Her Guardian Shifter

“Oh.” She flushed. “Right now, I’m still unemployed. My aunt left me a small inheritance as well as this house. I’ve only been here a month and haven’t looked for anything yet.”

Wishing he hadn’t asked, he tried to lighten the mood. “Well then, we’re two of a kind, since I don’t have a job yet, either.”

Her smile came back, a quick flash of self-deprecating humor. “I guess we are.”

Startled, he realized he actually liked Julia Jacobs. At least what he knew about her so far. And he would need someone to watch Garth, at least part-time. For now, he’d keep his eyes open and not make any rash decisions.

“What kind of work do you do?” she asked.

Briefly, he considered and decided he didn’t see any harm in telling her the truth. “I was a college professor, but I took a sabbatical when Garth was born. Now, I’m planning to open up a customized car shop. It used to be a hobby, but I’m thinking I can make a living doing it full-time.”

“Customize cars? Like painting them?”

“That’s part of it. Restoring older cars to their original condition, only better. Turning them into hot rods.” Oversimplified, but adequate.

“Interesting.” The little shrug that accompanied her comment told him she either knew zero about cars or didn’t care to. “That’s kind of the polar opposite from higher education, isn’t it?”

“Maybe.” He smiled. “I figure since I came to the complete other side of the country, I might as well make a major change to my life. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”

“Then good for you.” She smiled back. “Not to be nosy, but what about Garth’s mother? Where is she in all of this?”

He froze, aware his expression had completely shut down. But she couldn’t know and her question had actually been perfectly reasonable, if a bit intrusive. “She and I are divorced. Turns out she didn’t actually want a child. She signed over all parental rights to me.”

If they’d been discussing any other subject, her disbelief and shock might have been comical. He could almost read her thoughts. Right now, she was dying to ask what kind of woman could abandon an innocent, tiny baby like Garth. From the grim set of her mouth and the way she’d narrowed her eyes, she must be wondering if Eric’s ex was a monster. He didn’t have the heart to tell her Yolanda actually was.

When he didn’t comment further, she sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”

Now he felt like an ass. After all, she’d opened her home to him and fed him. She’d been nothing but kind and friendly. “It’s okay,” he finally said. “It’s just a sore subject.”

“I can imagine.” The grimness in her tone told him she agreed. “Anyway, if you need anything, please let me know.”

He could take a hint. She’d fed him, chatted with him and now was ready for him to go. He stood, collected his son and let himself out the door.

Once back in his new, empty living quarters, Eric found he missed her. Or maybe he just missed having company. Someone to talk to. With the streets still impassable, he couldn’t leave, couldn’t drive around and check out the rest of the town the way he’d initially planned on his second day. Being stuck inside an unfamiliar house felt confining, to say the least. Plus he was impatient to begin scouting out a possible location to open his shop.

All in good time, he reminded himself. He needed to exercise a little patience.

He considered himself lucky that he had electricity and water. Since she’d never had them turned off, all he’d needed to do was change them into his name. And even though his television was on the moving truck, she’d left a smallish one in the living room, for which he was grateful.

Garth finally woke. Eric passed some time bathing and changing his son, giving him another bottle, and then just talking to him. Though at three months, little Garth couldn’t do much other than wave his hands around and coo, being around him filled Eric with love.

Time passed slowly. He’d grown hungry again, but stubbornly remained in his part of the house, not wanting his landlord to feel compelled to feed him again. He didn’t want to turn into a giant moocher, so decided to make do until he could get out and go to the store.

To his relief, he heard the unmistakable sound of the plow shortly after three. Rushing to the front window, he watched the big machine lumber down the street, plumes of snow shooting up to the side. Too late, he realized his vehicle would be buried, but since there was nothing he could do to avert this, he simply continued to watch. It wasn’t like he hadn’t dug out a car before, back when he’d lived in Norway.

Once the plow had passed, he shrugged into his parka and eyed Garth, now wide-awake and happily batting at the bright plastic toys Eric had strung across the front of his portable crib. He didn’t want to leave his son alone, but couldn’t just bring him outside while he cleared the snow from his car. Which meant he’d have to impose on his new landlord once again. Good thing she claimed to love babies.

Fifteen minutes, he told himself, picking up the carrier and trudging upstairs to Julia’s place. He would ask her to keep an eye on the baby while he cleared his car. Then he’d retrieve Garth, bundle him up and put him in his car seat for a quick trip to the store.

