“That guy in the corner, the one with the black eye? I might need you to handle him for me.”
“The tourist?”
I don’t think I had ever heard Caleb sound so confused. Or rolled my eyes that hard.
“He's not a tourist. He's my ex. Just watch him for me. I don’t want him here.”
“You want me to escort him out not so nicely? Maybe a dip in the ocean?”
I shook my head, Rhen would enjoy that too much, he’d always liked the water. “No, just watch him. Hopefully he leaves. But I’m not opposed to him walking out of here a little more roughed up than he already is if he starts something either.”
“So you're giving me free beer to do what? Maybe punch your ex or drag him out of here?” His words were just as skeptical as my thoughts.
I punched him hard in the shoulder. “You know what I mean.”
“No, I don't, but I know one way for sure to see if he's paying any attention.” There was that Caleb smirk again, nothing ever good came from that half smile and flash of teeth.
“Wha-”
“Laugh, he's watching,” was all I heard before Caleb’s lips came crashing down on mine as he swept me up into a kiss, a hand going to the small of my back to pull me to him.
“You're a dick,” I whispered back before giving him a quick peck to make it look real. That wasn't how I wanted to get under Rhen’s skin.
“You liked mine well enough if I remember correctly-”
“You're awful. Get.”
“You're right, I’m awful.” He teased with a wink as I pushed him away. “Lover boy hasn't budged since he got here, and didn’t even bother to look over here when I grabbed you. Go give him dinner and a drink, my treat. Just because you want him gone doesn't mean he needs to leave here hungry, Kody. Be decent. I haven’t seen anyone look that haunted in a long time.”
My mouth open to argue, I realized it was pointless as I glanced at Rhen. He hadn’t even noticed what had happened.
“How are you ever the voice of reason?” I said with a heavy sigh. “Fine. I can be the bigger person here. After all, I am giving you free beer the rest of the night.”
He gave me a quick kiss on the forehead. “That’s the Kody I know and love.”
I stuck my tongue out at him as my phone vibrated in my pocket. Another text message with a blocked number.
FSH N AU. Next on my list. -Snow W.
What in the world? That was the license plate from the vehicle at the mine. I opened the attachment and I felt the blood drain from my face.
“Oh no.” I barely whispered.
Caleb grabbed my phone, from my reaction I was sure he was expecting anything but what he actually saw in that photo.
“Ooooh, that's definitely not ice cream you’re licking.”
“Keep your voice down.” I said trying to grab for my phone.
“Dude’s got some nice abs, he work out much? At least he was nice enough to hold your hair back. Too bad it's not a video clip.” Caleb’s voice was full of sarcasm as he held the phone closer for a better view. “You sure it's not your ex sending these?”
I snatched the phone back. “That’s him in the photo with me, from years ago. He wouldn’t have taken that photo.”
“Well send it to me--”
“No. I don't care how you need to trace it, you’re not getting a copy.”
Those blue eyes twinkled. “Fine. I’ll keep looking, but if you can think of any details related to that photo, time, place, who could have been around, might make my job easier. I’m thinking lover boy had a nanny cam that you didn't know of, it happens.”
I shook my head no. The photo was in our apartment, I recognized the bedding, but Rhen would never have done that. He didn’t care for technology, there was no way he’d have bothered to photograph or video tape us fooling around.
“Doll, this Scarlet person you want me to look into, would they have access to you to take these photos?”
“No.”
“Then don't be naive. Chances are it's your ex or someone he’s paying to do this.”
“No. He wouldn't.”
“You also thought he wouldn't cheat on you.”
Hands on my hips, I gave him an incredulous look. “Caleb, no.”
He shook his head and ran his hand through that blonde mane. Whatever he was thinking probably wasn’t good.
“Then you’ve got a bigger issue. Keep your eyes open. Who knows how long this stalker has been around. But if you trust that it's not him doing this to you, give him a heads up. He's in their sights too. I’ll go make some more calls.”
