by Tl Reeve
“Shoot,” Caden said, reclining back in the chair across from her, his fork poised at his mouth for a bite.
“You said he’d only been a week old and the runt when you brought him to me.”
He nodded, pulling the fork from his mouth. “Yeah?”
Mesmerized, Danielle sat there for a moment and watched as he chewed then swallowed. It shouldn’t have been sexy, yet it teased her. Knocked her completely off kilter in those brief seconds. She watched way his lips formed a sinful smile while his jaw worked, chewing another bite of the cake. When he finally cleared his throat, she shook her head, clearing the foggy cobwebs from her sex-addled mind. “Anyway, I don’t think he was a week old. Nor do I think he’s the runt. I think he’d been premature and that’s why his momma tried to kill him. I don’t think this puppy should have survived.”
“Wait, premature…like a baby?”
She walked over to the small pack and play before laying the little bundle down inside. His chew toys and her sweatshirt surrounded him, allowing him to sleep contently and securely.
“Yeah, I do. But, for the life of me, I’ve never heard of premature puppies being born and even surviving.” The whole situation perplexed her. “In the time he’s been here, he’s eaten more than his fair share, grown several inches and filled out very nicely. His milk teeth are perfect, and all of his senses are exceptional. There is not a runt bone in his body.”
Caden rubbed his jaw, finishing off his piece of pie. “I guess it’s a good thing I brought him to you then.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“Where I found him, it was bad, Danielle. Maybe it’s just the conditions he lived in.” He shrugged. “All I care about is he’s healing and healthy. The rest of it can be sorted out later, right?”
“Yes, it can be,” she answered. She couldn’t gauge his emotions. He kept them hidden from her—for the moment, anyway. Danielle came back to the table and sat next to the deputy. “So, I guess the next step is finding him a home.”
“I thought he already had,” Caden replied, gazing up at her with his soulful blue eyes.
“Me?”
“Yes, you. He is completely in love with you. How could you turn him away?” He leaned forward, brushing a lock of her long blonde hair off her shoulder. “You’d make a great mom for him.”
The way he talked about the puppy made it seem like Aiden was a human baby, not a puppy, which only added to her suspicions—they were shifters. Besides, she never took him for the type to call his pets ‘furbabies.’ Yet, as she stared into his gaze, her whole world melted and the idea of keeping Aiden didn’t sound like a bad idea. “Okay,” she whispered. “I’ll keep him.”
“Excellent. Now, eat your cheesecake before it goes bad.”
* * * *
“I can't find anything,” Keeley said as she continued to search database after database on her laptop for information on the Raferty brothers.
Dani, who sat across the table from her at the outside café in town, munched on her chicken Caesar salad. Her own meal, a bacon cheeseburger, sat half eaten beside her ‘baby.’ her very expensive, very fast laptop.
They had brought Aiden with them as promised so Mrs. Martin could check him over and make sure the puppy had been in good hands. After leaving her shop the day before, she meant to tell Danielle all about the strange, but soothing, conversation she’d had with the older woman. However, when she returned home, Dani had been curled up on the couch, resting while Aiden did the same in his playpen. The whole situation with the puppy struck her as unusual. They treated him more like a human baby boy, instead of the dog he’d become. For every plausible question she’d had, there was also had an equally possible answer, which only drove her suspicion higher. What is everyone keeping from us?
She peeked around her computer at her sister and sure enough, Dani wasn't even paying attention to her. Her gaze took on that faraway quality she got when she went into a trance or allowed the tendrils of her abilities to seek out those who might need a little boost. Since they’d arrived in Window Rock, she’d found her sister did it more and more. It scared her. Left her on edge when it shouldn’t, though she figured sooner rather than later, they’d have to leave. She liked this cozy little town with its charming atmosphere and, okay, she could admit, she didn’t mind the male scenery.
