Storm Shift (The Charming Shifter Mysteries Book 1) Read online

  In the wee hours of the morning, she’d get D’Raynged settled. Maybe it was for the best that he wouldn’t be spending the night. Now, she wouldn’t have to make up any fishy stories about why she chose a vampire as a roommate.

  But in the meantime… A dreamy feeling flitted across her face as she gazed at Hung. In the meantime, I’m going to enjoy him to the fullest.

  Her gaze lifted to her lazy ghosts. Currently, they hung from the heads of the dead animals plastered on the walls. Even they didn’t seem so bad at this moment. And the non-Brant ghost did help her spot Kyle, she had to grant it that much.

  “Let’s get this eating out of the way so we can get to some old-fashioned necking before I leave,” Hung said with a grin. “We can steam up my windows. What do you say?”

  Chia swallowed and let out a laugh. “Another yes from me.”

  “There’s nothing I like more than the sound of yes…especially when it involves you and lots of kissing, with the promise of more down the road.”

  He gave her such a heated, suggestive smile she thought her panties would burst into flames.

  “All right, cowboy, game on. We can always get the food to go.” She licked her lips.

  His face brightened. “Never thought of that. I was more nervous that I’d disappoint you I didn’t think things through. Good plan.” He lifted his glass and tossed the rum and coke down his throat. “Let’s go.”

  “Right now?” Her eyebrows shot up. She picked up her glass and took a few sips of the sweet alcoholic drink.

  Hung stood, fishing a few bills from his pocket. He tossed them on the table and extended his hand to her.

  She took it and stood, glancing up as Fawn walked to the table, food in hand.

  “I guess this is a to-go order,” Chia said. A chuckle left her lips before she added, “As in, I’m going to go to Hung’s truck and we’ll be back to pick this up in a bit.”

  Fawn grinned. “Alrighty, then. I’ll make sure the food stays warm.” She spun on her heel and took off in the other direction. “We close at ten,” she called over her shoulder.

  “That gives us a solid hour,” Hung said. He slung his arm around Chia’s shoulder and lead her toward the front door. “I can think of a few great ideas to try in the next sixty minutes.”

  He held the door open for her.

  She stepped out into the Alaska night, feeling like the luckiest woman in world. If her life as town manager could include this hot man by her side, she’d deal with all of it, creating change and maybe a little romance in the town of Charming, Alaska.

  Epilogue

  At 4:55 am, insistent knocking hammered on Chia’s front door, waking her from her deep slumber. Pushing back the heavy coverings, she stretched. She rolled out of bed, yawning, and yanked her silky robe from the floor. Not even a glimmer of light shone through the window. The world outside appeared still and quiet. Even the Haunted Bear glacier looked sound asleep.

  After shoving her feet in her furry sheepskin slippers, she shuffled down the hallway.

  She flipped on the porch lights. When she opened the front door, she blinked.

  D’Raynged smiled at her.

  Several men—vampires?–stood behind him on the front porch, holding what looked like a sturdy, polished coffin.

  “Is that…is that yours?” She pointed stupidly at the wooden box.

  “Thank you, I’m pleased to be here. My night was excellent, thanks for asking.” D’Raynged gave her a haughty glare. “In my day, manners were paramount to social interactions.”

  She focused her gaze on him. “You look to be in a good mood. Is that due to the ‘excellent night,’ as you put it?”

  “Yes, we shared some fine repast, some good, hearty fucking with beautiful women, and we’re ready for nights’ end.” D’Raynged indicated the men holding the coffin. “My friends here shall be departing at night-break.”

  Chia’s forehead creased with lines. “Night-break?”

  “When the night is upon us.”

  “They’re spending the night?”

  D’Raynged looked to his friends. “I’m sorry for her lack of manners, gentlemen, as well as for her inability to display any signs of intelligence. She exhibited strong leanings toward a bright mind when I met her.”

  They nodded, staring at her with hooded gazes.

  D’Raynged cast a cold-eyed glare at them. “I’m afraid she’s off the menu, tonight and into the future. As her roommate, I am sworn to protect her from our kind.”

  Their faces fell in unison.

  At least there’s that.

  Chia smiled, her brain beginning to power on as she woke up. The now-familiar buzzing in her bloodstream began as well, jump-started by the vampire’s presence.

  “Thank you, D’Raynged.” She fished around her mind for manners, coming up a bit empty. “Um…do come in, won’t you please?”

