O'Malley: Summer (Shifter Seasons Book 7) Page 3

  “You have. You came here and asked a stranger to help you. Despite that stranger not really knowing your brother that well, I have agreed to go and look for him. You should be proud of yourself. If anyone else had asked, I might have said no.”

  “No, you wouldn’t,” she disagreed. “You are the kind of man who would say yes no matter who did the asking.”

  “But I want to do this for you.” His fingers twitched by his side, he wanted to reach out and touch her, to feel the warmth of her skin, and never lose the connection they shared.

  “Please, O’Malley. I need to do this.” Her eyes fixed on his and he saw her need as clear as he felt the need for her to be part of his life.

  And when the need is strong enough, there is no way to fight it, his cougar said.

  “Okay.” What was he saying?

  The only words that would stop Hannah from walking out of the bar and finding someone else to take her into the mountains to look for Norton. There was no mistaking her unwavering determination. She was going. It was up to him if he was going to go with her.

  “And you asked me what the plan was.” He gave a small smile.

  “You make it sound as if I tricked you.” She didn’t look happy about that.

  “You didn’t trick me. But you are emotionally blackmailing me.”

  “I don’t mean to and I don’t want you to think I always get my own way. But over this I am adamant.” She looked down at the floor. His newly laid hardwood flooring that gave the bar an upmarket feel. Would he find Norton and make it back for opening night?

  All his plans, all his dreams were about to be put on hold. But the plans for the bar were nothing compared to the dream that was his mate.

  “Are you sure you weren’t a sergeant major in the Army?” he asked. “Because I’m sure I had an instructor like you. She looked as if she was as soft as marshmallows but really, she was as hard on the outside as peanut brittle.”

  “I’m not sure that is a compliment.” She smiled anyway. “But I’m happy to take it as one.”

  “Okay. There are a few arrangements I have to make and then we can leave.” He looked at the bar, all freshly painted and cleaned by his own fair hand.

  “I’ll arrange the flights.” Hannah followed his gaze. “The bar is beautiful.” Guilt laced her voice and he was worried she might change her mind and just disappear on him. That she would decide she had made a mistake coming here after all.

  “Thanks. I have a few friends who will take over for me while I’m gone.” He dragged his gaze from the bar and fixed them on Hannah. “And don’t worry about the flights, I have someone who will take us.”

  “A friend?” Hannah asked. “I don’t want to impose on anyone else.”

  “A friend. Yes. And it won’t be an imposition. He likes to fly.” O’Malley paused.

  You know what you must do, his cougar told him.

  It was too soon. But his other side was right. If Hannah was coming with him into the mountains, the sooner she knew about shifters the better.

  Especially since to get there you are going to ride on the back of a dragon, his cougar said with some amusement.

  “Then I’ll leave the flights to you.” She turned away from him.

  “There’s just one more thing.” One thing that might send her running away from him forever. He had to handle this carefully, he couldn’t let her freak out.

  Hannah turned to face him. “Yes?” She looked unsure and moistened her lips. Damn if he didn’t want to grab hold of her and kiss her.

  “There’s something I need to tell you. Or, I guess, show you might be better. Easier.” He smiled apologetically. “I’m making a mess of this.”

  “Whatever it is, you can tell me.” Her mouth turned up at one corner. “I’m not easily shocked.”

  “This might be an exception to that rule.” He leveled his gaze at her. Perhaps he should ask her to meet him somewhere private so that he could shift in front of her.

  We moved to Cougar Ridge for a reason, his cougar told him.

  “Of course,” he muttered under his breath.

  “Of course, what?” Hannah asked, looking more unsure.

  “Let’s go outside.” He went to the bar door and pulled it open, holding it for her. “What I’m going to show you might be a little shocking. Just know that I won’t hurt you.”

  “You’re a shifter.” Hannah tilted her head to one side. “Now who looks shocked?”

