Finding Cameo : Zodiac Shifters--Aquarius Read online

  “One more thing,” Creighton interjected. “She told me wife she had another dream last night about three goons beheading three sheep with machetes. There were two small stone humpbacked bridges in the background over two small streams that eventually became one.”

  Angus Matheson jumped from his seat. “That sounds like me place.”

  Bowie pulled a chair over. “Now we talk and plan. Nae gang will get ahead of the shifters of Matheville and her surrounding areas. This is our land.”

  Sheets and pillowcases were in the dryer. Two new blankets washed as Cameo put away her clothes. She’d checked out of Matheson Lodge after picking up some essentials at Jillian’s and kitten items at Fin and Claw. When she passed a market, she zipped in and did some grocery shopping. Having her own parking space near the front door was great when she had a lot of trips to make.

  She’d just finished putting the pink floral sheets on the bed when someone knocked on the door. Who could that be? She hurried through the apartment and peeked through the peephole and saw pink. Effie.

  “Welcome! You’re my first official visitor.” She held the door open for the pink dynamo who marched in wearing her pink baffies, hugging a thick old book to her, and carrying a cat carrier and a plastic bag.

  “I wanted to get here earlier, but KeeKee wanted to know more about you and we read some things in this ancient volume of protection spells.” She set the carrier on the sofa. Two commanding meows sounded.

  She placed the bag on the desk and tapped it. “I bought you a doorbell. There’s one outside for the upstairs tenant, but you’ll need one. I had a key to get in the main door, but visitors will need to really pound to get your attention. It’ll be easy to install. Just a couple of screws. No need for wiring. I’m sure the hunk upstairs would be glad to put it up for you. He probably has a screwdriver. Effie elbowed her. “In more ways than one. Oh, Darlin’, I think all that hanging under the kilts makes things bigger.” She snorted with laughter.

  “Now, for the introductions. Sit next to the box. I’ll open it.”

  Cameo listened and waited. A black kitten with white ears, nose, and front paws hopped out, landing lightly on her jeans. Eyes the color of moss regarded her. “Aren’t you beautiful?” She automatically petted the ball of fluff before she glanced at a beaming Effie. “I’ve never seen a cat with such gorgeous eyes, like moss velvet.”

  KeeKee bumped her head against Cameo’s chin and began a sniffing process.

  “I’ve told her from time-to-time you have scary dreams as a way of helping others. She found that to be very honorable.” Effie opened the big volume on her lap before she set the carrier on the floor. “I have some things to show you, but first you must know I’m the witch of a coven called ‘The Protectors.’ We’re assigned to take care of those too ill, too young, or too burdened to take care of themselves. We’re like Wiccan guardian angels, you see.

  “First, carry KeeKee to her liter box so she knows where it’s at and scratch her front paws in it. Then set her in front of her bowls of water and feed. When you two come back, I’m going to read you some things from this book that’s centuries old. It’ll help bond you two together.”

  Cameo tried her best not to look at Effie as if she were a pair of drum sticks shy of a full drum set. Since her instructions regarding the cat made sense, she carried her new pet through the apartment to show her things that were hers.

  “While you do that, I’m going out to the car for a painting KeeKee insisted I bring. I’ll help you hang it.”

  She cuddled her new kitten as she walked to the bathroom. “And what kind of painting did you decide you wanted here?” KeeKee looked at her and purred. “It better not be of a bunch of mice.”

  The painting was better than she’d expected. It was in a large black frame and the subject matter was a sunroom with hanging ferns and blooming plants with palms in the corners. There was wicker furniture and stretched out on a glass table was a large black cat. “This is beautiful, Effie.”

  “Have you met Kenzie Matheson at the lodge?”

  “Yes. She’s very nice. A little shy.”

  “She painted this when she was staying with me. She’s a protector, too. The cat is KeeKee’s momma. She wants a picture of her here so she doesn’t get so homesick. I thought maybe we could hang it above the fireplace. I’ve never been a fan of the painting Earnan has there.

  Cameo grinned at Effie. “I say we do it.”

  “Good,” Effie whispered. “KeeKee has to see you make the switch as your way of welcoming her. There’s a foldable stool next to the refrigerator.”

  For heaven’s sake.