Damn it. “Thank you.”
“You sure I can’t get a copy of that as payment?”
The look I gave him said it all as he held his hands up in surrender. Caleb walked away. I couldn't deny he was right. I had my issues with Rhen, but I could be civil. I didn't believe it was him harassing me. If he was potentially the next target of this mystery stalker, he needed to know. There were potentially three more weeks before the winter shut the mines down. Three more weeks I could find time to fight with him.
CHAPTER NINE
Rhen
Broken Tusk Inn still smelled like I remembered it. Beer, good food, and ocean. Koda hadn’t say a word to me for the hour I sat in the corner of Broken Tusk. If it hadn’t been for her purposely avoiding me, I would have thought it was just like old times. She was doing her thing, waiting tables in her jeans, furry boots, and long sleeve thermal shirt. Her dark chocolate hair was pulled back in a braid that reached halfway down her back, her family’s Inuit heritage evident by her golden light coco skin. She wore those damn contacts though and both her eyes were a mahogany brown. Even her adorable freckles were covered with makeup
Being back in this bar and waiting to talk to her was a slap in the face. I wasn’t sitting here waiting to pick her up from work to take her back to our apartment and show her how much I missed her. And her matching eyes just compounded the feeling. Her dual colored eyes were just one of the many things that had endeared her to me so much. She was different, just like I was different.
I caught a brief smile on her lips when she noticed the bruise that had formed under my left eye. She’d been talking to some blonde Viking in flannel, he stood too close to her for my liking. If it even bothered Koda that I was here sitting in our corner watching, she didn’t show it.
She flirted with the locals as they came in for the night guaranteeing herself good tips, but every simple touch or sweet word set my teeth on edge. Gods, when did I become this jealous? The woman I watched was not my Kodabear I had left behind, yet I still couldn’t take my eyes off her. Hell, my Koda, that wasn’t even a statement I had a right to say anymore. My heart ached as I thought about the first time I could call her my Koda and I found myself going back to that day as Will and I moved into our apartment.
Koda’s birthday was a few weeks off, she’d been bugging me to take her away to somewhere warm. Dez probably would have let me take her away if I asked, I’d known them forever. Koda was trouble lately and Dez needed a break from keeping tabs on her since their father had died.
Koda was adorable with her fake pout as she blocked my way into the kitchen with the box of plates I was carrying. I tried to move past her, but she only took the box from me to place on the counter and continued to block my way.
“I want more Rhen,” she said plainly.
“More?” I said as I rested my hands on the door frame and leaned into her space. Whatever I felt for her she was my best friends little sister. Grabbing that rope to keep her from going over the edge of the glacier and saving her life had been one thing, pursuing a relationship, that was dangerous ground for both of us.
“More,” she said as she ran her fingers down my arm, bringing goosebumps of excitement with her touch. “I want you to kiss me.”
That was not the request I had expected.
“Kiss you?” I had finally managed, my eyes falling to her lips.
“I’m
pretty sure that’s what I said.” She bit her lip as I could only stare.
I was in so much trouble.
“Koda, we shouldn’t. Your brothers will be right back.”
“Then you’d better make it quick.”
Fingers in her belt loops, I tugged her forward against my body, making her smile as she looked up at me.
“I’m not making our first kiss something quick and forgettable. You sure you want this?” I asked as I gently brushed her hair out of her face. “Because I’m not willing to go back.”
She had only been able to nod at me.
“Say it,” I said as my fingers tangled in her hair at the nape of her neck.
“Make me,” she said with the corner of her mouth turned up in a sly smile.
“I’ll make you alright.” I chuckled, my hand in her hair gently angled her head up towards mine as I leaned down. My lips met hers and her hands came up to hold onto my shoulders. Her lips tasted like peach. There was electricity between us and we couldn't deny it. I remembered thinking how Ken could slit my throat and I wouldn’t have cared in that moment.
