Sugar, Spice, and Shifters: A Touch of Holiday Magic

by Élianne Adams

  “New security system?” Amy asked quietly. They hadn’t had one before. With a house full of wolves, it didn’t seem like a need.

  “Last night made me realize we’ve gotten too comfortable here. What happened at the shop was random, but this beach house we own is pretty pricey and nice looking. Someone could just as easily target our home as they did the shop. I’d hate for someone to target our house, our sanctuary, and see something they aren’t supposed to. If anyone breaches the property, we’ll know it long before they get to the house,” Kendrick replied. “I’ll be at the shop updating some software and putting in a new system there, too,” he added.

  He made a good point. Crime was everywhere. It was odd to think that they’d gone from fearing werewolves to now fearing humans. Why am I complaining? She’d take the latter anytime.

  “Speaking of the shop, take as much time off as you need,” Astrid offered.

  Amy opened her mouth to protest, but nothing came out. Truthfully, she didn’t want to go back. Not anytime soon at least. “I’ll work on my jewelry from home,” she said. Jewelry making was great therapy for her. At least she wouldn’t have to leave the house. Talk about regressing. She peered out the window and shuddered. No, staying inside was definitely better.

  — — —

  Cooper pulled up to the large beach house and gawked. These houses cost a ton. How could someone like Amy Green afford a place like this? Sure her shop was hopping when he’d stopped by earlier this morning, but profits couldn’t be that good could they? Maybe it was the people she lived with. Another oddity about Amy Green. She lived with a large group of people. The same women she co-owned her shop with.

  He’d tried to find her at the boutique earlier, but her friend said she wasn’t in. So he’d searched for her address and drove there. Sure he could have called, but he wanted to see her again and there was still the nagging, pitting feeling in his stomach that there was something more to Amy that he needed to discover. Call it morbid curiosity. It’d been three days since the attack and his intrigue had only grown.

  Cooper shut off the ignition and hopped out. Sitting in the car like a creeper wasn’t going to win him any brownie points. He jogged to the door and rung the doorbell. Bells chimed throughout the house. Footsteps thudded toward the door. They didn’t sound feminine at all. Darn, he’d been hoping Amy would answer.

  “Can I help you?” A man asked as he swung the door open.

  Who was he? Not Mason Green. “I’m Detective Reed. I was hoping to follow up with Amy about the robbery at Islands Boutique.”

  The man studied him for a moment before looking over his shoulder. “Hey, Amy, some cop’s here to see you,” he hollered.

  A door opened and clicked shut and Amy’s lithe form came into view. She wore a simple tank and jeans that clung to her curves perfectly.

  “Thanks, Bray,” she said quietly as she stepped around Bray.

  “You good?” Bray asked, shifting his gaze to Cooper.

  “Yeah. Thanks.” Amy stepped outside onto the stoop and shut the door behind her. She crossed her arms over her chest and sighed. “Can I help you?”

  Cooper let his gaze drift over Amy. Mindy had been right, she was gorgeous. Too bad he’d already made a bad impression on her. Not that he could date a witness in an active case anyway, especially when he was the lead detective.

  “We caught one of the robbers earlier this morning,” he started, watching her carefully. Her shoulders relaxed and she let out a breath. “But,” he continued not wanting her to get too relieved. “He has an airtight alibi. I was hoping you might be able to come down to the station and ID him.”

  “Oh. Yeah. Yeah. Of course,” she stumbled over her words. “I’m sorry, did you say one of them? What about the other guy?”

  Cooper cleared his throat. “I’m sorry to say we haven’t been able to capture him yet.”

  “So he’s still out there?” Amy shook visible.

  Cooper reached out and placed his hand on her elbow. She shuddered under the contact as her eyes flew to his hand. “We’re going to find him,” he promised even though there was no way of knowing whether he could keep it or not. He removed his hand, wiggling his fingers. Amy’s heat seeped into his body and he fought the urge to touch her satiny skin again. Wasn’t he supposed to be finding out what the hell was going on? He wasn’t doing such a stellar job at it.

