by Brenda Trim
“Well, I’ve got to get back to the kitchen and make sure Knox and Ashley aren’t going at it on the island. Those two can’t keep their hands off each other,” Haylee announced with a laugh then exited the conference room.
“Hi, Brenlee,” Zane’s deep timber intruded, making Brenlee’s head jerk toward the male.
“Hey, Zane. How’s the case going?” She asked as she nervously twirled a strand of hair around her finger. It was something she did when she was nervous. How the hell did he cause these feelings in her? Zane eyed her hair, and smirked. How could he be so damn sexy?
“Actually, I think we’re on the right track. I was explaining to your brother about the Native rights movement. It was two-part. One, they wanted civil rights for their people as Americans, and two, the sovereign rights of Native nations. They endured the same racism, violence, and abuse that shifters are experiencing today. Taking the approach that shifters deserve the same rights and recognition is the best way to proceed. It will ensure you have the ability to govern your own and be protected from the worst. Bart and I are drafting a bill that mimics their campaign,” Zane explained to her then pulled out the chair next to his, offering Brenlee a place to sit.
“And, I was saying we need to show that shifters and humans have more commonalities than differences. Intellect, feelings, rationality, not to mention that our lifestyles are basically identical. Shifters work, raise children, choose life mates, and have a positive impact on society and its industries,” Liv expressed as she ate her food.
“Hell, lab rats even have rights. We should get the FDA involved, if nothing else,” Bart interjected.
Liv shook her head. “I don’t know if I want to compare shifters to animals. That will only get you so far. I want society to acknowledge them as equals with humans. That will have a greater impact on your rights,” her sister in law offered as she rubbed her stomach. No doubt she was thinking of her and Lawson’s baby, and didn’t want their child’s rights compared to that of a lab rat. Brenlee didn’t blame her, either.
“For the first time, I feel good about our direction,” Lawson acknowledged as he leaned over and placed his hand on top of Liv’s then kissed her forehead.
“I’ll draw blood from a few shifters and humans,” Liv added then turned to Zane. “And, I’d still like you to come to the lab. I’m very interested in your DNA, given your family history.”
“Okay. Not sure you’ll find anything conclusive, but I’m curious, as well. When would you like me to visit the lab?” Zane asked Liv. He was talking to her sister in law, but his gaze continuously drifted back to Brenlee.
His green eyes held her in place. There was something about him that she was irrevocably drawn to, and it was unsettling. Brenlee was cautious and controlled in every aspect of her life, and something about Zane made her want to throw caution to the wind and go for a wild ride.
“What are you doing Friday?” Liv asked.
Zane’s smirk returned making Brenlee look away. Of course, her cheeks heated as she thought of the many ways he could respond to Liv’s question. They had a date Friday. Well, not a date. It was nothing more than two pals hanging out together.
Would he cancel plans with her, and go to the lab? They never discussed any details, so it was certainly a possibility. Her gut churned at the thought of him cancelling. She couldn’t deny she was looking forward to spending time with Zane, just the two of them. That was swiftly followed by guilt. She shouldn’t be this excited about being alone with him. She didn’t want more than friendship from him. No really, she didn’t. Eventually she would believe the lies she told herself.
“What time are you thinking? I have a prior commitment, but not until that afternoon,” he answered and nudged Brenlee’s knee with his. When she glanced his way, he shrugged as if asking for approval. She nodded slightly so he’d know she was okay with seeing him in the afternoon.
“Oh, I was thinking late morning. Will that work?” Liv asked and reached for a second sandwich. Brenlee didn’t know where she put all the food. She had a baby bump, but otherwise, didn’t look like she’d gained a pound.
“That’s perfect,” he replied and nodded at Brenlee.
“So, now that that’s settled, let’s get back to this bill. As soon as it’s complete, I’ll make an appointment with Senator Hartwell. We can present it to him, and hopefully gain his support,” Bart relayed and grabbed his notepad and pen.
