The Lion Within (Ghost Cat Shifters #1) (9 page)

Vivi nodded wryly. “Hey, it’s not exactly bad to be into someone who’s clearly just as into you.”

Her belly somersaulted and hope tap-danced in her heart. “You think?”

Vivi grinned. “Uh, yeah. You two were in your own little world. I’m amazed you didn’t melt each other on sight.”

Sophia giggled and then sobered. “That’s good to know, but it doesn’t change the fact I don’t exactly have time…”

Vivi threw her hands up in time out again. “Stop it! Stop throwing up all these barriers. You will always be busy with work. That’s life. Sure, it’s been an eventful and difficult year for your family. You know damn well the last thing they want is you putting your life on hold all because you think you have to give every second of your spare time to them. You can be there for Heath and your parents and have a life. Honestly, it’s probably better for Heath if you’re not hovering. He’s got to do this on his own.”

Sophia took a deep breath and idly traced the edge of the fruit bowl on the table. “I know,” she said softly. “I don’t mean to make it seem like I’m putting up barriers. I just wasn’t expecting to like Daniel this much. There’s also the tiny issue that I don’t even know how much he knows about shifters and how long he’ll be in Painter.”

Vivi sighed dramatically. “Okay. Right, that could be an issue. He’s definitely a shifter. Everyone in his mother’s family was a shifter, not to mention he oozes the whole shifter vibe. Regardless of what he knows or doesn’t know, the reality is he’ll have to come to terms with it one way or another. Maybe you should just ask him about it.”

At Sophia’s wide eyes, Vivi chuckled and stood up, carrying her coffee mug to the sink. She leaned her hips against the counter when she turned back. “You know me, I’m all about just getting it over with.”

She stepped to Sophia’s side and dropped a kiss on her cheek. “Gotta go. Julianna’s bus will be here any minute.” At that, she stroked Daisy quickly and raced out the door.

Chapter 8

Daniel drove down the winding lane that led to his uncle’s home, his mother’s childhood home. The old farmhouse was set back from the road, nestled at the base of the mountains. It was a two-story home with a wrap-around porch and simple white siding. Its age was showing with the paint peeling in areas. The yard was overgrown. A lone car was parked in front of the house. He came to a stop and turned the engine off. Quiet settled around him. He didn’t want to be, but he was nervous. He’d tried calling his uncle with no luck. The man didn’t appear to have a listed number and had essentially no online footprint. His knowledge of his mother’s family had been a void until she finally shared the truth before she died. He’d had a year to absorb the fact he was a shifter, come to terms with the truth behind how his brother died, and now he was about to meet the last living member of his mother’s family.

He stepped out swiftly and paused to glance around. What looked to be a many years overgrown garden was off to one side of the house.
 
A stand of aspen was on the other side. The house faced toward downtown Painter. The picturesque town peeked out of the trees. The mountains rose steeply behind the home, marching skyward. He took a breath and jogged up the stairs. After knocking on the door, he waited long enough he began to wonder if anyone was home. Just as he was about to try knocking once more, the door opened.

A man stood there. He was tall, just a shade shorter than Daniel who was taller than average at six foot three inches. He had mostly gray hair and faded blue eyes. Daniel couldn’t have said what he expected, but it wasn’t this. The man’s expression was flat. He arched a brow. “Can I help you?”

“I was looking for Nelson Weaver. You wouldn’t happen to be him, would you?”

A small part of Daniel hoped this man wasn’t because he was anything but welcoming. The man cocked his head to the side and nodded slowly.

“I’m Nelson. Who are you?”

“I’m Daniel Hayes, your nephew.” The words were difficult to force out.

Nelson’s eyes widened. “Holy shit,” he muttered. “What the hell are you doing in Painter?”

Daniel considered his words for a moment and decided to be just as blunt as Nelson. “My mother died last year. She finally told me what happened to David and why we moved away. Before I knew all that, she talked a lot about Painter and how much she missed it. I decided to come see the place she loved so much and see if I could reconnect with any family. As far as I can find out, you’re the only family left in the area.”

Nelson stepped back from the door and gestured for Daniel to come in. He still didn’t seem warm and friendly, although he was clearly curious. Daniel followed him inside and looked around. They passed through a foyer. Directly ahead was a staircase. There were archways on either side of the foyer. One led into a kitchen and the other into a living room area. The home held an empty quality, almost as if no one really lived here. The living room furniture was covered in sheets and didn’t appear to be in use. Nelson led the way into the kitchen. It was a large, country style kitchen with an antique porcelain stove in the center of the far wall with counters circling the room. A large island separated the kitchen from a dining area, which was a table built into a nook with windows on all three sides. More of the overgrown yard was visible.

