He turned around. “Hey, I thought I might have missed you.”
She reached out for his hand. “Come with me. I want to introduce you to a couple of people.”
He took her hand, surprised at how soft it felt.
She stopped in front of the couple he took the pictures of.
“Dominic Kingston, this is Hank and Sybil Warner. Hank and Sybil, this is Dominic.”
Dominic shook hands with the couple. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Hank and his wife run a local medical practice,” Opie said.
“Well, we’re retired,” Hank said.
“Yeah, right,” Sybil added. “Retirement to this guy means he only sees patients three times a week instead of seven.”
“A man needs time to fish,” Hank teased.
Opie lowered her eyes and ducked her head. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what you do, Dominic.”
Her hair fell from behind her ear. It took all his self-control not to push it back.
“I do several things, but it all boils down to this. I invest in start-up companies and then sell my portion once the business becomes profitable. It’s all for a lower interest rate than a bank. I’m working with Cameron and his brother on the brewery right now. In my spare time, I own a horse ranch in Petaluma.”
“I bet all of that keeps you busy,” Sybil said.
Hank stood straighter and let his protective side ooze out. “And just how do you know our Opal?”
Opie rolled her eyes. “Hank.”
“Opie and I sorta met in New York. I mean, we saw each other. I guess we didn’t officially meet until earlier today.”
“What do you mean ‘sorta met?’ Either you did or didn’t,” Hank said.
Sybil put her hand on his arm. “Hank, you aren’t Opie’s father. Stop acting like it.”
“No, but I know Richard very well.” He arched one eyebrow, scrutinizing Dominic.
Reflexively, Dominic took a defensive stance.
“Hank, my dad isn’t worried about me, you shouldn’t either. Dominic and I were both in New York, and we have a mutual friend. The last time we were together, there wasn’t time for a formal introduction. We were um, er, busy.”
Hank started to speak again, but Sybil said, “Opie, did you see Anderson around here?”
Opie pointed to where the DJ packed up the equipment. “He’s helping Saffron.”
Sybil smiled wide. “I sure like her. I can’t wait to be a grandma.”
Hank harrumphed. “Now who’s butting into someone else’s business? They just mated, woman.”
Sybil tossed back her head and laughed. Her silver hair alluded to age, but she was a striking woman. Dominic smiled. Hank and she must have a hell of a story.
“Anderson is my son. That gives me the right.” She stood from her chair and grabbed Hank’s hand. “Take me to the Winter Fest, Old Man. I need to sell the last-minute tickets.”
He grumbled as he stood but held out a bent elbow, and she slipped her arm around him.
Dominic stepped close enough to Opie to smell her strawberry shampoo. He held his hand up but stopped short. The curls on her head would look incredible entangled around his hand. He’d never met a woman who enjoyed a man she just met touching her hair.
She twisted, and he ran his hand across his chin to hide how creepy he must have seemed.
“So, uh—” she nudged something on the ground with her toes. “—I guess I’ll just see you tomorrow night.”
His heart picked up speed, and his mouth dried. What the hell is wrong with me?
“I guess or…”
She smiled and continued using her foot to play with whatever she found on the ground. “Or…”
“Is there a bar or restaurant around here we could go get something to eat?”
Opie rubbed her belly. “I’m still full from Dottie’s barbecue. We could go to Winter Fest.”
Her smile warmed his insides like an Irish Crème Coffee, and the idea of moving her hair so he could see the morning light in her eyes made him harder than a boy on his first date. Who the hell was this woman?
“I have a mini-bar in my room. I might be able to arrange for a drink.”
She hesitated.
“If you would rather, there’s a big fireplace in the lobby. We could just sit and talk.”
“Um, I don’t know. I have a wedding before the auction tomorrow. It’ll be an early morning.”
Shit.
“Okay, then just talk with me for one hour. One hour only, I promise.”
She checked her watch, tilted her head, and smiled. “Fine, one hour, but then I have to go.”
He held out his arm for her to go ahead. “Terrific. You can tell me all the inside secrets of this little town.”
On their way to the lobby, they walked past a bucket of ice-chilled beer bottles. He stopped, picked up two, and showed them to her. Opie nodded.
The lobby was empty when they settled on the couches. He handed her a beer, but she stared at the top.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
“We don’t have bottle openers.”
He looked down. “Oh, I didn’t think about that.”
She popped up, took his bottle, and disappeared down a hallway. “Don’t worry. I got this.”
Three minutes later, she returned. “It pays to be friends with most of the kitchen staff. I know where they hide everything.” She handed him an opened bottle.
Dominic used his bottle to point to a framed print over the fireplace. “Did you take that one?”
After finishing a drink, she said, “No. That was an aerial shot some movie director guy did.”
“They film movies here?”
“It was some kind of King Arthur movie.”
He put the bottle on the large coffee table in front of them. His jaw dropped open. “Do you mean the one Eli McKenzie did?”
