The Baby Shift- Connecticut

by Becca Fanning

  The Baby Shift: Connecticut

  Shifter Babies Of America 39

  Becca Fanning

  Copyright © 2019 by Becca Fanning

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  1. Melissa

  2. Lionel

  3. Melissa

  4. Lionel

  5. Melissa

  6. Lionel – Grief night celebration – near kiss

  7. Melissa

  8. Lionel

  9. Melissa

  Also by Becca Fanning

  Melissa

  Melissa L knew there were many ways to start a fight. She’d seen more than her fair share. The usual triggers were betrayal, lies, infidelity—and often—too much booze. Yes, too much alcohol spelled danger for most situations. She’d always thought of alcohol as the gasoline for the fire of anger. And yet, she kept serving drinks all the same, and she was damn good at it.

  Her grandfather had left her this bar, after all. She wasn’t about to let it go.

  You’d think that a swanky place like The Velvet Martini would draw less combat, with its soft romantic lighting amid fine leather booths and couches. She hired women of various ages and dressed them in pencil skirts and button-up oxford shirts with black ties.

  Her girls were usually good about tipping off Melissa on any trouble brewing, but they all missed things from time to time.

  “Total babe in Booth 7,” Raven whispered with a naughty grin as she came up to fetch an ordered drink. It was a finer whiskey than Melissa was used to serving her after-work crowd.

  Whether the reports be about fights or good-looking men, she could count on being informed about the crowd. Some reports were about gorgeous women...depending on the server.

  “Alone?” Melissa asked.

  “Fortunately,” Raven said with a wiggle of her eyebrows. “But I did my usual flirting routine, and he was barely interested.” She deflated a bit. Melissa smirked. “Maybe he’s gay?”

  Raven shook her head. “Not a chance. I can always tell.” And then, she leaned forward with a discrete whisper, “He’s got Shifter eyes, though.” Melissa’s heart surged with a sudden thrill. A Shifter!

  It was at that moment that they heard a distinctive clatter away from the bar.

  “That’s him!” Raven cried as a handsome man rose from the booth. Three men approached, each dressed in dark clothes—not a nice suit like Raven’s mystery customer—but the kind of clothes you might expect a mercenary to wear. Melissa quickly darted from behind the bar and made way toward the oncoming skirmish.

  “Gentlemen,” the handsome customer said as he lifted his hands in an easy sweep through the air. He was tall, easily a foot taller than Melissa, who was a healthy 5’7” herself. His hair was a tawny auburn tinged with gold. His eyes were—her breath caught in her throat—just as Raven had said. Golden Shifter eyes. An actual Shifter was in The Velvet Martini! Virtually unheard of, she knew in Bridgeport. There were rumors that Shifters might be operating with organized crime in the big cities, but she’d paid those rumors no mind when they began to include X. The handsome customer finally asked, “What seems to be the problem?”

  The three goons didn’t seem pleased by his casual asking or the question. She jumped between them before they could blink.

  “Bar owner at your service,” she announced and offered them all a firm look. “What seems to be the problem, gentlemen?”

  The biggest of the three glared down at her as if she were an insignificant speck of dust. She was hit by a burning wave of annoyance until a gentle hand from behind came to her shoulder.

  “Apologies,” said Handsome Customer in a husky tone. “These men seem to be bothered by my existence.” His sharp eyes swung upwards. “What was it you called me again? Shifter scum?”

  “You and your kind aren’t welcome here,” the tallest replied with a sour look. His tight grimaced face was pooled with hatred. Melissa let out a dark laugh and raised her hands to wave over the security guard. The bouncer at the door immediately began to head over.

  She crossed her arms and returned the glare towards the goons. “Everyone is welcome here,” she informed them, “except for you.”

  The creeps cursed beneath their breath.

  “Scum,” the tall one said again, and suddenly, the three hulking figures were leaving. They roughly pushed passed the bouncer and slammed the door of the bar behind them. The bar gave a collective sigh of relief, and everything melted back to normal in seconds.

  “Sorry about that,” Handsome Customer said as his hand left her shoulder. He smiled at her with bright white teeth. She nearly melted upon finally seeing him up close. Utterly stunning. She was momentarily distracted until she realized her mind was drifting off and then refocused.

  “No,” she said in a rushed voice. “I want all my customers to feel welcome. Even—” She snapped her mouth shut, realizing what she was about to say. The corner of his lips quirked up into a wicked grin.

  “No worries. I suppose there’s no use in trying to be coy about my identity. He tapped just beside his gorgeous golden eyes. She blushed. Behind her, Raven cleared her throat. The server wore a grin from ear to ear when Melissa glanced behind her.

  “Mr. Lionel,” Raven drawled, presenting the whiskey that Melissa had forgotten at the bar. “Here you are.”

  “Thank you,” he said and looked back to the booth. Raven disappeared in a fit of giggles. No doubt to inform Melissa’s other employees about what a wondrous fool she’d made of herself, slack-jawed in front of this handsome beastly man.

  “I’d invite you to join me for a drink, but you’re probably busy with work.” His voice was a delicious dark purr.

