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A Note from Kristen Painter

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A Note from Kristen Painter

Dear Reader,

Nocturne Falls has become a magical place for so many people, myself included. Over and over I’ve heard from you that it’s a town you’d love to visit and even live in! I can tell you that writing the books is just as much fun for me.

With your enthusiasm for the series in mind – and your many requests for more books – the Nocturne Falls Universe was born. It’s a project near and dear to my heart, and one I am very excited about.

I hope these new, guest-authored books will entertain and delight you. And best of all, I hope they allow you to discover some great new authors! (And if you like this book, be sure to check out the rest of the Nocturne Falls Universe offerings.)

For more information about the Nocturne Falls Universe, visit http://kristenpainter.com/sugar-skull-books/

In the meantime, happy reading!

Kristen Painter

THE NYMPH TAKES NASHVILLE

A Nocturne Falls Universe Story

Copyright © 2017 by J. L. Farey

Cover design by Rebecca Poole

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from the author.

This book is a work of fiction and was made possible by a special agreement with Sugar Skull Books, but hasn’t been reviewed or edited by Kristen Painter. All characters, events, scenes, plots and associated elements appearing in the original Nocturne Falls series remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of Kristen Painter, Sugar Skull Books and their affiliates or licensors.

Any similarity to real person, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author or Sugar Skull Books.

Published in the United States of America.

––––––––

This is dedicated to The Kidlingtons – Bill & Meg AlLee – and to my grand-puppy, Bronx, who is the inspiration for Bailey. 

1

“NYPD! Stop!”

Aiden wiped rain out of his eyes with the back of his free hand. The hand that wasn’t pointing a gun at the suspect fleeing across a roof in the dead of night. There was a moment of confusion and then blinding clarity.

I’m having the dream again.

He’d had it so many times, he’d gotten to the point where he could make decisions and change the direction of the dream. All except for one thing. No matter what he did, he hadn’t been able to change the way it ended.

With a groan, Aiden sprinted after the other man. It was a section of the city undergoing what some called gentrification, others called a travesty. Either way, the number of vacant, boarded up buildings awaiting renovation made it the perfect place for criminals to hide. Like the scum he was chasing now.

Being that it was a dream, nothing worked quite the way it should. The perp zipped around like a gazelle, but when Aiden tried to run after him, his feet stuck to the black-tarred roof as if it were freshly poured. Gritting his teeth, Aiden forced his legs to work, and somehow made it around a huge ventilation unit.

And there he was. Bartholomew Edward Hudgens. The lowest form of humanity.

There was a girl huddled by the side of the AC unit. Soaked through and shivering with cold and fear, she was the reason Aiden had chased Hudgens up to the roof. The reason he had to stop the maniac. The reason Aiden needed the dream to end differently.

“It’s over,” Aiden yelled. “Drop the gun.”

Hudgens sneered. “I don’t think so. She’ll make a pretty trophy.”

Overhead, heavy clouds shifted, letting through a beam of moonlight. It glinted off the gun Hudgens was pointing straight at the girl.

“No!” Aiden roared and sprang forward. At the same time, in the real world, he shot up in bed, still yelling.

Disoriented, Aiden took in his surroundings. He was covered in sweat, his legs twisted in the bedsheet. His breath came hard and fast, and he forced himself to slow it down.

He was home.

The door to the bedroom opened slowly, and Laurel leaned her head inside. “The dream again?”

Aiden nodded. “It’s okay. It’s safe to come in.”

With a lazy smile, she sauntered over and plopped down on the mattress behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed a kiss on his back. “Oo. Salty.”

“That’s because I’m all sweaty.”

“I like you sweaty. Although, I prefer it when I’m the one who gets you that way.” Laurel put her chin on his shoulder. “Did you cuff him this time?”

Aiden snorted in disgust. “Didn’t even get close.”

“Want to talk about it?”

“No.” Laurel let out a playful scream as he twisted around and pulled her onto his lap. “I’ve got other ideas.”

They were inches away from a kiss when a whine made them both stop and look toward the foot of the bed. There stood Bailey, head cocked to one side, staring up at them from the open doorway.

“Is it just me,” Aiden said, “or does knowing that dog can talk kind of kill the mood?”

“It’s not just you.” Laurel scooted to the edge of the bed and addressed Bailey. “Are you ever going to say anything else?”

Bailey tipped his head in the other direction, as if considering her question. Then he opened his mouth. But instead of speaking, his tongue lolled out and he dropped down on the floor, legs sticking out so he looked like a laughing, black and white dog skin rug.

“Not today, I guess.” Laurel kissed Aiden on the cheek and hopped to her feet. “Come on out when you’re ready and get breakfast. I want to talk to you about something, too.”

He watched as she left the room, skirting around Bailey. After a disinterested woof, the dog got up and trotted off behind her.

With a chuckle, Aiden untangled himself from the bed sheets and shuffled into the bathroom. After a quick shower and shave, he shrugged into his bathrobe and went out to the kitchen.

Laurel was at the stove, dropping strips of bacon onto a hot skillet. The resulting sizzles and pops sent her into an improvised hop-and-jerk dance to avoid flying grease.

Aiden came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He planted a kiss on her neck, just above her shoulder, then took a deep breath. “Mmm. You smell as good as you taste.”

“Thank you, bacon.” She shrugged her shoulders and broke out of his hug. “If you don’t want it burnt to a crisp, you need to let me concentrate on cooking.”

“I do like crispy bacon.”

“Aiden...” From that tone, he didn’t need to see her eyes to know she was rolling them.

“Fine.” He gave her shoulder a playful nip, then went to the coffee maker.

Laurel laughed and shook her head. “You’re such a carnivore.”

After pouring a mug of strong, black coffee, Aiden leaned against the edge of the counter and watched as she danced from the stove, to the fridge, and back again.

She was the most down to earth woman he’d ever known. Of course, being a wood nymph made being down to earth a natural thing for her. Still, he’d felt connected to her since she first arrived in Nocturne Falls, when she blocked a fire hydrant with her tree-transporting van and trailer combo and then sweet-talked him out of giving her a ticket. If he hadn’t fallen in love with her right then, he’d handed her his heart the next day when they kissed in the parking lot of Howlers. He had no idea what he’d done in life to deserve such an amazing woman, but he was sure thankful.

Holding up two plates of food, Laurel motioned to the table with a jerk of her head. “Breakfast is served.”

Once they sat down, Laurel casually reached under the table and handed Bailey a piece of bacon. Aiden’s raised a questioning eyebrow and she wrinkled her nose in response. “He deserves a special treat now and then. After all, he did save my life.”

“All by himself?”

“Well, no. You did the most important part, but you wouldn’t have known what to do if he hadn’t told you.”

Obviously satisfied with himself, Bailey flopped onto the floor, managing to plant his butt right on Aiden’s foot while at the same time laying his chin on Laurel’s foot. Aiden shook his head. “That is one talented dog. When he wants to be.”

The noise that came from under the table sounded suspiciously like a laugh, but Aiden knew better than to acknowledge it. That was exactly what Bailey wanted.

For the next few minutes, Aiden gave his full attention to devouring breakfast. As he reached for his coffee mug, Laurel piped up again.

“When you go to work, can I tag along?”

“Why? Do you need to report a crime?”

“No,” she laughed. “I need to buy a car.”

She was so casual about it, like it was no different than picking up a dozen eggs at the market. But Aiden knew that was just to hide what a big deal it really was. Her VW Bus had been badly damaged when that crazy man from her past torched her tree. She’d pressed charges against Dillon and given her official statement, but after that, she’d refused to talk about any of it.

“Have you decided against trying to salvage the bus?”

Laurel frowned. “Yes. There are too many bad memories attached to it now. I never want to see it again.” Outside, the breeze picked up, moving through tree branches and rustling leaves.

“Smart decision. You know, there’s a bulletin board in the Hallowed Bean for posting notices. You might want to take a look, see if anybody has a car to sell.” He wiped his mouth then tossed the napkin on top of his empty plate. “If you need any help, financially, I can–”

Her hand sliced through the air as she cut him off. “Money’s no problem. I’m loaded.”

“You are?”

“Does that surprise you?”

“I never equated nymphs with collecting cash. Leprechauns, yes, but...you don’t seem like the kind of person who cares about money.”

She smiled slowly. “It’s not the money I care about. I don’t want to buy mansions and luxury cars. But the freedom that money brings, that’s something else. Besides, when you have to reinvent yourself every thirty or so years, it comes in handy.”

“And how did you come by your nest egg?”

“My sister, Kallie, has what you might call precognition. She gave me a few solid investment tips. It’s amazing what you can do when you’re in for the long, long haul.”

They’d spent almost every day of the last month together, and he was still finding out new things about her.

“How many sisters do you have?”

“Scads. Father got around.”

“Any brothers?”

“One. We don’t talk about him.” Her torso shook as if she’d just been hit by an artic wind. “But back to the car, checking the notice board is a good idea. I’ll do that.” Laurel stood and picked up their plates. “I have some other errands to run, too.”

“Like?”

“I can’t tell you.”

Sometimes, Aiden wished she were a little less straightforward. At times like this, it caught him off guard. “Why not?”

“Because I’m still working things out.” As she spoke, Laurel set the dishes on one side of the double sink, washed her hands, and dried them with a paper towel.

“But you will tell me eventually?”

“Of course.” She pecked a kiss on his cheek, then sailed past him. “You better get dressed. I’m going to my place to freshen up. Meet me there?”

He saluted her, then glanced under the table. “Is Bailey the Wonder Dog coming, or is he staying here?”

Laurel shrugged and looked at the dog. “What do you think? You want to join us or stay here and protect the house?”

Grunting from the effort, Bailey got to his feet and ambled across the room. When he came back, his leash was in his mouth. Whether or not Bailey ever decided to speak again, there was no doubt he’d figured out how to communicate with them.

~ ~ ~

It was a short walk from Aiden’s cabin to her own, but Laurel managed to cram a whole lot of pondering into that time.

When she needed to move to a new place, Nocturne Falls had seemed like the perfect choice. Since the town celebrated Halloween 365 days a year, human tourists expected to see the odd, the spooky, and the unexplainable. It was all part of the draw. For the supernaturals who lived and worked there, it gave them the opportunity to be themselves. In a place like that, it should have been easy for her to stay out of trouble. And it would have been, if not for Dillon tracking her down and terrorizing her.

“I need to stop worrying about it, don’t I?” She looked down at Bailey, contentedly walking along beside her. “It’s over. I’m safe. And Dillon is locked up where he can’t hurt me or anybody else.”

Their feet crunched on the gravel of the path leading to the front door. Laurel reached for the knob, but something stopped her. A growl rumbled in Bailey’s throat, sending pinpricks of suspicion dancing up and down the back of her neck. Maybe they were both being overly sensitive, but she wasn’t taking any chances.

She crouched beside Bailey and whispered her plan into his ear. He grunted in response.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

Holding her breath to avoid making any sound, she rose, held one hand toward the doorknob and counted down with the other.

One finger...

Two fingers...

Three!

She twisted the knob and threw the door open, yelling as loud as she could. At the same time, Bailey shot into the room, his baritone bark filling the air. Then another voice joined in, high-pitched and female, shrieking as if she were being attacked.

Even though the lights were on in the living room, it took Laurel a moment to recognize the crazy woman standing by the fireplace, brandishing a poker.

“Bailey, stop,” Laurel said. “Aurora?”

The woman broke off mid-yell and let the poker fall to the floor. “Laurel. You scared the queen bees out of me!”

“You scared the– well, you scared me, too. What are you doing here? How did you even know where to find me?”

She pushed a clump of blond curls behind her ear, but they immediately sprang free and cascaded over her shoulder. “I make a point of keeping up with my favorite sisters.”

Laurel glared at her through narrowed eyes. “You’ve had your spies watching me?”

“Don’t be so dramatic. They’re not spies. They’re more like...reporters. I’ve got an information network more reliable than the World Wide Web.”

True, Aurora had birds, bees and everything else that crawled, flew, or slithered through the forest at her beck and call. That didn’t mean Laurel liked the idea that any random moth could tattle to her sister.

Aurora smiled. “Don’t worry. I didn’t tell anybody else that I found you. But after hearing what happened, I had to see how you’re doing.” She looked Laurel up and down, and her expression became critical. “Still dressing like a boy, I see.”