While this area didn’t appear to be entirely out of use, Nelson clearly spent little time here. A single plate sat in a drying rack by the sink. Nelson sat down at the table and gestured for Daniel to join him. Daniel slid into the bench seat across from Nelson, wondering what to say next. Nelson finally spoke again.

“This is where your mother and I grew up. She loved this old house.”
 

For a flicker, Daniel saw pain in Nelson’s eyes, but it was shuttered quickly. It occurred to him that Nelson had been the one to be here to watch his parents grow old in the aftermath of David’s tragic death. Daniel’s mother had shared she had only occasional visits with her parents in the years after they moved away and that she lost touch with her brother entirely after their parents passed away.

Daniel nodded. “She mentioned the house. She wasn’t even sure it was still in the family.”

Nelson shrugged. “Yeah, we didn’t really stay in touch. Things were rough after your brother died.”

“That’s what my mom said.” Daniel felt off kilter and uncertain what was okay to ask about. His brother’s death was like a bell that wouldn’t stop ringing in his life. He was too young to remember much about David. He’d only been three when David died. He carried a vague memory of a brother who let him sit by him and watch cartoons. More vividly, he recalled the heavy silence that shrouded David’s memory for most of his childhood. What he knew now put it into perspective. His mother carried immense guilt over her little boy shifting unexpectedly in a park. His father carried anger mixed with guilt. Daniel had never had a chance to ask his father about David’s death with the truth helping to guide his questions. What he remembered about his parents’ marriage was they had been deeply in love, a love not often seen. Daniel could look back now and recognize his father’s anger over David’s death and the guilt of feeling that anger. In retrospect, he wouldn’t have been surprised if something such as David’s death could have torn a family apart. Memories of his parents tumbled through his thoughts as he looked across at Nelson. Somehow, the word “rough” didn’t seem to do justice to what David’s death had meant to his family.

Daniel took a breath. “If you’re wondering, I know how David died.” He thought it better to make sure that was clear.

Nelson eyed him for a long moment and nodded sharply. “Alright then. How, uh, how did Sarah die?”

Daniel’s heart squeezed, a lingering pang of grief. “Pneumonia. It got bad fast. She never turned it around. She was at peace by the time she died.”

Nelson was quiet. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”

Daniel shrugged. “Like you said, you lost touch. From what I knew, my parents steered clear of Painter and anyone connected to it after they moved away.”

“That they did.”

Another long silence. Daniel cleared his throat. “Look, I wanted a chance to meet anyone left from my family.”

“I’m it, at least around Painter. We have some cousins scattered around Colorado, but I haven’t stayed in touch with anyone. If you know how David died, then you know that event blew a hole through the shifter community. My parents never really got over it. They pretty much holed themselves up here until they died. I mind my own business. Memories are long in the shifter world. No one forgets. No one blamed David, but what happened put us all at risk. It’s been a long damn time.”

Daniel had been prepared for this because his mother had warned him. “I know. We don’t have to dwell on the heavy stuff. Maybe you can tell me what you do, show me around the house, that kind of thing?”

Nelson was quiet for a beat. The man wasn’t much for conversation that was for sure. “Not much to say. I work for myself doing odd jobs. You’re welcome to take a look around the house. I only use a few parts of it. In case you were wondering, it’s deeded to you when I pass away. My parents set it up that way before they died.”

Uncertain how to respond, Daniel nodded. Over the next half hour, Nelson took Daniel on a cursory tour of the house. As Daniel drove away, the farmhouse fading to a speck in his rear view mirror, he considered that he’d met his uncle and wasn’t inclined to see him again. Nelson left him feeling unsettled. His uncle was distant and guarded to an unusual degree. The only moment when he’d sensed any possibility of warmth was when Nelson had mentioned how Daniel’s mother had loved the house. Daniel couldn’t put his finger on it, but he sensed Nelson’s life had turned onto an unsavory path in the years since David’s death. He was glad for having met him, but he sensed their meeting would be no more than it was.

He found himself driving straight toward downtown Painter and heading to Mile High Grounds. He wanted to see Sophia. No, he
needed
to see Sophia.

