HOTSHOT BROTHERS: Coyote Shifters

by Hunt, Sabrina

  “When did you go on the roof?” I asked, amazed.

  “When, uh, you were throwing up,” he said.

  “Sorry,” I grimaced. “That was–”

  “I know,” Rayner said. Then he punched me in the gut and I groaned even as I laughed. “Now shut up and let me work.”

  “Ugh, for that, I’m not helping,” I stripped down to my boxers and t-shirt while Rayner clicked away. “I like your sister,” I said. “She’s cool.”

  “I know,” Rayner said, then he sighed and stared up at the ceiling. “I don’t know if we should be here, though. I’m not sure if this was a good idea after all.”

  “Man, why did you not go home for Christmas? I thought we all did.”

  “Did you?” he asked, glancing back at me

  “I saw my grandparents and uncle, yeah!” I shot at him. “Maybe not my parents, but you know why. And from what I’ve heard, your parents are nothing like mine.” My voice was getting harsh and I took a deep breath. “Rayner, please tell me you weren’t chasing down leads on your own. You should have been with your family. That’s what we agreed on.”

  Rayner didn’t reply and I grumbled to myself. I wonder if this is what Burr meant.

  “I was going to see them,” Rayner said. “I figured it was one Christmas. I should have known better. Sky is so angry. And she’s… different. Not her usual self at all. She’s usually incandescent, always laughing and full of fun. Now she’s serious and seems so down.”

  “Maybe she had a bad day,” I suggested.

  “Maybe,” he sighed. “Or maybe my sister is rightly furious with me.”

  “You can fix it, man,” I assured him. “Just tell her a joke.”

  “Oh man, Cree. I do love your boundless optimism.” He typed for a minute, then paused. “You know, you always reminded me a bit of Sky. Always laughing and dancing and being a goof. I always thought you guys would get along really well.”

  “Really?” I asked, unable to keep an eager note out of my voice.

  Rayner gave me a come on, man look and I held up my hands. “Yeah, maybe. But now I don’t know.” He grinned. “She might be too much for even Cree Campbell to handle.”

  “Is that a challenge?” I lit up at the idea.

  “Hell no!” he growled. “I don’t want you even thinking about flirting with her, Cree.”

  “Fine, fine,” I grumbled.

  “Cree.”

  “Jeez, okay. What do you want me to do? Pledge it? Write it down?”

  “Yes.” Rayner was immovable.

  “Friggin’ A, dude. Fine, I promise not to flirt with your sister.”

  “You better not.”

  Making a face, I rolled over and fell asleep.

  “Cree,” a voice was saying in my ear, shaking me awake. “Get up!”

  “Huh, what? Yeah.” I sat up, rubbing my face and blinking. “I’m good. What’s happening?”

  Sunlight was stabbing into my eyes and I winced. Then I turned my head and met an even brighter gray-green gaze. One full of accusation with gold princess hair falling into it.

  “Hi, there,” I drawled. “Sky, right?”

  “Knock it off,” Sky said in an eerie intonation of Rayner and I woke up all the way. “Where is my brother?”

  “He’s…” I glanced at the foot of the bed. No Rayner. His bag was also gone and I got to my feet when something crinkled under me. “No! What? Shit, are you serious, Rayner?”

  Pulling out the note, I read it rapidly.

  Quickfoot,

  I’m sorry to do this to you man, but I found something in Huxley’s files that suggested he had backups and other stuff in a cabin up north, outside the city. I’m heading there. Don’t worry – I’ll be cautious. I know Burr told you to keep an eye on me. Ever since he got with Willow, he’s been like a fussy Granny. (I laughed out loud at that.) I didn’t wake you up because I want you here with Sky. I’m worried that somehow she might have gotten tangled up in this mess. And what I didn’t tell you last night is that I’ve tried to keep my family out of you know what.

  I want them safe.

  Please, Cree, keep an eye on her and keep her safe. I’ll be back soon.

  Thor

  P.S. REMEMBER: DO NOT FLIRT WITH MY SISTER, JACKASS. I WILL END YOU.

