Shifting the Night Away (6 page)

Peter instinctively raced around the gate opening and gently reached through the cluster of children who’d circled to help their teacher.
 
Mia was now laughing too hard to stand.
 
She was surprised to see a large hand separating the crowd and quickly grabbed hold, assuming another teacher had come to the rescue.
 
She fell silent when she saw who the strong grip belonged to.
 
When did we hire this hottie?
 
She didn’t recognize the dark eyes and chiseled chin.

"What grade do you teach?" she asked.

"No, I’m not a teacher.
 
I just saw you go down.
 
Are you hurt?"

She shook her head and blushed a little.
 
"How embarrassing."

"There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.
 
You were this close to making that basket," he said as he pinched his fingers together.
 
"Well … it may have been more like this close."
 
He opened his arms as wide as he could.
 
"But you get an A-plus for effort."

"We give gold stars here," she said with a flirty grin.

His eyes scanned her face, taking in her hazel eyes and full lips.
 
"You can have all my stars," he said quietly.

"Oooooh they like each other!"
 
The sound of the children startled them both.
 
They forgot they were surrounded by spying eyes.

"Oh shush.
 
The man is just being polite," she said.

"Then why are you still holding hands?"

They both looked down and laughed before quickly releasing their grip.
 
Peter started to speak when the bell clanged loudly to signal the end of recess.

"Thanks for the lift," she said as she smiled and slowly turned away.
 
"Look class, the circus is in town.
 
There are the elephants!"
 
She pointed to the right, causing all the little heads to zip around.
 
As soon as they were distracted, she made a break for the school steps shouting, "Last one’s a rotten egg!"

"She got us again!"
 
Their little legs gave chase as they laughed their way into the building.

When the doors closed behind them, the block became unusually quiet as if all the street noise had also followed the girl in yellow.
 
Peter smacked his head and mumbled, "I didn’t get her name.
 
Idiot."
 
As he turned to leave the playground, he nearly stepped on the yellow cardigan she’d removed before her last failed attempt.
 
He quickly picked it up and rolled it in a ball, trying his hardest not to smell the fabric like a crazy stalker.
 
His willpower only lasted a few blocks before he ducked into an alleyway and held it up to his face.
 
He felt his pupils dilate when the scent entered his nostrils.
 
Her pheromones were perfect.
 
The bulge growing in his pants confirmed it.
 
Now all he had to do was return the cardigan … and make her like him.
 
Peter was used to getting what he wanted.
 
How hard could it be?

He rushed back to the office and summoned Charles, his cousin/chauffeur/bodyguard/best friend.
 
"Smell this," he said as he held out the yellow fabric.

Charles hesitated.
 
"Is this a trick?"

"Yes, the buttons are going to attack you.
 
Seriously, just smell it."

He leaned in and inhaled deeply.
 
"Nice.
 
Fresh.
 
Healthy.
 
Who is she?"

"She’s the one.
 
She just doesn’t know it yet … and I don’t know her name."

"And you need me to find out?"

"Exactly."

"Tell me what you know," Charles said as he took a small notebook out of his back pocket.

"Teacher at Westwood Charter School, the kids call her Miss C, and she’s terrible at basketball."

"I’m sorry, but that’s a deal breaker," he joked.
 
"I’m surprised she didn’t just roll over and rip off her panties like the others.
 
You must be losing your mojo."

"Alphas don’t lose their mojo," Peter said with a smirk.
 
"This one’s different.
 
She gave the impression that she was attracted to me, but it was all about the kids for her."

"Teaching is a noble profession.
 
Actually, I’m glad she has any profession considering the spoiled brats you’ve had in your bed."
 
Charles stood up and faked a sad expression.
 
"It’s not you, it’s me."

Peter grabbed an eraser from his desk and threw it at him.
 
"I won’t have to say that ever again if you go out and do your job."

"I’m on it," he said with a salute.
 
"Go back to sniffing your magic sweater."

"With pleasure."
 
Peter waved goodbye and spun his chair around, gently swiveling back and forth as he stared at the park below.
 
"Miss C … Miss C."
 
He thought of her clumsy dribble and the kids laughing and felt a smile spreading across his face.
 
Then his thoughts moved to the cheery voice escaping from her full lips, the strong legs peeking out from under the yellow dress, and the red polish shining on her toes.
 
He felt his pants tightening again from the pull of his growing bulge.
 
"Control yourself," he said in the direction of his crotch.

The knock at the door startled him.
 
He quickly flipped around and tucked his chair under the desk to conceal his lower half.
 
"It’s unlocked."

Daphne opened the door a few inches and partially pressed her face through.
 
"I think I got it right this time."
 
