First Love (2 page)

              “You do that, sweet-heart.  We could have a lot of fun together,” Conner said as he got up to leave, taking his glass of water with him.

              Mac didn’t say a word, but he glared at Conner as he walked with him back to the dressing rooms.  Lisa went back to work in the over-sized binder on the counter and must have for hours because before she knew it the men were back and Lance was kissing her on the cheek.  The quick gesture of affection made her cringe as her skin burned in pain.

              “Afternoon, boss lady.  How long have you been working on that, baby girl?” he asked, glancing down at the binder.

              “A few hours,” she said absently while still staring down at the binder.

              Lance’s eyes flashed as he grabbed the binder and slammed it close, “Lisa Brooks, I know you don’t have a family, so I’m doing an intervention here.  How long did you sleep?  Two or three hours?”

              Lisa blushed as she said, “Around three hours, but really, Lance it’s all I need.”

              The dancers were gathering at the bar and watching them with their own looks of concern.

              Lance pounced on the information and said, “You’re lying.  So, what maybe two hours?  Lisa, nobody, and I mean nobody can survive on two hours of sleep a day.  You are not a heart doctor saving lives—you own a strip bar.  There is nothing so important here for you to kill yourself getting it done!”

              “I like to work,” she said quietly.  Lisa was not going tear into Lance just yet because he wasn’t wrong, but that did not make him right.

              “You.  Need.  A.  Life,” Lance said loudly.

              Lisa pulled off her apron and threw it at him as she said, “Fine.  You win, Lance.”

              He smiled like a cat who had just been given a large bowl of milk up until the point she turned to the group of men at the counter.  She locked eyes with Conner and asked, “Would you mind taking the night off.  If Lance is so sure I need a life, then I suppose I need a date.  Interested?”

              “I would be!” Ken piped up.

              “I sure would, baby girl,” Conner said with a seductive smile.

              He started to slide out of the bar stool when Jared gripped his arm hard and said so quietly that a normal person would not be able to hear, “Don’t do this, Conner.  You know the laws.  If you want a woman so badly and can’t find one in your own pack, look in ours.”

              Conner shrugged him off and Lisa walked around the bar.  He slid his arm over her shoulders and they walked towards the door. 

              “What do you want to do, baby girl?”  he asked.

              “I…I don’t know.  I’ve never been on a date,” she said with a shy smile.

              “Never?  Lisa, you are a beautiful woman.  There is no way you’ve never been on a date,” he said in disbelief. 

              “I’ve always been busy,” she said with a simple shrug.  “Hell, I don’t even own a dress, Conner.”

              “Now that is a shame.  You’ve definitely got the legs to pull off even the longest dress.  I think we need to take you to the mall and do some shopping, baby girl,” he said with a slow smile.

              “That’s sweet, Conner, but I’m a Walmart and Target kind of girl.  I haven’t even been in a mall since I was a little girl,” she said with a soft chuckle.

              “Then I definitely need to get you to a mall.  We’ll get you a dress and my little sister loves that make-up place there.  When I’m done with you, you won’t even recognize yourself,” Conner said with a wink.

              Conner opened the door to a Lamborghini setting in the parking lot and Lisa stopped dead in her tracks.  “How much am I paying you, Conner?” she choked out.

              He walked over and wrapped an arm around her back and guided her to the car.  She didn’t fight him, but that was more out of shock than anything else.  He smiled as he whispered in her ear, “You have a knack for hiring men from wealthy families, my dear.”

              She slid in and as he shut the door she looked around the employee parking lot.  Damn, Conner wasn’t joking.  There were two jacked up trucks that probably had more bling on them than more people had invested in their houses.  A Mercedes Benz and some kind of car that she didn’t even recognize, but that had to have been expensive.  Lisa always parked out front, so he had never looked to see what cars her employees drove.

              Conner slid into the seat next to her just as she found her voice.  “What the hell are all of you doing working for me?” she asked in a squeaky voice.

              He smiled and said in a voice that would make most girls melt, “I liked you, Lisa.  If I don’t want to come in, I don’t.  You don’t give me a hard-time.  There are very few jobs that will let me do that.  Besides, it’s that or actually run my own business and I’d much rather hire someone to do that.”

              Lisa just sat there with her mouth open for a few minutes.  She couldn’t find the words to contemplate that.  Allowing someone else to run her business would drive her crazy.  She could afford it, the bar made money hand over fist.  In that quiet moment her mind wandered back to what Jared had said to Conner.

              “It would have nothing to do with my bar sitting smack dab in the middle of all six pack territories and completely neutral would it?  I mean, now that I think about it, you boys are about the right age to be the next alphas of each pack,” she said without thinking.

