Not Her Gargoyle_Shifter Romance

by Annie Nicholas

  He sighed. What was he doing here? He should be looking for his brothers.

  But Ruby needed help. Somebody who could pay half of her rent and make sure she ate. He’d been worried about her little sister. From his castle side perch, he could hear many of the dragons’ conversations. Eoin wasn’t exactly soft spoken. Nick could say that everyone had been worried about Trixie. Nobody had ever mentioned Ruby. Was anyone aware of her situation?

  He bet not. She didn’t come across as someone who would ask for help. Why didn’t she have a mate to take care of her? He’d scared the shit out of her last night, and instead of calling the authorities, she had washed the pepper spray from his face then offered him a beer. If anyone understood what it felt like to be with nothing, it was him. Ruby shouldn’t have to suffer a similar fate—not if he could help it.

  She began to hum again. This time in her bedroom.

  Sitting on one of the stools by the counter, he flipped through the newspaper that was left there. It was a couple of days old but after being held prisoner for months, it was all new to him. The New Port Ravens had made the finals and were contenders for the World Series. The non-predator shifters were petitioning the city for a park solely for their use. A new animal rescue owned by a wolf shifter had just opened its doors. Oh! He grinned. The dragons had announced the pregnancy. The paparazzi would be stalking their every move now. That would help keep Eoin off his trail.

  How long did dragons stay pregnant?

  On the next page, he came across the classifieds. He scratched the paper with the tip of his claw as he read through the jobs section. He’d never actually gone job-hunting before.

  The door to Ruby’s bedroom creaked open.

  He spun on his stool and couldn’t move.

  She strode across the living room wearing a form fitting waitress uniform—a pale pink dress that buttoned down the middle. It had a white collar and cuffs on the short sleeves. Ruby had piled her long red hair on the top of her head. The curls precisely placed and red lips painted.

  Glossy, shiny, lush, and full. His wings quivered. “Wow.” That was the extent of his vocabulary since all the blood had rushed from his head.

  Ruby paused by the counter. She quirked her perfectly arched eyebrow.

  He cleared his throat. “I mean, you look real nice.”

  “Thanks. It’s just my work outfit.” She entered the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee. He noted that she drank it black just like he did.

  “Where do you work?”

  “A diner off Carlisle Avenue. It has a 1950s vibe. Right down to the old jukebox that plays forty-five records and original menus.” She shook her head. “My boss is stuck in a time warp. I’m not sure how much longer we’ll be open.”

  “Sounds like fun.”

  “Why would you think that?” Her expression told him she thought he was nuts.

  “Food and music, two of my favorite things.” He grinned, reached over the counter for the coffee, and refilled her cup. “It’s like an all-day dinner party.” Nick shrugged. “I like people.” Then he winked at her surprised look. “Not to eat, mind you. I like talking to them.”

  She clicked her tongue against her teeth. “Yeah, I guess you can look at it that way.” She caressed his face. “You’re so adorable. What are your plans today?”

  His heart did a cartwheel. He could work the adorable angle and held up the newspaper. “Job-hunting.” Nick would give working a real job a shot. The worst thing that could happen was some frightened human would call the police. He would also find his brothers. Nate should have slept off the spell by now.

  Coffee in hand, she circled the counter and rolled up onto her toes. She pecked him on the tip of his nose with a little kiss. “For good luck, sweetheart.” She swung her hips as she strode to the side table by the exit and picked up her keys. “I have to catch the bus. Oh, do you have a cell phone or some other way for me to reach you?”

  He shook his head. “Nada.”

  “Okay then. I’ll see you tonight.”

  His ears perked up straight. “Sure, it’s a date.”

  Alone with her this evening? Nothing would keep him away.

  She tossed him a silly smile over her shoulder as she left. Those lucky customers would have her all day.

  Nick finished his coffee as he circled prospective jobs in the paper. Construction work, gas station clerk, coffee shop barista… He wasn’t really qualified for any of them, but maybe someone would take a chance and offer to train him.