He motioned with his hand for her to enter.
 
"Gramercy Models has a division for curvy girls.
 
I think you’ll be pleased," she said as she placed a stack of photos on his desk.
 

He spread them out and studied the images.
 
"They’re perfect!
 
Glowing skin, bright smiles, gorgeous figures … they are Curves and Lace."

"Who will be the diamond girl?"

"What do you mean?"

"In the Victoria’s Secret fashion show they always have one special girl in the million-dollar bra made of diamonds."

He clasped his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling.
 
"I think I’ve already found my diamond girl."
 
Daphne leaned in to stack the photos when he stopped her.
 
"You can leave those.
 
Go out and have some fun tonight."

"Yes, sir," she said as she turned to leave.

"Peter.
 
Please, call me Peter.
 
Nice work," he said as he waved his hand over the photos.

"Thank you, si – I mean Peter."

He was happy Daphne had come through.
 
Maybe there was hope for her after all.
 
He looked at each model carefully and mentally assigned outfits to highlight their best features.
 
White lace for her and pink for this one.
 
Wow!
 
The black teddy would look amazing on her hips.
 
The ringing phone broke his concentration.

"Who’s your favorite cousin?" Charles asked on the other line.

"Hmmm … Toby, Diane, and Josh is up there too."

"Very funny.
 
I guess you can call them about Miss C."

"That fast?
 
You just moved to the front in my will.
 
Now spill it."

"After a search on the school’s website, which you could have done yourself, I’m pretty sure you met the lovely Mia Carter and not Avis Campbell who, while also lovely, is probably nearing sixty.
 
Further Google snooping shows she lives at 85th and Columbus, not one of your buildings, and she appears to be single."

"Hallelujah!"

"I thought you’d like that last part.
 
Her Facebook status mentions working with Sandwich Samaritans to deliver food to the homeless in Central Park tonight.
 
Feel like going on a little reconnaissance mission?"

"Do you really need to ask?
 
Can we go now?"

"Have patience, Peter.
 
You know it’s not dark enough yet."

"You’re right.
 
So … bring the car around in fifteen minutes."

He abruptly hung up, frustrating Charles as he always did.
 
But an Alpha does what an Alpha wants to do and his faithful cousin must dutifully fulfill his role in the pack, especially considering he was the pack, the local one anyway.
 
Modern comforts had changed the focus for the Arctic tribe with battles being fought through lawyers instead of fangs.
 
Charles was grateful to Peter for providing such a comfortable life for all of them and enjoyed his role as full-time sidekick.
 
If he needs his help stalking a teacher as she innocently feeds the homeless, he’s in with all four paws.
 
He’s never seen Peter so excited over a woman, so he was hoping and praying this would all end well.

Chapter Two

They drove the town car near Summit Rock in Central Park and surveyed the area.
 
Charles pointed out the window.
 
"Nice foliage beyond the hill.
 
We can hide over there after they set up."

"Where is she?" Peter asked, nervously rubbing his hands along his slacks.

"Geez, you’re like a kid.
 
Should I take you for an ice cream to kill time, you pain in the ass?
 
We’re an hour early.
 
It was your idea to race over here."

"I know, I know.
 
Just circle for a bit.
 
Please."

"I’ve never seen you like this.
 
It’s—"

"Pathetic."

Charles laughed and shook his head.
 
"Refreshing.
 
You’re smitten and downright goofy.
 
It’s nice to see you excited about something that’s not business related."
 
He cleared his throat and continued, "I know you’ve had a lot of pressure on your shoulders trying to carry all of us.
 
You are appreciated more than you’ll ever know."

"Thanks for saying that.
 
I don’t do it alone, though.
 
We’re a good team," he said as he punched Charles lightly in the arm.
 
"How much time have we killed so far?"

"Oh, about five whole minutes.
 
Why don’t you stick your head out the window and let the wind hit your face?
 
Our kind seems to enjoy that very much."

Peter laughed at first and then got quiet.
 
"I’ve never had to tell anyone about our kind.
 
How do you think she’ll take it?"

"Let’s just make sure she likes you first.
 
One step at a time."

"You don’t think she’ll like me?"

Charles pulled the car over with a screech.
 
"When did you turn into such a pussy?"

"What?"

He raised his voice a few octaves and batted his lashes.
 
"Will she like me?
 
Where is she?
 
How much time has passed?"
 
He continued in his normal tone, "Yes, you are turning into a pussy.
 
You’re an Alpha.
 
Act like it!"

Peter stared at him with a furrowed brow.
 
"I don’t know what’s come over me."

"I do.
 
It’s that fucking sweater!
 
Her pheromones have you by the balls."

"I’m returning it tomorrow."