by Jane Jamison
The diner was only half full, showing once again that the tourist season was coming to a close. She hated eating alone, but what other choice did she have? At least, when she ate alone, she could listen in on other people’s conversations.
Miranda Cushton, the owner, seemed to be doing a lot of other jobs, including working as a server. The thin fortyish, dark-haired woman had the energy of a girl half her age. Laugh lines framed her sparkling eyes as she poured coffee into the cups of the two diners closest to Lilli. She’d liked Miranda from the moment she’d welcomed Lilli into the diner and introduced herself before telling Lilli to sit wherever she liked.
“Is it true? Are there really werewolves on the island?” The pretty girl with blonde hair looked expectantly at Miranda. “And vampires? I heard stories about vampires, too.”
Lilli held back a groan. Why would anyone believe in such nonsense? Sure, it was fun to watch a television show or a movie about supernatural beings, but to really believe they existed? No way.
Miranda flattened a hand on their table and leaned closer. “Well, we locals don’t like to talk about them much, but, yes, the stories are true.”
Lilli cupped her coffee mug and tried not to smirk. Obviously, West End used the stories to draw the tourists to the island. Like Roswell, New Mexico had stories about aliens from outer space, the residents of West End used their one claim to fame to their advantage.
“Really? Have you ever seen a werewolf or a vampire?” The young man with the girl was just as gullible.
“I sure have. Up close and personal, too.” Miranda’s tone took on a spooky edge.
Lilli glanced at another couple she would’ve bet were locals. They ignored Miranda and concentrated on their meals.
“Seriously? How close? Where?” The girl was leaning toward Miranda, entranced.
“Well, I was out walking on the beach one night when I saw this big dark shape on one of the rises. I looked and looked at it, kind of hoping it was someone’s dog, but it was too big. Then I saw its eyes.”
The girl gasped. “Its eyes?”
“Yes. A werewolf’s eyes are an amber color, and they glow in the dark. I’m telling you I’ve never run so fast as I did that night.”
“And a vampire? Have you seen one of those, too?”
Oh my God. Come on, girl.
Lilli scoffed at the girl’s innocence, but she still listened, more intently than before. After all, who didn’t enjoy a good tale?
Miranda glanced around as though checking to see if anyone was eavesdropping. When her attention landed on Lilli, she merely smiled, sending her an unspoken message that she knew Lilli was too smart to buy her stories.
“Actually, I dated a vampire once.”
“No kidding?” The young man took the girl’s hand. “But why would you date one?”
“Was he sexy like they are in the movies?”
Lilli rolled her eyes, thankfully without anyone noticing.
“He sure was. Not that he sparkled or anything like in that movie.”
“What was he like?” asked the girl.
“Dark and mysterious. And worldly. After all, he was almost two hundred years old.” Miranda let out a dramatic sigh. “Sadly, I had to break it off.”
“You did? Why? I’d sure date a vampire if I could.”
“Hey,” admonished her boyfriend. “Remember me?”
The girl squeezed his hand, reassuring him. “So you broke it off with him?”
“Yes, I did. I simply couldn’t stand never seeing him during the day. I mean I work days and need my beauty sleep at night. We couldn’t get our schedules to mesh.” Miranda winked and put an end to the conversation. “You two let me know if you need anything else. I’d better get back to Hudson in the kitchen. He tends to growl when he gets moody. If I make him too mad, he might just bite me.”
The girl’s mouth fell open. “You don’t mean he’s a werewolf, do you?”
Miranda put a finger to her lips. “You didn’t hear it from me.” Abruptly, she pivoted toward Lilli before the couple could ask any more questions.
“Need a refill?”
“No thanks. I’ve reached my limit.” As much as Lilli tried not to, she couldn’t resist glancing at the couple.
Miranda caught on. “Those two enjoyed the stories. So? Have you heard what goes on around here?”
“I have.” She didn’t say anything more, not wanting to encourage Miranda from telling more of the silly lies.
“So how’d it go yesterday?”
“Yesterday?” As if she didn’t know.
Miranda placed a hand on one hip. “With the men, of course. Out at their ranch?”
It seemed West End’s rumor mill was faster than most. “Um, fine. I delivered the package and came back to the hotel.”
“You were out there for a while. Marley, the cab driver, said he had to wait several minutes for you to leave.”
Lilli didn’t think of herself as someone who got irritated very often, but she was sure as hell irritated now. “Wow. Is everyone talking about me? Am I being watched? I’ve got to say it’s not a good feeling. What’s the big attraction, anyway?”
Miranda took a step back. “I’m sorry, Lilli. I didn’t mean to get up in your business.” Her smile came and then faltered. “Although I guess I did. Again, I’m sorry.”
Lilli did her best to calm down. Miranda hadn’t meant any harm. “It’s okay. I guess I’m not used to how folks are in a small town.”
“Again, I’m sorry. I’m nosy, and I admit it, especially now that business is on the downswing from the season.” Miranda slipped into the other chair and set the coffee pot on the table. “I’m only asking because those guys have been searching for someone for quite a while now. They’re great men who would do anything for anyone.”
