by Gina Kincade
Text copyright ©2017 by the Author.
This work was made possible by a special license through the Kindle Worlds publishing program and has not necessarily been reviewed by Latin Goddess Press, Inc.. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original Paranormal Dating Agency remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of Latin Goddess Press, Inc., or their affiliates or licensors.
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Someone Different
A Paranormal Dating Agency Story
Kindle Worlds
First Edition
Gina Kincade ©September 2017
Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author.
No part of this book may be adapted, stored, copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
About the Author
Chapter One
"You are absolutely stunning, Trina Marie Walden," Tallan said, love swelling in her heart for her baby sister.
She watched as Trina's smile grew in the mirror in front of them. In the reflection, Tallan saw her baby sister in her wedding gown, a glossy white satin with small touches of lace and pearls. Trina didn't need much to make her beautiful, though. A thinner, younger, stunning replica of herself, Tallan had never been jealous, always content to sit in the shadows, help her little sister shine, achieve, since before she even realized that was what she was doing.
Trina liked to throw around the old maid card when trying to get Tallan to come out of her shell, to take her nose out of a book, or come home early from work. Tallan took it as a term of endearment by now. She found nothing wrong with throwing one's life into one's work. In fact, this ethic made her a woman she could be proud of, culminating in her point to existence, her reason for being in the world.
As a psychologist, the gratification of the work sustained her, gave her the connection to humanity she needed. When the work became tough and draining, this thought process gave her an excuse to dig in, to study harder, to have something to fight for, a higher level to strive to achieve. Everyone needed to love and to be loved. Tallan simply showed her love through listening and subtle suggestions that made her patients feel as if they'd come to the solution on their own. Pride in one's accomplishments went a long way, for her and for them.
It had always been enough. With a big family and black panther pride, her heritage gave her the strength she needed, the connections to others, the love that sustained her, filled her enough to offer to others such a gift. She needed nothing else.
What the mirror also reflected was the way in which Tallan hid behind her sister, not caring to see her own well-rounded body in her burgundy bridesmaid dress. Not that she hadn't come to terms with her curvy figure and her looks long ago. She had, but she didn't need to stand out in a crowd. One could have the self-confidence to love themselves as they were without flaunting, contrary to popular belief. She didn't need the limelight. She didn't need to turn men's heads. She needed to support her family, her pride, and her patients. Her looks didn't affect any of that. Loving her roles in life, comfortable in her own skin, she'd found contentment even if no one else around her could accept that she had.
"If only I could but see you as happy, my sister," Trina managed, a laugh interrupting her words before she could finish, the joke getting funnier to her every time she used it.
While this amused Tallan, also touching her heart, she feigned her distain.
"You dare to attempt to quote Jane Austen to me, again, and poorly this time around, too, I might add. Well, sweet sister, I appreciate the attempt, both in speaking to me through a dearly loved novel and in the sage advice. Though you butchered the line, words, and delivery, I shall give you a pass because it's your wedding day. You focus on you, dear sister of mine. Today is your day." Tallan gave her sister's shoulders a squeeze, as the door opened to the room they had used to dress in.
Their mother walked in, shoulders square and her back ramrod straight, confident in herself. A stunning, fierce, and exceedingly intelligent woman, her panther always hovering close to the surface, protecting her young, she made a formidable appearance whenever she walked into a room. She gave most of the men in the pride a run for their money, though few, save their father, dared challenge or correct anything the woman said. He didn't even try very often, though more out of exhaustion they all assumed than anything else. He wasn't one to be trifled with either, so if she upset him in any way, he made note of it. While meddling parents, still active in all of their children's lives, they had a good marriage, and example to them all of the slight balances it took with the push and pull, the compromises. Work. Marriage, hell all relationships took work. Looking at her sister, she knew the woman she'd become knew that, too. Her and Lyle would be fine.
"It's time. The pride awaits. Let's go now," her mother instructed from the doorway, turning on her heel with the last word to walk away, fully expecting to be followed without a word said otherwise.
"Mom, doesn't Trina look beautiful," Tallen said, her eyes wide, signaling her mother to compliment her sister before they went though all she could see was her back already.
"Of course, it goes without saying," she stated with no tone to her voice at all as she whirled on them again. "Now, come. We mustn't keep the pride waiting. It is time one of my daughters wed, even if it is the youngest."
This whole day was to be a Jane Austen novel, apparently, the youngest not able to marry until the oldest did. With all of them out in society at once, it could hardly lead to sisterly relations, she quoted in her head, knowing her own quote to be lacking in exactness. She'd just have to read the book again, or maybe watch the movie when she got home tonight. The thought brought a bigger smile to her face. She took her mother's dig in stride, shaking off, literally with her head, then the rest of her body following. She moved behind Trina to follow her to the door as her mother again turned sharply on her heel to walk away. To lead, actually. Stopping in the hall, the older woman turned back again to scold Tallan into coming out first, as she needed to align herself with the best man to walk first down the aisle.