  Using the apartment exit didn’t seem like a good idea. He was never sure how people on this continent would react. Making his new neighbors scream wasn’t the kind of first impression he wanted. Let them see him winging around the building a few times—then they might not see him as a threat.

  He took flight from the fire escape and climbed just high enough to fly over the rooftops. Scanning the clear blue sky, he didn’t see either of the dragons. It was still early for him to start job-hunting so he took a quick tour of the city, searching for a glimpse of his brothers.

  Where would they have gone? They probably didn’t have any money so couldn’t have rented a room. He should have watched the news before leaving the apartment. Maybe a cameraman had spotted them in the sky. Gargoyles were rare in this part of the world after all. Even now, as he flew over the streets, pedestrians paused and pointed or took photos. At least nobody tried to shoot him. That was always a good sign. If he was with his brothers, he would’ve suggested searching for an abandoned building.

  Hovering, he stared out over the city skyline. They could be anywhere. He spent the next hour flying low between the buildings, hoping one of his brothers would spot him instead. Nick couldn’t fly too high.

  Dragon eyesight was very keen and Eoin would be looking. The longer he stayed in the city, the better his chances of ending up being chained to the castle wall again. He liked New Port though. Maybe there was a way he could convince the dragons to allow him to pay for his crime in another form. He’d be a model citizen and prove they could trust him. He glanced at the position of the sun in the sky and held up the newspaper crumpled in his hand.

  It was time.

  He stopped at a construction site first. Manual labor seemed like the thing he was most qualified to do.

  The foreman only stared as Nick explained how he could manage the work of a crane by carrying their supplies by wing. When he finished, the foreman remained silent. Nick waved his hand in front of his face. “Hello?”

  “What did you say you were again?”

  “I didn’t.” He thought it was obvious. “I’m a gargoyle.”

  “Like those stone statues in Cathedral Park?” The foreman pointed to the west with his empty paper coffee cup.

  “I don’t know. I’ve never been to Cathedral Park.” He set his hands on his hips. “Do I have the job?”

  The foreman shook his head. “I need basic laborers. I could have used you to maneuver framing for this building but now it’s all interior work. I’m looking for someone who can carry sheet rock and hold it in place for the drywall guys.” He extended his arms like wings. “I think you’re too big. Your wings will only get in the way. Leave me your number, though. I’ll call you on my next job.”

  Nick scratched his chin. “I don’t have a phone.” Eoin had taken his away.

  The foreman’s eyebrows shot up. “You’re going to have to fix that if you’re looking for a job.”

  Nick nodded and waved goodbye. “Thanks for the offer anyway. Maybe I’ll drop by again in a few days with a number.”

  Nick took wing and flew to the next address on his list. The foreman made a valid point—Nick needed a way for jobs to contact him. However, he needed money to buy a phone. It was a vicious circle. This would be more difficult than he had believed.

  Nick had expected to be greeted by fear when he had dropped into the construction yard and be rejected because of what he was. Not because of a mundane issue like a cell. He guessed when the city
was occupied by two dragons, a gargoyle wasn’t so threatening.

  The gas station was a bust. His wings tangled with the automatic front doors and he managed to knock down a display of candy bars before he’d even reached the counter. He helped the cashier pick up the mess then Nick left, too embarrassed to even inquire about the position.

  His next stop was a coffee shop across from Cathedral Park. He glanced at the poorly made statues of his race. Seriously, who could talk with teeth that big? The place was not too far from Ruby’s—and his—apartment.

  He peered inside the shop. Dark wood paneling lined the walls and worn couches filled the space in sitting areas. It wasn’t crowded but there were a few patrons having coffee.

  Nick stepped inside and silence descended.

  A large man stuck his head out from an office at the back. “What’s going on?” His gaze fell on Nick. “Can I help you?” He strode across the coffee shop with a friendly smile. He didn’t smell human.

  Nick held up the newspaper. “I’m here about your job opening.”