  Amy cleared her throat as she rubbed the spot where his hand had been. Had she been affected by his touch, too? “When did you need me to come down?”

  “We can only hold him for another twenty-four hours. Tonight preferably, but by tomorrow morning,” he told her.

  “I’ll see if someone can drive me up tonight,” she offered.

  Right, she didn’t have a license. What twenty-six year old woman didn’t drive? Tally up another thing in the weird column. “I can drive you,” he said without thinking. Technically, he was on duty. He shouldn’t be offering her a ride. But the department did need her to positively ID the bastard and she didn’t have a car. Maybe if he had some time alone with her he could get her to open up a little and get to know her.

  — — —

  Amy’s heart thudded violently in her chest as sweat beaded on her brow. He wanted to take her to the police station? Could she say no? Would that make him ask more questions? Did she really want to be in the car with him? Alone? Bray, Declan, and Kendrick were like brothers’ to her now, but she’d been wary of them for months after her abduction. Men couldn’t be trusted. But yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling there was something different about Cooper. His touch hadn’t made her skin crawl; in fact, it’d left it warm and tingly.

  “It’s okay if you’re busy. I just thought it might make it easier for you,” Cooper backtracked.

  Amy licked her lips. He was giving her an out. Or was it a test? She hesitated as she contemplated her answer. Any one would drive her if she asked. Bray and Catalina would probably take her right now. Except, judging from the low pants and moans coming from the sunroom now wasn’t the time to be interrupting them. Everyone else was gone and wouldn’t be back for hours. Cooper Reed was a cop and surprisingly his company wasn’t bothering her. Besides, if she went maybe she could smooth things over and get him off her back for good. Plus, Mason might stop staring at her like there was something wrong. Try as he might, her brother didn’t get her apprehensiveness. And she didn’t want him to know just how un-normal she was.

  “Let me just get my bag and leave a note so no one wonders where I’ve gone,” she relented. Her feet refused to budge. She gritted her teeth and pried her flip flop off the cement and walked inside. Try not to be weird. She closed her eyes, inhaled, and blew out a long breath. She could do this. It’d be good for her. Wasn’t everyone always saying she needed to get out and do things? Somehow she doubted going to the police station was what they had in mind though. But it was a start.

  She plucked her bag off the coat hanger and steeled herself for the drive to the police station. Her feet weighed a thousand pounds as she crossed back over the marble floors and back to the stoop. The tiny voice inside her head cheered her on telling her she could do this.

  “I appreciate you coming down,” Cooper started as he begun toward his car.

  “I’ll feel better knowing that guy is in jail,” Amy told him truthfully. Her sisters’ were still at the store everyday. What if he got released and went back? The job had been botched. Nothing had been stolen. Just damage to the store.

  “I don’t know what it is about this time of year, but people seem to lose their minds,” Cooper went on as he opened the passenger door for her.

  “Thanks,” Amy blushed as she slipped by him. She peered around the tiny coupe as he trotted to the other side of the car. It wasn’t your standard issue police cruiser. It looked like his personal vehicle, except for the dimmed red and blue lights atop the dashboard. Is he some sort of special cop? He didn’t look old. Maybe he was like Mason and had worked his way up quickly. Coo
per Reed was definitely observant enough to catch things. She squirmed at the reminder. Her insides fluttered and she let out a breath. She had control over her wolf. If only she could control her nerves, too.

  “Are you ready for Christmas?” Cooper asked conversationally as he climbed in and started the car.

  The holiday was still a few weeks away. “No. Not really.”

  “Last minute shopper?” he guessed.

  Amy shrugged. “We don’t do much in the way of gift giving.” It was true. Out of all of them, Catalina was the only person who had ever truly celebrated Christmas with her family. Well, at least she had until her mother passed. After that…things had gotten bad for her. The others’ were sentimental about the holiday; they got a tree and each couple got a little gift for each other, but that was about it.

