Page 17 of Reluctant Rogue

Liam nodded. “And Katerina’s brother, Kester, and his fiancee,Tamera…”

“Who is also one of our receptionists at the clinic,” Troy interrupted.

“They’re staying there currently, along with Tamera’s sister. They’re both caracal Shifters, while Kester and Katerina are Maine Coons.”

Troy must have seen the conflicting expressions on Naomi’s face, because he gave another deep chuckle.

“Yeah, we’re Shifter Central around here. We’ve got a bobcat shifter for a local blacksmith, not to mention he’s head of a construction crew mostly full of bobcats.”

“Actually, it’s Other Central.” Liam shook his head in bemusement. “Seriously. One of the other partners is engaged to a Djinn, plus the owner of the B&B, Angus, and his wife, Renee, are some kind of Other and no one has a clue what kind… and they’re not saying.”

Naomi’s smile was tentative, but it was a smile nonetheless, and Liam felt pleased with himself.

“I never knew Djinn were real until you told me the other day. Or that there were other kinds of… Other? Is that what you call them? Other supernatural, um…”

“Species,” Liam supplied.

“Or beings,” Troy said.

“Right, those. Supernatural beings or species.” Naomi seemed to be committing this to memory. “Shapeshifters and Djinns.”

Troy grimaced, looking less than happy. “And Werewolves, can’t forget about those. Although I would, happily. I was more than content thinking werewolves nothing but a myth, I can tell you.”

Naomi’s expression was a stunned mixture of disbelief, amusement and horror. “Werewolves? Really?”

“Yeah, so I’ve just been told.” Troy said sourly as he slowed the van to take a sharp right turn. He lifted one finger from the steering wheel to point ahead of them. “This road goes right past my house, and where it intersects the next main road, that’s where the B&B is.”

Naomi came forward to kneel just behind the front seats, raising up to peer through the windshield.

“There,” Troy pointed at a sprawling two-story farmhouse on the left, with a barn off to the side, and large black horses grazing in a white fenced pasture. “That’s my place.”

“Wow!” Naomi’s eyes widened. “Horses!”

“Yep,” Troy sounded pleased. “Friesians. I have three mares and a stallion. They’re bred for dressage, although I don’t train them myself.”

“Friesians… that’s that horse that was in the movie Ladyhawk, right? The knight’s charger?”

“Hey, you know your movies.” Troy gave her an approving look.

“Yes, I love old movies.”

“You’re going to get along great with the rest of the women, then,” Troy laughed. “They get together every week or two for a gals’ movie night, with all the trimmings.”

Naomi seemed to shrink in on herself, and Liam cursed inwardly. Too much, too soon.

“So… so what will I do now?” Naomi asked, sounding more timid than she had a few minutes ago. “I mean, I’ll be at the Inn, but then what?”

“Then you’ll focus on getting some clothing, re-establishing your legal status by getting your drivers license and bank card. I assume you still have those somewhere?”

She nodded uncertainly. “Yes. I didn’t know what to do with everything. I gave away all my furniture and belongings, all except for some favorite books I couldn’t bear to part with, even if I didn’t think I’d see them again… but I didn’t know what to do about my car. So I packed everything into it, and put it into a long-term storage. I set up autopay from my bank. I figured it would just go forever, until, I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I didn’t think that far.”

“We’ll go get them at some point over the next few days,” Liam said decisively. “And you, young lady, are going to focus on bringing yourself back to health.”

She ducked her head, looking the very picture of guilt, and he had a hard time not laughing. Troy did laugh, and Liam shot him a look, then returned his attention to Naomi.

“I mean it. You’re skin and bones, Naomi. And you’ve been in your cat form for far too long. I don’t suppose that’s anything your mother or aunt warned you about?”

She gave him a puzzled look, and he sighed a little. “Right, of course they didn’t. Not to worry, we’ll go over it later.”