Two months later, Tamara informed Jenny that she was selling the house. “I’m sorry,” she’d said, “but I just can’t stand living here without your dad. I’ll give you and your brother half of what I get. Your dad would’ve wanted that—and I want it too.”

  Jenny could’ve argued, but what was the use? As spouse, Tamara had automatically inherited the house, since her dad had never gotten around to making a will. Not to mention that her stepmom had aged ten years in the past couple of months. She’d stopped eating, and the woman who was always neat and well-dressed was now in baggy sweats with gray roots showing under her auburn dye job.

  Maybe it would be good for both of them to sell the house. And Jenny’s brother didn’t care; Sam was career Army, and a nomad at heart. He’d probably never settle down. In fact, he was thrilled to get his share of the money that Tamara promised them.

  So Jenny moved in with a friend from high school and started thinking about what to do with the rest of her life. That had led to Grace Harbor…and this date with a sexy shifter.

  Her dad had always said life was damn strange.

  Now as Chico took the seat to Jenny’s left, she saw the server’s eyes widen when the woman realized she was serving a fada—or maybe it was just Chico. The man was serious eye-candy.

  They ordered drinks, wine for her and a Mexican beer for him. The server left, and Jenny picked up her menu, but instead of reading it, she eyed Chico over the top.

  He’d exchanged his usual T-shirt and cargo pants for a soft green button-up shirt and dark jeans. The shirt’s top two buttons were undone, revealing the strong brown column of his throat.

  She had the urge to lean forward and lick him, right there in the restaurant. To find out how he tasted, take in his scent.

  Her inner thighs clenched.

  His nostrils flared. She recalled how he’d seemed to scent her distress yesterday, and her cheeks heated. People said the fada’s sense of smell was a hundred times better than a human’s.

  “You can smell…me?”

  He shrugged a big shoulder. “I’m a fada.”

  “So, you’re scenting these things about us all the time?”

  “Yeah, but we focus on whoever we’re with. Just like you—right now, you can see everyone nearby, but you’re focused on me. The brain can only take in so much information at a time.”

  “Makes sense.”

  He slid her a look. “Does it bother you, my being part-animal?”

  She frowned and set down her menu. “If it did, I wouldn’t be out with you.”

  He tilted his head. “You mean that, don’t you? Some humans look down on us for our animal genes.”

  “But then, some people are afraid of anything different. You think I don’t get the Native- Americans-are-exotic thing? Which is funny, since we’re the original inhabitants.”

  His gaze flicked to the black braid hanging over her shoulder. “So you’re Native American?”

  “My dad was part Ojibwe and part German. Mom was Polish and Irish.”

  “Sounds kind of like me. My mom’s an American sea fada, born and raised on Block Island. But my pai—my dad—is a Portuguese river fada.”

  “And deep down,” she continued, “we’re all animals, aren’t we? No, I find it interesting.”

  “Interesting,” he repeated. “Can we change that to hot? Irresistible? Or even insanely sexy?”

  “Hm.” She pursed her lips teasingly. “We could. But I’ll need proof…”

  The look he gave her made her toes curl. He leaned closer. “I’d be happy to provide any proof you want, pretty Jenny.”

  And maybe I’ll let you.

  But she didn’t say it. Instead, she just smiled.

  The waitress returned with their drinks and asked if they were ready to order.

  Jenny blinked. She hadn’t even looked at the menu.

  “Try the rockfish,” Chico suggested. “I hear it’s good here.”

  “Excellent choice.” The waitress gave him a flirtatious smile that made Jenny want to elbow her—hard.

  “All right.” Jenny closed her menu.

  They both ordered the rockfish and salads, and the waitress left again.

  Chico leaned forward. “So,” he said, “what were you working on this afternoon that had you so involved you didn’t eat?”

  Dinner flew by. The two of them started talking and didn’t stop. Jenny told Chico more about crafting jewelry, and he talked about life at Rock Run. People said the fada were tough, unfriendly, their clans little better than gangs, but his stories about his family and friends made her envious. Here she was practically an orphan, and he had a whole clan.