  D’Raynged stepped across the threshold. “Where will I be sleeping?”

  “I’ve moved some boxes around in the basement.” Chia put her palm in front of her mouth, covering a yawn.

  D’Raynged’s eyebrow arched. “Tell me you’re joking.”

  “What. This was kind of sudden, if you recall. I did other things besides making things ready for you.”

  Her insides surged with pleasure at the memory of naughty “necking”— the term sounds so 1950s—she and Hung had done in his pickup cab, earlier. She waved her hand in front of her face, trying to cool down, as she moved out of the way so her guests could bring in a…I’m letting them bring in a coffin into my home? Shaking her head, she turned and stalked toward the basement.

  “Down there.” She gestured toward the door. “I put some black paper over the windows. It’s all I had. We’ll spruce it up when I have more time.”

  “Fine,” D’Raynged said.

  “Fine,” she said. Another yawn left her lips. “Can I go back to bed since you have…help?” She swished her hand toward the other vampires. Without waiting for an answer, she shuffled down the hall. “Make yourselves at home. I’ll see you at…um…night-break.”

  Closing the door to her room, she made her way past the oak dresser, toward the four-poster bed. She fell into it, practically falling asleep before her head hit the pillow.

  #

  Several hours later, Chia pulled into the parking lot of the police station, sufficiently fueled by more sleep, food, and caffeine.

  The day had turned light, bright, and beautiful, with sunshine illuminating the distant mountains and the verdant green tundra.

  She parked the Jeep, jumped out, and headed toward the building. As she strode along the sidewalk, her phone rang. She answered it without look at the display.

  “Hello?” she said, pausing before entering the precinct.

  A noisy throat clearing collided with her eardrums.

  “Ms. Petit?” the funeral director said.

  “Yes, Walt?”

  “We’ve, uh…we’ve cleared the way for your grandparents to be buried in their chosen places. We apologize for any distress this may have caused, but…”

  “Oh, that’s good news. Thank you!” She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “Why the sudden change?”

  “Oh, well, um…your grandparents were fine, upstanding people and, uh…”

  “You want the zoning permit to go through, am I right?”

  “Yes. We’ll proceed with the funeral arrangements. If you’d be so kind as so stop by the office today, I’ll…”

  “Fine, fine. I’ll stop by on my way to work. Gotta run.” She hung up before giving him a chance to speak further.

  Inside the precinct, she made her way toward the counter.

  No one sat in the large front room.

  The chief’s office door hung wide open. She sauntered closer and peered inside.

  The small room was crammed with officers.

  “I want to thank you for your valor in dealing with Kyle Rudhart. Justice was served swiftly, thereby maintaining order and s
afety in the good town of Charming.”

  She couldn’t see the chief through the other police men but recognized he was the one talking.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she muttered. “They didn’t do squat.”

  A few flashbulbs went off.

  “Chief Cisco, can I ask you a follow up question?”

  “This is a press conference? What about the great job the town manager did in getting the job done?” She shook her head.

  The chief said, “Sure thing.” He got to his feet and spied Chia. His mouth fell open.

  Chia made a show of pointing at her eyes, then his, indicating she’d be watching his actions from this point on.

  He tugged at his collar, shrugged, and said, “Beasley, get the door, will you?”

  Chia stalked away without wanting to see more.

  As she drove toward Blue Horizons, Cecil, in his Husky dog form, trotted along the side of the road.

  She pulled to the side of the road, leaned across, and pushed open the passenger door. “Need a lift?”

  She settled back into the driver’s seat.

  He shifted into his human form, mid-leap.

  She glanced around, hoping no townsfolk were present. Satisfied, she reached for a stack of clothes on the back seat.

  “Hey, Ms. Manager,” he said with a smile.

  “Hey, dawg-man.” She dropped the clothes in his lap. “Where to?”

  “Where you going?” he asked, making no move to dress.

  “I have to head to the bone-yard then to work.”

  Cecil patted the clothes. “I won’t be needing these, but thanks. I intend on participating with the local dog pack on some romps through the woods and rummaging around town later. You can let me out near the midtown park. I’ll shift before I get out.”

  “You’re going dumpster diving?” Chia’s nose wrinkled.

  “Why not? It’s fun. Live a little. That’s what I say. How was your date?” He smiled.

  “Not as good as I’d hoped but better than I’d expected. Hung had to leave last night to get to another job but he promised more time. He seems to be interested in me.” She pulled up to a stoplight, turning to grin at Cecil.