Her sister had never been a fan of Laurel’s preference for casual comfort. Laurel crossed her arms and shifted her weight to one side. “And you’re still dressing like a debutante heading to a garden party.”

Running her palms across the diaphanous material of her dress, Aurora was obviously pleased. “It’s wonderful, isn’t it?” She gave a giddy twirl, making her skirt swing in a circle.

Laurel bit her lip to hold back a smile. No matter how much she teased, there was no denying that Aurora was gorgeous. If some mysterious calamity were to destroy all conventional means of clothing, Aurora could fashion a dress out of plastic bags and masking tape and outshine everyone, including that Cinderella girl people were always talking about.

“Lovely.”

A honk sounded outside. Aiden. With all the excitement, she’d forgotten he was picking her up. “Aurora, I’m sorry. I’ve got to go.”

“No problem. I’ll go with you. I’m dying to see the heart of Nocturne Falls.”

“You can’t.” Laurel shook her head. “Not today. I have some important things to take care of. But tomorrow, we can spend the whole day exploring. Okay?”

Aurora pursed her lips into a pout. “I guess it’ll have to be. Can you at least bring your man home with you tonight so I can meet him?”

“That shouldn’t be a problem.” Laurel headed for the door, then remembered she’d forgotten something. “Bailey, are you coming?”

It took a second for him to pry his eyes away from her sister and look at Laurel. When he did, he made the most pitiful whine, as if he couldn’t decide what to do.

“Don’t strain your brain, Bailey.” She went to him and knelt down, scratching his ears and giving him a hug. “It’s okay,” she whispered, “she’s kind of irresistible when you first meet her. But you’ll build up an immunity as you get to know her.”

“I heard that,” Aurora said.

“I knew you would.” Laurel popped up and gave Aurora a quick squeeze. “See you tonight.”

The horn sounded again just as Laurel was running out of the house.

She jumped into the passenger seat of Aiden’s truck and sighed. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“You’re worth it.” He looked down at her feet, then at the house, then back at Laurel. “No Bailey?”

“What? Oh, no. He changed his mind.”

As Aiden drove toward the main road, Laurel clicked her seatbelt shut and glanced at her cabin in the rearview mirror. She should tell Aiden about Aurora. But if she brought it up now, he’d want to know why she didn’t want to take Aurora into town, which would bring up more questions about what Laurel had planned. No, it was better to wait and explain it to him tonight.

If things went the way she hoped they would, she’d simply add Aurora to her ever-growing list of things to tell Aiden.

2

“Morning, Birdie!” Aiden called as he walked into the sheriff’s station. He was surprised when Birdie’s usual, enthusiastic greeting didn’t sound out in response. “Birdie?”

He found Birdie at her desk, staring intently at her computer monitor.

“Birdie.” This time, he brought the word up from his diaphragm, producing such a loud, deep rumble that it made her jump.

“Heavens, you startled me.” Birdie pressed her palm against her chest, as if trying to stop her heart from escaping.

“Sorry. I called out twice before, but I guess you didn’t hear me.”

After taking in a long, slow breath, she waved away his apology. “I’ve been glued to this story all morning. Have you seen it?”

“I haven’t checked the internet yet today, so no, probably not.”

She shifted the monitor sideways, and Aiden leaned on the edge of her desk for a better look. The headline read, Country Music Star Questioned After Death of Former Partner. Below that was a picture of Rye Randall crooning into a microphone.

“Isn’t it awful? That poor man.”

Aiden snorted. “That poor man makes more in a year than you or I will see in a lifetime.”

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “Maybe not than you, now that you’re soul-bound to a nymph. Who knows how long the two of you will keep kicking? But that’s not what I meant.”

“I know. My point, had you let me finish, is that he has enough money to hire excellent lawyers. If he’s innocent, he shouldn’t have any problem proving it.”

“I hope you’re right.” With a sigh, Birdie readjusted her monitor and smiled up at Aiden. “Good morning, Sugar.”

“That’s better. Now the work day can officially begin.” Aiden grinned and ambled toward his desk.

“Wait. I have a message for you.”

He stopped and pivoted. “I have a message?” Usually, if someone wanted to get ahold of him, they just called his cell. He couldn’t remember the last time he got a call at the station.

Birdie waved a piece of scrap paper in the air. “Kind of. A woman called asking about you. Specifically, she wanted to know if Aiden Morris worked in Nocturne Falls. Well, let me tell you, after that nasty business last month with Dillon, I wasn’t about to tell that woman anything about you, especially when she wouldn’t give me her name and contact information. But I wrote it all down, what few details there are, in case you need it later.”

With a frown, Aiden plucked the slip of paper from Birdie’s fingers and looked it over. “Huh. I have no idea who this could be.”

“No old girlfriends who might pop up?”

“Not a one. You were right not to tell her anything. Thanks.”

She lifted two fingers to her eyebrow and gave him a sassy salute. “No one gets by me. Well, except for that one time.”

Aiden winked at her. “Birdie, you’re a peach.”

A laugh boomed from out in the hall, and then deputy Wade Dalton swaggered into the room. “A peach? Can’t stand the things! No, Birdie, you’re a hot fudge sundae, no doubt about it.”

Birdie laughed and swiped at him with one hand. “You charmer. Go on, take those sun glasses off and show me your baby blues.”

Wade complied, revealing the startlingly blue cat eyes of a snow leopard. Due to a genetic quirk, his eyes were always that way, whether he shifted or not. In order to avoid the inevitable questions from non-supernaturals (most often, where did you get those wicked contacts) he’d taken to always wearing sunglasses. Aiden held back a smile. Birdie was one of the few people Wade would indulge by taking his glasses off.

“Glad you could make it in, partner.” Aiden made a show of looking at the clock on the wall.

“I considered staying home, but then I thought, if a real emergency happened, you’d have to handle it on your own.” Wade made a sad face and shook his head. “I couldn’t do that to you, or to Nocturne Falls.”

“How self-sacrificing of you.” Aiden barked out a laugh. “More likely you just wanted a good excuse to drop in on The Hallowed Bean and visit the new barista. What’s her name again? Polly?”

“Patty,” Bertie piped up.

“Very funny.” Wade slipped his glasses back on. “I’m dedicated to my job, and you know it. But speaking of the Bean, I could use some coffee.”

~ ~ ~

The bells over the door of Pandora Williams’ real estate office jingled as Laurel walked out. They’d had a productive meeting, resulting in several promising prospects. She looked down at the print outs in her hand. Pandora had wanted to show her the properties, but Laurel chose to look at them herself first. She hadn’t been in Nocturne Falls long, but she’d lived in enough small towns to expect there to be an active community grapevine. She didn’t want it to get back to Aiden that Pandora was showing her commercial properties, especially when she hadn’t told him about it yet.

She lifted her face to the warmth of the sun and took in a deep breath. It was a beautiful day, the kind that didn’t make her miss having a car. As she walked she folded the papers carefully and looked down as she slid them into her purse. When she looked up, she barely had time to get out of the way of a woman who was hurrying in her direction. The woman passed, stopped short, and turned around.

“Laurel?” She squinted, looking intently at her. “You are Laurel Barker, aren’t you?”

“Well, um, yes. But how do you...” Wait a minute. Laurel squinted back. The woman in front of her was older, slender, with a sleek, silver bob. Laurel had only seen one picture of the woman, when she was much younger, but still... “Danielle?”

“Yes!”

“What are you doing here?”

Danielle blinked in confusion. “I thought you wanted me here. Isn’t that why you got in touch with me?’

“Yes, of course.” Laurel sighed. “I just wasn’t expecting you to pop up in the middle of the sidewalk with no warning.”

Danielle frowned. This wasn’t going well at all.

“What I mean is, I wanted to plan your visit so it would be special. But, now you’re here, so we can plan the rest of it together.”

Danielle’s lips relaxed, turning her frown into a thin, unamused line. “I’m sorry, but there wasn’t time to send emails back and forth as we consulted each other’s calendars. Something’s happened that made it imperative for me to come now.”

“Well, you’re here now and that’s all that matters.” Laurel forced a smile as she mentally crumpled up her To-Do-List for the day. “Would you like to get some coffee?”

“I prefer tea.”

Of course she did. “No problem. The Hallowed Bean has both. Shall we?”

Laurel almost cheered when Danielle nodded, showing a glimmer of a smile. She’d count that as a victory.

As the two women made their way to the coffee shop, Danielle took in all the sights. “This place is amazing. Is everyone in on the joke?”

“It’s not a joke. The tourists think the supernaturals are actors. For them, it’s like stepping onto a movie set, or into an alternate reality. But for a lot of the people who’ve made Nocturne Falls home, it’s their first opportunity to live as they really are.”

“They can be themselves.” Danielle cleared her throat. “I wish I’d known about this town a long time ago.”

When they reached The Hallowed Bean, Laurel held the door open and let Danielle enter first.

“This place must be good if there’s such a crowd.” At last, Danielle sounded pleased about something. So it was too bad Laurel was about to ruin it.

She saw Wade leaning against the counter, talking to a ponytailed barista who seemed to end every sentence with a giggle. If Wade was there, then Aiden must be close by. She had to get Danielle out of there.

Laurel put her hand on Danielle’s back and tried to steer her around. “On second thought, I know of a lovely sidewalk café with an excellent tea selection. Let’s go there.”

Before they could start back for the door, Wade called out. “Hey, Laurel. Aiden’s at a table over there.”

She thanked Wade with a smile, then saw Aiden rise from his seat. He grinned. Then he looked past Laurel, and his eyes flashed like someone had set fire to two pots of dark, golden honey. For a second, she saw the shifter he was, the huge golden bear who stood eight feet tall when he rose on his hind legs. And he was not happy.

He stalked across the small space, weaving his way around tables, chairs, and standing customers. When he reached them, he didn’t say a word. Just stared.

“Hi, Honey.” Even to Laurel’s own ears, her voice came out artificially bright and loud.

After a moment of non-response, he leaned down and kissed her forehead. Then, he turned to the woman beside her. “What are you doing here?”

Danielle didn’t blink. “Hello, Aiden.”

“Hello. Mother.”

Laurel flinched. She hadn’t thought it possible to make the word mother sound so ugly. “Now that we’re all here, maybe we should sit down. I bet you two want to catch up.”

They both looked at her like she’d grown another head. Laurel shook it off. She’d already made a fool of herself, so why stop now?

“I’ve got a table.” Aiden turned and went back the way he came.

Danielle stood a little straighter, pulled her shoulders back a little farther. “I expect that’s the closest thing to an invitation I’ll get.”

Behind her cold, stiff-upper-lip demeanor, Laurel could see Danielle’s disappointment. But for the first time in over fifteen years, she and her son were in the same room. That was progress.

Laurel patted the woman on the shoulder. “You knew this wouldn’t be easy. Let’s go.”

Once they were all seated at the same table, it seemed neither Danielle or Aiden wanted to be the first to speak. Maybe they wanted to be alone.

“We never got to order our drinks. How about I go get us some tea and–”

“No.”

Laurel had only gotten halfway out of her seat when they ordered her not to go. Slowly, she sank back down. Obviously, they wanted her there. As what? An impartial observer? A referee? Someone to break up the fight before it got out of hand? What had ever possessed her to get ahold of Aiden’s mother? In The Big Book of Bad Ideas, this one was right up there with the worst of them. Now it was her responsibility to fix it.

“Let me explain.” Laurel put her hand on top of Aiden’s. His body stiffened, but she was relieved that he didn’t pull away. “I’m the one that got in touch with your mother.”

Now his hand slipped away from hers. “Why? Why would you do that without telling me?”

“She was worried about you.” Danielle’s hands were clasped together on the table, her perfectly manicured fingers intertwined. “And so am I.”

Aiden cocked his head to the side. “You’re worried about me? That’s funny. You weren’t worried about me all those years you denied what I really am. Did you ever stop to think about the effect that would have on me?”

“Of course I did. I only wanted to do what was best for you, but I had no idea what that was.” Danielle leaned forward, dropping the volume of her voice. “I didn’t even know such things as shifters existed until...”

“Until you saw me shift.”

Danielle leaned back with a huff. “Yes.”

Aiden turned to Laurel. “I know you meant well, but why would you think she could help me with anything?”

Her mouth had gone so dry, she really wished she’d insisted on getting that tea. “You’ve been having those nightmares. You don’t want to talk about them, and you never talk about what happened in New York. I thought your mother could fill in some blank spots.”