  The man hesitated in his step. He crossed his arms and glanced at the quiet customers. “Let’s take a walk. Where we can talk more privately.”

  Shoulders stiff, Nick followed him outside. He most likely wanted to tell Nick to go away, just not in front of everyone.

  The shop owner or manager crossed the street to the park and Nick followed. The man rolled his shoulders as he walked, his gait smooth like a big cat.

  “Are you a shifter?” Nick asked. It was a good policy to know what you were dealing with when you first met and he’d found being direct led to fewer misunderstandings. Or bites.

  His smile had sharp canines. “Tiger.” He held out his hand. “Peter Paulson.”

  Peter Paulson, the tiger barista. Nick loved this city. They shook hands.

  “Nick.” He gestured to himself. “The gargoyle.”

  “You must be new to the city. So am I. I just opened this coffee shop a couple weeks ago.”

  Nick glanced over his shoulder at their starting point. “It doesn’t look new. It looks comfy.”

  “That’s what I was going for. Look, Nick, there are laws in New Port about being in your beast form in public. Just letting you know because the alphas are pretty strict and you seem like a nice guy.”

  He stopped mid-step and expanded his wings for Peter. “I’m not a shifter. This is my only form.”

  “Oh.” Peter’s eyes were wide. He poked one of his wings curiously, very catlike. “I guess they’ll have to make an exception for you.”

  Nick nodded. Deep down inside, he already knew he didn’t have the job at the coffee shop. “Do you think I should reach out to these alphas to avoid any trouble?” He wasn’t sure about shifter protocols. Gargoyles didn’t live in packs or herds or clusters. They were families.

  “Probably a good idea.” Peter pulled out a business card. “This is the predator shifter hotline. It’s the best I can do since the city doesn’t have much of a big cat shifter population. The wolf pack is strong though. You might try reaching their alpha.”

  He pocketed the card. “Thanks for the heads up. Last thing I want is to start any riots.” He glanced around the park. Still no screams, which was a good sign.

  Peter caught what he was doing. “The humans in New Port are very open-minded. There’s a high supernatural population here. Much like most of the cities on this coast. Just walk lightly and try not to startle anyone.” The tiger shifter crossed his arms. “I’m more than happy to give someone a chance. God knows, I’d been given one myself, but you’re a pretty big guy and my coffee counter is a narrow space. Have you thought about construction?”

  Nick resisted the urge to slap his forehead and bit back a sarcastic remark. “I talked to a foreman today.”

  Peter nodded. “Good luck then.”

  Nick watched the owner return to his shop, then sat on the edge of the fountain in the center of the park. He could potentially live like a normal citizen, but he needed a gargoyle friendly job. Leaning back, he watched the city and its people flow around him.

  He didn’t want to return to the tourist industry. It had felt like he was mocking being a gargoyle. In the past, they had been warriors. Guardians of the castles and fortresses of ancient Europe. They had been hired by humans, shifters, and vampires to protect their homes. Security systems took care of that now.

  Living a normal life had always seemed out of his reach. He’d been raised to swindle what he could and steal what he couldn’t swindle. The fact he was poor only meant he wasn’t very good at thieving. Or that he didn’t relish taking more then he needed. As long as he looked like this, nothing would ever be normal. People would always see a freak of nature or a monster.

  A bus stopped in front of the fountain, blocking his view of the coffee shop. He frowned and waited for it to move on with its toxic fumes. On the side was an advertisement for a magic shop.

  Hex and Curse. Witchcraft Supply store. We make miracles happen.

  That’s what he was looking for. A miracle.

  Chapter Five

  The breakfast crowd was thinning. Just a few tables filled with old-timers reminiscing over coffee. Ruby did a round of the tables with a fresh pot.

  “Ruby, beautiful girl.” One of the grandpas held up his empty cup and she filled it. “Why don’t you have a ring on that finger yet?”

