by Lyn Brittan
Moonlit Embrace
Lyn Brittan
Published by Gryy Brown Press, 2014.
MOONLIT EMBRACE
Copyright 2014 © Lyn Brittan
www.lynbrittan.com
All rights reserved.
No part of this eBook or bound book may be reproduced in any form or by electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review. This eBook/Book may not be sold or given to other people. If you would like to share this story, please purchase additional copies.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Moonlit Embrace
Also by Lyn Brittan
Lightning Catchers
Rafe’s Reward
Qiang’s Quest
Juan’s Journey
Lightning Catchers Paranormal Romance Bundle
Outer Settlement Agency
Solia’s Moon
Anja’s Star
Quinn’s Quasar
Outer Settlement Agency Omnibus
Lana’s Comet
The Djinn Series
The Genie’s Witch
A Genie’s Love
Standalone
Moonlit Embrace
Watch for more at Lyn Brittan’s site.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Also By Lyn Brittan
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Epilogue
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it! Click here to get an alert for the next release.
Further Reading: Rafe’s Reward
Also By Lyn Brittan
About the Author
To Kathy and Georgie
Chapter One
“You’ve moved into a hovel.”
“Thank you, Kate.”
“I can’t believe we’re related.”
The feeling was beyond mutual. Johanna snapped her laptop shut and waited. It was the only way to deal with her sister. Close your eyes and pray for death or vodka.
Seriously, did Kate have to do this on Johanna’s first night in her own place? At twenty-six, she’d finally moved out of the house. How hard would it have been for Kate to be proud of her? Or show even a little sympathy? Every muscle ached from moving, she was starving and on top of everything else, her wretched boss moved up her project due date. She didn’t need this crap now.
“I’m only saying that you can do better than this. If you would listen to me…” Kate had a weird talent of looking like she owned the place – no matter where she happened to be.
Older by four hours, Kate took those moments as some sort of divine appointment to wield power over her two sisters. Michelle, the youngest triplet, dealt with Kate’s judging ways by living on the road and avoiding the family completely. Johanna, on the other hand, learned to sit and take it.
“If you need money, I can help you out.”
“I don’t. I can do this on my own.”
She rolled her eyes as Kate made a show of running her slender finger across the counter top and flicking off nonexistent dust. “You’ve let yourself go, little sis. In more ways than one. Getting a little thick around the middle,” she said, wiggling that same perfectly manicured finger.
“What does my waistline have to do with the countertop? Why are you here if you’re not going to help?”
Kate knelt to jiggle a cabinet door. “I am helping.”
“In pumps and a suit? Served with a side of snark and vinegar? I’ll pass.”
“Don’t get lippy. Some of us have standards. Mom and Dad emailed from Paris this morning.” She wiped the ledge of the counter before leaning against it. “They asked if you met someone yet. I said no. They asked if you’ve moved back into the family house yet. No again. They asked if you still have that human-infested, crap job. Finally, I could answer in the affirmative.”
“I’m happy with what I have. And, for the billionth time, more than happy with how I look.”
Kate grimaced and turned away. Cups and plates slammed as her sister rummaged through moving boxes. “You’re a wolf with supernatural metabolism. One mile around the block wouldn’t kill you.” Kate nudged the box containing her first set of dishes with a red-soled shoe. “How much did you pay those movers? I think everything in here is broken.”
Wonder why? “Get out.”
One expertly plucked eyebrow rose heavenward. “Excuse me?”
Johanna considered making an issue out of it, but like always, she backed down. It wasn’t worth it to go toe to toe with Kate. “I mean that I have a lot of stuff to do before going to work tomorrow. That’s all.”
Kate shot her an odd look…and held it.
A challenge?
No. This was Kate’s normal look - permanent bitch face. But for the first time, Johanna didn’t turn away in a show of submissiveness. She wasn’t trying to start something, but she did want Kate gone. And really, where did she get off doing this all the time? Johanna couldn’t control what Kate said, but she’d be damned if she’d be demeaned in her own home.
Her den.
Wait…no. Wrong word. Apartment.
Was that it? Did this new freedom do something to her wolf? She loved her parents, but not living under their roof bumped her up in the pack. Even if it was a pack of one.
“Are you kicking me out?”
“I asked you over because you’re my sister, but since you seem incapable of acting like one, then yes, I think it’d be better if you left. I can do this by myself.”
“Since when?”
“I’m a grown woman, Kate. When I tell you to get out of my house…” She stopped in the middle of this tirade as the universe sucked the air right out of her lungs with a single movement: Kate blinked.
Two movements, actually. Kate blinked AND took a step back.
Johanna couldn’t remember that happening.
Ever.
