Chapter Five
WHAT WAS THIS fluttery, happy feeling inside her?
They poked around in the Levi store, found some in his size. She liked the way he wore his jeans. Not too tight, not too loose. Not saggy. No deliberate holes. No gimmicks. Almost like nothing was going to detract from the beauty of the man himself.
A ring tone assigned to her dad left a sinking sensation in her. It rang loud enough that Isaac raised a brow when she thought about ignoring it.
“I’ll have to take this,” she said. “You going to try anything on?”
“Nope. I’ll go ring up.” He gestured toward the back of the store, so she nodded and headed toward the front doors for some privacy.
She hunched over when she answered the call, speaking low so no one could hear. “Yeah? Dad?”
Her father had no such qualms. His voice rang out, loud and strong in her ear, making her wince at the raised volume. “You haven’t opened up your email.”
“Umm… I’m sorry? Is there something urgent there?”
He sounded like he was grinding his teeth. “I told you I was sending the list of attendees and acceptable topics of discussion for the fundraiser.”
“Well, yes, you did. I didn’t know it was so urgent that I had to look at it within the first twenty-four hours. In any case, I’m busy right now.”
“It’s not urgent but I expected you to at least open it. And what are you so busy with that you couldn’t take a look at email? You know a prime career in politics isn’t a nine to five job.”
“I’m with Penny. We drove down to the outlet mall.”
“I thought you said Penny was moving in with that shifter?”
“Noah. His name is Noah, and she did. That doesn’t mean I stop seeing her, Dad. In fact, I’m staying at her old cabin for the remainder of the lease.”
He gave a long, suffering sigh. “I thought you’d come to your senses with a good night’s sleep, Caitlin. You’re so different from your sister, a good head on your shoulders—”
“So does Penny! The only difference between us is two years.”
“Age?” her father scoffed. “Two years means nothing.”
“Two years ago, Penny was doing my job. Research. If she did a good job, she was rewarded. She was seen in public fundraisers. If she did an even better job with that? She graduated to being allowed to grace the arm of one of your supporters.”
“That’s ridiculous, Caitlin! I refuse to hear another ridiculous phrase out of your mouth. You didn’t think this way before your sister influenced you. You want the truth? Penny was always a bad seed. She has a way of twisting the truth, of putting herself first—”
“She fell in love, Dad. Why can’t you be happy for her?”
“How many times has she been in love?”
“She was a teen looking for love. There’s a difference.”
He sighed. “I have a bad feeling about this, Caitlin. The more you’re around Penny, the more you’re not acting like yourself.”
“So maybe in two years, I’ll be like Penny? Happily married, do you think?”
“As long as it’s a normal marriage—”
“You mean to a human,” she said flatly. “But you see, Dad, Penny shouldn’t have to get married. That’s on you. She should be happily mated.”
“She chose this route, Caitlin. Knowing what the future held for humans pairing with shifters.”
“Or did you sign the bill to teach her a lesson?”
“Of course not!” he snapped. “Where is this coming from? One day under your sister’s influence—”
“And I could be just like her. I know. But here’s the thing.
There’s nothing wrong with Penny. Sure, she was an unruly teen, spent a while in her goth years, had a ton of love interests, but then she tried to become what you wanted.
She worked for you. She went to school. Studied civics.
You still weren’t happy with her. You know why?
You’re used to controlling people. You like complete control and while Penny tried, she still fell in love and she followed her heart.
You signed Turn Limitation into law to please the higher ups, knowing you’re next in line for a senator seat. You didn’t have to do that.”
“Of course I did, Caitlin. You think you get ahead in a political career by going rogue?”
“No. But I do expect someone already in his political career to do what he’s supposed to. Protect the people. All people. The shifters and his own daughter. Not just the elite humans with funding.”
Her father’s voice sniped at her. “That’s quite enough, young lady.”
“Yes, it is.” Her father wanted her to follow him and not Penny? Sure, she could do that. Her voice was just as cold as his. “I’ll see you in three weeks. Don’t bother me until then.”
She disconnected the phone.
“Everything okay?” Isaac came up behind her, pressed his chest to her back, his chin on top of her head. Ahh, that was a shifter thing, the touch. It comforted. Too bad humans lost that knowledge.
“Yep. Just gotta block a number before he calls back.”
She scrambled through her settings even as her phone rang.
Isaac just chuckled against her back. “You called it.”
