Shadow Walker (10 page)

The thought of calling Dean lifted the sadness that seemed to have been draped across her shoulders. “I think I’ll give Dean a call as well.”

Casey winked and headed toward the first room in the two-room suite. After a moment Amber got up and headed into her room. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she stared at the phone, at a loss for words. Her hands shook. She pressed send.

The phone hadn’t completed a full ring before it was answered.

“Amber,” he breathed her name.

She shivered, the sound of her name on his lips was like a calming balm. “Dean…”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” Lying back on the bed, she curled the pillow to her chest and closed her eyes. “I’m not sure I like this.”

“The part where you’re in Seattle and I’m here? Or the prospect of you and me?”

Her heart thudded in her chest. “The first part just pisses me off, the second…terrifies me,” she whispered.

* * * *

Listening to Amber over the phone, Dean closed his eyes. He could tell she was upset. She still fought with her conflicting emotions. “Well, we’re making progress then if I terrify you.”

Amber scoffed. “
You
don’t scare me, it’s everything else.”

“I promised you I wouldn’t press anything. We’ll do this at your speed, whatever it takes to make you comfortable.”

She laughed a deep throaty sound that made him shiver. “That’s just it Dean, you’ve completely taken me out of my comfort zone. I feel like I’m just…spiraling, and nothing makes sense. And being away from you…doesn’t feel right.”

The edge of his mouth ticked into a smile. “I know. Now do you understand why I asked Braedyn if I could move to Walker’s Run? I couldn’t walk away from you.”

“It’s going to be a long two weeks, isn’t it?”

“Sooner, if we catch Elan.” Dean clenched his fists, wishing he could wrap his hands around the werewolf’s throat and snap his neck, ending all of their pain.

“I need to ask you a question about Casey.”

“Okay, shoot away.”

“Does she get…bitchy often?”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m her brother. I’m used to teasing those responses out of her. I’m not sure what the norm for her is, your best bet is to ask her assistant.”

“It’s not bad, I’d just gotten used to her being open and somewhat nervous. But I understand she’s just coming out of her heat and was forced to leave her new husband behind. That would make anyone a little bitchy.”

“Yeah, I guess it would.” Dean sighed and closed his eyes again, imagining her face. “I miss you, Amber.”

There was a pause on the line, he heard her stilted breath. “I miss you, too,” she whispered. “Is it supposed to be painful?”

“If you’re emotionally vested, it is. But I think the time apart is going to be good for us. It gives you time to come to terms with your feelings.”

She growled. “Sometimes it’s just easier to think of things the way the Tigress does. Fill my belly, sleep, play as much as possible, and when in heat—fuck like crazy.”

He couldn’t help but laugh, knowing the truth behind her statement. While her body and mind may be mature, Amber was crippled by years of physical and emotional abuse. Braedyn and Aquene had done their best to mend the feral young woman in the last five years, but there was only so much they could do. “I agree it would be a whole lot simpler.”

“How can you stand feeling what everyone else feels?”

“The key is learning how to separate your own. Once you can do that, it’s just a matter blocking out the rest. It’s not always easy, but nothing worth doing ever really is.”

“I’m still not comfortable with my emotions, Dean.”

“I know you’re not.”

“They are hard to process. It’s easier when I can just concentrate on what my body needs—”

“Amber.”

“Yes.”

“Close your eyes.”

“Okay.”

He smiled. “
Are
they closed?”

She let out an explosive sigh. “They are now.”

Dean laughed again. “Concentrate on my voice. Now, what do you want?”

There was a mild sound of annoyance over the line. “I—I can’t find the words to explain.”

If there was anything he’d learned about Amber during their two-day and three-night sequester, was that it was rare she said anything about her feelings. What she did say was direct and blunt. “I’m trying to calm you down, because from the sound of it, you’re not going to sleep well. Now close your eyes, and tell me what you
want
.”

There were a few beats of silence. “I want…” The rest of her response was mumbled.

“Oh, come on.”

“Well what do you want?” she groused back.

“Tell me what you muttered.”