  “I see.” Cecil waggled his eyebrows. “You get the vampire settled?”

  “Yes. He’s sure fussy. He’ll take some getting used to but at least I didn’t have to make up any stories to tell Hung.”

  “Yeah.” Cecil ruffled his hair with both his hands.

  “Oh. They got the thing sorted with my grandparents’ place of burial. It will go as planned and they’ll be buried side by side.” The light turned green so she pressed on the gas pedal. “Thank goodness. I was ready to fight on their behalf.”

  “I’ll bet. You’re good that way.”

  She smiled. “Oh, and get this! I just stopped by the police precinct. Would you believe the chief was holding a press conference, congratulating all his officers on their ‘fine job taking down Kyle Rudhart?’ Jeez, Louise. I didn’t hear a word about our valor. We’re the real heroes.”

  “You got that right. But I suspect you have your work cut out for you, trying to prove your worth in this manly world.”

  “Manly world.” Chia scoffed. “Speaking of manly things, the first thing on my agenda is to enact laws preventing random hunting in Charming. The people may or may not know about you shifters but they’re going to find out soon enough. We can’t have more murders of innocent people, no matter what abilities they may possess.”

  Cecil shuddered. “Yeah, thanks for thinking of us.”

  “You’re welcome.” She tapped the steering wheel. “I’m going to have to add a clause against bounty hunters, too. It might affect things with Hung, but…”

  “Oh, don’t you worry about Hung. If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen. If not…” He shrugged. “Enjoy yourself.”

  She flashed him a smile, grateful for the support. Then, she flipped on the turn signal before veering into the dirt and mud parking lot of the park, which was only a natural clearing with picnic tables.

  A group of dogs raced across the parking area. They stopped at the Jeep and barked and howled, spying Cecil.

  “Go have fun with your dog buddies. If you stop by Charming admin, I’ll buy you a real lunch.” Chia smiled.

  “No, thanks, we usually find some good food in the bins.” Cecil put his hand on the door handle. “Good luck at work. I hope today’s less rough than yesterday.”

  She turned her gaze out the driver’s side window, sighing. “Thanks, buddy. I…”

  Cecil had already shifted as he leaped from the vehicle, leaving behind the pile of clothes.

  She stared at the dogs, all licking and greeting the Husky. She tapped on the horn, lifting her hand in a wave, before heading across town to her new job as manager.

  “Look out, Charming, Alaska,” Chia said. “And look out Hung Durand.”

  She hoped her new laws wouldn’t affect him rolling into town. But maybe, just maybe, she could set aside her love of laws and simply enjoy him. With a smile, she turned from the dirt lot and drove, the bright sun shining through the windshield, blessing the beautiful day.

  THE END

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  Other books in the Charming Shifter Mysteries:

  Storm Shift: Book 1, available now.

  Power Shift: Book 2, available now.

  Blood Shift: Book 3, available now.

  About the Author

  A New York Times and USA Today bestselling, award-winning author, Calinda B writes kick-ass heroines who don't know their own strength. When she's not writing, she's been known to fall off ice cliffs; fire walk with Russian fire officials; or wake up from a six weeks coma, wondering how she got there in the first place. She’s been stuck in deadly currents at Deception Pass in her kayak, and loves to swim with sharks. She greets every day with a smile and an openness to what might be around the next corner.

  SERIES:

  The Charming Shifter Mysteries:

  Storm Shift: Book 1

  Power Shift: Book 2

  Blood Shift: Book 3

  Bad Boys Need Love, Too:

  Looks Like Trouble to Me UNCUT

  Trouble Times Two UNCUT (coming soon)

  Tracked by Trouble

  Point of Contact:

  Blurred Lines – a 3 Part Military Romance

  Sassy Aphrodite and her Sweet Dirty Mouth

  Riding the Edge of Darkness

  Standalones:

  Night Whispers (Also in Audible)

  Red Rex: Blood Echoes (Also in Audible)

  Night Whispers (Also in Audible)

  Headspace

  Meeting with My Maker

  Fire

  The Remingtons: Crazy Love

  The Remingtons: A Twist of Love

  All books can be viewed on this page: http://calindab.com/books.aspx

  With umpteen books roaming the universe and more in her head, you can find her at www.calindab.com. Or, if you want to stay connected, join the exclusive mailing list! http://www.calindab.com/newslettersignup.html