Natalie
Natalie woke, not as she usually did to the symphony of car horns and police sirens from the street outside her apartment, but to the sound of absolutely nothing at all.
She blinked, momentarily disorientated, before glancing around and remembering that she wasn’t in that apartment anymore – or even that city. Sitting up, she glanced around. Morning sunlight was streaming through a slight crack in the pale cream curtains of her new room, and when she swung her feet out of the bed, they touched down on a fluffy sheepskin rug that covered the hard wood of the floor.
It was the nicest room she’d ever slept in, by far.
Casey had shown her to it yesterday afternoon, explaining that they had some staff rooms for the seasonal workers they employed at the B&B and the ranch. Natalie had been expecting some cramped little box of a room with a bunk bed and maybe a lamp if she was lucky, so when Casey had opened the door and she had seen what the room had actually looked like, she hadn’t quite been able to stifle her gasp.
The room was just as lovely and cozy as the rest of the B&B – and the bed, when she’d sat on it, had been firm but comfortable, with a large fluffy comforter. It was perfect.
Micah can have the room next to yours, Casey had told her, before hesitating slightly. Unless you’d prefer to have him with you? There’s a trundle bed I could bring in –
Natalie had laughed, shaking her head. No, Micah will be fine. He’s pretty independent.
It was true. Her early working hours meant Micah had had to grow up faster than she’d ever wanted him to. She’d put out his breakfast in the mornings before she left, and he had been responsible for dressing himself and getting himself outside to wait for the bus. He knew to wait until he heard it honking before he left the apartment.
If there was one good thing about her having to leave the house so early, it was that she could be home when he arrived back from school, at least, and they could spend the afternoons together – if the budget would stretch to it, they could even go out and get an ice cream as a treat.
Well, let me know if there’s – if there’s anything I can do for you, Casey had said, and then paused in the doorway a long moment, before quickly exiting and closing the door behind him.
Natalie frowned as she recalled that moment. It had been… strange, but not in any way she could put her finger on. She shivered a little as she remembered the way Casey’s eyes had rested on her. It had been the same expression she’d seen on his face at the bus station: a kind of wide-eyed amazement, as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing.
Natalie felt warmth pooling in her belly as she recalled it. She would have been lying if she’d said she wasn’t attracted to him – powerfully attracted to him.
But who wouldn’t be? she asked herself, rubbing her hands over the goosebumps that suddenly covered her arms. He was an attractive man.
Still, she’d known attractive men in the past, and she couldn’t remember ever feeling the same kind of instant, visceral reaction to them. Not even with Ken, and she had been in love with him.
Or so she’d thought.
She’d been in love with the illusion of him – of the man she thought he was, before he’d revealed his true self.
And by then, she had already been pregnant with Micah, and she had felt strongly that she should try to make things work.
She shuddered, remembering the wide, terrifying smile of the debt collector who had come to her door.
I should have just left him, Natalie thought bitterly. If she’d known he was getting into gambling and taking out loans to cover his losses, she would have.
Shaking her head, she pushed her dark thoughts out of her mind. That was in the past. She had a chance now at a fresh start, here in Cedar Hill. She might have only been here a day, but already she’d been shown more kindness than in the rest of her life put together.
And you can’t mess that up by lusting after inappropriate men, she told herself firmly as she stood up. And no matter which way you sliced it, Casey was inappropriate. He was the son of her employer, and younger than her besides. He looked like he was in his early twenties. She was thirty-seven – much too old for him.
Grabbing her robe from the end of the bed and wrapping it firmly around herself, Natalie laughed. A younger man, who was more handsome than she knew how to describe, who could no doubt have his pick of the Cedar Hill debutantes?
Give me a break.
Opening her bedroom door and heading out into the corridor, Natalie considered heading to the bathroom for a quick shower before going to breakfast. She felt she ought to look more put-together than she had yesterday – after all, what good was a cleaner who couldn’t clean herself?
But first, she supposed, she should check on Micah.
She knocked gently on his bedroom door. “Micah, sweetheart? Are you up?”
No answer. Natalie smiled. Micah was usually an early riser, but he’d had a long day yesterday.
Still, she couldn’t have him sleeping in too late. She didn’t want him to get out of his routine, since she’d be taking him to enroll in Cedar Hill’s small elementary school in a few days’ time.
“Micah, honey, it’s time to get u –”
Natalie pushed the door open, and froze.
The bed was empty.
The sheets were rumpled and the comforter pushed back, and Barry the stegosaurus lay on his side next the pillow. But Micah wasn’t there.
“Micah?” Natalie said, her heart thumping suddenly in her chest.
Don’t panic. Don’t panic.
But as much as she tried to tell herself not to, she felt terror clawing at her throat. The image of the loan shark at her door, with his terrifying smile, popped back into her head.
But he couldn’t have – he’s not here –
Clenching her fists, Natalie tried to calm down and think rationally.
“Micah?” she called again, turning away from the bedroom and heading down the hall toward the kitchen.
