“No, nothing. Are they all protecting him? Does this entire community know about shifters?” his boss almost yelled.
Paul looked around, but no one seemed to be paying them any attention. “Sir, you need to calm down. We are in public. Someone could hear us. A shifter could hear us and know we’re here.”
“You’re right. Thank you. Let’s keep asking around,” he said.
“Yes sir.”
“Excuse me, we’re with the police and there was a man in an accident and we think he’s from this town. We can’t find any ID on him. Is there anyone you noticed who could be missing?” Paul asked a woman who was walking by.
“Yeah, now that you mention it, Mike Talon, the bartender at Bill’s, wasn’t in last night. He’s usually there. I thought it was a little odd, but I assumed he took off. Maybe it’s him?” the woman answered.
Paul looked over and saw his boss listening in. He walked up to them and said, “Tall? Blond hair? Well-built?”
“Yeah, that’s Mike,” she said. ”Is he okay?”
“We think he’ll be okay, but we were trying to find his family to let them know,” Paul said, taking over. He was more of a people person. He could see the excitement in his boss’s face.
“I’m sorry to tell you, but he doesn’t have any family,” she said with a sad smile.
“Thank you so much for your help,” Paul said, and they walked away from the woman. He didn’t want anyone getting suspicious.
When they were in the car, Paul said, “Sir, I think you might be too close to this. I think we should call in the team.”
“I’m fine! Leave it alone!” he yelled.
“Yes sir. I’m sorry, sir.”
Chapter 12
Mike walked into the kitchen and heard Lucy on the phone. “Yes Dad, I’m eating.” There was a pause. “Yes, I’m eating three times a day.” Another pause. “I’m almost done with this book; then I’ll take some time off. Maybe I’ll come see you.” He saw the tension in her shoulders. Wanting to release it, he walked up behind her and put his arms around her. She jumped when she felt him, then relaxed back into him. She must not have expected to see him. “I promise. I’m cooking breakfast right now. And no, it’s not junk food. It’s eggs and bacon.”
“That’ll clog your arteries. Make sure you don’t eat too much,” Mike heard the man on the phone say.
“I’ll make sure to eat a salad later to make up for it.”
“Good. Now make sure you get out of the house too. I know you. You’d never leave your house if you didn’t have to.” The guy was babying her. If she was anything like his mother, she needed it.
“I will. Lexi got me out a few times while she was here, and I’m going out in a few days once I’m done with this book.”
“Lucy, go out sooner. Go get dinner or go shopping or something. Anything that will get you out of that house. The fresh air is good for you.”
“Dad, I can sit out on my porch or open the window to get fresh air.”
“It’s not the same and you know it. You need to be around people. Isn’t that where your inspiration comes from? Interacting with people, talking to them, watching them?”
“You’re right. Okay, I have to get going. My food’s burning. I’ll call you soon,” she said.
“Okay, I love you.”
Hearing her father say that to her made Mike feel a pang in his chest. It had been so long since he’d heard his father say those words to him. He wanted to hear them from him again and to tell him. He’d give anything just to hear his voice again.
“I love you too,” she said, and hit the ‘end’ button before setting the phone on the counter. Lucy leaned back into him a little more and looked up at him. “Hey.”
“Hi.”
“Is it okay that you’re up and about?” she asked, looking concerned.
“I’m good. I just can’t go running marathons or anything. But I wanted to come see you.”
“I’m glad you’re okay. Let me finish cooking so you can eat and gain your strength back,” she said, moving over to the stove and pulling the bacon out of a pan.
“Need any help?” he asked.
“Can you make some toast?” she asked.
“Sure, but I can do more if you want me to.”
“I’ve got it. I love to cook and I’m a bit picky about how it’s done.”
“Okay,” he said, walking over to the toaster and pulling out some bread.
“Did Bill leave?” she asked Mike.
“Nope, and he’s staying for breakfast. He’s as hungry as a bear,” Bill said as he walked into the kitchen.
“I will make more to feed the hungry bear. So I have a question. I know Mike’s a shifter and I’m guessing you are too, right?”
“I am,” he answered hesitantly.
“What kind are you?” she asked.
“A bear,” he replied.
She looked at him for a second before evidently putting two and two together. “I probably should have picked up on that with the last comment. Sorry, I’m living in book world. I tend to have trouble leaving it sometimes.”
Mike saw the surprised look on Bill’s face. He was probably wondering how it was all so easy for her to understand. “She’s a paranormal writer. She’s okay with everything, but I think she thought I was a wolf when I first told her.”
He saw her face turn bright red. “I didn’t know wolverine shifters existed.”
“It’s fine. Not many people do, considering I’m the last. But I like being a wolverine. There’s something liberating about it.”
“I’d like to see it some time,” she said, her face turning even redder.
“Sure, I’ll show you later on. How does that sound?” he asked her, hoping it would alleviate some of her embarrassment.
“Sound good to me,” she said with a smile.