It occurred to her she’d never yelled back at Kate. Or snarled either. Another freaking glorious first. Something akin to awesomeness tingled through her body.
Kate’s jaw went down as she grabbed her designer bag and headed for the door.
Oh boy. Maybe she should apologize. “Kate, I—”
“Yes?”
“It’s just…I mean—”
“Didn’t know you had it in you. I approve.”
“I don’t need your approval.”
“Okay, Ms. Thing. I’m gone.” Kate winked and held open the door with her right foot. “We may be able to make a decent wolf out of you yet.”
“Out!”
Chapter Two
Even with the blooming plants, sidewalk food vendors and perfumed women walking around him, Baron Wyatt could smell her from a block away. The world asked a lot for him not to tilt his nose to the air and follow her scent with his tongue hanging out.
He’d had a string of good luck recently, including finding an empty restaurant in this small upstate New York town. Now the place delivered a sweet smelling wolf. Good. He’d earned a little enjoyment in his life.
Baron sniffed again and grinned.
The she-wolf’s scent lay in the direction of the county clerk’s office.
Bonus. In the clerk’s office.
He stepped through the doors and took in the heat of an ovulating female of the wolven variety. If he wasn’t careful, he’d half shift and have his tail wagging beneath his business suit.
That of course led to thoughts of her graceful tail.
Twisting.
Circling.
Up and down. Damn, who was this mystery woman? He needed a face to complete the vision. For now, all he could make of her was the top of her head with dark brown hair off to the side in a demure bun.
He knew the exact moment she caught his scent. The she-wolf behind the counter stopped talking and her head snapped up, eyes locking on him. Beautiful eyes.
He winked.
She went back to work.
What the hell?
He happened to know he was the most charming thing on the planet. A friggin’ legend. Wolves, humans, pixies, you name it and they tripped over themselves to land in his bed. He’d be damned if he didn’t leave this place with the business license he’d come for and that woman’s phone number.
Some lady tapped his shoulder. He shrugged her off. Or tried to.
“Is there something I can help you with?” The speaker batted her eyes. A cougar…and not the shifter kind. Baron tried sidestepping her, but the blonde wasn’t having it, placing a hand on his arm.
His she-wolf looked up, frowned and served her next client. No, no, no! Who ignores me?
The cougar tried again. “Sir?”
“I’m here to see her,” he said, pointing to the dark-haired one with golden eyes.
The blonde, Belinda by her nametag, replaced her tight smile with a grimace. “Whatever you need Johanna for, I can help. I’m her supervisor.”
Johanna? He could get used to screaming that.
“Sir?”
“Right. Sorry. I’m here for licensing a new restaurant.”
“I see. Looks and you can cook. Total package.” He didn’t miss her eyes flickering down in the Wedding Band Snoop. He rubbed the area where a wedding ring would be and this Belinda person cleared her throat. “Lost your ring? Or are you getting married? If your wife owns half the business, we’ll need—”
“I really need to speak to Johanna.”
Thin lips froze into a straight line. “Well, you’re not marrying her?”
He had two ways to play this. One had him leaving without that license. “Actually, she sent for me. She told me to register the business straight away. I wasn’t sure if I needed—”
“Did she? Interesting. She’s only in training to handle those sorts of things. Right now, she’s just a cashier. Have a seat in my office,” she said and gestured for him to follow.
‘Office,’ was being a mite generous. It was more a set of carefully arranged cubicles that laughed at the promise of privacy. While he handed over his tablet with documentation, she pursed her lips and giggled at the things he was fairly sure weren’t jokes.
Like the weather.
Or the differences between LLCs and INCs.
Or the weather…again…
Ugh.
There was a time for flirting and it wasn’t when he sat on the other side of the desk…unless you were a she-wolf named Johanna.
He let down his barriers, projecting his annoyance to anyone with the ability to sense it. He didn’t want his little Johanna thinking that first bit of desire was for anyone other than her.
“Mr. Wyatt? Here’s what you need to do for…”
He settled back into the conversation, accepting the conditional approval in hand at the end of a mind numbingly annoying conversation.
He thanked Belinda, shoved the paperwork into his briefcase and walked straight to the counter. There was plenty of time to note guys in business suits, construction workers, and all the rest of the people he one day hoped to serve in his restaurant.
What could he feed Johanna? How would she…take it?
Her honey gold skin appeared natural and not from a bottle or blue lights. Shapely hips begged to be kneaded and slapped and pinched and…
Johanna’s head jerked up again.
He winked again.
And this time, she did smile.
Progress!
He waved two people to go ahead of him until Johanna was finally free of her last customer, then went straight in for the kill. “Hello. I’m persistent.”