“I’ll let you get back to work,” Brenlee told the group and stood. Zane stood, as well, and grabbed her hand.
A tingling sensation rushed through her veins when their flesh met. His warm palm squeezed hers and he twined their fingers. Brenlee glanced around the room to see if anyone was paying attention, but they were engrossed in conversation about Senator Hartwell.
“Pick you up Friday around five?” He asked in a low voice.
“Five works. What should I wear?” She countered, curious to where he was taking her.
He shrugged. “Wear whatever you like.”
“No, seriously. Where are we going?”
Zane leaned down and placed his mouth to her ear. “If I didn’t know better, Miss Scott, I’d say you’re acting like this is a date.”
His deep timber caused her to shudder. With his soft lips pressed against her ear Brenlee was tempted to step closer. But she wasn’t about to let Zane know how much he affected her. She shrugged her reaction away and donned a nonchalant air before she replied, “Hardly, Mr. Walker. I’m merely concerned for my safety. We can’t go just anywhere, remember?”
Zane moved closer and wrapped his arm around her waist. The feel of him against her body was overwhelming, and she placed her hand on his chest to put distance between them.
“I will protect you. Trust me,” he murmured in her ear. “Wear something casual,” he added then took a step back.
She didn’t know why, but she trusted him completely. She knew Zane would protect her with his life, if needed. Hopefully, it didn’t come to that. It would kill her to be the reason this formidable male was injured or worse.
Chapter 6
Zane watched as Liv drew several vials of blood. It was the first time he’d seen her in action. Her knowledge and professionalism was impressive. It was easy to see how dedicated she was to her job, and career.
Smith & Kimbro was a nice facility. It was his first visit to a scientific laboratory, but it was much like he imagined. Several long tables with metal tops were filled with microscopes, unknown implements and glass beakers and flasks in various sizes. The astringent aroma in the room was almost unbearable. Liv had to be immune to the pungent smell given that she showed no reaction to it and worked in it all day.
“How long have you been a scientist?” He asked after she filled the last vial with blood.
“I worked at Primary Research Lab for a few years then Bart financed S&K about a year ago,” she replied as she placed a cotton swab and bandage tape on the crook of his elbow.
“Did you always want to do this?”
She paused to consider his question. “When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a ballerina, but I have the grace of an ostrich,” Liv informed him with a laugh. “When I lost my grandmother to ovarian cancer, I vowed to find a cure. It’s been my focus ever since.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize,” Zane said and immediately felt bad for bringing up the subject.
“It’s okay. I don’t mind talking about it. In fact, it reminds me of my commitment, despite my lack of progress,” she explained then sighed.
“I imagine that’s the frustrating part of your job,” he admitted. He understood, too. Same thing happened to him during a case. Sometimes he felt like a hamster running on an exercise wheel. Going as fast as possible but getting nowhere. There was a major difference between them. Typically, a break in the case occurred at some point.
“Yeah, it is. Luckily, we’ve made a few baby steps. Otherwise, I’d feel like a complete failure,” Liv confessed then grabbed her clipb
oard. “How are you managing in the loft?”
“It’s fantastic. I can’t believe how quiet it is. I’ve always lived in the suburbs where there’s constant noise of one form or another. I had a hard time falling asleep but when I finally did, I was out. And, nothing beats waking up to that view,” he said as he thought of the stunning scene outside the window in the loft.
“Tell me about it. Sometimes when Lawson is at the workshop, I sit on the shore and read, or just think about memories we made there. The lake is very special to Lawson and I.” Liv turned three shades of red. Zane wasn’t sure the meaning behind her embarrassment. Several possibilities popped into his head telling him it was better not to know more.
“So, do you work alone here?” he questioned, changing the subject.
“No. Staci Jones is the other scientist here, but she’s off today. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without her. What can you tell me about your family?” Liv interjected, accepting the change readily.
“What would you like to know?” Zane asked as he pushed down the sleeve of his sweater.
