O'Malley: Summer (Shifter Seasons Book 7) Read online

Was there such a connection between Hannah and O’Malley?

  She shook her head as she ate her pancakes. She could not allow her life to get any more complicated. She was going to pursue her brother, not some fantasy about true mates.

  Chapter Five – O’Malley

  “Hey, what are you doing here?” Kelos was in his back yard fixing a wooden bench. “I thought you were all busy with the bar.”

  “I am.” O’Malley stopped in front of Kelos and placed his feet hip-width apart. Taking a big breath, he let it out slowly.

  Kelos placed the hammer he’d been holding on the ground and straightened up. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” O’Malley answered truthfully. “Well… We’ll get to the what is wrong part in a second.”

  A smile twitched at the corners of Kelos’s mouth. “So what is right?”

  “I met my mate.” O’Malley shrugged and held out his hands. “She walked into my bar. Just like that.” He snapped his fingers. Damn, he was jittery. Like a cat on a hot tin roof.

  His cougar snarled at the thought and licked his paws.

  Kelos simply stared at him for a full minute before he grabbed him and hugged him. In a completely manly, bone-crushing way, of course. “Wow. We’ve been hoping that would happen for you.” He let O’Malley go. “She just walked into the bar?”

  “Sort of.” O’Malley took another breath. “She needs my help.”

  “Oh. Okay. What for?” Kelos couldn’t hide his curiosity or suspicion.

  “Do you have a beer? I think I need a beer.” O’Malley ran his hand through his hair. A hand that shook just a little.

  “Sure.” Kelos beckoned to O’Malley. “Let’s go inside. Amber is visiting her brother, so we have the place to ourselves for an hour or so.”

  “Thanks.”

  Kelos gave him a sideways look filled with concern as he led the way into the kitchen where he produced two beers from the fridge. Handing one to O’Malley, he said, “Whatever it is, we can fix it.”

  “I’m not sure we can,” O’Malley confessed.

  “That bad?”

  “Possibly.” He took a slug of beer and paced the kitchen, trying to calm the rising dread in his chest. It weighed heavily on him, as if someone had pinned him to the ground and sat on him, refusing to get off. He knew the dread only too well.

  Digging deep, he sought out the man he used to be, the man who was capable of putting those feelings that would threaten his ability to act under pressure in a box. A box he could slam the lid shut and lock with a key.

  “Even dragon shifters can’t read minds.” Kelos stared at O’Malley in the way only a dragon shifter could. It was as if he could see under a person’s skin and know what they were thinking.

  “And there was me thinking you really did have superpowers,” O’Malley said lightly.

  “Feelings and emotions, yes. Thoughts, no.” Kelos took a drink. “Your thoughts and emotions are raw, it’s as if you suddenly found a new layer you never knew existed.”

  “You’re right.” O’Malley would find it much easier to help Hannah if he could remain detached from the outcome. If it were just a job he had to do. Going to find a man who got lost in the mountains was well within his skill set. Going to find the brother of his mate left him scared of failure.

  “Talk.” Kelos pulled out a chair and sat down at the kitchen table where he and O’Malley had spent hours talking, playing cards, and getting to know each other over the last few months. “Whatever it is, I can’t help you if I don’t know what you need help with.”

  “You really are a wise old dragon, aren’t you?”

  “A gift I have nurtured for centuries.” Kelos raised his bottle to O’Malley. “Begin.”

  “Hannah’s brother has been missing in the Himalayas for six weeks. She has the coordinates of the village where he was last seen and despite a search, his whereabouts remain unknown.”

  “And she came to ask you if you would help her?” Kelos studied O’Malley closely. “Why you?”

  “Why me?” O’Malley took a long drink before he answered. “I served with her brother, but we were not friends, we didn’t exactly see things the same way.”

  “So why you?” Kelos repeated his question.

  “Because Karl told her that if ever he was in trouble, I would be the one he knew he could count on to get him out of it.” O’Malley shrugged. “I just thought the guy was an idiot. The feelings were not reciprocated, I can think of at least ten other people I would call on to help me before I resorted to asking Karl.”