Chapter 4 (#u6687b5f8-f0d5-5965-a652-236c95eec34e)

She answered the door on his second knock. To Eric’s amusement, her gaze slid past him, right to the baby watching her with wide-eyed interest. “Well, hello there,” she said, crouching down so she and Garth were at eye level. “I see you’re finally awake, little sleepyhead.”

Garth made a gurgling sound, jingling his plastic keys as he gazed up at her.

“You’re so precious,” Julia cooed. She glanced up at Eric. “Is everything all right?”

He cleared his throat. “I was wondering if you’d mind keeping an eye on him for a few minutes. The plow covered my SUV and I need to dig it out so I can head into town. I’ll come back for him as soon as I’m done.”

“No problem.” She took the infant carrier and brought it inside. “Like I told you earlier, if you want, I can watch him while you go to the store.”

Tempting, but again, he barely knew her and she’d already done more than enough for him. Leaving her in charge of Garth while he was a few feet away, outside, was entirely different than driving away without his son. “I appreciate that, but I’d rather bring him with me.” He cast her a sideways look, trying to judge how she would take this news.

To his surprise, she smiled. “I understand. You don’t know me yet and he’s your entire world. Believe me, I wouldn’t leave my baby for very long with someone I just met, either.”

Relieved, he nodded. “I’m glad you understand. Fifteen minutes, okay? He’s already been fed and has a clean diaper. I’m thinking this won’t take much more than that.”

“No rush.” Her gaze had already strayed back to his son. “We’ll be right here whenever you finish.”

* * *

After the door closed behind her new tenant, JJ let out a sigh of relief. She liked looking at him, plain and simple. Even though another man in her life was the absolute last thing she needed right now. She hadn’t worked through her recent past yet. Hell, she didn’t even recognize the woman who’d fled New York City as if the hounds of hell were after her, with giant teeth. And of course, her dreams still haunted her.

This appalled her. She’d always been fierce, a fighter, but not a killer. She’d often questioned how she could have let herself become the woman Shawn had made her into, a woman afraid of her own shadow, too terrified to speak or even look at something the wrong way. She’d walked on eggshells, never knowing what might set him off.

Initially, she’d gone into the relationship a strong, female shifter. A she-wolf, proud of her heritage, confident in her humanness. Shawn might have been only human, but in the beginning he’d seemed kind and thoughtful and handsome. She’d also liked his size, instinctively feeling a large man like him would always protect her.

In fact, it had been the opposite. He’d used his size to intimidate and threaten and hurt. What she’d become after three years with Shawn...

Now, she knew personally how some abused animals felt. She understood the impulse that had them cringing at sudden movements or a raised hand. Objectively, she could see how several years of conditioning by a man she’d thought had loved her had made her this way. What confused and astounded her was how she’d let it happen. How she’d managed to come to believe it was all her fault. If she’d been prettier, smarter, quicker... A better girlfriend, a harder worker, more... As if he was the rational person and she was the one spiraling out of control.

She deserved everything she got. He’d actually said that to her, numerous times. Until finally, something had broken inside her and she’d known she’d had enough. That had been when she’d gotten the news of her great-aunt’s death and learned she’d inherited a house in a town she’d never known existed. That had been when she’d realized she’d be all right, that she could leave.

She’d grabbed on with both hands and secretly planned her escape. When she’d fled, she’d taken care to make sure he was at work and had no idea. Even so, she’d been terrified he’d find out and catch her, and make her pay.

And she’d done it! Freed herself, and most likely saved Shawn’s life. Because she’d always known, deep down inside herself, if he pushed her too far, she’d snap and shift to wolf. A cornered wolf would kill in self-defense. Even Pack law allowed this, but she didn’t want to be a killer.

This had been her first major victory in nearly three years. Now she was here, a few hours north of the city, and Shawn had no idea how to find her. After taking a few deep breaths, she let the tension drain off of her.

Her throat tight, she rolled her shoulders. Focus on the positive. A house of her own in upstate New York. Enough money to tide her over until she figured out what she wanted to do, and now a paying tenant, which meant a nice revenue stream. Her way out, her ticket to another life.

When she’d first arrived, relieved to find the house completely furnished, she’d met with the attorney and signed the necessary paperwork. After, she’d slept for two days, not stirring from her bed except to guzzle water and use the bathroom. When she’d finally surfaced, she felt like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon. Full of possibilities and hope.

This was all still too new, only one short month along. She had the rest of winter to burrow in, claim her space and find her way. She needed to rebuild her life, piece by piece, not let herself get distracted by a man.

Or his too-adorable-for-words baby.

As if he knew her thoughts, the baby gurgled and flashed JJ a sweet smile. Her heart constricted.