Although, Amber was not always sure that was true. Margie had lived a privileged life. She hated getting her hands dirty. If the house needed cleaning, she hired a cleaner, if the lawn needed mowing, she hired a lawn care man. Unfortunately, her kids were being raised the same way.
Except Lauren rebelled every inch of the way.
“After breakfast, can Aunt Amber take us outside?” Lauren asked as Margie went to the fridge and fetched the orange juice Amber had just bought.
“Sure,” Amber answered before Margie could say no. She took the kettle off the stove as it began to whistle and made tea, while Margie put out breakfast for the children.
As she turned around and leaned against the counter with her cup clasped in both hands, she met Margie’s gaze. Keeping her expression neutral, she sipped her tea, pretending to be oblivious to her sister-in-law’s concern.
“Do you think there are bears and wolves in the forest?” Elliot asked as he spooned his cereal into his mouth.
“We’re not going into the forest to find out,” Margie said quickly, her eyes locked on Amber’s. “Are we, Aunt Amber?”
“No, we’re just going to stay close to the house. The sunshine will do you good.” Amber smiled softly at Margie. “You might even be able to freshen up your tan.”
Margie stretched out her arm and examined it critically. “I am looking a bit pale.”
“Let’s eat breakfast and then get outside.” Amber winked at Lauren who winked back after making sure her mom couldn’t see.
Amber sighed and wandered over to the open door. Leaning against the doorframe, she stared out into the forest surrounding the house. It was so peaceful here. Surrounded by nature, the only sounds were the soft rustle of the breeze through the fresh new leaves and the tweets and chirps of birds busy finding food for their young.
Amber had been searching for a place like this her whole life. A place where she could feel as one with the world around her. The house certainly enhanced Kelos’s hunky body and cute smile. Who needed money and credit cards when you could have peace of mind?
“Are you eating?” Margie asked, the box of cereal raised as she shook it.
“Yes, please.” Amber turned her back on the scene outside and went to the table. She sat down next to Margie and dug into her cereal. “Did you all sleep okay?”
Lauren looked at her mom briefly before nodding. “Although an owl hooting did wake me up.”
“I wish I’d heard the owl,” Elliot said as he crunched his cereal.
“Manners,” Margie warned.
Elliot quickly chomped his way through his mouthful of cereal and swallowed hard. “Next time you hear an owl, can you wake me up?”
“No.” Margie shook her head to reinforce her command. “You need to sleep. We’ve had a busy few days and you need to rest.”
“Listening to an owl won’t tire me out,” Elliot replied.
“No, but waking up in the middle of the night and then not being able to get back to sleep will.” Margie waved her spoon at her son. “We need to take care of you.”
Amber watched Margie’s expression. Her sister-in-law genuinely was concerned for her son. Sometimes it was easy to forget that Elliot had been a sickly child who had breathing difficulties at birth which had followed him through his early childhood. Although his inhalers kept it under control, Margie must live with the constant fear her son might get sick again.
“It’ll be dark early tonight,” Amber said gently. “I expect we’ll hear the owls before you go to bed.”
Margie shuddered. “This house reminds me of the three little pigs. It wouldn’t take much for a wolf to huff and puff this house down.”
“I don’t think Kelos would let that happen,” Amber assured her.
“He can’t be here twenty-four-seven, though, can he?” Margie looked around the room. “He’s not here now and I expect he has to work every day to pay for renovating this…house.”
“I like it here.” Lauren cast a longing look over her shoulder. “I’d love to live here. Maybe then I could have a dog.” She glimpsed at her mom out of the side of her eyes and then pressed her lips together. “Or maybe not.”
“We’ve talked about this,” Margie told her daughter. “A dog needs feeding and walking every day. Not to mention the hair…”
“I’d help feed it and walk it,” Elliot said quickly. “Lauren and I could look after it together.”
Margie sighed. “I’m not having this discussion again.” She swept her hand through her hair. “I’m tired.”