  She gave a nervous laugh. “Yes, you’re right. Thank you, though.” She bit her lip. “I’ve never seen you around here. Are you new in the city?”

  He let out a funny sort of laugh. “In a way. Lion Shifter leaving the Big Apple to take care of some things here.” She nodded and watched him take a generous gulp of the expensive liquor.

  “Nervous about something?” She asked, teasing. Was she really flirting with a Shifter who had almost been assaulted?

  He nodded with a smile, but his eyes were stormy. “Meeting my new daughter, actually.”

  “Damn,” she said. The heaviness of the statement struck her like a slap in the face. “Then consider that drink on the house. An apology, so you know that all the humans aren’t bad here.”

  She left him with his smile and heavy eyes, a shiver running through her.

  There was something about that handsome Shifter. Something enticing and... something that gave her a nervous thrill.

  Lionel

  Lionel was surprised. Not by the goons. He was used to stepping on toes with his Shifter identity. He wasn’t expecting Bridgeport to be quite so hostile—in New York, he walked around with little issue. In fact, women were keener to throw themselves at him when they saw his golden eyes in the sun. But this wasn’t his old city.

  This was his new life. A new start. He stared into his glass of whiskey, comped by the stunning bar owner who had retreated back to the bottles lining the wall. The bit about his daughter had slipped out. He took another sip of his drink.

  The barkeeper had surprised him. She’d thrown her long black hair back to stare down those three idiots. Not that he needed help. Super strength was par for the course with Shifters. Still, she was brave. Beautiful. He smiled to himself. He loved wom
en like that.

  But, that’s why he was here, wasn’t he?

  Women.

  His heavy heart sank. Rebecca’s face swam to his mind. Rebecca, who was married and happy to cheat on her cold husband. A marriage she’d been virtually forced into, she assured Lionel. What a fool he was to believe her beautiful lies, but he’d been so enchanted that he hadn’t noticed when things didn’t add up. Their affair was brief. His chest stung. He finished the drink, enjoying the burn of the whiskey down his throat. She’d ended it after six months, but the pregnancy surprised her. Too far along. Too complicated to end it.

  While her husband was off spending a year abroad in Sweden, they agreed to do a private adoption. She chose to stay with her husband. She would tell him; eventually, she insisted. But, Lionel doubted that among her many other lies. He’d never considered himself as someone with trust problems. His older sister had suggested therapy. He disagreed. A new house and a new life seemed easier.

  And so, Lionel had gained a daughter. The lawyers said he couldn’t see Rebecca tomorrow, only sign the papers and be handed the baby. Like a simple trip to the grocery store!

  And him! With a baby. He left the family business, shady protection jobs with powerful, rich clients and had moved his entire life. He had plenty in savings but very little in knowledge about raising a baby. How much did one really need? His sister and mother had gifted him books and magazines, which were sitting in his sleek backpack back at his hotel.

  His weary sigh sounded annoying even to him. He looked for the gorgeous bar owner on his way out, but all he found was a flirty wink from his original waitress. He smiled, tucked a crisp fifty-dollar bill beneath his glass, the left. The woman had said his drink was free, but he didn’t like that. He didn’t want pity. Besides, he had to leave a tip.

  The next day, he left his downtown hotel to meet with his realtor. He’d purchased a small home near Bridgeport. It was a three-bedroom place. Perfect for himself, the baby, and an office for whatever business he might set up. The painters should’ve finished yesterday.

  “I think you’ll like the place, it’s quiet. A few families. The lady to your left is really nice. Owns a cool bar downtown,” the realtor said as they stood in the kitchen together. The thick packet of paperwork was sitting on the marble kitchen island.

  Lionel’s pen hovered above the paperwork as he glanced out of his new kitchen window to the home on the left. What would be the chances? He signed anyway and got his new set of keys. The movers had already brought everything. Everyone left, and he sucked in a deep breath, admiring his new home. It smelled artificial from the fresh paint, but he’d turn it into a charming home soon enough.

  He opened up the windows to the living room and then trotted upstairs to admire the nursery next to his master bedroom with the nursery furniture he’d bought with the help of his older sister. He hoped his daughter would love it. Olivia, that’s what Rebecca had decided on. She told Lionel that he could give her whatever middle and last names that he wanted. He supposed it was fair after Rebecca carried Olivia for nine months.

  His mind wandered again. Not to the future, but the recent past and to the bar owner yesterday. The lion inside him roared in delight, a feeling that he hadn’t experience in some time. He was slowly forming a smirk upon his lips. She’d been a fierce beauty, but the lion inside himself had liked her feisty nature the best. It reminded him of Shifter women. It was a strength that went beyond reason; it was bravery. He shuddered.

  Not unlike the energy he used to have to carry around for his livelihood. In New York, he’d been hired to secure important meetings and sketchy business dealings. He’d left that life behind.

  Perhaps one day, he might find a woman like that bar owner to settle down with. Or maybe the woman herself. He shook his head, ignoring the image of her ass swaying as she walked away from him, her long hair spilling over her shoulders.

  He had other things to consider now. He was a father. But, a deep seed of doubt burrowed its way into his chest. Olivia would be better with a mother. Although after Rebecca...