  “Ouch,”

  “Harsh but true.” O’Malley placed the bottle on the table and looked up at Kelos. “You don’t have to say yes…”

  “Whenever anyone prefaces a question with that little phrase, it usually means they are going to ask me to do something dangerous.” Kelos inclined his head. “Ask.”

  “Will you fly us to the village?” O’Malley pressed his kips together and sighed.

  “Sure. We can leave as soon as it’s dark enough for me to fly over the mountains.” Kelos arched an eyebrow. “What?”

  “You don’t want to talk to Amber first?”

  “She’ll tell me to go.” Kelos grinned. “I know my wife.”

  O’Malley let out a long sigh. “Thank you.”

  “No problem. We both know that you would do the same for us if we needed you.” Kelos leaned forward and put his hand on O’Malley’s shoulder. “Hannah’s brother must have seen the same qualities in you, even if you couldn’t see them in him.”

  “Yeah, not sure how he’s going to feel about me marrying his sister, though.” O’Malley grinned, the weight on his chest shifting a little. “Wow, two hours ago I was thinking I would never meet my mate and now I’m talking marriage.”

  “This means I’ll have to go and find another suitable engagement ring. My hoard is getting depleted by all you guys finding your mates.” Kelos laughed. “I’m joking. It makes me happy. Really happy.”

  O’Malley picked up his beer, tipped his head back, and drained the bottle. “I should get going. I have a lot to arrange.”

  “The bar?” Kelos asked. “Do you need help with that?”

  “I have a great barman. I hired him a week ago. I’ll hand it over to him. And hope I made the right decision.” He ran his hand through his hair. “If you could check in on him every day or so.”

  “I will. I’ll make sure everyone else does, too, and that we’re available if there’s anything unforeseen that crops up. We all know this was your new start.” Kelos stood up and followed O’Malley out of the house. “Looks as if you got what you wished for.”

  “A new start, yes. But if we don’t find Karl, it’s not going to lead to a happy ever after, is it?” O’Malley asked, finally voicing his concerns.

  “Maybe Hannah came into your life because she is going to need someone who is there for her. No matter what.” Kelos leveled his gaze at O’Malley. “Life has its ups and downs. If you can’t find Karl, or you find him deceased, that is not your fault. He decided to take the path that led him to wherever he is. All you can do is help pick up the pieces.”

  “Thanks, I think.” O’Malley nodded to Kelos. “Shall we meet you here?”

  “Yes, this is probably one of the safest places for me to take off from.” Kelos paused. “She knew about shifters?”

  “She had an idea from what Karl told her, yes.” O’Malley chewed the inside of his cheek. “I have not told her we are flying on the back of a dragon.”

  “Oh, so that is going to be interesting.” Kelos shook his head. “Maybe you should tell her before you get here.”

  “Maybe I should.” O’Malley inhaled deeply. “Next time I see my mate…” He grinned. “I’ll tell her.”

  “I’m happy for you.” Kelos meant it. The dragon shifter had enjoyed watching all his friends find their mates and now, at last, O’Malley had joined them in taking his first step toward the rest of his life.

  With our mate, his couga
r said. You’re right, that has a good ring to it.

  O’Malley got back in his truck, his head filled with the million and one things he needed to do before he left with his mate to find her brother. Yet all he wanted to do was drive farther into the mountains and run. At least, his cougar wanted to run.

  The energy inside of them was buzzing, building up as if it might explode if the smallest spark touched it. Hannah was that spark. It was as if she had ignited his soul and awoken him from a deep slumber.

  We need to focus. O’Malley drove back to Cougar ridge. His first stop had to be Axel’s house. He still lived with his mom in one of the oldest houses in town. O’Malley smiled to himself. The guy was in his forties, far too old to still live at home, but his mom had suffered a stroke a couple of years back and Axel had moved back in to take care of her.

  They were just about getting by financially, and the job at the bar would make things easier for them.

