Hour of the Lion

Chapter Three

Well, well, well, Alec thought as he strolled down Main Street. Here’s an unanticipated gift. In front of the bookstore was the pretty woman he’d almost managed to arrest last week. Not being in any particular hurry, Alec stuck his hands in his pockets and leaned against a wrought-iron streetlight to enjoy the view. Seemed like that long, wavy brown hair was just begging for a man to bury his fingers in it. The silky strands rippled against her tightly rounded butt, something else that would fill his hands nicely.

The same breeze ruffling her hair brought him the scent of illness, a tad acrid, yet sweet. So she had been sick. He’d wondered…

He’d driven by her house now and then over the past few days. Leaves had built up on the hood of her car. If the lights inside hadn’t moved from room to room, he’d have worried she’d died in there, so it was a relief to see her, not only alive, but out and about.

Yet, even as she innocently perused the bookstore display, she made his instincts twitch like a mouse scenting a wolf in the underbrush. He’d even run her name last week, but no priors had popped up. Hell, nothing had come up. So if she’d been beaten up by a husband or a mugging, she hadn’t reported it.

Then, again, maybe she wasn’t innocently perusing, maybe she was casing the joint, planning to break in. Make off with all of Thorson’s cherished classics, or even the steamy romances favored by ninety-year-old Miss Evangeline.

Couldn’t allow that kind of crime in his quiet town. As a dedicated officer of the law, I must take action immediately. Pushing off the pole, he wandered closer, still enjoying the sight of her backside, at least until he looked up.

She was studying his reflection in the bookstore window. Herne help him. How long had she watched him ogle her ass? Maybe she’d just caught sight of him?

She turned and the decidedly unfriendly expression on her face killed that hope.

Brazen it out? Good afternoon and I couldn’t help admiring your ass? Unfortunately, she didn’t seem to be a female who’d appreciate that type of honesty. He held his hand out instead. “We meet again, Ms. Waverly. How have you been?”

She didn’t look any more thrilled this time than she had the last time they’d met. This outright dislike could give a man a complex.

“Good afternoon, Sheriff.” She didn’t answer his question, obviously hoping to stop the conversation dead. Now, that might work…if he was anyone but Alec McGregor, renowned for never being at a loss for words.

He tilted his head slightly. “It’s good you didn’t say, ‘I’ve been fine’, since you don’t seem like you’ve been fine at all.” And that wasn’t bullshit. She looked like hell. Her pallor had turned her dusky complexion almost yellow. She had dark circles under her eyes. Lost a few pounds too, leaving her high cheekbones standing out like boulders in a meadow. “Have you been ill?”

Despite the annoyance in her eyes, she gave an inaudible sigh and answered, “I apparently picked up some flu bug. This is my first day out of bed.”

“Now, that’s a shame. New to the town and you probably didn’t have anyone you could call to help you out.” He’d seen no other cars in front of the rental house.

“I managed,” she said, briefly and added an insincere, “Thank you.” She turned her gaze back to the store, obviously hoping he’d take the hint and leave.

A pity he wasn’t skilled in the nuances of polite society. He leaned against the plate glass. “You planning to break into the bookstore now? Continue your life of crime?”

“Listen, I wasn’t breaking in. I rented that house, remember?”

He scratched his neck, worked up a befuddled look. “Oh. I forgot.”

That might have been a curse she muttered under her breath before saying, “Well, since you’re here, I wanted to buy a book-and what kind of business name is this anyway? BOOKS.”

Alec grinned. “Thorson, the owner, doesn’t believe in fancying things up.”

“No shit.” She scowled. “None of the lights are on inside. It’s three o’clock on a Saturday. I’ve heard of short business hours, but this is ridiculous.” The edge of annoyance in her voice was sharp as a blade.

“The owner’s out of town for a couple weeks. Need a book, do you?”

“Well, duh,” she muttered. “Yes. I like to read. Any suggestions?”

“Weeell,” Alec drawled, just to see sparks glint in those big brown eyes like solar flares that’d fry anything in their path. The woman needed to mellow out a tad, or her pretty hair would turn gray. “The library is open Monday through Friday.”