  “Well?” Sky’s voice was in my ear and I saw she was trying to read the note upside down. I crumpled it in my hands as she reached for it. “Did he leave? Is he coming back? Did he just saddle me with you for the next month or so? Unreal!” Throwing up her hands, Sky marched from the room and I followed her.

  This morning she was wearing a slouchy sweatshirt that revealed a pale shoulder and her hair was up in a messy bun. She was wearing yoga pants that flaunted her shapely legs and I swallowed, forcing myself not to look at her delicious ass. It was not easy.

  “Um, yes and no. He’ll be back,” I said. “He ran a, uh... errand.”

  “An errand?” She banged the teakettle and I cringed. “Are you really that gullible?”

  “Sometimes,” I said, and Sky gave me a surprised look. “Just being honest! But no, I trust Rayner. Even if I want to slap him upside the head right now.” Taking a deep breath, I offered Sky a smile. I knew she was pissed as all hell with her brother and I couldn’t blame her. I was sure she must have thought he’d bailed as fast as possible to avoid talking to her. “Listen, we’ll chill here and become best friends. It’ll be a good time.”

  Sky let out a little huff. “I have half a mind to kick your ass out.”

  Oh no. “Please don’t do that,” I pleaded. “I, uh, I’ll clean and cook and everything.”

  She turned her back to me, leaning against the counter that jutted out into the room and put her hands over her face. Her shoulders began to shake and for a second, I thought I’d finally made her laugh. Then I heard her sniff.

  “Aw, Sky,” I murmured, walking over and standing in front of her. Gently, I put my hands on her shoulders. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  Red, blotchy eyes met mine. “Who are you?”

  “Uh, what now?” I asked. “We met last night…”

  “It’s fine. I don’t need your misplaced pity,” she said bitterly, pushing around me and going to the couch. She curled around a pillow, placing her face in it. “You can leave,” she said in a muffled voice. “Please, just go.”

  My heart sagged in my chest. Rayner was right – his sister did sound off. There was a note in her voice and something about her that shouldn’t be there.

  “Sky, it’s not pity,” I said, even as I panicked a little.

  What would Ben do? Brood with her? Wes would get uncomfortable and angry at Rayner, promising to kick his ass, maybe. Or he’d gallantly offer to make pancakes. I never know with him. Burr would probably hug her and say all the right things.

  Yielding to impulse, I went over and sat next to her, slipping an arm around her shoulders. Sky tensed, resisting, and then she crumpled. Next thing I knew, the pillow was in my lap, along with Sky hugging it and I rubbed her back, letting her cry it all out.

  She lay like that for a good while, but I didn’t mind. I only wished I knew what to say.

  “You’re really mad at him, huh?” I asked as she finally sat back, looking faintly embarrassed. It was burning on my tongue to tell her the truth. Sky, we’re coyote shifters with a sacred mission to protect the wilderness and the world from corruption and pollution of demons. It’s our destiny – handed to us by the spirit of the Moon.

  I know, sexy right?

  Ugh, I couldn’t though. I’d been warned many a time to keep my mouth shut.

  Yet, I was sure if Sky knew, she’d be less upset. She probably thought Rayner didn’t care, when it was the complete opposite.

  Instead, I came up with this lameness: “You know we do important work, right? Saving lives? The wilderness? It can be grueling and backbreaking. I’m not trying to excuse him. But it sucks you have all these bad feelings. It’s draining you. Anger can be poison.”

>   She eyed me. “You sound like my mother.”

  “Oh damn,” I grinned. “Thanks.”

  Pressing the heels of her palms into her eyes, a weak laugh escaped her and I laughed too. “You’re not half-bad, Cree Campbell,” she muttered. “Thank you.”

  “Aw,” I pulled her in for a real hug and she squeaked. “Does this mean you’re not kicking me out? Are we gonna be friends?”

  “Sure, sure!” she said, patting my back and letting herself be held for a glorious minute. “Now, let me go. I need to take a shower and get my head on straight.”

  “Can I make breakfast?” I asked, letting her go with a twinge of regret. As I suspected, Sky was a snuggly, warm armful. And suddenly I was glad there was a pillow on my lap.

  “Um, I guess,” Sky stood up and gave me a funny look. “I mean, you don’t have to do chores to stay here. I wasn’t going to kick you out.”

