The Call of Her Wolf (Paranormal Shifter Romance) (Whiskey Springs Pack Book 1) Read online

  ***

  Josh knew the woman was watching him, but he ignored her for the moment. The spilled coffee had made a mess, but it was nothing compared to the mess this human would make for Josh with the rest of the pack.

  It wasn’t her fault. She had no idea what she had walked into. But that didn’t make it any easier for him. The best thing he could do was avoid her as much as possible and let Celia babysit her.

  He looked up to greet his visitor and his movements stilled.

  The woman standing in the doorway was a far cry from the sodden mess he had encountered the night before. He couldn’t believe this was the same person he had met in his store.

  Nicely fitted black slacks and a navy blue blouse showed off lush curves he had not noticed last night. The blouse deepened the blue of her eyes. Masses of dark curls framed her heart-shaped face and spilled over her shoulders. He had a sudden desire to tangle his hands in those curls while he kissed her pretty mouth, imagining how soft and yielding it would be.

  “Good morning,” she said.

  Josh realized the vision before him was speaking. He pulled himself from the delicious daydream, cleared his throat, and returned her greeting. “Ella, right? Would you like coffee?” He made a slight gesture toward the coffee pot, unable to take his eyes off her.

  “Yes, Ella McInery. And, please. Coffee would be great.”

  He watched as she walked to the table and waited, her hands clasped lightly in front of her. Her nervous quiver would have been imperceptible to human eyes. And even though she had done a good job of covering it with makeup, he could still see the discoloration of her cheek and the swelling there.

  His wolf immediately sat up and took notice again. It wanted to protect the woman and rip out the throat of whoever had raised a hand to her. Confused, he pushed it down as he poured two mugs of coffee. Placing one before her, he motioned for her to sit across from him.

  “How did you sleep last night? I hope the room was alright.”

  Ella nodded as she added cream and sugar to her coffee. “It was perfect.” She sipped, her eyes meeting his over the rim of her mug. She closed them briefly as she savored her coffee. Setting the mug down, she smiled again. “Thank you so much. I think you may have been a lifesaver last night. And your sister is a doll. You’ve both been more than kind.”

  Josh tilted his head as he considered her. “So, what brings you to Whiskey Springs, Ella?”

  She clasped her mug in both hands and leveled her gaze at him. “I was heading toward something new and this is where I landed.” She hesitated for just a second. “I, um, noticed your ‘Help Wanted’ sign in the window.”

  He could see the fine tremors start again, could smell the nervous energy pouring off her.

  She cleared her throat and sat a little straighter. “Could we discuss that? I mean, if you have time right now.”

  “Surely you didn’t drive here in hazardous conditions just to work in a book store.” He watched, hypnotized, as she shook her head just enough to make her curls dance around her face. He had a sudden urge to reach up and tuck a stray tendril behind her ear.

  She smiled, luscious pink lips framing even white teeth. “Oh, no. That would just be silly.” Her eyes met his again. “But I would love to work here. The books! Oh my gosh, did I really see a first edition Ayn Rand?”

  He smiled, pleased that someone recognized the books for what they were. Nodding, he replied, “Yes. And there may be a few more of her books. The store’s specialty is classic American authors. It’s mostly Internet sales but once in a while someone walks in and makes a purchase here.” He paused to sip again then asked, “Are you a Rand fan?”

  Ella laughed softly. “Her and a few of her contemporaries.”

  “Not many people like Rand.” He watched, mesmerized, as her smile transformed her from pretty to stunning. His wolf sat up, ears forward, testing the air. He pushed it down again, writing it off to someone unfamiliar being in the house.

  If she was serious about a job, he could certainly use the help. He knew he worked poor Celia to exhaustion and even though she would never complain to him, she deserved time off once in a while. He realized Ella was still talking.

  “Actually, it’s the whole nineteenth and twentieth century thing. I have a Master’s degree in library science. My undergraduate work centered on American literature from those centuries.”

