Her Guardian Shifter
Together. What the... No, he was overreacting. No doubt she didn’t mean anything by that. Again, he couldn’t let what had happened with his ex-wife destroy his future. He would be vigilant and careful. And cautious. Yes, cautious. But his new landlord appeared kind and genuine. He would believe her to be so unless she proved otherwise.
“About watching Garth,” he began. “What’s your experience with infants?”
“Experience?” Shaking her head, she chuckled. “I just love babies. Always have. I’m not a professional nanny or anything, though I did once have a job working in a day care. Not in the baby room, though. But I’m reasonably sure I can manage taking care of him for an hour while you get groceries.”
She was right. It wasn’t as if he was asking her to be a full-time nanny. “Sorry.” Glancing at his son, still peacefully sleeping, he sighed. “I’ve never left him with anyone before. I don’t—”
“Really know me all that well,” she finished for him. “I get it. Believe me, I was only trying to help. If you’d rather take him with you, I completely understand.”
Her statement brought him a measure of relief. “I’ll think about it,” he said. “Out of curiosity, have you found work here yet or are you still looking?”
She glanced down, which made his stomach twist, though he wasn’t sure why.
“Oh.” She flushed. “Right now, I’m still unemployed. My aunt left me a small inheritance as well as this house. I’ve only been here a month and haven’t looked for anything yet.”
Wishing he hadn’t asked, he tried to lighten the mood. “Well then, we’re two of a kind, since I don’t have a job yet, either.”
Her smile came back, a quick flash of self-deprecating humor. “I guess we are.”
Startled, he realized he actually liked Julia Jacobs. At least what he knew about her so far. And he would need someone to watch Garth, at least part-time. For now, he’d keep his eyes open and not make any rash decisions.
“What kind of work do you do?” she asked.
Briefly, he considered and decided he didn’t see any harm in telling her the truth. “I was a college professor, but I took a sabbatical when Garth was born. Now, I’m planning to open up a customized car shop. It used to be a hobby, but I’m thinking I can make a living doing it full-time.”
“Customize cars? Like painting them?”
“That’s part of it. Restoring older cars to their original condition, only better. Turning them into hot rods.” Oversimplified, but adequate.
“Interesting.” The little shrug that accompanied her comment told him she either knew zero about cars or didn’t care to. “That’s kind of the polar opposite from higher education, isn’t it?”
“Maybe.” He smiled. “I figure since I came to the complete other side of the country, I might as well make a major change to my life. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
“Then good for you.” She smiled back. “Not to be nosy, but what about Garth’s mother? Where is she in all of this?”
He froze, aware his expression had completely shut down. But she couldn’t know and her question had actually been perfectly reasonable, if a bit intrusive. “She and I are divorced. Turns out she didn’t actually want a child. She signed over all parental rights to me.”
If they’d been discussing any other subject, her disbelief and shock might have been comical. He could almost read her thoughts. Right now, she was dying to ask what kind of woman could abandon an innocent, tiny baby like Garth. From the grim set of her mouth and the way she’d narrowed her eyes, she must be wondering if Eric’s ex was a monster. He didn’t have the heart to tell her Yolanda actually was.
When he didn’t comment further, she sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
Now he felt like an ass. After all, she’d opened her home to him and fed him. She’d been nothing but kind and friendly. “It’s okay,” he finally said. “It’s just a sore subject.”
“I can imagine.” The grimness in her tone told him she agreed. “Anyway, if you need anything, please let me know.”
He could take a hint. She’d fed him, chatted with him and now was ready for him to go. He stood, collected his son and let himself out the door.
Once back in his new, empty living quarters, Eric found he missed her. Or maybe he just missed having company. Someone to talk to. With the streets still impassable, he couldn’t leave, couldn’t drive around and check out the rest of the town the way he’d initially planned on his second day. Being stuck inside an unfamiliar house felt confining, to say the least. Plus he was impatient to begin scouting out a possible location to open his shop.
All in good time, he reminded himself. He needed to exercise a little patience.
He considered himself lucky that he had electricity and water. Since she’d never had them turned off, all he’d needed to do was change them into his name. And even though his television was on the moving truck, she’d left a smallish one in the living room, for which he was grateful.