“That doesn’t exactly help me today.”

“Baty’s Grocery usually has a few books.”

“Five-count’em-five paperbacks off the best-seller list, and I’ve already read four and wouldn’t read the last if you paid me.” She stopped and considered. “Not even then.”

“Now, Seattle would have a dozen bookstores-”

“My Jeep’s dead.”

“Not been a good day for you, has it?” he said, sympathetically.

“Hell, it’s been a crappy week,” she exploded. Then she laughed-the first time-and his heart slammed right up against his ribcage. Damn, but there was something about her that yanked at him.

“The auto shop will have my car running by tomorrow.” She sighed. “But I don’t have a television or anything to read. I can survive without a TV, but no books? I may die.”

“Have a dead body cluttering up my streets? Can’t be tolerated.” He could only wish that needy expression had been for his attention, dammit.

He moved to stand beside her, unsurprised when she unconsciously stiffened. The girl had rigid lines defining her personal space. Too rigid. Leaning forward, his shoulder rubbed pleasantly against hers as he pointed toward the end of Main, then up-slope to the Wild Hunt. “My brother lives above his tavern and has several walls of books. If you sweet-talked him,”-he fixed her with a stern look-”not, I add, like the poor effort you’ve shown me so far, you might wangle a loan of a couple of books.”

“Thank you, Sheriff,” she said, surprised, but sincere. Then she smiled and added in a sultry, way too suggestive tone, “I’ll try my best to sweet-talk your brother.”

“Oh, hell,” he muttered. Why the hell had he scheduled an interview in five minutes?

Her laugh was low and throaty as amusement turned her copper-colored eyes to gold.

He was a dead man.

Vic stopped just inside the Wild Hunt Tavern to let her eyes adjust from the bright afternoon light. After a moment, she could see the round oak tables scattered across the wide room. An alcove off to the right contained a couple of pool tables and a jukebox with the usual garish lights. Two couches sat in front of a massive fireplace on the left wall. A long dark bar ran the length of the back with a mirror behind it. Automatically she catalogued escape routes: picture windows at front and sides, the back wall to the left had a doorway to the restrooms and kitchen and exit.

Not a bad place. No blood stains were visible on the dark hardwood floor, the jukebox was playing soft country music, and the smell of beer vied with the appealing scent of roasted peanuts.

Trying to ignore the ache in her knee, she strolled past a center table seating three rednecks, probably the drivers for the rigs taking up most of the parking lot. Two men were playing pool. A young college-aged couple by the fireplace held hands and talked quietly, totally enmeshed in their own little world.

Vic frowned and checked the room again. Where was the sheriff’s brother? Or a waitress at least. She slid onto a wooden bar seat. And waited a full minute. Then grabbed a handful of peanuts as a reward for being patient and all that shit. But she owed the deceptively easy-going sheriff a thank you for giving her an excuse to meet a local. It didn’t usually take long to get to know who had information in a town, and who liked to talk. This was an excellent start.

As she cracked peanuts and practiced patience, two of the truckers tossed several dollar bills onto their table and left.

Vic drummed her fingers on the bar. Didn’t anyone work in this joint?

Finally a youngster hurried out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a white apron worn over faded jeans. Sun-colored hair and a British Isle’s complexion, and-Vic frowned-no way was this kid over twenty-one. The girl checked the room, stopping to talk with the people by the fireplace

The remaining trucker, a big man with a florid face, pushed himself to his feet with a grunt of effort. After a furtive glance at the underage waitress, he picked up the money left on the table and lurched toward the door.

The girl looked at the table, and her mouth dropped open. “Hey! You took my tips!” She ran after the trucker and circled to stand in front of him, a chihuahua confronting a rottweiler.

He glared. “Didn’t do nothin’.Get outta my way, kid.”

“Give me back my money.” Hands on hips, the girl had the bravado of a child who’d never been seriously hurt.

That kid was about to learn a really hard lesson. Vic scowled as she eased off the bar stool and crossed the room. And how dumb was this? She hadn’t even healed up from the last fight.

The bastard actually swung at the girl.

Almost too late, Vic slammed her forearm into his, knocking his punch to one side. The kid squeaked in shock and back-pedaled quickly. ’Bout time.