“Just a little dog,” Elliot pleaded.
Margie tried a different tack. “What if we got a dog and you were allergic? What if it made your breathing worse?”
Elliot dug his spoon in his cereal and twirled it around. “It’s not fair.”
“Life isn’t fair.” Margie got up from the table and poured herself another cup of coffee. Despite her feelings toward the house and the man who lived here, she didn’t think twice about using his stuff.
“Okay, let’s eat our breakfast and then go outside.” Amber dug her spoon into her bowl and ate without talking. However, she communicated with the children with her eyes, urging them to eat their breakfast by making faces. Luckily, she had her back to Margie.
Lauren giggled as she munched her way through her cereal, but she managed to cover her laughter by crunching her cereal loudly. She reminded Amber so much of her brother, Fabian.
As she finished her cereal and took the bowl to the sink, she asked quietly, “Has he called?”
Margie’s bottom lip trembled, and she shook her head. “No, but it’s early.”
Amber nodded. Margie might have her faults, but she loved her husband. Really loved him. And she made him happy.
“Come on. Bring your coffee outside.” Amber put her arm around Margie’s shoulder and led her out into the sunshine. “Spring is my favorite time of year.”
“I like summer when the flowers are in full bloom.” She looked at the trees surrounding them. “Do you think we’ll be home by summer? Do you think this will all be over?” Margie sounded young and vulnerable and Amber’s heart ached for her. After all, Margie’s life had been turned upside down and she’d been spat out into the world to fend for herself and keep her children safe.
“The court case is next week. As long as there are no delays, there’s no reason why this won’t be over by then.” Amber scanned the back yard and spotted a couple of chairs pushed to the side of the house. She went and grabbed them, dragging them over to the back door. “There.”
“You said the court case will be over.” Margie caught Amber’s gaze and held it. “You didn’t say we’d be home.”
“Let’s see what happens, shall we?” Amber said quietly.
“If we can’t go home, we could come and live here.” Lauren had overheard the conversation as she came out of the kitchen.
“What about all your friends?” Margie asked. “And all your clubs? I don’t expect any of these towns have all the facilities we have at home.”
Lauren chewed the inside of her cheek and didn’t answer.
“We could spend all our time outside instead of doing clubs and things…” Elliot began but a stern look from Lauren made him stop talking.
“Don’t you like all the activities you do?” Margie asked as she slumped down in her chair, her face pale. “I thought you liked dance classes and cheerleading and…”
The sound of a car crunching over the gravel driveway leading to Kelos’s house brought all their attention into sharp focus. Amber ran toward the corner of the house and Margie sprang to her feet and ushered the children inside.
“Who is it, Mommy?” Elliot asked in hushed tones as they went inside.
“I don’t know, baby.” Margie glanced over to Amber. “Come on.”
Amber shook her head. “Go inside and lock the door. Get ready to call emergency services.”
Margie nodded and closed the door. When Amber heard the bolt shoot home, she s
traightened up and flicked her hair back over her shoulders. Keeping her cool, she walked around the side of the house, keeping her body language relaxed.
The sun flashed off the trunk of a silver car that was parked next to hers. As she edged her way around the house, the sound of a car door opening and then closing was followed by the crunch, crunch of someone walking toward the house.
“Hi there.” She stepped out of the shadow of the house. “Shawn.”
“Who did you think it was?” Shawn asked as she cupped her face in her hand and blew the air out of her lungs. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, we were just worried.” Amber thumbed toward the house. “Kelos is at work and I didn’t expect you this early.”
Shawn grinned, his face pasty white. “It is early. But I’m due at the hospital later this morning and I wanted to see your nephew before I went in. I can get him the meds he needs and drop them back on the way home.”
“Thanks, Shawn.” She dropped her hands to her sides. “I’m so sorry about last night.”
