Recker (Skin Walkers Book 17)

by Susan Bliler

  She smiled. “My friend Stoney Lydon. She works there.”

  “How did you meet Stoney?”

  “College. She and I went to nursing school together.”

  He couldn’t help but eye their surroundings. “And you…flunked?”

  Dark brows speared down. “Fuck you, a-hole! I had to drop out when my mom got sick! And when I finally went back, I changed majors.”

  Good job, dickhead! “Sorry.” He settled his hands on his thighs, fingers nearly touching each other with his elbows flared out. “You and Stoney stayed in touch after college?”

  “Yeah. We shared a dorm room until I had to leave. She called me every day after that to check on mom and me.” A sad smile touched her lips. “She came to see me and stayed a week after the funeral to make sure I was okay.” She looked up, and her eyes were steely. “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for that woman. She’s the closest thing to a sister I’ve ever known.”

  Recker growled and muttered too quietly for Alex to hear, “She’s got a lot of those.” He narrowed his eyes on her. “What else do you know about Stoney?”

  “Everything.” She eyed the empty restaurant. “Weird things happened to her in college, and she was scared. So was I. We went through it together.”

  “What do you mean weird things?”

  Alex leaned forward and whispered, “You know. Shifts. I was so afraid for her. I thought she was sick or dying. We both did. But once we figured out what it was and that it wasn’t life threatening it was,” she glanced up at him. “Can I be honest?”

  He waved a hand at her and hiked his brows in invitation, really wanting to hear what she had to say.

  To his shock, Alex beamed a grin. “I thought it was fucking awesome!”

  Recker’s mouth fell open before he snapped it shut. “Awesome?” He was dumbfounded. Being a Skin Walker wasn’t awesome. It was alienating and lonely and nerve-wracking as shit, but awesome….hell no!

  “Hell yeah,” she reached over and punched him in the knee. “You should have seen us, Recker Rhodes! We’d go out at night in our jogging gear, and when we got deep in the woods, we’d strip, and Stoney would shift. We’d run and play and live!”

  Her gaze took on a faraway look as she curled her hands together under her chin. “Those were some of the best nights of my life.”

  “Wait.”

  Alex blinked out of her reverie and dropped her hands to frown at him.

  “We’d strip?” He swallowed hard when Alex blushed.

  “Well yeah. I didn’t want her to feel all awkward and alone.”

  “So she’s running through the forest as a…”

  “Wolf.” She shrugged, “Most times. Sometimes deer or panther.”

  “And you’re running after her naked?”

  Those damn delicate brows were back to spearing down and he just barely moved his knee fast enough to avoid the punch she aimed at his thigh.

  “Don’t make sound it gross and weird.”

  “Are you…” He left the sentence open and waited.

  “What?” she barked. “Am I what?”

  Aw hell, how did he ask this? “Were you and Stoney…”

  “What?” she demanded. “Just spit it out!”

  “Lovers?” The word squeaked out more quietly then he’d intended and too enraptured in awaiting a response, he didn’t see the left hand that shot out and socked him in the bicep hard.

  Shit! She wasn’t a big thing, but the gal knew how to throw a punch, and man was she fast!

  “I said don’t be gross!” Alex barked.

  “Lesbianism is gross?” he asked accusatorily. She jumped from her stool and to his mortification he actually flinched. God, if James saw him like this, he’d never live it down.

  “And don’t try to make me sound like a homophobe!” She poked a finger to his chest as he pulled his head back to stare at her. “No. I’m not gay, not that there’s anything wrong with girls who like to eat the peach. I’m just not one of ‘em.”

  His brows shot up, and he couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from curling upward as he asked, “Eat the peach?”

  Alex stepped back and lifted her chin again. “You know what I mean. And don’t act like you don’t like peaches.” Her eyes slid up and down his frame. “A guy like you could probably…”

  He held up a hand and cut her off. “Oh, I like peaches. I love peaches.” He leaned forward and spoke softly, “I could eat a peach for hours.”