  I shrugged and smiled, hooking my hands behind my head. “I like to help out. It’s fun.”

  A real smile spread over Sky’s face and my breath caught in my chest. “Okay, then.”

  Then Rayner’s voice boomed in my head. I don’t want you even thinking about flirting with her!

  Looking away, I didn’t move until she was in the bathroom and then I darted into the spare room. “Oh man, oh man, oh man,” I muttered. I am so screwed.

  Yeah, Rayner was heading north, on a potentially dangerous and secret mission. And yet why did I feel like I somehow ended up with the harder job?

  Chapter 6

  Cree had been in my apartment a grand total of three days. In a weird way, it was like he’d always been there and I was still wrapping my brain around it.

  He was always in a good mood and liked to have music playing at all times. He also had made friends with almost everyone in my building, charming and flirting the socks off everyone from the sleepy grad students on the first floor to my grumpy super down the hall.

  I knew one thing for sure I’d never seen Mrs. Kuoi smile more broadly than when Cree had been talking to her. And she’d laughed.

  I had to admit, the first day I’d wanted to kick him out. Badly. But then a deposit for both months appeared in my bank account. Now I couldn’t.

  The second day had been awkward. I was more than slightly mortified at blubbering all over him the previous day and spent most of it trying to get work done in my room. Cree had gone out for a bit, getting groceries and hitting a nearby gym, then he’d watched movies. His laugh had bounced through my wall, tantalizing and distracting. All I wanted to do was go sit on the couch and have him put his arm around me again. I mean, I had a naughty dream about that back rub!

  And now, today. The third day. I’d woken up, eager to get out of bed and feeling light for the first time in months. Maybe it was the sunshine and blue sky. Maybe it was the good idea for a book I’d come up with before falling asleep last night. Maybe it was the smell of crepes being cooked.

  Or maybe it was Cree and his happy smile, dancing in the kitchenette when I’d peeked out.

  Last night I’d told him I would take him out to see Seattle. I felt like I owed him after yesterday and the day before. Plus, it was Friday and I usually took the day off, preferring to work Sunday to Thursday.

  Cree’s excitement had been infectious as we’d planned the day; yet late last night I’d realized we’d planned too many things for today and would have to scale back. Well, we can go another time, I’d thought carelessly.

  However, now that thought came back and I caught a look at my face in the mirror. I was frowning deeply. Yeah, I wasn’t sure if we should make this a regular thing. Or a thing at all.

  “Cree,” I said, walking out of my room and biting my lip. My spirits were starting to dip.

  “Hey, you look good.” He smiled at me, his compliment sincere and sweet. “Should I wear something nicer, too?”

  “What? We’re both wearing jeans.” Oh, no I couldn’t say no to that face. Damn! “I mean, change if you want to, but I think you look nice, too.”

  Light leaped into his eyes and he smiled wider. “Breakfast,” he sang out.

  There was something else I noticed about Cree, however. Something that was a little trying, to be honest. He flirted with everyone except me. In fact, he was so polite sometimes it made my teeth hurt.

  I mean, that first night Cree certainly hadn’t held back. Anytime I thought about the way Cree had said, “Sorry, gorgeous,” – like it was tearing out his heart to walk away – my pulse skittered and my cheeks flushed.

  But now, had I been moved into some kind of off-limits territory? Or more likely, had I scared him off in the light of day? He’d seen me cry and in my pajamas with no makeup. He’d probably also got a good look at my ass, which could have its own zip code. I repressed a little sigh. Guys liked girls who hit the gym all the time and had nice thin thighs. Normal butts.

  Not curvy crybabies.

  “What are you thinking about?” Cree asked, and I winced.

  “Um, I didn’t apologize for the other day,” I blurted out, panicking.

  Cree looked baffled. “Which day was this?”

  “When I cried,” I said in a low voice.

  He put down his silverware and gave me a searching look. “Sky, you don’t have to apologize for that. Don’t be silly. You were upset. Also, I’m surprised you’re still thinking about that – it was ages ago. Today is tourist day – don’t think about that day today, okay?” He grinned at his rhyme.

  “But I…” I was so thrown and my heart was starting to melt a little. “I should apologize.”