“Dammit Dean—”

He smiled and let out a deep breath. “Okay, fine. I want you. In my arms. In my bed, not necessarily in a sexual manner. I want to put my hand in the small curve of your back and feel your breath against my neck while you curl into me. To smell your hair and feel the warmth that is uniquely you.” An explosive ball of emotion slammed into him. Anger, frustration, pain, need, confusion, all twisted beyond comprehension. The effect was staggering and
all
came from his amazing Tigress.

“
Please
…”

“I’m sorry, it’s usually good to envision things you like before going to sleep. It’s good to imagine what you would rather be doing. A lot of times it’s what gets soldiers through long deployments.”

“Even if it hurts?” Her voice was soft, full of pain.

“It doesn’t always.”

“Do you promise?”

He envisioned holding and calming her. “I do, babe. Eventually the good outweighs the bad, and you’ll understand why we do such stupid things for love.”

“I want you, too, Dean. I…want to try.”

Dean smiled and lay back in the bed, wishing it was her instead of a phone he was clutching. “Good, now go to sleep and get some rest. We’ll talk tomorrow night.”

“Good night Dean.”

The phone signaled that the call had ended. He lay there staring at it for a few long moments. It was going to be a miserable two weeks without her.

The phone in Casey’s suite rang at six-thirty. Amber groaned and rolled out of bed and stumbled in there in time to hear her friend mumble.

“Thank you, can you send up two pots of coffee, a quart of milk, lots of sugar, and about a dozen muffins?” Casey said before hanging up. She sprawled face-down on the bed.

“Coffee on its way?”

Rolling over, Casey blinked up at her and grinned. “You know, you look like shit.”

Trying to run her fingers through the frizzy, curly mess of her hair, Amber cocked a brow at her friend. “You’ve obviously not looked in the mirror yet.”

Casey laughed and stretched. “I slept like crap. I could hear every step in the hallway. Every squeak of the bed springs in the room above me.”

“At least you didn’t have two sex starved maniacs above you.” Amber rubbed her eyes and yawned. “I’d pull out the noise canceling headphones if I felt more comfortable dropping my guard.” Stretching, she stifled a yawn. “I didn’t sleep well, so if I’m bitchy today I apologize ahead of time.”

“We should have enough time to shower before the coffee comes up.”

Amber growled, sauntered back toward her room, and turned on the water. While waiting for it to heat up, she brushed her teeth and combed through the tangles of her hair. The chlorine in the water was strong and burned her nose, but she had to admit the water pressure was divine. Closing her eyes, she reveled in the spray a few minutes before washing up and leaving the tub.

She was towel drying her hair when the door was knocked on.

“Room service.”

Peeking through the peephole, Amber caught him stifle a yawn, and opened the door.

“Oh, good morning.” The guy was hardly more than a boy. He blushed once he got a good look at her.

“It will be once I get a few cups of coffee in me,” she said, opening the door wider, permitting his entry.

“Yes, coffee is here. Now if I could only find a way to filter it straight into my blood stream I would be one happy woman,” Casey said, walking over and handing the boy a ten-dollar tip. “Thank you so much.”

“No problem, thank you.” He stumbled backward and cleared his throat. “You ladies have a great day.”

Casey laughed and flipped the latch, locking the door.

Cocking a brow, Amber shook her head. “What was his problem?”

“The fact you’re just standing there in jeans and a bra, towel drying your hair probably sent his hormones into overdrive, that’s all.” Her friend grinned and shook her head.

“I heard him knock and all I could think was
coffee
, okay. Cut me some slack.” She poured herself a cup and grabbed a strawberry muffin before going back to her room to dress. Finishing up the first cup and pastry, Amber made her way back to the cart. “The coffee is pretty good,” she mumbled around a bite of a banana nut muffin.

“Not bad,” Casey agreed, selecting a muffin for herself. “We’re in the city now—you know you can’t walk around half-dressed.”

“Yep, take a girl from the forest, but you can’t take the forest from the girl.” Amber grinned and shrugged.

The blonde laughed and shook her head. When she finished the last bite and was searching for another muffin, her cell rang. “It’s a little early for Gary to be calling,” she mused before answering. “This is Casey.”

