Chapter 15
Chapter
Fifteen
Laney drove down Fate Mountain’s main street, noticing the bustle of the farmers and craft market in the town square. She slowed the car, catching the aroma of fresh bread and the distant notes of bluegrass music.
Vendors’ tents lined the square, draped in bright colors. Handcrafted goods and fresh produce filled tables. A small stage in the corner hosted a band, their melody floating over the crowd. It looked too good to pass up, even though she was in work mode and not exactly at her best in the looks department. Her frizzy hair was in a messy bun. She hadn’t put on any makeup, and she had the slightest tinge of body odor.
Laney pulled into a vacant parking spot, killed the engine, and stepped out. She tucked stray hair back into her scrunchie, feeling self-conscious about her faded khakis and cardigan. A warm breeze carried the aroma of pastries and grilled food. Families meandered, couples swayed to the music, and small children chased each other around stalls. Laney smiled in spite of herself. This was exactly what she needed.
Laney navigated through the square, drawn by the scent of fresh bread. She stopped short when she saw Max talking to a vendor. Her heart rate spiked, her palms dampened, and a rush of heat flooded her cheeks. Max wore casual jeans and a collared shirt, appearing at ease in his muscled body.
Her inner fox howled, telling her to go to him. She decided to leave before he saw her, worried about her disheveled appearance. Laney stepped back, nearly colliding with a passerby who gave her a puzzled look.
The bright afternoon sun glinted off tent canopies. The lively music accentuated her sudden panic, each banjo strum seeming to scratch at her brain. She didn’t want him to see her like this.
The day they’d spent collecting samples, she’d spent extra time on her make-up, braided her hair carefully in a French braid, and had dabbed on her most expensive perfume. Even if she didn’t think she would ever be enough for him, she wasn’t going to embarrass herself by showing up looking like she’d just spent four days staring into a microscope nonstop. A huge family of what she could tell were wolf shifters blocked her escape as she tried to retreat.
“Laney!” Max called from behind her.
She turned, trying to smile through her internal cringe. Max walked toward her with confident strides. She stood rooted in place, heat flooding her cheeks as he caught up to her.
“Hey, I wasn’t expecting to see you here,” she said, her voice scratchy from misuse.
“It’s so good to see you,” he said, reaching out to briefly touch her shoulder.
Laney felt a surge of energy run through her on contact. Heat rose in her face and sweat trickled down her arms. She gulped. “You too. How have you been? I’ve been working nonstop. I finally presented my results to my superior today.”
“I’d love to hear about it. Can I buy you a crepe?” Max said.
Her heart stuttered, but she forced herself to remain calm. She wondered if he was judging her messy appearance.
“That sounds nice,” Laney replied. “I just finished at the lab and thought I’d grab a bite to eat.”
“Great!” he said, his eyes bright.
Laney followed Max through the stalls to a brightly decorated crepe booth. She noticed Max greet a few vendors who waved at him. Max was clearly well known and loved in this town. His connections throughout the community ran deep. He towered over her, and his handsome looks were like a beacon.
The crepe booth’s sign advertised sweet and savory fillings. A line of customers extended around the side. The sizzle of batter on a hot plate and the sweet aroma of fruit compote hung in the air, making her stomach gurgle.
“I was just confirming some final details for the beer festival. Everything’s been hectic,” Max said.
Laney replied, “It’s been hectic for me too. My findings... well, I have bad news.”
“How bad?” Max asked, his voice dropping lower.
“The same contamination appears in every sample I’ve tested,” Laney said. “From the brewery to the creek. But I can’t identify it, no matter how many databases I cross reference.”
Max nodded grimly. “That doesn’t sound promising.”
They reached the front of the line and ordered. Max chose a savory crepe with ham and cheese while Laney selected one with strawberries and chocolate. The vendor prepared them quickly, the hot griddle turning liquid batter into paper-thin pancakes filled with steaming ingredients. The vendor handed them their fresh crepes wrapped in paper. Max led Laney to an empty picnic table near the live bluegrass band.
Laney settled in. “I can’t see it getting better without major intervention. Ivy sent my results to the county, but she warned that it could take a long time before they respond.”
“That’s why I bought a new water filtration system... unbelievably expensive, but I’m out of options.”
She winced inwardly at the news, imagining the financial burden. “What kind of system?” Laney asked.
“BioClean,” Max replied. “Cutting-edge microbial filtration. At least that’s what the salesman claims.”
Laney tried to mask her reaction. “BioClean? I’ve never heard of them.” She took a bite of her crepe, the delicious flavor swirling on her tongue.