She had broken the kiss to nip at my bottom lip before she rested her forehead against mine.
“So you want me for your girl, eh?”
“Kodabear, I have no doubt that I want you for mine.”
“Good cause I’m not giving you up.”
I missed those days.
The wind howled outside, my fingers closed tighter around the ring I wore around my neck. I couldn't drag this storm any further into the harbor, it wasn’t safe.
“This is from the owner. For not causing a scene. On the house,” Koda said softly as she set a tray down in front of me. I was so caught up in my own mess of thoughts I had not noticed she’d come over to my table. Or that I hadn't eaten since breakfast. A quick glance at what she had brought me and I knew she had chosen the food. A bowl of seafood chowder in a hearty bread bowl and a glass of cognac beside my hand on the wooden table, my favorites.
Those were the first nice words she said to me. I nodded my thanks, not trusting my voice just yet. As she turned away, I grabbed her wrist. She shot daggers with her eyes when she turned back.
“Koda, we need to talk.” I managed.
She leaned into my personal space, her favorite perfume, a mix of lavender and patchouli, drifted to my nose. She was so close I could have pulled her into a kiss with little effort, I had to grip the table with my other hand not too.
“Did you send this?”
I glanced at the photo that was on the display of her cell phone. It took a moment to realize I was looking at our old apartment. Her crazy stuffed jackalope in a top hat sat on the nightstand. There was a “Happy Birthday” sign taped above our bed. Koda was wearing one of my white tank tops and a thong. I was sitting on the edge of the bed, naked except for a birthday party hat, my hand buried in her wild hair while she licked icing off my-
“How does that photo even exist?” I snapped as a wave of anxiety raced up my spine from the realization that someone had been watching us.
“Thought you'd have a better explanation than that. Just more lies, eh?”
I pressed my tongue against the back of my teeth in an effort to avoid lashing out at her. Knowing that photos existed of us fooling around angered me more than her accusing me of being the one to send it. If this one photo existed, how many others did as well?
“I don’t know why you are here at Broken Tusk or what you have planned, but we’re not talking about anything. Past or present,” her voice was soft and threatening. There was thinly veiled violence behind her words as she slipped the phone back in her pocket. “I want you gone but you’re not causing a problem; so I can’t toss you out of here on your ass. Keep it that way and leave peacefully, or I can guarantee you’ll leave here with more than the black eye you came in with.”
She yanked her hand from mine and I felt electricity crackle between us. I tossed back the liquor while she stared me down, her arms crossed and hip thrown to the side.
“Leave,” she bit sharply.
“Make me.” Those brown eyes blinked in surprise at me at my word choice. Those two words had become our “I love you” through the years, and I still meant it. “Double bourbon. Straight. I’m not going anywhere.”
Her eyes narrowed at me, trying to burn a hole through me. The silence between us growing thick as the chowder in front of me. We were inadvertently drawing attention for our lack of cheerful banter. I felt the air growing heavy as the storm started rolling on shore the more pissed off I became. “Keep staring Koda, you’ll end up making a scene. My drink.”
I had to flag down another waitress to bring me my drink. Koda was content on ignoring me. By the time my next drink was set in front of me, I was so caught up in my head that I didn't even notice the bustle of what was going on around me.
“I see you know Kodiak,” the words hung heavy in the air as a man moved to pull out the chair across from me. I hooked my foot over the bottom rung to stop him as I looked up and saw dark eyes under a heavy brow. He wasn’t anyone from a crew I recognized, but this time of year, the only people up here were townsfolk and miners. I was pretty safe in assuming he was a miner from the dirt under his nails.
“What of it?” I growled as my hand closed around the tumbler. He had a relatively fresh burn scar on his face, and one of his hands was bandaged. Another day I’d be sympathetic and ask what had happened. Working at a mine, things were dangerous. I’d seen injuries that were a lot worse than his.
“Can I sit?” The words tugged at the burn, distorting his face. I wondered if that's how I looked sometimes when I spoke.