Opie took another drink and nodded. “Yeah, that name sounds right. A Scottish guy? He and Caleb are good friends.”
“I can’t believe Eli McKenzie made a film here.”
“Do you like his movies?”
“You can’t call them movies. They are cinematic epics. He’s like the greatest action-movie director out there right now.”
She shrugged. “You make him sound like a god, but he’s goofy.”
Dominic moved to the edge of the couch and twisted to face her. “You know him? Does he live around here?”
“Part of the time. He’s married to Eliza’s sister.”
“Ginger?” He slumped back. “I knew she got married, but I didn’t know it was to Eli McKenzie. Wow, small world.”
Opie finished her beer and checked her watch. “Um, it’s getting late.”
He took her hand in his. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to monopolize the conversation.” He checked his watch. “I still have twenty minutes.”
Her eyes twinkled when she smiled. “Okay. Then tell me something about you.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Tell me about your family.”
His shoulders drooped, and he let go of her hand. “Well, uh, I guess there’s not a lot to say. My mom died of cancer.”
She put her hand on his knee. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t think that was possible. I mean, you know the whole shifter thing.”
“The cancer was just too much for her. It came on strong. After a while, shifting stopped helping. Healing became too hard.”
“What did your dad do?”
He hesitated. His dad’s story wasn’t easy to tell.
“You know,” she started, “it’s okay. You don’t have to tell me. Can you tell me about this club with the great pictures?”
He sighed. “It’s in the center of all the action in San Francisco. The club is on one side, and a restaurant is on the other side. As far as clubs go, it’s about the same as all of them, but the one thing we do differently is on Sundays and Mondays we bring in live bands to play music.”
“What kind
of music?”
“We’ve had all sorts of bands. The swing bands are my favorite. Several local swing clubs come on those nights. Their energy is high. It’s infectious.”
She stretched out her legs on the coffee table. “Do you like to dance?”
“Yeah, you don’t?”
“I can’t believe a big-time businessman like you dances.”
He put his feet on the floor and leaned forward. “That sounds like a challenge.”
She scoffed. “No. It’s not a challenge, just a guess.”
He pointed to a speaker in the ceiling. “Can they change the muzak to anything?”
“I don’t know.”
He got up and went to the counter, talked to the worker behind the counter, and left his phone with a cued playlist.
“You’re about to see just how well I can dance,” he said as he returned to the couch.
She wrinkled her forehead. “What? What are you doing?”
He held out his hand. “Would you dance with me?”
Opie let out a nervous laugh. “Here? Are you insane? I don’t even hear any music.”
Dominic glanced behind him to make sure the young kid was doing what he asked him. “Give it a minute.” He moved into a bigger space and held out his hand again.
Opie inched her way around the table, took his hand, and waited. “I still hear nothing.”
“You need some help?” he called over his shoulder.
Within seconds the undeniable ring of brass poured from the loudspeakers. He pulled her close and moved side to side.
“In the Mood? Are you kidding me?”
“What wrong with the classics?” he asked.
She stepped on his toes. Her eyes went wide and her cheeks flushed. “Oh, God, I’m sorry.”
He said, “Don’t worry about it. Just let me lead.”
He brought both her hands down to waist level, sliding his thumb to the top, and holding her in a double handhold. She stepped on his foot. Her laughter was light and enhanced her natural features.
When she stepped on him a third time, however, her frustration was obvious. She dropped her hands and pouted. Man, if she looked pretty when she smiled, she was gorgeous when she frowned. He wanted to taste her bottom lip and never let her go.
“I’m sorry, I just don’t know if I can get this,” she said.
He checked his watch. “I have five more minutes. Want to try one more time? I don’t see you as one to walk away from a challenge.”
One of her eyebrows cocked up.
Ah, you have a competitive streak. I can work with that.
He asked the kid to start the song again. After the introduction, they began swaying. Once she seemed comfortable with that, he added sidestep. Then he showed her how to rock-step back. Before the end of the song, they were dancing.
The song ended.
“I’m sure my time is up.” He still held her hands.
She glanced over his shoulder to the counter. “Maybe one more song.”
Three songs later, he retrieved his phone from the clerk and joined her on the couch.
“Where did you learn to dance like that?” she asked.
“I once owned a dance studio. I stopped by for lessons even after I sold it.”
“You? A dance studio? A bar and a dance studio?”
“I’ve owned a lot of businesses. As I said, I help people get their businesses started.”
“Um, no offense, but wouldn’t it be better to get a loan from the bank?”
“Perhaps, but I work with people a bank wouldn’t, and I work with them on marketing and production. Banks don’t do that.”
She straightened her posture and narrowed her eyes.
“What’s that look for?” he asked.
“You aren’t what I thought.”
“And what were your thoughts?”
She clucked her tongue. “Well, at first I thought you might be a bit of a jerk. Cocky, you know?”
“I take that as a compliment.”
She checked her watch. “Um, would you, er…” She waved her hand in the air and stopped talking.