              Conner’s car screeched as he pulled it off on the edge of the road. 

              “How the hell do you know that, Lisa?” he said with panic in his voice.

              “What?” she asked innocently.

              “That there are wolf shifters at all, let alone that there were six packs,” he said with quietly suppressed panic.

              “I said that out loud?  I…I know better than that.  My parents were well versed in the local packs, it’s what got them killed.  Conner, I think I’m getting too comfortable around you guys.  I’m usually more on guard than to say anything since I’m fond of breathing,” she said.

              “Lisa, Lance is right.  You’ve had what ten-fifteen hours of sleep in the last week?  You can’t make a mistake like that.  A lot of wolves frequent your bar and they won’t let it go like I’m about to,” he said sternly. 

              “Okay,” she said quietly.

              “Lisa, I’m serious.  If you don’t start getting at least seven hours of sleep a day I will haul you in front of the pack council myself.  You’re a liability to my kind like this,” Conner said with no emotion in his voice.

              “Conner, I can lay in bed until hell freezes over, but that does not mean I’m going to sleep,” she complained.

              “Then scratch the mall.  We’re going to a doctor and you are going to some drugs to help you sleep,” he said while putting the car into gear.

              “Like hell!  I do not go to doctors.  Nobody is sticking a needle in my arm,” she said in outrage.

              “If I can give you my word that you won’t be poked, will you go?”  he asked with a heavy sigh.

              “I don’t need a doctor,” she said while crossing her arms and leaning back in the seat.

              “Would you rather I take you before the Pack Council?” he asked flatly.

              “I…I’ll go to the damn doctor,” Lisa conceded.

Chapter 2

              Lisa bounced on the exam couch.  She was as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof.  When the handsome doctor finally came in she looked over at Conner and said, “If he tells me to take my clothes off we’re going to have issues.”

              “Lisa, this is my younger brother, Dean.  Dean, this is Lisa and she doesn’t like needles or doctors apparently,” Conner introduced them.

              Dean studied his brother a minute before turning to Lisa with a warm smile and asking, “What is going on with you, Lisa?”

              “She doesn’t sleep,” Conner chimed in.

              Dean turned back to his brother and said quietly, “Conner, with all due respect, she needs to tell me.”

              Lisa cleared her throat and said, “I have nightmares.  So, Conner’s right, I don’t sleep.”

              Dean pulled up a rolling stool and sat down in front of her.  He studied her a moment and then turned to Conner and said, “I need a moment with my patient, Conner.”

              As soon as his brother was out of the room he turned back to Lisa and said, “As you know I’m a psychologist, not a regular doctor.  While Conner probably thought I’d just throw some pills at you no questions asked, I’m going to be honest.  That is not going to solve your problem.”

              “I am not interested in talking,” Lisa said.

              “Too bad, I’m interested in listening.  You have a number of very powerful men around you every day, Lisa.  You have to be stable.  I think you already know that though, judging from the blush in your cheeks,” he said.

              “I like my secrets,” she said while meeting his eyes.  Alpha wolves had the ability to push others towards their will.  Lisa hadn’t pushed anyone since she was a child, but she put a subtle push in her voice.

              Dean’s eyebrow went up for a moment before he said, “I council a lot of alphas, Lisa.  Pushing me is not going to get your way, but I will say I am impressed at how talented you are at it.  If I hadn’t been trained to resist pushing you would be walking out of this office with some sleeping pills right now and I’d never even know it wasn’t my choice.”

              Lisa’s face burst into flames and tears filled her eyes as she said, “I’m sorry.”

              “Apology accepted.  Who all knows you’re a stray wolf?” he asked kindly.

              “You, apparently,” she said leaning back in the chair and crossing her arms.

              His eyes widened for a moment, but he quickly covered his surprise by saying, “Lisa, I’m even more concerned now.  As you know, people like us are in a constant battle to control our instincts.  The more tired you are, the harder that battle is going to be.  Medication has to be in our game plan in the short-term, but we also need to get these nightmares to stop.”

              “Don’t you think I’ve tried?  It’s not like I choose to wake up after a few hours,” she said in frustration.

              “I know you don’t, but I also know we are social animals and living without a pack is contributing to this.  Have you thought about joining a pack?” Dean asked.

              Lisa met his eyes and there was something in them that gave him chills as she said, “That discussion is off the table, Dean.”

              There wasn’t any push in the words, but the stone cold anger of a true alpha made his stomach drop.  Lisa was dangerous and Dean knew it.  He changed tactics and asked simply, “What happens in the dreams?”