Aiden looked away, probably doing that pause-and-deep-breath thing he did when frustrated, then looked back at her. “She doesn’t know anything about that time.”

“Just what I read in the papers,” Danielle said.

Oh boy. Where was a tree when you needed to hug it? “I didn’t know that. But look, she’s here!” She motioned at Danielle like she was selling her on one of the shopping channels. “She just showed up, on her own. That must mean something.”

Aiden’s eyes narrowed. “Not necessarily something good.” He looked at his mother. “Why don’t you save us all some time and just spill it?”

“All right.” Danielle began fidgeting with a silver ring on her right hand. “When Laurel contacted me, I thought getting you and I together might not be a good idea because, well, because of exactly what happened. But over the last week, something happened to a close friend of mine and I knew right away that I had to see you.”

“You came because you need my help for someone else.” Aiden’s body seemed to relax a bit. “At least that makes sense. Tell me about your friend.”

“He was accused of a crime. He didn’t do it, but he can’t prove that.”

“He doesn’t have an alibi?”

“He does, he just can’t use it. No one would believe it, and if they did believe it, things would probably be worse than they are now.”

Laurel shook her head in confusion. This wasn’t what she’d expected to happen. Not even close.

“Let me take a wild guess,” Aiden said. “He can’t use his alibi because he’s a supernatural.”

Danielle’s eyes widened a bit. “Yes. A shifter. Like you. And he’s quite well known.”

“Who is this person?” Laurel spoke up.

“He’s a musician. Rye Randall.”

“Of course,” Laurel said. “I love his stuff.”

“I just heard about his situation today. Birdie showed it to me.” In an uncharacteristically rude move, he didn’t bother explaining to his mother who Birdie was. “How do you know this guy?”

Danielle stopped spinning her ring and looked Aiden straight in the eye. “He’s your father.”

~ ~ ~

The door of The Hallowed Bean flew open and Aiden barreled outside. He needed air. How could a day that started out so well turn into a great, steaming pile of horse manure in a matter of minutes?

He wanted to shift, to run until he couldn’t run anymore, but he was in the middle of town, surrounded by tourists. Even though the unexpected was expected in Nocturne Falls, seeing a deputy sheriff transform into an angry golden bear would undoubtedly push the fantasy way too far.

Running footsteps behind him were followed by Laurel calling out for him to stop. Which he did, but not until he’d reached the Gargoyle Fountain. He sat on the edge and looked up at the huge stone man in the middle. “Hey Bob.”

“Hey Aiden.” The gargoyle made a few jerky movements, making it appear he was animatronic. “You look like hell.”

Aiden nodded. “Feel like it, too.”

“Bummer.” Bob froze, ending the conversation as a group of camera-wielding visitors started taking pictures.

“There you are.” Laurel hurried up and sat next to him. His mother, still wanting to keep her distance, sat beside Laurel.

Aiden wasn’t about to give anyone time to get comfortable. “You lied to me.”

“No, I didn’t,” Danielle said.

“You told me you didn’t know who my father was.”

“I never said any such thing.”

“You said it was a one night stand, and in the morning, he was gone. Was that a lie?”

She flushed. “No. But a one-night-stand doesn’t mean I didn’t know who he was. What kind of a woman do you think I am?”

Aiden didn’t want to go near that question. Even dancing around the topic of his mother’s sex life was uncomfortable enough.

“Rye and I were friends. We grew up together. That night, he was singing at a club and we both had too much to drink and...you know the rest.”

“Why didn’t you ever tell me his name?”

“I was protecting you. And myself.” She started spinning her ring again. “He really was gone in the morning and we didn’t talk after that. Not until recently.”

“When you found out he was in trouble?”

“No, about a year ago, actually. I went to see one of his shows and we...reconnected.”

Silence descended over the three of them.

“Wow,” Laurel finally said. “That’s a lot of information to process.”

“Yes, it is.” Aiden slapped his palms on his knees and stood up. “Mother, I need a little time to think this through. Have you made hotel arrangements in town?”

“Yes. I’m already checked in.”

“Good. We’ll get in touch again tomorrow. I’m going back to the office now.”

He was already walking away when a hand on his arm stopped him. Laurel looked up at him with a sadness he hadn’t seen since her tree died.

“I’m so sorry, Aiden.”

He hugged her to his side and kissed the top of her head. “We’ll get through it. Right now, I just want to go home.” The crime rate in Nocturne Falls was so low, it wouldn’t be a problem cutting his shift short.

“Me too. I’m going to walk Danielle to the hotel and then I’ll meet you at the Sheriff’s office. Okay?”

“Okay.”

After a quick kiss, they went their separate ways. Even though he was upset with the outcome, Aiden couldn’t be angry with Laurel for what she tried to do. It was about time he told her what had happened in New York. But not today. Now, he had the mess with his mother to think about. He needed a little peace and quiet. He didn’t think he could take one more surprise.

3

They didn’t say much on the ride home. Aiden asked if Laurel had found a car, and she told him she hadn’t even had a chance to look. Laurel almost turned on the radio, but she was afraid a Rye Randall song would come on, or worse, a report about his case.

Laurel looked out the side window and let her thoughts wander. Rye Randall was Aiden’s father. She still couldn’t wrap her brain around that. Which meant that Rye had to be a shifter, too. It was hard enough to hide your supernatural side when you lived a quiet life, but she couldn’t imagine keeping that secret while living in the public eye.

The truck slowed and came to a stop. Aiden leaned forward on the steering wheel, looking in front of them. “What in the heck is going on?”

They’d stopped far enough away from Laurel’s cabin to keep from disturbing the spectacle going on in the front yard. A cloud of butterflies floated and flitted around, as if they were dancing. And below them, dancing right along, was Bailey. He jumped and flopped and rolled on the ground, the whole time with his tongue lolling out of a doggy grin.

“Have you ever seen him move around like that before?” Aiden asked without taking his eyes off the dog.

“Just once. When he walked into a spider web.”

What had gotten into him? Then it hit her. She’d totally forgotten about Aurora.

“Aiden, there’s something I forgot to tell you.”

He looked at her with a frown. “Besides contacting my mother?”

“Well, yes. But this time it wasn’t my fault. She just showed up out of the blue.”

As if she’d been summoned, a beautiful blond nymph danced around the side of the house.

Aiden pointed. “Who is that?”

“That’s Aurora. My sister. I’ve told you about her.”

“Sure. Just not that she was dropping by for a visit. That seems to be the theme for today.”

“In my defense, I didn’t expect either one of them to drop by without warning.”

Aiden gave her a look that made her think defending herself probably wasn’t the right thing to do. He moved the pickup forward to where he usually parked, then cut the engine. Aurora noticed them and waved. Bailey dropped to the ground, panting.

“Welcome home.” Aurora ran up to meet them and wrapped Laurel in a hug. “And you must be Aiden.”

She moved on him with open arms, but he held out his hand. “I must be. Nice to meet you.”

“A careful man. I can respect that.” Aurora shook his hand. “But believe me, it won’t be long before you’re coming to me for a hug.”

If any other woman has said that, Laurel would have taken it as a challenge. But Aurora was merely speaking the truth. Everyone loved her eventually.

Laurel motioned toward the cabin. “Let’s all go inside and relax.”

“Not me.” Aiden took a step backward. “You stay here with your sister. I’ll go to my place. I need to be alone for a bit.”

With a wave, he got back in the truck and drove away. Laurel’s lips tingled from the absence of a goodbye kiss. The day was getting worse.

“Oh dear.” Aurora bit down on her thumbnail. “I hope that’s not because of me.”

“Not totally.”

Aiden probably wouldn’t have minded Aurora’s spontaneous visit if not for the whole business with his mother. Laurel forced a smile. She’d give Aiden the space he needed and, fingers crossed, they’d work everything out in the morning. For now, she’d try to relax and catch up with her sister.

“Come on,” Laurel said. “I need a drink. Something tall with a lot of ice.”

They walked into the cabin with Bailey trailing behind.

“You’re not fooling me,” Laurel said over her shoulder. “I saw you dancing around like a Vegas show dog.”

He wrinkled his nose and sneezed. Laurel laughed. It had been an insane day, but one thing was for sure: She knew a dog who was going to sleep like a rock tonight.

~ ~ ~

She’d been right about Bailey. And Aurora was fast asleep, too. But Laurel had given up. Rather than lie on the couch thinking about how she needed to stop thinking, she decided to get up and take a walk.

The minute she stepped out among the trees, her spirit lifted. No matter how long she lived, no matter how many things changed, the trees were constant. Sturdy, solid, and grounded, they shared their strength with her. But one thing was different, now. For the first time, she was soul bound not to a tree, but to a person. When Dillon had set fire to her tree, he’d almost killed Laurel, too. Aiden hadn’t hesitated to step in and bind himself to her.

Over the weeks, she and Aiden had grown closer and closer. She loved him, and she had no doubt he loved her. But now, Laurel was affected by the tension between them more deeply than if they were a normal couple having a fight. There was a piece of her that wasn’t right, and she couldn’t fix it on her own.

A mild breeze blew through the woods, emphasizing the bite in the air. Laurel welcomed the cold. It cleared her head and helped her consider different perspectives. As she walked, she saw more animals out than usual. Rabbits, squirrels, birds...she even saw a fox and a racoon. No doubt they all sensed Aurora’s presence. It was interesting that Aurora had felt the need to visit now, at the same time as Aiden’s mother. It could be an innocent coincidence, but Laurel was inclined to believe there was something more at work.

Before she could consider what that something could be, she was distracted by a rustle in the brush. She watched as a hulking brute pushed his way through the branches. It pushed its nose toward her, sniffing the air. Laurel smiled. She’d know that golden-furred bear anywhere.

“Aiden.”

She’d found that when Aiden was shifted, she could hear his thoughts as clearly as if he was speaking out loud.

You couldn’t sleep either?

“Nope.”

Want to walk together?

She gave him a hopeful grin. “Can I get a ride?”

Aiden swung his head to one side, pointing at his back. Anytime.

Laurel climbed onto his broad back and hugged her arms around his neck. She kept her cheek pressed against his fur and soaked up the warmth from his body as he lumbered forward. If she wasn’t careful, the rocking motion would put her to sleep right there.

He walked until they reached the lake shore. After he carefully lay down, Laurel slid off his back and sat beside him, leaning her shoulder against his. Moonlight dappled the water like diamond dust. It was such a pure, peaceful moment, she wished they could stay there forever.

So do I. But with one change.

Aiden stood up and moved a few feet away. He shook his body, rose on his hind legs, and let out a roar. As he did, his shape changed and his fur melted away, transforming back into the clothes he was wearing when he left the house. It took less than a minute for him to shift back into the man she loved.

“If we’re going to stay this way forever, I insist on being able to kiss you.”

Laurel smiled as he came back and sat down beside her. She lifted her lips to his and he pulled her close.

“Oh yeah. That’s much better.” Laurel melted against him with a happy sigh. “Aiden?”

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry I contacted your mother. I never should have done that, especially without telling you.”

“Your intentions were good.”

Laurel laughed. “Yeah, but you know what they say about the road to hell.”

“Yes,” he nodded gravely. “It’s very hot.”

After a playful punch to the shoulder, she pressed closer against him. “I’m not a fan of heat. This is much better.”

“I agree. I actually felt physically ill before I left the house.”

“It’s our bond. When things are good, we give each other strength. But when we argue, it’s like a piece of ourselves is missing.” Laurel wrapped her arms around her knees. “Do you regret it now?”

“The soul binding? Not one bit.” Aiden squeezed her shoulder. “I’ve got news for you, even without it, fighting with you would make me feel sick. Know why?”

Laurel was feeling a little sassy. “Because you’re a hypochondriac?”

“Because I love you, you crazy nymph.”

“And I love you, silly old bear.”

After a few moments of contented silence, Aiden spoke up. “I made a mistake, too. I should have told you what happened in New York, but I wasn’t ready. I’m ready now.”

With a playful squeal, she swung one leg over his lap, straddling him while she pushed his shoulders flat against the grass. Then she planted a thorough kiss on his lips.

Eyes wide with surprise, Aiden looked up at her. “What was that for?”

“To shut you up. All I want right now is for us to enjoy being together. My sister and your mother and New York...all that can wait till tomorrow. For now, can it just be the two of us?”