  Axel might not have much in the way of bar experience, although he had taken a couple of part-time jobs in various bars throughout his varied working life, but he had a drive to succeed so he could give his mom a comfortable life. Family mattered.

  You hired him because you felt sorry for him, his cougar said bluntly.

  I hired him because the drive to do well at a job is more important than the skills, sometimes. I mean, you wouldn’t want a doctor to operate on you if he simply had the desire to do well. O’Malley grinned and raked his hand through his hair. I am struggling to focus.

  It’s only natural that our mate would consume our waking thoughts and she will probably fill our dreams, too. His cougar’s chest rumbled as he purred. I am not complaining.

  O’Malley parked the car outside Axel’s house and got out. Closing the door, he noticed a bear sauntering down the street, swaying a little with each step. Is he drunk?

  Cougar Ridge has its own set of rules, we should get used to it.

  “O’Malley?” The door opened and Axel stood framed there, wearing a flowery apron over his jeans and plaid shirt.

  “That’s a good look.” O’Malley grinned as he strode up the driveway. “We need to talk.”

  “Is there something wrong?” Axel asked, his concern palpable. “Is the bar okay?”

  “The bar is fine. But I have to go away for a few days.”

  “You’re going away for a few days?” Axel looked stunned. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yes.” O’Malley inhaled deeply and let it out slowly as he once more tried to quell his rising panic. He really should have kept on top of his game. When he was serving with his unit, he was always capable of calm, emotionless decisions. That capability must still be in him somewhere, he just needed to find it. “I’ll make this quick since I don’t have much time.”

  “Okay. Come through.” Axel led O’Malley into a kitchen that was as ancient as the rest of the house. The counters were made of solid wood, not the stuff you bought at the hardware store these days. The stove looked like something from the last century, but it was all scrupulously clean and well cared for. So well cared for it looked as if it might all be around for another century.

  But the best part about the kitchen was the incredible smell coming from the ancient stove.

  “You can cook.” O’Malley leaned against the counter as Axel poured them both a cup of coffee.

  “My mom taught me. She told me I should be able to fend for myself and also impress a woman with my culinary skills.” He looked wistfully toward the living room where the sound of daytime TV filtered through to the kitchen. “I was a little rusty when I moved back home but we began cooking together because my mom has all these recipes stored in her head and the doctors said it was a good way for her to use her memory.”

  “How is your mom?” O’Malley asked, his own problems forgotten for a moment.

  “Better. I think.” Axel’s mouth turned down at the corners. “But she’s never going to fully recover.” He nodded, his shoulders heaving before he forced a smile onto his face. “Anyway, you didn’t come here to hear me complain.”

  “You never complain.” O’Malley studied Axel for a moment. His decision to employ the guy might not make sound business sense but his gut told him it was the right thing to do.

  “Oh, I do, plenty. Just no one ever hears me.” Axel looked away and O’Malley was convinced he’d caught the guy in a lie.

  Interesting, his cougar said.

  He’s trying to play the hard man when we both know how much the guy loves his mom and would do anything for her. O’Malley could understand why a man of Axel’s build and age would not want to appear as a momma’s boy.

  “I’ll get to the point,” O’Malley said. “I am handing the running of the bar over to you until I get back. You know the schedule of works in place. You were due to be around for most of the deliveries anyway. So it shouldn’t be too hard. While I’m away, Kelos and some of the other guys, and their wives, will come by and check that everything is okay.” O’Malley held up his hand. “They are not checking up on you, they are just there if you need them.”

  “Okay.” Axel shuffled his feet, not sounding too sure about the situation.

  “Is it okay?” O’Malley asked.

  “Are you sure you want me to carry that kind of responsibility?” Axel asked bluntly. “You know I don’t have a lot of experience.”

  “Do you think you can do it?” O’Malley asked.

  “Sure.” Axel nodded confidently.

  “That’s all I need to know.” He took out his phone. “Okay, I have a slew of numbers I need to give to you. Including the guys who run O’Malley’s in the city. You’ve met some of them. You can count on them for any help and advice you might need. If you are not sure about anything, call someone.”