  Before she knew it, a couple of hours had passed. The waitress took away their plates and asked if they wanted dessert.

  Jenny and Chico grinned at each other. “Do you have the chocolate lava cake tonight?” he asked the waitress.

  “Sure do.”

  “Bring us one of those, and two cups of coffee.”

  When it arrived, Chico scooted closer until their thighs touched. “Here.” He scooped up some cake and held the fork to her lips.

  The cake was dark chocolate outside with more chocolate melted in the middle. She gave a small moan. If heaven had a dessert, chocolate lava cake was it.

  Chico’s eyes darkened to the color of the cake. “Good?”

  She swallowed the rich, gooey morsel. “God, yes.”

  He took a bite himself and then brought another forkful to her lips. “Have some more.”

  When she was done chewing, he touched the corner of her mouth. “You have a tiny piece here. D’you mind—?” He leaned closer.

  She shook her head, mesmerized. He was so big, so warm. He smelled of chocolate and his own spicy self. Just like yesterday, she wanted to curl into him and stay for a while.

  His fingers curved around her nape. He licked the crumb off the corner of her mouth and then nibbled her lower lip before sitting back again.

  Jenny took a jagged breath and then picked up her coffee with both hands. She held the cup for a few moments to center herself before taking a drink.

  The dolphin pendant had heated again. The warmth seemed to go clear through to her heart. And suddenly, she knew.

  She would’ve realized it before, but he was a river fada, which to her meant fish, otters—river animals, in other words.

  A weird mix of excitement and wariness washed over her. She took another sip of coffee and then set the cup on the saucer. “What’s your animal, Chico?”

  He raised a brow, but said, “Water fada have more than one animal. But we do have a favorite.”

  “And?”

  “Mine’s a dolphin.”

  4

  Chico watched as Jenny’s eyes widened. “But…dolphins aren’t river animals.”

  “Sure they are,” he replied. “Haven’t you ever heard of the pink dolphins in the Amazon?”

  “Pink? You’re messing with me, right?”

  “Nope. They really exist, and I have the cousins to prove it. But I’m a river dolphin. Our skin is dark gray, not light gray like a bottlenose, and we have a longer beak. But even a bottlenose can survive in tidal rivers or estuaries like the Chesapeake Bay.”

  Jenny’s hand went partway to her pendant, and then back to the table. Her fine black brows scrunched together.

  “It doesn’t mean anything,” she muttered.

  “What?” he asked, mystified. Sure, he’d noticed the dolphin on her pendant, but she’d said it had something to do with her father.

  “My spirit animal.” Her voice was hushed. “My grandma always said I’d find him—it.”

  “And the dolphin is your spirit animal?”

  “Yeah. Remember I told you that I had a dream about my dad the night after he passed? In the dream, he led me to my spirit animal—and it was a dolphin.” She grimaced. “Okay, here’s where you back away slowly and tell me it was fun, but you have to leave now.”

  His lips quirked. If it were any other woman, she might be right. But this was Jenny, and as far as he was concerned, he’d be happy to be her spirit animal.

  Hell, he’d be happy to be her animal, period.

  “Hey.” He took her hand. “I’m a shapeshifter, remember? I know magic exists—and it follows its own rules. And my alpha is mated to a fae queen. I’ve seen her work her magic on a dying kid and bring him back to life. And the woman can teleport from place to place. Maybe we don’t have spirit animals, but all of us have a magical Gift.”

  “What’s yours?”

  He hesitated. There was no reason he couldn’t tell a human about his Gift, but he wasn’t the type to spill about things to someone he barely knew.

  But then, Jenny didn’t feel like a stranger.

  She withdrew her hand from his. “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me.”

  She smiled, and he could tell she meant it, but he wanted her to know. “I’m a protector. In the clan, my rank is warrior, but I’m usually assigned to guard duty. I work as a sentry when I’m home, and I also hire out as a bodyguard.”