But there was no one there, either.
Natalie stood in the middle of the room, fists clenched, frozen in indecision.
Where could he be?
It was then that she heard it: wild, high-pitched childish laughter, coming from beyond the door leading to the yard.
Without pausing for thought, Natalie went to the door and pushed it open, emerging onto the porch that ringed the mansion. Sunlight blinded her for a moment, but after her eyes adjusted she could see an expansive yard, the lawn looking a bit ragged after winter, with newly budding trees scattered over it.
Natalie sucked in a quick breath as she spotted Micah, laughing uproariously, running in circles through the trees, pursued by the little girl they had met yesterday.
In the muddle of her relief, Natalie had to think hard to remember her name – oh, Faith, that’s right, I think – as the girl’s laughter rose to a shriek.
“I’m a lion and I’m gonna catch you!”
The girl’s voice rang through the yard as she crouched into a pounce, before throwing herself forward at Micah.
“Nooooooooo!” Micah yelled, jumping away, twisting to escape her and laughing in a way Natalie hadn’t heard him laugh in years.
“Raaaaar! Come back, dinner!”
Natalie stood on the porch, her hand still resting on the handle of the door, and felt her heartbeat slowly returning to normal.
Or, not normal.
Her heart might not have been thumping against her ribs in panic anymore, but it was still far from normal. Instead, she could feel it clenching in joy.
How long had it been since she had seen Micah playing like this, all his usual shy seriousness evaporating into delighted laughter? How long since she had had the chance to take him somewhere where he could just play, like a carefree child?
She watched as he rolled over on the lawn, always just a moment ahead of Faith’s grasping fingers, hooked like claws, as she tried to catch him.
“Hey Faith, you be careful not to play too rough, now!”
Natalie started slightly at the sound of the male voice from the far side of the garden. She looked over to see Casey standing there, a bowl in one hand and a shiny red apple in the other, a smile on his face. Natalie swallowed, drawing back slightly. She watched as he crossed the yard with a long, easy stride, his muscular legs hugged by the old, faded jeans he was wearing.
“I heard someone yelling about dinner, so I thought you two could do with a snack,” he said as he reached them.
“Food!” Faith yelled, immediately breaking off from her pursuit of Micah and rushing over to Casey. “FOOD!”
Casey laughed and handed her the bowl. “Here, I got you some apples.” He grinned at Micah. “I got the feeling yesterday you liked them – I cut Faith’s up, but I remembered you prefer them whole.”
Micah trotted over to him, looking a little shy. “Is it for me?”
“Sure it is,” Casey said. He tossed the apple gently to Micah. “Help yourself.”
Natalie’s heart was in her throat as she watched Micah lift the apple to his mouth and tuck into it with relish. He loved apples, but her budget would only stretch to real fresh fruit once a week.
Clearly, things were different here.
As Micah and Faith munched happily, Natalie found her eyes drifting back to Casey.
He remembered Micah likes apples.
It seemed such a small thing – but for some reason, it made her heart swell up in her chest. He’d remembered her son liked to eat apples.
Maybe it was the fact she’d been on her own for so long, but the idea that Casey had only met Micah yesterday, but had already learned his favorite food and was looking out for him when he played in the yard made her feel… overwhelmed.
That he was the most gorgeous man Natalie had ever seen was just the icing on the cake.
Or the beefcake, Natalie thought, letting her gaze run appreciatively over Casey’s muscular form again.
“I’m finished!” Faith said, handing her bowl back to Casey. She tugged at Micah’s sleeve. “C’mon, let’s play.”
“Let Micah finish what he’s chewing,” Casey said gently. “And what do you say?”
“Thank you, Uncle Casey,” Faith dutifully intoned, clearly waiting impatiently for Micah to finish.
“Thank you,” Micah echoed when he was finished, putting the core neatly into the bowl.
“I’m gonna chase you,” Faith announced to Micah. “But you have three seconds to get away. One… two…”
Micah shrieked and raced off across the yard, before Faith tore after him in hot pursuit, growling and roaring.
“Mommy!” Micah looked up and saw her, raising his arms to wave at her. “Mooooooommy! Faith is trying to eat me! Help me!”
“No way – you’re on your own!” Natalie called back, laughing. “You think I’m any match for a lion?”
“Grrrrrr!” Faith growled, baring her teeth.
Natalie laughed, but she felt her face flush as she saw Casey turn toward her from the corner of her eye.
“I hope they didn’t wake you up,” he called to her as he began to walk toward her.
Natalie swallowed as she looked at him – he was dressed in worn jeans and a flannel shirt, rolled up to his elbows to expose his thick, muscular forearms. Not that the shirt did much to hide the bulge of his biceps or pecs, anyway. Stubble clung to the strong arch of his jaw. In the morning light, his eyes looked almost caramel-colored, and she found herself staring into them, unable to look away.
“No, no, not at all,” she stammered. “I was just…”
She was suddenly highly aware that she was still wearing her robe, her bare feet sticking out of the bottom of her pajama pants.