Doing as bid, Tallan stood up tall, or as tall as her five foot five frame allowed, to move to stand parallel to the best man who towered over her by at least a foot, making her look more like a dwarf in a short fancy dress. The ceremony small, as Trina had wanted, they'd chosen to also break a few wedding rules. For some unfathomable reason, Trina had insisted that the best man escort her sister, the maid of honor, down the aisle, rather than waiting by the groom. After this adjustment to the proceedings surely meant to give her old maid sister a few minutes with a man, though Tallan viewed it as more of several minutes in hell, the rest of the ritual would carry on as society dictated. Following her brutal obligation, their father would escort Trina down to her soon to be husband, Lyle.
Only to please her baby sister, Tallan looped her arm through Luke's, a bear shifter, and Lyle's best friend since boot camp who had somehow managed special leav
e from his current assignment to be here for the wedding. Though how he'd pulled that one off she still had no clue. She looked away when he grinned at her, keeping herself stiff, a forced smile on her face, and looking toward the end game: the end of the aisle in the great hall they used for pride business.
The building had been in the pride for decades now, having one great big room for gathering, along with a series of small offices in the back in which they had just used to dress and primp themselves for the wedding. The pride had access to the hall for whatever they deemed necessary, and this would not be the first time it had been used for a wedding. The ceremony short, performed by the alpha and pride counsel, the rest of the guests stood to either side of the room without chairs. It allowed for them to easily gather in a semi-circle around the couple for the nuptials, and then clear way for tables to be set up in the same area for the reception.
In place of pew or aisle chair decorations, each female standing there now had been given a small bouquet of flowers that resembled the large bouquet held by Trina.
Tallan had thought Trina's cascading flowers of purple, white, teal, and burgundy, full of calla lilies, hydrangeas, and orchids a stunning choice. Now, seeing that arrangement all over the hall, she mused her sister had an eye for this sort of thing and felt grateful the beauty gave her something to focus on other than the fact everyone in the room stared her way. Her own small bouquet accented her burgundy dress, which her sister had also chosen, having done much better than 'the purple potato sack' Tallan had originally picked. Her sister's words, of course.
At first, Tallan had scoffed at the dress with a crisscross bodice, empire waist, and full short skirt topped with taffeta and lace. Standing here now, ignoring Luke's frequent glances that had bordered on gawks and ogling, she breathed a bit easier, having seen how the dress not only pushed up her large breasts, but also accented each of her curves. More comfortable in simple dresses and sweaters for work—the style of a sweater to her meant long, big, and soft, one that could double as a blanket when needed—or a pair of cozy jeans with the same style sweater for anything outside of the office, she'd have never tried such a dress on had it not been to please her sister. She never wore flashy colors either, earth tones only for this raven haired, full-figured woman. However, she'd given in just for the day, for her sister's sake. Thankfully, she believed Trina would only marry once.
Her keen hearing relayed the soft, muffled behind hand gasps that rippled throughout the room as she filled the doorway. She'd take even the unexpected positive words regarding her appearance, surely spoken only out of surprise, as compliments to get her through the torture of walking down an aisle with all eyes focused on her. Heat flushed up her neck, making her pale skin blotchy, she assumed. And, everyone knew red and burgundy clashed.
She couldn't wait for her sister to make her grand appearance and gather the attention for herself for the rest of the day. No one gave her a second look with Trina around, and that's the way she'd come to like it. Wallflower or behind the scenes support roles suited her just fine.
"I've got you, babe," the bear clasping her arm whispered, moving his other hand over to pat the back of Tallan's hand.
"Who are you, Sonny or Cher?"
"What?"
"The song. You know the song, I've Got You Babe?"
His puzzled look showed he wasn't much into old music. She shook her head, faced forward, and waited for the signal from her mother to begin their walk. Yet, the woman took forever to strut down the aisle herself, not going to give the one in charge of the music the signal to begin the song until she was seated, her time in the limelight over.
"Let me rephrase. You look like you would rather be just about anywhere but here. So, just hold onto me if you need to. I'll get us there. You know, metaphorical support, not physical."
She shot him a side eye glance as if to tell him to shut up before saying, "Yeah, I got it the first time, but I'm good. Thanks anyway."
"Sorry, just trying to be a gentleman to a lady in need."
"I'm never a lady in need. Remember that."
