“How’s it going?” Jade asked. “You’re gonna steal my man early as hell on Sunday for fishing again?”
Jack chuckled, knowing Jade enough to know she was pulling his leg. Jade loved that Parker had made fast friends with other guys in Half Moon Key. That was a good sign for their relationship.
Some people left Half Moon Key because they didn’t like the small-town vibe. They chased after big cities and their hustles and bustles, but that wasn’t a pull Nora understood. That pull hadnothingto do with Jack being in Half Moon Key andeverythingto do with the fact both of her family’s restaurants were in town, not to mention her extensive book collection.
Half Moon Key was her home. It was her life and her livelihood. She couldn’t imagine living anywhere else in the world.
Jack understood that. He had left a big city to run his uncle’s rental cabin. The man was part animal. She was sure of it. He loved lounging outside in the sun like some big sexy man-cat. He was always on the water, either fishing or rowing or whatever he could do in all his different kinds of watercraft.
Nora tuned back into the conversation between Jade and Jack when she realized they were both staring at her. Had they asked her a question? Were they waiting for her reply?
“Jack was just asking you if we’re gonna go out on the water soon. He’s noticed we haven’t been by a lot lately.”
“Oh,” Nora’s voice was a weird loud whisper. She really couldn’t be cool. Had henoticed?Really?
She handed him his cone, which he paid in exact change with a generous tip, and he was gone just like that.
One day, Nora would find the courage to have an actual conversation with Jack, and when she did, he would see her. Hell, he might even completely fall in love with her.
Ha-ha, she laughed at the very notion of it.
She would never have the guts, but still, a woman could dream.
TWO
JACK
The lake was so quiet that any movement sent small waves to disturb the mirror-like surface. Jack took a deep breath of the crisp summer morning air, closing his eyes in bliss.
This is the life.
There were no expectations out here in Half Moon Key. So long as you weren’t a shitty person, did your work, helped your neighbors, and attended a few town events, Half Moon Key would show you all of its treasures. And those were plenty. A lake with good fishing and lush mountain forests. Peace and quiet. And a sense of community.
Those were treasures for a man like Jack, who had left behind a different life a long time ago. He would never miss the dirt and grime of the city. His lion would never have to step on hot cement ever again. It was green forests, cool mountains, and fresh water for this lion.
He might not belong to a pride, but he had his fishing buddies, and that was turning out to be more than enough for him.
“How are the wedding plans coming?” Parker, a panther shifter and newcomer to Half Moon Key, asked. “It’s giving Jade all kinds of ideas about our future. Not that I mind, though. She is really looking forward to seeing what kind of dress Lila will pick.”
“Oh, same, bro. Same. Lila keeps teasing me about it too. She told me she bought a bubblegum pink dress. I mean, she’d rock it ’cause my lady is hot, still. She got me with that one.” Mason chuckled at the memory of it. “That woman is gonna be fun to spend forever with. Handful and a half, but I’m here for it.”
“Okay, okay, let’s wrap up this chatting session, huh?” Cohen, the sheriff and de facto leader of a little band of shifters, wasn’t exactly the sharing type. Or the talking type. Or the relationship type.
“You’re such a grump.” Mason clapped back without missing a beat. “Your little brother is trying to tell you he has found his mate, and he’s marrying her. Be happy for me.”
“I’m happy, but you’re scaring the fish away with all your yammering on about mates and love.” Cohen shook his head. “This is fishing time.”
Mason grinned, bringing his index to his lips before whispering, “Fishing time is quiet time, guys. The sheriff has decreed it.”
Parker rolled his eyes at the brothers’ antics, but they all knew Mason wasn’t done. Looking right at Jack, Mason asked, “Is it possible that Nora Ledger is into you?”
Jack looked around, not sure who Mason could be talking to. Surely not Parker, who was definitely going to be the next one down the aisle with Jade. And it couldn’t be Cohen. Jack suspected the sheriff had his eye on someone, and it wasn’t the cutie behind the ice cream parlor counter. Nora Ledger wasn’t into anyone, and certainly not him.
“Jack, I’m talking toyou.” Mason laughed when Cohen sent him a death glare for the loud outburst that was sure to scare all the state’s fish far away. “I’ll put a dollar in the talk jar,” he joked to his sibling. “Gimme a break, will you?” Mason faced Jack once again. “So. Jack. Nora is into you, yes or no?”
“What?” Jack shook his head. “No way. She can barely look me in the eye. She’s not much for conversation, either. She’s just so shy. That means nothing; it’s just how she is.”
It was no secret around town that Nora Ledger was timid. In fact, there was a town story about Nora’s very first day working in the ice cream parlor. She hadn’t wanted to be left alone because she was too scared to talk to customers. The rumor was it took her a few weeks before she could take an order without fleeing in a panic.