Keeper of the Golden Dragon's Heart (The Cedar River Series) (11 page)

Mama had a batch of fudge on the stove cooking and she was working on a batch of cookie dough. “Where do you want to start, Ana?”

I took over the fudge making for her.

“Keep those fingers out of the pan!” she said, as I was ready to dip a finger into the warm mixture. I yanked it back and kept stirring. I stopped to butter the fudge pan and Mama asked, “So, how do you feel about my Bowie?”

I wasn’t sure what to say.

“Ana?”

I turned to face her. “These feelings are all so new to me. I’ve always loved Bowie, but as a friend loves another friend. Do you know what I mean? I think things began to shift when he was in the hospital, but it’s been evolving without either of us noticing it.”

“Do I ever understand. Did you know Papa was my best friend when we were younger? We used to play together every day. We would go fishing or play in the woods all through school. Summers we’d spend at the lake. Then, one day when we were about 17, things flipped around. We were down on the beach watching the sunset. It was one of those nights where the air is so heavy that it weighs a body down. Anyway, he took my hand and was playing with my fingers like he does. He stopped and looked out at the water for a moment, then he leaned over and kissed me. Talk about shock! My, oh my, did he shock me! I got up and walked home alone. I stayed up all night long thinking about that kiss. I struggled with all of those new feelings for quite some time.” Mama had a pretty blush on her cheeks as she reminisced about that first kiss.

I turned back to the stove, stirring the bubbling pot. After pouring it into the pan, I sat down at the table with a spoon to clean out the chocolate.

“You never did answer me, Ana. How are you feeling about Bowie?”

“He makes me feel all bubbly inside. You know how he has always winked at me? Never felt it until last night at dinner, but he makes my breath catch in my chest. He looks at me like he always has, but it’s like a shade has been pulled up to let the sunshine in.”

Mama dipped her finger into the pot for some of the leftover cooled chocolate. “He’s watched you for years, baby girl. But he only started watching you like a man watches a woman for the past year or so. I was worried that he would try to keep you from going to college.
That
, I didn’t want. I wanted you to get your education. I wish you could finish at school, but I’d rather have you safe and sound at home. I could sense this relationship was coming.”

“Why didn’t I notice it, then?” I asked.

“Because you weren’t ready to see him in any other way than your friend. It took almost losing him for you to see. And that’s okay, too.” We spent the better part of the morning cooking and baking.

Bowie and Papa came in at lunch time, looking for food. Mama pointed towards the fridge and said, “There are sandwich fixings in there. Chips are in the cupboard.”

Papa kissed my cheek. He smelled like fresh cut wood, a smell that I would always associate with him. Bowie slid an arm around my waist and kissed the top of my head.

“Hi, you. Looks like you two have been busy.” I fed him a piece of the fudge we had made earlier. He sucked my fingers a little longer than necessary and I went all tingly.

“Mmmm, gods that is good.”

“The fudge or the fingers?” I asked teasingly. He just gave me a smug grin before he went to wash up for lunch.

After lunch, Bowie went to the station to check up on things there. Papa went back to the woodshop. Mama wanted to watch her talk shows so I washed up the dishes before I dug back into the wrapping project in Papa’s office.

I was knee deep in gifts, wrapping paper and ribbon when Bowie got back. He locked the door quietly behind him. He slid his cold hands under my sweatshirt to rest on my midriff. I screamed and jumped up. “Damnit, Bowie, those hands are like ice!”

He was laughing at me. I threw a roll of tape at him.

“I’m sorry,” he claimed.

“You don’t look very sorry,” I said. I backed my way around Papa’s desk to try and stay away from Bowie. That predatory look came back into those deep golden whiskey-colored eyes,

“Go ahead and run, kitten. I will always catch you.”

I tried to duck around him with no success. He caught me around the waist and pulled me against him. He sniffed me. “You smell incredible. Between the chocolate, the cinnamon and sugar plus the almond flavoring, I could just eat you up,” he whispered as he lightly nipped my ear.