***

Sophia quickly prepped another espresso and passed it to Josie. They were in a rhythm. It had been a busy afternoon. She was functioning on autopilot. Tommy caught her eye and mouthed to her. “Bathroom break.” She nodded to him.

“Josie, I’m taking the counter while Tommy grabs a break. Why don’t you take one after he gets back?”

Josie nodded. “Sure.”

As Sophia stepped to the counter, Josie immediately picked up the pace, making two coffees at a time. Sophia entered into the fray of customers, bantering with the regulars. Tommy returned and took over for Josie. The customers eventually began to thin out as they entered into late afternoon. Sophia loved this time of day at the coffee shop. The afternoon sun fell in a slant through the windows, bathing the coffee shop in a soft glow. Customers who were here this time of day tended to be quiet. She usually had time to get caught up in the afternoon. Josie started tidying the shelves of coffee mugs and other supplies they sold out front, while Tommy hunkered down in the back kitchen and prepped pastries for the next day.

Sophia remained at the counter and switched the computer screen over to her supply-ordering page. She worked hard to purchase locally sourced, organic coffee beans and to order organic baking supplies as well. She had a few preferred suppliers and got to work on this month’s order. She was so focused she didn’t hear the next customer approach the counter.

“Sophia?”

Daniel’s voice, low and gravelly, hit her right in her center. Tendrils of heat swirled outward through her body. Her eyes whipped up, slamming into his navy gaze. The air instantly came to life around them, as if lit by a flame. They were both still for a long, taut moment. Sophia finally shook her head. The corner of Daniel’s mouth curled in a half-smile.

“You seem to do that a lot.”

She bit her lip to keep from laughing.

“What is it with you making me shake my head?”

“Don’t go blaming me for that.”

“Okay, you’re not making me shake my head. It just seems like I can’t think straight when you’re around.” She flushed suddenly, aware her words were far more accurate than she might have intended.

“Well, that makes two of us then.”

Daniel’s gaze darkened. Sophia’s pulse skittered, and her breath hitched. Another customer approached at that moment. Daniel stepped to the side. “Go ahead,” he gestured to the woman.

“What can I get for you?” Sophia asked brightly, trying to quell her racing heart. To say Daniel was distracting was a massive understatement. Her body was like a live wire when he was near.

The young woman brushed her blonde hair behind her ears and fiddled with a silver hoop bracelet while she read the chalkboard menu behind the counter. “I’ll take a mocha latte.”

Sophia turned to call out to Tommy who quickly paused in what he was doing and caught her eyes. “Already on it,” he said with a grin. He stepped forward from the baking area in the back and immediately began prepping the latte. Sophia rang the woman up and handed over her change.

Daniel was leaning against the wall by the counter, a hand in his jeans pocket. The planes of his muscled chest filled out his navy t-shirt. Her mind flashed to the feel of his chest under her hands and against her body. Another wash of heat rolled through her. Tommy stepped to her side, sliding the woman’s latte across the counter. “There you go,” Tommy said. After the woman walked away, Tommy turned, his eyes catching hers from the side. “Planning to introduce me to your friend?” he asked just above a whisper.

She flushed straight through. “Of course.” She glanced to Daniel as Tommy turned back to the counter. “Daniel, this is Tommy Dawson.”

Daniel stepped to the counter and reached across to shake Tommy’s hand. “Daniel Hayes. Nice to meet you.”

Tommy grinned, his brown eyes twinkling. “Nice to meet you. How long have you been in Painter?”

“Just moved here recently. I’ve already found my favorite coffee shop,” he replied with a grin.

Tommy chuckled. “Mile High’s the best in town.”

A couple stepped to the counter. Sophia waited on them while Daniel and Tommy continued chatting. Josie made her way back behind the counter. The next hour or so rolled by. Daniel ended up in the small kitchen area in back keeping Tommy company and assisting with the pastry prep for the following morning. He and Tommy had gotten onto the topic of computer coding. Sophia experienced an odd mix of feelings about Daniel’s easy comfort. Part of her thrilled to it, while another part of her kept warning against letting herself get too comfortable. Either way, he spent the afternoon there, leaving her flushed and flustered every time her eyes landed on him. When it came time to close, Tommy and Josie waved her off, insisting they’d close up. She was reluctant at first, but she couldn’t resist the pull to have Daniel to herself. Daniel followed her outside.