Well, hell, just make yourself at home.
Instead of saying so, Lilli kept her mouth shut. Besides, she figured Miranda would keep on talking.
“Plus, the ranch is doing well, and Martin has a permanent job as sheriff. He does a terrific job considering what he’s up against. We locals would like to see them hook up with someone who’d treat them right.”
“O-kay.” How much did she want to tell Miranda? That she had the hots for them? What else could she say? It wasn’t as though she’d known them for more than a few hours. Still, she wouldn’t mind getting to know them better.
“Anyway, what’s next? I heard you’re staying on for a few days.” Miranda’s knowing look was hard to miss. “Did you four make plans? Are you getting together today?”
How had Miranda heard she was staying on? “Nope. No plans.” At least, not yet anyway.
“At least not yet, anyway, right?”
Had the woman read her mind? “Again, no plans. And for the record, I didn’t stay because of them. I was owed some time off and figured since I was already here, why not take a few days to have fun, maybe even go whale watching?”
“Uh-huh.” Miranda leaned back.
Maybe it was time to go on the defensive. “Why have they been looking for, as you said, a while now? I mean, they’re definitely sexy”—she cringed and wished she’d used a different word—”and, if they’re as nice as you say they are, why hasn’t some girl locked them down?”
“Hey, don’t get me wrong. Those boys could have any girl they want. The thing is that they don’t want just any girl. They’ve held out for the right girl.” Miranda arched an eyebrow. “Maybe you’re that right girl.”
“The right girl for what?” She had to admit she was intrigued. “For what? For a fun time? For a girlfriend?”
“Oh, honey, we’re talking for a lifetime.”
“For all three of them?” The idea of her fantasy sprang to life, but she pushed it aside, almost afraid to think in those terms.
“Exactly. I don’t know if you’ve noticed this or not, but people around here are into multiple lovers. Primarily two or more men to one woman.”
“Ménage relationships? I w
ould’ve thought a small town would be more conservative.”
“What can I say? We like what we like. Now, are you going to see them again or not?”
The way Miranda had put it was almost like a dare. A dare Lilli might have to take. “I don’t know.”
“Do you want to? You do, don’t you?” Miranda laughed and waved at the couple who’d risen and headed to the door. “You don’t have to say anything. I can see the answer written all over your face.”
“I guess so. I mean it would be kind of nice to have someone to show me around the island.”
“You’re right. And it makes the perfect excuse, too.” Miranda ignored a call from her cook in the kitchen telling her food was ready to be served. “Okay, so all you need is an excuse to head back out to the ranch.”
“If they’re interested, wouldn’t they show up at the hotel?” She wished now that she’d given them her number. Or had theirs.
“You’re right. They should. But let’s not leave anything to chance. You need to go back out to the ranch.”
“For what reason?” Could she take up where she’d left off? Could she be open and honest and simply tell them she wanted them?
“Who cares? They’re going to see right through any excuse you give. But if you need one, then tell them you were supposed to make sure the contents of the package were unbroken.”
“Couriers rarely ask unless they’ve been instructed to do so by the sender. Besides, Travis sort of opened the package while I was still there. I told him to contact our company if anything was wrong. Now I’m going to show up and check? It’s a pretty thin excuse, don’t you think?”
“Again, the excuse really won’t matter. I’m willing to bet they’ll be so happy to see you that they won’t even question the reason you’re there.”
“I’m not so sure.”
“Really? Why not?”
She really didn’t want to admit it, but she’d already gone too far to back down. Besides, maybe Miranda could explain Travis’s reaction. “Martin and Rogan were interested. I’m sure about it. But Travis wasn’t. In fact, he almost ran me out of the house.”
“He did? Huh.” Miranda grew thoughtful. “That doesn’t sound right. Maybe he was preoccupied.”
“Well, he was excited about whatever was in the package. Something about herbs and plants?”
“I can see him wanting those, but to treat you like he wasn’t interested when the other two men were? Now that’s odd. Very odd.”
“Do you think something else is going on?”
Miranda shrugged. “Beats me. I haven’t heard anything.”
Well, if the gossip mill hasn’t said anything, then I guess it’s okay.
“Maybe he was having a bad day. Or maybe he was playing it cool,” offered Miranda. “Either way, you need to get your sweet little butt back out there. Today. As soon as possible.”
“One, I’m not that sweet. And two? My butt is not little.”
Miranda giggled like a woman half her age. “Whatever size your ass is, they liked it, which means you need to give them another good look. Pronto. Take it from someone who’s been there and blown it. Don’t let this chance pass you by.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. Do you have a rental car?”
“No. At least not yet. I was planning on getting one today if they’re open.”
“They’re not, but don’t worry about it. I’ll call the owner at home and set you up. But I’d suggest a scooter. Some of the roads around here are kind of narrow. Plus, a scooter is more fun and it’ll give the guys a reason to drive you around.”
“Okay. Sure.” She loved riding motorcycles so a scooter would do just fine. “If it’s not any trouble.”
“No trouble at all.” Miranda got to her feet. “Be right back.”
