Big Flight Read Free

tomorrow.
    Spike paused. “Are you ready to jump in today?”
    “I think one more day of observation to get used to the rhythm might be nice.”
    “Nice nails.”
    Molly grinned. “Thank you.”
    “Well, I think you might have to reassess your solitary plans. That guy who just came in is eyeing you.”
    Surprised, Molly looked over at the newcomer who was indeed focussing on her. “He looks familiar.”
    Spike was casually wiping the counter. “Oh? Maybe an old flame?”
    She blinked and swallowed. “I just remembered where I saw him. This isn’t going to be good.”
    She had never imagined that her family would send their councillor after her. How had they gotten him to agree to retrieve her? There wasn’t a legitimate reason by any stretch of the imagination.
    She sipped cautiously at her drink while he made his way through the clump of females. To her amusement, he jumped a few times as the women got a little grabby.
    Spike tapped her hand. “They seem to have distracted him, so if you wanted to make your strategic retreat, this might be a good time.”
    Molly knew a good idea when she heard one. She left her drink and slipped off the stool, heading for the door. It was time for a meal anyway. That drink had gone straight to her head.
    With one glance back at the grope-a-thon going on in the centre of the bar, she slipped out into the sunset and down to the café. She couldn’t dodge him forever, but tonight was a good start.
     

Chapter Three
     
     
    Damon looked around and grimaced. She was gone. Platinum hair and eyes so blue they were almost violet. He had felt her gaze on him and been stunned into returning the stare.
    He pried the hands off his body and pushed through the crowd of women gathered around him. He was not sure if it was the striking features that his parents had passed to him or the power, but these women were taking measurements of his body that would have made his doctor blush.
    “Ladies, please! I just arrived. I am sure that it will be easier to get to know you one by one.” He squeezed through the crowd, wincing at the grip one of the women had on his ass. He pried her hand away and moved to the bar.
    The woman tending bar moved over to him and asked him, “What can I get for you?”
    “Do you know where that woman went?”
    The bartender winked, “Which woman? You seem to have your pick.”
    “The woman you were speaking to when I came in. She had pale blonde hair, violet eyes, and she bit her lip twice while you were speaking.”
    “Oh, she left.”
    The bartender moved down to get drinks for some of the new arrivals, and when she returned, she said, “Now, what can I get you?”
    “A beer. Whatever is closest to you.”
    She nodded and pulled him an amber ale.
    He waited until the rush faded and finally the bartender drifted back toward him. She was wearing a silver band that marked her as a married inhabitant of the Crossroads.
    He had put aside his search for the Wexler woman for the search for the woman with violet eyes. She looked familiar but he couldn’t place her name.
    The bartender grinned. “You haven’t moved. I thought you would have been wading through your admirers.”
    “I am not interested in the women who chase me.” He grimaced. “I am never sure of their motivations.”
    “That was frank.”
    “Something tells me that if I hide something from you, it will come to bite me in the ass at a later time.”
    The woman put glasses away with a smile. “You obviously wouldn’t be surprised at how often I am called on to give advice on which men are keepers and which are not quite right. I am Spike, by the way.”
    “Damon. Pleased to meet you.” He shook her hand. She was fine-boned and there was the prickle of power when he touched her hand.
    The notice he had gotten in his email suddenly made sense. “You are a recent permanent addition here.”
    She nodded. “Yup. And you are on the Shifter Council.”
    He jolted. “How did you know that?”
    “A