  Once she took down the painting of eighteenth century ships, she hung the pretty one with hanging plants and flowers with KeeKee’s momma staring out at them. Cameo stepped off the stepstool and absorbed the painting’s brightening effect on the room. “It’s so perfect.”

  KeeKee rubbed against her leg before curling into the thick cushion of the wicker cat bed Cameo had placed on the corner of the hearth. She gave her new pet a catnip mouse and the kitty licked her hand almost in gratitude.

  Effie leaned Earnan’s painting against the front door. “She seems to have settled in quite nicely. I’ll read the protection charm and the binding ceremony to you both and then I’ll be off.” She leaned toward Cameo and chuckled. “I’ll have just enough time to put on my naughty nurse’s outfit and give Stud Muffin a complete going over when he gets home. I bought a new lace thong to wear since there’s no back to the skirt. The last pair I had he tore off in a fit of passion.”

  Sweet Lord, take away that visual.

  Cameo glanced at the cat. Even KeeKee had her eyes squinted as if to block out the image.

  After Effie steamed off on a puff of estrogen powered plans, Cameo took the blankets out of the dryer and finished making the bed. Well, as good as one could with a kitten jumping under the covers to play.

  Someone knocked at her door. She figured Effie would be rushing to her bedroom by now to change outfits. Did she have another old chant to sing over her? When she peered out the peephole, brown eyes and a broad forehead with brown hair swept back returned the stare. “Cameo, it’s Bowie.”

  How did he get in the outside door? He’d need a key. A sick feeling knocked at her stomach. She unlocked her door and glared. “Don’t tell me you’re my upstairs neighbor.”

  He leaned a broad shoulder against the doorframe and ducked his head as he grinned. “Okay. I willna tell ye.”

  A large tan Boxer with a white chest stood next to his owner’s leg. She pointed. “Don’t even try to tell me this is Tiny. What does he weigh? Seventy-five pounds?” Her mind flipped back through all the conversations regarding the confirmed bachelor who lived upstairs. Not once was his name or his job mentioned. Damn, she’d been had.

  “Closer to eighty. Say ‘hello’, Tiny. She’s a friend.” The big canine took one step into her living room and licked her hand. KeeKee charged for the dog, hissing and growling. She jumped onto his back, claws dug in, and rode the scared, yelping wild-eyed dog up the steps.

  Her dipshit neighbor slid down the doorway laughing in hysterics. His kelt rose to reveal some finely muscled thighs. Cameo cuffed him in the back of the head. “Your dog better not eat my poor kitty.” She ran up the stairway to save her cat. The huge Boxer was spinning on the upstairs landing, trying to dislodge KeeKee. He bumped into Cameo, knocking her off balance and she tumbled down the steps.

  Arms of steely muscle caught her, drawing her near his chest for protection. “Cammy, are ye alright? I only stopped by to welcome ye to the building and ask ye about this morning when the man grabbed ye. I also wanted ta ask about the dream with the sheep. I had nae idea yer kitten would create mayhem with me gentle dog.” He jerked his chin up the steps where yelping and hissing were still going on.

  She turned in his arms. “How did you hear about the tattooed guy? Oh, Earnan must have mentioned it at the council meeting tonight.” Her fingers absently toy
ed with the silky ends of his hair. His whisky breath floated over her face. The man didn’t seem in any hurry to put her down.

  “Aren’t I getting heavy?”

  His face, sporting a late-day shadow, rubbed against her cheek. “Nae, ye feel fine right where ye are.”

  Her tummy fluttered at the deep intimacy of his voice. No doubt he used it on many women. “I think we need to separate KeeKee and Tiny before they harm each other. Then come into my living room. Our pets need to get used to each other, so bring your beast along but keep him near you.” She patted his shoulder and his lips brushed over her face. “You can place me down now and have Tiny put a leash on you. The last thing I want is a man in my life.”

  The corners to his lips twitched as he set her down. “Aye, ma’am.” Both hurried up the steps to retrieve their animals. Cameo petted KeeKee and told her what a good girl she’d been, protecting her from the big, bad dog. She and the kitty curled onto one of the leather chairs while she worked on calming her agitated pet.