The song she knew to be their signal to walk began, at least ending this moment of torture only to replace it with another. As they moved, if she heard one more comment about how she should dress differently, in more flattering clothes like this dress, or how she really needed to get herself a man, she was going to hurt someone. She held back for her sister, secretly plotting revenge, or counting up how many times her sister was going to have to take her out for a movie and or dinner before she paid her debt.
By the time the reception started, same room, tables brought in while a few pictures were taken outside of the bride and groom, and caterers had brought in the food, Tallan breathed a sigh of relief to have the day at least half over. She'd go home and jump straight into pajamas at this point, fuzzy robe, thick socks, as the night air cooled and streamed through her window. She preferred to be fighting off a good chill with heavy clothes than trying to cool down with barely anything on, but she always wore more than the weather demanded to cover up, and that only compounded the problem. Luckily, her sister chose to get married in the fall.
Dreaming of that moment cuddled up in front of the television or with a book, she hadn't noticed that Luke had come up next to her. So, she jumped when he spoke, forcing his first words to her to be an apology she had to graciously accept though she had had it with the fake politeness of these events.
"May I have this dance," he said, his hand out, a smirk on his face that brought a scowl to hers.
"Excuse me?" she answered, a huff following her spat out words.
"It's time for the traditional dance. Your sister and Lyle are already out on the floor. Your mother's scowl says she is impatient for you to join in. I'm again, just trying to help, though I get you don't need it."
She looked up at the dance floor. Shit. She'd clearly daydreamed her way through the pomp of the ritual dances beginning. With an animated sigh, she reluctantly flattened her palms down on the table to push herself to standing. Glancing at his still outstretched palm, she rolled her eyes as she gave in and palmed the offered hand.
"I get it. This is torture for you, this whole event, not just me, but Trina asked me to remind you that this is for her, her day."
"Yes, anything for Trina. She plays that card against me often, knowing she has the one soft spot in my heart."
"From what I hear, from her and Lyle, you have many, are there for everyone, but never for yourself other than your need to stay home on the rare occasion you have any down time from your save the world goals."
To her glare, he continued, "These are all positive things. Compliments if you didn't recognize them as such. Trina said you were impossible to give one to. My apologies, I only meant that I've heard many nice things said about you. Trina said she is so lucky to have you, in fact doesn't know what she would do without you, and Lyle feels himself lucky to be part of this family now."
She sighed rather than respond with the awful retorts raging in her head for this bear shifter, and gave in as much as she could manage when they hit the dance floor. As he pulled her in closer than need be for this obligation dance, she ignored the tingling all up and down her front where their bodies touched. Had to be one too many glasses of wine, she mused as she caught her mother's scowl right before the woman turned away.
This had to be tough on her mother to see her with the bear shifter, especially given her brother Jason had shown up to the wedding with his significant other, an eagle shifter named Micah. Their cross species relationship had been the subject of many a family argument in the past months. Trina had only won the fight to allow Jason to bring Micah to the wedding on the fact it was her day, and her mother would take a back seat in the planning of it. A hard won fight only her sister could manage to win against their mother. Parents shouldn't have favorites, but at the moment, hers did. Trina had done right by the family, not only married, but to another panther at that.
She, along with J
ason and Trina, knew the talk would rage all around the room about the couple, but didn't care. The sisters were happy that their brother was happy and in love, even if their parents couldn't come to the same feeling about it.
As the Luke turned her around the dance floor with little effort, given his hulking frame, she blamed her dizziness on her thoughts and the brutish way this beast man handled her body. It were as if she didn't weigh anything at all while in his arms. Not letting that odd occurrence go to her head, she attempted to refocus on her contempt of this man, for no other reason that he was a bear and she a panther. Not that she agreed with her parents old-fashioned thoughts on the subject of panther only marrying panther, but she didn't care to date anyone, let alone a someone that would cause more family strife.
The dance could not be over fast enough for her. The never-ending song her sister had chosen continued on as she swore it seemed Luke held her tighter, closer to him each second, crushing her breasts against his hard chest and abs, making them spill even more from the tightness of her dress. She looked up to see him appreciating the show, and used her arms to put a few inches between them, trying to control her need to push away from the man completely and run like the wind into the night. Her panther fought for control. She may have to shift and get in a run when she returned home if this kept up.
"I'm sorry, Tallan, have I done something to offend you other than enjoying this dance that you were apparently loath to participate in? Trina warned me you would only dance with me out of obligation, but I have to confess to wanting to dance with you. You are stunning in this dress."
"Let me stop you right there, bear boy. You need not feel the obligation to compliment me, too. Just dance. It is all you have to do in the here and now. No talk necessary. Honestly."
"You think I just gave you a compliment out of obligation? Damn, have you seen yourself in a mirror today, woman? This dress...wow. It hugs all of your amazing, womanly curves just right. What man wouldn't want to hold you in his arms, hope for more."
