A Shifter's Second Chance

by Marie Johnston

  He returned the wave and tried not to stare as she drove off. For once, his insulting voices had been right. She wasn’t interested in him, either.

  He’d had his shot at love and lost it when Lillian died. When would he understand that it wasn’t a good idea to fall for anyone else?

  Too late. Amy had pulled the curtain back to reveal what loving and spending his life with someone could be like. Then she’d yanked the drapes back in place and he was left alone in the dark world.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Gray’s break was over, but before heading back to the floor, he stayed in the break room and checked his phone. A dangerous habit he’d developed over the last week.

  No messages. Amy was truly done with him. He’d kept his word to himself and hadn’t called or messaged her. He wanted to, wanted one more reason why they couldn’t be together.

  Then he’d curse himself for being naïve and needy. They’d dated for a month. Who got so obsessed they couldn’t handle a breakup after a month?

  But he missed her. Her laughter echoed through his house and the memory either chased his voices away or incited self-recriminations about how silly he’d been to think someone like her would want to build a life with him.

  He shoved his phone in his pocket and strode out of the break room. Four more hours before the weekend started. His congenial mask was back in place. He liked working with people, needed it to avoid becoming a recluse who trusted no one. Some days were harder than others, and since he was more fatigued from training for his race this weekend, the voices bothered him at work when he had to deal with people. Sometimes the sensation of being watched niggled at him. If that happened, he took a bathroom break for some breathing exercises.

  He would not regress over a breakup. The disappointment in himself would hinder any recovery. Losing his wife was one thing. Losing Amy shouldn’t do more than make him disappointed for a week. Shouldn’t, but it had. He’d lost sleep over it.

  When he’d talked to Cassie about it, he thought he’d worked through his feelings. She’d supported his insight and had seemed grateful to have something to talk about with him.

  She’s not telling you everything.

  No. She hadn’t. The weariness in her eyes couldn’t be hidden and when he’d asked what was wrong, she only said that Jace was having trouble at work and she worried about him. Cassie was meeting him for dinner tonight. She’d said Jace was gone more than usual, and paired with the extra stress, Gray wanted to be around for her. It was good to get himself out of his own mind.

  “Hey, you.”

  He spun toward the familiar voice. Jenna was posed in front of a water bottle display, her hands on her hips and her chest pushed out. She wore navy-blue linen shorts that had a partial wrap around them, like they wanted to be a skirt but couldn’t decide. Her striped white-and-lime tank top revealed toned and tanned arms. Her hair was down and without the sunlight, it was a darker blond.

  When she smiled, the fine lines around her eyes were visible. She was older than he’d initially thought, putting her closer to forty and making him wonder again why she’d picked him out of all the runners on the path to chat up.

  “Jenna,” he greeted. His heart sank and all he could think about was this wasn’t the woman he wanted to talk to. His work persona kicked in. “Are you finding what you need?”

  “Yes and no. I thought getting a water bottle would be simple, but…” She gestured at the display that held at least twenty different kinds of bottles, all different shapes and colors.

  He chuckled. “Well, let’s start with plastic, glass, or steel?”

  “Glass seems a little dangerous to run with.”

  He ran through her options for a good running bottle based on how she wanted to carry it and how long she planned to run. She chewed her lip and bent to check out the lowest shelf. The move shifted her skirt higher. Her bronzed thighs were toned and shapely.

  Averting his gaze, he sidled over a few feet. He didn’t feel like ogling anyone, and he was working and needed to be professional. Standing behind a woman with her ass sticking out wasn’t a smart decision. He liked his job. It paid the bills, got him out of the house, and was predictable enough that he didn’t go home frustrated. But there was enough variety that he wasn’t caught in a Groundhog Day loop.

  She rose and her gaze drifted over him. “This one is good.”

  Was she being suggestive? “Nice choice.” He didn’t look to see which one she’d picked. “Can I help you find anything else?”