“I see that. You’re also not fit to be in public.”
“Because I’m too hot?”
She stood up on her tiptoes and leaned over. “Because you’re tenting.”
*****
Johanna’s hand flew to her mouth in a triple-stupid attempt to shove the words back in. Where did that come from?
Still, she gave herself a small break - she’d never smelled a man like him before. Or seen one so beautiful. The man had a nose any Roman sculpture would be envious of and a wide smile cemented his hotness. The muscles were just unfair. No one should be this attractive.
He wore a suit, but something about him told her he’d be more comfortable in jeans. Though he’d have to paint them on over thigh muscles like that.
Despite what her sister loved to say about her, she’d had a few men, wolf and human. None of them ever smelled like this. And this roped her in.
Not cool.
She believed in restraint and good common sense, but something about this man wouldn’t let go. There was no such thing as fate or love at first sight. Wolves, like humans, didn’t mate for life unless they wanted to. Probably.
But something about this guy had her hoping those legends had a bit of truth to them.
He pointed to his trousers. “This is your fault, Johanna,” he said, in a voice heavy and low. “You smell amazing.”
“Rude!”
“You feel the same way.”
“No I don’t!”
He sniffed.
Loudly.
Busted.
None of this was her fault. Not really. This was the perfect storm of her most fertile time of the month, plus a new hot guy combined with the new den…err…apartment. Never mind the full moon. Yeah, that must be it. Best to send him on his way. “Is there anything you actually need? You’re holding up the line.”
His brows furrowed in mock outrage. The jerk even pouted. How messed up was life that this only made him hotter?
She bit and sucked in her lip, a nervous habit Kate loved to rib her about. This man, however, couldn’t seem to turn away from it. His eyes lasered in on her mouth and he licked his lips.
Some wicked thing convinced her to lick her own.
Adonis-Sent-To-Play-With-Mere-Mortals groaned loud enough that Tony in the next aisle looked over and coughed. Okay. Playtime’s over. She had to shut this down.
Should shut this down.
Would.
In a minute. “How did you know my name?”
He pointed to her nametag and the plaque, the certificate, then jerked a thumb behind him to where a glaring Belinda sat with another client. “I told her that you called me in. Not altogether untrue.”
“Great. She’ll hate me even more now. Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Tony hadn’t looked back, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t heard her. The last thing she needed was more bad blood with that woman.
“I kinda picked up that you two weren’t painting each other’s toenails. Here’s the thing, I don’t want to talk about her. I just met a hot wolf and I’d like to ask her out.” The man leaned across the counter and pushed at her index finger with his.
Last month, she would have said no. Last week too. But these were interesting times. “Maybe, but I still have no idea who you are.”
“Shhh…” He dropped his voice to wolf range, the same one she and her sisters once used to cheat in class when they were kids. “Your friend is listening.” He coughed and resumed his normal speaking voice. “I’m sorry, baby, but I didn’t want Daddy’s m
oney to help us out. Please forgive me. Tell me you still love me. Go on, tell your ol’ Baron what he wants to hear.”
Good show, Baron. Real good. To the point, she could feel the glares and certainly heard the gasps of workers and customers alike. This might get back to her sister and it would be glorious. She could kiss him for that alone.
The crazy man leaned back and crossed his arms, clearly enjoying his handiwork. Then he took two of her business cards. One he pocketed, the other, he wrote his number on and slid it back over. When she reached for it, he latched onto her hand, snatched it to his lips and gave it an over the top smooch, complete with a pop at the end.
At this point, she half expected Kate to materialize in a puff of imperious smoke. Better to get ahead of the story and call her sister the second Baron and his bun-hugging trousers walked out the building.
Two problems with that.
Number One, Baron wasn’t leaving.
Number Two, they hadn’t properly set up a date yet. There was nothing to tell Kate. Not really.
“So I’ll pick you up tonight around seven? It’ll still be nice out and you can give me a walking tour of the area.”
She legit went to war with herself. One foot tapped. One set of fingers drummed the counter. Thank heavens her mouth worked. At least now, she could tell him to shove off. “I guess I’ll see you later, then.”
Or not.
New Number Two, Kate didn’t have to know everything. She’d take over. Either Kate would try to talk her out of her date or iron out which panties she ought to wear. Nope. This was her thing. Hers and Baron’s.
Fat chance getting back to work after all that. Tony scooted his seat toward her and Belinda slithered over the second the door closed behind Mr. Hot Pants. “How do you know our Baron,” the woman asked.
Lying had never felt more right. “We’ve known each other for a while.”
Tony imitated a spectacular faint before doing circles on the stool and tossing spirit fingers above his head. “Spill. He looks like a man who knows what he’s doing.”