Garth finally woke. Eric passed some time bathing and changing his son, giving him another bottle, and then just talking to him. Though at three months, little Garth couldn’t do much other than wave his hands around and coo, being around him filled Eric with love.
Time passed slowly. He’d grown hungry again, but stubbornly remained in his part of the house, not wanting his landlord to feel compelled to feed him again. He didn’t want to turn into a giant moocher, so decided to make do until he could get out and go to the store.
To his relief, he heard the unmistakable sound of the plow shortly after three. Rushing to the front window, he watched the big machine lumber down the street, plumes of snow shooting up to the side. Too late, he realized his vehicle would be buried, but since there was nothing he could do to avert this, he simply continued to watch. It wasn’t like he hadn’t dug out a car before, back when he’d lived in Norway.
Once the plow had passed, he shrugged into his parka and eyed Garth, now wide-awake and happily batting at the bright plastic toys Eric had strung across the front of his portable crib. He didn’t want to leave his son alone, but couldn’t just bring him outside while he cleared the snow from his car. Which meant he’d have to impose on his new landlord once again. Good thing she claimed to love babies.
Fifteen minutes, he told himself, picking up the carrier and trudging upstairs to Julia’s place. He would ask her to keep an eye on the baby while he cleared his car. Then he’d retrieve Garth, bundle him up and put him in his car seat for a quick trip to the store.
Chapter 4
She answered the door on his second knock. To Eric’s amusement, her gaze slid past him, right to the baby watching her with wide-eyed interest. “Well, hello there,” she said, crouching down so she and Garth were at eye level. “I see you’re finally awake, little sleepyhead.”
Garth made a gurgling sound, jingling his plastic keys as he gazed up at her.
“You’re so precious,” Julia cooed. She glanced up at Eric. “Is everything all right?”
He cleared his throat. “I was wondering if you’d mind keeping an eye on him for a few minutes. The plow covered my SUV and I need to dig it out so I can head into town. I’ll come back for him as soon as I’m done.”
“No problem.” She took the infant carrier and brought it inside. “Like I told you earlier, if you want, I can watch him while you go to the store.”
Tempting, but again, he barely knew her and she’d already done more than enough for him. Leaving her in charge of Garth while he was a few feet away, outside, was entirely different than driving away without his son. “I appreciate that, but I’d rather bring him with me.” He cast her a sideways look, trying to judge how she would take this news.
To his surprise, she smiled. “I understand. You don’t know me yet and he’s your entire world. Believe me, I wouldn’t leave my baby for very long with someone I just met, either.”
Relieved, he nodded. “I’m glad you understand. Fifteen minutes, okay? He’s already been fed and has a clean diaper. I’m thinking this won’t take much more than that.”
“No rush.” Her gaze had already strayed back to his son. “We’ll be right here whenever you finish.”
* * *
After the door closed behind her new tenant, JJ let out a sigh of relief. She liked looking at him, plain and simple. Even though another man in her life was the absolute last thing she needed right now. She hadn’t worked through her recent past yet. Hell, she didn’t even recognize the woman who’d fled New York City as if the hounds of hell were after her, with giant teeth. And of course, her dreams still haunted her.
This appalled her. She’d always been fierce, a fighter, but not a killer. She’d often questioned how she could have let herself become the woman Shawn had made her into, a woman afraid of her own shadow, too terrified to speak or even look at something the wrong way. She’d walked on eggshells, never knowing what might set him off.
Initially, she’d gone into the relationship a strong, female shifter. A she-wolf, proud of her heritage, confident in her humanness. Shawn might have been only human, but in the beginning he’d seemed kind and thoughtful and handsome. She’d also liked his size, instinctively feeling a large man like him would always protect her.
In fact, it had been the opposite. He’d used his size to intimidate and threaten and hurt. What she’d become after three years with Shawn...
Now, she knew personally how some abused animals felt. She understood the impulse that had them cringing at sudden movements or a raised hand. Objectively, she could see how several years of conditioning by a man she’d thought had loved her had made her this way. What confused and astounded her was how she’d let it happen. How she’d managed to come to believe it was all her fault. If she’d been prettier, smarter, quicker... A better girlfriend, a harder worker, more... As if he was the rational person and she was the one spiraling out of control.
