Chapter One
Melissa pulled into the parking lot of the Shifters Inn just after midnight. There seemed to be quite a few cars in the lot. It looked like the people of Sugar Creek, Ohio had decided on a night out as well.
Grabbing her purse from beside her, Melissa locked her car and headed toward the door of the inn. A shiver ran down the back of her neck and to the base of her spine. She felt as if she was meant to be here at this specific moment in time. Like it was fate or something.
“Get a grip, Mel. You are full of it tonight,” she muttered to herself as she pushed open the door.
The lighting was so dim Melissa could only just make out the silhouettes of the other patrons, but from what she could see the room was packed full. As she headed toward the bar, she realized there were hardly any females present. The place seemed to be overrun by males.
Mel spied a couple of vacant stools along the bar, so she headed in that direction. Once seated comfortably, she gave her order of a club soda to the bartender. She let her gaze wander about the room as she sipped her drink. People watching was one of her favorite pastimes. She could learn a lot about people from just watching them. It was a pity she hadn’t learned more about Wesley before she had gone out with him. Maybe she wouldn’t be feeling as humiliated if she had.
Turning back to the bar, Melissa waited for the bartender to make his way down to her and ordered another drink. She sat at the bar for about an hour before she began to feel tired. Deciding it was time to either book a room for the rest of the night or head back home, she got off the bar stool and headed toward the exit. She may as well drive home so she could sleep in her own bed comfortably.
Just as she reached for the handle on the exit, the door was pushed open with such force that Melissa was sent flying backward. She landed hard on her back and she felt pain splinter through her skull as her head hit the floor. The next moment, her vision went black and she knew no more.
* * * *
When Melissa regained consciousness, she noticed she was in the arms of a very large, handsome, muscular man. She was also lying on something soft and comfortable and the man was cradling her upper body. Groaning from the drumbeat pounding in her head, she tried to sit up and escape the arms of the stranger holding her.
“Don’t move yet, baby,” the man said in a soft, yet surprisingly deep, husky voice. “You hit your head pretty hard when you were knocked flat. I want to make sure you haven’t got any more injuries before you move.”
“Who are you? What happened?” Melissa grimaced as pain pierced her skull.
“My name is Damian Aerth and that great hunk of muscle sitting on the end of the sofa at your feet is my younger brother, Luke.”
“I’m really sorry for making you fall down and hurting you, ma’am. I wasn’t paying attention to what I was doing, and because of me, you ended up hitting your head on the floor, which knocked you out,” Luke apologized sincerely.
Melissa could hear his remorse and knew that Luke was blaming himself. She couldn’t let him continue to castigate himself over an accident. “That’s okay, there was no harm done, really. Please, just be more careful when you enter a door so you don’t knock any more unsuspecting females on their asses.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry.”
“What’s your name, baby?” Damian asked as he propped Melissa up so she was sitting on his lap rather than lying with her head on his thigh.
“Melissa Wise.”
“We’re very pleased to meet you, Melissa. How is your head feeling?” Damian asked.
“Like it’s going to explode. I’m feeling a little queasy at the moment. Where am I?” Melissa slowly and carefully took in her surroundings.
“You’re in one of the rooms at the Shifter Inn. When Luke knocked you out, I picked you up and brought you here so we could make sure you were okay and so you’d be comfortable.”
“Let me go.” She pushed at the muscled arms wrapped around her waist.
Damian let go and she felt his eyes on her as she struggled to her feet. Luke and Damian quickly scrambled to their feet as she swayed across the room to the bathroom. They each took hold of an elbow to steady her, but when she made it to the toilet, she got down on her knees and was physically ill.
“Go away, please.” Melissa groaned in between retches.
“No way, honey. This is all my fault! We aren’t going anywhere. Damian, go call the doc to come check her out.”
“I already asked Flynn to call the doc when I requested a room. He should be arriving any minute.”
“I don’t need a doctor. I only need a good night’s sleep and I’ll be as good as new. Please, leave me alone,” Melissa demanded, feeling very embarrassed. “Even my sister doesn’t stay with me when I’m sick. I don’t like people watching me throw up.”