Before she knew it, Laurel was thrown off balance and ended up on her own back, looking up at Aiden.

He grinned as his face moved closer to hers. “Babe, you read my mind.

~ ~ ~

The rain pummeled his face.

Not again.

It was the same stormy night, the same black-tarred roof, the same sinister figure running from him. But this time, when he rounded the cooling unit, everything changed. He was in a dark forest, surrounded by tall, grey trees. One by one, a face appeared in a tree, spoke to him, then melted back into the trunk. His mother. “You’re a monster.” Wade. “There’s nothing normal about us.” Aurora. “Come dance with me.” Rye Randall. “Howdy, son! You sure are a disappointment!” And finally, Laurel. “I love you, Aiden.” She stepped forward, out of the tree, then shifted into a pretty black bear.

Everything changed again. Back on the roof, with the rain pouring, Hudgens stepped out of the shadows with a rifle in his hands. “Well, look what we have here. You’ll make a real pretty trophy.”

He aimed the barrel at the bear’s head.

A clap of thunder went off like a canon. Aiden was falling, faster and faster, until he hit something.

“No!”

His body jerked as his eyes popped open. He was in bed. Beside him, Laurel propped herself up on one elbow and put her other hand on his chest.

“You’re safe, Aiden. I’m here.”

More importantly, she was safe. “Come here.” She nestled her head at the base of his shoulder and he put his arms around her. “Just let me hold you.”

It didn’t take long for her to fall back asleep. He could tell from her gentle snore, which resembled the purring of a kitten. Aiden kept his breathing steady, trying to match hers, but sleep was nowhere in sight.

In all the years he’d been plagued by that dream, in all its different permutations, it had never been quite so personal. Was it his mind’s way of dealing with stress? Or was it something more, some kind of message? Laurel was never going to shift into a bear, not even now that they were bound, so the dream couldn’t be literal. Maybe it was a warning. Would being with him somehow put Laurel in danger?

He’d never let that happen. If necessary, he’d let her go before he’d let anybody hurt her. Even himself.

He was still staring at the ceiling when he heard a commotion in the front room. He sat up. Beside him, Laurel groaned and also sat up.

“Are there people in the house?” he asked.

“Only one person. My sister. But she has the ability to sound like a crowd.”

They got out of bed and set about being presentable.

“Tell me why I don’t keep any clothes here?” Laurel said as she opened a dresser drawer.

“Because you like stealing my T-shirts.”

“That’s true.” She pulled out a worn, navy blue T with a beer company logo on the front and buried her nose in it. “Smells like you.”

“Me, and a bottle of mountain fresh fabric softener.”

She came to where he waited for her by the door. “Are you ready to attack the day?”

For a second, he considered telling her what last night’s dream had been about, but he quickly decided against it. He was understandably anxious about dealing with his mother and the bombshell she’d dropped about his father. The dream was his mind’s way of taking charge. If he told Laurel, she’d just worry. The last thing any of them needed right now was one more thing to worry about.

“I’m as ready as I’m gonna get.” He pulled the door open and led the way into the new day.

A day that appeared to start with a floor show.

Aurora was singing and dancing around the living room. Bailey was on the couch, his front feet on the arm rest, howling along with her.

“We surrender!” Aiden waved his hands in the air. “Just make it stop.”

Aurora stopped dancing in mid-twirl. “Some people are so crabby in the morning.”

“How did you know to come here?” Laurel asked.

“Bailey told me.”

“What?” At Laurel’s yelped question, Bailey flopped down on the couch and buried his nose under a cushion. “Why is he talking to you and not me?”

Aurora shrugged. “I have no idea. But did you ever consider that maybe, the problem isn’t that he’s not talking, it’s that you’re not listening to him?”

Laurel’s face went blank as she thought about that question.

“You two sit down and let me whip up something. You don’t mind if I get a few field mice in here to help, do you?” She burst out laughing. “I’m just playing with you. Breakfast will be made by my own two hands. Look. I’m washing them right now.”

Laurel shuffled into the kitchen. “I’ll get the coffee going. We’re going to need it.”

Aiden held back a laugh. Aurora sure was a force of nature. Which got him thinking, one force of nature deserves another.

“Aurora, did Bailey happen to mention my partner, Wade?”

4

The snug ride into Nocturne Falls made Laurel determined to track down a lead to a car before doing anything else, even if Aurora complained the whole time.

They arrived at the Sheriff’s station at the same time Wade was coming out the front door.

“I was starting to think you took the day off.” Wade stood holding the door open, until Aurora stepped out of the truck. One look at her and his jaw dropped.

“Wade, come meet Laurel’s sister.” Aiden waved him over. “This is Aurora. And this is Wade, my partner.”

From that point on, it was like they were the only two people who existed. Aurora simpered and flirted, Wade postured and complimented her. Laurel was a little surprised how quickly they took to each other.

“Say, Wade,” Aiden spoke up, “I’ve got a lot of paperwork to catch up on. Why don’t you take Aurora around with you? It would give her a chance to see the town.”

“Great idea. If it’s okay with you.” Wade looked down at Aurora.

“I’m game.” Aurora fluttered her eyelashes and linked her arm through his. “Let’s go.”

Laurel held back her laughter until they were a block away. “That was painful to watch.” She looked up at Aiden. “Do you realize what you’ve done?”

“Yes. I found a way to free us from them for a few hours.”

“And you’ve just introduced two of the strongest personalities I know. At some point, they’re going to clash.”

“And one will become the victor.”

“Or, there’s the other scenario where they join forces and take over the world.”

“I hadn’t considered that. Oh well, think how nice it would feel to be close personal friends with the people at the top.”

She shook her head. “I’ve got more important, real-life things to think about. Like talking to your mother.”

Aiden’s jovial expression dimmed. “Kill joy.”

“Come on.” She bumped her shoulder against his arm. “The longer you put it off, the worse it’s going to be. So, what do you say? Lunch with her? Dinner?”

Hands stuffed in his pants pockets, Aiden paced the length of the truck and back. “No, I’m pretty sure whatever we talk about will ruin my appetite.”

He had a good point. “Okay, then how about we meet in the park? We can walk, or sit at a table. We’ll still be around people, but not so many that privacy is an issue.”

“That should work.”

“I’ll even contact Danielle and set it up with her.”

Aiden stopped his pacing and put his arms around her waist. “Have I told you how amazing you are?”

“Let’s see.” With her arms around his neck, she let her head fall back, just a little, as she considered his question. “You have. But not today.”

“Shame on me.” His voice was a low, sensual rumble as his face came closer to hers. “You are amazing.”

Unable to stand the torture of his slow assault, she pulled him down for a kiss. Unfortunately, she pulled too hard and their foreheads met before their lips could. Laurel staggered backward, rubbing her head and laughing.

“I think that’s my cue to get to work. Don’t move.” Aiden put his hands on her shoulders and planted a no-nonsense kiss on her mouth. “I’ll meet you in the park later.”

Before they could do bodily injury to each other again, he hurried into the station. Laurel smiled and walked down the street toward the Hallowed Bean. With any luck, she’d find a person to talk to about a car before she had to meet Danielle.

~ ~ ~

The car hunt went even better than expected. There was only one sales notice on the board at The Hallowed Bean, but it was exactly what she’d been hoping to find. The owner, a stocky man with a full beard, a bushy unibrow, and a penchant for collecting vehicles, wanted to make room in his garage for something new. As a result, Laurel was able to purchase his low-mileage SUV for an extremely reasonable price.

With that big item scratched off her list, she felt a bit more able to address the next task.

“Nocturne Falls certainly is a picturesque town.” Danielle was looking up at the wrought iron spider webs decorating the street lights as they waited to cross.

“It’s a special place. I doubt there’s another place in the world quite like it.”

The light changed and they walked across the street and into the park.

“How long have you lived here?”

“A little over a month. The exact amount of time I’ve known your son.” She wondered what Danielle thought of how quickly their relationship had moved. She waited for a judgmental look or sarcastic comment, but none came.

“Tell me about yourself, Laurel. What’s your super power?”

Laurel chuckled. “I’m not one of the Avengers. I’m a wood nymph, so I have a special connection to trees and nature. And I’m very old.”

Her eyes widened. “You’re immortal?”

“No, just old.”

“You must have amazing genes.”

“My father gets the credit for those.”

“Is he a nymph, too?”

“Oh no. He’s, well, he’s kind of a big deal in certain Greek supernatural circles.”

“Which circles?”

“Mythological.”

“He’s not...”

“Yes,” Laurel nodded slowly. “That’s him.”

“Wow. That is big. So, all those stories... They’re real?”

“More or less. You know how it is. Every time a story gets told, it distorts a little bit. Sometimes, it distorts a lot. Before you know it, the 12-inch bass you caught has turned into a life and death battle with a killer shark.”

“It’s good to know all those stories of him turning into animals and seducing young women were made up.”

“Oh no, those are true. Some guys use pickup lines, my father transforms into irresistible wildlife.” She shook her head at the thought. “When my mother met him, he was a 12-point-buck.”

“Goodness.”

“But then he took human form, like always, and did some sweet talking. And here I am.”

“Was your mother...you know...”

“Human? Yes. But she knew what she was dealing with. Kind of hard not to, considering how they met.”

Danielle sighed. “I wish I’d known that much about Aiden’s father. Things would have been so different.”

Laurel hadn’t intended to get into a deep conversation before Aiden joined them, but she couldn’t pass up the opening Danielle had just given her. “He told me a little about what happened between you, but no details. If you’d like to talk about it, I’d be happy to listen.”

They kept walking, but Danielle’s pace slowed. When she finally spoke up, she kept her eyes forward, almost like she was talking to herself. “I was so happy when Aiden was born. He was a beautiful boy. Always smiling, and always getting into mischief. He was very curious. The first time I saw him shift, he was twelve-years-old. A stray dog had gotten into our yard. It had an injured leg, and I was trying to get close enough to see if it had a collar and a tag, but it kept getting more and more agitated. Aiden yelled at me to leave the dog alone, but I thought I could help it. Then it ran at me with its teeth bared and Aiden got between us.”

Laurel didn’t need her to finish the story to know what happened. “He shifted because he was protecting you.”

“I was terrified. All of a sudden, there was a bear standing where my son had been, and he and the dog were growling at each other.” Her voice cracked. “I reacted in the worst way possible. I screamed and ran into the house. I just left Aiden out there to take care of himself.”

“He’s pretty good at that.”

“But he shouldn’t have needed to. Especially then. He was so young. And he was confused. He didn’t know any more about what happened than I did. But all I could do was warn him never to do it again. For years I forced him to bury his instincts. It’s no wonder he moved out on his own as soon as he could.”

Laurel’s heart ached for both Danielle and Aiden. All the years of misunderstanding and hurt feelings could have been avoided if they’d known the truth. And the only reason they hadn’t known is because Rye Randall had his fun, then ran off without a backwards glance. She hadn’t met the man yet, but she was finding him irritatingly similar to her own father.

“Hey, there’s Aiden now.” Laurel waved at him as he walked in their direction carrying a loaded cardboard drink holder and a paper bag. Apparently, he had enough of an appetite for snacks. A good sign.

“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea,” Danielle said.

“Nonsense. You can’t go on forever with this rift between you. Just relax and be honest. You’ll be fine.”

When Aiden reached them, he kissed Laurel on the cheek, then took a step back and nodded a greeting to his mother. It kind of made Laurel want to kick him. Instead, she pointed to a nearby picnic table.

“Since you brought snacks, why don’t we sit down?”

They agreed and quickly settled on the benches, one on either side of the table. Which left Laurel scrambling to figure out what to do. She could sit beside Aiden, which would support him but would make Danielle feel ganged up on. Or, she could sit with Danielle to shore her up emotionally, but then Aiden might think she’d chosen sides. Why didn’t those stupid tables have seats at the ends, too?

Aiden took the drinks out of the holders and put one in front of his mother. He’d gotten her an iced tea. That was all Laurel needed to melt her heart and plop down beside him. Almost at the same time, he put her favorite fancied up coffee drink in front of her.

“You’re so sweet.” She squeezed his arm and pressed her cheek against his shoulder.

“Not so loud,” he rumbled under his breath. “You’ll blow my cover.”

When Laurel looked at Danielle, she was smiling at them. It was the smile of a mother who was pleased about her son’s happiness. It was a good place to start.