She deserved everything she got. He’d actually said that to her, numerous times. Until finally, something had broken inside her and she’d known she’d had enough. That had been when she’d gotten the news of her great-aunt’s death and learned she’d inherited a house in a town she’d never known existed. That had been when she’d realized she’d be all right, that she could leave.
She’d grabbed on with both hands and secretly planned her escape. When she’d fled, she’d taken care to make sure he was at work and had no idea. Even so, she’d been terrified he’d find out and catch her, and make her pay.
And she’d done it! Freed herself, and most likely saved Shawn’s life. Because she’d always known, deep down inside herself, if he pushed her too far, she’d snap and shift to wolf. A cornered wolf would kill in self-defense. Even Pack law allowed this, but she didn’t want to be a killer.
This had been her first major victory in nearly three years. Now she was here, a few hours north of the city, and Shawn had no idea how to find her. After taking a few deep breaths, she let the tension drain off of her.
Her throat tight, she rolled her shoulders. Focus on the positive. A house of her own in upstate New York. Enough money to tide her over until she figured out what she wanted to do, and now a paying tenant, which meant a nice revenue stream. Her way out, her ticket to another life.
When she’d first arrived, relieved to find the house completely furnished, she’d met with the attorney and signed the necessary paperwork. After, she’d slept for two days, not stirring from her bed except to guzzle water and use the bathroom. When she’d finally surfaced, she felt like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon. Full of possibilities and hope.
This was all still too new, only one short month along. She had the rest of winter to burrow in, claim her space and find her way. She needed to rebuild her life, piece by piece, not let herself get distracted by a man.
Or his too-adorable-for-words baby.
As if he knew her thoughts, the baby gurgled and flashed JJ a sweet smile. Her heart constricted.
“Hello there, Garth,” she cooed, loving the way his bright blue eyes sparkled as he smiled up at her. Carefully, gently, she lifted him out of his portable crib, breathing in the sweet baby scent of him. Moving him to her shoulder, she murmured baby words and nonsense while swaying slightly. His tiny body nestled into her, relaxing in a way that let her know he trusted her to take care of him. She, who’d never even been able to keep a potted plant alive.
This would be her ideal job, taking care of this sweet baby while his daddy worked. Maybe once Eric got settled in and knew her better, he’d entrust her with his precious son for more than a few minutes.
Carrying the infant, she walked to the front window to check on Eric. He was still shoveling her sidewalk. Heart in her throat, she continued to watch him, holding the baby and pointing out his daddy. Even in his bulky parka, Eric’s movements were both strong and graceful, an intriguing combination. He left his parka unzipped and wore no hat, his long blond hair tied back in a sexy ponytail.
Baby Garth squirmed, making her realize he’d just dirtied his diaper. Since Eric had brought a diaper bag, she located the spares—disposables, thank goodness—without difficulty, along with baby wipes, and clumsily managed her first diaper change since she’d done babysitting as a teenager years ago.
Feeling pretty accomplished, she picked up the now clean and dry infant and went back to the window. Still holding his shovel, Eric had stopped shoveling snow. Instead, he stood on the freshly cleared sidewalk talking to her next-door neighbor. Rhonda and JJ had hit it off immediately and, according to Rhonda, were destined to become best friends. Like JJ, she was in her thirties and single, though unlike JJ, she was divorced and now actively searching for The One. The Right One, she often quipped, winking.
Judging from the way she was eyeing JJ’s new tenant, Rhonda considered him a viable possibility. She’d even ventured outside in a ski jacket and snow boots, shovel in hand, as if about to start shoveling her own driveway and sidewalk. Since it had snowed a couple times in the last few weeks, and JJ had yet to see her actually use her snow shovel, she knew exactly what Rhonda was up to.
Of course, a guy as nice as Eric would in no way stand around and watch a woman shovel snow, so when Eric began clearing Rhonda’s sidewalk, the satisfied look on Rhonda’s face told JJ she’d expected no less.