“Okay. Thanks.” Excitement bubbled inside her. Was she really going to show up at the ranch with a flimsy excuse to see them again? Not that it would be so outlandish for her to do so. She’d done crazier things. Why not do something crazy for the chance at three spectacular men? What did she have to lose aside from a little pride? If Travis was still uninterested, she could always cancel her stay and hop on the next ferry off the island.
Oh, shit. Am I really going to do this?
Chapter Four
Miranda had been true to her word. Within an hour, a scooter was delivered to Lilli’s hotel, free of charge. She promised to swing by later and thank the generous diner owner.
Finding their ranch again hadn’t proven difficult. She had a knack for remembering directions. The difficult part was driving up the long road to the house.
Now what do I do?
She hadn’t thought about the possibility of Martin not being there. And what if Travis threw her out? The only thing she could do would be to leave, tail between her legs.
She sat on the scooter, thinking of all the reasons why she shouldn’t be there. There were more than enough to send a rational person heading back to town.
They hadn’t invited her.
Travis didn’t want her there.
Martin wasn’t around.
She’d look desperate, not to mention skanky.
But the one reason to stay dominated all the rest.
She wanted to see them again and maybe, just maybe, get to know them in every way possible.
Shutting down the scooter, she swung her leg over the bike then pulled off her helmet. Hopefully, she didn’t have helmet-head, but she fluffed her hair anyway. It would have to do since she didn’t have a brush or a comb with her.
“Here goes nothing.”
Suddenly, a dark shape whisking in and out of her vision caught her eye. Whatever it was had darted into the tree line several yards away. She stared, searching slowly until, at last, she saw it.
A huge wolf, larger than any normal wolf could be, stared back at her. He was shiny black except for the patch of white on his forehead. Amber eyes fixed on her, taking her breath away.
No, it can’t be. It’s not a werewolf.
The animal’s ears flicked forward, its tail high. If she’d seen a dog doing the same thing, she would’ve thought it friendly.
It’s only a really big dog. It has to be. Or a mix of dog and wolf. That’s the only logical explanation.
Miranda’s stories must’ve gotten to her. How else could she explain her first thought that it was a werewolf?
Yet the longer she stared at it, the more convinced she became that the animal was no dog. Intelligence shown in those amber eyes. Intelligence that seemed more human than animal.
It’s a dog, damn it.
Yet again, she didn’t believe it.
Trying to move as little as possible, she pulled her phone out of her back pocket and got ready to take the photo. As soon as she started to push the camera icon, however, the wolf’s head jerked higher. In the next moment, he bounded into the darkness of the trees and was gone.
“Damn it.” She hadn’t been fast enough.
Relief flooded her. She hadn’t been fast enough to take a photo, but at least the wild beast—werewolf or not—hadn’t attacked her.
Should she tell the men? Would it alarm them to know such a big wolf was roaming so close to their home? Or would it be better to stay quiet? Would they even believe her?
She waited several minutes, making sure the animal didn’t come back and giving her nerves time to settle. Once she was certain it was gone, she strode toward the house, acting more confident than she felt.
Martin came outside before she’d made it to the porch. “Hey, Lilli, I didn’t know you were coming. Good thing I stopped by earlier than I usually do. In fact, we were just talking about you.”
“You were?” Had Miranda and the rumor mill called ahead?
“We sure were.” Rogan burst out of the door, striding her way like a Mack truck. “We were going to swing by your hotel and see what you were up to.”
“So you heard I was staying on for a few days?” Now she knew the town
’s gossips had been hard at work.
She looked past Rogan and then Martin. “Is Travis here?”
“Yeah, I’m here.” Travis came around the side of the house. “And I want to apologize for yesterday.”
“For what?” Although he hadn’t seemed very interested, he hadn’t been rude, either.
“I shouldn’t have rushed you out of here.”
Rogan was by her side, taking her arm and tugging her off the scooter. “All that matters is that you’re here now. Right, Travis? It’s like fate is stepping in, telling us what’s best for us.”
Travis crossed his arms, giving his large friend a sour look. “Yeah, that’s it. It’s fate.”
Crap. He still doesn’t want me.
She leaned into Rogan, loving the way the big man slipped his arms around her.
Screw Travis. He doesn’t have to be a part of this if he doesn’t want me. Rogan and Martin will do just fine.
Rogan was so big, so strong, so damn masculine. The last thing she wanted to do was push him away. Yet, if she was going to sell her excuse, she had to act in a more businesslike manner. “Anyway, I came back out to ask you a question, Travis.”
He frowned, but curiosity showed in his eyes. “What do you want to know?”
“I wanted to make sure that all the contents in the package had arrived in good condition.” She’d said the words, but she didn’t believe them any more than they did.
Rogan frowned. Martin suddenly averted his gaze, and Travis’s mouth twitched as he held back a laugh.
Stupid, stupid excuse. But whatever.
“Everything arrived in great condition. I have no complaints on your service. In fact, I gave you a good review with your company.”
Shit. I forgot about the review.
“Um, that’s great. Good to know. And thank you for the review.” Maybe she should’ve said she’d come out to thank him for the review, but it was too late now.