~ ~ ~

Aiden was angry. Angry that his mother had been afraid of him. Angry that she hadn’t told him about his father. Angry that he kept having that damn dream. Angry that he was in love with an amazing woman and he couldn’t give their relationship his full attention.

Most of all, he was angry about being angry. It was a heavy, exhausting weight and he wanted to be done with it.

But first, he needed strength. He tore one side of the white paper bag down the middle and spread it open to share the assortment of cookies. He picked up a white chocolate chip and macadamia and took a bite.

“Why don’t we start with Rye Randall?” he said after swallowing. “I dug up some information about his situation. It doesn’t look good.”

Danielle was ignoring the cookies, keeping her hands wrapped around her plastic cup. “I know. But he didn’t do anything wrong.”

That’s a matter of opinion, Aiden thought with a grunt. “Let’s go back a little farther. You said the two of you have been in contact for a year now.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

That seemed to knock his mother off balance. “Well, I’ve followed his career for a while. He was playing in stadiums and I never considered trying to contact him. But then he started doing shows in small clubs.”

“The Acoustical Tour,” Laurel piped up. “He wanted to have a more personal experience, get closer to his fans.”

“Yes,” Danielle said. “When I found out he was playing in a club not far from me, I decided to go. See if we could talk. He spotted me right away in the audience.” Her voice became wistful. “We talked for hours.”

“Guess he got the personal experience with his fans he was hoping for.”

Laurel poked her elbow into his ribs.

Danielle frowned. “It wasn’t like that. We talked about what happened, about why he left. I wanted to ask him about your...unique abilities, but that’s not an easy subject to bring up. ‘By the way, you have an adult son who can turn into a bear. Can you do that, too?’”

“Then, he still doesn’t know about me?”

Her silky, silver hair swayed from side to side as she shook her head.

“I’m confused,” Laurel said. “You haven’t even told Rye he has a son. What do you expect Aiden to do?”

“I want him to find a way to prove that Rye is innocent.” Danielle looked at Aiden, her eyes pleading. “You’re a detective. And you understand things about him no one else will.”

“Like the fact that his alibi is useless because he was shifted at the time,” Aiden said.

“Yes. Please, if he goes to jail... I can’t lose him again.”

Laurel’s sharp intake of breath underscored what he’d just realized. “You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”

Danielle looked away and nodded.

Aiden scrubbed his face with one hand. “Let me get this straight. After all those years of treating me like a freak because of my ability, you now want me to help defend a shifter who, incidentally, is really my father, although he has no clue. And oh, by the way, you’ve fallen in love with him. Does that about cover it?”

His mother didn’t answer. Laurel put her hand on his knee. If he didn’t move, he was going to explode.

“Excuse me.” He leapt up and moved away from the table, his steps firm and deliberate.

So many emotions warred inside him. He knew who his father was and where to find him. Finally, he was able to sit with his mother, have a conversation with her, without seeing fear in her eyes. Those were good things, but it galled him that the only reason she was there now was to help someone else. Someone whose true nature was the thing that she’s hated in her son.

Aiden stopped and leaned against a tree. Not far from him, a boy stood by the edge of the pond, throwing bread to the ducks. The boy was dressed up like the traditional idea of a vampire. Aiden wondered, was the boy the son of actual vampires, or was he human? He didn’t know, but whichever was true, Aiden was sure the boy’s parents encouraged his individuality.

Looking back, Aiden saw that Laurel had moved to the other side of the table. She sat beside Danielle, one arm around her shoulders. There they were, the two women he loved most in the world. Despite everything that had gone on between him and his mother, the truth was, it wouldn’t hurt so much if he didn’t love her.

Hands in his pockets, he went back to the table.

“Sorry about that,” he said when he stood in front of them, “I needed to clear my head. I’ve decided to do what I can to help Rye.”

“Oh son! That’s wonderful.” Danielle jumped up and threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you so much.”

He gave her a quick hug, then extricated himself from her hold. “Don’t thank me yet. I may not be able to help much. Although, I’ve got an idea brewing.” He turned to Laurel. “Can you sing? Beyond singing around the house, I mean.”

“Sure. I’m a decent singer. But if you’re looking for a great singer, Aurora is the one you want. She can sing the birds out of the trees.” Laurel looked around. “I wonder where she is now.”

Aiden grinned. “Still with Wade. Before I left the station, he called to say he was taking her to dinner and he’d make sure she gets home.”

“Great. They’re one step closer to world domination.”

Danielle gave a little wave to get their attention. “Sorry for butting in, but what is this plan of yours, Aiden?”

“I’ll tell you about it on the way.” He looked at Laurel. “It’s going to be pretty cramped in the pickup. Too bad you don’t still have the Bus.”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you.” She grabbed a cookie as she hopped up from the bench. “I bought a vehicle today. An SUV.”

He looked in the direction she was waving her cookie. “Perfect for our road trip. Let’s all try to get some sleep tonight. We’ve got a lot ahead of us.”

“Really?” Danielle’s eyes were bright with expectation.

“Really. Tomorrow, we’re heading for Nashville.”

5

The process of deciding who would go to Nashville and who would stay behind made Aiden grateful he’d never had to endure long family drives when he was growing up. It seemed there was at least one advantage to coming from a broken home.

Danielle, Aiden, and Laurel had to go. Aurora, whose date with Wade had ended so late that everybody was already awake and packing the SUV when they drove in, had no interest in the trip at first. When she said as much, Bailey went to her side, a clear indication he wanted to stay at home. But then Aurora’s natural curiosity got the best of her and she started asking questions. The more she found out, the more interested she was. When someone finally said the word Nashville, she insisted on coming along. At that point, Bailey moved over to Laurel, no doubt hoping to win points for switching allegiances. Laurel saw right through him and informed Bailey that he was coming on the trip whether or not Aurora did. Finally, Wade said that Aiden and three women was a recipe for disaster and he needed to come along to help balance things out. Finally, after agreeing that everyone was coming, waiting for Aurora to pack, Wade to go grab his things, and dropping by the hotel to pick up Danielle, they were on their way.

And only two hours behind schedule.

They’d barely left Nocturne Falls when the questions started.

“How long is the drive?” Aurora asked from the middle of the backseat.

Aiden glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “Between four and five hours.”

His mother sat next to him in the front. “Do you want to tell me about your plan now?”

“Wait,” Wade said from the other side of Aurora. “Before you get to the plan, can you fill in some details? Like what we need a plan for?”

Aiden shook his head. “Weren’t you listening to anything back at the cabin?”

“Not really. I was too busy consuming as much coffee as possible.” Wade grunted. “Out of curiosity, are we going to pass someplace with a bathroom anytime soon?”

Laurel leaned forward, looking at Wade across Aurora. “Why didn’t you go before we left the house?”

“I have no idea.” He let his head fall back against the seat. A moment later, he was snoring.

“I’ll bet his eyes are totally bloodshot behind those shades,” Aiden said. “I wonder what color bloodshot blue eyes are.”

Aurora smiled. “They’re like a stormy sky streaked with purple lightning.”

“You got him to take off his sunglasses?” Laurel sounded shocked.

“Sugar, that’s not all I got him to take off.”

Aiden lifted one hand from the steering wheel and held it up. “Stop! That’s more information than I want to know. And since I don’t want to keep repeating myself, let’s save the plan sharing and detail filling in for when we’re all awake.”

“Which will probably be when we get to Nashville,” Laurel said.

“Probably. For now, how about some peace and quiet?”

“Or how about some country music to get us in the mood?” Aurora waved her finger at the radio console.

“Fine.” Aiden turned it on and fiddled with buttons until he found what he was looking for.

In the back, Aurora turned to Laurel. “Oo, if this plan involves you or me singing, we should practice. Do you know this one?”

Without waiting for an answer Aurora sang along with the song. Aiden had to admit, she really did have a beautiful voice. Then Laurel joined in, singing harmony. From his place in the way back, Bailey sat up and rested his chin on the seat back, right between the two sisters. Danielle glanced back at them and laughed.

“That dog looks like he’s in heaven.”

He smiled to himself. At that moment, with the car full of music, his mother smiling and relaxed, and his partner asleep and quiet, Aiden knew exactly how Bailey felt.

~ ~ ~

“Welcome to Music City.”

Laurel opened her eyes and tried to blink away the fog. She must have fallen asleep after their last stop for gas, snacks, Big Gulps, and bathrooms. Holding back a yawn, she looked out the window. Nashville had changed quite a bit since the last time Laurel had been there. Back then, there had still been Model-Ts on the streets.

“Mom, you know this territory better than I do. Which hotel should we stay at?”

“None of them,” Danielle answered. “We’re staying with Rye.”

Laurel leaned forward. “Seriously?” At the same time, she heard Aiden rumble something under his breath. She couldn’t make out what it was, but that was probably a good thing.

Danielle twisted in her seat and looked back at Laurel. “Yes. Trust me, he’s got more than enough room for all of us.”

“Yay! We get to stay with a bone fide country music star.” Aurora clapped her hands and bounced in her seat. She was so excited, her head might have hit the roof if not for her seat belt.

Aiden let out a grunt. “Does dear old dad know that we’re coming?”

“He knows that I’m bringing several friends to help him.” Danielle’s cheeks flushed. “He still doesn’t know about you.”

“Wow, those’ll be some fun introductions. ‘Rye, these are my friends, two nymphs and two shifters. By the way, one of the shifters is your son.’ You should make him guess which one.”

Danielle must have been getting used to her son’s sarcasm, because she looked back at Laurel and asked, “Wade’s a bear too?”

Laurel shook her head. “No. He’s a snow leopard. He’s very pretty.”

“Pretty?” Wade sounded insulted.

“I’m sorry, Wade, but there’s no other way to put it. “

Aurora patted his leg. “She’s right. You are pretty.” She snuggled up to his side. “Pretty sexy.”

Aiden’s hand went up. “And we’re changing the subject. Mom, I need directions.”

The backseat passengers did their best to stay quiet as Danielle pointed out streets and told Aiden which way to turn. Finally, she directed him to turn onto a private road. It was flanked by ornate wrought iron gates, which stood wide open. They kept driving until the house came into view.

Aiden parked and they got out of the SUV and gathered on one side, looking at the house.

“Wow,” Laurel said. “You weren’t kidding about the house.”

They could probably stay there for a month and not even see Rye. Still, for what was essentially a mansion, it managed to exude a homey, welcoming feeling. Maybe it was the casual landscaping, or the playful use of brick and wood that almost made it seem like a child had been playing with Lincoln Logs and didn’t know when to stop.

Aiden crossed his arms and jerked his chin at the porch. Wood columns, polished to a gleam and carved into giant bears standing on their hindquarters, guarded each side of the steps. 

“Subtle,” he said.

“I like them,” Laurel said.

Aiden lifted a brow in surprise. “Really? Even though two trees gave their lives to make those?”

“Yes. I love my trees, but being used for construction and art is part of their purpose. I’d much rather see a tree transformed into something beautiful than something ridiculous. Like toothpicks.”

“Or matches,” Aurora said. “Did you know, you can make millions of matches out of one tree, but it only takes one match to kill an entire forest.”

“That’s deep,” Aiden said. “You should print it on a little piece of paper and stuff it in a fortune cookie.”

Aurora cocked her head to the side. “Come to think of it, that might be where I read it in the first place.”

Before the conversation could get anymore off track, the front door opened and a man stepped out of the house.

“What’re you standing out there for? Come on in!” His booming voice and wide smile were even more welcoming than the house.

Danielle smiled so wide, she was in danger of straining her facial muscles. “Just leave everything in the car,” she said without taking her eyes off Rye. “We’ll get it later.” She hurried up the path, between the wooden bears, and jumped into Rye’s arms.

“Hey,” Wade said, looking over the top of his sunglasses, “is that Rye Randall?”

Laurel made a face at him as she opened the back of the SUV. “Have you been asleep this entire time? Rye is the reason we’re here.”

“Well, yeah, I knew that.” He pushed his glasses back into place, trying to act cool. “I was just making sure that’s him. He looks different in person.”

He didn’t, but Laurel decided not to press the issue. “Come on, boy.” Bailey stretched, shook himself, then plodded over to her. “I know you don’t need this,” she said as she snapped the leash on his collar, “but it’s good manners when you’re a guest in someone’s home.”

He gave her a long-suffering look, then jumped down to the ground.