To her surprise, JJ felt a tiny twinge of jealously. With her long blond hair and perky upturned nose, Rhonda had the kind of looks and personality that attracted men like bees to a flower. From head to toe, she stood exactly five feet tall. Next to her, JJ felt like an ungainly giant. She and JJ were polar opposites, which was one of the reasons they got along so well, again according to Rhonda. JJ didn’t mind; she actually found it a relief to let someone else do all the talking.
While she’d known Rhonda only a couple weeks, the two of them had been to dinner twice and had coffee together a few times. JJ genuinely liked the other woman.
Eric finished quickly and handed the shovel to Rhonda. With a quick smile, he went back to clearing the snow away from his car. His projected fifteen minutes had turned into thirty and he wasn’t nearly done yet. JJ didn’t mind. She not only enjoyed watching him, but spending time with tiny Garth brought her joy.
Her phone rang. Rhonda’s number flashed up on the screen. Still holding the baby, JJ answered.
“Why didn’t you call and tell me you had such a gorgeous male specimen living in your house?” Rhonda shrieked.
Since JJ had no real answer for that, she didn’t say anything. As usual, her silence didn’t bother Rhonda in the slightest. “So what’s the story on him?” she asked. “I want details. All of them.”
“I don’t know very much,” JJ finally admitted. “He’s from California. Says he’s going to open his own business. And his baby is adorable.”
For once, she’d stunned her neighbor into silence. “Baby?” Rhonda finally said. She’d never made any secret of the fact that she didn’t like children. “He has a baby?”
“Yes. A son named Garth. I think he’s three or four months old. I’m watching him while Eric digs his vehicle out from under the snow.”
“Wow.” Again the silence. But Rhonda being Rhonda, she didn’t miss a beat. “Eric, huh? I didn’t catch his name. He was kind enough to clear my driveway and sidewalk for me.”
“So I saw,” JJ drawled, continuing to bounce the baby.
“Um, are you and he...?”
JJ pretended not to understand. “Listen, I’ve got to go.” As if on cue, little Garth let out a loud cry. “I’ll talk to you later, okay?” She ended the call without waiting for a response.
Garth squealed again, his bright blue eyes fixed on the doorway. She heard the clump of boots on the stairs, and eyed the baby thoughtfully. He seemed way too young to understand that the sound signaled his father’s return, but judging from the way he waved his tiny hands, he clearly was excited about something.
When Eric came through the door, JJ smiled. Little Garth made a chortling sound when he saw his father, continuing to wave his chubby fists. Eric grinned, his bright blue eyes sparkling the same as his son’s. “Hey there, little man,” he said. Cheeks reddened by exertion and cold, he seemed to have been energized by the exercise. After he peeled off his gloves and shrugged out of his coat, he reached for his son. “Come to Daddy, baby boy.”
Then and only then did she think to rush to the stove and put a kettle of water on. If she’d been paying more attention, she would have already done this and had a mug of hot cocoa waiting for him. As it was, he’d have to wait a minute or two for the kettle to whistle.
“Are you cold?” she asked, wincing at the unnecessary question. Of course he was cold. The wind-chill factor was in the teens.
Looking up from playing with his son, he shrugged. “It’s a little chilly out there, but I find it exhilarating.”
Stunned, she stared. He might be the only other person she’d ever met who’d described feeling that way in blowing snow.
The teakettle finally whistled, startling her out of her thoughts. She hurried to get it. “Hot cocoa?” she asked. Even though it was only instant, nothing beat hot chocolate after shoveling snow in the cold.
“Sounds great.”
She made them each a cup, adding a little whipped cream on top. When she turned back, he’d placed his son in his portable crib, where Garth happily played with the bright plastic keys.
With her heart hammering for no good reason, JJ brought Eric his hot drink. Her mouth went dry as he wrapped his long fingers around the mug, and she let her gaze follow the line of his throat as he took a sip and swallowed.
She couldn’t blame Rhonda for being excited. Eric looked like a movie star, or a comic book superhero come to life. Even better, the size of his aura indicated when he shape-shifted, it was into something large and magnificent. No doubt Rhonda had noticed that as well, since she, too, was a shifter.
On that, JJ agreed with her neighbor. Shifter to shifter, she couldn’t help but appreciate everything about her new tenant.