  A lovely blush took Alex’s cheeks, and Recker’s grin broadened as his cock swelled in his pants. His smile slipped at how aroused he was becoming so he adjusted himself and steered the conversation back to business. “Then what? You found out what she was and helped her through it and then?”

  “Then we had fun,” Alex beamed reclaiming her seat. “We played some of the most epic pranks in the history of the college,” she boasted proudly. “A tiger in the dean’s office, an alligator in the campus pool, a boa constrictor in the Phi Beta Kappa sorority house when they refused to pledge Stoney and me. In the winter there was a sled dog race through the town where locals used their pets as their team.” She nodded proudly. “Me and Stoney won first place.”

  Recker couldn't help the smile that took his face.

  “Once,” Alex started laughing. “At summer semester, we both turned in unmarked tests on an exam in English Lit because instead of studying we went out and got drunk. We just put our tests in the pile with everyone else’s. After class, I called the Professor into the hall and distracted him for like twenty minutes while Stoney exited the building then flew back up to the classroom and filled in both of our tests from the answer key.” She laughed hard. “We were the only two who aced the test.”

  Damn, her laughter was infectious, all throaty and then peaking in a high pitch.

  “You know,” he tried to hide his smile. “None of this really sounds good on a resume.” He could’ve punched himself in the nuts for the comment when Alex stopped laughing, and the smile vanished from her lips.

  Chapter 4

  “A, I was just trying to be honest,” Alex implored. “And B, this is all info you would have found out or probably already knew.”

  Recker angled his head as he studied her. “So, if you’re being honest, give me something I can use. Tell me about you.”

  “Hmm,” she screwed her lips to the side and looked up, pinching the end of her chin in contemplation before straightening. “I’ve got a bad temper, but a good heart. I’ve got a dirty mind, but a clean soul. I hate a dumbass, but I like a smart-mouth. I always feel judged, so I try not to judge others. Basically, I’m imperfect, just like everybody else, but I want a chance at something better. I think that’s what I’d find at StoneCrow. If you give me that chance, I promise I won’t waste it. I’m not looking for a fight or a dollar I didn’t earn. Like I said, Stoney’s my sister and I’d lay down my life to protect her, and if that means keeping my mouth shut about Walkers, then that’s what I’ll continue to do. Plus, I’m wicked smart and extremely good at what I do. I believe laziness is a disease and I believe that if you’re gonna do something, you do it right or not at all.”

  Recker stifled a grin. Damn, he really liked this little firecracker.

  “I’m not a threat, Recker Rhodes.” She held out her hands. “I mean look at me. I’m the size of a stinking honey badger!”

  “And just as mean.”

  “Hey!” She pointed a finger right at his face.

  Damn it! He flinched again and made a mental note to stop flinching and jerking every time this little hellion made a sudden movement.

  “You freaked me out!” She accused.

  “You punched me in the back. And nearly broke my jaw.”

  Crazy little thing actually had the nerve to cross her arms under her perky little breasts and smile proudly. “Don’t mess with black girls, Recker Rhodes. We’ll cut your balls off and hand ‘em to ya!”

  Hmmm. “So you’re black?”

  Alex d
ropped her arms. “Well yeah. I know you can’t really tell because of my beaker nose and all.”

  “Beaker nose?”

  “Yeah,” she turned her head so he could see her profile. “See how it’s all pointy and beaker-like. I get it from my dad’s side. He was Scottish.”

  He didn’t think her nose was beaker like at all. He thought it was perfect. “So you’re black and Scottish?”

  Her eyes glittered with delight. “Yeah! Stay the hell away from me if I get lit. I don’t know what it is, but something in my blood gets to boiling, and then I’m really trouble!”

  Now it was his turn to cross his arms over his chest, but instead of smiling proudly, he looked at her in disbelief. “Uhhh, you’ve been beating the shit outta me since I got here. I don’t think you need to be lit to be trouble, little one.” He wasn’t surprised that she smiled at his words.

  “Well?” She clapped her hands together and hopped down from the stool. “Do I get the job?”

