by J. H. Croix
“Hey,” he said, his voice low and just for her.
“Hey.” Her pulse pounded, and she scrambled to pull herself together, seeing as they were in a rather public location.
Roxanne cleared her throat. Shana tore her eyes from Hayden’s and glanced to Roxanne.
“Don’t push it any further, you two. This is a family friendly place,” Roxanne said with a shake of her head. She caught Hayden’s eyes. “Aren’t you usually at work about now?”
Hayden nodded, angling his body away from Shana’s and sliding his hand around her hips, his fingers idly stroking the skin just under the edge of her t-shirt. “I’m working now. I’m going to take a look at a new salmon hatchery nearby.” His mouth hitched in a wry grin. “I prefer this kind of work over chasing smugglers off protected lands.”
“I bet you do,” Roxanne countered. “What’ll it be for you then?”
“Just coffee. I don’t have time to eat, but a pick me up will be perfect.”
Roxanne quickly served him. A few other customers arrived, so Shana walked outside with Hayden. His truck was parked right behind her car on the far side of the green. His hand stayed hooked around her waist, his thumb driving her nearly mad with soft strokes just above the waistband of her jeans. When they reached his truck, he set his coffee on the roof and leaned against the truck, tugging her into the cradle of his arms.
“What time will you be home tonight?” he asked, his warm gaze sending hot shivers through her. A blue jay darted behind him, landing beside his coffee and eying it curiously.
“Around eight.”
She loved the simple fact that she no longer returned home to an empty house, but rather to the warm, sexy presence of Hayden. They were staying in the guesthouse on Dane and Chloe’s property for now, but Hayden had already started making noises about finding a home of their own. While she knew Dane would probably deed the guesthouse to her if she asked, she liked the idea of starting anew in a place of their own.
Hayden nodded. “In that case, I’ll take Noah up on his offer to go fishing.”
The blue jay got bold and nudged Hayden’s coffee cup with its beak. Shana lifted her chin in its direction. “Might want to grab your coffee.”
Hayden turned and snatched it away. The blue jay merely lifted itself and resettled further away. Hayden’s eyes met hers again. “Gotta go.” He leaned forward and took her lips in another breath-stealing, pulse-pounding kiss. When he pulled away, his forehead fell to hers. “I’d rather stay with you all day.”
Emotion welled inside, her throat tightening. To be wanted so was something she’d never take for granted. She reached up and brushed a loose lock of hair away from his forehead. “Me too.”
Epilogue
The following spring, Shana returned home early one evening. The sun was setting, leaving rose and lavender streaks in its wake. She walked along the stone path leading up to the home she shared with Hayden. A few months ago, they’d finally decided on this house and bought it. Close to her childhood home, it was an old stone farmhouse, whose previous owners had completely renovated it. The house boasted a new furnace, appliances, insulation and roof, although it retained its unique charm on the outside.
She pushed through the door, a soft sense of happiness settling over her as she looked around. The entire downstairs was open and airy, light spilling through the tall windows. She set her purse down and put away the groceries before following the sound of voices to the deck out back. When she walked outside, she found Hayden and Dane working on the greenhouse while Chloe sat on the deck, her new baby, Dane Junior, napping beside her in his car seat.
Chloe turned her way with a smile. “Hey there! Hayden thought you’d be home soon. They’ve been on a mission to finish building the greenhouse today.”
Shana looked to the corner of the yard to see her requested greenhouse almost complete. Hayden had drawn up the plans a few weeks ago and done most of the work himself. He’d persuaded Dane to help him with the roof this week. Shana walked to the chair by Chloe and sat down carefully.
Chloe grinned. “I bet you’re about ready to have that baby!”
Shana chuckled. “You can say that again. I had no idea I’d reach a point where I wanted to kick this little girl out! I feel like a beached whale whenever I lay down and walking is more of a project than I ever imagined.”
Chloe nodded vehemently. “I know. All those baby books gloss over the last few weeks. How soon are you due?”
“Three more weeks, which seems like forever.”