“Are you kidding?” Shawn asked. “It was worth it just to see you meet Kelos. I would never have guessed you two would be mates.” His forehead creased. “Not because I don’t think you’ll make a wonderful couple…more because…”
“I get it, don’t worry.” Amber inclined her head toward the house. “Come and meet the children. And Margie.”
Shawn raised a questioning eyebrow. “I still can’t believe Fabian got married and had kids. I never saw him as a family man when he was younger.”
“He’s happy.” She nodded. “Margie and the kids make him very happy.” She hid a smile as she dropped her voice, “Margie is struggling with the house.” Amber pointed toward the dilapidated building. In the daylight, she could see just how much work needed doing. The cloak of night had been kind, hiding the worst of the work that needed doing when they arrived last night.
“It’ll look stunning once it’s finished. Kelos has great plans for the place. If only he’d release some of his funds, he could get it finished pretty darn fast. But he is a hoarder.” Shawn followed Amber around to the kitchen door where she stopped and knocked a couple of times.
“Margie. It’s only Shawn. Open up.”
“Only Shawn.” The doctor placed his hand over his heart. “I’m wounded.”
“You have not changed a bit.” Amber looked him up and down while she waited for Margie to come and open the door. “I thought fatherhood might have forced you to grow up a little.”
“If anything, Jane keeps me young.” He smiled wistfully. “She’s the best thing to ever happen to me, Amber.”
“I can see that.” Amber leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Shawn. “It’s good to see you.”
“I’m glad you knew you could trust me.” He hugged her back. “You know if Kelos hadn’t been there, I would have told you to stay.”
“I know,” she murmured into his chest. “But this is probably the best place for us. It’s secluded and no prying eyes twitching at their curtains trying to figure out who the bachelor doctor has staying over.”
“Margie. Let us in.” Amber knocked on the door again. “Margie.”
Margie turned the lock and opened the door. “Sorry, I needed to be sure.”
“This is Shawn.” Amber tapped her forehead. “Silly me, you didn’t exactly meet last night, did you?”
“I saw you from a distance.” Margie studied Shawn. “You looked drunk.”
“I was drunk. But I’m completely sober now, so let’s take a look at the patient.” Shawn stepped inside the house where Lauren and Elliot were waiting in the kitchen.
“I’m Elliot.” Elliot raised his hand. “Are you a shifter?”
Amber and Margie exchanged glances. Although Amber had told Margie about shifters, they had decided to keep it from the children for now. “Someone has been eavesdropping.”
“I was half awake in the car,” Elliot admitted.
“What’s a shifter?” Lauren knitted her brows together and folded her arms.
“I can shift into a cougar,” Shawn said bluntly.
“Can we see?” Elliot asked in awe, as if he had half expected the whole shifter thing to be made up.
“Not now,” Shawn replied. “I need to take a look at you and then get to work.”
“Oh.” Elliot did not hide his disappointment.
“But maybe I could come to visit sometime. I’d like you to meet my daughter, Jane, and I can shift and show you.” He pulled out a chair from under the kitchen table. “But right now, I need you to sit down and let me examine you. Is that okay?”
Elliot nodded and sat down on the chair. As Shawn listened to his chest and asked a barrage of questions, Elliot stared at the doctor as if expecting fur to suddenly sprout out of his ears.
“I’ll be back later with an inhaler and some other meds I’d like Elliot to try,” Shawn said a half-hour later after the exam was complete.
“Thanks, Shawn.” Margie seemed more relaxed now. “And the state of the house won’t make Elliot any worse?”
Shawn chuckled. “The house is clean, just a little drafty. Honestly, being out in the fresh air and getting some exercise will do Elliot good.”
“See.” Amber leaned toward Margie and nudged her.
Margie shook her head. “I’d still prefer a hotel.” She looked back at the house. “But I guess this will do. For now.”
For Amber, the house would do for the rest of her life. As would Kelos.
She could not wait for the dragon shifter to come home. The longer he was away from her, the more she missed him. Which was totally bizarre. And yet totally natural.
