Southern Shifters: Finding Luke (Kindle Worlds Novella) (3 page)

W
e’re closing early
to go over to the bowling alley, and it made sense for the three of us to get ready at Turning Heads. I glance at us in the mirror.

Gigi says, “Thanks for tailoring our shirts, Opal. They look great.”

“You’re welcome.” She glances at me. “Josie is meeting us there?”

My aunt on my mother’s side is our fourth team member. “She is,” says Gigi as she takes a final look in the mirror and smacks her freshly painted lips. “Are we ready?”

I smooth out my shirt over my curves and appreciate Opal’s tailoring as I answer, “We are.”

Our town is small, and the bowling alley is close enough to walk. The cool night air wraps around us, and the sensation for me is like an itchy sweater. It makes me want to brush it off. I recall how nice the same breeze felt yesterday when Luke and I walked to the diner.

I shake off the oddness and ask, “Do any of us know how to bowl?”

Gigi says, “I went a few times as a kid. Haven’t you ever gone?”

“About as much as you have. Opal?”

“I have, and I used to be pretty good.”

“Really?” asks Gigi. “What about Josie?”

“She’s good too,” says Opal. “But I thought this was about meeting men.”

“It is,” says Gigi. When I groan, she bumps against me. “Have hope, Xena. Our mates are out there.”

I know. And mine’s in the form of one sexy bear I can’t get out of my mind.

When we get to the lanes, the aroma of fried food greets us, and we make our way to the desk to get shoes.

Josie sees us and comes over to say, “Oh goodness, those shirts are cute.”

My aunt is a slender woman with Audrey Hepburn grace. She’d have managed to look stunning in the unaltered version of our team shirts.

Opal hands Josie her top. “Here you go. Gigi got our names embroidered on them.” Opal then put her hands on her hips as she strikes a pose and says, “And I gave them a little style.”

Josie grins as she takes her top. “Thanks. I’ll be back in a jiff.”

When we’re all situated, Gigi leaves to find the organizer. I glance at the array of brightly colored shirts of the bowling teams as the players warm up. The crash of pins and clacking of balls is the background to conversation and laughter.

“Finding any prospects?” Opal asks.

I forgot to look. “Not yet. But the night is young.”

A guy walks by us, and Opal leans out to watch him a little longer. “So it is.”

I roll my eyes as Gigi approaches.

She says, “We’re in lane ten.” She waggles her eyebrows at us. “And tonight is coed night. We’re playing Jim’s Raft Tours.”

My stomach clenches as I wonder if that’s who Luke works for.

Josie has joined us and says, “Great.” She points toward the right. “It’s over there.”

As we approach the lane, I discover Luke definitely works for Jim. His broad shoulders fill out a bright-yellow shirt with green lettering, and even though his back is toward me, I’d recognize his musk anywhere.
Me-ow.
Guilt about the way I acted is heavy on my mind, but because the majority of people here are human, this is hardly the place to straighten things out between us. I hope our game isn’t going to be too awkward.

He must detect my scent too, because as we approach, Luke’s shoulders stiffen before he turns around.

Gigi whispers, “Uh-oh.”

Opal hits my arm as though I haven’t noticed Luke. She must still have hope something could blossom between us.

Luke smiles sweetly as if nothing’s wrong. “Ladies, it’s nice to see you again.” He glances at Josie, and I jump in to follow his lead.

I say, “Hi, Luke. This is my aunt, Josie.”

Luke nods at her, and an attractive man next to him says, “Good evening, ladies. I’m Jim. This here’s Ted and Mitch.”

They both have the fit look of men who work physical jobs too, and I detect that Mitch and Jim are werecougars.

Gigi pours on a little charm as she says, “I hope you guys don’t mind, but this our first week, and I’m afraid Xena and I aren’t very good.”

Mitch winks at her. “We won’t mind. We’re just happy to have such beautiful company tonight.”

“Oh good.” She practically bats her eyelashes at him as I glance at Luke.

He’s staring at me, but I can’t read his expression. What I can read is the way my body has begun to hum in his vicinity. Lord help me, I don’t give a damn what kind of shifter he is. I want him.

I shrug my shoulders and offer him an apologetic smile. I hope he’ll take the hint that I want to talk to him when I say to the group, “Excuse me for a moment, I’ll be right back.”