My nipples hardened instantly. He backed me up to the desk and kissed me hard. He lifted me so that I sat on the desk top, then he stepped between my legs. He buried his hands in my hair and teased my lips open with his tongue. There was a purr that started and I couldn’t stop it. My cat loved him and couldn’t get enough of him. This is what I’d been looking for with the boys I’d dated. Who would have imagined that it had been right here in front of me all of this time? Bowie’s hand skimmed over my breast and I moaned softly.

He pulled away to look at me, his desire evident. “I will never hurt you, Anastasia Plum. You know that, right?”

I looked deep into his eyes and saw the truth there. I nodded. He pulled my sweatshirt over my head and bent to take my nipples in his mouth. He looked up at me with those eyes that were the color of the sunshine showing through amber and I was lost.

His hand slipped between my legs and rubbed my center through my pants. I moaned softly as the tension began to build. I heard a soft knock on the door which was like having a bucket of icy water dumped on you.

“Hold on a minute,” I called out, reaching for my sweatshirt. Bowie sat down behind the desk to hide the evidence of what we were doing.

Brady walked in and looked around. “What are you two up to?”

“I’m, uh, wrapping presents for Papa,” I said, feeling lucky that I had any stability in my voice.

“Did you need something?” Bowie asked.

“Yeah, I wanted to let Ana know that I got Mama’s gift bought.” Brady looked at me, “They’re all wrapped, but you know how nosy Mama can get. I stuck them under your bed. She’d never think to look here.”

“Alright,” I said.

“Hey, Bowie? If you’re not busy, you want to take a ride with me? I found some tracks today that I thought you should look at.”

Bowie was out of his chair and pulling his coat on, “Poachers? On our trails?” Brady nodded. “If I’m not back in time, I’ll just meet you at the party, okay?” Bowie asked me.

“Sure, I’ll ride in with Mama and Papa.” He came back in to kiss me.

When he reached the door, I said, “Bowie?” He turned to look at me. “Be careful. I’d be lost if something happened to you, too.” He smiled and closed the door behind him.

Chapter Nineteen- Bowie

“What the fuck are you doing with Ana?” Brady asked me when we got into my truck.

“It’s not really any of your business, Brady.”

“She’s not one of those girls you get to toy with, Bo. She’s been like a sister to us.”

“Tread lightly with your next words, Brady. She’s been like a sister to you and the twins. She’s always been more friend than little sister to me. I never really hung out with her the way you guys did. She was younger.”

“Exactly. She’s younger than you. She’s just begun to get things figured out in her life.”

I ran a hand through my hair. “I’ve fallen for her, Brady. I don’t know when it happened. Things have shifted between us. It started in the hospital. But it came to a head when I found out she was going on a date with Lance Smythe, these feelings started to fall in to place. I was jealous of Lance. He got to spend time with her, text her sweet little messages, kiss her good night. All of the things that I didn’t have a chance to do. Lance came to me and said he had noticed me watching Ana a little too closely and that he was backing off from her. Then, Mama talked to me about it. I guess I wasn’t hiding my feelings as much as I thought I was.”

Brady sighed heavily, “Just don’t treat her like you do the other women you date.”

You would think I was quite the Lothario from my family’s opinions of my love life. We found the spot on the trail where Brady had spotted the tracks. We followed them off the trail and deeper into the woods. The tracks stopped and disappeared in to nothing.

“What the hell?” I said.

“I didn’t follow them. I had a tour with me when I found them.  Those idiots would have shot at anything that moved. I didn’t want a bullet in my ass or worse because I was out trying to find a bunch of poachers.”

I knelt down in the snow and dug a spot in the snow, looking for any signs, but we had reached a dead end. I took out my phone and recorded the GPS coordinates. Just another spot to keep an eye on, but this time, they were in
my
woods; the woods where my family hunted, where Ana hunted. They were getting a little too close for my comfort.

I dropped Brady off at his apartment in town and went into the office. Lance was typing up reports.

“Any activity today?” I asked as I went into my office.

“The Riley kids were throwing snowballs at the statue in town square. You know, really exciting stuff,” he said.

I chuckled. That kid would eventually figure it out. Life in a small town was not exciting by any means, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

“Oh, I’m supposed to have you tell your mom that Maxine Kennedy had her twins this morning.”