So. Stand down and let him go? Naw, letting the asshole steal from a baby didn’t sit right. “Give the kid back her money, and your afternoon won’t be ruined,” Vic said softly.

“Get the fuck out of my way, or I’ll smash your face.” He waved a beefy fist at her.

Vic pushed the little girl farther away and out of the field of fire. Across the room, the other bar occupants were moving to assist.

She didn’t need or want help. “Oooo, now I’m scared.”

His face turned beet red as his anger overcame his brain-whatever brain he had. Probably not much bigger than his dick. He let out a roar and swung.

Perfect. Vic moved six inches.

His fist hit the door. “Fuck!” Shaking his hand, he reeled back.

While he was distracted, Vic plucked the money out of his undamaged hand. After opening the door, she stood in the opening, waving the dollar bills tauntingly.

He lunged at her. “Bitch, you’re gonna-”

That widdle brain probably couldn’t think of a word nasty enough, Vic figured, and she moved out of the way again. Well, almost out of the way. She did happen to stick her foot out. And maybe lift it a little to improve the guy’s dive.

What a great dive. Face first into the pavement. “Ouch,” Vic said sympathetically, leaning on the open door. “I bet that hurt.”

“Yes, I would assume it did,” said a deep, cold voice next to her.

Her hands coming up in a defensive move, Vic spun to face the man. Black clothing, leanly muscular, chiseled features, forbidding expression. Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Deadly. She hadn’t even heard him approach. Dammit, nobody moved that quietly.

He eased two steps back. “Pardon me. I was simply admiring your work. Bloody fine job.”

Vic was taken in by the calm tone until she met his gaze. His pupils were black with fury.

“Well. Thank you.” A little unnerved, she turned to check the trucker, but he was alive although staggering.

The girl peeked out of the door, saw her assailant retreating, and grabbed Vic around the waist for a hug. As her ribs threatened to cave in, Vic managed not to scream-somehow-though the world spun like a top.

“Oh, thank you! I was, like, really, really scared,” she babbled as Vic tried to escape. The girl had a grip like a plumber’s wrench.

“Here’s your money,” Vic gasped, handing over the dollar bills in exchange for being released.

“Jamie.” The man said the girl’s name, uninflected, just the name, and, shoving the money into her pocket, the child turned to stand military straight in front of…her father?

He was a good six-three, with black hair and a dark complexion where Jamie was short and fair. The kid’s features looked nothing like his, and boy, her impulsive attitude was nothing like his. The man was like a volcano filled with molten magma controlled by thick rock walls. The trucker should be grateful Vic got to him first-this guy would have incinerated him.

Jamie stared at her feet. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I just wanted my money.”

“Indeed. And did confronting a drunk work well for you?”

“I-I didn’t think he’d get so mad.” Her voice was only a whisper. “I was scared.”

Just when Vic had decided the father was a real asshole, he wrapped the little girl in his arms. “So was I, Jamie, so was I.”

Vic bit her lip as her insides turned to mush. Fucking-A, she’d turned into a wimp. Time for a quiet retreat. She glanced at the shaken young couple in the middle of the room, received a thumbs-up from the pool players closer to the door. Rubbing her ribs, she eased away.

The mission had been fun, but not exactly a success-no books, dammit. After letting the door close behind her, she made it partway across the parking lot when she heard the man’s voice. “Stop.” The “please” that followed seemed to an afterthought.

Vic hesitated. Aftermaths, thank yous, and all that shit tended to suck.

But the kid moved faster than a cockroach in the light and planted herself square in Vic’s path. “Daddy wants to talk to you.”

Vic sighed. Knocking munchkins ass-over-teakettle just wasn’t done. She reversed direction with Jamie skipping beside her.

The man held his hand out, his dark eyes intent on hers. “My name is Calum McGregor. This is my bar.” His fingers were callused, firm, and very strong. “Thank you for helping my daughter.”

“I’m Victoria Waverly. And she shouldn’t be left alone in your bar,” Vic said bluntly.

“No, she shouldn’t.” Narrowed eyes the color of slate turned toward his daughter.

