Page 268 of Shifting Hearts 1
“Ah, the new guy. You and Natasha a couple?”
“She wishes,” Paul joked, and Morgan laughed as she handed Em her water and shot.
“In his dreams.”
“Haha,” Paul mocked.
“Do I sense some sexual tension?” Em teased.
“No, blonde’s not my type. I like tall, dark, and handsome,” Morgan shot back.
“So boring!” Em yelled, and I sighed. She went to help the other side again.
She was never going to stop loving me.
Em returned to the stage, carrying on with her performance.
“I like her,” I heard Paul mutter.
“Be careful. That one is not human,” Morgan warned.
His smile faded. “What?”
Morgan had just shown him that Em had enhanced hearing, but he smiled softly at the knowledge. He didn’t care what she was.
“Tonight, I want to welcome two of our newest members behind the bar: Natasha and Paul! Welcome to Smokey Joe’s, where the drinks never stop,” Em announced. The crowd cheered. “The fun never ends,” she continued, more cheers. “And the love blooms every night,” she added in a teasing, seductive tone.
I roared with laughter. I missed so much. At least I’d see the woman my daughter had become—a small silver lining from this Lockpass.
At the end of her shift, Paul gave Em his number.
“Otherwise, he doesn’t get his time wasted on him,” Morgan said, taking a seat at the bar.
“If you’re not into guys, just tell me now so I can break it gently to him.”
“Oh, I’m into guys and girls,” Em laughed.
Morgan chuckled. “My girl-frolicking days are long over, but a few centuries back, I might have called you up on that.”
Em spit out part of her drink, laughing, and Morgan laughed along.
“I wasn’t sure, but I’m sure now,” Morgan said.
“You’re afraid,” Em teased.
“Darling,” Em said, “not a lot of things scare me. I’ve seen worse in my life.”
“Like?” Morgan asked.
“If you grew up in a pack like mine, you’d have seen everything.”
“I see… you had to fight your way for food?”
“Something like that.”
“Oh fuck, you’re an orphan?”
Em laughed again. “No. Raised by my aunt and uncle, they live in a cabin. My parents died when I was young.”
