“No. You treated those kids as if they were your own.”
“As long as they are under my care, they are my own as far as I’m concerned.”
“You know,” he whispered, leaning just a hairs breadth closer, almost imperceptible. “You are really good at your job.”
By now she felt as if she could count his lashes if she wanted to. Her words sounded shallow and breathless. “I should really go,” she whispered.
“Then go, Janet.”
She fell into his kiss like a drowning woman. How long had it been? Too long. His hand trailed up her bare arm, fingers tracing lightly against her skin. His lips tasted like peppermint cotton candy, but the urgency behind them set her on fire. The thoughts racing through her mind, melted away at his touch.
She slipped her fingers beneath this tee shirt, trailing up his rock hard stomach. This elicited a wordless growl against her ear which sent shivers down her spine. He found his way to the hem of her skirt, his hands smoothing up the edge of her thigh, pulling her over straddling him. They fumbled through each other’s clothing. She tugged at his belt, quickly taking advantage of the burning flame between them before thought and reason brought them back to reality.
“I want you,” he whispered against her ear.
“Yes,” she replied, breathless.
He took the cue and tore her satin panties off her. She leaned in as he guided her hips to his now exposed manhood. They fell into each other quickly, breathless, and silent, covering each other with deep, probing kisses.
The pleasure washed over her body with an intensity she had never felt before. He grasped his hands around her waist, as she steadied her hands against his shoulders as they both succumbed to their desire, falling into each other’s arms in the dim light of the living room lamp.
Chapter Seven
Austin immediately felt overcome with guilt. He should not have taken advantage this way. However, the way she felt in his arms, her head on his shoulder, and her breath against his neck, nothing had ever felt more right. He reached up and brushed away a lock of curly hair from her cheek. His touch evoked a smile from her lips, eyes still closed, her arm draped loosely around his torso.
“Are you okay?” he whispered.
“Of course,” she replied softly. “This was probably a bad idea.”
He chuckled a little bit, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. “Perhaps so, but it’s never been this good before.”
Janet sat up, adjusting her disheveled clothes around herself. She moved back to the couch next to him, avoiding this gaze. Her face appeared flushed. Austin could not determine if her pinkness came from her release or their shared embarrassment.
“I’ve never done that before,” she said.
“Wait. You’ve never--?” Austin stammered.
“Oh, wait! I mean, I’ve done that… I just… I’ve never been with a shifter before.”
“Oh,” he replied. “Oh, thank god. For a minute I thought I might be a bigger jerk than I realized.”
She laughed, but crossed her arms over her shoulders as she glanced shyly his direction. “Now, I really should go,” she said.
“Yes, it’s probably for the best.”
Janet stood up and gathered her things, taking a step towards the back door. She paused and turned towards him. “And we can’t… I mean, it’s best if we don’t… I just… I really need this job. If the agency found out, I’d be sacked in an instant.”
Austin understood her hesitation. He stood and crossed the room towards her, taking her gently by the arms. He kissed her forehead. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I’m just as culpable as you. Tonight can stay just between us.”
She smiled and sighed, leaning into him once more before the spell was broken. With one last lingering glance, she stepped back and turned to the door, exiting without any more comment. He stood at the door and watched her make her way down the path, keeping his eye on her until she closed the door to the carriage house and he knew she was safely inside.
In the following weeks, Austin did his best not to think about her. He threw himself into his protection of the town, gaining as much information as he could about the talisman presence in the town and the entities seeking them. He could not stop thinking about her though. And based on the hidden smiles and secret glances they shared, neither could she.
He did what he could to avoid being in the same room with her. She seemed to focus her attention on the children, taking them to outings on the weekends, ensuring good meals and evening routines on school nights. She had even begun to volunteer as chaperone for school events. He had told no one about their encounter that night, though he felt pretty sure his pack mates suspected.
“I really don’t see what the problem is,” Jackson said as he organized the cards in his hand. “I mean, you need a partner just like the rest of us.”
Chase nodded. “We know you like her, Austin.”
“Wait,” Austin said. “Why are we discussing this again? I know I didn’t bring it up.”
“Not out loud,” Derrick replied under his breath. The others snickered at the comment.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Austin asked.
Chase leaned forward, swapping out the cards Austin handed him. “You do tend to wear your thoughts right out front, you know.”
Austin sighed. “Yeah. Pack mentality. So much fun. Look. I’m not denying that I’m attracted to her. She’s obviously beautiful, but my focus needs to be on the well-being of my children, not to mention what’s going on with Burning Falls.”
His pack mates just nodded, each exchanging glances with each other. Chase was the one who broke the silence. “Well, you heard him boys. That’s that. We don’t need to bring it up again.”
They finished their game of poker without much more comment about Austin’s love life, but he could not help wonder just how much of his thoughts they had picked up on. After the afternoon poker game, Austin decided to head to Bells and Whistles to speak with Eloise. Out of everyone in the town, she might be the only one he trusted to speak with about the conflict within him.