  “Christmas is my favorite holiday,” Cooper continued. “My family always makes a big fuss about it. I was actually at your shop to pick up a gift for my sister. She loves the jewelry you guys sell.”

  Amy smiled despite the situation. Jewelry making was her therapy and she loved hearing that others enjoyed it. “Thanks. I’m glad she likes it.”

  Cooper glanced at her as he made his way down the drive. “You make the jewelry?”

  “Yeah. I’d be happy to make you a custom piece. For her, I mean,” she stumbled over her words. What am I doing? “As a thanks for helping out with everything. Things were pretty tense the other night…I don’t know what might have happened if you hadn’t shown up.” She really needed to shut up and stop talking. Wasn’t she supposed to be smoothing things over? She was rambling like a nervous idiot. Her stomach fluttered and she shifted in her seat. I am a nervous idiot.

  “I’m sure she’d be appreciative of that, but I’m happy to pay you for your time,” he offered as the car swung out onto the main road.

  “Okay,” she mumbled. She slunk down in her seat. Could she be any more awkward? This is why she didn’t go out. She couldn’t even have a regular conversation with someone outside her family.

  “Where’d you learn how to make jewelry? I’m sure it’s not easy to do,” Cooper asked continuing the conversation.

  “I taught myself.”

  “Cool.”

  “Yeah,” she responded. Small talk was good, right? At least there wasn’t silence between them. She glanced out the window as the trees rushed by. Hawaii was gorgeous. It was the perfect home and she didn’t want to leave yet. If she kept this up, he’d probably leave her alone. Then all her problems would be solved.

  “Do you do other things besides make jewelry?” he asked, casting a glance in her direction.

  “Not really. I spend a lot of time at home,” she replied as she laced her fingers together in her lap. The city crept into view. In a few short minutes, the car ride would be over. It hadn’t been so bad.

  “I like staying home, too.” He gripped the wheel tighter. “We have TV show marathons on my nights off. My parents and I.”

  “You still live at home?” she questioned surprised. He looked to be about thirtyish. Isn’t he a little old? But who am I to judge? She lived with her family, too. Although, their pack thrived when together. Separation wouldn’t be good for her family.

  “I moved back in. My dad has been battling cancer for sometime now and my mom has the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s,” he explained. “My older sister stays there on nights I can’t.”

  “Oh. I’m sorry,” Amy apologized.

  “It’s okay. We make do. You got any family besides your brother?” he questioned.

  Amy licked her lips and let out a breath. She didn’t have anything to hide. There was no reason she couldn’t divulge a little information. “My mom, but I don’t speak to her. She remarried and her husband is a jerk.” Her stepfather was the reason she’d left home to begin with. Tears pricked her eyes as she remembered the way her own mother had put that bastard ahead of her. It’d been years, but the pain was still raw. Wasn’t a mother supposed to love her children unconditionally?

  “It’s nice that you have your brother. He’s older, right?” Cooper asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “I have five siblings. Four sisters and a brother.”

  “Wow,” Amy gasped.

  “My parents had my sisters and then about twelve years later me and my twin brother Caleb came along,” he continued.

  “Mason and I have a big age gap, too.” She nodded.

  “Yeah? More than twelve years?” His brow quirked up in question.

  “Nine.”

  “Seriously? Nine years? He doesn’t look much older than you. He’s got to be in his mid-thirties.” Cooper turned to glance at her as he raised an eyebrow. “What’s he doing drinking from the fountain of youth?”

  Amy squirmed, shifting in her seat. Was all this small talk a trick? Was he fishing for information while putting on the façade he was being conversational? Her eyes drifted to him and the grin spread wide across his face. She gritted her teeth. He’d tricked her and she’d fallen for it. She narrowed her eyes. “You know, if there is something you want to know, why don’t you come out and just ask it. Don’t pretend to be my friend…or whatever it is you’re doing,” she snapped.

  Cooper chuckled and turned back to the road. “I’m a detective, Amy. It’s in my nature to be inquisitive. It’s not a crime to get to know you.”