I make my way to the bathrooms and turn back to see if Luke is following. He hasn’t moved, but he’s watching, and I use my hand to indicate I want him to come too. The moment he begins to stalk toward me, my heartbeat quickens with a mix of fear and excitement.

I turn and walk down the hallway. Past the two bathrooms is an employees-only door, and it’s hard on my back as I lean against it for strength. Luke steps in front of me with his arms crossed. His biceps bulge, and my fingers long to hold on.

“Hey,” I say. “I’m really sorry about how I acted last night.”

Luke frowns. “You’ve got a problem with what I am.”

“No. I mean—” I sigh. “It’s just not something that’s done in my clan.” He’s looking at me as if I don’t make sense. “You have to understand—”

“Oh, I get it.” He scans my body with his eyes, and his voice is cold when he says, “I never thought I’d end up with a
cougar.
”

Touché. I reach out and touch his chest. The moment I do, electricity zings through me, and I wobble a bit.

Luke lets out a low growl and presses against me as his hands cage me in. “I want to be mad at you for making me leave the last night, but I can’t be. Not when all I can think about is fucking you against this door.”

My hips move involuntarily toward him to press harder against his erection, and I whisper, “We can’t.”

“We could. And I have half a mind to show you.” He growls again as he grinds his cock against me. “You’re mine, and when this game is over, you better be ready to tell me whose place we’re going to tonight.”

My breasts are against his chest, and my nipples harden as I clutch at his shirt. I squeak out, “I can’t, Luke.”

A sound rumbles in his throat as he asks, “You’re really going to let me being a werebear stop us?”

“Xena?” My mother’s voice carries over to me, and her eyes are wide when Luke steps back to reveal her. Luke excuses himself to push his way into the men’s room as my mother’s gaze becomes a glare. “Xena Lewis, what the hell are you doing with a werebear?”

My whole body is trembling with a mix of desire for Luke and anger at my mother’s reaction. Especially since Luke has to have heard her. I say, “I’m not sure what business that is of yours.”

She grips my arm, and her fingers dig in deeply enough to hurt. “No daughter of mine will disrespect our clan that way.”

I yank out of her grasp. “That’s not your decision to make,
Mother
. Now, if you’ll please step aside, I’ve got a ball to roll, or throw, or—or something.” I do my best to breathe in an effort to calm myself as I walk toward the lanes.

Gigi stares at me in alarm when I land hard on the plastic seat with a thud. I say, “Don’t ask.”

Once Opal and Luke return, we begin the game. When it’s my turn, I try to mimic Josie’s style, but my ball rolls into the gutter for both tries. I’d be embarrassed, but too many other emotions are swimming around in me to care. While everyone else is enjoying themselves, Luke and I remain quiet. I catch him stealing glances at me as I try to study anything but him. And my mother is watching the two of us like a hawk.

When it’s my turn again, Jim says, “Luke, go help her.”

Opal clears her throat in what I guess is an attempt to warn me not to take the assistance. I ignore her as Luke rises to step beside me and places his hands on mine to realign my grip. His gaze is intense as he stares at me.

“You’re mad,” I say.

“Far from it. I’m horny as hell for you and trying to control myself.”

“Oh.” A low purr rumbles through me in response as my cougar defies me.

Luke smirks at me as he releases my hands and says, “Take your steps as your arm swings back.” He demonstrates for me. But watching his bottom flex in his jeans makes it hard to concentrate.

“Got it.” My mind is reeling from the fact that even though I know what Luke is, I’m still attracted to him with the fierceness of the mate connection. I’m not sure I can fight it. I focus on mimicking Luke’s motions as I take my turn. This time when I roll my ball down the lane, I knock over most of the pins. “Yes!” I turn back, and Luke’s grinning as the others clap for me.

“Now all you need is
practice
.” His gaze makes his intention clear as I smolder, imagining what he has in mind.

Opal growls loud enough that Jim stares while Josie elbows her.

I say, “Thanks.” I glance at Jim. “You might regret this.”

His serious gaze makes me think he knows I meant more than suggesting Luke help me with my bowling. He gives me a slight nod that I assume means he’s okay with the situation, and I suppose if he hired Luke in the first place, he might be.

When I go to retrieve my ball for my second turn, I notice Zander a couple lanes down. He’s staring at me as if he could bore holes through my body, but the moment I turn away and notice Luke staring at me too, any concern for what my ex-boyfriend thinks disappears. The look of pride on my mate’s face is all I need, and that scares the hell out of me.