  “How did you…” O’Malley closed his mouth since it wasn’t an attractive look to stand in front of his mate opening and closing it.

  “Karl told me. He said he saw you shift one night when you were on patrol. It was near the end of the time you served together. There was an attack on your unit at night and you shifted into a large cat of some kind.”

  “A cougar,” O’Malley confirmed.

  “A cougar. That’s what he thought.” She inhaled a shuddering breath, her skin pale as she continued. “He saw you jump through the window of a building and attack the insurgent who was firing on your unit.”

  “Ah, and I thought that went unseen.” He was grateful to Norton for not exposing his secret to everyone. The guy could have freaked out but instead, he’d confided in his sister.

  Doesn’t fate work in mysterious ways? His cougar was happy and a little relieved their mate already knew he was a shifter.

  It does, O’Malley agreed, knowing that if Hannah had freaked out then his cougar would have felt to blame if they lost her.

  “And you’re cool with that?” O’Malley asked.

  She let out a long breath. “Honestly, part of me thought Karl was making it up.” She looked over O’Malley’s shoulder. “But since I arrived in Cougar Ridge, I’ve seen a woman shift into a cougar and a guy shift into a bear and give his kids a ride on his back.”

  “Baptism by fire.” O’Malley nodded and rubbed his sweaty palms on his jeans.

  “You look relieved.”

  “I was worried that you might freak out and make a run for it.” He was about ready to deliver his next piece of shifter information. Namely, the news that they were going to ride on the back of a dragon.

  “I’m okay with it.” Her gaze rested on the ground before she looked him squarely in the eye. “Honestly, it’s one of the reasons I came to find you. I figured that if anyone had a chance of finding my brother, it was you.”

  “I will do my best,” O’Malley told her. “But I can’t promise.”

  “Your best will be enough,” Hannah told him. As she walked away, O’Malley wasn’t sure she believed that.

  But he sure planned on making it the truth.

  Chapter Four – Hannah

  Hannah left O’Malley and walked back to her car on shaky legs. She carefully focused on putting one foot in front of the other, afraid that her knees might give out and send her sprawling across the sidewalk.

  It was true. O’Malley could turn into a cougar. When Karl had told her what he saw, she’d figured it might be a result of PSTD. That her brother had imagined seeing a man shift into a large cat because it helped him put together the fragmented pieces of what happened in the attack. An attack where he’d frozen. Only for an instant, but it was enough to leave Karl guilt-stricken, full of blame and self-loathing.

  Karl had never told their father. As far as Hannah was aware, he’d never told anyone else. Hannah was the person Karl trusted most in the world. That was why she had to find him.

  Karl had always told her that if he was ever in a tight spot, trapped in a corner, O’Malley was the person he’d depend on to save him.

  Karl had just omitted to mention that he and O’Malley were not friends.

  So, why had the cougar shifter agreed to help her? Why risk his new business and drop everything to travel halfway across the world to help a man he barely liked?

  Because that was what heroes did. And Karl had always said that O’Malley was a hero. Willing to risk his life for anyone.

  Yet there was something e
lse. Unless she’d imagined it, there was something in the way he looked at Hannah. A connection, a spark between them.

  Or maybe she had imagined that, too. Perhaps she was just fooling herself because she longed for a deeper connection with another person.

  But ex-Army? After living with her father and her brother all her life, did she really want to start a relationship with another ex-soldier?

  Her mother had told her that you never really had a choice as to who you fell in love with. Love just happened. Sometimes it crept up on you, sometimes it hit you like a lightning bolt. But when it happened, it was hard to deny.

  O’Malley would be hard for her to deny. There, she’d admitted it. Hannah had learned to be honest with herself. Since her family was experts at being dishonest with their thoughts and feelings.

  Hannah unlocked her car and slipped into the driver’s seat. She planned to drive to Bear Creek, get something to eat, and grab some gear from the hiking store before she returned to O’Malley’s. He’d promised to have everything taken care of including their flight by this evening when they would leave. Hannah had given him the coordinates of the town Karl had last been seen.

