Knight Shift (3 page)

Fire cleared his throat and announced, “I promise to act like a gentleman while in the store.”

Penny looked over at Smoke and asked, “What about you? Do I have to correct you as well?”

Smoke backed away, put his hands up in surrender, and said, “I don’t want to tangle with you. I promise to behave to the best of my ability.”

Now that the scene was over, Mr. Thompson approached with complaint forms in his hand and prepared to grovel. As he joined the group, Fire said, “You hired a good one here. From this day forward, we only want her to help us.”

The other twin added, “And to apologize for our bad behavior, we’ll take two of those.” He pointed to the entire display of rock climbing gear that Penny had just finished rearranging.

Mr. Thompson exhaled in relief that the scene had ended on a positive note.

When he didn’t leave, Fire glared at him, let out a low growl, and said, “Go away, now.”

Mr. Thompson’s face turned white and his heart pounded painfully. As he scurried away, Penny asked, “Boys, I thought you said you would behave?”

Smoke said, “We did. We didn’t touch his ass at all.”

Penny rolled her eyes and then waved over a couple of workers, asking them to package up the twins’ purchases. While they prepared everything, Penny walked the twins to the registers and they began to joke like old friends. After they paid for their items, she escorted them to the door and, when she caught their motorcycles parked outside, she asked, “You’re rides are beautiful, but you won’t be able to carry your packages. Would you like me to have them shipped to your home?”

“No need.” Smoke flipped open his phone and, after a brief conversation, said, “Help is on the way.” While they waited, they talked about good hiking locations nearby and Penny took mental notes on everything they said. Once a car with darkly tinted windows pulled in behind the motorcycles, the twins thanked Penny for her assistance and then kissed her on the cheek.

After they filled the car’s trunk with their packages, they jumped on their motorcycles and Penny gave them a wave, calling “See you in a month.”

Fire winked and called back, “Sooner, I guarantee it, Baby Doll.”

Once the twins were out of the parking lot, Penny turned to go back to work. All of the workers and customers stepped out from their hiding spots and erupted into cheers.

Mr. Thompson approached and patted her on the back, saying “As Manager, I can’t condone you slamming a customer to the floor, but with those two, all normal rules are thrown out the window. You definitely passed your first test.”

Over the next few weeks, the twins stopped into Gone Wild to see Penny several times. At their last visit that week, she greeted them excitedly at the door, saying “Come see my new toy.”

Fire said, “Lead the way, Kitten.”

As they always did, they let Penny walk in front of them so that they could enjoy the view. They thought that her figure was especially nice today because she was wearing form fitting climbing gear.

She stopped abruptly, turned, and asked, “Well, what do you think?” It took the twins a moment to refocus their eyes on something other than her figure. Penny snapped her fingers to get their attention and said, “Eyes over there, boys.”

The twins finally looked where Penny was pointing and Smoke yelled, “Cool!”

As they stared at an enormous rock climbing wall, Penny explained, “I’ve been hounding headquarters since I arrived and they finally gave in. It took all week to get it installed and we just finished.” With a grin from ear to ear, she said, “I was about to give a demonstration to spark some interest, but all of the customers are afraid of trying it out. Since you climb, do you want to take it for a spin with me?”

“Hell, yeah,” the twins said in unison.

Although the twins wanted to climb without gear, after Penny insisted, they finally gave in and let her hook them up. Once ready, she said, “Only two of us can go up at a time. How about Smoke and I go up first?” Looking over at Fire, she asked, “Would you be my bilayer?”

He waggled his eyebrows and said, “You and I bound together by ropes? I love that image. And I would be happy to keep an eye on those curves, Sweet Cheeks.”

Ignoring his comments and yet another nickname, Penny and Smoke got into position. A worker reluctantly stepped forward to be Smoke’s bilayer.

Although Smoke won the race to the top, he was very impressed with Penny’s climbing ability. Soon Fire took his place. By the time they were done playing, Penny had several customers waiting in line to give it a try. To the twin’s dismay, they were men and they seemed to have their eyes on more than Penny’s climbing lessons. When the twins started to scare away her overly attentive customers she politely, but firmly, sent the twins on their way. To entice them to leave, she promised to meet them for a late night snack at a local twenty-four hour diner.

The twins were waiting outside the restaurant leaning against their motorcycles when Penny finally arrived. Fire called, “Nice to see you again, Doll Face.”

“Thanks.” she ignored yet another nickname and said, “I’m hungry. Let’s go in and get something to eat.”

After they entered the restaurant and the hostess approached, she eyed the twins and hesitated. Once Penny got her full attention, she said, “Table for three please.”