A
fter the game is over
, most of the teams pour into the tavern attached to the bowling alley. The volume of noise that carries out toward us is loud, and Ted mentions how long it would take to get a beer. I wonder if Jim knows that Luke doesn’t like to drink when he suggests we all go to the diner instead.

I know Gigi really wants to go. She and Mitch have been flirting all night, and I won’t ruin her chance at something, so I say, “That’s a great idea.” Plus, even though I’m playing with fire, I can’t help but want to spend more time with Luke.

My mother scowls at the suggestion, but before she can create a scene, Josie says, “Opal, I don’t know about you, but I think we should leave this to the kids. We both have an early day tomorrow, and I can drop you off on my way home.”

I throw my aunt a grateful smile when Opal reluctantly agrees.

As we walk by the bar, I notice Zander again, and he comes toward me. He’s using his predator walk, but not in the sexual way. My stomach clenches, because whatever he’s about to say, it can’t be good.

Gigi whispers, “Want me to intervene?”

I shake my head as Zander asks, “Xena, can I talk to you for a minute?”

As much as I don’t want to get into something with my ex-boyfriend, I think I need to deal with whatever it is he has to say. I turn to the group. “I’ll catch up to you.”

Luke shakes his head as he stares at Zander. A low rumble comes from both men, and Gigi steps in front of Luke. She’s a mighty cougar when she wants to be, and her move speaks volumes to Zander.

She turns to the raft guides to say, “I’ll wait for Xena, and we’ll meet you guys there.”

I glance over at Luke to see his hands are balled up into fists, and I’m afraid of a fight. No doubt any werecougars here would side with Zander, so I say to Luke, “Go. Please. I won’t be long.”

Mitch says to Luke, “C’mon, man. It’s all good.”

Luke scowls at me as a low rumble that is all bear comes from him. But Mitch grabs his arm to lead him away.

Gigi snarls at Zander and says, “I’ll be by the door.”

Once she steps away, I ask, “What’s up?”

Zander speaks in a voice too low for humans to hear. “Are you hooking up with the bear?”

My neck hair bristles, and I wonder who else noticed Luke and me by the bathrooms. “I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

Zander’s cat flashes in his eyes, but he controls himself. “Don’t be stupid, Xena. You know what would happen if you do, and I’d hate to see you get hurt.”

I cross my arms. “Now you care about me getting hurt?” I’m not sure where my words come from, but I add in a low hiss, “I don’t see how Luke being a werebear matters. If the clan can’t get past their prejudice, that’s not really my problem.” Brave words coming from me, because if I do get involved with Luke, my life at home will be over.

“It’s very much a problem. Only purebloods can live in Deal’s Gap, Xena.”

Heat rushes to my face as my protective instincts flare.

He takes me by my arms, and his grip is firm. “Hanging out with that bear is dangerous.”

I snap back, “I can take care of myself.”

Zander’s fingers dig into my flesh as his eyes get hard. While I think Zander is hurt that I’m attracted to a bear, this is more. He’s still in love with me, and I realize I’m being selfish stringing him along. I think I need to tell him the truth. I reach out and touch his chest, but telling him Luke is my mate won’t come out.

I say, “I like him.”

I watch as the pain from my words clouds Zander’s eyes. “I see.” He shakes his head as he releases me to back away.

“I’m sorry. I never wanted to hurt you.”

Zander’s voice is flat, as if he’s putting up a protective wall. “You’re the one who’s going to get hurt.” He turns and walks back to the tavern.

Gigi is by my side in an instant. “What the hell, Xena? Does he plan to hurt you?”

“No. I don’t think so.” I shrug as we begin to walk. “Zander seems to think me being with Luke is dangerous.”

My best friend loops her arm in mine, and the door squeaks open. Night air blasts us as she says, “Spoken like a man hell-bent on getting what he wants. And he’s probably right.” She chuckles. “The way Luke looks at you makes me hot. You sure you don’t want a repeat of last night?”

I sigh, because I do. “This is so complicated.” I glance at the expectant face of Luke as we approach the guys, and any thoughts about Zander’s warning disappear as my cat begins to purr.
I like dangerous.