The kid’s head went down again. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I saw the men leave and I wanted my tip. I didn’t want that man to take my money.”

“Jamie, he nearly flattened you.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

Vic smothered a smile. Neat trick the girl had, turning a man into a marshmallow. I should take notes.

“We’ll talk at supper tonight,” he said as Jamie pulled the door open. Just when the girl probably thought she’d escaped reprisal, he added, “Before then, please determine what punishment you think would be appropriate.”

Heaving a sigh, Jamie disappeared inside.

“She wasn’t expecting that one,” Vic said in approval.

“Indeed.” The man tucked his fingers under Vic’s arm, steered her firmly across the room, and settled her at the bar. “What can I get you to drink?”

“Just water, please.”

He set a bottled water and glass in front of her and leaned his elbow on the counter. “Is there a way in which I might repay you for saving my daughter?”

Vic almost asked for a book, then reconsidered as she opened the water and took a sip. She needed information about the shifter beasts. She needed to find Lachlan’s grandfather. What better place to do recon than the local-and only-tavern? “I’d like a job.”

“A job?” Calum felt as if the little female had punched him.

Hire a human? In his tavern? He’d offered repayment for balance. The Law of Reciprocity had to be observed, even if with a human. He’d expected her to wave his gesture away or name a monetary amount. But employment? He was trapped in a net of his own making. “Let me think.”

She nodded and sipped her water peacefully, the least anxious job applicant he’d ever seen. He studied her for a minute, taking in the diminutive body-maybe five-four-trim, but shapely with especially fine breasts. Big eyes, long hair that made a man want to tangle his fingers in it, full lips…a lethal little package, in more ways than the trucker had discovered.

He opened a bottle of water for himself, buying time. Two problems arose. The first-the door to the forest tunnels was in the hallway. Would she notice shifters using it? Probably not. She’d spend most of her time in the main room, and the hall also held the restrooms and back exit so there was a reason for people being in that area.

Secondly, how would his shifter customers react to a human employee?

A handful of shifters-especially the older ones-hated humans. Unfortunately for them, unless they wanted to live completely isolated or in Elder Village without amenities, they had to rub shoulders with humans. He looked across the room to where Tom and Pedro were playing pool. They would be no problem. In fact, most of the Daonain wouldn’t care what species the waitress was so long as the drinks arrived in an expeditious manner. They might even be pleased since he’d been short-handed since Tiffany had returned to college last month.

For the human haters… It helped she was female. With the scarcity of female Daonain, women were revered, and that regard would likely be extended to this human.

“Miss Waverly,” he said, drawing her attention. “I don’t have any need for kitchen help. However, although I already have a waitress, I could use a part-timer.” He hesitated and cautioned, “The bar can occasionally get rather rough. Perhaps-”

“It sounds perfect.” She toasted him with her bottle. “Waitress and bouncer combined in one.”

His jaw dropped. “You do not understand. That was a warning.”

She tilted her head, and her lips quirked.

He brought to mind the efficient way she’d dealt with the trucker. No noise during the altercation, no hysterics after. “Indeed, what was I thinking? Your hours would be seven to eleven on Tuesday and Wednesday, four to two-thirty on Friday and Saturday. I pay standard wages; you keep all your tips.”

She held out her hand. “Works for me.”

He took her hand, feeling the calluses on the delicate fingers. She was no stranger to work…or to fighting. “Where did you learn to fight like that?”

“I studied martial arts for a while.”

“Apparently you were an excellent student. Yes, I believe we have an accord. You may start Friday.”

“Great. Now that’s out of the way-is there any chance I can borrow a book?”

What an excellent day-some fun beat-up-the-bad-guy exercise, a new job, a good book. With a wiggle of content, Vic settled herself in the comfortable swing on her front porch and picked up her paperback. A Clancy. Amazing how much the author knew, considering he’d never done covert ops. Maybe she should take notes.

She put her good leg up on the railing with a grunt of pain and sat back carefully. Her ribs were fine until she moved, then it felt as if someone was shoving a buck knife into her side.

