. Softened by years of use, and stained in places, it was clear that someone had spent a lot of time writing in it. Not sure if she should, but aware that she couldn’t find the owner unless she did, she opened the front cover, realizing almost immediately that the book belonged to Vincent’s mother.

  She closed the cover and studied the book for a moment, wondering if it was in the box on purpose or by accident, then opened it again to the first entry. After only a moment’s hesitation, telling herself that she wasn’t being snoopy, that there might be something useful to the festival in the book since it was in the box, she began to read. Over thirty years old, written in an almost girlish looping handwriting, she read the story of how Vincent’s mother, Susan, had fallen in love and come to Prospect Falls.

  When the entry ended, she was tempted to turn the page, but set the journal down on the table and walked away. Reading any more would have been a violation of Susan’s privacy; it was clearly her personal journal misplaced and stored away, probably forgotten by now. She’d give it to Vincent the next time she saw him, which reminded her that she still had work to do, just in case he showed up for an update.

  Going to the kitchen, she started a fresh pot of coffee, thinking a little caffeine would give her a boost, then found a package of cookies and set it on the table. A few minutes later, cup of freshly brewed coffee in front of her, a stack of cookies next to it, she was staring out the window thinking about what Prospect Falls looked like thirty years ago when Susan arrived.

  When she got up to refill her cup, her feet took her back into the living room, and after only a second’s hesitation, she picked the diary up and took it back to the kitchen. Flipping to the second entry, which was dated a year later, she began to read, swept up almost instantly the romance of a young woman learning about love and the life she’d chosen. She mourned the innocence of the first entry but began to respect the woman who was emerging as she read, and when the entry ended, she found herself turning the page again.

  Susan had been in Prospect Falls for four years when the chiming of the clock in the living room startled her, and she came slamming back to the present. Closing the book, a wave of guilt washing over her, she set it down on the table, promising herself she’d stop reading it. Getting back to her feet, she headed for the living room and the emails that should have gone out much earlier that day.

  But she’d only gone a few steps when there was a knock on the door, and she found Vincent standing on her porch. It took her a second to decide if she was still mad at him, but he had come to her, so she decided to let it go. He studied her for a second, his piercing blue eyes locking on hers, making a thrill erupt deep inside her and her knees turn to jelly.

  “Do you want to come in?” she finally managed to croak, stepping back from the door.

  He walked past her, his eyes widening when he saw the living room of the little cabin. “It looks like you’ve been busy,” he said.

  “One thing is very clear to me,” she said. “It’s time to make all of this digital.”

  “Yeah, I tried to talk my mom into for years,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “My latest crusade is video chatting, but I haven’t made much headway with her yet.”

  Charlie knew that it was the perfect time to give him the journal, but she let the moment pass and instead said, “I think I’ve got everything sorted out, but I do have a few questions for you, including where I’m supposed to live when Miranda needs my cabin.”

  “Oh, um...” Vincent looked around the cabin. “I hadn’t thought about that. I mean, when we thought you were a man, I was going to move you into the boarding house, but that won’t work now.”

  Charlie laughed. “I don’t mind staying in a house with a bunch of men. I’ve had to do it before,” she said. “I can defend myself; you know.”

  “Well, lots of people in town wouldn’t like it,” Vincent said a little too forcefully.

  “Okay, it’s no big deal. I’m sure I’ll figure out something. I still have a couple of weeks,” she said. “I also have a few questions about the campground.”

  Vincent looked at the map she’d taped to the wall, then back at her. “I didn’t really come here for an update,” he said. “I came by because I forgot to tell you about the dinner party at the golf course tonight. I’m going to need you to attend.”

  “Dinner party?” she asked, trying to catch up.

  “Yeah, you know, those things where you eat a bunch of food that’s really bad for you and make small talk with people you don’t really like,” he said, an edge to his voice she didn’t like.

  “Are you asking me or ordering me?” she asked, her anger rising.

  Chapter Seven

  ***Vincent***

  Vincent knew that he wasn’t handling things very well, but Charlie made him slightly crazy, and the sight of her covered in dust and disheveled made him even wilder. The truth was he didn’t want to go to the stupid dinner with anyone but Charlie; of course, he couldn’t tell her that. It didn’t even make sense to him. All he knew was that when Gabriel offered to get him a date, he’d rejected the idea, and Charlie had popped into his mind.

  “It’s kind of a fancy thing,” he said, not answering her question. “You might not have anything to wear.”

  “That’s not a problem,” she said. “But you didn’t answer my question.”

  “I thought this might be a good opportunity for you to meet the rest of the guardians and their wives,” he said, still not answering. “All of the town council will be there as well, plus about half of the town.”

  Charlie was staring at him, hands on her hips, foot tapping on the floor, and he wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her until she agreed to go. “I’m still waiting for an answer,” she said, but some of the confidence had gone out of her voice.

  His eyes locked on hers, his body beginning to throb in places it shouldn’t, he asked, “What difference does it make?”

  She studied him for a second. “If you are asking, then the answer is yes; if you’re ordering me, then the answer is no,” she said.

  Vincent had no idea what to make of her answer but was very aware of the burst of happiness that shot through him. “Then I’m asking,” he said. “Charlie, will you go with me to the dinner party tonight?”

  She grinned at him, and his heart did flip flops in his chest. “I don’t know. I feel like maybe you’re just asking me because you forgot to find a date.”

  “I had other choices,” he said. “Are you going or not?”

  “What time should I be ready?” she asked, clearly enjoying herself.

  “I’ll pick you up in an hour,” he said through clenched teeth.

  “Relax, Vincent, I was just teasing you,” she said, shoving him toward the door. “But I really do have to start getting ready.”

  He was back an hour later, showered and dressed in his best suit, already pulling on the tie that was threatening to choke him, as nervous as he’d been on prom night. Of course, this
night wouldn’t end the way that one had, he mused, feeling his groin tighten at the thought of Charlie in the back seat of his father’s car, her dress up around her hips. Wondering if he should have let Gabriel set him up after all, he pushed the thought from his mind and got out of the car.

  There had been a time in his life when one of Gabriel’s dates would have been enough, but he’d outgrown those kinds of relationships, had discovered that he needed a deeper connection. It had been two years since the last one had ended, and it was a shock to discover that until Charlie had shown up in town, he hadn’t felt lonely, had been happy to be on his own. But she’d awakened something inside him, a strange desire that he’d never felt before. It wasn’t just the pull of physical attraction; it was deeper than that.

  Slamming his mind shut on that thought, he climbed the steps to the door and knocked, telling himself that this wasn’t a real date, that he shouldn’t be nervous. But his stomach was still doing flip-flops, and his heart was pounding in his chest as he stood waiting for her to open the door. When the door finally swung open and he saw Charlie, all the air left his chest in a whoosh that left him gasping for air and staring at her open-mouthed.

  She was dressed in a dark emerald green dress that matched her eyes, cut low in the front, it hugged her body provocatively, making him want to run his hands over her curves. Her skin was creamy white, dotted with freckles that he longed to kiss; her hair cascaded down her shoulders in shining waves, and when she turned, the sight of her bare back nearly brought him to his knees.

  Fighting to take a breath, he watched her drape a shawl over her shoulders and pick up the tiny purse from the table by the door. “Sorry, I hope you weren’t waiting long,” she said, completely unaware that he was stunned and unable to move.