The worker nodded, seeming terrified.

Once they were seated at a table with the twins flanking Penny, the hostess quickly made her escape. Penny looked at her new friends and said, “So you come in here and harass the waitresses too.” She said it as a fact, not as a question.

Smoke replied, “Nope. Never been in here before.”

Penny asked puzzled, “Do you know the hostess from somewhere else?”

Fire said, “Nope. Never seen her before.”

Penny’s anger flared as she replied, “Then why did she react to the sight of the two of you? She looked scared to death.”

The twins shrugged and Fire answered, “Most people react to us that way.”

Smoke ran his fingers through his hair and said, “I think they’re overwhelmed by my dazzling beauty.”

Penny rolled her eyes and teased back, “Only in your dreams.”

Once a waitress became brave enough to approach the table, they ordered cheeseburgers for everyone and she was back with their food in record time. Penny guessed that they were trying to get them out of the restaurant as quickly as possible.

While they ate, the twins learned that Penny grew up near the Adirondacks and had very protective twin brothers, Max and Morgan. Based on the gleam in her eyes when she spoke of her family, they knew she cared for them deeply.

Smoke said, “You seem very close to your family. Why did you move away from them?”

“I saw this as an adventure. I’m twenty-five and need to learn to stand on my own two feet. After working here for a few years, I plan on moving back to Virginia. What about you? Is your family local?”

Fire said honestly, “Our real family abandoned us when we were about seven. They couldn’t handle us and we ended up living on the streets.”

Penny gasped and her hands instantly reached out, pressing on top of theirs. “That’s horrible. How did you survive?”

Fire answered, “A man named Ice found us. He took us in and made sure we had clothes and food.”

Smoke added, “He actually saves many homeless kids like us and finds places for us to live.”

“Ice…he sounds like a knight in shining armor. Did he raise you?”

Fire said, “No. He brought us to a couple in this town that took us in. They were also formerly living on the streets and Ice helped them move out here about ten years ago. All of us live in a really cool home tucked high in the mountains. My brother and I’ve lived there for about five years now.”

Smoke added, “The couple couldn’t have children of their own so their family continues to grow by taking in others.”

Penny asked, “How many are in your assembled family?”

Fire replied, “Well, Susi and Sam are our adoptive parents. Ice brought Chad a couple of years before we arrived. Ben’s the youngest and is about eighteen. He moved in only a year ago, so he’s still trying to adjust to his new life here. There were many others that have come and gone over the years.”

Smoke added, “Others randomly stop in whenever they need a safe place to stay. Susi won’t turn anyone away and welcomes anyone into her home.”

Fire nodded and added, “Like Ice. Although he doesn’t live with us full time, Susi insists that he have a room waiting. He comes and goes as he pleases.”

Penny asked, “Ice…is that his real name?”

“No, it’s his street name. Through some digging, Sam somehow found out that his real name is Jax, but he never uses that name and neither do we.”

“I would love to meet him to thank him for what he’s doing. Why don’t you bring him by the store sometime?”

Fire said, “Ahhh, that wouldn’t be a good idea. He’s a bit…cranky.”

Smoke laughed. “That’s a polite word for him.”

Penny replied, “But taking people in off the streets… He’s doing a wonderful thing. Why is he so unfriendly?”

Fire answered, “He grew up on the streets and was forced to learn how to survive. Ice fears nothing and trusts no one. His life makes ours look like we grew up in Disneyland. He’s extremely protective of Sam and those he brings out here.”

Smoke added, “For some reason, he even watches out for my bro and I.”

Penny’s face fell. “I can’t imagine what it would be like to grow up without a family. It’s just not right.” Trying to lighten the mood, she asked, “Based on your credit card information, I know that Fire and Smoke are your street names. Would it be alright if I used your real names?”

The twins stared at each other, silently deciding whether they should allow themselves to become even more personal with the Human sitting beside them. When Fire shrugged his shoulders, they both turned back to Penny and Fire said, “Call me Taylor.”

Smoke said, “And I’m Tadd.”

“Nice to officially meet you, Taylor and Tadd. Your family sounds fascinating. Maybe someday I could meet them.”

Taylor replied, “Maybe, someday,” but he knew that could never happen.

Tadd added, “Well, since you’re far away from your family and it’s obvious that you miss them, Taylor and I are more than willing to step in as your annoying brothers and keep an eye on you.”

Although Tadd spoke with humor in his voice, she could sense the sincerity behind his words and she was touched. “Thanks. That means a lot to me.”