When he arrived, she greeted him from behind the cash register of the store. Eloise appeared as she always did, dressed in a black shift dress, a single strand of pearls rested at her throat. Her dark brown hair shone, sleek and styled in a vintage bun at the crest of her head. When she walked around the counter to greet him.
“Hello, Austin,” she said with a smile. “I thought I might see you today.”
Everyone had grown accustomed to Eloise’s tendency to expect them. She was just as much part of the Burning Falls underground as any of them. She was not a shifter, but Austin considered her one of their inner circle of trusted friends.
“I hope I’ve not interrupted your day,” he said.
“Of course not,” she said as she turned the sign over to indicate ‘closed’ to the outside. “Would you like a cup of tea?”
“I would. Tea sounds nice.”
She lifted back the beaded curtain leading into the kitchenette between the shop and her apartment. He followed her taking a seat at the small formica table in the corner. He followed her with his gaze as she fluttered around, putting on the kettle and preparing the tray.
“Something troubles you,” she said as she finally settled across from him, placing the pungent, steaming cup of tea in front of him.
“Yes,” he replied. “Something does trouble me.”
“Tell me about it.” Eloise poured her own tea and leaned back, breathing in the steam.
“How much do you know about these people who are trying to challenge the Kon-Mar?” he asked.
She considered for a moment before responding. “My own knowledge of the Kon-Mar is limited compared to yours and the other shifters. I would speculate that my study of it has been more on an academic level rather than one of personal growth.”
Austin nodded. “That makes sense.”
“As far as the talisman, I think you should talk to Lisa abo
ut that. She’s the expert.”
“Lisa? Really?”
“Yes, why?”
Austin lowered his eyes to his cup. “I kind of had the idea you two didn’t get along.”
Eloise widened her eyes. “It’s a common misconception. In fact, Lisa comes over regularly. We like to stay in communication with each other.”
“Is that so?”
“It is. Besides, she’s excellent at Rummy.”
“Huh,” Austin replied.
“Just because we have different methods does not mean we can’t work together.”
“Duly noted.” Austin considered their cooperation with Max and the wolves. A similar dynamic.
“But,” she continued. “My point being, that we all have little pieces of information. Each of us needs to share with the others, like pieces of an incomplete puzzle.”
“Is that why they, whoever they are, have come to the town in waves?” Austin asked. “It took us this long to figure out they were all working together.”
“Yes, that could certainly be the case. If we are to keep Burning Falls safe, we all need to work together. We need to share the information we have with each other.”
Austin tapped his fingers together. “So if you only understand the Kon-Mar on an academic level, what do you study? What methods of self-improvement do you practice?”
Eloise laughed. “That’s an interesting question. I’ll have to think about how to answer that. I can tell you that one of the ways I protect myself is by staying here.” Austin remembered her agoraphobia. She never set foot outside of her shop or her connected apartment. “That may change one day,” she continued. “But the energy of the outside world is harsh and unforgiving. I keep myself protected within this little bubble, the center of Burning Falls and the hub of the wheels of existence within the town.”
“Wheels of existence?”
“Just as the bear shifters come to me for guidance, so do the others.”
“Others,” Austin pressed.
She smiled, her hand fluttering to her throat. “I keep forgetting. Not everyone knows. There are others in this town. When the time is right all will be revealed. I’m afraid I can’t say any more about that.”
“Fair enough. So we need to cross-reference.”
“Yes, all of you. Max, Lisa, any of the others. Tell me, have you been taking your supplements?”
“Supplements? What does that have to do with any of it?”
“Listen, the elderberry herbs are quite important for shifter kind. I just need to make sure I keep them stocked in the shop here.”
“Well, yes. I think so. I know we keep them stocked in the lock boxes out in our territory.”
“Good, good.” Eloise laced her fingers together and brought them underneath her chin, her expression changed to one of sly playfulness. “There is something else bothering you, isn’t there?”
Damn, she was good. “Like what?” Austin did his best to brush off her assumption.
“Oh, I don’t know. But when so many people in town come to me regarding matters of the heart, one gets to where one can recognize the signs, puppy dog eyes, flushed. It’s all over you, Austin. You must be in torment.”
He dropped his head to the table. “It’s been awful,” he admitted. “I can’t stop thinking about her. What do I do?”
“What would you like to do?” she said as she arched one perfectly trimmed eyebrow.
“On the one hand, I want her. I mean, of course I want her, but I can’t do anything about it because of the effect it would have on my kids.”
“Do they not like her?”
“Oh no, they love her. I mean it was rough at first, but they have really been getting along lately.”
“So the children know you love this woman?”
“No,” Austin pressed his fingers against his temples. “How do I explain. It’s because they know her that I can’t love her. It could jeopardize her job, and I have no idea what effect this would have on Bonnie and Dillon.”