When we get to the diner and sit, I end up across from Luke. I’m reminded of the last time we ate here. When he nudges my shoe with his, I guess he’s remembering too. Steam rises from our coffee cups as Jenny fills them. Gigi and I order pie, while the guys get greasy appetizer foods.

Gigi says, “Luke, I hear you came from up north. What brought you here?”

He winks at her. “I like trees.”

Gigi says, “Right, because we’re the only town that has them.”

Luke’s spoon clinks against his coffee cup as he stirs. “I needed to get away. I was floundering back home and making bad choices.” He lifts his mug and gazes at me. “And now I realize it was my destiny to come here.”

Gigi hits my thigh in what I think is an “Oh my god!”

Mitch isn’t one to be outdone by Luke’s charm and gazes at Gigi as he says, “Funny how when you least expect it, you find what you’re looking for.”

I hit my friend back with what is definitely an “Oh my god!”

Jim groans. “Seriously? I might need to move to the counter.”

Ted reaches his hand out toward him. “But what about me?”

Jim slaps it away as we laugh.

Plates thump down before us, and I eye the French fries smothered in cheese that Luke got. He slides his plate toward me, and I give him a reluctant grin when he sticks his fork into my chocolate cream pie. The guys entertain Gigi and me with work stories as we eat.

When I’m sure I’ve had enough caffeine that I won’t sleep tonight, we decide it’s time to leave. Ted and Jim live on the edge of town, and we drop them off at the truck they left parked at the bowling alley.

A block down from the diner is where Gigi should turn off, and we stop to say our good-byes.

I wink at Gigi before I say to Mitch, “Luke can walk me home if you take care of Gigi.” Before Mitch can answer, the sound of glass shattering carries to us, and it’s quickly followed by a loud alarm.

I glance at Luke in surprise, and when I realize the direction of the noise is near the salon, I turn to Gigi. Her eyes are wide, and we both take off running. Within seconds, what we fear is right before us. The edges of our broken window shimmer under the light of the street lamps. There is a large hole in the center of it, and for some reason, I focus on the part of the words still left intact. “Turn —eds”

“Holy shit,” says Mitch. His voice breaks me from my trance.

The salon has been a dream for Gigi and me since we were in high school, and it means a lot to both of us.

She has a tear on her cheek as she asks, “Who would do this?”

My keys jingle when I remove them from my pocket and attempt to unlock the door with shaky hands. Luke’s fingers wrap around mine, and he steadies me as we turn it open together.

He steps in first, and I flip on the lights. Shards glitter, and I notice a brick wrapped in a piece of paper is on the floor. My ears ring from the siren, and glass crunches under my feet as I rush to get to the back room and turn off the alarm. When I’m done, I notice Luke bend down to pick up the brick. I know I should go see what’s on the paper, but my stomach rolls as I recall Zander’s words.
“You’re the one who’s going to get hurt.”

Luke reads the note, and when he lowers it to gaze at me, Mitch snatches it out of his hands.

Mitch spits out, “Cowards.”

I step forward as my eyes fill with moisture, and Luke pulls me into an embrace. A low rumble vibrates from his chest as Gigi grabs the paper from Mitch. I let the warmth of Luke comfort me, and Gigi reads it out loud.

“‘Beware of bear.’” She huffs. “Not the brightest bulbs in the pack, are they?”

The intelligence of our vandals isn’t important. Zander was right. Luke being a werebear matters, and shame burns in me as I realize I’m putting more than myself in danger. I never considered how my actions could affect Gigi.

Mitch says, “When we find them, they’re dead.”

Gigi snarls. “You got that right, because I’ll kill them myself.” Her footsteps thud as she stomps over to the storeroom. “Someone’s going to pay for this.”

I gaze at Luke as he growls too. “They sure are.”

I shake my head slowly, because the last thing I want is a brawl that will end up with people dead. The punishment for that would be much greater than being banished from the clan. Gigi returns with a broom, and glass clinks as she begins to sweep up the mess.

Mitch asks, “Do you have any broken-down cardboard we can use?”

I sniff and step away from Luke to answer. “Yes.” I point at the back door that gives us access to the Dumpster we share with neighboring businesses. “I’ll get the duct tape.”

Luke grabs my hand to stop me. “Hey. I won’t let them harm you, Xena.”

I nod before I walk away, but I’m not afraid for me. I’m afraid who they really want to hurt is Luke.