  “Shoes. Does it make me a bad runner that I’m not looking forward to buying shoes?” She smiled and looked up at him through her lashes.

  “Not at all.” He had the urge to scurry away. “I’ll walk you there, but I don’t work in women’s shoes, so I can’t help you.”

  “I bet you know a lot, though. You seem like a hardcore runner.” Another smile. “You look like one, too.”

  He blinked at the odd compliment. He was fifty. He ran. But stand him next to a collegiate athlete and he’d look like, well, a fifty-year-old.

  “I use it to keep in shape. It’s enjoyable of course, but it’s easier than finding a biking path or worrying about flats when I’m ten miles out of town. You know, things like that.”

  They wove through the departments on their way to shoes.

  “I’m thinking of hitting the trails this weekend,” Jenna said. “Maybe we could meet up again? I could use the pep talk.”

  He flashed her an apologetic smile. Two months ago, he would’ve considered her invite, but this weekend he craved the solitude. And since he’d played the “I’m fine” game all week, he was going to reward himself with a peaceful run.

  “I’m sorry, it’s my last training run before the half marathon next weekend.”

  Her eyes widened. “You’re doing the Freemont half? That race is like a party weekend in town.”

  He laughed. “Yes. Next year, I might do the full marathon, but I didn’t decide in time to train for that.”

  “Still, that’s how far?”

  “A little over thirteen miles.”

  She whistled. “Nice. I might have to see what it’s like. What time does it start?”

  She wasn’t thinking about meeting up with him, was she? Sure, he’d approached Amy all sweaty, but he hadn’t expected what had grown between them. The marathon was his day. And Cassie was coming to cheer him on. She was an adult, but he never let his dates meet her unless it was serious. And none had gotten that serious. Only Amy had been serious and that relationship had ended almost as soon as it started.

  Cassie would’ve liked Amy.

  “It’s early,” he replied. “The gun goes off at seven for the marathon, then we’re a half an hour later. My daughter is dropping by to be my support crew.”

  Jenna’s brows popped and her smile faltered. “Your daughter? She’ll be there?”

  “The whole time. She’s taking me out for brunch afterward.”

  A wide grin spread across Jenna’s face. “Perfect.” They reached the shoe department, but Jenna didn’t make a beeline for the shoes. “Oh, I didn’t realize the time. I need to get back to work. Maybe I’ll run across you again.”

  She continued walking toward the exit. Her pun was cute, but he was wrapping his head around her sudden departure. Had he scared her off with talk of his adult daughter?

  His interest in Jenna had been low to nonexistent, but it was the sharp edge that cut away to show how lightning had struck with Amy. He really missed her.

  He sighed, rubbing his chest, and started back for the camping department he worked in. A few more hours and he could chat with Cassie about this weird encounter and how it unsettled him.

  ***

  The day was obnoxiously bright and the birds were almost arrogant in their singing. As if Armana wanted to listen to them shout their mating calls all over the place when she’d just woken from sleeping alone, again.

  She pinched the bridge of her nose as she waited inside Cas
sie’s car in front of the lodge for Cassie to meet her. Her mental attitude had deteriorated harshly since she’d made that dreadful call to Gray. She’d tossed and turned each night for the past two weeks, only to catch a few winks before dawn when all the trainees started moving around. The commotion made it impossible to rest.

  She needed her own place. It didn’t help that when she envisioned a place in town, she pictured Gray’s two-story house with its narrow staircase, worn carpet, and appliances as old as Cassie.

  She heard Cassie’s bounding footsteps and glanced up. Armana pulled herself together and forced a smile.

  Cassie opened the door and collapsed in the seat. Had she run from her cabin all the way here? The way she was breathing, she must’ve sprinted.

  Cassie grinned. “I didn’t want to feel like a slacker when I’m going to watch my dad run thirteen miles. Crazy.”

  A sense of loss punched Armana in the gut. Cassie talked about Gray a lot and each time she brought him up, it was the same reaction.