“Hm. It makes no sense. If two people love each other, they should be together. That is all there is to it.” A distant gaze drifted over her expression as she spoke. This caught Austin’s attention, distracting him from his own problems.
“Have you ever lost someone you loved, Elle?”
She smiled, her eyes still soft and unfocused. “A long time ago,” she said. “He’s the one who gave me the Horus statue I keep on the shelf.”
“The Horus statue?”
“Yes. He told me to keep it. To think of it as a reminder.”
“A reminder for what?”
She turned her gaze to him as if noticing his presence for the first time. “I’m sorry, Austin. I’m not feeling entirely well. Perhaps you should go.”
“Yes, of course. Do you need anything before I go?”
“No. No, thank you for coming.” She spoke in a dreamy voice, light and floaty. Austin had seen her this way once before. She had some kind of connection to other planes he felt certain, but he did not want to press her for information. He excused himself and let himself out the front door of the shop.
Once on the sidewalk, he pulled out his cell phone. “Max,” he said when his associate answered. “I think we need to call a council.”
“Okay. Who do we need to include in this council?” Max sounded dubious.
“Everyone.”
Chapter Eight
Janet had nearly reached a level of comfort with the children and her assignment with Bonnie and Dillon. The children lit up around her, taking joy in the activities Janet included them in. She could not help but notice how Austin threw himself into his job after their late-night encounter. He still came home for dinner, joining the children for the meal but then disappearing into his office almost immediately after. They never spoke of what happened that night.
She had grown quite comfortable staying in the carriage house, getting up early every day to go up and make breakfast. Once the kids got out the door for school, she mostly had the day to herself. On one of these days, she decided to take some time to rearrange and organize the carriage house, since it seemed she would be staying here for a while.
She still wanted to find out who had decorated it upon her arrival as she remained certain it had not been Austin. The current set up was quite nice, including the full-sized bed, the side table, and the fully stocked kitchenette. However, Janet wanted to add a small desk area so she could do her paperwork and have a reading spot. Bonnie and Dillon were both gone to school, so Janet returned to her apartment and took stock.
First, she made a small list of items she might need. She would ask the agency first before speaking with Austin. Chances are they would include the items in her pay as they often did for amenities. Once she had the list down, she decided to move the end table to measure out the distance between the bed and the corner.
She moved the table without much difficulty, but when she did so, a tile fell off the wall. Janet sat down to place it back. When she did, she noticed a small hatch behind the table. She had never spotted it before now, as the end table’s legs had blocked it from view. She opened the door.
Inside she found a book, an old dog-eared copy of Jane Eyre. She pulled it out of the hidden cubby, leaning against the wall to examine it.
“Where did this come from,” she muttered. She smoothed the dust away from the paper back cover, opening the pages. On the front page, she saw the name ‘Sarah Bradford’ written in flowery cursive hand-writing. When Janet opened the pages, a photograph fell out from the middle. With shaking hands she picked it up, laying the book down next to her.
The photo depicted the image of a woman, thin and distant, wearing a long, burnt umber maxi dress with thin shoulder straps. A young blonde toddler clung to the woman’s leg, and in the woman’s arms she held an infant, a swatch of dark hair poking out from the blanket. When Janet flipped the photograph over, she found the woman’s name written on the back once more with the date and year the picture was taken.
Janet could not take her eyes away from the woman in the picture. She leaned against the wall, and examined it, searching for some clue as to why this woman left. The angle of her chin, the way she held Baby Dillon, the cherubic face of Bonnie as a toddler, all of these details she tried to add up to create the story being told, but she could not find it.
She placed the photo back inside the pages of the book which she tucked back under her arm before replacing the tile back onto the wall. The book, Jane Eyre, she had never read before. It had once been on a reading list back in her school days, but she opted for one of the other choices at the time. She placed the book in her purse, and headed out focusing on the errands she needed to run before the children came back from school. She would have to figure the rest out later.
* * * *
Austin and Chase met up at the Scotsman, the bar on the edge of Burning Falls. The Scotsman had been a mainstay for the town and remained a popular watering hole for locals and tourists alike. On this Friday night, the place was hopping.
“What time will Logan be arriving?” Austin asked as Chase returned from the bar with two bottles of beer.
“He should be here any time,” Chase replied. “I talked to him earlier today, and he said he’d be driving down from the city this evening. He’s meeting us here any minute.”
“I don’t know, Chase,” Austin said. “I almost think we should keep this in-house. I mean, whatever is going on seems to be specific to Burning Falls. Worst case scenario, the overlap with Cave Bay, but that’s barely on the county line.”
Chase took a swig of his beer. “That was my thought as well, Austin,” he said. “But we should at least let him know. We’re under his jurisdiction. We might as well take advantage of the resources available to us.”
“I guess you’re right. I mean, if we could have stopped this we would have done so already.”
“Exactly.” Chase waved towards the door. “There he is.”
Nanny to the Bear (Burning Falls Shifters Book 4) Page 5