  She braced herself for the flight. The town was in a mountainous region. If they were going to land close by, they would need to travel in a small plane. A very small plane. Hannah wasn’t great with planes of any size. But for Karl, she’d do it. Of course, she’d do it. Hannah would do whatever it took to get her brother home. Alive.

  He was alive. O’Malley had warned her that Karl might be dead and that would explain why he hadn’t made contact with anyone. Deep in her bones, she knew that wasn’t true. At least she believed it wasn’t true.

  Whenever her dad or her brother were away from home, she worried about them, but she’d always stayed positive. Until she got news otherwise, firm concrete news, she always believed they were alive and well. When your family was in the Army, there was no other choice unless you wanted to go crazy thinking of all the scenarios when they might not be okay.

  Hannah could thank her mom for instilling that in her.

  Hannah could thank her mom for a lot.

  She covered her mouth and stifled a sob. In that moment, she missed her mom more than anything in the world. She missed not being able to talk to her. She missed her reassurance that everything would turn out just right.

  Hadn’t her mom proved that wasn’t always true?

  Hannah couldn’t think about that now. She couldn’t allow her mom’s death to undermine her faith in Karl’s ability to stay alive. He’d survived war. Surely, he could survive a mountain.

  But wars were men versus men. This was man versus nature and nature was uncompromising. You messed up, you died. Especially if you messed up in a cold, remote mountainous region.

  Thankful to arrive in Bear Creek so she could eat and take her mind off her brother, she parked her car along the street from a small diner and got out of her vehicle. Breathing in the cool crisp air laced with the smell of fresh French fries and even fresher coffee, she crossed the street to the diner and went inside.

  A couple of heads turned to look at her as she went inside, but this wasn’t one of those small-town diners where you felt like an outsider if you hadn’t lived in the town your whole life.

  “Hi there, what can I get you?” An older lady with a slight limp came over to the table Hannah had chosen by the window.

  “I’d like some coffee, please. And maybe some pancakes, too.” She smiled up at the woman. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.” The woman stared at her for a moment. “Are you all right, honey?”

  “Oh, I’m fine,” Hannah assured her. “Just tired from a long drive.”

  “I’m Betsy.” The older woman nodded as she continued to study Hannah before walking off to fetch a clean cup and the coffee pot.

  Hannah leaned back in her seat and looked out across the huge mountain range that loomed over the town. Why couldn’t Karl have chosen to hike in a place like Bear Creek? Why, instead, did he have to go far away, where it would be hard to track him?

  O’Malley could do it. She was certain he could. When he shifted, he’d be able to track Karl’s scent, she was certain.

  If there was a scent to track. After so many weeks, it might be impossible. She pushed her hands into her hair and leaned forward, staring at the table, and reminding herself to keep breathing. This was going to be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

  And O’Malley had a bar to open.

  Hannah lifted her head and inhaled deeply. She should just leave town. Leave O’Malley to open his bar and go to the place where Karl had last been seen by herself. There was no point taking O’Malley on this wild goose chase of hers.

  “There you go.” Betsy placed the coffee cup down on the table and filled it while watching Hannah closely. “Now, tell me to mind my own business but you really do look as if you need to talk.”

  “I’m okay. Honestly. Thanks.” She picked up her coffee cup and took a sip.

  Betsy hovered, not accepting Hannah’s answer that she was okay. “Family trouble.” Betsy smiled when Hannah looked up at her. “In my experience, it’s usually family trouble.”

  “I suppose it is, but not in the way you might think.” Hannah regretted opening her mouth when Betsy pulled out the chair across the table and sat down.

  “Why don’t you tell me about it?” Betsy lifted her hand and beckoned to the young woman behind the counter, who grabbed another cup and brought it over. “Thanks, honey.”