  “You must be proud.” Armana pulled away, grateful today’s bodyguard duties were going to be vastly different than sitting outside an office building, but she was dreading the risk of exposure and worse—seeing Gray all fit and triumphant and moving on without her.

  “Totally. He even turned down a date because I’m going to be there.”

  Armana jerked the wheel. A date?

  Cassie’s hands flew to the dashboard. “Whoa.”

  “Squirrel,” Armana said calmly, but her fangs throbbed. Visions of stalking a faceless woman filled her head. “You said your father’s dating again?” Cassie had mentioned that Gray was reeling over a woman who’d broken things off. That conversation had been hard enough. Satisfying that her suffering from the breakup wasn’t one-sided, but hard.

  Yet two weeks and he was already diving back into the dating slurry?

  Armana ran her tongue along a fang. She forced a calm facade when she really wanted to stop the car and shred its interior with her claws.

  “Not really. There’s this lady who’s been in the store and was hitting on him. She sounded like she wanted to meet with him at the marathon, but he said he was spending the morning with me. Kinda sweet of him.”

  Armana’s nostrils flared as her anger shifted from Gray to the unknown woman. Of course she’d hit on Gray. He was a catch. He was handsome, caring, funny, active…

  And it was none of Armana’s business. Tears prodded the backs of her eyes, but she refused to let them well up. Cassie would notice.

  “He’s a considerate man.”

  Cassie nodded and glanced over. “Is everything okay?”

  Damn. She was too astute. “Tired. I haven’t been sleeping well lately.”

  “Me either. Dad said he’s been struggling, too.”

  Don’t ask. Don’t ask. “Is it from that breakup?” Well, she’d tried.

  “He didn’t say, but I think so. He and Amy didn’t date long, but the way they clicked made him hope for more.”

  For the billionth time, Armana castigated herself for not walking away from Gray. Look what she’d done to both of them.

  It was too late to worry about it now.

  Armana threw her concentration into the drive to the rally point. She parked as far away in the parking lot as she could. Cassie planned to hop in with Gray and go grab some food. Armana would follow them in the car and rush back to the park when Cassie texted her they were leaving the restaurant. Then Gray would drive back and drop Cassie off while Armana hid in the trees surrounding the park. It was a convoluted solution, but this was an unusual scenario.

  Cassie ran through the plan one more time before getting out. Armana watched her trot away, her heart sinking that she was so close to Gray and couldn’t even say hi. Not that he would want to after she’d broken up with him—over the phone. She’d owed him more, but she’d doubted she could’ve gone through with it.

  How did humans do it? Shifters moved from partner to partner, rarely forming attachments until they met their mate. This hookup and breakup stuff sucked.

  A faint shot rang through the air. Armana glanced at the clock. That was the starting gun for the marathoners.

  She scanned the crowd, searched the trees, and a half hour later the second shot went off. Gray would be running.

  Several minutes later, Cassie arrived to hang out.

  She crawled back in the passenger seat. “He said it’d take him a little over an hour and a half, so I’ll go back to the start line in an hour to make sure I don’t miss him.”

  A million questions ran through Armana’s head and they all had to do with Gray. How was he doing? Had he slept last night? Was the woman who hit on him around? When did he think he’d start dating again?

  Cassie’s phone rang and she answered. Armana picked up Jace’s low tone but couldn’t catch the words. He spoke so only Cassie could hear him.

  When she hung up, she had a wide grin. “He says they’re really close to the lead rogue who runs the trafficking ring.”

  “That’s good news.” Another one would spring up, but each victory set the rogues back more and saved lives, no matter if Jace and his team would be hunting more traffickers next month or next year. “They must be planning their attack soon.”

  Concern darkened Cassie’s brown eyes. “That’s the part I hate. I want it over and I want him home. I’m used to him being on the road, but this ring was really embedded into our society.”

  Armana could’ve smiled at Cassie’s use of “our.” She was one of them and she embraced it. My son has a good mate. My daughter is happy. I can’t ask for more.