Artwork, she told herself. She’d decided to try and simply appreciate his amazingly rugged good looks the way she would enjoy a great painting. Like art.
And if she got a tingly feeling every once in a while, so be it. Some things couldn’t be helped. She was healing, learning to make her own way in the world, but she wasn’t dead.
He caught her watching him and cocked his head. “I think I like it here,” he said, taking another long drink of his cocoa. “California is nice, but they don’t have real winters. Something about the cold makes me feel alive.”
“Me, too.” Another flash of delight made her insides quiver. She looked down to hide her excitement. “Most everyone thinks I’m crazy because I love cold and snow.” Glancing at him through her lashes, she confessed, “No one likes winter as much as I do.”
“Except maybe me.” The easy smile he flashed made her catch her breath. “Thanks for the cocoa.” Draining the last of it, he set the cup down on her counter. “Garth and I need to drive into town. You’re welcome to come with us if you’d like. I could use someone familiar with the place to point me in the right direction.”
Her heart gave an entirely unnecessary leap. “I’d love to go,” she said, working to quash her enthusiasm so it didn’t show. “But I’ve only lived here one month. I do know where the stores are and some of the restaurants, but I’m in no way a native.” About to tell him asking Rhonda would be his best bet, she managed to bite back the comment.
“I forgot.” Tilting his head, he eyed her. “You said you were from Manhattan.”
“Right.”
He continued to watch her, clearly waiting for her to elaborate.
“I needed a fresh start,” she finally said, keeping her chin up. “Like you, I had some emotional stuff going on I needed to get away from.”
To her relief, he nodded. “I know the feeling.”
“It’s not easy, that’s for sure.”
“What about your parents?” he asked. “Do they live close by?”
Normal conversation, she told herself. Asking casual questions, like regular people do. Not everything was suspect. Shawn wasn’t his friend.
“My father died a year ago,” she said, her words bringing back the pain of his crossing as if it had happened yesterday. “And right after his funeral, my mom closed up their apartment and hopped a plane to Australia. Turns out she’d always wanted to live there.”
And her abandonment had felt like a second death, though JJ didn’t begrudge her mom her happiness. The two of them talked on the phone about once a month.
“Wow. Adventurous,” he said. “You have to admire that.”
Out of habit, she caught herself looking around, as if someone else might be listening. Shawn had been human, and she’d grown used to hiding her true nature. Ironic that. In her wolf form, she could have taken Shawn down permanently. He might never have hit her if he’d known that.
Then again, he probably would have just swung harder. Some people never changed, no matter what the circumstances. And Pack law forbade her to reveal her true nature to anyone unless they were going to be mates. Since Shawn and she hadn’t been engaged, she’d kept her mouth shut. Truth be told, she’d come to like having a part of herself untouched by him.
“It’s okay,” Eric said, correctly interpreting her movement. “It’s just the two of us. No one else can hear.”
“Sorry. I feel foolish, but you know how it is.”
“I do.” He reached for his son’s portable bed, hefting it in one hand.
“What about Garth?” she asked, blurting out the question before she had time to think it through. “Is he full or a halfling?”
“Full.” The shortness of his answer told her how dangerously close to the line her question skirted. “Thanks for the cocoa. Are you ready to go now? I’d like to get out there and back before it starts snowing again, just in case.”
“Sure.” After grabbing her winter coat, she shrugged it on. “I’ll probably pick up a few things, too.” Like wine. She couldn’t believe she’d forgotten to get at least one bottle. Nothing better than a fire crackling in the fireplace, a glass of wine and an old movie in the DVR.
With Garth securely buckled into his infant car carrier, they started to town. Initially tense, JJ relaxed her death grip on the door handle when she realized Eric, despite having lived in California, truly appeared to know how to navigate his SUV on snowy roads.
The small local grocery store appeared to be empty.
“Is it even open?” Eric asked, pulling into a parking spot right near the front door.
She laughed. “The day before the storm hit, you couldn’t even park in the lot. And yes, I’m going to say they’re open, judging by that neon sign above the doorway.”
“Great.” Hurrying around to the back, he unbuckled Garth. “Hopefully, it won’t take me long to get enough provisions to tide me over for a while.”