  “Wait - you have a graduate degree?” At her nervous nod, he continued. “Don’t tell me you have retail experience. If so, you might just be a dream come true.” Now his wolf jumped excitedly. What the hell?

  “I do … “

  “Good morning, darling!” Liza said, waltzing in.

  At the sight of the she-wolf, Josh had the distinct impression that a different type of storm was brewing.

  Chapter 3

  A cloud of vanilla musk and the jangle of bracelets followed the woman as she swooped into the kitchen and bent gracefully to plant a kiss on Josh’s lips. Then she turned her attention to Ella. “Oh, hello.” She extended a manicured hand as she smiled, baring her teeth. “I’m Liza Anderson.”

  Sleek black hair was pulled into a low ponytail. Huge gold hoops hung from dainty ears and several gold bracelets graced thin, angular wrists. Expertly lined and mascaraed eyes the color of molten gold gazed serenely from a perfectly tanned face with high cheekbones. Her lips were blood red, the lipstick also expertly applied.

  Ella’s first thought was that the woman would look more at home in Houston than here in Whiskey Springs. Her second thought was that she looked dowdy and could never measure up to this, especially when the woman planted such a passionate kiss on Josh’s lips. He might be attractive but it was obvious that he was definitely off limits.

  Ella picked up her mug and hid a smile as. Behind her back, Josh wiped Liza’s blood red lipstick from his mouth. Then he made introductions. “Liza, this is Ella McInery. She’s going to work in the shop with Celia.” Ella lifted one brow slightly.

  “Oh my goodness. I don’t understand why anyone would want to work with those dusty old books. I mean, the room just sucks the moisture right out of my skin, the dust gets all over my clothes. Of course, Celia is obligated to help her big brother, but I just don’t see why any woman worth her salt, so to speak, would want to work in those conditions.” Liza picked up his mug and sipped from it, her eyes never leaving Ella’s face as she placed herself on Josh’s knee.

  Josh’s declaration that she would be working for him took Ella by surprise. Her heart skipped a couple of beats. And when he stood and shook her hand to seal the deal, Ella felt sparks. A momentary rush of desire zipped across her thighs, only to be put out by the knowledge that this man was not for her, as evidenced by the tension in Liza’s face.

  ***

  As Ella listened to Celia explaining the workings of the cash register, she felt eyes on her. She looked up and noticed Josh watching her from the doorway. Her smile was answered by one of his own, as well as a wink. Butterflies swarmed low in her belly.

  Pulling her attention from him, she listened to the girl next to her. According to Celia, a Mrs. Gilbert had an apartment that just happened to be for rent within walking distance of the shop. And she was holding it for Ella at Josh’s request. Ella couldn’t believe how quickly things were happening. Overnight, she had a job and a new place to stay, somewhere David would never find her, and a new friend. Things couldn’t be better.

  Chapter 4

  Josh found himself more and more intrigued by his new employee. As a result, he searched for things to do in the store each day. Ella had caught on quickly to the daily routine of the business. More importantly, she had formed an immediate bond with his sister.

  He could not deny he was also attracted to the woman - those lush curves and the long, dark curls that hung down her back. Not exactly a good business tactic. But every time she walked into the room his wolf sat up, alert and tail wagging. He had heard tales of that kind of attraction from other members of th
e pack but had always brushed them off as just stories. But a human would not be a good mate for the alpha. He pushed the thought aside as the bell over the door jangled.

  His mood plummeted as Liza breezed in again. He watched her as she made her way to the back doorway where he stood. She was genial enough to Ella but ignored Celia, as was her custom. Her boyish hips swayed as if she were on the catwalk and her trademark bracelets jangled loudly. He couldn’t help but compare Liza to Ella, not just physically but in other ways as well, especially when it came to their treatment of his only living family member.

  Motioning for Josh to follow her, she headed directly for the stairway that led to his living quarters in a cloud of expensive perfume. He took her by the arm and steered her toward the more public community kitchen. He ignored her pout.