  Recker stood too. “I don’t know.” Awww shit! He balked as her brows speared down and a frown claimed her lips. “What I mean,” he amended as he backed up a step out of her swinging range. “Is that I was sent to do the interview. I need to take the Intel back to StoneCrow so Monroe or whoever can make their decision.”

  “Oh.” Her shoulders sagged dejectedly, and she looked to the side before snapping her eyes back to his. “Can you put in a good word for me?”

  “You do remember kicking me in the shin right?”

  “Awww, come on ya big baby! That didn’t hurt!”

  He wanted to laugh at the pout on her lips. “Fine.” He smiled. “I’ll put in a good word.” He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. “I’ll tell them you have a dirty mind.”

  Alex threw her hands in the air. “And a clean soul!” she shouted.

  Damn, another flinch!

  “I knew I should have left out that part,” she groused. “I knew that was all you’d hear.”

  “Hey, a man hears what a man wants to hear.”

  Her cheeks singed as she peeked up at him. “And you wanted to hear that I have a dirty mind?”

  He shrugged. “Doesn’t hurt.”

  “No,” she smiled sweetly and stepped into him. Her eyes had suddenly gone all heated, which caused his pulse to trip. He licked his lips as she walked her two fingers up his chest in a sultry manner.

  “But you know what does,” she asked seductively.

  “Mmmm?” He couldn’t take his eyes off her…

  WHACK! She punched him in the kidneys with her vicious little fist, and he almost swallowed his tongue, which sent him into a coughing fit.

  “A lot! A lot is going to hurt, Recker Rhodes if you tell Mr. StoneCrow that my one good quality is a dirty mind!” She scowled at his hunched form for long seconds before she turned and paced away throwing a dark look over her shoulder that slowly slipped as she sat on the edge of one of the tables and watched as he finished coughing. “Oh stop exaggerating, Recker Rhodes. I know you’ve taken harder hits in the ring.”

  “I am not,” he sucked in a breath. “A wrestler,” he growled, finally regaining his composure. “And stop hitting me!”

  “Stop making me hit you!”

  “Making you…” He gaped at her in incredulity.

  “Listen!” She turned serious. “I need that job at StoneCrow.” She threw her hands wide. “I mean look at this place. Most of a waitress’s income is comprised of tips and guess what? No customers means no tips.”

  He sighed and eyed the restaurant. “It can’t be that bad. There was a group of people leaving when I came in.”

  Alex snorted. “Those weren’t people. Those were assholes.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “They just come in here to harass me, and they never leave a tip because I never,” she made air quotes, “earn it.”

  “What in the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  Alex slid off the table and walked back behind the counter, taking up a rag and wiping down the already clean countertop. “I guess it means if I want a tip or to be treated with respect I need to accept his offer of a,” she lifted the rag and was doing air quotes again, “night I’ll never forget.”

  Recker’s brows speared down. “It’s like that?”

  “Yeah,” she sighed. “It’s like that. So don’t fucking ruin it for me.”

  He shook his head. “I won’t.”

  Silence hung between them as he studied her bowed head when she went back to wiping down the counter. Her lips were a shade of pink that reminded him of bubble gum, and he couldn’t help but wonder if they tasted just as sweet. He liked her lips. He was wondering what he’d have to do to get her to smile again and that had anger swirling within him at the thought of one of those assholes he’d seen leave earlier giving her a hard time. When her head lifted, and she blinked at him, he asked to cover up the fact that he’d been staring at her, “Why don’t you punch them like you do me, little wild thing?” He smiled at the fitting nickname.

  She grinned sadly. “Because I know you won’t hit me back?”

  Recker’s smile vanished. “Did they…”

  “No.” She cut him off. “But any one of them would.” She turned to rinse her rag in the sink. “You can just tell with some people, you know? It’s why I have no qualms about playing around with you.” She smiled mischievously over her shoulder. “I know you wouldn’t hit a woman if your life depended on it. Would you?”

  “No man should.”

  That had her sobering as she folded the rag, dried her hands on her apron, came around the counter, and glanced a small hand over his side where she’d juiced him earlier. “Hey, I’m sorry if I hurt you today. I shouldn’t have kicked you in the shin, or punched you in the back or the side.” She actually had the good sense to blush. “I’m usually not so…violent.”