  He caught his reflection in the hall mirror. Olivia would be happy. He would make sure of it.

  His smartwatch chimed. It was time to go meet the lawyers. He sucked in a sharp breath and adjusted his suit jacket. He may have lost a bit of confidence, but he would gain it back. He had to. With a new life came a new attitude, one rebuilt from his old ways from New York and the man, the Shifter, that he would become.

  He would build a new life. A better life.

  For himself and his daughter.

  Melissa

  Melissa was off work Monday through Wednesday for her own sanity. Bar hours were hard even if she was only thirty years old. She’d finally hired a second manager to take over the slower nights. This gave her time for errands and keeping up her vegetable garden. Sometimes, she traveled, but mostly, she enjoyed the quiet nature of her home and neighborhood. Her cat, Thor, liked to watch her fold laundry while the TV played documentaries or nature shows.

  Today, she hovered in the kitchen with a small post-it note ticking off a to-do list. Dishes, done. Laundry, folded. Visit new neighbor—this, she’d written half-heartedly, hoping she would chicken out or find an excuse not to do it. The oven dinged when the timer finished. Thor looked expectantly at her as if he knew that she’d baked blueberry muffins in another half-hearted attempt to welcome the new neighbors.

  As she brought the fragrant muffins out from the oven, she weighed her options. It was only one car in the driveway next door, a nice Range Rover when the car wasn’t in the garage. In her experience, this likely meant a young professional or a recent divorcée. Or maybe an environmentally conscious couple sharing one car. She sighed and blew a stray hair out of her face.

  Pros: If she made friends with the neighbor, she might have someone to check for a package or feed Thor in an emergency. The muffins stared at her. Thor meowed beside his filled food bowl. She sighed. OK. She’d wait ten minutes and then pack up the muffins to make a trip over to the house. Maybe, since it was the middle of the day, the new neighbor wouldn’t be there. She threw on a comfortable light sweater over her tank top.

  Carrying muffins placed inside a basket with a thin kitchen towel tucked over them, she reluctantly marched over to the neighbor’s home. The house was quiet. She purposely knocked softly on the door and ignored the doorbell. A few moments passed. Nothing. Perfect! She cackled inwardly and backed away from the door. A distant footstep hit her ear. Damn. The door swung open as she lifted the basket with a smile. Her jaw dropped as the neighbor came out.

  But, then, perhaps it was always dropping around this Shifter.

  “It’s you,” she said. He smiled, but there were dark circles beneath his amused eyes. He was dressed in a flannel shirt and black jeans. He stepped outside the door and left it open a crack.

  “I don’t want to wake the baby,” he said in a soft voice with a tired grin. He held out his hand towards her. She shook it, enjoying the rough skin of his hands.

  “I brought muffins for the new neighbor,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting the new neighbor to be you.” What had Raven said his name was? “I’m Melissa, by the way. Melissa L.”

  “Lionel Roberts.” He brought his hand away. The warmth was still in her hand. She wished it had stayed. She glanced over his shoulder.

  “How’s the baby?”

  His half-grin was laced with exhaustion. “Stubborn to sleep. I’ve barely gotten a wink since I brought her home.”

  She couldn’t stop the stupid sudden question that popped out of her mouth. “Is the mother here?”

  Stupid! His face was polite, but she could see the sting of her question beneath the handsome surface as he coughed.

  “She’s no longer in the picture,” he confessed. “We settled for a private adoption. Better for little Olivia, I think.”

  “I’m so sorry,” she said and clapped a hand to her face, wishing she could slap herself. “That was rude of me to ask
.”

  “It’s okay,” he said with a dark laugh. “I understand. It’s not very common to have this—” he trailed off until he finally found the word, “situation.”

  “Well, I hope you enjoy the muffins,” she said, scratching the back of her neck. “Let me know if you need anything, really.” She left him with the muffins and his handsome, polite smile. Ripping open her front door, she made a dash towards her sofa and sank her face into it. Thor meowed loudly.

  In a few short minutes, she had successfully embarrassed herself in front of the Handsome Shifter. Lionel. She wondered if his parents had purposely named him that since he was a lion shifter. She shivered as she dove beneath the blanket on her couch. Maybe it was a family name.

  What was a Lion Shifter even like? She shivered beneath the thick fabric, pulling it up over her nose. The last time she’d seen a lion had been at the zoo as a young girl on a school field trip. She remembered being fascinated by their powerful muscles and gorgeous manes.

  Her hands found her phone, and she did a quick search for Shifters. A million and one articles popped up. The Hottest Shifters that We Know Of. She clicked on the article, and a list of assorted famous Shifters popped up. Most of them were Shifters that had left their families and clans, something that was somewhat taboo according to the articles, to enter the entertainment industry. She frowned.

  So, Lionel had left his family…To adopt his new daughter. Was his daughter half-human? She bit her lip and stared at the phone, feeling like a real stalker. Thor batted her moving feet, covered by the blanket. She groaned.

  “Thor, I made a fool of myself,” she told her cat. Her cat only yawned in reply. But, somehow, she thought that he might be amused—or proud or maybe all three—of her adventures today.