  “I can’t believe you hired her. And Mrs. Gilbert’s renting her a room?” Liza’s gold eyes blazed in her face. She stood, her hands on her hips, pulling the waist of her suit tighter over her lithe figure. “What are you going to do if she finds out what you are? What if she finds out what we are? She can’t stay here.” She paced back and forth as she spoke. “What if someone is looking for her? She may bring trouble. Have you thought about that?” Indignation rolled off her in waves.

  Josh poured a mug of coffee and offered it to Liza. She waved him off with the flip of a hand. Sitting down, he sipped as he watched her furious movements, echoed by the frenzied yipping of her wolf. His wolf sat quietly, ears forward. He used the mug to hide the smile on his lips, amused by her overly dramatic take on the situation. He knew from experience that enraging her wouldn’t be wise.

  “She won’t find out, Liza. You’ve really got to stop worrying about problems that don’t exist.” He set his cup down and cross his arms over his chest.

  “Stop worrying? How can I not worry? How can you sit there, not concerned in the least about this?” Liza stood before him, crossing her arms over her chest, imitating his movement. She was shaking with rage. His wolf could hear hers begin to growl. “She is not one of us, Josh. She doesn’t fit in here.” Her voice began to rise.

  Using his Alpha status, Josh stood and loomed over her, his frame bigger, stronger. His voice was little more than a growl. “Quiet yourself, Liza.”

  He waited until she lowered her eyes and sat in the chair across from his before he sat down again. “If you insist on throwing tantrums like this, she will find out.” He stood again and paced for a moment before he turned back to her. “I don’t have any patience for your theatrics today. Leave. Now.”

  Liza stood, glaring at him, fire leaping from her molten eyes, her wolf snarling. “This isn’t over, Josh. That woman is going to cause us problems.” The door slammed against the wall when she threw it open. It bounced so hard it slammed shut.

  Josh closed his eyes against the sound and sat down. He knew he needed to address the situation, knew the pack would have questions as to why he had let an outsider, a human, stay and put them all at risk.

  Chapter 5

  Ella’s mind wandered as she totaled the day’s register receipts.

  She could not remember the last time her life had been this good. Her landlord, Mrs. Gilbert, was a godsend. The white-haired woman was always smiling, and generous to a fault. Ella would find cut flowers on her doorstep with a sweet card, sometimes homemade cookies.

  And she had provided the perfect place for Ella, a cute apartment, completely furnished, and all to herself. She could come and go as she pleased, eat what she wanted, if she wanted. She didn’t have to share anything, including her bed, with anyone. She didn’t even have to drive to work unless the weather was bad.

  She had made one call back to Houston, to let her friend Patrice know she had landed in a safe place. Patrice had been the only person she had confided in about David.

  They had left off with Ella’s promise of weekly updates, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to do that. She had washed her hands of her old life and of David. Her ties to her past had been severed. She was tired of always waiting for the other shoe to drop. For the first time in several years she felt safe and happy.

  A new place, a new beginning she kept telling herself.

  She and Celia had already formed a friendship. They spent almost all of their time together. No matter what they were doing or where they were, Celia was always ready with silly jokes and smiles.

  And it seemed that everyone who lived in Whiskey Springs had come by Old Masters Books to meet the “new girl”. The close knit community was something of an enigma, but she certainly felt welcome.

  To top it all off her self-confidence had soared to new heights. She had ordered several outfits similar to the first one that Celia had loaned her. And since there was no David spending all of her money, she had even gone so far as to splurge on lacy lingerie - something she hadn’t done in the five years she had been with him. It made her feel good about herself to something pretty after so long, even if no one else saw it.

  She pushed away a sudden image of Josh. Off limits, girl.

  Josh. He had given her a job and made sure she had a place to live. She could no longer ignore that she was attracted to the man, either. Who wouldn’t be? But, he was her boss.

  She would not even consider crossing that line, never mind the fact that he was obviously in some sort of relationship with Liza. She wasn’t sure how he felt about the svelte woman, but Liza had no problem marking her territory with blood red lipstick every time she came into the store, which was daily.