  He grinned. “Bring out the best in you, do I?”

  She was smiling now too. “This was nice.”

  He didn’t ask what she meant. He already knew. He’d come to do an interview, but his rapport with her had come so easily that it felt like he’d known her forever. She was honest, and if judging by the cleanliness of the place was anything to go by, she was a hard worker. Plus, it meant something to him that she was willing to stay at a job where she was being harassed. Hell, most people would’ve walked out, but not her.

  “Yeah,” he muttered rubbing the back of his neck, knowing he should leave but not really wanting to. “It was nice.”

  Alex jerked her chin toward the door. “If you see Stoney and Cindy, tell ‘em I said hi?”

  “You know Cindy too?”

  “Yeah. She became Stoney’s dorm mate after I left college. They’re really close. Stoney introduced us. I think they’re both pretty awesome.”

  He nodded, feeling the same way about the two women, one a Walker and the other a mate to a Walker. Sighing, he had to know. “This doesn’t bother you? What we are? What we can do? It’s not scary or intimidating to you?”

  “Oh, it’s intimidating as all hell. But scary?” She shook her head, “Not in the least. Between you and me, I went through hell, and I mean absolute fucking hell when my mom died. For a long time after I just wanted to join her. I had nothing, no one. I hated it here, and I’m not referring to this city or Montana. Part of me died then, and I had to go through a period of rebirth. I feel like I’m still there, still growing, still becoming what I’m meant to be.” She lifted a small hand to massage her shoulder as her eyes took on a far-off gaze. “When you survive that, when you feel like you’ve lived through your own death, nothing scares you anymore.” She looked up at him. “I’ve faced my worst fear, Recker Rhodes, and I’ve come out the other side still breathing. Not the same, but still alive.” She grinned sadly. “I don’t know everything about your kind, but I know enough. I know you all shouldn’t be up there hiding the beauty of your gifts, but I understand the need for it.” She glanced at the window. “Most humans are shit.” She loo
ked back at him. “I support your need for secrecy. And even if I don’t get the job, I’ll still do everything in my power to protect Stoney and Cindy…and you. Everyone has the right to live. I mean in the end, we’re all just trying to survive this life. It’s hard enough to do without being hunted or persecuted. Truth is there is adventure to be had at StoneCrow with your kind, but that’s not why I wanna go.”

  He waited.

  “The truth is I’m just selfish and,” she cleared her throat with a frown. “And as strong as I try to come off, I’m lonely as hell.” Her voice broke on the last word, and she turned her back to him and grabbed a salt shaker off the counter, twisting the lid off and then back on as minuscule granules rained down to the floor. “I have just one person in the out-world.”

  “Out-world?”

  She shrugged, “That’s what Stoney and Cindy call being away from StoneCrow, the Out-world. Anyway, I love Alessandra like a sister, but we’ve only known each other a few months. Truth is I want to be near Stoney and Cindy. I want to be with my friends, with my sisters. I wanna be with the only family I have left. I just want a place where it feels like I’m living again. I’m not so much looking for a job. I’m looking for a home.”

  Her words died off, and he didn’t respond. Hell, he was fighting the urge to spin her around and crush her to him in a giant bone-crushing hug because her words mirrored the hollowness he felt inside. He knew that kind of loneliness. He’d lived it, and he didn’t want that for her. Hell, he didn’t wish that kind of loneliness on anyone.

  Alex peered over her shoulder. “Sappy right?” She rolled her eyes and huffed a laugh.

  Recker shook his head slowly. “Not sappy. Honest.”

  Alex turned to face him and unable to stop himself, Recker took a step closer. Her admission had left her all soft and open, and for the first time, he felt like he could actually see her. Earlier, she’d hidden behind a tough exterior of curse words and rabbit punches, but beneath all that, there was this dainty little female that was so lonesome that she was willing to give up all she knew to seek out an existence among his kind. It had him curling his hands into white-knuckled fists with a sudden feral need to get her a job at StoneCrow.