  Bowie sat on the sofa and, after asking her permission, motioned for Tiny to sit beside him. The dog jammed his face between Bowie’s bicep and chest while the rest of his canine body trembled in fear. Every time he pulled his head away from his master, KeeKee growled, and he shoved his muzzle back where he’d had it and farted. Cameo chose to politely ignore the noxious fumes.

  The kitten lay across her shoulder where she could keep a watch over the unwanted intruder. Every time Tiny farted, the kitten sneezed and buckled as if she was working up a good hairball. KeeKee carried her own brand of puss sass.

  “They’ll get used to each other eventually. We just have to give them short spells in each other’s company.” Cameo hoped she was right. But could she get used to her upstairs neighbor? He tended to ooze sex appeal and she’d been on a testosterone diet for most of law school.

  Chapter 7

  Thank goodness his sporran helped hide Bowie’s raging hard-on. Cameo wasna wearing a bra under her sweatshirt. When he’d caught her mid-fall earlier, he fought sliding his hand under the material which was nae his nature. His bear was guiding his thoughts; he had ta struggle to keep him from steering his actions.

  Cameo leaned forward. “Are those drops of blood on Tiny’s back?” She stood and came closer. “Oh no, they are. I’ll get a wet paper towel and some antiseptic lotion. Poor big Tiny. I feel terrible.” The caring woman was back in a moment and washed off the blood. “Bowie, I’m sorry my kitten went apeshit on your dog. Poor Tiny,” she crooned and his dog licked her hand. She dabbed some ointment on the scratches. “I think he’ll be okay.”

  Bowie’s hand snaked out and grabbed her wrist. He couldna help but notice the satiny softness of her skin and wondered if she was smooth like that all over. Bear was doing the “Mate and Fook Dance” and Bowie needed to concentrate on his policeman’s duties before the wildcat, who’d scared the crap outta Tiny, had its claws in his neck, hissing and growling deep. He’d have a hard time explaining a bent and chewed badge on his uniform at work tomorrow.

  “Thank ye fer yer kindness. Now, tell me what happened this morning when ye came here to look at this place.”

  “I came here at eleven when we’d agreed to meet. There was an empty parking space in front of the house, but before I could nose my car into it, a bloody black motorcycle zoomed around me and took it.” She scooped KeeKee up and nuzzled her before she sat with the kitten on her lap.

  “Do ye recall the make?”

  “Honda. Black. Wide tires.” She closed her eyes for a minute. “First two numbers of his license plate were KL. He wore a black and orange helmet he hung on the handlebars before he jogged up the steps to the front door. It was the type of helmet that comes more to a point than the normal rounded style.”

  She had a good eye fer details. Probably her legal training or a photographic memory. The woman was very intelligent and Bowie liked that. “Earnan said the hoodlum touched ye.” Bowie was still pissed at the thought.

  “He scared me to death. He picked me up by the waist and said ‘It was good to see me again…that he recognized my car.’ Almost as if he’d known I’d dreamed about him. It was damn freaky. He even called me by name and we’d never met before. His face is one you could never forget. The only place I’ve ever seen him was in those dreams I told you about. Some…somehow he knew about the nightmare, Bowie, and he wanted me to know.”

  Bowie leaned forward, his forearms draping over his thighs. “Have you ever had that happen before?”

  She shook her head and cast worried eyes on him. “No. I’ve talked to people who’ve been in my dreams, warned them of whatever danger lay ahead like I did with you, but none have ever told me they knew they’d been in my dreams. What that guy said freaked me out so badly, I couldn’t stop shaking.”

  He opened his arms. “Come here, Cammy. Let me hold ye. Bring ye a wee measure of comfort.”

  She didna refuse as he’d expected which told him how scared she’d been earlier. Placing the kitten on the chair, she came to him and folded onto his lap. His arms went around her. Tiny scooted over. Cameo laid her head on his shoulder and slipped her arms beneath his and around his back. He held her close, inhaling her citrus scent, enjoying the feel of her softness, and allowing the protectiveness for this woman to seep through his soul.

  “I doona want ye to worry about yer safety. Ye’ll be at yer job during the days and I’ll be here to protect ye at nights. Tiny, too, if we can keep the cat from scaring the crap out o’ him.”

  “Wouldn’t that put a crimp in your free and easy flirtatious life?”