“Are you even listening to me?” Keeley demanded, frustrated with Danielle and the fact that she didn't seem to have the same level of concern she did about the Raferty brothers. Of course, a lot of that could be because they seemed to be showing up at their back door more and more often. It was annoying as hell, even if she did enjoy seeing Kalkin. It had been like they sensed it, somehow thinking they were needed when quite frankly, they weren’t. She had the best security money could buy and when it came time, they’d high-tail it out of there. Sure, she could admit she’d miss them, but this…the way they lived kept them alive. And, as much as she liked the quaint little town, it’d get too small, too soon.
“Nope,” Danielle replied, as she pushed the lettuce around on her plate.
“At least you are honest,” she sighed. “I can't find any birth certificates on any of them. Who the hell doesn't have a birth certificate? Obviously, they were born, because they’re here.”
“Maybe you just aren't searching the right way. Maybe they weren’t born here, but moved here, which means they came from another state or whatever? Or,” she tapped the table with her finger, “they’re hidden. You know how some places do confidential plates so you can’t trace them, keeping officers safe. Maybe it’s the same for them.”
“Really, Dani?” Keeley leaned forward, ready to give Danielle a piece of her mind. She wasn't in the best frame of mind anyway. A lot of that had to do with the little bit of sleep she got last night. Humans with abilities weren’t the only beings out there. They knew of shifters and the like, so it wouldn’t have surprised her if he’d been one. However, didn’t they have birth certificates? Didn’t they have to register? She’d flown under the radar along with Dani because they were born to scientist parents who knew about the PBH and didn’t want them captured. Not because they loved Keeley and Danielle. No, because they did their own experiments.
“Are you going to start quoting me your degrees again?” Danielle quipped. “Because if you are, I could just save you the time and say them for you.” She stabbed a piece of chicken. “I'm not sure what you're trying to prove, but it's getting tiresome, don't you think? We're always on our toes. Always trying to stay one step ahead, and in the meantime, we're missing everything around us.” She took the bite of chicken then motioned around her. “Look at where we are. We're in the middle of nowhere, so can we just have five minutes to enjoy ourselves for once?”
“Smart ass.” Keeley couldn't help the smile that floated across her lips, especially since she finally was seeing the old Danielle come back. She knew a lot of that had to do with Caden, although she would be hard pressed to admit that shit to anyone. “I’m a hard ass, I get it. You’re absolutely right, we should be taking time for us. I just…I want to see what we're getting ourselves into before it hits, so we're prepared.”
“Really, Keeley, you have become a bit obsessed over this.” Dani leaned over the table, her voice dropping. “I must say, it isn't really normal. You sure you don't like Kalkin? He is handsome and dreamy—well, not as much as Caden, but still, he has potential.”
“Shut up, Dani,” Keeley snapped at her sister, then turned to her laptop, going back to her search. If only Danielle knew how much she really did like Kalkin. Even though the few times he came to the house with his twin she snapped at him, she realized she did it to keep them safe. Yes, he infuriated her. He aggravated the shit out of her because he aroused her to the point of pain. The worst part of it all? She didn't seem to affect him in any way.
“Thou protest too much, sister dear,” Danielle shot back with a knowing smirk firmly in place. “Why not admit you have the hots for him? He likes you, Keeley. I s
ense it.”
“Sense something else, would ya?” Keeley replied as she pounded her fingers over the keys while searching for information on Kalkin. “I swore off men, remember? If you had any smarts, you would, too!”
She stared at the laptop screen, not even seeing it as she drifted back to last night. She had dreamed about Kalkin yet again, but this time it was so vivid, so real, when she woke she half expected him to be between her thighs, thrusting deep within her body. She ached for the man.
The intense sensations bombarding her body drove her insane. She ended up doing something last night she hadn’t done in years—not since they’d been on the run. She had masturbated. Her slim fingers had slipped between the wet folds of her pussy, stroking the swollen bud of her clit to release. When she came, it had been Kalkin's name she moaned, trembling from the aftershocks, and anxiousness—like he’d seen what she’d done or somehow known. She mistakenly thought the release would help ease the ache; instead, it had only seemed to make it worse. She felt like a bitch in heat, and Kalkin was the only male she wanted to relieve it.