  “No problem, Betsy.” The young woman winked at Hannah before going back to the counter.

  Betsy obviously hadn’t singled Hannah out for special treatment. The woman across the table poured herself a cup of coffee and refilled Hannah’s half-empty cup. “Now, you tell me all about it. A problem shared is a problem halved.”

  “It’s my brother.” Hannah decided there was no reason not to tell Betsy. There was nothing secretive about Karl’s trip to the Himalayas. No government secrets to expose.

  “Oh, what did he do?” Betsy watched Hannah over her coffee cup.

  “He went on a trip to see the world and he’s been missing for six weeks.”

  “Oh.” Betsy had obviously expected Hannah’s story to be something more personal. A brother and sister who fell out over money. Something simple.

  “I came here to ask a friend of my brother’s to help me find him.” Hannah could see Betsy had lost interest, although her expression was filled with sympathy.

  “And did this friend say yes?” Betsy asked.

  “He did. O’Malley, he owns the new bar in Cougar Ridge.” Hannah’s heart squeezed in her chest at the mention of O’Malley’s name.

  “Oh, I’ve met him. He came in here a couple of times.” Betsy’s eyes twinkled. “He’s a good-looking guy.”

  “He is.” Hannah wasn’t going to deny it. Not to Betsy and not to herself. Tall, dark, and handsome with a smile that lit up his eyes. She sighed.

  “Ah, so you are going off into the wild with a man you like.” Betsy’s interest was piqued once more. “Is there an attraction between the two of you?”

  “I don’t think that’s an appropriate question,” Hannah said a little too sharply.

  “There is.” Betsy nodded sagely. “When you met him, did you feel as if there was a deep connection between the two of you?”

  Hannah’s forehead creased. “I suppose. I… Yes. There did feel as if there was a connection. Because there is. My brother.”

  “Oh, don’t try to blow me off with that,” Betsy sounded wounded. “It’s more than that and you know it.”

  “I’ve just met the guy. How can it be more than that?” Hannah’s temper flared. “It’s not love at first sight if that’s what you are implying.”

  “Does he feel the same?” Betsy asked.

  “I don’t know.” Hannah leaned back in her chair and thought about Betsy’s question. Which was a stupid and ridiculous question. O’Malley was helpin
g her because he and Karl had served together. He’d do the same for anyone.

  “There’s a story in these parts about shifters.” Betsy scrutinized Hannah’s face as she spoke, but Hannah didn’t let on she knew shifters were more than a story.

  “Shifters?” Hannah asked, her expression flawless.

  “Yes. The story is that people can turn into animals.” She waved her hand. “Not that ridiculous werewolf stuff when they only change at a full moon and then go out and kill people. This is different, it’s part of who they are.”

  “Interesting story,” Hannah looked up, her breakfast was on its way.

  “These shifters have a mate. The person they are meant to be with for the rest of their lives. They are bound together by an invisible tether that links their souls.” A small smile spread across Betsy’s face and she got up from the table as the young woman from behind the counter set a plate of food down in front of Hannah.

  “That’s a very interesting story.” Hannah glanced up at the young woman. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “And thanks for the chat, Betsy.” Hannah picked up her fork, ready to dig in but didn’t start until Betsy had refilled Hannah’s coffee cup and got up from the table.

  “You take care.” Betsy placed a hand lightly on Hannah’s shoulder. “And remember what I said. If you feel there is a connection, you hold onto it. You never know where it might lead.”

  “I will. Thanks.” Hannah ate but she only vaguely acknowledged how good the food was. Her brain was too preoccupied with going over Betsy’s words. They weren’t just the words of a nosy diner owner, they were the words of a woman who wanted Hannah to be aware of a subtle connection between two people.

  Maybe she was simply a romantic. Maybe this story about shifters knowing their true love was like a fairy tale. The kind where true love’s kiss conquers all.

  Yet, deep down, Hannah had a sneaking suspicion it was more than that. A lot more.