Wade and Aurora were already being greeted by Rye, but Aiden had waited for Laurel. She slid her hand into his and their fingers intertwined. “He sure seems happy for a guy who might be arrested for murder. Maybe that’s because he knows he’s innocent.”

“Or because he’s certain he’ll get away with it.” Aiden squeezed her hand. “Let’s go.”

For years, Laurel had seen Rye Randall in magazines, on TV, even as a 30-foot giant head on a billboard the year he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. She knew what he looked like and would have recognized him anywhere. But now, it was like she was seeing him for the first time. She wasn’t looking at Rye the megastar, she was looking at Rye, Aiden’s father. Too bad Rye didn’t realize he was looking at his son.

Danielle continued with the introductions. “This is Laurel.”

“Nice to meet you.” She stuck her hand out, but Rye ignored it and smothered her with a hug.

“Glad you could come.” He looked down at her feet. “And who’s this?”

“This is Bailey. If there’s someplace outside you’d like him to stay–”

He waved her suggestion away. “You just let him go wherever he wants. Inside, outside, whatever makes him comfortable.” Rye turned back to Danielle. “And who’s the last member of the group?”

“This is Aiden.” She put her hand on Aiden’s back. “He’s my son.”

Every one of them froze in a shocked silence so complete, the only sound came from Bailey’s panting. Laurel looked at Aiden, but he was looking down at his mother, who looked at Rye, who looked at Aiden. It was quite an intense family circle. The question now was how much did Danielle plan to share? Or did she even need to? Rye wasn’t stupid. He could do the math and come to the correct conclusion on his own.

“Your son.” Rye broke the silence. He was serious now, his boisterous attitude tempered by the news. “You didn’t tell me you had a son.”

Tears welled up in Danielle’s eyes as she shook her head.

“And I’m guessing you didn’t tell me I was a father, either.”

Danielle gasped. “I didn’t know how. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay, Dani.” Rye pulled her against him with one arm. “All we can do is move forward.” As he comforted her, he looked at Aiden. “I’ll bet you’ve got a lot of questions.”

“I expect we both do.” It was obvious from the thickness of Aiden’s voice that he was moved.

“First things first.” He held his free hand out to Aiden. “I’m very pleased to meet you, son.”

~ ~ ~

Aiden felt like he’d just completed a marathon and now he was about to do it all over again. The brief conversation outside had left him emotionally drained, battered, and bruised. Laurel, perceptive as always, had suggested they all take some time to freshen up and get some rest before going any further. They’d all jumped at the idea.

There was so much to process, but he didn’t want to think about any of it. Instead, he thought about how comfortable the bed beneath him was and how the room vaguely smelled of vanilla. The mattress moved and he smiled as Laurel crawled to his side and collapsed beside him.

“This is the biggest bed I’ve ever seen,” she said with an exaggerated pant. “I wasn’t sure if I’d make it.”

“Maybe I took a wrong turn and drove us to Texas. Everything seems bigger here.”

“That would explain it.” She put her palm on his chest and snuggled in closer. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I don’t want to think about anybody except you and me.”

“We can do that, for a little while.”

He buried his fingers in her hair and rubbed the nape of her neck. “What do you want to do when we get home?”

“You mean, besides this?” She kissed the bottom of his jaw.

“This is a given. What plans do you have for the future?”

“Hmm, let me think. Oh!” She popped up on one elbow and looked down at him. “There is something. I was going to tell you, but the relatives descended before I had a chance.”

Her enthusiasm made him smile. “Here’s your chance.”

“I’ve decided I want to open a nursery.”

Aiden wrinkled his forehead in confusion. “A nursery?” He glanced at her stomach. “Are you pregnant?”

“What? No!” Laurel giggled. “Not a baby nursery. A plant nursery.”

He was both glad and a little disappointed to hear it, but he forced a grin. “That makes more sense. Is this the project you were working on the other morning?”

“Yes. I went to see Pandora and we found a few properties that could work. But I haven’t looked at any of them yet. If you have the time, I’d love to have you look at them with me.”

“I always have time for you.”

Aiden pulled her down into a kiss. Her hand went to his face, caressing the stubble on his cheek. They might have stayed that way the rest of the night, if not for the knock on the door.

“Someone has lousy timing,” Aiden said as Laurel rolled onto her back.

“We knew we had to face them eventually. Guess we have to traverse this wide-open space again.”

As she crawled away from him, he gave her a playful swat on the behind.

Another knock sounded and Aiden scooted off the side of the bed. “All right. I’m coming.”

The man outside was the same fellow that brought their bags to the room. His demeanor was formal, even though he wore jeans and a western-style shirt. Aiden suspected Rye was responsible for the wardrobe choice.

“Will you and the lady be ready for dinner in thirty minutes, Sir?”

“Yes. I’m Aiden, by the way. What’s your name?”

“Charles,” he said, then quickly added, “but Mr. Randall prefers to call me Chuck.”

Of course he did. “Thank you, Charles. We’ll be down soon.”

The butler smiled, nodded, then went down the hall.

Aiden shut the door and called out to Laurel. “Dinner is at six.”

She came out of the connecting bathroom. “Do you think we need to dress up for dinner?”

“Not unless you brought a silver-studded, denim dress with you.” He checked the time on his phone, then put it on the bedside table. “We’ve got 26 minutes to kill. What do you think about traversing this great plain of unexplored territory?” He kneeled on the bed and waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Laurel kneeled on the other side of the bed, and waggled her brows right back. “I think it would be a shame to waste the opportunity for some adventure.”

~ ~ ~

All the rooms they’d seen in the house so far seemed to follow the same theme: Western Grand. Everything in them was larger in scale than you’d expect, but the décor was tasteful, even homey. The dining room was no different. A long, rectangular table made of thick planks of dark wood was surrounded by sturdy wooden chairs with leather upholstered seats and backs. It was the kind of room that fit the occasion. With a bit of fancying up, it would be just as suitable for a black-tie event as it would for barbeque dinner with all the fixings. That night, to Aiden’s relief, it was barbeque.

Aiden and Laurel walked in just as Rye, who sat at the head of the table like a king holding court, wound up a story.

“So then I told him, sir, there are two kinds of people I want in my bar. And you ain’t either one of ‘em.” Rye smacked the table for emphasis and laughed along with everyone else.

“Sorry we’re late.” Aiden said. He and Laurel were the last ones to the table so they went to the two empty seats obviously designated for them. Right next to Rye.

“Not a problem, son. I remember being young and in love.” He looked at the woman beside him and squeezed her hand. “Now I’m old and in love, and I never miss a meal. Isn’t that right, Dani?”

“You’re not old. But that part about not missing a meal is dead on.”

Rye laughed again, then waved his hands over the plates of food crowded on the middle of the table. “Dig in, everybody. Don’t be shy if you don’t want to go hungry.”

The table was a flurry activity, except for Aiden. He couldn’t stop watching his mother. He’d never seen her so relaxed, so happy. And he’d certainly never heard anybody call her Dani before. His mother was too put-together and serious for such a playful nickname.

“Aiden, you have to try this.” Laurel held a platter of grilled corn on the cob under his nose. “It’s fabulous.”

He took some corn, then samples from the other bowls and platters. The food was delicious, and the conversation lively, but that didn’t stop him from watching the interaction between his mother and Rye.

When dinner was over, the whole group moved into the living room, settling on overstuffed chairs and sofas covered in various shades of soft denim. Laurel had just sat down when she jumped back up.

“Oh my gosh. Bailey. I forgot all about him. He’s probably starving.” She turned to Rye. “Do you know where he is?”

Rye grinned. “No need to worry about him, darlin’. He’s had his dinner and is getting acquainted with Lola.”

“Lola?”

“My dog. Beautiful golden Lab. I haven’t had her long, but she’s a sweetheart.” Rye dropped his voice to a raspy whisper. “If you ask me, I think he’s smitten.”

Laurel sat back down next to Aiden. “At least he’s enjoying himself.”

Aurora laughed. “Just so he doesn’t have too much fun. Is he fixed?”

“You mean you don’t know? I would have thought he’d told you during one of your chat sessions.”

“Excuse me.” Aurora flicked a wavy length of hair off her shoulder. “It’s not my fault you don’t know how to connect with your animal friends.”

Laurel started to get up again, but Aiden grabbed her arm and eased her back down. “You two can put away the verbal swords for a while. We have a lot to talk about, so we’d better get started.”

“I agree.” Rye sat forward, elbows to knees and fingers steepled in front of him. “Dani, Aiden, I think the three of us should save our business for another time. No sense boring these good people with our own personal soap opera.”

Aiden and Danielle nodded in agreement.

“Good. That leaves us with the herd of stampeding pachyderms in the room. Did I murder Vance Perkins?”

“Of course you didn’t. Everybody knows that!” A young woman sailed into the room, looking ready to do battle with anyone who contradicted her.

“Rayne, what are you doing here?” Rye stood up and hugged her. “I didn’t expect you home until next week.”

“With everything that’s going on right now, I couldn’t wait that long.” She motioned around the room. “Who are these people?”

Aiden had already figured out who Rayne was, but he was interested to see how she’d react when she was introduced to him.

For a moment, Rye seemed unsure of himself. Then, he plunged in. “Everyone, this is my daughter, Rayne.”

A murmur of quiet exclamations went around the room.

Wade bumped Aurora with his shoulder. “We’re getting the soap opera after all.”

“Many branches a family tree has,” Aurora replied seriously.

“Thank you, fortune cookie Yoda.”

Aurora beamed at him. “Aw, I knew you’d get it.”

“Cut it out, you two.” Laurel hissed at them from the couch on the other side of the coffee table.

Rye continued the introductions, going around the room until he got to Danielle. “You know Dani. And this is Aiden.”

“My son,” Danielle said with a smile.

“Her son,” Rye repeated. “And, interesting story, my son.”

Rayne glared at her father. “Your son?”

“Yes.”

“Hey, Sis.” Aiden wiggled his fingers in greeting.

Wade whispered to Aurora, “I wish we had popcorn.”

Aiden turned to Danielle. “Are there any other surprise family members you want to tell me about?”

“No.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive.”

Rayne stepped away from her father and waved her arms like a flagman on an aircraft carrier. “Wait a minute. Everybody quiet down.” She turned her attention to Aiden. “Nice to meet you and all that happy crap. I’m sure you’re very nice, but I’m too old to need a brother now.” She looked back at Rye. “Why are they here?”

“Rayne, you’re being rude. The people came all the way from Nocturne Falls, Georgia to help me with this legal mess.”

Rayne softened a bit. “I’m sorry, Daddy. But I’m worried about you. How can anybody help you if you can’t use your alibi?”

“That’s what we’re here to do,” Aiden said.

Understanding came over Rayne’s face. “Okay, you I understand, but, is everybody else here...you know.”

Aiden nodded. “Okay gang, sound off, one more time.”

“Nymph.” Laurel pointed at Aiden. “And I’m with him.”

Aurora grinned. “Free agent nymph, and her sister.”

“Shifter,” Wade said.

Rayne looked wary. “What kind?”

He lowered his glasses just enough for her to see his blue-on-blue eyes. “Snow leopard.”

“Cool.”

“Shifter,” Aiden said. “Bear. Obviously.”

Danielle was the last one left. “Just a plain, ordinary human here. But I know everything about everybody, so it’s okay.” She sighed and broke out in a huge smile. “What a relief it is to say that. I know what’s going on. I feel like a new person.”

Rand clapped his hands together. “Rayne, when you came in, we were starting to talk about Vance and the criminal case. Do you want to join us?”

“Are you kidding? Does a bear sing in the woods?” She dropped cross-legged on the floor, her back leaning against an empty chair.

Rye spoke up as they all sat down. “Before we continue, does anybody need anything? No? Okay.” He sat back in his chair. “The answer to the question, did I kill Vance, is an emphatic no. We had our differences, but I never wanted to kill him over anything.”

“Then why do the police suspect you?” Aiden asked.

Rye sighed. “Way back when we first started out, Vance and I were business partners. It was hard work, but we loved it. We were doing the thing we both loved, finding raw talent, publishing songs, we were helping musicians reach their dreams. Then, when it took off and we started making money, Vance changed. Nothing was ever enough. He wanted more money and more attention, and he wasn’t getting it. So one day, I came into the office and found he’d taken off with most of the bank account, half-a-dozen of our recording artists, and my secretary.”

“That’s terrible,” Laurel said. “How could he get away with that?”