              “I get to relive hell.  Can I just get those pills now?  You’re right, I’m tired and losing the fight for control,” she said simply as she pushed herself up out of the chair.

              “On the condition you come back in two days for our next session, then yes, you can have the pills,” Dean said.

              “I suppose you’re going to tell Conner I have to be back?” she asked.

              “In your case?  Yes, I believe it is a good idea.  That said, the fact that you are a wolf stays between us.  When you come out of the crate is up to you, but do me a favor and wash off that perfume in the bathroom before we sit down next,” he said.

              He opened his desk and pulled out a bottle of pills.  He handed them to her and she opened them and shook a few out into her hand.  Her eyes widened at the size of them.

              “Couldn’t you have just given me a prescription?” she asked.

              “Put those in your pocket and don’t let Conner see them unless you want him to know you’re a wolf.  Those are horse tranquilizers.  Our metabolisms work much faster than a human’s, so we need something with some power behind it.  Take one a half hour before bed,” he instructed.

              Slipping the bottle in her pocket she forced a smile as she said, “Thanks, doc.”

              “Lisa,” Dean said.  “Be careful with Conner.  He is not good at permanent.”

              Sighing, as she got up and walked out the door she said, “Why does that not surprise me?”

              Dean was right behind her with a sad smile.  Conner was pacing out in the waiting room. 

              “What took so long?” he asked with a touch of concern.

              Dean rolled his eyes as he said to his brother, “We barely did a quarter of a session.”

              “I got the sleeping pills, can we go now?” Lisa asked, hoping to get out of the office before Dean could mention her next appointment to Conner.

              “Not so fast,” Dean said to her.  Turning to his brother he said, “She has to see me day after tomorrow.  I will work her in whenever she can get here.”

              “I’ll have her here around the same time then,” Conner said.

              “Y’all don’t have to talk about me like I’m not here,” she grumbled.

              “We do when all you were going to rush out the door.  C’mon, baby girl, I’m going to get you home to bed,” Conner said while draping one of his arms around her shoulders.

              Lisa couldn’t help rolling her eyes as he guided her out of office.  When they were back in his car he asked her, “So, what pharmacy do we need to go by?”

              “Oh…um…your brother gave me some samples,” Lisa said.

              Conner reached over and brought her hand to his lips as he kissed her knuckles. 

              “I know taking medication to sleep probably scares you, but you’re going to be just fine,” he said with a reassuring smile.

              “It’s not the medication, Conner.  It’s the idea of being trapped in one of those dreams and not being able to wake up.  I could just work less.  You can still rest and not sleep, can’t you?”  she asked.

              Conner gave her a pity filled grimace and squeezed her hand as he shifted the car into drive.  He did not know what to do when Lisa jerked her hand back out of his grasp.  Lisa could hear the stress in Conner’s heart-beat.

              “Sorry, I don’t really like being touched either,” she apologized.

              “Lisa, I need you to take those pills and see Dean.  You need help plus you have slipped up in front of me.  What would have happened if you had said what you did in front of a blood mage or hunter?”  he asked quietly.

              “I know what happens when the wrong person finds out about a group of shifters and I do not need you to remind me, Conner,” Lisa snapped with a bit more bite than she intended.

              Conner did not say another word the rest of the way to her apartment.  She got out and headed toward the door with him close on her heals. 

              “You are not coming in,” she said.

              “Uh-uh, baby girl, you are taking sleeping medication for the first time.  Besides, you’re in my territory, so I’m responsible for keeping you safe,” he bluffed.

              “It sits in the old Brokefang territory close to Jared’s territory line,” she said flatly.

              “And that is why you have to take those pills, young lady,” he said with a warm smile.

              She turned around so her back was against the door.  Looking up into Conner’s eyes she bit her lip.  Lisa gripped her keys in her hands so hard that she was surprised they didn’t bleed.  Lisa wasn’t stupid.  Conner had a good four inches and hundred pounds on her.  If he wanted in he was coming in.

              “Conner, please don’t make me beg.  This is my space—mine.  You have my word I will take the pills, just please—
please
—leave,” she said in a small voice.

              “Fine, I’m going, but I expect you fully rested tomorrow,” he said in a protective tone.

              “Everyone needs to stop worry about me,” Lisa said with a tight smile.

              He leaned forward and kissed her forward before saying softly, “Ain’t going to happen, baby girl.  Get some rest.”

              Lisa watched him get in his car before she stepped inside.  She pulled the pill bottle out of her pocket for a moment and stared at it.  Sighing, she quickly dumped a pill in her hand and swallowed it.  She walked into the bedroom and collapsed on the bed, praying the nightmares would not haunt her.