“Well, do any family members have shifter traits? Take you, for example. You’re tall, but I wouldn’t say unusually so for a human. Your facial features are normal and so are your hands. What about your mother, or grandmother?”
“There’s nothing shifter about either of them. My Mom is average, and Mama G is a petite woman. Now, my great-grandmother looked like a shifter. I don’t remember her, but I’ve seen pictures,” he explained as he thought about the framed photo in his grandparent’s bedroom. His great-grandmother was taller than his great-grandfather, and she had unusually large hands.
“That’s so bizarre. I can’t wait to get the results of your blood samples,” Liv voiced as she placed the tray of glass tubes in a small refrigerator.
“Please let me know what you find,” Zane told her.
“Absolutely. So, what are your plans when you leave? You and Bart working on the case?” she asked as she scribbled some notes on her clipboard.
“Bart’s meeting with the realtor about the offer he made on the property, so we’ll get back to the case tomorrow. Actually, I’m taking Brenlee out,” he offered and couldn’t stop the grin that formed when he mentioned her name.
She’d been on his mind ever since she brought lunch to the conference room. Part of the reason he couldn’t sleep was because she refused to leave his thoughts. He laid there wondering what she was doing, and if she was awake as well.
He fantasized about visiting her room and finding her naked in bed. In his fantasy, when he mentioned his wish to move beyond their platonic relationship Brenlee told him that was the last thing she wanted then proceeded to strip his clothes and fuck his brains out. Yeah, he was dreaming alright, but what a spectacular vision.
“Really? About damn time. We all felt the spark between the two of you the day you met,” Liv informed him and placed a hand on Zane’s shoulder. “Brenlee is a sweetheart, so treat her good.”
“I wish Brenlee felt the sparks,” he admitted and pushed the hair from his brow.
“Well, she must if she agreed to a date,” Liv countered as she glanced sideways at him.
“It’s not a date. She wants to remain friends, nothing more. Apparently, I need to be a shifter to have a chance with her,” he muttered with a shake of his head. He found her reasoning lame as hell. So what if he didn’t turn into a wolf? “Does it bother Lawson that you aren’t a shifter?” He asked curiously.
“No. That was never an issue. Keep in mind that I had to earn my place among the pack because Lawson is the Alpha but being a shifter doesn’t matter to him. Give Brenlee time. She’ll come around,” Liv assured him.
“I hope you’re right. Well, I should get going if we’re all done here,” Zane commented and stood up.
“Yep, we’re good. I’ll let you know as soon as I have the results,” Liv told and walked over to her desk and set down the clipboard.
“Oh, I almost forgot. Ashley said you left your lunch at the hotel this morning, so she asked me to bring it to you. I left it in my truck. I’ll go grab it really quick,” he informed her and turned to leave.
“I’ll walk out with you. Some fresh air will do us good,” Liv stated and rubbed her pregnant belly.
The two of them walked out of the building and toward his truck. It was a beautiful day, and Zane hoped the rain held off. His plans for the evening depended on it.
He unlocked his truck and opened the driver door then reached for the small cooler in the passenger seat. “Here you go,” Zane said and handed her the vinyl satchel.
“Thank you. I would’ve driven to the nearest fast food place when I realized I forgot my lunch, and that’s not what I need to be eating,” she remarked then waved. “See you later. Good luck on your date.”
Suddenly, a loud boom echoed and the ground shook. Instinctively, Zane grabbed Liv and lunged toward the pavement. He took the brunt of the fall, protecting the pregnant female. They landed hard on the concrete as smoke and fire erupted from the building. Pressure from the explosion caused windows to burst, and Zane quickly twisted his torso to shade Liv from the blast of heat.
Liv lay there curled in a ball with her arms over the back of her neck. From between her elbows, she watched as her lab went up in flames. “Are you alright?” Zane shouted as he inspected her for injuries.