  “Your Gift makes you extra good at that?”

  “Yeah. It’s hard to explain why it’s different from the men who are hunters or trackers, but it just is. When I’m in protector-mode, nothing gets by me.”

  Except with Lita, things had got twisted so that he hadn’t been sure who to protect—her? Or the people around her?

  Jenny nodded. “I think some humans have Gifts, too. My Ojibwe grandma could talk to spirits, but I can’t do anything. The blood is too diluted in me.”

  He fingered the silver oval. When he spoke, his tone was husky. “My dolphin likes the idea of being your spirit animal.”

  She raised those big doe eyes to him, and his heart clenched. The caution was back. Time to back off.

  “Here.” He nudged her cup in her direction. “Finish your coffee.”

  Back outside, he set an arm around her shoulders and suggested a walk. “If you’re not too cold, that is.”

  “I’d love to.” She slipped an arm around his waist. “I could use some exercise after all that food.”

  They strolled to the Promenade, a boardwalk that curved a half mile along the Chesapeake, and followed it to a platform jutting out over the bay. They halted and gazed out at the smooth expanse of navy-blue water. Several miles distant, the faint lights of the towns on the bay’s eastern shore were visible. Above, clouds drifted moodily over the stars, and to their right, the waxing moon slid down the sky.

  Jenny snuggled into Chico. “I’d like to see your dolphin.”

  “Maybe someday.” He’d never shifted in front of a human.

  “Sorry, was that rude? I don’t know fada etiquette.”

  He suppressed a grin. Because yeah, it was an etiquette thing, but it was also that a fada learned early to hide his animal from the outside world. There’d been a time when humans had hunted shapeshifters with fire and wooden stakes.

  But Jenny was just so damn cute, worrying about fada etiquette.

  “I don’t shift for just anyone. For one thing, I have to get naked.”

  Her low chuckle did funny things to his insides. “Guess I asked for that.”

  His mouth edged up. “You did.”

  He turned so his back was against the wooden rail and drew her to stand between his legs—and suddenly he was dead serious.

  He slid an arm around her waist. With his other hand, he gently grasped the base of her braid, tipping back her head to expose her throat.

  Her breath sped up. Slim fingers curled into his coat.

  “Ask me nicely,” he husked, “and I will.”

  Her pretty lips parted. “Ask you what?”

  “To get naked for you.”

  “So I can see your dolphin?”

  “That’s a thought.” He brushed his mouth over hers. “Although I can think of a better reason…”

  He moved his lips to the smooth skin of her throat. Deus, he loved her scent. Warm, feminine musk with a touch of citrus. The punch of it went straight to his balls.

  He wanted to bite. To leave a mark behind so she’d think about him for the next few days.

  He contented himself with a kiss. Beneath his lips, her pulse ratcheted up. He sucked lightly.

  Her throat worked. “Chico—please. I—”

  He stilled. He wouldn’t mind hearing her beg, but—“That was a ‘please stop,’ wasn’t it?”

  “I’m sorry. But this is moving too fast.”

  He grimaced against her throat and then released her. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. I can slow down.” Because when he finally got her into bed, he wanted her as hot for him as he was for her.

  She gave a jerky nod, and then shivered.

  He muttered a curse. “I’m an ass. You’re cold—let me take you home.”

  At least she trusted him enough now to give him her address. Her apartment was on the second floor of an old Victorian on Union Avenue, with two units on each floor. He followed her upstairs and waited while she unlocked the door of the apartment on the left.

  A big gray tabby strolled out to greet her. Jenny picked him up and rubbed her cheek against his fur.

  “Max. What have you been doing all night?”

  The big cat laid his head against her shoulder and sent Chico an evil look.

  “I’d ask you in,” she said to Chico, “but I have to get up early tomorrow. I’m opening the shop.”

  “Okay, sure.” He touched her cheek.

  Max was between them. He gave an imperious meow and butted his head against Chico’s chest, demanding to be petted.

  Chico scrubbed a hand over the cat’s striped head, his eyes on Jenny. “Good night, then.”