After they had eaten, Bill left and Lucy went to her computer, leaving Mike by himself. He didn’t know what to do. Normally he’d walk around town or go for a run or something. It wasn’t like he could do that right now. The problem was that he wasn’t one to sit still, and he wasn’t tired enough to go to sleep and try to recoup a little more. Being injured sucked. He walked up to Lucy and put his arms around her. “Want to watch a movie or something?”
“Mike, I’m sorry, but I have to get this done. Maybe a little later,” she said.
“Can you move to this couch with me and write? I’m lonely. Then at least I can pretend you’re watching it with me,” he said with a little pout. No, he wasn’t above a little pout if it got him what he wanted.
Lucy sighed and picked up her laptop. “Okay,” she said and walked over to the couch. She put her computer down and went back to her desk to get a cup and some Skittles. Not exactly what he thought she would get, but who was he to question it? She must have seen him looking at the bag because she said, “I can’t write if I don’t have my coffee or sugar.”
“Okay,” he said, holding his arms open for her. With a little smile she climbed on the couch and leaned back into him, getting comfortable. Then she seemed to think of something and went straight for her computer, then for a handful of Skittles. Mike turned on the TV and started channel surfing, trying to find something that interested him. He stopped on a few channels, but nothing really seemed to catch his attention. Giving up, he put on the History channel and started watching something about Thomas Edison.
***
Lucy had been working on her book and leaning on Mike for a few hours. He’d fallen asleep a while ago and she was afraid if she moved she’d wake him. She knew he needed the sleep so she just kept working. She guessed it was a good excuse to keep going. Her stomach let out a rumble and she saw it was getting close to dinner time. She couldn’t believe that, after talking to her father that morning about her eating habits and saying that she wouldn’t skip a meal that day, here she was, too busy to have eaten. At least she’d eaten her Skittles, almost the whole bag of them. Now, the question was, what was she going to ma
ke for dinner? She thought about what she had in the fridge. That was probably going to be the quickest. To top it off, she needed something with protein in it for Mike. Hmm.
Chicken. She had a chicken and it wouldn’t really take all that long to cook – maybe an hour, but Mike was sleeping so he wouldn’t mind waiting for it. Carefully, she moved out of Mike’s arms. He’d had them wrapped around her waist, probably trying to make sure she didn’t go anywhere. He let out a little groan, but settled when she leaned over and kissed his forehead. Then she covered him with a blanket and stood up.
Finally happy to be able to move, Lucy walked into the kitchen and started pulling things out of the refrigerator and spice rack. Then she set to work chopping onions, mixing her herb butter, and making her biscuits. She loved cooking. When she would get stuck on her book or was having a bad day, she would always find herself in the kitchen making something. It always relaxed her. And the fact that she was good at it didn’t hurt either. She backed up, intending to go to the fridge, and ran into a hard body. She held back a scream when she felt arms reach out to catch her from falling. Turning around, she saw Mike with a lazy smile.
“You’re up,” she said, catching her breath.
“I am. What are you doing?” he asked, looking around the kitchen.
“Making dinner,” she said, putting some flour in a bowl.
“And you’re cooking for ten people?”
“I like leftovers and I know you need the extra protein, so I made a lot.”
“Got it. Do you need any help?” he asked.
“I’m good. How are you feeling?”
“Almost like my old self.”
“Good,” she said, mixing some eggs into the flour.
“Why don’t you sit down and relax? You can watch me cook,” she said, adding some milk and cheese.
“Okay, but let me know if you need help with anything. What are you cooking?”
“Chicken, asparagus, potatoes, and cheese biscuits.”
“Sounds good and smells even better,” he said with a smile and sat down.
Lucy could feel him watching her and was starting to get nervous. She knew she’d told him he could, but now she felt like she wasn’t doing something right. “So, tell me about yourself,” she said.
“What do you want to know?”
“What was it like being a kid for you?” she asked.
“I guess like any other kid. I lived in Maryland and had tons of friends. We lived near a wolf pack so it was easier for me. When we’re younger, it’s hard to control our shifting, so when we’d get upset or feel cornered, our animal would come out. When you’re around other shifters, you don’t have to worry about keeping it a secret.
“What about your parents? What were they like?” She was wondering how they’d died, but was afraid to ask. She didn’t want to upset him.
“They were wonderful parents. Dad would make sure to come out and play with me every afternoon. As kids, we’re full of energy. I don’t know how he could stand coming out with me every day, but I’m glad he did. It meant a lot to me,” he said, looking thoughtful.
“He did it because he loved you.” He nodded. She could see the sorrow coming over his face. “What about your mom?”
“She was a lot like you. She was a wonderful mother. When I saw you sitting in front of your computer yesterday, you reminded me so much of her. Sometimes she’d lock herself in her office, only coming out to use the bathroom or to get food. Dad had to go in there sometimes and make her go to bed. When I was young, she would come into my room every night and read to me. It was something so small to do, but it meant the world to me. She would sometimes be caught up in her book and lose track of time. Then I would go into her office and climb on her lap, hugging her tight. I knew she wasn’t forgetting me. I knew she was working and I wanted to spend a little time with her before bed. She’d always pick me up and carry me into my room, tuck me in and kiss my cheek,” he said. There were tears streaming down his cheeks. She hadn’t meant to upset him.
