Chapter Four
Lily
“Earth to Lily. What’s got you in such a funk today, girl?”
Lily blinked and looked over at Shelli, one of the other girls who worked at the shop with her, and one of her best friends. “Sorry, just tired I guess.”
“Lover boy keep you up late last night?” Shelli wiggled her eyebrows at her. “You must have had one hell of an anniversary.”
“I wish I could blame him for it.” At the look Shelli gave her, she sighed. “After we left the club, I asked him to stay, but he said he had to be at the office really early this morning, and he didn’t think it was fair to me to disturb my sleep so he went home. I’ve just been thinking about other things.”
“Such as? Come on, Lil, talk to me. We’ve got a lull right now; we have time to chat.”
“My past, mostly. It’s been six years since I left home and cut all ties with my family. I guess I’m feeling nostalgic or some shit.” She flashed a cheeky grin. “You would love Slatefall, with all that greenery surrounding the area.” She knew Shelli much preferred the country to the city, but there were more jobs in the city so that was where she lived and worked.
“Maybe you should reach out to your family then. Whatever sent you running from them, it can’t be so bad that you can’t ever go back. They’re your blood, and that’s important.”
“It’s not that easy, not with my father, but maybe I’ll think about it. So, how did your night go?” She decided it was time to change the subject.
“Oh my God, girl, last night rocked. The concert was awesome but the sex with Matt was even better. That man knows what he’s doing, that’s for damn sure. Remind me again why I kept turning him down?” she asked with a laugh.
Lily laughed too. “Because he’s your brother’s best friend and you didn’t want to risk causing trouble between them? Oh, and the fact that he changes women like women change their underwear? That could be it too.”
“Oh yeah, that’s right. But damn, it was worth ignoring all my reasons for turning him down. Even if it was just one night of great sex, it was so fucking worth it.”
They both laughed but were interrupted by the door opening. Lily stifled a groan when Declan walked in.
“Wow, sex on two legs.”
Lily had to bite back the growl that almost came out at Shelli’s comment. When Shelli stepped to the counter and put on one of her smiles that always got her attention from the opposite sex, and sometimes from the same sex, Lily had to push down the spike of jealousy that flared through her. What in the hell was wrong with her?
“Welcome to Gathering Grounds, sugar. What can I get for you?”
Declan looked at the woman who was speaking before he glanced over at Lily.’ “Nothing, thanks. I’m actually here to talk to Lily for a moment.”
“Oh. Go ahead and take a break, Lil. We’re slow enough.” Shelli arched a brow at her.
Lily knew that look. The instant she had the chance, Shelli would be grilling her about him. She wanted to glare at Declan but forced a smile instead. “We can talk over there.” She motioned to a table in the corner. “Would you like a coffee while we chat?”
“You should make him that new drink of yours,” Shelli said, then glanced at him. “It’s really good. A lot of our regulars have taken to ordering it whenever Lily is here to make it.”
“What’s it called?”
“Lupine Spice,” Lily informed him. “It’s a white tea with ginger, cinnamon, clove, and anise. It can be served either hot or cold, and if you get it cold you can have it either blended or iced.”
“I’ll try it hot,” Declan said after a moment.
“Lupine Spice, coming right up.” She fixed herself one as well. When she joined him at the table, she set his cup in front of him, then sat across from him. “Why are you here, Declan?”
“I already told you, I want to talk. About last night.”
She shook her head. “That never should have happened. I’m in a committed relationship and I am not a cheater. I never should have let you kiss me.” She kept her voice low so no one would hear their conversation.
“We both know you couldn’t stop it. We both wanted it, and more. I understand you’re unsure about things, but I’m not walking away, Lily. I know what I want, and what I want is you. I’m not giving up until I have you.”
Her eyes narrowed at him. “Gods, why are all wolves so fucking stubborn?”
“It’s in our nature, doll.” He winked at her and took a sip of his tea. “This is really good. It’s an interesting spice combination. Not worried about your human friends figuring out why you named it Lupine Spice?”
Lily rolled her eyes. “No, I’m not. They’re not as judgmental about shifters down here. I have to get back to work. You really should just go back to Slatefall, Declan, because you’re wasting your time.”
The door opened as she stood and two men stepped inside. Lily grinned when she saw who’d entered the shop. Remy and Gage Delacroix were not only brothers but members of the local shifter group, the Black Water Pard. They were leopards, and one would think with her being a wolf they wouldn’t get along, but they did. “Hey, you two, I haven’t seen you in weeks; you had me worried. Everything okay?” She stopped long enough to give them both a quick hug before she slipped behind the counter.
“Yeah, just had some tings to take care of, cher,” Remy said. “Lookin’ good. Still seein’ dat boy, Keith?” he asked as he took a seat at the counter.
Gage slid into the seat next to his brother and rolled his eyes. Remy was a shameless flirt but he didn’t mean anything by it most of the time.
