Belle and Jaeger: The Belle Series, #2

By Tressie Lockwood

Previously published.

Sam Belle knew what he was, a snowy owl shifter. He rejected that side of himself along with his people because of their violence and their arrogance. As far as he was concerned, he lived as a human and only gave in to the call to shift once a year. The one problem Sam had with his choices was that there was no one to share his physical needs, no woman who could handle him sexually.

Then Tondi Jaeger walked into Sam’s coffee shop, and everything changed. Tondi was like him, a shifter, but she was also running from something. A sophisticated city woman shouldn’t have a reason to hide out in a small town, but Sam didn’t care what brought her. All he knew was that Tondi was his mate, and he would do what he had to, to protect her—and to keep her forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tressie Lockwood
• Release date: Jul 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9781516364534

Book preview

The Belle Series reading order

Belle and Valentine

Belle and Jaeger

Belle and Raine

Chapter One

Sam rinsed suds from his hands and snagged a towel to dry them. He tossed the towel over his shoulder as he turned from the sink and moved to help the next customer. The familiar scent of coffee beans, vanilla, and cinnamon filled the air, but now other aromas mingled as well, like whatever special he had selected for the menu. The coffee shop had expanded more than he could have imagined when he’d signed the lease on the new building. Although he spent every waking hour there, busy until well after closing, he wouldn’t trade it for anything. This was the life he was meant to have. Now if he could find a woman who didn’t cling too tightly to him or that he was in no danger of falling for, he’d call that perfection.

Sam, what are you doing over this side? one of the regular patrons teased. I thought you gave up on serving coffee in exchange for creating masterpieces in the kitchen.

He considered his answer, but before he spoke, Dixie Ann, one of his waitresses, spoke up. You can’t keep Sam from back here for long. He’s an artist when it comes to creating the perfect cup of coffee. Aren’t you, Sam?

Dixie Ann leaned over the counter to give him a good view of her cleavage and offered him her biggest smile. She’d widened her eyes as if attempting to look like an innocent flower waiting for him to pluck. The problem was, before he had spent a few months bedding her, his buddy had enjoyed Dixie Ann’s charms. Everyone knew Dixie Ann would do anything to get back with Fane, including sleep with him. He didn’t understand her reasoning. Maybe she thought doing so would make Fane jealous and drive him back to her arms. He knew his best friend, and it would never work.

Sam glanced over to the restaurant area, where each time Fane passed his girlfriend Zuria, Sam’s sister, Fane gave her a squeeze and a suggestive wink. The two were obviously crazy about each other, and Dixie Ann had no chance at all of getting noticed, let alone starting up a relationship with Fane again.

He and Fane had opted to separate the two sides of their business with a low wall. The sights and smells of dishes on the restaurant side lured those who came in for coffee. Those who dined in the restaurant could not resist the whir of the blender and grinder. That layout had been Fane’s idea. He might look like a playboy, but he had a brilliant business mind, and Sam considered himself a simple cook.

I don’t want my skills to get rusty, Sam said in answer to both the patron and Dixie Ann. And I have to give my new cook a chance to demonstrate his.

The patron took the cup of coffee he offered with her thanks, said a few more words, and left. Sam moved to the next order, and as he did, he saw Dixie Ann’s pout from the corner of his eye. He gave her no encouragement, yet he couldn’t believe he was considering dating Dixie Ann despite knowing her motives. The fact was, his heart would never engage with the woman. He could sleep with her but hold her at a distance, and no one would learn his secret.

Sam, are you listening to me? Dixie Ann asked.

He didn’t look up. Customers.

She huffed and spun away to head back to the restaurant side. He let the tension go in his shoulders and lost himself anew in his task. The bell over the coffee shop door jingled, and he looked up to give his habitual nod in greeting, but he stilled. The diminutive beauty pausing in the doorway was one he had never seen before. If she had been a resident of the small town of Aves, North Carolina, he would have known and pursued her.

Surprised at his intense reaction, he examined the woman more closely. Short, dark curls, smooth cinnamon brown skin, large almond eyes, and generous soft lips were the first to meet his searching gaze. As he explored lower, he found narrow shoulders, big breasts, a flat belly, and curvy hips that lessened the pants space at his crotch. He was thankful he wore an apron and that he stood behind the counter as he tried to take in the woman’s appearance in a more objective way. The sophisticated cut to her dress, although it did cling satisfyingly to her curves, said city girl, and the five-inch heels were not something he often saw on Aves women. Still, the mystery woman’s attire and beauty was not all that drew his interest.

She scanned the shop with an appearance of enjoying herself, and as her gaze neared discovering him, he almost leaned over the counter in anticipation. Brown eyes focused on him, and he saw the instant she recognized what he was—a shifter. Sam busied his hands with measuring beans while she approached and took a seat at the end of the counter. He took his time making his way toward her, but wished he had come sooner when she rewarded him with a bright smile that increased his heartbeat.

Hi, I love your shop, she said in a rich, sultry voice, and I’m so glad I found it. I’m in desperate need.

His cock twitched, but he gave her a nod and indicated the menu on the back wall.

Oh, okay. She clapped her hands, examining the board. I’m used to Starbucks, but I haven’t seen one in forever as I drove down the highway. Looks like you’ve got some yummy choices, though.

Yes, he agreed, and her soft laughter tickled his ears.

You don’t say a whole lot, do you? She extended her hand. I’m Tondi Jaeger. Think you can manage to tell me your name, barista?

He took the offered hand in his, and he heard her sharp intake of breath, saw her luscious lips part. He might not have said much, but he hadn’t stopped looking at her since she arrived. If he didn’t get a hold of himself, everyone else would notice, and Fane would never let him hear the end of it.

Sam Belle, he said.

Cute, she cooed, tilting her head to the side. He recognized the flirty glances and the way she leaned forward to place her order. The same sight of generous cleavage Dixie Ann had offered him produced a whole different reaction. He knew in an instant Tondi was the type of woman who could control his desire and snag his heart. Even as he acknowledged this truth, he vowed not to let her get away.

Tondi allowed him