Then, she remembered what Mrs. Martin said and became disgusted with herself. The woman had filled her head with all kinds of ideas and hopes. She'd fallen for it. She allowed herself to believe they could stay in the small town in the middle of the desert. Mrs. Martin led Keeley to believe they were safe, when as long as Simon remained out there, somewhere, they were never safe. They'd never have a place they could call home.
“Keeley.”
“Yeah?” She looked over at her sister, realizing Dani must have called her name more than one time, judging by the expression on her face. “I was concentrating. You know, I will be glad when the pipe I ordered gets installed at the house and we don't have to use the cable connection for internet.” Wi-Fi, it seemed, worked sporadically in Window Rock; however, with some modifications, she'd get them straightened out.
Her sister shrugged. “Whatever. I’m not too concerned right now.”
Dani didn't understand her fascination with computers or why Keeley was so in love with them. Computers didn't hurt you physically. Computers couldn't hurt your feelings. They sure as hell didn't tell you to hide your abilities from everyone. Nor were they afraid of you like your parents were because they feared you or your sister would kill them. Computers followed your commands. They blindly did whatever you typed into them or whatever program you built for them to run. The best part? They didn’t promise affection they conveniently withheld until you cleaned up your mess, or made pledges of their undying love—which inevitably got you kidnapped and chained to a wall.
Don’t go there. It’s over. Done. You escaped, a little banged up and worse for wear, but you survived. You both did.
“All I’m saying is we can trust them…you can trust him. I sense it. I understand how hard it is, believe me, but these people here are good, honest people, okay?”
Keeley snorted and shook her head. Even after everything Danielle had been through, she was still willfully naïve. Trust had almost gotten them both killed. As it stood, and until proven otherwise, they could only confide in each other.
“No, Dani,” she whispered. “I can't. Don't push this, just don’t.” She wasn't surprised when her sister sighed and frowned.
Not able to meet her sister's intense gaze, Keeley went back to reading her laptop. “So, Kalkin has a number of commendations on his record. He has an above stellar record as sheriff. No wonder the town treats him like a god.”
“Sweet cheeks.”
She gave a startled shriek as she slammed her computer shut, hoping the man didn’t see what she was looking up. “Eavesdrop much?”
He chuckled. “Am I going to have to confiscate your computer to make sure you’re not doing anything illegal?” The silky richness of his voice enveloped her, made sweet love to her, reminding her of one of those cheesy Barry White songs.
Ew, stop. She narrowed her eyes as she tilted her chin up. “Sorry, Sheriff. If you want into my computer, you'll have to get a warrant.” She sniffed. “Besides, you and Caden shouldn't be sneaking up on people. It's rude and unnerving. You should wear a bell or something. Announce your presence.” Why not dig your hole deeper while you’re at it? For all you know, he saw exactly what you were doing. Now, you’ve put both of you at risk. Hope you’re happy. Miserable was more like it.
“I am not a fucking cat,” Kalkin snarled.
Caden laughed. “I’m sure we can find one at the pet store.” Kalkin smacked him on the back as he came around to where Danielle sat. “Ow, fucker.”
Danielle stifled a laugh.
“Where is Aiden?” Caden asked as he took the open chair next to Danielle.
Keeley listened with half an ear as Dani explained Mrs. Martin wanted to see the pup and they’d be picking him up soon.
“He is in good hands then,” Kalkin stated as he continued to glare at Keeley.
“Of course, because we have no clue what we are doing,” Keeley grumbled, well aware of the people who had been milling around the café and those walking the streets. Their wayward glances and hushed conversations while stealing a peek between Kalkin and her made her want to crawl into a hole and die. She held no pretenses about what the town might think of her and her sister, or about her pseudo-relationship with the sheriff. Not that they had one. They didn’t, but she assumed by the soft chatter around them, they would be in one. Paranoid much? Yep. It also made her want to apologize for being a bitch, which had been completely out of character for her.
“Let's go, Dani,” Keeley said as she reached for her laptop. “Don’t want to overtax Mrs. Martin with Aiden.” She yanked a few dollars out of her pocket and placed it on the table.
