Chapter Nine – Elise

“This all looks great, Thor.” Elise ran her hand over the new computer monitor. “Have you been working with computers for long?”

“I grew up with them. My stepdad owns the tech store in Bear Bluff.” He fitted a box into the last desk and ran the cables to the monitor. “We bonded over Ethernet cables and routers.”

“Are you…” Elise didn’t finish her question. What if Thor had no idea what she was talking about?

“A shifter?” Thor stood up, his hands on his hips. “I don’t get my muscly physique from my bear shifter genes.”

“Sorry.” She made an apologetic face.

“It’s okay. My mom met my dad when she was at a low point in her life. He picked her up and dusted her off, and took us in. He’s a good man.” Thor sighed. “She’s his mate.”

“And is this what you’ve always wanted to do?” Elise asked, searching for a way to broach the subject of Lauren. Was she a shifter? If Thor wasn’t, then their moping around could simply be a genuine boyfriend-girlfriend break-up.

“Computers?” Thor went back to work. “There’s plenty of work and the money is good. What’s not to like?”

“That isn’t what I asked.” Elise opened her briefcase and took out her notes. Thor had already set up a computer and scanner for her to use.

“I have dreams, but life with my mom taught me that reality is where we live.” He plugged in the monitor and switched it on.

“So, if you could choose what you wanted to be…” Elise placed her first piece of paper under the scanner and pressed scan.

“At school, I liked music. I always had a guitar in my hand. But then I realized my mom needed financial help so I quit music and concentrated on what would earn me money.” He tapped at the keyboard.

“Have you ever thought about getting back into it again? I hear Lauren, who works at the hotel, performs at bars and things.”

Smooth, her bear complimented her.

“Does she?” Thor asked evasively, focusing on the lines of code on the screen.

“Yes. Have you heard her play?” Elise probed.

“Yeah, a couple of times. It’s where we met.” He pressed his lips together as if he’d said too much.

“I asked her to take part in the Midsummer Music Festival in aid of the department. It’s a pity she said no.” Elise watched Thor as the scanner buzzed away doing its job.

“I’m surprised.” He frowned at the screen.

“She said she was busy. Does she have a boyfriend?” Elise watched Thor’s fingers curl into fists.

“Not that I know of.” He tapped the keys harder than needed. “But we’re not close.” He hit the enter key.

Elise didn’t push for any more information, instead, she changed tack. “What about you? Would you sing at the festival? We’d like it to be a celebration of the local people.”

“Knock, knock.” Hank stood in the doorway. “I thought you’d know I was here.”

She smothered her surprise. “I must have been too busy. I was asking Thor about the festival. He plays the guitar.” She arched her eyebrows at Hank, hoping he would pick up her cue and speak to Thor.

“You do, Thor? I had no idea. Do you sing, too?” Hank kissed Elise’s cheek, his hands warm on her arms.

“Not as well as I’d like. It’s a hobby really.” He tapped the keyboard a few more times and then used the mouse to log off. “There. That’s the last one. I’ll come by tomorrow and set up the network.”

Thor collected his tools and shoved them into a hard carrying case.

“See you tomorrow,” Elise said as he left the room as fast as possible.

“What did I miss?” Hank asked quietly.

“You’re right, there is something going on between Thor and Lauren. But I have no idea what. All I know is he’s not a shifter.”

“Lauren is,” Hank told her. “If they are mates, she’s hiding it well.”

Elise checked that the document had scanned. “It all works.” She stretched her back. “I think I’ll call it a day, too. I’ll come in early tomorrow and start properly.”

Hank glanced up at the clock. “You already must be on overtime.”

“No such thing in this job.” Elise gathered up her things. “Did you get a chance to speak to Lauren again?”

Hank frowned. “I did, but I’m not sure I am any wiser. In fact, the conversation highlighted a flaw in my make-up.”

“Which is?” Elise asked as she switched everything off and then locked the office door securely.

“That I do not understand women.” He took her hand and they walked to the elevator together.

“I don’t believe that.” She pressed the button, and then took hold of his other hand. “You couldn’t have written those songs without understanding a woman’s heart.”

“And that is why I haven’t written a song for all these years. I lost my mind.” He crossed his eyes and leaned forward. Elise giggled and kissed his lips as the elevator opened.

“Don’t you miss it? It’s such a talent.”

“I lost my muse, or whatever you want to call it.” They stood side by side as the elevator descended to the ground floor.

“Perhaps you’ll get it back.” It was a crime to think Hank had lost the ability to write songs that touched people deeply.

“Maybe I already have.” He kept his eyes focused on the numbers flashing up above the door.

“You have?” Elise blushed. “Since you met me?”

“Are you having a fangirl moment?” he asked lightly.

“I might be.” She fanned herself with her hand.

“I have a few tunes floating around in my head. A few stray lines of lyrics. I might sit down sometime and see if I can put them together in a coherent fashion.”

The elevator doors opened, and they got out, walking toward the exit. “I might have to chain you to your guitar until you write a song for me.”

“I’d rather you chained me to the bed,” he whispered in her ear.

Elise nudged him. “Are you flirting with me?”

“I am.” The doors slid closed behind them. “But what I’d really like to do with you…”

“Oh, goodness, is this fit to be heard in public?” she asked, looking around to check that no one could hear. As the newest member of the hospital staff, she didn’t need a reputation.

“Is run over the mountain with you.” He looked out enigmatically at the mountain. “Let’s eat and then go and watch the sunset from one of the peaks.”

“That would be amazing. I’ve only ever explored the lower slopes. Some things are more fun when there are two.” She ignored his smirk. “Hank Rivera, you have a dirty mind.”

“And dirty blue jeans.” He tapped his foot as he hummed a tune.

“You might have lost your gift.” She kissed his cheek. “Okay, we’re in separate cars, what’s the plan?”

“Why don’t you go home and change and meet me at my place? I’ll rustle us up a couple of nice juicy steaks, and then we can go for a run.” He stretched his arms above his head. “I need fresh air and a nice mountain breeze on my face.”

Elise walked toward her car. “It is warm. The hospital is so cool, I didn’t realize how hot it was.” Beneath her feet, the asphalt held the heat of the sun. The breeze coming off the mountains was the only thing making the evening bearable. Hot and sultry, sleeping tonight might be less than pleasant.

“My bear knows all the best mountain streams.” He waved as he got in his truck and started the engine. She followed him out of the parking lot and along the first stretch of road toward Bear Creek. Then they went their separate ways.

As she drove, Elise turned the air conditioning up and hummed along to the radio, making mental notes of what tasks she needed to complete to stay on schedule. She’d promised Ben the department would be up and running by the end of the week. Monday, all her files were being delivered so she could add them to the new system. Elise was very thorough, always keeping a digital record and a hard copy. She also had some new files to process.

She added that to the jobs for tomorrow. If she entered the new files into the system, she could give it a proper test run. It would be great to get a match on a patient early on to give the department a boost. A departmental success might even increase the funds raised at the music festival.

Elise reached her house and got out her car, walking to the front door. She couldn’t wait to get her shoes off. A nice soak in a cool mountain pool was just what she needed. As she opened the door and stepped inside, even the mountain of unpacked boxes couldn’t dampen her mood.

In fact, as she looked at them again, after a quick shower and a change of clothes, she was even thinking of not unpacking them. Hank was right, why put off the inevitable? They should find a place they both liked and live together.

“In perfect happi-ness, a sublime state of bl-iss,” she sang loudly as she drove to her mate’s house, a sense of excitement filling her.