  “Well, why don’t you save the questions for the bad guys. Not your victim,” she hissed as she folded her arms over her chest and turned to the window. She wouldn’t be answering anymore of his questions today.

  FOUR

  She was mad. Pissed. If looks could kill he’d be a goner. Cooper crossed his arms over his chest as Amy finished signing the documents stating the man they had in custody was the same man who had attacked her.

  Her narrowed eyes drifted periodically from the forms to him and then darted around the bustling precinct. He’d been fishing for information earlier, but she’d caught on way too quickly to his scheme. His heart pinched. It bothered him that she was angry. It shouldn’t, but it did. His eyes swept over the breathtaking woman. She was gorgeous. Her long hair was swept up, but a few wisps of wavy locks fluttered over her face. Amy’s teeth nibbled on her full, pink lips, reminding him there was something innocent and timid about her. She was fearful, too. Every shout, bang, and thud seemed to grate her nerves. She was on edge. The urge to drop the inquisition and protect her nearly overpowered him.

  Amy set the pen down and marched toward him. She glared and fisted her hands at her side as she came to a halt before him. “I’m all done. I’ll call my brother for a ride home.”

  “It’s okay. I can give you—”

  “No thanks,” she cut him off. She huffed and brushed past him, seemingly taking extra care to make sure their shoulders did not bump.

  “I’m sorry about earlier, Amy,” he apologized as he sped after her. He probably looked like a groveling idiot, but he didn’t care. If she walked out the door he’d probably never see her again. Not that he could blame her. He’d been a jerk earlier. But something about her was off. Even if she was a total hottie and he was starting to pine after her.

  “You should be,” she hissed, spinning on her heel so fast he nearly collided with her. “I’m a victim and you’ve been questioning me like I should be locked up.”

  She had him there. He needed to cover his ass. “Have you ever seen something…or thought you saw something that you just couldn’t explain?” he asked. He didn’t think he saw something, he knew he had, but if he was going to get anywhere with Amy Green he would need to stop asking questions. Why did he care whether she liked him or not? She was just a witness. A victim to another stupid crime. He’d grown numb to crime scenes and victims. Years on the force had tainted him slightly. He’d seen too much. So why was Amy different than everyone else? The fact that he didn’t have an answer scared him. What was it about her?

  He glanced up at Amy realizing she’d never answered his question. “Guess not,�
� he said letting out a long breath. “Look, I guess what I’m trying to say, and failing to do, is I’m sorry. Let me make it up to you. How about we get some dinner and I’ll take you home.” The offer left his lips before he could even think about it. He was off for the night, had been for a while now, but he’d wanted to stay until Amy was done.

  Amy shifted on her feet and tucked a stray lock behind her ear. Indecision swirled in her gaze as she folded her arms over her chest, hugging herself tightly. “Why?”

  Her answer gave him pause. Most women jumped at the chance to go on a date with him. Or at least they seemed to. “I’ve been a jerk. Let me make it up to you. You eat, right?” It was well past seven. The statement had taken longer than even he’d expected.

  Amy licked her lips and sighed heavily. “No more questioning?” she insisted as she tapped her foot lightly on the tiled floor.

  Cooper held his hands up. “Promise.”

  “Okay,” she agreed even thought it sounded more like a groan.

  Cooper smiled and motioned for her to follow him. What was it about Amy Green that had him so flustered? Maybe he’d find out over dinner.

  — — —

  What had she been thinking? There was a reason she didn’t go out. Crowds. She hated them with a passion. Every hair on her arm prickled as it stood on end. What had she got herself into?

  She gulped, sucking in a deep breath as she surveyed the busy restaurant. Almost every booth was full. People laughed and spoke; each conversation jarred her sensitive ears like nails on a chalkboard. The room spun around her as the noise and crowd bore down on her. Sweat beaded on her brow and she wiped her clammy hands on her jeans. Breathe. Just breathe.

  “Come on. There’s a table back here,” Cooper said as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and guided her through the swarm of people.