LITMIR.BIZ

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I tossed them at her.

      “You are loyal. I like that in a man.”

      “Just please. Go. Now.”

      “Your loss.” She ran a finger down my arm as she passed me.

      I kept my gaze on the hideous painting on the wall behind the bed as she unlocked the door and left.

      I slapped the locks back into place and overlapped the curtains as far as they’d go.

      Red clouded my vision. Not so much at Sage or whatever her name had been, but at myself. With a clenched fist, I punched the wall.

      In through the nose, out through the mouth.

      How the hell had I made such a mistake?

      She had long, brown, wavy hair and was about the same height as Allie. But that was no excuse.

      The change between the animal and me hadn’t changed fast enough. My mind not being quite human between shifts might have just lost me the person who mattered to me more than life itself.

      I would have to tell Allie. I wasn’t the guy who hid things. Lies had gotten me where I was today, along with the help of a psychotic ghost bitch.

      I slammed the wall with my fist again. Drywall crumbled, leaving a hole.

      The legs of my jeans were still sprawled across the floor. Boxers close to the bed.

      Grace was probably floating around somewhere on a different plane of reality, watching me, laughing at what had just happened.

      Chapter 2

      My mistake gave me more resolve to fight the animal than ever before.

      After two weeks of excruciating self-searching, shifting at will, and almost always terminating the shift when it began, I could stay away no longer. Kaitlyn and Thomas had warned me, I had to be home. Ready or not. When I got there, I didn’t know what would happen.

      And I never walked into a situation without knowing details and having a plan. This was out of character for me. But then when I’d met Allie, she’d started a change.

      The old, crabby guy I’d become from years of separation from her had begun to melt away and that goofy, giddy feeling I’d had in the 1870s had slowly emerged. I hoped that silly but optimistic feeling could continue to grow into all it should have been, after I told Allie the truth. Which was another way I’d matured. Not that I had been a liar, but in my very distinct situation, there had been times when not revealing all the details of a situation had been necessary.

      At least I wouldn’t have to be confronted with Allie’s longing gaze for very long when I reached the property. Aggressive attempts at seductions would probably wan to vexing efforts to avoid me at all costs after I told her of my surprise rendezvous with Sage, the naked waitress. As frustrating as it would be, it would give me some more time to tune the animal out and be as close to a normal human male as possible.

      Beyond the trees, the sky around the estate was brighter than I’d seen it in over a hundred years. The back of the property glowed like a stadium on Super Bowl Sunday and could be seen from miles on approach. Old Buicks to the shiniest newest sports cars lined the drive.

      Not to judge, but old cars probably meant Allie’s biological family.

      New shiny cars held the possibility of single male prospects searching for a hot brunette to cling to their arm or fall into their bed.

      I hadn’t worked on my insecurities. I had every reason to feel insecure around her. If Allie got mad enough after our talk about my moronic mistake in the hotel, I didn’t think I could handle some guy I didn’t know carting her off to God only knew where.

      It was just a party. Deep breathing. In through the nose. Out through the…oh, hell, forget it.

      Why would she throw a party with me gone? Maybe she hadn’t missed me as much as I’d hoped she would. There were so many thoughts in the crowd of people, it was hard to pick out her inner voice to get insight on what she might have been thinking.

      I wiped my sweaty hands on my pants and stalked through the wooded lot beside my cottage. The ground was soft with leftover moisture from rain that hadn’t seemed to stop for the last two days of my leave. Festive music and laughter invaded my private little piece of heaven as I opened my door.

      If Allie felt the need to party, that was fine. I’d stay in my cottage and close my mind off to all the obnoxious cheeriness. After the people were gone, I’d try to approach her.

      I flopped on my sofa and stared out the window. White lights strung around the Rose Maze and all over everything that could hold a light up. People clumped in groups. Staffed dressed in penguin suits carted trays of champagne. Chirpy, buoyant music changed tunes every few minutes. Bursts of laughter sliced at my nerves.

      Feeling sorry for myself would get me nowhere. I’d spent my life allowing adverse circumstances to dictate every step I took.

      Not tonight.

      After I stripped, I dropped my clothes into a hamper and stomped to the bathroom Ava had installed in the area where our old back porch had been. We’d washed in a large tub and used an outhouse near the creek just off the edge of the woods for restroom facilities back in the old days. It was nice not to have to bother with all that work just to make a good impression on Allie’s guests.

      A quick shower, a decent set of non-shit-shoveling clothes, and I was out the door.

      * * * *

      The Rose Maze was named after Amber Rose Rollins, Allie’s first mother. It was the only thing in the back yard that hadn’t changed in the last few weeks. Since Allie had arrived on the property, she’d given the house some shifting abilities of its own.

      As I approached the crowd, soft music, tinkling glasses, and joyous laughter reminded me of how it had been in the 1870s, except then lanterns would have replaced the electricity. And Allie would have glided gracefully through the crowd in one of her elegant flowing gowns.

      She probably donned some troubling little dress that unintentionally gave a nice view of all her endowments. I tugged at my collar.

      “…have you seen her? She’s beautiful.” Near the parking garage, a happy little girl in a crowd of other children bubbled over talking with her hands and trembling with excitement.

      A little boy stuck his chest out. “Well, Miss Knowles kissed me right on the cheek. She said she hoped if she ever had a little boy that he would look just like me.”

      Hmm. She hadn’t struck the idea of having kids out completely. That was a good sign.

      “She gave me a necklace.” Another little girl pointed to her flashy necklace and grinned.

      The community couldn’t help but fall in love with her. I too had been a victim of her contagious personality.

      Slow, deep breaths.

      I allowed only thoughts that would keep me from shuddering to infiltrate my mind. Sunshine. Fields of long grass. Non-sensual thoughts.

      The limestone exterior of the house was cool against my palm as I steadied myself and waited for an explosion of sensory shockwaves when her thoughts or her voice found me, whichever happened first.

      Twenty feet behind the house, her soft voice instigated a natural pull in her direction.

      Straightening my tie, I walked around the corner. Smiling people held glasses, discussed life issues, and nodded amicably in my direction.

      Who’s that? one woman thought.

      He’s a looker, another thought.

      I wish I had this girl’s money. At least she’s doing something for the community. I really shouldn’t be envious. A blonde stared toward the right corner of the patio.

      Holding a wineglass and smiling, Allie stood in a circle of about twenty people,

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