“I learned a valuable lesson that day.” Rye leaned forward. “Never do business with a friend on nothing but a handshake and big ideas.”

“You didn’t have a contract?”

“No. Not between us. We had contracts with all our recording artists, so I could have gone after him for that, but I chose not to. It’s hard enough trying to make a living as a singer, I didn’t want to tie them all up in litigation for heaven knows how long. So,” he slapped his palms on his thighs, “Vance went his own way and started a new company. I almost lost everything, but after a lot of hard work I turned it around. Now my company makes Vance’s look like a hot dog stand.”

“Reap what you sow,” Danielle said.

“Karma,” Aurora said.

“Good business sense,” Wade said.

Rye chuckled. “Probably all of the above. But you can imagine there was no love lost between the two of us. Vance never missed a chance to bad-mouth me. We had more than one shouting match in public. But when he started messing with my artists, that was the last straw.”

“What did he do?” Aurora asked.

“Little things at first. When they sang in my bar, he’d sit in the audience and heckle them. He’d post bad reviews. Then it got worse. He was trying to poach some of my singers, but none of them would talk to him. Finally, when I caught him tampering with the sound system before a show, I’d had it. I filed a report with the police.”

“Shouldn’t that help him?” Laurel asked Aiden. “It proves he was trying to take care of things the right way.”

He thought for a moment. “Maybe. But it could also go toward proving motive. There’s documentation of increasing conflict between Rye and the deceased. They could make the case that Rye couldn’t take it anymore and lost control.” Aiden looked at Rye. “I got as much information about the case as I could, and it doesn’t look like they found any physical evidence tying you to the murder. Is that right?”

“They found one thing back at his office. A printout of an email I sent him.” Rye looked at his hands. “I wrote that if he didn’t leave my artists alone, including my daughter, I’d rip his heart out.”

Wade groaned. “Please tell me that’s not how he died.”

“No, he was stabbed.”

“In the heart,” Aiden added.

“Close enough.” Wade held his palms up like the scales of justice. “Rip his heart out. Cut his heart out. It’s semantics, really.”

Rayne shot him an angry look. “You’re not helping.”

“Just interpreting the facts ma’am,” Wade answered.

Aiden was wishing they’d left Wade and Aurora back home. “Back up a minute. Vance was stabbed. Did they find the knife?’

“No,” Rye said.

“Okay.” Aiden needed to move. He got up and paced around the furniture while he worked out what they knew so far. “It’s common knowledge you and Vance had an antagonistic relationship. He was stabbed in the heart. The murder weapon wasn’t found. The only physical evidence that points to you is the email, and that’s flimsy. Everybody has said or written something in the heat of the moment they regret. If you had an alibi, you’d be in the clear. And you do have an alibi, but you can’t use it.” He stopped pacing. “What is your alibi? You never told us.”

“I was leading a Brotherhood meeting.”

“What’s that?” Laurel asked.

“The Brotherhood of Bears. It’s a gathering of all the other ursine shifters in the area. Gives us a chance to spend time together in our other form, share information. Mostly, it’s a social club. But you can see why it’s useless as an alibi.”

Aiden rubbed the back of his neck. “And it wouldn’t do any good to get in touch with anybody else in the group because eventually, you’d have to prove where you had your meeting. Short of lying, which I am not suggesting, there’s no way for us to prove where you were when the crime occurred.”

“What are you saying, son?” Danielle’s voice shook. “That it’s hopeless?”

“No. I’m saying that we have to find the murderer.”

As a bombardment of shouts and questions flew around the room, Wade went to Aiden and put the back of his wrist against his forehead.

Aiden jerked back. “What are you doing?”

“Seeing if you have a fever. But you don’t. So you must be crazy.”

“What’s crazy about it? You and I are trained law enforcement officers. And almost everybody in this room has unique abilities.”

“What if the person we’re looking for also has unique abilities?”

Aiden got Rye’s attention. “Was Vance a shifter? Or any kind of supernatural?”

Rye shook his head. “No. And he didn’t know I was, either.”

“There you go,” Aiden said to Wade. “The chances of a super being the perp are almost zero.”

Bailey and Lola chose that moment to run through the living room, right past Wade. “Hey, look, there go Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo now. And we’ve got the Mystery Machine parked outside. What was I worried about? Everything will be fine.”

Yeah, they definitely should have left him at home. “Calm down. You haven’t even heard the plan yet.”

It took a few minutes, but Aiden finally got everyone quiet and settled so he could go on.

“We need to identify who had the most to gain from Vance’s death. I think the best place to start is with the singers he managed.”

“Do you think one of them could be responsible?” Rye looked pained at the thought.

“It’s possible. But it’s more likely one of them may have overheard or seen something that we can follow up on. We could go right to them and ask questions, but it’s been my experience that people start acting squirrely when murder’s involved. Doesn’t matter if they’re guilty or not, they’ll clam up or lie right to your face.”

“Then what do you suggest?” Rye asked.

“That we go in undercover. Who better to get information out of a singer than another singer?” He looked at Laurel. “That’s where you come in.”

Before she could answer, Aurora stood up in a huff. “I should be the one who goes in. I’m a much better singer than Laurel.”

Aiden shook his head. “Nope. If you get on the stage and start singing every animal in earshot will come running. It’ll turn into a night at the Enchanted Tiki Room.”

“Excuse me.” Rayne walked up to Aiden, hands on hips. “I should be the one to do it. I am a singer.”

“No way,” Rye bellowed. “You’re my daughter and everybody around here knows you.”

“I’ll wear a disguise.”

“You can’t disguise your voice.”

Rayne huffed out a petulant breath. “Fine.”

“Then it’s settled,” Aiden said. “I’ll pose as Laurel’s manager, and hopefully I’ll be able to dig for information, too.”

“I’ll need something to sing,” Laurel said.

Finally, Rayne seemed happy about something. “I can take care of that. I’ve got some original songs we can work on, and you can do some covers.”

“I liked your idea of a disguise,” Aiden said to Rayne. “I doubt anybody noticed us driving through the city, but why take chances? Can you get Laurel a wig and whatever clothes are right to perform in?”

“Leave it to me,” Rayne said with a smirk and a wave of her hand. “I’ve got the perfect thing for her.”

6

“Your sister is out of her ever-loving mind!” Laurel stalked out of the bathroom and turned in a circle, giving Aiden a 360-degree view of the insane outfit Rayne had chosen for her.

Aiden put down the book he’d been reading and laughed so hard he almost choked.

“Oh yes. It’s hilarious.” It had been bad enough in the bathroom, when all Laurel could see was the white-blond curls of the Lady Godiva wig, and the halter top of the purple leather jumpsuit. But now, looking in the full-length mirror behind the door, she got to see the enormous bell bottoms, and how the rhinestones lined every edge of the outfit.

“Maybe she got confused and thought we were time travelling to the ‘70s.” Aiden came to her and put his hands on her hips. “Sorry. Honestly, you look pretty hot.”

“Oh, I’m hot all right.” She pushed his hands away. “This thing is like those rubber suits people wear to sweat off the pounds. And wait till you see the rest of it.”

“There’s more?”

She held up a finger, signaling for him to stay put and went back into the bathroom. When she came back, she wore a bright red Stetson with a purple and silver rhinestone band. “The cherry on top.”

Aiden tried to hide his grin behind his hand, but it was no use. “Babe, you’re a real trouper.”

“I guess. But are you sure this is the right thing to wear? None of the other singers will speak to me if I go in there looking like Disco Tramp Barbie.”

“Good point. We’ve got one more day before we hit the club. I’ll ask Rye what he thinks.” He moved a wet strand of wig hair off her forehead. “You’d better get out of this before you keel over from heat stroke.”

“Thank you.”

Laurel was half undressed and relishing the cool air on her skin when Aiden stuck his head in the bathroom door.

“I wouldn’t mind if you kept the wig on.”

She threw a towel at him.

~ ~ ~

That afternoon, Laurel found herself with a chunk of free time and no one to spend it with. Aiden, Dani, and Rye were having their family talk, and Wade and Aurora had borrowed the SUV to go on a combination sightseeing/reconnaissance trip.

She could lounge by the pool with a good book. Or watch a movie in the media room. There were any number of things she could do alone. But there was somebody she wanted to spend time with.

It didn’t take long to find Bailey soaking up sun on the grass in front of the house. She sat beside him and scratched behind his ears.

“Hey buddy,” she said. “I want you to know, I’m listening. If you never want to say anything to me again, that’s your choice and I won't be upset. But if you want to, I’m here.”

From the silence, Laurel was certain Bailey had made up his mind. Then, she heard something.

“Do you remember how we met?”

Her heart jumped. He was talking to her again. “Of course. I was living in a duplex in Washington state. One morning I opened the front door and there you were, a little puppy in a big cardboard box. It was love at first sight.”

“Did you ever wonder who put me there?”

Laurel watched him while he talked. The way his mouth moved wasn’t human, but it wasn’t canine, either. Most of all, it looked uncomfortable. She shook her head and answered his question. “I always thought somebody couldn’t take care of you, so they left you there hoping you’d have a good home.”

“Sweet thought, but wrong. It was your brother.”

“Larry?” He was the one they never talked about, and for good reason. If he did leave Bailey on her doorstep, it was the first good thing he’d done for her. “Why?”

“He was playing with enchantments, seeing what mischief he could cause. He thought it would be funny to make a dog talk. Even funnier if it had an English accent. But he couldn’t undo it.”

“Bailey. That’s terrible.” Laurel hugged him and pressed her cheek against the top of his head. “Why did he leave you with me?”

“I’m not sure. He was tired of me and irritated that he couldn’t make me stop talking. One day he put me in the box and I was sure I’d end up in the ocean. But he took me to you.”

“I’m so glad he did.” She kneaded the skin on the back of his neck. “Why didn’t you talk to me sooner?”

“When Larry left me, he said I’d have a better life if I kept my mouth shut. It made sense, so I did.”

“Then, other than talking, you’re not a magical creature at all?”

“No. Just a dog.” With a sigh, Bailey lay all the way down, resting his head on top of his front paws. He looked so tired.

“You’re not just a dog. You’re the best dog friend I could hope for.”

He grunted in response.

“Talking takes a lot out of you, doesn’t it?”

“Indeed. For a long time, I wished the ability to talk would go away.”

Laurel ran her hand down his back. “And now?”

“Now, I’m glad I can talk when it’s important. Otherwise, I couldn’t have helped you.”

“You saved my life.”

“See, that was important. The same way it’s important that I may be able to tell yo who killed Vance.”

“What?” Laurel pivoted in front of Bailey and got down on her elbows in the grass, their noses inches from each other. “How could you know that?”

“Lola told me. She was Vance’s dog. After he died, Rye took her in.”

Laurel’s mind was spinning. “Lola can talk, too?”

Bailey lifted his head and made one of his doggy grins. “Like this? No. But dogs do talk to each other, in our own way. Just because we don’t communicate the way you do, doesn’t mean we aren’t.”

“I stand corrected.” Laurel pushed herself up and sat back on her heels. “Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?”

His forehead wrinkled. “If I had, you would have run off to your people friends. I wanted to spend time with you. I miss you.”

He was right. She wouldn’t have spent this time with him if she’d known about Lola. Now, waiting a few more minutes for the information wouldn’t hurt. “You do have to tell me what Lola said, but first, let’s talk about something really important.”

His ears went up. She had his attention.

“Am I feeding you enough steak?”

Bailey flopped on his side and rolled over, doing an amusing grunt-laugh-pant combination. Then he looked at her. “My dear, there’s never enough steak.”

~ ~ ~

Somehow, Laurel managed to keep what she’d learned to herself until dinner time, the first time they all came together that day. It was appropriate that steak was the star of the menu, since Bailey deserved one now more than ever.

After everyone had filled their plates, Laurel picked up her water glass and tapped it with the dull side of her knife.

“Attention, attention. I have news to share. There’s been a break in the case, and we have Bailey to thank.” Every eye shifted to Bailey who was at the end of the dining room, with Lola beside him, enjoying a sumptuous T-bone.

“Your dog?” Rayne asked. “How could he help?”

Laurel speared a Brussels sprout with her fork. “Bailey can talk. He told me what Lola told him.”

Rayne shook her head. “Lola can’t talk.”

“Sure she can. She talked like a dog to Bailey, then Bailey told me in human words.”