Liv looked up at him, eyes wide with fear. “I…I…think so,” she replied as she lowered her arms and moved into a sitting position. Her skirt was torn, and she had a bloody knee, but otherwise she looked unharmed.
“What the hell happened?” He blurted as his gaze went back to the burning rubble.
“I’m not sure,” she countered in a shaky voice. “There’s nothing inside the lab that should’ve caused an explosion.” She was distracted as she spoke. Her entire attention was on the destruction.
The building had imploded from the detonation and didn’t leave much behind. Most of the roof was missing, leaving remnants of the structure. Walls had crumbled, doors and windows had shattered, and now the fire was wiping out anything that remained.
“I’m calling the police,” Zane informed Liv as he reached into his pocket.
“That’s a good idea. Then we need to call Lawson,” she informed him and got to her feet.
Zane called the police and reported the explosion then handed his cell phone to Liv so she could call Lawson. He could hear Lawson’s concerned voice through the speaker as she told him what has just happened. When Liv handed the device to Zane, he hesitated before speaking. “Hey, Lawson.”
“Is she okay?” his harsh voice demanded.
“Yeah, she seems to be fine. As you can imagine, she’s shook up; but physically she’s alright. Just a scraped knee from what I can see,” Zane explained as he stared at Liv.
“Liv said you called the cops. I’m on my way. Don’t let those fuckers harass my mate. I’ll be there in twenty,” he instructed him then ended the call.
Zane placed the device in his back pocket. “He’ll be here shortly. Is there anything I can do?”
Liv stared blankly at the burning building. Zane nudged her arm, and she looked over and met his gaze. “I could’ve been inside when that happened. If I hadn’t followed you to get my lunch and stretch my legs I would’ve been killed along with my baby,” she murmured as tears filled her eyes.
Zane pulled her into an embrace. Her body trembled against his. “Shh, don’t think about that. You did follow me. And you and the baby are fine,” he assured her and rubbed her back in comfort.
She stared toward the building for several long seconds before the tears poured down her cheeks and she started crying. “All my work. It’s destroyed. Years of research up in flames,” she sobbed uncontrollably.
Zane rubbed circles on her back, unsure what to say to Liv. There were no words that would bring the comfort she needed. Nothing would survive the mess they were looking at. “I’m so sorry, Liv,” was all he could muster. He pra
yed Lawson arrived soon. This was so far outside his scope of experience that sweat was pouring down his back as his mind raced. He didn’t have the skills to help her deal with this.
“Thank God Staci wasn’t here today,” she blurted then looked up and met Zane’s gaze. “I’m so grateful you were here. Otherwise, I’d be a wreck right now.” Liv’s breath hitched as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
A faint siren sounded in the distance. “The cops will be here shortly. Hopefully, they can find the cause. It could’ve been a faulty piece of equipment,” Zane guessed as he glanced to the burning wreckage.
“I hope you’re right because this is two fires in a very short time,” Liv pointed out. There was no missing her worried expression.
Zane’s heart skipped a beat. “You don’t think this was deliberate, do you?”
Liv shrugged as two police cars and a fire truck pulled into the parking lot. Both drove straight toward them at a high enough speed that Zane drew Liv to the front of his truck where they wouldn’t be hit.
The firemen jumped from their vehicle the second it stopped. Like a choreographed dance they moved around grabbing hoses, pressing buttons and dashing toward the building. Moments later, water shot from the large nozzle in an attempt to douse the flames. It was going to take quite a bit of water to put the inferno out.
Two uniformed officers walked toward them, drawing his attention. Unable to help himself, Zane took a step closer to Liv. Lawson wasn’t there, and he refused to let them upset the pregnant woman. “Ma’am, sir,” greeted one of the policemen. “Do either of you need medical assistance?”
“I think we’re both fine. She has a scrapped knee but nothing else from what I can tell,” Zane answered and put an arm around Liv’s shoulder. “She’s very upset, as you can imagine.”
