Summer Surrender (Phases Series, Book Six) Read Free

they’d both been interested in the same woman, but they’d shared before, he was pretty sure they’d do it again. He just hoped Hollis would be game. He was dying to lose himself in the soft warmth of her body.
    He took a step forward and locked eyes with Dylan. “I know you’ve got our best interests in mind, but she’s not a threat.”
    Dylan scowled at him. “And you know this from one short meeting with her?”
    Josiah couldn’t deny that in most any other circumstances, Dylan would have a point, but not this time. He was sure of it. Another thought occurred to him. “How do you even know about her anyway?”
    “Small town,” Dylan muttered. His glare softened slightly. “Just be careful.” He closed his eyes and let the change take him. Smooth skin and tightly corded muscle replaced fur and claws in a matter of seconds, and he disappeared into the night.
    Even though Josiah had the same ability, seeing the shift from human to animal never failed to amaze him. And that was the real problem. If an untrustworthy or terrified human were to witness it, his and Daniel’s lives as they knew them would be over. And if unscrupulous scientists or biologists ever got their hands on a shifter, his or her life might even be forfeit.
    But he couldn’t believe all people would respond the way Dylan’s lover had. For instance, Maggie didn’t seem to have a problem with Lucas and Quinn. Josiah couldn’t believe she didn’t know. It was impossible to be intimate with someone for that long without realizing something was up.
    Daniel sighed and pulled on his jeans. Josiah followed suit staring in the direction Dylan had disappeared. “He’s just Moody McMoodSwing, tonight, isn’t he?”
    Daniel snorted. “And this would be different than any other night?”
    “Point taken.” He paused to tug his shirt over his head. “You know, if anyone needs to get laid, it’s him.”
    “No kidding.” The other man tossed Josiah a bottle of beer. “I don’t see it happening any time soon. It’s like he blames himself for what happened to Kelsey, and is determined to punish himself forever.”
    Josiah sighed. Daniel was probably right, but no one could have predicted what had happened. No one could have imagined that Kelsey wouldn’t stop to listen to Dylan. That she would have been so freaked out and driving so recklessly that her car had ended up in the river. But no amount of disbelief could change what had happened or how it affected him now.
    Daniel didn’t talk about it much, but Josiah knew it ate him up inside. He’d been the one pressuring Dylan to come clean to her about their true nature. Josiah had only met Kelsey a few times while he and Daniel were in graduate school, but he’d liked her. She was a sweetheart. The whole thing was just such a fucking waste.
    * * * *
    Hollis sat at her desk while the students turned in their assignments and filed out of the room eager to start the weekend.
    “Don’t forget,” she called out, “we’re doing fieldwork on Monday. Make sure to wear appropriate clothes. No sandals, please.”
    It had only been a week, but her class was doing beautifully. It was amazing since she’d only had three days of actual prep work. The regular science teacher hadn’t left much in the way of a lesson plan, but Hollis had reviewed the district’s curriculum and managed to come up with a ten-week plan that would cover the most important course work.
    Granted, the fact that there were only nine kids made the teaching a little easier, but most of the students seemed engaged and were working hard. With any luck, they’d all pass and be able to move to the next grade level with the rest of their classmates.
    Hollis was doing well, too. She’d thought she might have a hard time adjusting to rural life, but the only thing she really missed was Starbucks. Between spending time with Maggie and hanging out with Daniel, Josiah and some of the other teachers, she didn’t lack for company.