Hayden and Dane approached from the yard. Hayden was shirtless, his muscled chest flexing with each swing of his arms. He walked onto the deck and leaned over, bringing his lips right to hers. No matter how many times he kissed her, he took her breath away every time. Even tired, cranky and uncomfortable, heat unfurled inside and her belly fluttered. He slid a hand over her very round belly as he pulled away.
“How’re you feeling today?” he asked softly.
“Enormous.”
His mouth hitched up at one corner. “You look beautiful.”
Tears pricked at her eyes. Before Hayden walked into her life, she’d convinced herself she’d be content simply to escape the barren confines of her previous marriage. Every so often, she paused in wonderment at what she had instead.
She finally managed to tear her eyes away from Hayden’s when little Dane let out a cry. Moments later, Dane and Chloe were headed home with little Dane. Shana glanced around their backyard. The house was situated in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. An apple orchard was just beyond the grassy lawn and then the forest began further back. The house had passed down through several different families though all had kept the original property intact. They had over fifty acres of their own with wilderness to roam beyond that.
They’d married the month before they bought the house. Shana hadn’t wanted a big ceremony. She’d had that with her wedding to Callen, and it had felt as if it were all for show and nothing else. The simple ceremony they had at the local courthouse with friends and family only was perfect.
The sun fell further down the sky, its low rays haloing the trees in the forest. Hayden held his hand out. She placed hers in it and allowed him to tug her slowly to her feet. She’d discovered Hayden was pretty handy in the kitchen. He chalked it up to having lived on his own for so long. He quickly got to work making dinner while she rested on the couch.
Hours later, she woke when Hayden lifted her in his arms. “Did I fall asleep on the couch again?”
His laughter rumbled against her ear where her head rested on his shoulder. “Yup.”
“You know, I can walk myself to bed.”
He paused in the doorway, nudging the light switch with his elbow. When she looked up, his gaze seared into her. “I know. Just like I can carry you to bed.”
At that, his lips caught hers.
~The End~
Be sure to sign up for my newsletter! I promise - no spam! If you sign up, you’ll get notices on new releases at discounted prices and information on upcoming books. Click here to sign up: J.H. Croix Newsletter
Please enjoy the following excerpt from Ghost Cat Shifters, Book One!
(Excerpt from GHOST CAT SHIFTERS, BOOK ONE by J.H. Croix; all rights reserved)
Chapter 1
“Watch out!”
Sophia Ashworth glanced up at the sound of her friend’s voice to see a potted tulip tottering on the deck railing just above her head. Her eyes followed the bright red tulip as it lurched from side to side before it toppled off the railing. With a squeal, she dashed out of the way. She managed to avoid getting conked on the head, but her shoulder covered in potting soil when she looked up again. The plant pot sat cracked on the slate walkway. She glanced up at her friend Vivian to find her covering her mouth in a weak attempt to keep from laughing aloud.
Sophia rolled her eyes and brushed the soil off her shoulder before sifting her fingers through her hair. The tulip
hung from the back of her hair. Carefully untangling it, she noticed it had held onto its bulb. She held it aloft as she walked up the stairs to the deck.
“After all that, you’d better replant this poor flower.” She handed the bedraggled tulip to Vivi and glanced around. “How the hell did that happen?”
Vivi had given up from holding back her laugh and simply pointed over at her cat, a black and white cat who was just barely past being a kitten.
Sophia strode over to the cat and swept him in her arms. “Jax, you are trouble!” She nuzzled her nose in his neck. His return purr was enough to vibrate through her entire body. Holding Jax in her arms, Sophia plopped down in a chair beside the small wooden table on her friend’s deck.
Vivian Sheldon, Vivi to her friends and family, was Sophia’s best friend. Lately, Sophia needed lots of Vivi time. Her brother Heath had been arrested last week when he was caught at a local drug dealer’s house in the middle of buying heroin. At thirty, Heath was two years older than Sophia and had been her beloved older brother her entire life. After a car accident a year ago, he’d gotten hooked on painkillers. She thought he was finally making it to the other side only to discover he was so desperate for a fix, he’d tangled with the shifter smuggling network that had taken hold in Painter, Colorado.