Lily laughed. “He’s not a boy, Remy, and yes, we’re still dating.” She knew the instant they caught Declan’s scent because both males tensed. They turned on the stools and focused their attention on him. Damn it. “Before you both go getting all territorial, this is Declan Monroe. My father sent him here.” They knew all about why she’d fled her home in Montana. She’d been at the shop a week the first time she’d met them and discovered she was in Pard territory. She’d had to meet with their Alpha, Caine Bordeaux, and tell him the entire story. It was with his permission that she remained in their territory, and over the last four years, she’d become close with several members of the Pard. She had a feeling they came in so much because they were keeping an eye on her.
Declan
When he’d entered the shop, Declan had approached the counter. There was a time when the look the other server gave him would have gotten a reaction from him. Once upon a time he would have looked the woman over and taken her up on the unspoken offer of getting her under him. He was a male, after all, and the woman exuded sex appeal. But he wasn’t interested. No, the object of his desire was standing a little behind her. Lily. The woman was fucking gorgeous. She had curves in all the right places. Lily wasn’t one of those women who bought into the media hype that said a woman had to be a size two to be beautiful, and she definitely flaunted her curves. He loved a woman with confidence.
He’d managed to get Lily to sit down and talk with him for a few minutes. It didn’t go quite as well as he’d hoped, but then he really hadn’t expected her to just give in. No, she had a stubborn streak that both frustrated him and turned him on.
“I have to get back to work. You really should just go back to Slatefall, Declan, because you’re wasting your time.”
He’d started to argue with her but didn’t get the chance. When the door had opened and the two men entered, Declan hadn’t missed the way Lily’s face had lit up when she’d seen them. His eyes narrowed. Who the fuck were they and why was she so happy to see them? He had to stifle his growl when she hugged them before she headed back around the counter. For a woman who professed to care so much about her boyfriend, she was awfully friendly with other men. He cocked a brow when they suddenly turned on the stools. If they realized he was there, they had to be shifters, as well. The question was, what species? He rose from where he was sitting and approached them with a cocky look on his face.
As Declan made his way to them, Lily spoke up. “Declan, this is Remy and Gage Delacroix; they’re part of the Black Water Pard and this is their territory’.”
Declan glanced at her. “You could have shared that bit of information a little sooner.”
She gave a mockingly sweet smile. “And ruin all the fun? Now why would I do that? Besides, if you’d left when I told you to go tell my father to shove it, there wouldn’t be an issue now, would there?”
Gage laughed. “You have got one hell of a wicked sense of humor, Lily.”
Declan felt his hackles rise. He needed to get out of there before he did something stupid. “I’ve got to head out but I’ll be back later,” he told her and left. If he’d stayed much longer there would have been a fight between him and the Delacroix brothers. They were too damn friendly with his mate and he didn’t like it.
Lily
Lily relaxed once he was gone and focused on the brothers. “I really was worried about you two. You usually come in here once a week and it’s been three since I saw you last.”
“We’ve had some…issues to take care of. No’ting to worry about,” Remy said. “So, let me guess, you’ve found your mate, or rather he’s found you, but you, bein’ you, you’re fightin’ it aren’t you, cher?”
She gave him a dirty look. “I’m dating someone, and I’m not a cheater, so yes, I’m ignoring it.”
Gage shook his head. “You can only do dat for so long before da attraction is too strong. We have to be gettin’ back. Just wanted to drop in to grab some coffee and see how you were doin’. Does he know why you left home?” He picked up the coffee she set in front of him and took a sip.
“Yes, he knows. I’ve already told him I’m not going back there so he’s wasting his time hanging around hoping I’ll change my mind and let him drag me back to Montana. This is home now and this is where I’m staying.”
Remy and Gage both chuckled. “Dat wolf has his work cut out for him if he hopes to claim you as his mate, cher,” Remy said. “Like Gage said, we better get out of here. Watch your back, Lily. Dere have been some…problems lately with some jaguar shifters. We’re lookin’ into it and takin’ care of it, but you still need to keep an eye out. If you see anyting dat gets your hackles up, let us know.”
Lily blinked. “Jaguars? Do I even want to know?” At the shake of his head, she sighed. “I’ll keep an eye out. Take care, and don’t be such strangers.” There was a teasing note in her voice.
Gage looked at her. “You know you’ll have to bring him to meet Caine. He’s in our territory; if he doesn’t want to have da Pard huntin’ him, he needs to get Caine’s permission to stay in New Orleans.”
Lily sighed. “Yeah, I know. I just keep hoping he’ll take the hint and go back to Montana.”
“Cher, you’re his mate, whether you like it or not. He’s not gonna leave unless you’re wit’ him. Let me know when you’re ready to bring him out to da compound, and I’ll bring da boat,” Remy told her.
“Yeah, yeah. I know. I’m not off again for a couple of days; I’ll get him out there then.”
“You do dat, cher,” he replied before he grabbed his coffee and headed out with his brother.
Lily watched them go. She couldn’t help but wonder what trouble was brewing between the Black Water Pard and the Red Moon Clan. Why were the jaguars, who’d been content to remain in their own territory for so long, suddenly coming into Black Water Pard territory, causing trouble? With a soft sigh she pushed the thought out of her mind—it wasn’t like there was anything she could do about it—and turned her attention to her work.