Chapter 2
Wes
It wasn’t at all that I was afraid of heights. As a dragon, that wasn’t likely. Even if I were to fall from a great height, I could fly.
That wasn’t why I hated being on the plane so much. Not at all.
It was just being on a plane in general. Having no control while inside it, the small area, all the people.
Any flying I wanted to do in this life was with my own wings and nothing else. I’d debated driving the great distance across the country from Cali to Bluewater but had finally decided to fly instead.
Maybe that hadn’t been the best idea. When it came time to go home, I was definitely driving. I wouldn’t be on such a strict timeline then.
My skin began to buzz, a slight, almost imperceptible humming, the moment I stepped off the plane’s stairs onto the tarmac.
Brushing it off as being excited to start this job, I headed inside.
As soon as I pushed past the security barrier into the main part of the airport, two giant knuckleheads engulfed me with hugs and back slaps.
“Okay, okay,” I said with a laugh. “I’m glad to see you both, too. ”
Porter and Toby grabbed my carry-on and backpack while flashing me big smiles. “We’re just glad to have you here with us,” Porter said. “Finally got my gang back together.”
Toby had been my adoptive brother growing up, but Porter had been right there with us all the time.
We were rarely seen around without the others, until Porter up and moved to Maine to be near his biological brother.
Then Toby had followed for a job, and now here I was, though I was only here temporarily.
After getting my checked bags, I followed them out to the parking lot where we threw the suitcases in the back and crammed into the front of Toby’s truck.
“Here you go,” Porter said. He handed me a set of keys while Toby backed out of the parking spot.
“To the rental house. I made sure it was actually fully furnished. You never can tell with these things.”
“Thanks.” I looked at the key ring. “What’s the other key?”
“My truck,” Toby said. “I’ve been looking for one. I bought an old beauty. You’ll love it. Shit, I’ll be lucky if you give the keys back to me. I’ll keep driving my car until you’re done and back home, then I’ll sell it.”
I punched him on the knee. Though I wasn’t a particularly emotional guy, it showed a lot of love Toby had for me that he’d wait to sell his car so I wouldn’t have to rent anything. “Thanks, brother, but I can drive the car. You don’t have to give up your new truck.”
Porter snorted. “It’s not new. It’s a pile of crap.”
Toby, sitting between Porter and me, leaned toward me as he gave Porter an offended look. “It’s not a pile of crap. It’s a classic.”
Porter rolled his eyes as he pulled onto the main road. I watched the airport get smaller in the side mirror. Hopefully, it’d be the last time I had to use it. It would be worth the long drive to never get into a metal bird again.
“Did my crew get here?” I asked. I’d hired a bunch of guys locally, but a few of my key players were flying in.
Toby nodded. “Yep. We had different members of the clan responsible for their pickups, but everyone checked in with me. They’re already here, ready to get started.”
I punched his knee again in thanks. “You’re a good friend.”
Toby and Porter started telling me about their fated mates.
I’d met them both, but these guys were so head over heels in love with these women, they couldn’t shut up.
I didn’t begrudge them their happiness. Not at all.
Maybe I was a little jealous. My experience with mating had been far different and on the opposite end of the happiness spectrum.
Unhappy.
I spotted a sign on the side of the road. Now entering Bluewater Cove.
As soon as we passed the sign, I shivered. “Holy shit,” I muttered. “That’s some powerful magic.” It had happened the last time I came into town as well, but I was pretty sure no matter how many times I experienced it, this would be a novel feeling.
Porter and Toby chuckled. “That’s Sammy,” Porter said. “I don’t know if you met her when you were here before.”
I shook my head. “No.”
“She’s powerful, insanely so,” Toby said. “You’d never know it by looking at her though.”
“Well,” I said as we turned onto Main Street. “Looks can be deceiving.”
Toby snorted. “It’s good you know that. If you meet Sammy, keep that in mind.”
We pulled off of Main Street and away from the ocean, into the trees. “You’re still close enough to clan land that you can get to it through the woods,” Toby explained. “This rental house was perfect for what you’d need.”
We parked in front of the house where Toby’s truck waited on the driveway. “Nice,” I said. “And you were both right.” The old Ford truck was kind of a mess right now, but with a little TLC, it’d make a great classic. I appreciated having it to drive around, whatever shape it was in.
We each grabbed a bag and headed into the house to look around. The place was small, but perfect for just me. Plus, it was very secluded. “It’s great.” Easily as good as I’d hoped it would be when I’d found it online.
“Unpack later,” Porter said. “Have a seat.”
I plopped down on the couch and grinned when he brought over three beers from the fridge across the room. “Nice.”
“The clan is going to have a little get-together soon so you can fly with us and officially become a temporary member of the group,” Toby said. “You’ll really like flying with Anthony.”
“I’m sure,” I said as I swigged my favorite beer. It’d been cool of them to think to get it. But I knew what he was trying to say while talking about Anthony. He hoped I’d decide to move here in the end.
“It won’t be a bunch of strangers,” he continued. “I’ll be there, and Porter of course. And you met Jace, too.”
Me moving here wasn’t likely to happen. “I’ve met Anthony, you know.”
Toby nodded. “I know. But who knows? You may like it here.”
“I’m not moving here like you two did,” I said dryly.
“Hey, you never know,” Porter said.
I shot him a flat look. “Not you, too.”
“Our parents are coming,” Toby said. “I think it would do you good to get a fresh start. Just keep an open mind. You might find that Bluewater is a good fresh start for you, too.”
I sighed and remembered how much Toby meant well. “I’ll try not to be a broody recluse while I’m here. Will that work for you?” Since I had no intention of staying permanently, maybe it would make my brother happy if I at least enjoyed myself while I was in town.
Toby hit my knee the way I’d hit his in the truck. “I’ve got a good feeling about having you on this project.”
I believed him. Staying or not, I felt oddly comfortable in Bluewater. Settled. Less anxious. I wasn’t looking a gift horse in the mouth; I’d enjoy it while it lasted.
They stayed as long as they could, but finally I ran them off so I could unpack and get my plans laid out for getting started over the next few days. It’d been over a week since I got the final approvals and set everything in motion. I was eager to get moving.
When I was nearly ready for bed and my world was neat and orderly with all my stuff put away, I grabbed the last beer and pulled out my laptop.
After one last run-through of my plans, I grinned at the screen.
It was going to look great. And Livvie, the owner, had been happy with them as well.
We’d spoken on the phone several times, and her voice had been so calming and pleasant that after seeing her picture on her website, I’d looked her up on social media.
She didn’t have it locked down very tight and I’d been able to see several pictures of her.
And loved all of them. It would be nice working for such an attractive boss. I certainly wasn’t complaining.
Without thinking about my movements, I pulled up the search engine and put her name in, then clicked the link that was purple, betraying how many times I’d already clicked it.
Livvie’s image came up, her infectious smile making my skin crawl.
My dragon shifted under the surface, unsettled by the attractive woman.
I didn’t know what to make of the feeling.
I didn’t think she was my mate. Would I know from a picture?
Either way, there was an attraction there that was magnetic.
Well, I’d be meeting her in a couple of days, and then I’d know for sure what my dragon was excited about. Maybe he just thought she was hot.