  Shaking herself from her musings, she realized Liza had stormed out - again. It was becoming a daily occurrence which somehow delighted Celia. She wouldn’t share why, but every time her brother and the svelte brunette had one of their loud arguments, Celia did a little happy dance.

  Ella’s thoughts flitted from one thing to another but always seemed to come back to Josh. She pushed each one into a tidy corner of her mind, not willing to let things go any farther than idle musing.

  She blinked and looked up when she realized someone was calling of her name.

  “Yes, Josh?” She could see him standing in the doorway to the storeroom. She blinked rapidly as she could have sworn he looked big and menacing again, but decided it must be a trick of the lighting.

  “I just received a new shipment. I know it’s last minute and if you have plans with Celia I understand, but do you think you could stay and help me go over it?”

  She smiled and said, “Sure. I’d be happy to.”

  She said good night to a beaming Celia as she walked to the rear of the store, then she fell into step beside Josh. She would have headed into the storeroom but Josh stopped her with a hand on her arm.

  Her skin tingled at his touch and she caught her breath.

  “We’re going to my study. Upstairs.” He must have caught her hesitation. “I promise I won’t bite unless you ask me to.” His smile crinkled the outer edges of his brown eyes and deepened his dimples.

  Ella blushed as she smiled up at him. The big, bad wolf had a sense of humor after all.

  She followed him up the stairs and into a room paneled in dark wood with floor to ceiling bookshelves on two walls. Four leather club chairs surrounded a low table which sat upon an Aubusson rug in muted reds and blues. A slate fireplace graced the wall opposite the door. The room reeked of masculinity, but she didn’t care. The books spoke to her.

  She walked closer to one of the shelves and reached a tentative finger toward the books there. She hesitated but at Josh’s nod, she pulled out an obviously old, leather-bound copy of The Catcher in the Rye. Opening it to the fly page, she saw that it was signed.

  At her raised eyebrow, Josh nodded. “Authenticated.” He grinned, obviously proud of this possession. “I consider it a very big score.”

  She grinned as she placed it back in its place and turned back to the table. “Are there other ‘big scores’ here?” He nodded toward the table. She noticed a box there, tissue paper spilling from it. “So, what did you receive
today?”

  Josh poured a glass of wine and offered it to her. She murmured her thanks as she took the glass and sank into one of the chairs. She sipped, then set the glass on the table.

  With a sigh, she slipped off her shoes. She moved from the chair to sit on the floor next to the table. Then she picked up the glass and took another sip of the wine.

  Ella smiled at the look on Josh’s face. “Hey, I’ve been on my feet all day. My boss is a slave driver, you know.”

  He lifted his glass in mock salute. “I’ll be sure to talk to him about that.”

  Josh dropped to the floor next to her and placed his glass on the table. Pulling the box toward him, he pulled out a book and held it out to her. “Take a look.”

  Deciding to decipher his new, friendlier demeanor later, Ella carefully placed her glass next to the box and took the book. Holding it reverently in her hands, she turned it to read the spine.

  Ella gasped and looked at Josh for confirmation, then she carefully opened the book. Shutting it quickly, she peeked into the box. She looked back up at him and whispered, “All ten volumes?” At his nod, her mouth dropped in awe. “No way.”

  Josh sipped his wine as he nodded again. Then he said “Apparently, all ten volumes of Thoreau’s work were picked up in an estate sale on the East coast. And I got it for a steal.” He twirled his wine glass as he glanced around his study, his eyes finally coming to rest on her. He hesitated for moment before he spoke again.

  “The books here in the study are mine. They won’t be going into the store nor on sale in the on-line store. I try to find books that can easily be resold for the business, but I look for treasures like this for my personal collection. Hopefully someday, they will all be passed down to my children.”

  Ella carefully placed the book back into the box, then picked up her glass to drink. Looking from the box to Josh, she said “That is amazing. You know, I’ve seen a Thoreau collection once before.”