  “I’m still waiting for Mr. Right.” If he even existed. So far, she had only met Mr. Wrongs. There had to be single, nice guys still available in New Port. Maybe she should post that in her Cupid’s Mate profile. That singles app had only given her grief though. Too many dick pics and nothing to brag about, in her opinion. She had even received an offer to star in porn.

  Trixie suggested she tone down her sex appeal, but dammit, Ruby wasn’t ashamed of who she was or how she looked. Should she pretend to be somebody else to catch the man of her dreams?

  Maybe.

  Grown-ups always told children to never judge a book by its cover. That was pure bullshit. The cover was what drew a person. Hers obviously was just drawing the wrong kind of people. Trixie might be right.

  “You’re always welcome to sit on my knee while you’re waiting for Mr. Right.” He slung out his thin, shaky leg and patted his bony knee.

  She swiped his hat off and planted a kiss on his bald head. “And give you a heart attack? Never.”

  The others at the table laughed. They were regulars and they played this game often. Nick was right. This job wasn’t awful all the time.

  “What if I make you the sole beneficiary in my will?”

  “I wouldn’t know what to do with all those precious gems you would leave me.” She winked and pointed at his friend, Mr. Ken’ichi. “But I bet he would know what to do with them.” He’d once shown her the best place to fence a pair of diamond earrings. It had paid the rent for six months. They had been a gift from one of the Mr. Wrongs.

  “Ruby, stop flirting. The boss wants to see us in the office,” Linda, her partner in crime at the diner, called from behind the counter.

  “Who’s going to stay out here?” The last thing she wanted was to hear her boss complain about their work ethic. She hadn’t called in sick in weeks. If he wanted them to sacrifice their souls for this job, he should pay them more than minimum wage. The regulars could barely pay for their meals, let alone leave tips.

  “Suzy Q will watch the counter.”

  The young girl who had just started last week stared at them with wide eyes. “Me?”

  “Just don’t set the place on fire. We won’t be long,” said Linda.

  “I wouldn’t complain if this place burned down,” Ruby whispered in Suzy Q’s ear. They called her Suzy Q because the evening shift had another Suzy. Plus, it suited the cute girl.

  Ruby handed her the fresh coffee pot and followed Linda into the kitchen. “Why do I have to go?” she asked Linda. “I’ve been a good girl.”

  Linda rolled her eyes. “I didn’t see any pigs flying
on my way to work so I doubt that.” She untied her apron and set it on the counter. “Seniority has privileges. The boss specifically asked to speak to full-time staff.”

  Myrtle, the cook, twisted her apron in her hand. “Do you think he might fire one of us?” The older woman looked pale. Dark circles under her eyes. She was doing her best to put her kid through college by working two jobs.

  “He can’t afford to fire us. We’re the only reason this place is making money.” Linda stormed past Myrtle to the staircase that led to the basement, where their boss had his office.

  “Listen to Linda. She knows what she’s talking about.” Ruby gave Myrtle’s shoulders a little squeeze, wishing she had Linda’s confidence.

  The office was small and tight, filled with old metal filing cabinets and shelves of ledgers. Mr. Penske didn’t believe in computers. He sat behind his desk, hands folded on top. There was no place for them to sit. “Good, I take it the breakfast rush is finished?” He picked up a pen and fiddled with it. “I have some good news,” he continued without waiting for an answer.

  “Oh? Are we getting a raise?” asked Linda.

  Ruby choked on her snort of laughter.

  “Cute, Linda.” Mr. Penske was older than Myrtle. He had first owned the diner when this neighborhood had been middle-class. Before the high-rise apartment buildings had been built downtown and drawn away those families, leaving this neighborhood for people like Ruby. “I wanted you three to be the first to know that I sold the diner.”

  Next to her, Myrtle began to shake. “No, no, no. Johnny still has two more years of school to go.”

  “Easy, Myrtle. Nobody is going to lose their job. That’s the good news. I have the new owner’s word that he’ll be keeping on the full-time staff and integrating you into his team.” Mr. Penske beamed as if he had given them a present.