The Shifter Romances The Writer (Nocturne Falls Book 6) (17 page)

“Birdie, it’s Alex. I need your help. Actually, Roxy St. James needs your help. But this is strictly confidential. One word of this gets out, and she’ll move out of this town so fast—”

“I won’t say a word. Butter my biscuit and slap my face, I swear it. Whatever can I do?”

“She thinks her ex-husband might be in town. I need to know if he is.”

“That bugger. How dare he?” Birdie growled softly, her werewolf self clearly aggravated, and Alex knew he’d gone to the right person. “You just give me everything you know. I’ll track that lowlife down.”

“Sure thing. Then I need to talk to whoever’s on duty.”

“Jenna’s here.”

“She’ll do nicely. This is what I know about Roxy’s ex…”

Ten minutes later, Alex hung up. Birdie was looking for Thomas and Jenna Blythe had promised to email whatever she found out about the man.

Satisfied that he’d have everything he needed shortly, he took a hot shower and then planned on getting enough sleep to make Roxy happy. Then he’d do a little investigating of his own. If Thomas was watching Roxy’s place, he couldn’t be too far away, and this was Alex’s neighborhood. People would talk to him.

Hmm. Pandora Williams might be a good one to touch base with. She was the number one realtor in town and lived just a few blocks away. She was out and about a lot. She might have seen something. Or even had someone inquire about houses for rent in the area. Roxy’s ex had to be staying somewhere.

Alex’s brain kept running scenarios and processing possibilities as he changed into sleep pants. Then Diego called out his name from the hall.

“Yo, Alex, you still up, man?”

“Yes,” Alex called back. He went to see what his brother wanted. Diego stood in the door of his bedroom, dressed in tan pants and a Howler’s black polo. A packed duffel bag sat at his feet. “What’s going on?”

Diego grinned. “You’re getting your wish, bro. I’m moving out.”

Alex frowned. “Already? How much money did you make last night?”

“Bank. That place is a cash machine, dude.”

Alex shook his head, his focus on Roxy clouding his thought process. “So…you made enough to move out and you already found a place?”

Diego shrugged. “Yeah, something like that. I’m moving in with Shanna.”

Alex’s mouth fell open. “Shanna? The twenty-year-old server that works at Howler’s?”

Diego rolled his eyes. “She’s twenty-three.”

Better than twenty, but not by much. “And you’re thirty.”

“So? Don’t get all weird. It’s cool. We’re both adults.”

Yeah. They were. And Alex had bigger fish to fry. He nodded. “You’re right, you are. I hope it works out.”

Diego looked skeptical. “I’m sure.”

“No, I mean it. Everyone deserves to be happy.”

Diego’s expression softened. “Thanks, bro.”

Alex jerked his chin toward the kitchen. “Your seventy-five bucks is in the jar on top of the fridge. I’m going to bed.”

“You haven’t slept yet?”

“No. Roxy’s having some issues with her ex.”

Diego’s eyes narrowed with concern. “Sorry to hear that. You need me for anything, you let me know.”

Alex nodded. “Thanks, I will, but I’m sure it’s not going to be a big deal.”

“All right. I’ll leave my new address on the kitchen counter. And you can keep the seventy-five dollars. I owe you more than that anyway. Now get some sleep, dude, you look like hell.”

“Thanks.” Alex gave him a wave and went in to bed. He crashed onto it, exhaling in exhaustion as he sank into the mattress. But even as sleep tugged at him, his mind stayed focused on Roxy.

The thought that her ex might be up to something had ignited an urge to protect her unlike anything he’d felt before in his life.

Unless you counted the way he felt toward his family.

If Thomas touched a hair on her body, Alex was going to put him in a world of hurt. The kind that left a lasting impression and made sure the idiot never attempted anything against her again. Alex might be an officer of the law, but he was a shifter first. And his kind had their own laws when it came to protecting those they loved.

Love. Was that what he was feeling? He let the word roll around in his brain as he turned onto his back to stare at the ceiling. His eyes began drifting closed and he stopped fighting it, the last thought on his mind that while Roxy might not believe in soul mates, he did. In fact, he was starting to believe in them more than ever.

“Ooo.” Roxy let out a moan that she was powerless to stop.

Delaney snorted. “You sound like you’re having a very different massage than I am.”

Imari, Roxy’s masseuse, laughed softly. “They are both the same, I promise.”

“I don’t know,” Roxy said. “This is pretty good.”

Sandrine, Delaney’s masseuse, chimed in. “They aren’t
exactly
the same. After all, Delaney is pregnant.”

“True,” Imari answered, digging in deeper on Roxy’s shoulders.

Imari’s renewed efforts caused Roxy to sigh some more. As best she could anyway with her face plastered into the padded doughnut that stuck out at the end of the massage table. “Forget pretty good, this is heaven.”

Delaney was on the table next to her since they’d opted for the Besties Package, which was kind of like a couple’s day at the spa, but without romantic overtones. Just a few special provisions for Delaney’s growing baby bump. “Why do you think I’ve been trying to get you here?”

“I was a fool not to listen to you sooner.”

Imari moved on to Roxy’s lower back. “You should come any time you need it.”

“Agreed,” Roxy answered. She really ought to make this a more regular thing.

Delaney spoke again. “Why did you decide to finally do it anyway? And with such short notice?”