Sophia stroked Jax’s fur and glanced at Vivi. “How’s it going?”
Vivi was already busy replanting the tulip into another flowerpot. Her straight black hair was pulled into a ponytail that swished from side to side when she glanced over her shoulder. “Same, same. Busy with work and arguing with Julian’s new first grade teacher. I’m telling you before you have kids, you’d better think long and hard. If it was just me and worrying about what I did, it wouldn’t be so bad. Try facing down the school if you’re worried about something. Mrs. Dunn is a bitch,” she said flatly.
Sophia nodded and commiserated with Vivi and did her damnedest not to bury her friend in her worries about her brother. As she stood to leave a while later, Vivi caught her eyes. “Any news?”
Sophia’s heart clenched as she shook her head. “Nope.”
Vivi stepped to her side and tugged her into a swift hug. Sophia gave a small wave once she stepped off the bottom step and walked down Vivi’s short driveway to the road. She lived only a few minutes away and walked by every day on her way to work.
Moments later, she walked down Main Street in Painter, Colorado, a picturesque little town high in the Rocky Mountains, tucked in a small valley. She pushed through the door into Mile High Grounds, the small coffee shop she owned. Some days she arrived as early as five in the morning, which is why she often chose to walk in when the sun was up. She glanced around to see most of the tables full and a line that wound almost to the door. She couldn’t help the tiny hum of pride. When she’d decided to start this little café a few years ago, she hoped it would succeed, but it had done far better than she’d imagined. She lifted the counter opening and stepped behind it, grabbing an apron and tying it around her waist quickly.
“Hey Josie,” Sophia said when she stepped to Josie’s side by the espresso maker.
Josie moved lightning fast as she served one espresso and immediately prepped for the next. “Hey Boss. It’s been crazy all morning.”
“Looks like. Want me to take over this part for a bit here?”
Josie shook her head. “Nah. I’m good. Tommy could probably use a hand at the register,” she offered with a nod toward the counter.
Without a word, Sophia stepped to his side and turned on the other register. The line started moving more quickly, and Tommy stepped back to help Josie crank out coffees and serve bakery items. Sophia was on autopilot, taking orders, ringing them up in the computer and processing payment. She bantered with customers and savored the busyness to keep her mind off of her brother and the look in her parents’ eyes when they heard he’d been arrested.
She glanced up at the next customer and her breath went out in a whoosh. The man standing at the counter instantly taught her the meaning of the phrase “took my breath away.” A flush raced through her and her pulse quickened. The man was tall, dark and mouth-wateringly handsome. He had black hair on the longish side with dark curls edging the collar of his t-shirt. His navy blue eyes were bright against the contrast of his dark hair. His features were strong—sculpted cheekbones, a blade of a nose, and full sensual lips. His t-shirt was gloriously stretched tight across his muscles. She could actually count his six-pack of rock-hard abs.
She must have been silent a beat too long because the man arched a brow.
“Uh, what can I get for you?” she blurted out.
Wow. Pull it together. You sound like an idiot.
Sophia shook her head, trying to knock her obnoxious critic into silence. Oh-so-sexy man’s mouth hooked on one side, his eyes glinting.
“Did I miss something?” he asked.
“Huh?”
“You shook your head.”
She felt the heat race up her neck and face. Maybe you should pay better attention to me sometimes. Shut up. She sighed internally. She was having an entire conversation in her head while the sexiest man she’d ever laid eyes on stood there watching her and thinking she must be half crazy.
She met his eyes and forced a smile. “Oh, nothing. Coffee?”
His smile stretched from one corner of his mouth to the other. “That’s what I came to find. What do you recommend?”
“It depends on what you like. Straight coffee? Or something more?”
“Something dark.”
Dear God. The man said a few words and her heart was racing, heat flooding her body.