  O’Malley handed Axel a piece of paper. “I will.”

  “When I get back, I’ll figure out a bonus for you.” O’Malley took a moment to compose himself. Was this the right thing to do? He was putting a lot of pressure on Axel.

  He can handle it, his cougar told him. Axel can handle it all.

  “There’s no need.” Axel waved O’Malley away. “The job opportunity itself is more than enough.”

  “We’ll argue about it when I get back.” O’Malley grinned. “I need to get going, but I’ll just go and say hi to your mom if that’s okay.”

  “You know she likes to see you,” Axel said. “I might have to bring her with me to the bar. I don’t like leaving her alone for too long.”

  “You know she’s more than welcome.” O’Malley grinned. “When we open, I was going to buy your mom a nice comfortable chair so she can sit in the bar. I thought she might enjoy getting out and talking to people.”

  “She would,” Axel agreed, “Although, now I’m definitely thinking you are trying to destroy my reputation.”

  “Ah, you’re a momma’s boy. Accept it and learn to celebrate it.” He thought of Hannah who had lost her mom and his heart ached for her.

  We can’t do anything to change what happened to Hannah, but we can help Axel and his mom.

  His cougar was right. They could not change what had happened to Hannah, they could not bring back her mom, but they might be able to bring Karl back to her.

  O’Malley made a silent promise to his mate that he would do whatever it took to find Karl and bring him home safely if it was possible.

  Chapter Six – Hannah

  Hannah arrived back at the bar while it was still light. She’d gathered up all the gear she might need, including some survival rations and a water bottle. She’d also bought sturdy hiking boots and some warm weather gear since the mountains were going to be cold.

  Of course, she was willing to share her body warmth with O’Malley at night, in the two-man tent she’d have strapped to her back but sticking close to him during the day was just not feasible.

  She sighed. Thoughts of O’Malley had plagued her all day.

  That was unfair, he wasn’t a plague, he was a good guy who had agreed t
o help her find Karl. But she needed to think of O’Malley in a way that would make her less likely to wrap her arms around him and kiss his lips. Because that is exactly what she’s been fantasizing about doing all day.

  Okay, so the fantasy went further than kissing.

  “Hi.” O’Malley was in the bar when she walked in shouldering her pack, which was getting heavier by the minute. Hannah didn’t know how far she could carry the thing without resorting to crawling on her hands and knees.

  “Hi.” She swung the pack down and it landed with a thud on the floor.

  “Wow. You are prepared.” O’Malley was dressed in combat gear. He looked completely different than the man she’d met this afternoon. Gone were the jeans that clung to him like a second skin and the black T-shirt that hugged the contours of his chest. His black leather jacket was no doubt hung safely in a closet, replaced by a thick warm jacket with many pockets.

  “It’s going to be cold. So I have lots of layers. I also have some rations and a tent.” She pressed her lips together feeling a little stupid. “Too much?”

  He scratched his cheek before walking toward her. Hannah’s breath caught in her throat, he might be dressed for combat, but this didn’t detract from the raw magnetism he exuded.

  “Let’s take a look. We can transfer some of the gear to my pack to even it out.” O’Malley hunkered down and snapped open the clips that were barely keeping the pack closed.

  Hannah stood by and watched as he rifled through the contents of her pack. Luckily, she’d placed her fresh underwear and two changes of clothes in a separate small bag, which after a quick glance, O’Malley set to one side along with the small bag of toiletries. She was not willing to sacrifice her toothbrush for anything.

  “Okay. Most of this we can use. I’ll carry the tent. Keep the rations, I have some of my own, so if we get split up for whatever reason, neither of us will starve.”

  He repacked her pack, adding a couple of the lightweight pans she’d brought plus a small tin containing kindling and a flint and steel to her pack. After he’d transferred some of the gear including the tent to his pack, Hannah’s was about half the weight it had been. “Are you sure you can carry all that?”