“Sometimes people think the quiet ones are simple,” she said. “Nah, we’re not. We’re just busy learning everyone’s reactions.”
“Your father called you simple?” There was a snarl in his voice.
Phone set, she turned around and wrapped her arms around his waist. He couldn’t hug her back, his arms held the bags. But she felt his chin where he nuzzled the top of her head.
“Oh, yes. I was the simple one, Penny was the troublemaker. But you know what?”
“What?”
“For a long time, Penny was my shero.” She snickered.
“If you could have seen her growing up! Such a rebel. Father had this scrunch face whenever she had to attend a function with her short, slicked hair dyed black. Her black clothes. And I was right there by her side, holding her hand, proud as can be.”
“You were probably the complete opposite, weren’t you?”
“Yep. Long hair, golden brown, with blond streaks and ends. Just a hint of lip gloss and mascara. A collared dress, a blazer jacket. Because I wasn’t as brave as she was.
I wanted to break the rules too. But by the time I figured out how, she was gone.
And I just sort of melded into the role I was supposed to.
It happened so slowly, I wasn’t even aware of it. That’s on me.”
“No, it’s not. You were a child primed by a parent on how to think. What to believe. But you’re smarter than that. You know how I know?”
She looked up at him. “How?”
“Because you listened when your sister talked. The sister who had been twisted in your mind to only be a trouble maker. You listened. And you met her people and didn’t judge.
You kept an open mind. You’re making your own decisions and that takes guts too.
Not just rebellion. You’re brave, and smart, and beautiful. ”
Right now, staring into each other’s eyes, their chests lined up and perfectly in sync with their breathing… God, she wanted him to kiss her. Did he want that too?
But then he ruined it.
“I got a half-chub for you right now.”
She belted out a laugh. “You’re an animal.”
“You got that right.”
“Well, you’re on your own with that one. I’ll get the door and you can peg-leg it outside,” she chided.
“Well, I’ve got the bags then,” he called out, his grin wide as she opened the door and held it for him.
He was fun to be around, just him and her. Now she was looking forward to these little traveling trips they might take.
Together.
“Let’s drop these off at the car and we’ll head over to meet the others?”
“Okay,” she agreed.
Yes, she felt like she was flouncing around a little, but she couldn’t help it. The shoes felt even prettier because they were a present.
Carrying the bags in his arms, he smiled down at her as she chatted all the way through the parking lot.
“I’m babbling,” she finally said. “Call it sleep-deprived. I had a hard time last night. The drive here, the fight with Penny, then my dad. Then Penny left with Noah and I stayed in her place alone—”
“I thought you looked tired this morning. I should have brought coffee.”
“Cheaper than boots.” She grinned.
He huffed. “And a hoodie. Matching jeans to mine, because I thought you’d think it was cool if we wore them together.”
“What?”
He looked uncomfortable. “Girls like things to match.” Then he looked unsure. “Don’t they? You and Penny wanted matching boots.”
It made her laugh. “We do like to match,” she assured him. They’d reached her car, so she clicked the remote to open the back hatch.
He set the bags inside, and she reached for one, digging through it.
“Oh, my God. You really did. You bought me more stuff? How did you get my size?”
“By staring at your ass and boobs all day.”
She barked out a laugh. “Such a gentleman.”
He shrugged. “I’m a catch. Big dick, too. Don’t let me get away.”
“Why are you still single?” she teased, as she closed the car and they began to walk back up the walkway.
“My wolf never settled, I guess.”
She let him lead the way through the pathway of storefronts.
“So what do you think about the offer?” he asked.
“Big dick?” She gave him side-eye. “I’d probably have to see it first.”
“No!” He chuckled. “I mean, our road trips.”
“Oh, yeah.” She butted him with her hip. “I think I could be persuaded.”
“Are you just saying that because of the dick?”
“Maybe.”
Then he got serious. “I heard you, you know.”
“Heard what?”
“Your call with your dad. You stuck up for your sister.”
“How did you hear?” She’d moved clear across the store.
“Our hearing is better than humans.”
“All of you?”
He nodded. “Pretty much, though there are differences. Some types of shifters have a better sense of smell. Some can turn humans, others can’t.”
“That’s not widely known.”
He shrugged. “We just tell those we’re close to.”
“Thank you for trusting me,” she whispered.
He gave her a slight smile. “I didn’t mean to listen in. But it made my wolf curious.”
“It’s okay.”
“You think your dad deliberately signed Turn Limitations into law?”