“How about a double-shot Americano?”
“Perfect.”
Sophia rang him up, while Josie got started on his coffee. Sophie couldn’t help the curiosity. “Are you from around here?”
Oh-so-sexy shrugged. “Yes and no.”
“What does that mean?”
“I was born here, but my family moved away when I was only two years old. I don’t remember anything, but I always wanted to come back.”
Her curiosity notched higher. Painter was a fairly small town. Born and raised here, Sophia knew almost everyone in town. If she didn’t personally know them, she probably knew of them.
“Well, welcome back. I’m Sophia. There’s a chance I might know your family. I’ve been here my whole life.”
“Nice to meet you, Sophia. I’m Daniel, Daniel Hayes. I can’t imagine you’d know my family seeing as no one in my family has been back here since we moved away. My parents were David and Sarah Hayes.” A blink of pain went through his eyes. “They both passed away in the last two years.”
“Oh…I’m sorry.” Her reply was automatic, but she meant it. She was close to her family, so the idea of losing them was painful.
Daniel nodded. “Thanks. It’s life.” He paused and took a breath. Josie passed over his coffee. Sophie took it from her and slid it across the counter to him.
He took a swallow of coffee and closed his eyes with a sigh. “Wow. Damn good coffee.” When his blue eyes landed on her again, her belly fluttered. Her body appeared to have a mind of its own when it came to this man.
She couldn’t say why, but his parents’ names were vaguely familiar. She didn’t want to pry, so she left it alone.
“How long are you visiting?” she asked, trying to keep focused.
“I’m moving here for the summer, actually.”
“Oh. You just decided to move here?”
His navy eyes held hers steadily. “Yeah, pretty much. My mother always talked about Painter and how much she missed it. After she died, I decided I wanted to come find out what she loved about this place.”
Sophia nodded slowly. “Well, summer’s a wonderful time to be here.”
“That’s what I heard.” He started to say something else when another customer stepped to the counter. He lifted his coffee. “I’ll get out of your hair, but I’ll be back. Can’t miss
more of this coffee.”
Sophia watched him turn and walk away, his stride long and loose. She forced her attention to the next customer. The day raced by. Late that evening, when the sun was falling down behind the mountains, Sophia walked down Main Street, heading back toward home. Her eyes tracked the motion of her cowboy boots, the pointed tips alternating in her line of sight. She was weary from a busy day, but in any free moment, her mind wandered to worrying about her brother. The only relief she had came from wondering about Daniel.
***
Daniel walked down the street, his eyes on the setting sun ahead. Painter was as beautiful as his mother had told him. The little town sat amidst the mountains, its streets winding along the hillsides. The view behind downtown was glorious at the moment. All that was left of the sun was a curved sliver above a mountain ridge, bright orange with red and gold rays radiating into the sky behind it. Eyes on the sky, he suddenly collided with someone.
“Oomph!”
He looked down to find Sophia stumbling against him. Sophia was better known to his brain and body as the woman from the coffee shop who was so damn sexy he could hardly stop thinking about her all day. Her hands landed on his chest, and he didn’t want her to move. One of his hands had landed reflexively on her hip, while the other curled around her upper arm.
“I’m sorry! I wasn’t paying attention.” Her words came out rapidly.
“You and me both,” Daniel replied with a wry smile. “I was looking at the sunset.” He nodded behind her. She looked over her shoulder.
She turned back. “It’s beautiful,” she said softly.
Daniel nodded. He thought perhaps he should step back, but he couldn’t. He felt the soft give of her hip under his palm. Her bright green eyes held his. A low charge hummed between them. He couldn’t keep his eyes from flicking down. Her breasts pulled against the thin cotton of her black t-shirt. He forced his eyes up, only to have them land on her full mouth. He could see the flutter of her pulse in her neck, and he had to hold himself back from leaning over to drop his lips against the soft skin there. His arousal strained against his jeans, at which point he realized he was about to make a fool of himself. He shook his head and stepped back, his hands falling away.
