IVAN POV
Iusually didn’t mind working with private clients who had money to burn, even if their noses were stuck up in the air and I could sense them looking down on me like I was less than them. It was water off a duck’s back. Being through what I had in life, seeing what I had seen, people like that didn’t affect me.
But there was something about this asshole that really got to me. My skin crawled as he talked to me, I couldn’t stand to even meet his eyes.
Unfortunately, he was a paying customer, so I was going to have to give this job my all no matter what. Because that was what I did, that was what made me so freaking successful running my private security detail firm. Because I would do whatever I needed to for that paycheck.
“So, you believe all your holiday rentals have been broken in to?” I asked as I glanced around the lake to see the gorgeous little homes this man rented out to people on vacation. “Has something of value been taken from every single one?”
“I can’t be certain, but there seem to have been some items removed. To me, the inventory doesn’t seem quite right.” Mr. Thompson clicked his tongue with irritation. I wasn’t sure if that was at me, or at the situation itself. “And they have definitely all had someone inside them who wasn’t supposed to be there. I don’t know what the intension was, and that makes it worse. I need to know if it’s a criminal who wanted to steal the stuff to sell on, or if it’s a business rival trying to figure out my secrets to my success. I know it makes a lot of people angry that I’m doing so much better than they are, as I’m sure you can imagine.”
“Sure thing.” I gritted my teeth, refusing to get worked up about why a rival business owner would do this. Or maybe they would, what the hell did I know? “Well, I will take a look now and let you know what I find. What scents I pick up on and what it means.”
“Great…” He was already backing away from me. The idea of me shifting and becoming the dark bear everyone knew me to be was too much for him. Even if that was the very reason he hired me. I knew there was a reason I didn’t like him. Well, another one. Anyone who couldn’t stand animal shifters was prejudice for no reason. “I will let you get to it. You have my number, right? Call me if you need anything at all.”
I brooded as I watched him walk back to his car and then drive away at the speed of light. It would have been laughable if I wasn’t already so irritated. I could feel my nostrils flaring and my heart skipping a few beats, and not in a good way.
“Fucking asshole.” My fists curled up into tight balls by my sides as I tried to cool down the intense anger rushing through my veins. It was a lot, but I could deal with it.
Once I felt like I was more in control of myself, I allowed myself to shift, letting my bear free. What was awesome about that was the way my emotions immediately shifted to something more animalistic and simple. I could deal with that a lot easier than human emotions.
I raced from rental to rental, noticing a strange scent in each one, but I lost track of it very quickly. Perhaps my nose wasn’t as good as I thought, or maybe this person was used to covering their scent. Either way, my instincts told me tit didn’t belong in this place. I’d have to remember to search for the scent in town. Maybe he was right about his suspicions and this was some business rival or something. That would be pretty lame.
The more I looked at the homes, the more I realized the reason I felt a little on edge was because I was jealous. I wanted a home like this. Not a bunch of them, just one for myself. Something peaceful, by the lake, all calm.
But I would never confess that to anyone because it sounded too much like I was looking for domestic bliss. I had a reputation as a playboy, and I was more than happy for that to follow me around because that was easier. But that didn’t change the fact that there was a part of me that did want more out of life.
If I wasn’t in my bear form, I would have let out a deep sigh of frustration because I was at a bit of a cross roads in my life, and I honestly wasn’t too sure which path I wanted to follow. I knew there was more out there, but making that decision and getting my hands on any of it was easier said than done.
I hated being stuck, but I wouldn’t talk to anyone about it. It was something I needed to figure out on my own. Once I finished this mission.
* * *
Deon’s Dinerwas a staple of the town for a reason, and it was because Deon was awesome, had a great laugh, and his food was great. Well, as great as a greasy diner could be. That was why I headed here as soon as I was done at the lake houses.
“Deon!” I cried out happily as I burst through the double doors with a smile on my face. “How are you? It has been far too long since I’ve had one of your bacon sandwiches.”
Deon laughed good naturedly and mock saluted me. “I suppose you want a coffee and a milkshake with that, am I right? I know it’s been a while, but I’m sure you haven’t changed.”
I winked and slipped into my usual seat at the counter. Thank goodness no one was in it. Even if I didn’t come here much, I liked having a seat that was just for me. It made me feel like I belonged here, which was not a sense I ever got anywhere else. I’d been through a lot in my life, and been many places because of that. The military was like that. Military personnel belonged everywhere, but somehow nowhere. There was no sense of home. Not like I got here.
“You know it. Tell me what’s going on, Deon. What have I been missing out on?”
I barely listened to the usual town gossip, even though I knew for sure this was the best place to get it. Everyone bared their soul to Deon, whether he wanted to hear it or not. I guess I just wasn’t in the mood to take it all in right now. But having it in the background was nice. It gave me a chance to look around and see who else was here.
Just the usual suspects. Old Will, the ex-fisherman, who told haunting tales of the water, even if you weren’t in the mood for them. Whether these tales were true or not was often up for debate. Patty and Selina were also here, drinking cup after cup of tea as they liked to do on their lunch break from their office just around the corner from here. Michael too. He was one of the boys who left Twin Lakes after high school with big dreams of conquering the world, but soon found the world a shitty place to be, so he came running back.
Then the diner door swung open, adding a new face to the mix.
My heart flip flopped wildly as I took in the stunning blonde with eyes so sparkly I was immediately drawn to her. I wanted to jump up to greet her, even though I had absolutely no idea who she was.
She was definitely new in town, and it had been a long time since there was a new face in Twin Lakes. I sucked in a breath and held it, unable to take my eyes off her. I was probably staring like a crazy person, but I couldn’t help it.
“Oh, hey there.” At first I thought she was waving at Deon, but it quickly became obvious she was looking at me. Weird. The way she was smiling at me was really bright.
“Hi.” I waved awkwardly, just because I wasn’t expecting that. I needed to snap in to flirtatious mode and fast before she edged away from me. “How’s it going?”
“Good, thanks. I was just coming in to get some coffee before the rush gets the better of me. I have so much to do, as per usual…”