Page 12 of Loan Wolf (Green Valley Shifters: Generations #1)

12

CLARA

C lara woke with unexpected clarity, and found the bed beside her cold and empty. Her whole body felt as if it had been remolded into some new, unfamiliar shape. When she rose to do dutiful morning stretches, she found sore places and even bruises. She’d fumbled up against the bedside table in the dark, and the corner had left a deep purple mark on her thigh.

She prodded it as she folded for her feet, remembering the feel of Gabe’s fingers there.

Bruises were temporary. The color wouldn’t last as long as a tattoo. It probably wouldn’t last much longer than she and Gabe, and she should be glad he was gone without any drama. It had been a casual hookup and nothing more. She had just... borrowing him to work off steam. Like she was borrowing Daisy. That reminded her that she still needed to pay the remainder of her bill for her upgrade to a twenty-four-hour slot.

She showered and dressed, braided her hair in the mirror, and found the key to the bike in her pocket, as well as the map for the local trails.

The leisurely ride to Gran’s Grits stretched most of the kinks out of her muscles, but she found other sore places when she slid onto the bench. She flushed to remember how eager she’d been for everything Gabe had done with her. Did he think she was silly and inexperienced?

“Can I start you off with a drink, Miss Montgomery?” The waitress slipped a laminated menu in front of her.

Clara didn’t know the young waitress, but she smiled. “Coffee and ice water, please.”

She got a besotted smile in return and the young woman scampered happily off before Clara could remember to ask for a single cup of coffee and not a pot.

Too much caffeine dulls the reflexes and poisons the body , she told herself mockingly, echoing her dance manager.

“Clara!” A clatter at the cafe door announced Trevor, who slid onto the bench across from her. “You’re up early.”

Clara glanced at her phone. It was nearly eight. “This isn’t early!”

“Oh, I forget, you’re a professional dancer now, you’re probably up at six every morning doing plies and reveles!” Trevor’s lionish smile hadn’t changed in the slightest since they were children, even if the rest of him had.

“You can’t just jump into plies and reveles,” Clara teased him back. “You have to drill positions first, and stretch all the core muscles. And I start at five , thank you very much.”

“I’d die ,” Trevor said dramatically. “It’s painful enough having to be at work at nine. Mind if I join you for breakfast?”

“Not at all!” Clara said automatically. She wondered if Trevor’s gaze was a little more intense than strictly polite and blushed under the scrutiny, trying not to squirm uncomfortably. Was it obvious on her face that she’d spent a reckless night of passion with what passed as the local bad boy? What if she was Trevor’s mate and she’d just unknowingly betrayed him?

Clara was briefly riddled with guilt and was grateful for the distraction when the waitress brought her water and a cup of coffee, as well as another menu for Trevor.

Trevor took the menu from the waitress but didn’t really look at it. “How’s it feel being back in Green Valley after the big city?”

“It’s nice,” Clara said neutrally. “Very quiet. Very green .”

“You’re just in time for the Sunflower Festival this weekend,” Trevor said. “It’s the end of the theatre season and Linda Turner has this whole thing set up for a send off. The entire downtown is turned into a fancy pants art fair.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” Clara said, playing with her water glass. “The new theatre looks so nice!”

“Clara!” Clara turned and found that Aaron was striding towards their table. The weirdest things about both of her childhood friends were their voices . Clara could see Aaron in his familiar face, but his voice and Trevor’s were both lower and completely different than they’d been.

“Shove over,” Aaron said to Trevor, who ungraciously did, shooting him a deeply unappreciative look. Was Trevor acting particularly possessive? Did Aaron’s easy smile seem a little too charming as he sat across from her? Was she his mate?

“Linda says you’re dancing for us at the Sunflower Festival!” Aaron said, taking the menu from Trevor.

“You didn’t mention that to me ,” Trevor said jealously to Clara. He snatched the menu back. “I’m not done with that.”

“I wasn’t sure it was official,” Clara said peacefully. “Here, I’ve already decided on my food.” She handed her menu to Aaron, who smirked at Trevor.

“I can’t wait,” Aaron said, elbowing Trevor further over on the bench. “We’ve seen you dance on television, but never in person.”

“Not since we were kids,” Trevor added. “You were always flitting around the playground with your arms in the air.”

“La dee da, la dee da!” Aaron sang. “Like a princess!”

Gabe had called her a princess. It was still a little uncomfortable sitting down and Clara knew that her cheeks were pink again. When Aaron said it, it annoyed her. When Gabe said it…

Clara reminded herself that she and Gabe were not a thing. They had a very practical business transaction... with extras. That was all.

“Tell me everything,” she invited, to take her mind off him. “What’s happened with you two? Tell me all the latest scandals!”

That invited a litany of local gossip. Jamie and Devon had a whole passel of kids, and Clara was shocked to hear that some of their own agemates were married and parents. Julia still ran the grocery. The local bookclub was still meeting under Tawny’s direction. Gillian’s husband had passed away and she had mellowed considerably. Gran’s loss was still keen in the community. Marta still had her nose in everything. Stanley was deeper into conspiracy theories than ever.

Clara told them practiced stories about her more memorable performances and graciously accepted their praise. She spent the meal trying to decide if their attention was perfectly normal, or more intense than it ought to be.

Could she be someone’s mate? How could she know? She wasn’t a shifter, and she never would be.