  “Thank you for dinner.” She took a step back and then halted. “Next time, I’ll cook.”

  His heart kicked in his chest. “Sounds like a plan. When?”

  “Sunday? I have the day off.”

  “Great. I’ll bring the wine. Red or white?”

  “Red. I make a killer pasta putanesca. See you at five?”

  “I’ll be here.”

  He turned and loped down the stairs. When he reached the street, he gave a fist pump, and then glanced around sheepishly. But he was alone, save for a beagle in the next yard.

  The dog gave a yip that sounded suspiciously like a laugh and disappeared around the side of the house.

  5

  Lita had learned her lesson well.

  Hide who you are.

  Night fae were the energy vampires of the fae world. Into BDSM in the bedroom and cold, power-hungry bastards outside of it.

  Their ruler was Prince Langdon, who had somehow hung onto power for three centuries, even as his son, Tyrus, methodically killed off his other heirs.

  Hide who you are.

  Lita could still hear her mother Ava hissing in her ear whenever Lita did something that was a little off for a night fae, like sniffing the air to test people’s scents or showing emotions in public. Even wanting a hug in private could earn her a hard slap.

  None of the night fae knew that Lita wasn’t a pureblood fae.

  Yes, Lita’s amber eyes were unusual in her dark-eyed clan, but not unheard of. Fortunately, she’d inherited her mother’s long body, black hair and pointed fae ears. And Ava had been careful to conceal Lita’s ability to tolerate even bright sunlight.

  No one, not even her mother, knew Lita could shift—to a large black bat.

  Now she perched on a tree across from the human’s apartment on Union Avenue and watched as Chico Nobrega got into the SUV and drove off.

  Her breath felt cold in her lungs.

  Chico hadn’t broken her heart. You couldn’t break a heart that had learned darkness from her cold bitch of a mother.

  But her unbroken heart constricted at the thought that he’d found another woman. That he seemed…happy.

  She rose from the tree and flapped across the street to peer in the second-story window. The woman with the black braid and sad eyes had left the living room curtains open. The lights were off, but both night fae and shifters could see in the dark. Lita had no trouble seeing the black-haired woman moving around her apartment.

  She disappeared down the hall, returning a few minutes later in a cotton sleepshirt. Oblivious, she went into the kitchen for a glass of water, but the big gray tabby padding behind her looked straight at Lita. It hissed and arched its back.

  “What’s the matter?” The woman came back into the living room and frowned at the windows.

  Lita flapped back to the tree, watching as the woman rubbed her nape and then pulled the sunny-yellow curtains shut.

  Lita gnashed her teeth.

  Poking its head beneath the curtains, the cat set its front paws on the window sill and stared steadily at her bat-form.

  “Max,” the woman called. “Come here.”

  But the cat waited until Lita dropped out of the tree. She landed on the sidewalk and changed to woman. Unlike a fada, her shift didn’t leave her naked. Fully clothed in black skinny jeans, a white sweater and a red leather jacket, she sauntered up the sidewalk and touched the doorknob. A jolt of magic and the door opened.

  She walked into the foyer and scanned the mailboxes. There was a 2A and a 2B, but 2B had two names. No, 2A had to be the woman’s address.

  J. Erdrich.

  Lita exited and took out her smartphone. It was a simple matter to google J. Erdrich on Union Avenue. She didn’t even have to access the dark web.

  Jennifer Erdrich. The photo matched the woman she’d seen.

  She headed around the corner to where her current bodyguard Neo waited on the next street with their motorcycles.

  She’d hired a Central European earth fada this time, from the same clan as her father. The man who’d impregnated her mother and then left Lita to Ava’s tender mercies.

  Neo shoved a hand through his cropped brown hair. Damn, the man was fine, with broad shoulders and the lean, hard muscles of his wildcat.

  The earth fada narrowed his wideset, cat-gold eyes. “What are you up to?” He suspected this had something to do with Chico Nobrega and was jealous.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15