Page 8 of Emberly

“I felt like I should. It was so strange, really. The minute I walked in, I felt like I was supposed to be here. When Chloe said we had to leave immediately, I knew I needed to stay.” She lifted her free hand and touched the bar’s logo embroidered on the left side of the shirt. “You work here?”

He nodded. “I’m a bouncer.”

“You weren’t at the front door when we came by.”

“I was on break. Have you been here before?”

“No. I live in Cabot’s Mill. If you work here, and it’s a shifter bar, then I take it you’re a shifter?”

“I’m a lion.”

“Cool.”

He smiled. “You’re human.”

“Yep. Do you have to go back to work?”

He glanced at the clock over the wall. Damn it. “I’d actually like to talk to you for a while. Are you planning to stick around?”

“I was. I could use some company.”

“Give me two minutes. Do you want a drink?”

“Lemon-lime soda would be great, thanks.”

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “Be right back.”

“I’ll be here.”

He walked swiftly to the front door where Hemi and Titus were checking IDs. “Great news, guys.”

“Oh?” Titus asked as he waved in a human couple.

“I found my heart-match.”

Both males looked at him as if he’d sprouted wings and horns.

“You did? Where?” Hemi asked.

“Inside the bar just now. Her name is Emberly and she was with a bridal party.”

“We saw them come in and leave a few minutes later,” Titus said. “They looked pissed.”

“They don’t like shifters,” Diesel said, lowering his voice.

“But your heart-match does?” Hemi asked, arching an eyebrow.

“She does, and she stayed behind because she said she felt like she needed to. I wonder if she felt me? If there was some part of her that recognizes what I am to her?”

“Well, that’s great. Congratulations,” Titus said, clapping Diesel on the shoulder. “I bet you raced out here to ask for the night off.”

“Damn right.”

Titus pulled his phone from his back pocket. “When are you on again?”

“Tuesday.”

“So that gives you a couple days to be with her. If I could give you a bit of advice?”

---