  The hour went by and Cassie got back out. Armana hated being left alone with her thoughts. Jace’s safety was always a worry. Maggie’s, too. But knowing he was actively seeking out the most dangerous of their kind, possibly in the next twenty-four hours… It was hard on a mother.

  And she didn’t have anyone to talk to about it.

  Cassie texted her Gray’s bib number and when he’d hit the last checkpoint of the race. He was about done. She kept an eye on the time so she could watch for them in the parking lot. A white work van cruised the lot, intermittently blocking her view.

  Find a parking spot, asshole.

  Runners were drifting into the lot and finding their cars, grouping up and chatting. It helped and hindered Armana’s cause. She had more obstacles to search through, but they blocked her view from where she was sitting in Cassie’s car.

  Move, people.

  Finally, she spotted them. Her belly clenched at the same time her heart constricted. Gray’s smile was broad and Cassie was talking excitedly next to him. A heavy medal hung around his neck and he wore the same running clothes from when he’d found her on the jogging path.

  She wanted to run out and greet him, throw her arms around his neck, and revel in the solidness of his body. But they were from two different worlds that weren’t allowed to collide.

  That damn van was swinging around to block her view. It stopped right in front of Gray and Cassie.

  Armana frowned and sat forward. Idiots.

  A group of people behind the van turned to frown where Gray and Cassie were.

  Fucking move. Armana put her hand on the door handle. A sense of wrongness filled the car.

  The van finally pulled away. Gray and Cassie were gone. The onlookers shrugged and resumed their chatting.

  Had they been abducted in broad daylight? In a move so smooth it was barely noticeable?

  This had been well planned.

  Armana jerked the car into gear and pulled out. The van wasn’t speeding away and drawing attention to themselves. Armana wouldn’t, either. They’d never see her coming.

  Chapter Fifteen

  His stupid voices had been right. And his paranoia had been valid.

  Yet, he hadn’t suspected the side door of the white van that had stopped next to them would slide open. He’d seen Jenna first and before his mind could work out how the van and the woman were
connected, he’d seen the gun.

  Make a scene or a sound and one of you is going down. Which one is gonna be a surprise.

  They were too close to make a run for it without getting shot. They got in and he hugged Cassie close to him. Jenna confiscated their phones and all of his running gear. They rocked back and forth as the van drove away, and Jenna pointed a solid black gun at them. It looked bulky and heavy in her feminine hand, but her hard eyes matched the sinister weapon.

  Nothing made sense, but it all made sense at the same time. Jenna hadn’t been interested in him. Was the scrawny guy driving her real boyfriend?

  Since Gray wasn’t worth kidnapping, he connected the coincidences. Jace was having problems at work and he was in security. Jenna had struck when Cassie was with him. Gray had even made it easy for her and told her exactly when and where Cassie would be today.

  “Your mate is being a giant pain in the ass,” Jenna sneered, leaning against the sliding door and glaring at his daughter.

  Cassie tensed next to him. “You’re…human?”

  Jenna’s lips stayed twisted. “A human losing a lot of money because your mate is ruining our shipments.”

  What exactly did Jace do? And what else would Jenna be besides human?

  Cassie cocked her head. “You supply the people. Oh my God, no wonder…” She snapped her mouth shut.

  “No wonder we’ve been so hard to find?” Jenna tsked. “Shifters are so damn arrogant. They think rogues are on the road to mindlessness. Do you think maybe they just get tired of hiding among inferior beings?”

  Rogues and shifters. A trickle of recall floated through Gray’s mind. It sounded ridiculous. What do the rogues shift?

  “But you’re human,” Cassie said. “You think you’re inferior?”

  “Not for long. I deliver you and he’ll mate me.”

  Cassie shook her head.

  Gray followed what they said but didn’t understand it. “What are you mating?”

  Jenna blinked at him, then turned her stare on Cassie. “He doesn’t know?”