“Running, sweet cheeks?” His smooth tone sent shivers through her body.
“Hardly. We are done eating and suddenly the company has taken a turn for the worse.” She reached for her bag, which had gotten caught on the leg of the chair. She gave it a hard tug and stumbled, watching the sidewalk come up to meet her. She heard Danielle call out her name as she braced for impact. She'd always been a klutz. Obviously, as she’d gotten older, she hadn't grown out of it. She closed her eyes and cringed. This would leave another nasty mark. Oh well, not like you’re not covered. She brought her laptop to her chest to protect it from the impact. If she lost the precious machine in her arms, they were dead in the water. She used it for everything, including their quick escapes.
“There are easier ways to find yourself in my arms,” Kalkin growled. “But I'll take you any way I can.”
Keeley jerked her head up, butting her skull hard against Kalkin's chin. He jerked back and grimaced. Did he just growl? Men didn’t growl. They might grumble or curse or mutter incoherently, but they absolutely didn’t growl…or they didn't where Keeley and her sister came from. Unless… No. She’d know if he were a shifter. They had tells or something. She must have hit her head on the ground or something or the headbutt to the chin knocked her for a loop. This man didn’t sound like a wild animal. Nope. No way.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, wishing that the ground would open up and swallow her.
She gulped, working hard to gain control of her body, which was nevertheless betraying her. She shifted her head back a bit, as did Kalkin, prepared this time so she didn’t hit him. She winced. If she did any damage, though, she couldn't tell. Instead, he stared down at her while she peeked up at him through her lashes. The devastatingly handsome man destroyed her ability to think let alone speak, plus, he sure as hell brought out her inner clumsy. Up close she could see the true color of his eyes, ice blue, framed by thick, dark lashes most women would kill for.
His square jaw had been covered in a few days’ worth of salt and pepper scruff that framed his full lips. His nose, she’d bet money on, had been broken a time or two; however, it didn’t detract from his good looks. If anything, it enhanced them. His midnight-black hair curled slightly. She assumed, if he allowed it to grow out, it would be a mop of full-bodied curl
s. At his temples, he had a smattering of gray hairs that gave him a dangerous yet debonair appearance. She wondered if he were a shifter, would the markings show in his fur? Now you’re just being stupid. She fought the urge to reach up and push back the wayward curl lying across his forehead.
“Put me down,” she insisted, pressing her laptop to her chest.
He cocked a brow. The non-verbal question, along with a thread of power, coursed through her. She squirmed in his hold, not particularly happy with the way her body responded to his commanding presence. Her sex ached, and her panties dampened at the way he stared at her, silently giving her another chance to apologize and ask politely…maybe?
“You want to rephrase that question, sweet cheeks?” Bingo. Kalkin’s tone deepened, became gruffer, holding an edge of demand to it.
She blinked at him. Something deep inside of her opened up and bloomed at his demand. Something that she didn't even know existed, or if she knew it existed, she’d buried it deep within her subconscious. She lowered her gaze, and the involuntary act stunned her, yet it felt right. Instinct or something kicked in and she realized the man holding her had a dominant streak a mile wide. Jesus, Keeley. Grow a backbone. No one tells a Blueriver woman what to do. Except for this one. Fuck me.
“Please, put me down, Kalkin.” Keeley didn't even recognize the husky yet sensual quality to her tone.
“Much better,” Kalkin replied, gently placing her feet back on the ground.
“Thank you.” Keeley knew she needed to get out of there and soon before she made a fool out of herself. She glanced up at the man still gripping her shoulders, steadying her. He tilted his head up slightly and his nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply. Could he smell her arousal? Paranoid. He makes you paranoid. No way in hell a man could smell anything. He didn’t know her panties were damp from the way his body had been pressed to hers. Nor could he tell she wanted him with such an aching need she thought she’d go insane. No, humans didn’t have the same abilities as shifters and psychic beings like her and Dani. She needed to stop this and now.