“I'd prefer you didn’t.” I sipped the caramel liquid in my glass. “What about Koda?”
He tried to pull out the chair, and realized I was holding it in place. “So you know her better than I thought if you’ve got a nickname for her, friend.”
I cocked my head. “I’m not your friend.”
That slow serpent smile spread from one corner of his lips to the other as he leaned over the table, balancing his weight on his good hand. “Perhaps not, but I thought you should know what she is.”
“Oh?” I’d play along. “What’s that?”
“That she likes to hook up with shape shifters. And she’s supposed to be killing them. Be a shame if one of them bit her.”
My eyes narrowed at him. “I’d watch your words if I were you.”
“That so, seal?” He hissed the word. “I hear there is a Collector in town. I think I might need to tip him off.”
I wasn’t up for this tonight. I kicked the chair, sending it into his knees. He lost his balance on his hand, landing face first on the table. I had to refrain from pinning him to the table as the patrons nearest to us turned to see cause of the commotion.
“He’s drunk.” I said with a shrug as the bartender met my gaze. The bartender waved to a muscled man in the corner and pointed toward the miner.
“Shouldn’t have done that.” He whispered as he stood up.
I settled back in my chair. “There’s a lot I shouldn’t have done.”
The burned man only smiled at me as the muscle the bartender had sent over dragged him towards the door.
CHAPTER TEN
Rhen
Her shift was over before she even glanced my direction again. The broken walrus tusk clock on the wall read eleven. Snow had been falling for the last hour as I sat and drank. I needed to get out of here before I brought a full on squall on shore. My stubborn seal ass stupidly refused to give in and just leave that easily.
Koda’s movement caught my attention as she hopped up and took a seat on the bar. She had more grace than I remember her having. It had been too long since I could just stare at her. I followed the the line of her throat as she threw her head back in laughter, it was bittersweet for me as I remembered how her skin tasted. And it bothered me more and more that she felt the need to wear contacts to hide her eyes. Will was right. I was a glutton
for punishment. I didn't even know how I was going to convince her to talk to me without pinning her in the corner and just spilling everything I needed to say.
“Oh come on, Doll,” a gruff voice said diverting my attention. “We’ve got a few weeks left in the mining season, maybe less with the snow moving in, this is the last time we will see a pretty face for nearly a month. How about you join us in a wager.”
Koda threw back a shot of some golden liquor. “A wager, eh? I love a good bet. What do you propose?”
The miner stood, wobbly on his feet, the denim overalls covered in mud, flannel shirt rolled up showing tanned skin and a badly inked double tailed mermaid tattoo on his forearm in a greenish black ink. He couldn't have been more than 22 or 23, probably smoked two packs a day from the sound of his voice. It was that blonde Viking I’d seen her laughing with earlier. When I watched her touching him and braiding a few tiny braids into his crazy hair I’d ordered more alcohol than I should have.
I fought down a growl as he continued to be playful with her. I couldn't let this get to me. My emotions were already all over the place from this self imposed torture. I should have left when Koda told me too.
Koda’s eyes sparkled as she tried not to giggle from the attention. If Mermaid boy had been on my crew I probably would have fired him on principal for attempting to mess with the owner’s sister, but my boys were snug in their trailers for the night. Hell, I was leaving, they weren't even my crew. Nothing was mine anymore.
“Well, there aren’t many women up here pretty as you, let alone back at the mine. I propose, since you're off work, that you help us determine who is the best with getting a girl. Winner gets a kiss.”
She laughed heartily. “Oh, so you just need a judge. And what do I get out of this?”
“No, no judge, we need someone to practice our skills on,” mermaid boy paused, winking at her. “And cuddle with after.”
Yeah, I didn’t like him.
“Oh,” she cleared her throat and sat up straighter, a quick glance thrown my direction.“You’re serious?”
Steal the Sun: (Book 1) Page 7