  “Nae. I read more than date. Although I just met a beautiful redhead I’d like to get to ken better. I canna seem to get her outta me mind.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I doona understand the magnetism of it, the strength of it…the suddenness. But I willna deny it.”

  She burrowed her face against his neck and he was lost.

  She’s our mate.

  Aye, bear, she’s ours.

  “What do you know about Effie? She’s a dear person, but she seems to think she’s a witch of some sort.” Cameo’s fingertips massaged his back while she spoke to him.

  “Och, but she is a witch. The good kind. Her heart’s as pure as gold, although she gives Earnan a run fer his money. But the man adores her.” Bowie removed the band from her ponytail and ran his fingers through her long tresses, loving the silky feel of her hair.

  “No one thinks it’s odd to have a witch in the community?” She pulled back and gazed at him. Feckin’ hell, he could sink into her eyes.

  “Nae. We have several.” He might as well get her used ta the idea. “We also have bear shifters. Several, in fact.” He watched her hair sift through his fingers and spoke absently. “Good Scots, men and women, who shift into bears when the need arises. Ta protect their loved ones or keep evil people away. They are two halves of one entity—the human and the bear.” He gazed into her deep blue eyes to gauge her reaction.

  She didna believe him. “You’re kidding me. People can’t shift into animals or vice-versa except in books or movies. But you’re talking about real life, aren’t you.”

  “Aye, Cammy, I am.” He kept his focus on her eyes, willing her to believe him. “Is it so different from what happens ta ye? Ye have dreams that often come true.”

  “That’s so totally poles apart. I don’t change into a different species. If you’re being honest, how do you tell who the shifters are?”

  “By their huge size, brown eyes that glow golden when they get angry, and their last name because they are all related in one way or another. The shifters ken each other because of meetings and family get-togethers. Those who aren’t shifters have nae clue they exist. We all get along just fine. Shifters and non-shifters, alike.”

  “How do you know about them? Because you’re a policeman?” Her eyes narrowed and she studied him. “I’ve wondered why Matheson is such a prevalent name here in Matheville. I’ve noticed large men, lik
e you and Creighton and Kendric. Wondered what in the world your parents fed you as you were growing up.” She slowly slid off his lap and gaped at him. “You’re one of them, aren’t you? Is that why you don’t have a girlfriend? Because there aren’t enough female shifters to go around?” Her hands propped on her hips.

  “Nae. We typically mate with humans. Our bear halves choose the humans fer us ta marry.” At her shocked expression, he quickly explained. “There’s nae bestiality involved. The bear half picks for the human half and needles him until he goes after the chosen mate.”

  She started to pace. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. So, your bear hasn’t found a mate for you yet?”

  “Och, he has actually. Yesterday morning when ye stormed into police headquarters full of piss and vinegar.”

  Her eyes widened and her mouth opened and closed a few times before she pointed to the door. “Out! Get the hell out! That was all some made up story just to get me into bed, well it won’t work. You just keep your kilted ass upstairs where it belongs. Stay away from me!”

  He’d never had a woman speak to him in such a manner and his temper rose. “Now just a bloody minute. Ye canna yell at me like that!”

  “Well, go upstairs and give your ears a good cleaning because I just did.” She held the door open and pointed ta the stairway. Both he and Tiny gathered their pride and dragged it and their balls up the steps to their apartment.

  They both jumped when her door slammed shut.

  Aye, I picked ye a fine spitfire.

  Shut the fook up!

  Cameo locked both of her locks and whirled on KeeKee. “Can you believe the story that horny bastard just tried to hand me?” She turned out the lights in the living room and headed for the laundry to remove her new towels and washcloths from the dryer. KeeKee stood on her hind legs and peered in the warm appliance.

  “As if I’d go to bed with him after his bear shifter claim that I’d been chosen by his bear half as his mate. As if a bear was hiding inside him somewhere.” She started to fold her purple and lavender towels. “I mean, what does he do? Zip open his man suit and step out as a bear? And what was I doing as he was telling me this whopper of a lie? I was snuggled against him like a female simpleton.” She growled deep in her throat. “You were right to scratch his dog’s back. I’d like to scratch Bowie’s backside.” She waved an open hand in the middle of her tirade. “And not like that, either.”