  “No. Seriously, Sky. Not accepting that apology,” Cree said. “I’m glad I was here. If I helped, that’s great. But you also don’t have to say thank you,” he said as I opened my mouth. “Don’t worry about it. Just agree to have fun with me today.”

  “Okay,” I said, smiling as my spirits rose all the way up to the clear blue skies.

  Cree and I spent the day running all over Seattle like two kids let out for summer vacation. First we walked all over Kerry Park, the wind keeping us cool as we gazed out at the city skyline and I pointed out landmarks.

  I hadn’t realized how easy it was to be with Cree. I found myself chattering away, laughing at his goofy jokes and faces – angling to make him laugh. I’d thought today would be at least a little awkward, but it wasn’t. It was amazing.

  From Kerry Park, we walked the half hour to Lake Union Park, where we sat on the grass, watching people kayak as we ate lunch.

  “We have to do that!” Cree said enthusiastically, and I found myself agreeing. I hadn’t gone on Lake Union yet and the weather for the next few weeks was supposed to be gorgeous.

  Then I paused, surprised at myself. I shouldn’t be agreeing to things like that, should I?

  After the lake, we headed back to my neck of the woods and spent the rest of the day wandering around Pike Place Market. Cree hammed around at the vendors, complimented old ladies on their purchases and offered to buy me ridiculous things like a pirate hat, a stuffed trout, and a giant painting of a dancing bear.

  Finally, as the sun was setting, we ate dinner at a small dive.

  “This was a great day, Sky. You’re such a good tour guide,” Cree told me. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome,” I said, still honestly surprised at how much fun I’d had. I couldn’t stop smiling.

  His phone buzzed and he made a face. “Sorry, gotta check this.”

  I couldn’t stop smiling for more another reason, too. A far more diabolical one. For while I was laughing and having honest fun, there was a plan forming in the back of my head.

  From the hints and the stories Cree told – always with a slightly guilty, anxious look on his face if it involved Rayner or Montana – I realized my first instinct was right.

  Cree was a bad liar. Honest to a fault.

  Thus, I couldn’t help but wonder how easily I could weasel the truth out of him. I’d interviewed enough people by now to have picked up som
e tricks of the trade.

  I decided to test the waters now. We were waiting for our check from the waitress Cree had sweet-talked all night, getting us extra servings of truffle fries and free refills on booze.

  He was wearing a dark blue shirt that opened at the collar and set off his eyes. More than one girl and even a few guys had given him long, appreciative looks throughout the day. Even right now there were two girls at the bar glancing at him. One of them caught my eye and smiled sheepishly, then gave me a small thumbs up.

  “You know, Cree, you don’t even need to flirt,” I remarked, trying to sound coy.

  His head flew up from his phone and he laughed. “Uh, what?”

  Suddenly I felt a bit awkward, but I plowed on, “You’re pulling in the ladies without lifting a finger. Just sayin.’”

  “Oh, what is someone checking me out?” he asked absently as he frowned at his phone again, his fingers flying. I had a feeling he was texting my idiot brother.

  “Quite a few someones.”

  “Well, we’re an attractive table, what can I say?”

  I laughed a little. My head was a little swimmy from the booze, accounting for the soppy thought playing over and over in my head, Cree exudes kindness. “You’re cute.”

  Putting his phone down, he leaned forward. “Are you telling me you don’t notice…? You don’t, do you? Oh man, Sky. You’re cute.”

  Something in the way his eyes were lighting up was making me feel flustered and I could feel heat rising in my neck. “Notice what? People looking at you? I just said that.”

  Cree waved his hand and then looked down as his phone buzzed. “Sorry,” he winced as he texted back. “Rayner checking in. He’s still tracking down – that thing.”

  I decided to let it go, lull Cree into thinking I didn’t care. “Come on, tell me what you were going to talk about. Say.” I shook my head. I shouldn’t have had so much to drink.

  “Nah, I don’t think I should. Rayner will be happy to hear you’re oblivious.”

  “Huh,” I said. Then it clicked. “Wait, are you trying to say guys are looking at me?”

  An impish grin spread across Cree’s face as he looked up at me. “Yeah, Sky. Welcome to planet Earth, by the way.”