“Would I what?”
“It’s just that, um, it’s been a long time since there’s been another horse shifter out here. Tons of wolves, coyotes, and bears, but never any horses. I’ve been so busy that I haven’t had a chance to run. Would you like to run with me?”
“Yes.” His voice cracked like a young boy. He cleared his throat. “Yeah. I don’t run with other horses much. It’s late, though, and I don’t want to ruin your early morning.”
She stood and stretched. “That’s why God invented coffee, right?”
They stashed her camera bag at the counter then walked to the end of the property.
“We can follow the trail, but I know another way down to the bottom of the canyon. It’s a bit of a challenge, so maybe you won’t be able to do it.” She batted her eyes, challenging.
He started undressing. “See if you can keep up.”
Before Opie shifted, she stood naked in the moonlight. Her tan skin glowed the color of wheat in the light. The cold air hardened her nipples, and smoke rings circled as her warm breath contacted the cold.
Her transition was smooth and elegant. She neighed and struck the ground with a hoof.
He gasped his next breath deciding right then. He’d follow her wherever she went.
Chapter Eight
Opal
The night was cold, but it didn’t take Opie long to warm-up. Each stride grew in length as stiff unused muscles flexed. Two owls called to each other. The smell of snow hung heavy in the sky. Dust tickled her nose with each push off the ground. She’d forgotten how alive running made her feel.
She didn’t pick an easy way to the bottom. The path was one she knew well and had been running since she was young. He never once passed her, but she didn’t know if that was by choice. Perhaps he enjoyed watching her from the backside.
At the bottom of the canyon, both horses stopped and drank from the water. The ice on the bank crunched beneath their hooves. They nudged each other, nipping for fun. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, her attraction pushed her heat more than muscle use. He was beautiful.
He took advantage of her distraction and took off in the direction they came.
Before long, they were back at the resort, shifted, and dressed.
“That was incredible. I haven’t run like that since, since I can’t remember when.”
“It’s been a long time for me too.”
They headed back to the lobby, she retrieved her camera bag, and he walked her to the car.
“Are you nervous about tomorrow night?” She opened the trunk to put in her bag.
He shrugged. “How bad can it be?”
She cocked an eyebrow. “I’d be scared.”
He turned and rested against the trunk. “I bet you’d raise a lot of money. You might even get the highest bid.”
“That’s sweet to say, but what if it was a whacko?”
“Wednesday told us that all the winners would be vetted before completing the deal.”
“Then I guess the only other thing you have to worry about is what if nobody bids on you?”
“I’m not worried about that. Might be easier if no one does. I told Gerri when she asked, I could write a very nice check, but she insisted I do this. Now, if you were a participant like I said, I’m sure you’d bring in the highest bid.”
She joined him in resting on the trunk. In horse form, the chilly air hadn’t bothered her, but now, she regretted not grabbing a jacket before leaving home.
“You’re shivering,” Dominic said.
“It’s gotten a little cold.”
He put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him. The smell of wood smoke and cinnamon woke up every part of her body. She didn’t want to leave.
What would Dominic think if she suggested staying?
She turned her head, expecting to say goodbye, but his face was close enough
to hers that their lips brushed. Sparks ignited inside her, increasing the beat of her heart.
He pulled back enough for her to catch her breath but then closed in like before. He twisted his body, so he stood in front of her with one leg straddled on each side. As his hand slipped up her arms to her face, she stuck out her chest yearning to close the slight gap between them. Her hands rested on his hips while his hands continued to move upward to the back of her head.
“I know it’s late,” he said between kisses, “but I’m not ready to let you go.”
She mewled, her head spinning.
His arms wrapped tighter around her, and his hands pushed her into him. Heat rose between her legs. His excitement was clear as she wrapped her hands around his back and held him as tight as he held her.
She gulped raspy breaths. Putting her arms between them and gently pushing away, she apologized and slid off the trunk.
“It’s late. I need to go.”
He stepped back, a surprised look on his face. “Oh. I see. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for things. It’s just that…”
She put her hands on his face. He rubbed his face against her hand, inhaling. She almost lost her courage. But Dominic was more than her usual one-night stand.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for. It’s getting late, and like I said, there’s a wedding to shoot before the auction tomorrow night.” She snickered. “I guess now, it’s later today.”
He stepped back and put his hands in his pockets. “I had a really nice time. Thank you for staying with me a little longer.”
She unlocked her car. “I’m the one who should thank you. Swing dance is new to me. It was fun, and I can’t believe we did it in the lobby.”
“I’ll see you tonight.” He stepped in and kissed her on the cheek.
That simple movement made her panties wetter than anything he had done the entire night. The soft-hearted jester was so uncharacteristic of the man she thought he was.
She watched him in her rearview mirror as she drove away. The only certainty she had was that no one would outbid her for Kingston.
“Lou, if you don’t hurry, we’ll be late.” Opal grabbed her camera bag and headed to the door.
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