They spent the rest of the meal comparing stories of pranks that they had pulled on family members and friends. The twins won by a landslide. Penny wasn’t sure how their adoptive family survived with those two around.

When they finished their meal, the twins insisted on picking up the bill. They walked Penny to her car and she shocked them both when she gave them each a very tight goodbye hug and a kiss on their cheek. The act left them speechless.

As she drove away, Smoke said to his brother, “You know we shouldn’t be friends with her. She’s Human. If Ice knew...”

Fire said, “I like her and we just have to be careful that Ice doesn’t find out.”

Smoke replied, “What’s the odds of that? We’ve never been able to hide anything from him. He somehow always manages to find out.”

“Then we’ll have to be extra careful.”

Tadd asked with true concern in his voice, “But what if Penny figures out what we are?”

Taylor replied with confidence, “Actually, I think she could handle it.”

Tadd warned, “You may be right, but she wouldn’t be safe if she found out. Remember what Ice did to the last Human that discovered our secret?”

Taylor replied, “We’ll have to keep Penny at a safe distance.”

Looking up and seeing a full moon, Tadd suggested, “Hey, the night is young. Why don’t we go for a run?”

“Sounds like a plan, Bro.”

The twins drove up into the mountains to their favorite nighttime spot. They hid their motorcycles in a small shed and stripped. With a growl, they shifted into their wolf-like forms and ran off into the woods with a howl.

*~*~*~*

A week later while the twins were once again visiting Penny at work, she asked, “Are either of you good at electronics?”

Taylor replied, “You bet, Pumpkin. What’s up?”

“I’ve been living in my home without a television for a couple of months. I’ve tried to set it up several times, but I’m useless. Would the two of you be willing to stop by my cabin on Wednesday night and help me? I’m not a great cook, but I’d be willing to make you dinner.”

With a fake look of concentration, Taylor said, “The two of us alone with you in your home…” After a brief pause, his face lit up and he said, “I’m in.”

No matter how many comments the twins made, she knew that she was safe with her new friends. They were already very protective of her when other customers would become a little too friendly. She scribbled out directions to her cabin and her cell number, handing the slip of paper to Taylor. “I live on E Lolo Pass road, about thirty minutes from here. Could you stop by around 5:00 pm?”

“We’ll be there,” they announced in perfect unison.

*~*~*~*

On the afternoon of the dinner with Penny, the twins rode their motorcycles over to her home. Per directions, they turned off onto a side road that led them into the foothills of the Mt. Hood National Forest. They found her cabin at the end of a long gravel drive, tucked in a grove of trees that rested along the edge of the Sandy River.

Once they parked, they took a quick look around. Tadd asked his brother, “Isn’t this the old Peterson’s hunting cabin?”

Penny, who had stepped out and overheard the question, replied, “Yes it is. When I knew I was moving here, I contacted a local real estate agent and asked her to find me a cabin in the woods. She was friends with Bob and knew he was thinking of selling. He loved this place and agreed to sell it to me only if I fixed it up. I had to do some sweet talking but, in the end, he gave me a great price and I took it. The rest is history.”

Looking around Tadd said, “You’ve really cleaned up this place.”

“It still needs a lot of work, but it’ll come in time and as my budget allows. I think it has great potential.” She gave the twins a quick tour and explained all the changes she wanted to make.

Seeing how desolate the area was, Taylor asked, “Aren’t you afraid to be out here alone? There isn’t anyone that would hear you scream.”

At first she thought his words were teasing but, when she saw the genuine concern in his expression, she smiled and said, “I don’t just sell hunting equipment, I’m a good shot and I can handle myself with a knife. Anyways, I feel much safer out here than in town. A bad guy would have to do some serious hunting to find me.”

When she led them into her bedroom and showed them a sketched outline of a tiger mural she planned to paint on the wall, Tadd yelled, “Excellent! Who’s the artist?”

Penny replied with pride, “I am. Someday I hope to create theme rooms for people for a living. I’m hoping to save enough money from my current job to start my own business. If this room turns out well, I’m going to use it as my advertising. I’m taking pictures as I progress to make a cool video of a before and after transformation.”

Taylor said, “I can’t wait to see what it looks like when you’re done.”

Tadd added excitedly, “I’m handy with video equipment and I would love to help you make the video.”

“I would welcome the assistance. Speaking of equipment, let me show you what I dragged you out here for.” They headed back into the living room and she showed them her electronic nemesis. While they worked, she cooked. They were finishing up when she called them to come eat. It was a beautiful night so they ate outside at the site of her future deck.