Page 6 of Shifters in the Night

“No. Yes. I’m not sure,” he admitted.

“Is she imaginary?” Will asked.

Jon shrugged. “I thought so at first.”

Sonja bolted across the dock to take her place in the chair next to Jillian’s. “Oh, this is going to be good, I can tell. Why did you think she was imaginary?”

Jon cleared his throat. “She was swimming out behind the house. Well, technically, I was swimming behind the house, like I always do at the end of the day. And I look up and there’s this graceful deer standing near the water. And then she turns into a beautiful naked woman.”

“Naked!” Zed exclaimed, having drifted closer to their seats.

“Which was why I thought she was imaginary,” Jon said, nodding.

“It’s a common theme in folk tales and mythology,” Jillian said, leaning forward with what Jon had come to understand was her “enthusiastic academic” face. “A curious man finding a magical deer lady in a forest and seeing her transform into a princess or some other noble maiden-type. But the good news is you didn’t end up cursed into another shifter form or having your eyes scratched out with enchanted thorns or … why are you looking at me like that?”

“Because I love you,” Bael told her, kissing her lightly and making her cheeks flush. “But it was nice to see you folklore babbling again.”

“So, there’s a girl standing near your house, naked,” Zed prompted.

“I think the meat’s burning,” Jon noted.

“Dammit!” Zed yelped, jogging back to the grill. “If you say anything good, say it loud!”

“I’m just treading water, staring like an idiot, because she’s the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen,” he said. “And she dives into the water before she even realizes I’m there. And then when she did realize that I was there, she screamed and punched me in the face.”

“How did she realize you were there?” Will asked, frowning.

“I may have swum up to her and asked if she was real,” Jon sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

All three women present sighed, “Awwww!” And Jon couldn’t tell if that was a good thing or not. He expected some ribbing from the guys, but they just nodded sagely, as if this was all part of the “lovestruck in Mystic Bayou” experience.

“It was a good punch,” Jon conceded. “The lady has some upper body strength. She knocked me right back into the water, and got me all tangled up in a bunch of water plants. I’m lucky I can breathe underwater, because otherwise, I might have drowned.”

“Good for her,” Will said, nodding sharply.

“Well, I’m glad the idea of me drowning is so appealing to you,” Jon muttered.

“Well, Gran would have had your butt in a sling, spying on a girl like that,” Will protested. “And if you want to be with somebody, I’m glad it’s someone who will call you out on it.”

“I was in the water first!” Jon cried. “It was my water. And I never said I wanted to be with her! We just met!”

Sonja patted his arm. “It’s cute you think that’s how it works.”

“All right, fine, I want to be with her,” he sighed.

“Do you know her name?” Jillian asked. “That would be a good first step.”

“Well, that’s the other thing. I ran into her at the grocery this morning,” Jon said.

“Must be fate,” Jillian said, smiling.

“If fate sends two people to the dairy section at the same time, sure,” Jon snickered. “Her name is Lia Doe.”

“She’s a deer shifter named Doe? Seems a little on the nose,” Bael said, though no one responded.

“Was she dressed this time?” Zed asked. Dani sent him a deadpan look and he threw up his hands. “I never claimed I was fully matured, abeille!”

Dani shook her head. “The father of my child, ladies and gentlemen.”

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