“Mike, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to…” she said, sitting in his lap, holding him close.
“They died when I was fifteen. I’d begged my parents to let me go for a run in the woods, but they wouldn’t let me go by myself. They said it was too dangerous. I didn’t believe them, but they made me wait anyway. Mom decided she wanted to come too. It was the first snow of the year and she wanted to go run in it.”
“Mike, you don’t have to tell me,” she said, rubbing his back.
“I… I want you to know,” he said, putting his head in the crook of her neck.
“Okay,” she said, and wrapped her arms around him, hoping to give him some strength.
“We were playing and I was in a tree hiding from them while they hunted me. We were having so much fun. That’s when I heard a strange pop. I started climbing down from the tree, not knowing what was going on. Mom looked up at me and shook her head. She didn’t want me to come down. That’s when I saw Dad. He was on the ground and the snow around him was turning red.”
“Mike, I’m so sorry,” Lucy said, feeling her own tears running down her face.
“There was another pop and my mother fell. They didn’t move. I kept staring at them, hoping they would move. They needed to be okay. The Hunters went over to them and shot them each again before dragging them off.”
“No one should have to live through that,” Lucy said, wiping the tears from her face.
“I wandered around as a wolverine for a few months. Bill found me underweight and ready to attack anything that came near me. He took me in and helped me adjust. I don’t know what I would have done without him.”
“I’m glad he was there to help you,” she said, kissing him gently, trying to show him that he was alive and cared for. She didn’t think she loved him yet, but she knew she was on her way.
The oven beeped, signaling the food was ready. “You had better get that.”
She nodded and stood up. She didn’t want to. She wanted to hold him and take away all the pain, but she couldn’t. She looked at the chicken then turned down the oven and started chopping potatoes. “My father owns a small bookstore and my mom’s a teacher. They were good parents, but always busy. They did the best they could, but my dad was usually at the store late and my mom had papers to grade, and conferences. Every summer, one of us would close our eyes and see where on the map the pin landed. Wherever it landed was where we went. There were some very interesting places and some small lazy towns. This was one of the places we went – one of the lazy towns, and I loved it here. I started writing my first story here in the hotel and knew it was where I wanted to live. My parents and Lexi thought I was crazy, but here I am and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
“Thank you,” Mike said with a faint smile.
“For what?”
“Listening to me and getting my mind off of everything.”
“I’m always here if you want to talk. You’ve been through a lot and sometimes just having someone to listen can help.” Neither said anything as Lucy continued to cook, both lost in their own memories.
***
Paul had been sitting in front of the bar, waiting to see if this Mike person showed up. According to his research, he lived above the bar, so if he was still alive, he’d be coming back here. His phone rang, and he knew that ring tone all too well. It was his boss. He was also the only one who ever called him. The man had called every fifteen minutes, asking if he’d seen the shifter. And every time the answer had been the same. No. He thought maybe it had died from the wound. Silver kills them. A bullet wound to an arm could kill them if it wasn’t removed promptly. He wasn’t going to pretend to understand it, but as long as it did the job, he didn’t care.
“Yes sir?” he answered.
“Any sign of it?” he asked.
“No sir.”
“Okay, let me know when you see it.” It was always the same response. He was starting to really hope the wolverine would show up
just so his boss would stop calling.
“Yes sir.” His boss hung up and Paul went back to watching all the patrons coming and going, but still no sign of the wolverine.
Chapter 13
“Thank you for dinner, Lucy,” Mike said.
“No problem.” She was just happy he liked it. Something about people trying what she created always made her a little nervous.
“I think I should probably go home. I don’t want to wear out my welcome,” he said, standing up.
“Okay,” she said, feeling a little saddened at the idea of him leaving. It was probably best if he left, but sometimes her house felt lonely when she was by herself. Mike helped chase that feeling away.
“C… can I take you to dinner tomorrow?” he asked. He sounded nervous. Did he really think she’d say no? They’d almost slept together that morning.
“Yes. Pick me up at six?”
“I’ll be here,” he said with a smile and started walking toward the door. She guessed he might have forgotten he didn’t have his truck there.
“Um, Mike, would you like a ride?” Lucy asked. She didn’t know where he lived, but with his injuries and the fact that someone had shot him the day before, he probably shouldn’t be walking.
“Oh, shit. No, I’ll give Bill a call, if that’s okay. I want you to get back to your writing. I know you want to finish the book and I would feel terrible if I kept you from it.”
“It’s fine. I really don’t mind.”
“I need to talk to Bill anyway. He failed to tell me what he found yesterday.”
“Okay, the phone’s at my desk,” she said, smiling at his forgetfulness. She waited as he dialed the phone. He was too busy to notice her checking out just how tight his jeans were and how perfectly his shirt stretched over his muscles. Lucy couldn’t help it. The man was a god.
“Bill, can you come get me?” she heard him say into the phone. “Okay thanks,” and he hung up.
“Is he coming?” she asked, almost hoping his ride wasn’t able to come and that he’d be forced to stay. But, he was right, she needed to get some work done.
Lucy's Wolverine (Lilly Town Shifters) Page 6