Across the table, Aurora held up her glass in a toast to Laurel. “Makes perfect sense to me.”

“But how does Lola know anything about the case?” Aiden asked.

Rye smacked his palm against his forehead. “She was Vance’s dog. It never occurred to me that might be important.”

Aiden’s eyes gleamed with pride. “Good job, Babe. Is Bailey going to share what he knows with us?”

“No. I am. He’s not keen on talking and it wears him out. But he’s going to stay and make sure I don’t miss anything.”

Wade, who had been following the conversation, swinging his head back and forth like he was watching a ping pong game, couldn’t stay quiet any longer. “You people sure know how to keep life interesting. I can’t believe I’m saying this but...What did the dog tell us to prove that the bear didn’t do it?”

They took a minute to laugh at Wade, then waited anxiously for Lauren to start talking.

She dabbed the corners of her mouth with a napkin and set it beside her plate. “Vance worked from home a lot and usually took phone calls using speaker phone. Several times, Lola overheard him talking to someone he called Chief. They yelled a lot. The last time they talked was the day of the murder. They arranged to meet at the Hanson Building.”

Rayne gasped. “That’s where they found Vance. In the alley behind the Hanson Building.”

“Do you know what they were arguing about?” Rye asked.

“It was about contracts. Chief was upset that his kid got a raw deal. He was convinced Vance was cheating them out of royalties, so he wanted to break the contract and manage the kid himself. It looks like Aiden’s hunch about talking to the singers was on the mark.”

“It’s good information, but how does it help my dad?” Rayne asked. “Chief can’t be his real name and we don’t even know if the kid is a guy or a girl. We still have no idea who we’re looking for.”

Wade wagged his finger in her direction. “But we’ve narrowed it down substantially. A man who uses the nickname Chief has a kid who was managed by Vance. Which means, now that Vance is gone, this guy is out there trying to make him or her a star That’s what he wants the most, so that’s how we’ll catch him.”

“I see where you’re going.” Aiden turned to Rye. “I know it’s short notice, but can you put together a talent search at your bar for tomorrow night?”

“Not a problem.”

“And try to spread the word with artists who used to be with Vance or are represented by an individual, not an agency.” Aiden looked at Laurel. “You’ll still be singing, but we’ll all be there, including the dogs. Between the nine of us, we’ll find our man.”

7

Word that Rye Randall was holding an open mic night at his Golden Bear Saloon spread like butter on a hot griddle. Talent filled the backstage area and spilled out into the street, while the saloon was standing room only.

For the umpteenth time, Laurel peeked through a gap in the curtains to check on the rest of the crew. Rayne was behind the bar. Aurora worked the room, talking to anybody she thought might prove useful. Wade sat at a table, sunglasses on, and guide dog Lola beside him. Laurel just hoped no one looked too closely at the harness they’d MacGyvered for her out of PVC pipe and scraps of leather. And sitting at a table up front were Rye and Danielle, playing themselves.

A hand touched her waist and she spun around, ready to scream. But it was Aiden.

“A little jumpy?” He spoke close to her ear.

“A little. At least I look presentable now.”

Laurel had been beyond happy when Rayne admitted the first outfit was a joke and brought her something else. Now she wore knee-high black leather boots, brown suede shorts with laces crisscrossing the sides, and a white peasant blouse that was short in the front and flowy in the back. It had a hippy vibe that Laurel felt far more comfortable in than the disco look.

“Are you kidding? You’re gorgeous.”

Laurel grinned. “And you’re biased. But that’s okay.”

Aiden took his cell phone out of his pocket and checked the texts. “Rayne is bored.”

“What else is new?”

He nodded. “I know. Oh, and Wade wants to know if he’s supposed to be completely blind, or just a little blind.”

“It’s probably inhibiting his ability to flirt with the waitresses. I–” Something caught her eye. She scanned the crowd. Where was it? “Aiden.” She grabbed his arm. “Look. That man in the leather jacket. The bald guy walking to the bar.”

“What about him?”

“When he turns...there. Look at the back of his jacket.” It was an inordinately embroidered, brightly colored Native American headdress. “Could that be Chief?”

“Definitely could be.”

“We need to follow him and see if he’s got a singer here tonight.”

Before she could move, the MC came on stage and announced the next artist.

“Sorry, Babe,” Aiden said. “That’s you. I’ll follow Chief. You sing.” He kissed her and smiled down into her eyes. “Even if you can’t see me, I’m listening. Knock em dead.”

Laurel wished he hadn’t used the D-word, but she gave him a thumb’s up, then went on stage.

She had two songs to sing. Approximately ten minutes of stage time. And the entire thing went by in such a blur, she might as well have been performing a Gregorian Chant.

The lights on the stage were blinding, so she moved from side to side, trying to see the audience. Every time the lights moved, so did she. It was almost like playing a game of tag. She caught sight of a bald head moving quickly through the crowd. Then she saw Aiden. The lights shifted. She swooped and twirled. When she found the bald man again, it was just in time to see him trip over the legs of the blind man. The lights moved. She swung one way, then another. The last song was coming to an end. She caught a glimpse of Aiden hauling Chief up by the collar just as she hit the high note and carried it home.

The crowd went wild, which helped detract attention from the arrival of the Nashville PD and the arrest taking place. Laurel took a bow, waved at the crowd, and hurried off stage as the MC came back on.

“How ‘bout that, folks?” The MC said. “Rye Randall, I think we just found your next star. Sign that little lady up.”

Backstage, Laurel made her way through the sea of people, smiling and accepting congratulations as she went. When she reached the entrance to the main saloon, Rye and Danielle were waiting for her.

“You were spectacular,” Danielle said as she hugged her.

“Thanks. I don’t remember much about it. Did I actually sing words?”

A laugh rumbled out of Rye. “You did. Many words, all of them right. You did quite a dance, too.”

“I’m glad that’s what it looked like out here.” Laurel looked in the direction she’d last seen Aiden, but he wasn’t there. “Did we get him? Chief?”

“Did we ever.”

She turned and found Wade beside her. “I take it you’re not blind anymore.”

“It’s a miracle. And you were fantastic.”

“Thanks. Now tell me what happened. I saw when you tripped him.”

Wade shrugged. “Hey, I was just stretching my legs. But when he hit the ground, Lola almost tore him a new...let’s just say he won’t be sitting comfortably for a while.”

“Remind me never to get on Lola’s bad side,” Laurel said. “But how was there enough evidence to arrest him right away?”

“That’s the best part. Turns out the reason Lola lost her mind was because she smelled Vance’s blood on him. He was carrying the pocket knife he used to stab Vance.” Wade crossed his arms and grinned. “I love stupid criminals.”

Laurel exhaled a deep breath. She felt so light, she just might float away. They’d done it. They’d found the murderer and removed any suspicion from Rye. It was over. Except for one thing.

“Where is Aiden?”

Wade motioned toward the door. “He and Aurora took the dogs to the SUV. They’re waiting for us, whenever you’re ready to go.”

“I’m more than ready.”

“I need to stay here,” Rye said. “Rayne’s going to finish up the night with her own set. But you go on. My shack is your shack.”

Laurel laughed. Only Rye could call his place a shack and make it sound so complimentary. As she and Wade were leaving, she saw Rayne behind the bar.

She grabbed Wade’s arm to stop him. “I’ll be right out. I want to say goodbye to Rayne.”

He nodded and went outside. Laurel scooted around behind the bar.

She made her way to Aiden’s sister and tapped her on the back. “Rayne.”

When Rayne saw Laurel, her expression became a mixture of happiness and disappointment. “Laurel. Hey. You were great. Congratulations.”

“Thanks. If you hadn’t helped me, it wouldn’t have gone so well.” She rubbed her palms on her hips. “I’ve got to admit, I kind of love this outfit.”

“You can have it.” Rayne took a tall, plastic glass from under the bar. “And you can have those songs, too.”

“What? No, I couldn’t. You wrote those songs. They’re yours.”

She shook her head. “Not after tonight. Even if I tried to sing one, I’d only be covering a song that everyone associates with you.”

“But this is just one small club. By tomorrow, no one will even remember me.”

Rayne scooped ice from a bin and filled her glass. “For an old chick, you’re pretty naïve. Every person in here has a cell phone, and about half of them recorded your performance, even though we ask them not to. Within five minutes of the end of your set, most of those videos were uploaded to YouTube. By morning, you’ll be a viral sensation. Heck, you probably already are. That’s the exposure every singer wants.”

She didn’t have to say anymore for Laurel to get the drift. We work hard for it, but you got it without trying. She almost apologized, but stopped herself. What’s done is done and there was no way to undo it. Even if she could, Laurel wouldn’t want to.

Laurel started to leave, then turned back to Rayne. “Will we see you at breakfast?”

One corner of her mouth lifted in a cheeky grin. “Does a bear sleep in the woods?”

~ ~ ~

Breakfast the next morning was more like a party, with lots of laughter and hearty conversation. And not one speck of doom and gloom. It was the kind of thing Laurel could get used to.

After breakfast, everybody hurried off to pack their things and take them to the SUV. Rye helped, taking Aurora’s suitcase in one hand and Laurel’s in the other.

“Those will fit right behind the back seat,” Laurel pointed out. “And the rest of the back is for Bailey.”

Rye put the luggage where he was told. “Are you sure you can’t stay longer?”

“Positive,” Aiden said. “Wade and I need to get back to work.”

“You could at least stay for lunch.”

Danielle squeezed Rye’s arm. “If they say they need to go, then they do. But they’ll be back again.” She looked at Aiden with hopeful eyes. “Won’t you?”

“Of course. And you can come see us.”

“All right, I give up,” Rye grumbled. “But I’m hoping you can do me a favor and take something back with you.”

Laurel and Aiden exchanged glances. “If there’s room, sure,” Laurel said. “What is it?”

“Lola.”

Laurel gasped. “Are you serious?”

“Very. She and Bailey have gotten so close, and I’m afraid she won’t get all the attention she needs here. It would be a good thing for all of us.”

“But, what if she doesn’t want to go?”

“She does,” Aiden said.

“How do you know?”

“What do you think we were talking about last night while we waited for you?”

Laurel shook her head and laughed. True to his word, Bailey was saving his talking for important things.

~ ~ ~

The trip back home to Nocturne Falls was much smoother than the trip getting to Nashville. Laurel finally got to drive her car, Wade stayed awake the whole time, Bailey and Lola kept each other company in the back, and Aurora spent half the time searching the internet for clips of Laurel at the Golden Bear. As for Aiden, he was content to sit back in the passenger seat, watching the scenery rush by.

That morning, he awoke to the sound of birds chirping and sunlight filtering through the windows. He was well-rested, alert, and excited about the new day. It struck him then that he hadn’t had a nightmare since they arrived in Nashville.

He would still tell Laurel about that terrible night, but not now. Things were too good and he was too happy. Maybe the dream would come back, maybe it wouldn’t. But after spending time with his father and mother, discovering who they all really were, Aiden was more interested in the promise of his future than the pain of his past.

“Now entering Nocturne Falls,” Laurel called out. “Home sweet home.”

They dropped Wade and Aurora at his place because Aurora said she’d rather hang out with Wade than be stuck alone at her sister’s cabin. As they drove away, Aiden reached for Laurel’s hand.

“It’s only three o’clock and we’ve got the rest of the day to ourselves. Want to look at some of those nursery properties?”

“Oh no,” Laurel said. “There’s only one thing I want to do.”

“Make mad, passionate love?”

“Okay, two things.”

“Sleep and make mad, passionate love?”

Laurel laughed. “We know each other so well.”

Yes, they did. And they would keep getting to know each other better and better, for as long as they both should live.

THE END...ALMOST

About the Author

J. L. Farey (Jennifer, to her friends) was born in Hollywood, California. For the first ten years of her life, home was an apartment above a mortuary one block away from Hollywood & Vine where she watched Dark Shadows on TV with her mother, and heard tales of her Hungarian violinist grandfather and his good friend, fellow-Hungarian, Bela Lugosi. It's no surprise she jumped at the chance to be part of the Nocturne Falls Universe. She now lives in fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada, with her hottie British hubby, the best cabbie in town. When she’s not busy spinning tales, she enjoys playing tabletop games, attending live theater and movies, and singing at the top of her lungs to whatever happens to be playing on Pandora. Jennifer loves hearing from readers. You can contact her via Facebook or her website, www.JLFarey.com.