Page 17 of Spies without a Face
Although I’d had high hopes when I moved here, my plans might start to unravel quickly.
No, my bear resisted.Not leaving our mate.
Stop it, I said, gritting my teeth.
He was getting too demanding with this insistence, doing so in a way he’d never done before.
Attempting to ignore him, I focused on her questions about my skills, what I liked to do, and so on.
“I’d like to work outdoors, but I’m guessing that it won’t be as enjoyable when a New England winter rolls around.” Why was I even thinking that far ahead. It was summer.
“True.” She clucked her tongue. “They can be tough.” She picked up a purple pen and rolled it between her thumb and forefinger. “But if you bundle up with the appropriate outerwear, we might find something.” She pointed the pen in my direction. “And with your shifter blood, you can tolerate more than most humans.”
“Yes, I tend to run hot,” I agreed.
She stared at her computer monitor. “Let’s see. For seasonal employment outdoors, I see openings for ski resorts and Christmas tree farm nursery attendants.
“What about now? I’m guessing those won’t start up for a while.”
She squinted at the screen. “Right.” She tapped the desk with the purple pen and then looked at me. “We have some opportunities starting in September with Halloween coming up.” She glanced at me. “So, this will be your first Halloween in Salem?”
“Yes. I heard it’s fun.”
“Fun, yes. A crazy, crowded, congested-traffic mess, too.” She sighed. “Truthfully, I look forward to November first when things start to settle down again.”
“It’s still a while until September. Do you have anything that will start this month?”
“Nothing right now, but I’ll keep an eye out. We get things in all the time.” Her phone rang. She talked to someone. After she hung up, she said, “That was Pandora.”
I blinked at her, my pulse doing an unexpected jolt, and my bear perked up. “It was?”
“She asked if you’d stop by her office after you leave here.”
Although excited sensations zipped through me and my bear rumbled with delight, I tried to sound nonchalant. “Okay. Did she say why?”
CHAPTER8
PANDORA
While Austin was next door, I thought about him more than I should. I pictured the warmth in his honey brown eyes. Despite his rugged attractiveness and massive build, he had this gentle quality about him. Like a big teddy bear to cuddle with. I smiled to myself.
No, Pandora, do not think about snuggling up with your neighbor.
When Lucas passed my office and greeted me, some ideas started to spin. Lucas was half-shifter, too, and had some issues with his shifter father not being part of his life. Lucas had been a newcomer here in Salem once, but now I couldn’t imagine the city without him. He had a big personality and brought a fun vibe wherever he went. If there was anyone who might be able to help Austin, it was Lucas.
“Lucas, could you stop by for a minute?”
He glided into my office with a lopsided smile and said, “Or three. However many you need.”
I stared at him before catching on to his referring to my request for a minute of his time. Lucas and his quirky sense of humor. “I’m hoping you can do a favor for me.”
“What kind of favor, boss?” He asked in a signature tone, in which he appeared amused over just about everything that surrounded him. The only times that disappeared was when he focused on something important, such as protecting his mate, Zoe.
“My neighbor Austin is new in town. Would you mind showing him around?”
Lucas tipped his head and gave me a curious look. “I take it dinner with him went well.”
Ha, not exactly. “It was fine,” I lied. No way was I going to segue into that discussion again. “The reason I’m asking you in particular is because you share some similarities with your background.”