Oh, well. She had coffee steaming on the adjacent small table, a book, a comfy swing, and the sun was warm on her legs. The scent of damp grass mingled with a cool piney breeze off the looming mountain, and she didn’t start work until tomorrow. Aside from the fact she had a battered body, had lied to her boss, still had to tell some old guy his grandkid was dead, and needed to investigate weird beastie things that looked the same as normal people, life was perfect.

Taking a sip of coffee, she swirled it in her mouth and hummed in pleasure. Coffee and chocolate-the inventor of mocha should be sainted.

As she tipped the cup up, movement in the big oak tree caught her attention, and she tensed, then relaxed. Not a sniper-branches weren’t thick enough-but what was it? No flutter of wings, no bushy tail. Maybe a cat?

Keeping a wary eye on the tree, she set the swing to gently rocking and dropped the book into her lap. Despite all her preparation, she couldn’t concentrate on reading. Too much hung over her head.

Could Lachlan’s remains have been returned to his family? The local police and ambulance crews had been on-site, so she doubted Swane could spirit Lachlan’s body away. The coffee turned bitter on her tongue as guilt slashed through her. You don’t abandon your teammates, dammit.

But she wasn’t a Marine now. In black ops, there were no teammates.

Concentrate on finding Lachlan’s grandfather. Surely the people here would talk about the kid, whether they thought he was missing or knew he was dead. So just listening might work, even if it took longer.

And what better place for gossip than a bar? She grinned. That had been righteous good luck, being in the right spot to play hero and score a job. It had been good luck for the little girl as well. Vic’s gut tightened at how the trucker had swung at Jamie. I should have drop-kicked his balls over the nearest truck. Then again, his face had met the pavement hard enough to turn it into hamburger. That would have to do.

Forcing the tension out of her muscles, she tilted her head back. The puffy white clouds above were piling up against the mountains and growing darker. Probably would storm tonight. Did werecats run around in the rain?

She sure didn’t know. How the hell am I going to do this? Okay, she could track mountain lions in the woods, but when she found one, how could she tell if it was a shifter or a real cat? She touched her still-tender shoulder and grimaced. Considering she’d discovered, up close and personal, just how friendly mountain lions were when pissed off, that didn’t sound like the plan of the week.

Hunting cougars in the woods is out.

How about searching for shifters in their human form? Not much easier. Like she could run around with a cattle prod and zap townsfolk until one turned all furry? She snorted. Aside from upsetting the local populace, that overly clever sheriff might not warm to the idea. He was already too focused on her and her business.

She remembered too well how he’d studied her with those dark green eyes… Hell, he’d watched her like a kitten watched an ant, waiting for the right moment to pounce.

She pulled in a long breath at that thought-the sheriff pouncing on her, pouncing and then bouncing, that firm mouth on hers, that long muscular body. Just the way he moved-like a warrior-set her insides quivering. Guys like him were hell in a fight and totally the best in bed.

After a sigh, she sucked down some coffee. Been a long dry spell, eh, Vics? She hadn’t had any fun since…when had it been? Ah, the hunky intern in Walter Reed Hospital. Too young to maintain a decent conversation, but hooyah, he was built, and that was all she ever looked for.

Funny how that worked. A close call left her with this…need…to prove she was alive. And nothing demonstrated that faster than sex.

But not this time. A quick fuck with the sheriff might win some information, but would be as dangerous as poking at a rattlesnake. She had a feeling his curiosity wouldn’t diminish with a bout in bed. Probably the reverse.

Ah, well. With a disappointed sigh, she picked up her coffee. Damn but being a good soldier sucked sometimes.

Okay, cougar baiting, whether human or kitty, was out. She’d just have to treat this as a straight information-gathering mission. Let the gossip, the facts, everything flow in without trying to divert it in any one direction, and then filter out the good stuff and see where it led. Lachlan had said there were more shifters here. If so, eventually she’d get an idea how to track them down.

So. I have a plan.

And hey, she had an actual job too. She glanced over at the mountain and tried to locate where the tavern perched just above the town. It was right about-Something in the oak tree rustled the leaves again. The nearest branches bent down, almost touching the porch, and as she watched, a tiny hand the size of a dime snatched an acorn and disappeared.