The world of shifters was strange and exciting, and she wanted to immerse herself in it. For the rest of her life.
Chapter Nine – Kelos
“Home.” He pulled his truck alongside Amber’s car, a sense of relief rushing through him as he sensed her inside. All day he’d been worried she might have decided to leave, to take her family somewhere else. Somewhere where no one would find her.
Including him.
But here she was.
Kelos opened the truck door and slid out. He usually finished work a lot later, but Mac had taken pity on him, with, he suspected, some prompting from Hex.
“Hi there.” Amber came sidling around the side of the house. “I was just checking if it was you.”
Kelos strode toward her, then a scent drifted to him on the air. “Shawn.”
“He came by earlier to examine Elliot. He said he’d be back later with the medication he needs.” She hung back, her hands clasped together as she watched him. “It’s good to see you.”
He made her nervous.
Kelos tilted his head on one side as he approached her. “It’s good to be home.” He leaned forward and kissed her cheek, but she twisted her head around and their lips met. Heat flared across his skin and he slid his arm around her waist and pulled her close.
Amber sighed in contentment, placing her hands on his chest as their kiss deepened. He nipped her bottom lip before soothing it with his tongue, sending a shiver through his mate as she opened her mouth. Kelos tasted her mouth, their tongues entwining as they stood in the afternoon sun, the trees swishing gently in the breeze that ruffled her hair.
She stimulated his senses more than any spring day on the mountain could. Here in the place he’d chosen to call home, he shared his first kiss with his mate. It was as if this dragon’s fairy tale had finally come true.
As their kiss broke and he nuzzled her neck, his tongue trailing across her warm skin, he caught the scent of another man and a pang of jealousy hit him. His need to claim her as his own and not allow any other male to come near her rocketed and he fought to keep his breathing under control and his body relaxed.
“Shawn.” He lifted his head and looked into her eyes.
Amber looked over Kelos’s shoulder. “He’s back already with Elliot’s medication?”
“No.” Kelos frowned. “I can
smell him on you.”
“You can?” She sniffed her clothes and then looked up at him, searching his face for an answer. “You’re jealous.”
“I am.” He forced a smile onto his face. “I’m jealous he got to spend time with you today while I was at work.”
“Well, you’re here now. You’re the one who gets to kiss me.” She gave him a playful smile.
“Lucky me.” He let go of his pent-up breath and forced himself to relax. “What did Shawn say. About Elliot.” Lying had never been his thing. Of course, he cared about Elliot, but he was more concerned with why his mate smelled as if Shawn had touched her, held her in his arms.
They are old friends, his dragon reminded Kelos. People hug.
Kelos let go of his possessiveness. He released the pent-up anger that threatened to cause steam to escape from his ears. His dragon was right. Shawn and Amber were old friends.
“It went well.” She slipped her hand into Kelos’s and they walked toward the house. “He examined Elliot and said he’d pop back later with the meds he’s prescribed.”
“He’s coming back today.” Kelos’s jaw tensed. He was being completely unreasonable. At least that was what his modern-day human brain was telling him. However, his old-fashioned shifter brain didn’t want the man who had laid his hands on his mate anywhere near her.
“Yes. I thought we could all have dinner together.” She half turned to look at Kelos, her eyes searching his face. She could sense the tension in him. “I thought you were good friends.”
“We are.” Kelos decided to come clean and be honest with his mate. “I can smell him on you.”
She stopped walking and turned to face him. “Smell him on me?” She lifted her arm and sniffed her clothes. “I guess I can smell his cologne.” Amber locked eyes with Kelos. “And that’s a problem?” Her arched eyebrow told Kelos that his problem might become their problem.
“No. At least not really.” He shrugged apologetically. “I have a jealous streak. One I did not know I possessed until I got home.”
Kelos: Spring (Shifter Seasons Book 4) Page 7