“Um…” Roxy hadn’t had a chance to explain yet. When they’d arrived at the spa, they’d been whisked off to a changing area, given robes, cups of specially blended relaxation tea, and then ushered into the massage room for “meditation time,” which was basically listening to pan flute music and whale sounds while not talking. Which, as it turned out, was surprisingly relaxing.

Roxy exhaled another deep sigh as Imari began running her forearm over Roxy’s back in big, sweeping motions. “Let’s just say Alex talked me into it. I’ll explain more later.” Like when they weren’t naked and being rubbed into jelly. Besides that, Roxy liked Imari and Sandrine, and it felt weird talking like they weren’t there.

And just in case they were the chatty type, Roxy didn’t want to risk having her business spread all over town any more than it already had been.

Delaney moaned something back that sounded like she understood.

Then they both went quiet and boneless under the hands of the very capable professionals working on them. Roxy decided about halfway through that getting a massage every couple of months had just become mandatory. Sooner if she could swing it.

Sixty minutes later, she and Delaney were left alone to recover enough to get off the tables and then be escorted to the next room for facials. Roxy wasn’t making a lot of progress getting upright until she heard movement. If Delaney could do it, so could she. Digging deep, she found a thread of consciousness and pulled herself upright, wrapping the sheet around her as she did.

Next to her, Delaney made a noise like an old man trying to hoist himself out of a recliner, which made Roxy laugh. She looked over her shoulder. Delaney had a serious case of bed head and a nice oily sheen from the massage lotion, but her eyes were heavy-lidded with bliss.

Roxy’s brows lifted. “If I look anything like you do, we’re both a hot mess.”

Delaney grinned. “Do I look like I just had a wild night in the sack?”

“A wild night in the sack that was preceded by oil wrestling.”

“That’s the sign of a good massage.” She slid off the table and tucked her sheet in like a long, strapless dress. “Ready for part two?”

Roxy nodded. “Totally.”

“How are you feeling, stress-wise?”

“Stress? What stress? I don’t even know what that word means right now.”

Delaney nodded with great satisfaction. “Excellent. Also, told ya.”

They shrugged their robes on, then dropped the sheets.

Delaney put her hand on the door handle, but didn’t open it. A serious light shone in her eyes. “Have you had any more hallucinations lately?”

Roxy shook her head. “Nothing. I think it was definitely stress.”

“That’s good. That’s really good.” Delaney smiled. “Hey, you should be able to write today off, then.”

Roxy laughed. “Yeah, I don’t think my accountant will go for that.”

Delaney opened the door. “Doesn’t hurt to try.”

The facials were followed by pedicures, and then the whole thing was finished up with a half-hour guided relaxation, during which Roxy drifted off into the most luxurious catnap she’d ever had. By the end of the day, she was cocooned in a warm, happy glow.

At the front desk, she and Delaney were handed complimentary bottles of “energizing water” as they were checked out by Imari and Sandrine.

Roxy held hers up. “I’m not sure I want to drink this. I’m pretty happy just the way I am. I don’t want to ruin this mellow feeling.”

Imari shook her head. “You need to drink a lot of water after a massage. That bottle will get you started. It’s got a lot of good minerals in it. Right from the springs here in the hills. Some of the best water around.”

“Really?” Roxy looked at Delaney. “Why didn’t you tell me? You know I love good water.”

Delaney leaned her hip against the counter as she handed over a black American Express card. “Why do you think we sell it all over town?”

Roxy shrugged shoulders that felt like happy mush. “I just thought it was a tourist thing.”

“Nope. We all drink it.” As if to prove her point, Delaney twisted the top off hers and took a big drink.

“Got it. Lots of water. Starting with this one.” Roxy collected her receipt, then she and Delaney walked out together.

They stopped under the awning. They’d been in the spa for almost four hours, and during that time, the sky had gone gray. A light drizzle fell.

“Perfect writing day,” Roxy said.

Delaney stretched. “I’m so glad I don’t have to go back to the shop today. I love it, but the way I feel, I just want to go home, snuggle up with my husband and continue to pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist.”

“That sounds lovely.” It did. But it also made Roxy the tiniest bit melancholy. She had no one to snuggle with. Maybe she should get a dog. Or a cat.

Or an Alex.

She shook her head at her own thoughts.

“What?” Delaney asked.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“No, but you shook your head.”

“Just…” No reason not to be truthful. “Just thinking about Alex.”

Delaney’s eyes lit up.

Roxy raised her hand. “No. Don’t even go there.”

Delaney pressed her lips firmly together, but couldn’t keep herself from smiling. “Whatever you say.”

“Good. Because I say I’m not ready. I’m not even officially divorced yet.”

“Rox, I gotta tell you. The more you say that, the more it sounds like an excuse. You’ve been separated from Thomas for almost a year and a half. No one considers you married to him anymore. I think you’re scared.”

Roxy opened her mouth to protest, but Delaney didn’t give her a chance. “And you know what? It’s okay to be scared. Who wouldn’t be after what you went through? But don’t let fear ruin the possibility of what might be. You know what I mean? Alex is not Thomas. He’s a great guy. You couldn’t ask for better. Just…don’t shut him out entirely. I think seeing what could happen with a guy like him, a guy so opposite of Thomas, could be really good for you.”

Roxy nodded. “I get it. I do. And I am afraid. But I’m also just not ready.”

Delaney smiled, but there was disappointment in her eyes. “You know I just want you to be happy.”

“I know.” Roxy hugged her friend. “Tell Hugh I said hi.”

“Tell him yourself.” Delaney tipped her head at the sleek Jaguar that pulled up. “He’s here.”