Sitting on the couch with two more muffins and a fresh cup of coffee, Amber listened to their conversation.

“Good morning, Casey.”

“Yes and it is good to
finally
hear from you.”

Amber raised her brows. She knew her friend was agitated with the man but didn’t realize she’d let him know.

He cleared his throat a moment. “I do apologize for yesterday’s inconvenience. It could not be helped and I hoped to make up for it by getting things squared away and set up this morning.”

“There is still a lot that we need to do. For one, I need to know who it is that I’ll be shooting so I can try to figure out where this needs to go. Unless you’ve already got an idea of what you’d like to have done and have yet to share that with me as well.”

And the bitchy side returns,
Amber noted with a grin.

“I—I do apologize for the secrecy, but you know how I am with the privacy of my clients—”

“Well, that’s why I thought you came to me, Gary. Because of the privacy of
my sets
.” Casey flashed a smile and took a sip of her coffee as they waited for his excuses.

“I’m sorry Casey, the client is Aaron Sorenson.”

She grimaced and let out a deep breath. “Uh, okay. I’m not sure where I can go with this. He’s not been in any movies. He doesn’t sing or play any instruments. He did what…one season on one sitcom, ten years ago? Hasn’t dated anyone of particular interest. Could model, but how can I put this lightly? Sorenson is just another A-lister trying to make a name for himself.”

A short bark of laughter came from the phone. “His birthday is in the next couple of days and rather than show him for the partying ways he is more well-known for, we want to try and play up some of his lesser known traits. He is far smarter than people give him credit for. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and will be completing a Law degree at the end of next term.”

“So you want an all grown up perspective? I’m assuming there will be an interview going on somewhere in this, too?”

The agent chuckled again. “Yes there will be, and with your favorite magazine and reporter, too. It will be done on site tomorrow. I can send a car to come and pick you up whenever you are ready.”

“Give us an hour and we’ll be ready.” Casey disconnected the call. “Yay, we have a friggin’ playboy on our hands.” She rolled her eyes, grabbed another muffin, and refilled her coffee.

“You sure sound…thrilled?” Amber commented, polishing off her coffee.

“I’m not overly ecstatic, no.”

Amber grinned and shook her head.

“What?”

“I’ve just not seen this side of you. You’re normally so calm, collected, laid back even. Understandably nervous on occasion, but not…this.”

“I am not really that bad. Gary chose me for this shoot for a reason. I don’t like being jerked around or left in the dark. I was just making sure my point got across.” She glanced at her watch. “Now I have to call Dori and make sure she’s ready.”

Getting up, Amber polished off the first pot of coffee. “She’ll be lucky if there’s any coffee left.”

“She likes those cold coffees anyway, but Dori will deal with what she gets.” Casey groaned when it went to voice mail. “Good morning Sunshine, get your ass out of bed. We leave in less than an hour whether you’re with us or not.” She hung up and finished her muffin.

“What if I mess something up?”

Casey turned to her and shook her head. “No, you won’t. It’s really simple. Dori has worked with me long enough she usually has everything set up for me before I even ask for it. We’ve worked on shoots with Gary before where I had to hire outside assistants, and we were lucky if they had brains enough to put one leg at a time in their pants in the morning. Just follow Dori’s lead. I promise it won’t be bad.”

* * * *

Dori sucked down one cup of coffee in the car while she put on some make up.

“You two are so lucky you don’t have to mess with makeup,” Dori whined, gliding eye liner onto her lids with precision despite the bumpy ride.

“What do you mean by that?” Amber asked, grinning as she watched her juggle the bag of cosmetics.

“Well, look at you two! Casey, I have never seen you look more beautiful in all the time I’ve worked with you. Amber…Jeez…have you really looked at yourself in a mirror? Honest, you could model. You’re far prettier than a lot of the girls we’ve shot over the years, right Case?”

Casey glanced over at Amber and smiled at the disgruntled look she received. “Don’t talk like that. You’re only going to succeed in pissing her off, and Amber is
not
a morning person.”

Dori shook her head with a grin. “Too bad. You’d sell a shit load of men’s magazines. All you’d have to do is give a sexy pout.”