My mom helped the new mothers in our small community adjust to life with new babies. As shifters, our women often had more than one child. Mom had a circle of women who would take turns helping with the housecleaning, cooking, and other children when it was needed. This was Maxine’s second set of twins, but if these two were anything like her first two, then my sympathy went out to that woman.

“I’ll pick up some supplies and run them out to her in case the snow gets too bad.”

The Kennedy’s lived on a little country lane that usually went untouched by snow plows. I called Mama who promised to put a box of baby stuff together for Maxine until she could get there personally tomorrow. Next, I called the grocery store and hospital. They each promised to have boxes of necessities ready in an hour. This is what small town living is about; friends helping friends. When someone needs a helping hand, everyone pitches in to help. We all come together to celebrate those wonderful surprises that come along when you least expect it. Or to help you deal with the crap that life tends to deal out. I wouldn’t trade this feeling for anything.

I wrote up a quick report about the tracks and posted it in my personal files for me to review tomorrow morning. Lance was leaving as I came out of my office. He and my other deputy, Adam, were on call tonight.

“You guys making an appearance at the Community party tonight?” I asked Lance. “ If you feel it isn’t necessary that’s okay.”

“Yep. Mom’s on the decorating committee.”

“Have a safe night.”

“You, too. I’ll see you there.” I locked up the office before I left.

I picked up the boxes for the Kennedy family and headed out of town towards Mama and Dad’s. Callum’s car was gone when I got there. On the table was a note saying,

Had to go help decorate the center, took Ana with me. Pop in on your dad’s shop and let him know what time it is. Boxes are on the counter. Love you, Mom

I found the boxes and carried them out to my truck before checking in with Dad who was engrossed in his project.

“You’d better get inside and change, Dad. Mom will have your head on a platter if you aren’t there on time.”

Dad stuck his paint brush in the paint thinner and followed me out. “Do you want to ride in with me?” he asked.

“I can’t. I’ve got to run out to the Kennedy’s, then I have to stop at my house and change my clothes before I head to the party.”

Dad nodded, “Drive safe on these roads.”

I promised I would and headed out on my final mission for the night.

The Kennedys were grateful for the boxes. They hadn’t had a chance to get to town yet and the older kids were running low on milk. Davis Kennedy offered me a cup of coffee so I politely accepted. Maxine had to bring the new babies out for me to see. They were cute little things. Davis popped Mom’s casserole in the oven to heat up.

I excused myself after one cup of coffee and started the drive back to town. I had wanted to walk in with Ana on my arm, but the best of intentions are usually ruined by the simplest things.

A glance at my watch told me I had time for a shower. My house phone was ringing as I walked in. I wasn’t going to answer it, but changed my mind and figured I had better. Good thing I did. It was Mom.

“Can you pick up some hot cocoa mix for the kids? I thought we had some here, but we don’t.” It was just one more thing to do.

“Yep. I’ll be there in about forty-five minutes. I’m getting ready to take a shower and then I’ll be on my way.” What a day this was turning out to be.

Chapter Twenty- Ana

My best friend from high school was on the decorating committee, so while we decorated we caught up on each other’s lives. She was pre-med at an out of state college and engaged to her high school sweetheart. We finished decorating the tree and putting presents under it for the kids.

“So, who are you seeing these days?” Nat asked.

“Actually Bowie and I are feeling things out between us.”

Nat’s mouth fell open. “Bowie Golden, former quarterback? Bodacious Bowie?”

I laughed, “One in the same.”

“You lucky girl! Good for you!”

Mama was beckoning me to the kitchen. “Can you help me put these urns on the tables? We’ve got coffee, decaf and hot water. Grab those tea bags, too. I called Bowie and he’s picking up hot cocoa.”

Mama was fluttering around like she usually did at these things. She wanted everything to be perfect, and everyone to have a good time. The McIntyre pack had provided sloppy joes for dinner, and they smelled delicious. The tables were all set up and decorated with Yuletide centerpieces.

“Oh, Ana. Fair warning…Camille would like you to say the blessing before we eat.”