“The salesman showed up yesterday. He knew exactly what problems we were facing. I signed the contract to get it installed right away.”
“How did he know about the contamination?”
Max shrugged. “Said word of water issues was going around town. A lot of businesses have already invested. With the festival coming up, I couldn’t wait any longer.”
“That seems odd. I could have helped you vet the system. But I’m sure it’s legit.” She gave him a weak smile.
The banjo and fiddle rose in a playful tune, couples dancing in a makeshift circle nearby. The midday sun glinted off Max’s dark hair, but tension was etched around his gorgeous eyes. They ate in silence for a moment.
“I should have called you, but I’ve been trying to give you space. I can’t stop thinking about you,” Max said.
“Oh,” she said, her face heating.
She felt flooded with an almost electric sensation, her fox clawing inside, desperate to bridge the distance. She tried to maintain composure, but it felt like her heart might burst. The mating pull grew stronger each time they met, complicating everything. A group of kids raced past, squealing with excitement. The music transitioned to a slower song.
“Would you come to the beer festival next weekend? I know you’re busy, but I’d love for you to be there,” Max said. “I’d like to introduce you to my family.”
Laney replied, “I...” Laney hesitated. She didn’t have anything to wear to a beer festival. Not something she’d want to show up to meet his family in. “Sure. Why not?”
A flurry of emotions surged through her: excitement at being invited, anxiety over presenting herself well, uncertainty about how publicly close they should be. The festival represented Max’s family and business. Her presence would make a statement about their relationship.
“I’m so glad,” he said. “Most shifters start dating as soon as they are matched. And even with the festival and the water crisis, I can’t help but feel like we’re missing out on our bond.”
Laney gulped. She still hadn’t told him about her half-shifter status. He would believe she was a full fox. Not a half breed freak.
A young woman with dark hair and a warm smile walked toward them with curiosity in her eyes. Laney stiffened, unsure who was approaching. Her first assumption was that the woman was one of Max’s other matches. She was pretty, put together, and had an air of confidence Laney did not have.
“Max, who’s your friend?” the woman asked.
“Liv, this is Laney. Laney, my sister Liv.”
Laney felt a wave of relief. It was his sister. Not an ex, a less than 100% match, or a lover. Still, Laney was not ready to meet his family, especially looking as she did.
“Nice to meet you,” Laney said, extending her hand. “I’m an environmental scientist from the Bright Institute. I’ve been analyzing your water samples.”
“What’s up with our water samples?”
“There are signs of contamination from the creek above the spring down to the holding tanks at the brewery.”
“What? Since when?”
“It’s handled, Liv. We’ll talk about it later.”
“I’m sorry, was this private information?” Laney said, her face heating.
Max gave her a tense grin, blinking several times. “It’s handled,” he repeated.
Liv glanced between them, noting their body language. She raised an eyebrow, and her mouth dropped. “Are you two mates?” Liv asked in a shocked tone.
Feeling an opportunity to change the subject from her previous blunder, she nodded, confirming their mate status. “We were matched on mate.com last week.”
“Wow! Max, you really are keeping everything from us lately,” Liv said, shooting her brother a look. “We should hang out, Laney. I’d love to get to know you.”
“Let’s not overwhelm Laney,” Max said. “She’s already dealing with enough.”
Liv rummaged in her purse, handing Laney a business card. Max had a resigned smile on his face. The card had Liv’s logo and contact info, reflecting her design business.
“Call me. Let’s get together some time,” Liv said. “You can fill me in on everything else Max is hiding from the family.” She winked at Laney and sauntered away.
“Sorry,” Laney said. “I really messed that up.”
Max scrubbed his face and then gave her a compassionate smile. “It’s not your fault. I’m juggling everything. Trying to manage this festival and our water issues.”
“I understand if you don’t want me to hang out with her.”
“No. I don’t have a problem with that. I just wish it was me you were hanging out with, and not my little sister.”
Laney gazed down at the card. Liv was an artist. And from the way she dressed, Laney could tell Liv had a sense of style. “Maybe she can introduce me to some cool places to shop on Fate Mountain.”
“I’m sure Liv would love that,” Max said. “I think it would be great if you two became friends. Just promise me you’ll wear your new outfit to the festival.”
He gave her a pleading smile that Laney wasn’t sure how to interpret. Her face burned when she realized he was judging her appearance. She felt caught between a rock and a hard place. She wanted to run and hide.
She’d lied on the mate.com profile. But now she was committed to not only going to the festival but to also hanging out with Max’s sister. Laney wanted to dig herself a hole and climb inside it, not coming out for the rest of her life.