So much for looking more put together this morning, she thought, as she felt her face beginning to color.
“I only just woke up now,” she finally finished, trying to sound as dignified as she possibly could in these circumstances. “And honestly, even if they had woken me up, I wouldn’t have minded.” She looked out to where Micah and Faith were now leaning over one of the bushes, earnestly examining something that had caught their eye. “It’s just so good to see Micah so happy.”
She had murmured the words without thinking. Embarrassed, she glanced at Casey, but there was nothing but understanding in his eyes.
“This is a great place to grow up,” he said. “I know you’ll love it out here. Both of you.”
Natalie swallowed. He’s talking as if we’ll be here permanently, when I don’t even know if I’m going to get the job yet.
Casey looked suddenly sheepish, as if he realized what he’d said. “I’ve got a couple of coffees over on the side there,” he said quickly. “I thought you might need some this morning, after your long trip. C’mon.”
Natalie wordlessly followed him to where two steaming mugs of coffee waited for them on a small table on the porch.
He brings Micah an apple and me a coffee? Is this guy for real?
“Here you go.” Casey turned back to her, holding out one of the mugs.
Natalie stared at the coffee a moment before her brain started working again. “Oh – oh, thank you.”
“I wasn’t sure how you take it,” Casey said. “So… it’s black.”
“That’s fine. I’ve never been a milk and sugar type of woman.”
Stop flirting with him, Natalie told herself firmly as she reached out for the cup. Nothing could be less appropriate.
But then, as she reached out for the coffee, once again their fingers brushed – just as they had when he’d taken the handle of her case the day before. And once again, she felt that strange spark of electricity between them, and their eyes met.
Natalie gasped, blinking, and snatched back her hand as if she’d been burned – and sent the coffee spilling over her hand, and over the clean white wood of the porch.
“Oh, no,” Natalie said, flustered. “I’m sorry – I’m supposed to be the cleaner, and here I am, making even more of a mess –”
Casey laughed, but Natalie couldn’t help but notice it sounded a little breathless. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve got a cloth here – it’s an easy fix.”
He started to lean down, a greasy rag in his hand, while Natalie bit her lip. His touch had sent a strange thrill through her – one she had never known before. And furthermore, by the way he had looked at her, she knew that Casey had felt it too.
“Let me help you,” she said, suddenly realizing she was standing and staring while he cleaned up the mess she’d made. Kneeling, she took a Kleenex from the pocket of her robe and got to wiping the coffee up. “This isn’t the best impression to be making on my first day. I must seem like a total klutz.”
Casey looked up at her, and for the first time, she realized how close they were to each other, kneeling together like this.
“What? No – don’t say that,” he said, the words coming in a rush. “It was – you were just surprised, that’s all.”
Natalie blinked.
Surprised by… the spark between us?
That was what she wanted to ask. But she held herself back.
Professional relationship, she reminded herself. That’s why I’m here.
But somehow, under Casey’s intense gaze, the words receded and became muddled.
“Natalie, I –” Casey licked his lips, his eyes focused on hers, the task of wiping up the coffee totally forgotten.
The only thought in her head now was how close their heads were, and how little she would have to move in order to kiss him. She watched as his eyes moved down to her lips, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.
Natalie had never felt so drawn to someone in all her life. It would be so simple to close the space between them, so simple to just press her lips to his and kiss him…
What’s happening to me?
Natalie’s head spun. She wasn’t usually like this. Staid, sensible, hard-working. That was how she thought of herself. Not one to lose her head over a man.
But now…
Casey’s lips parted, and she drew in a soft breath.
“Natalie, I… I think we need to talk about a few things.”
Casey’s voice sounded strained, and when she dropped her eyes to his hands, she saw they were bunched into tight fists.
Swallowing, Natalie forced herself to laugh. “Yeah – you’re probably right about that.”
Casey nodded, his eyes intense. “This may seem like a strange question, Natalie, but… do you know what shifters are?”
That word again, Natalie thought, frowning. Faith had said it yesterday, too. Are you shifters too? What do you turn into?
“I – I don’t think I understand,” she said, slowly. “What are you talking about?”
Casey pulled in a deep breath. “Honestly, Natalie, I know this might sound crazy, but –”
“Mooooooooom!”
Whatever he was about to say, he was cut off by Micah’s sudden yell.
Her heart in her throat, Natalie shot to her feet, looking frantically out over the yard. Had Micah or Faith fallen? Had one of them gotten hurt? Had –
The rush of her thoughts came to a sudden, screeching halt, as her mouth popped open. Micah was fine. He was standing in the middle of the yard, eyes wide, mouth even wider.
“Oh –” Natalie gasped, her hand going to her mouth.
At first, she’d thought Faith had disappeared.
And in a sense, she supposed, she had.
Where Faith had been standing not a moment before, there was now a puddle of clothes – and sitting amongst them was a small, squalling lion cub.