The Baby Shift- Hawaii Read online

  The Baby Shift: Hawaii

  Shifter Babies Of America 44

  Becca Fanning

  Contents

  1. Eve

  2. Robert

  3. Eve

  4. Robert

  5. Eve

  6. Robert

  7. Eve

  8. Robert

  9. Eve

  10. Robert

  Also by Becca Fanning

  Eve

  Paradise never looked so good.

  Or perhaps that’s what Eve would think if a baby’s cry hadn’t reached her ears. She cradled Joan against her, desperately wanting to sigh loudly, but she was amid a hundred other tourists trying to find their correct shuttles for their resorts. She wasn’t waiting for a shuttle, though.

  “Eve!” someone shouted from the far side of the pick-up lane at the airport. An older woman dressed in a tropical print was waving her hands wildly down at the end.

  “Auntie Carol!” Eve cried and went to greet her. Carol kissed both of Eve’s cheeks and then bent down to coo at the baby in Eve’s arms.

  “She’s gorgeous,” she said. “Just like your sister.”

  Eve smirked. “Yes, except not in prison.”

  Carol furrowed her brows at Eve. “Now, Eve, she’s in prison for protesting the rainforest’s destruction.”

  Eve rolled her eyes. “Everyone wants to excuse her. And who has to take care of her baby now?”

  Carol laughed. “Well, come on, before someone gives me a parking ticket in this hellhole airport.” She helped grab Eve’s suitcases and put them in the trunk. Eve had managed to bring baby Joan’s car seat on the plane, thanks to an extra fee.

  Ugh. In all her years of being a responsible person on this Earth, Eve always found it hard to empathize with her sister’s decisions. What was she thinking having a baby with a yogi, then going to prison for a year, and leaving a newborn baby to take care of? They’d worked out a settlement with the judge to allow Eve to take temporary custody of her. Carol had invited her neice to come spend the year in Hawaii, away from the drama in California. Eve had taken a job as a personal chef for a small club, which she would start on Monday.

  “What lodge will you be working at?” Carol asked while driving along the road. Eve watched in awe as they passed by the spectacular sights.

  “Something called the Lionheart Lodge,” Eve said. “A friend of mine hooked me up with them. Something like a retirement club, right?”

  Carole’s jaw dropped, and if she hadn’t been speeding along in her sporty car, then Eve was sure that the older woman would’ve braked.

  “Lionheart?” She repeated.

  “Yes,” Eve said and then raised an eyebrow. “Is that a problem?”

  “They’re Shifters, honey.”

  Eve was now the one with her mouth open. “Shifters? In Hawaii?”

  “Lion Shifters, you know, with the name and all. They came here about forty years ago and established that lodge back when land was cheaper,” Carol explained, saying the last part a bit sadly. “But from the rumors around town, they’re every bit of gorgeous as you hear.”

  Eve slapped a hand over her mouth. “Auntie Carol! You’re married.”

  Carol winked. “I’m not blind, darling.” They laughed all the way back to Carol’s house, where she lived with Uncle Johnny. They helped get all the things out of the car. Eve cradled Joan to her, who was staring around at their new surroundings with skeptical interest.

  “She’s got Allison’s features,” Johnny said, referring to Eve’s jailbird sister. Eve opened her mouth to reply when her cell phone began buzzing in her pocket. Carol took the baby from her as she took the call.

  “Hi, this is Eve,” she greeted and trotted outside, away from all the baby talk.

  “Ms. Eve.”

  Her heart slammed against her chest. The voice was low-pitched and gravely like a bassoon riff in the air. She sucked in a breath. This man saturated her senses, just speaking her name. Ms. Eve. Oh, she liked the sound of it.

  “It’s Robert, your employer,” the voice said. “I hope you’ve arrived safely on the island.”

  “Yes,” she replied quickly. It felt like her lips couldn’t move fast enough. Her heart continued to beat furiously. “Are we still on for Monday at 10 AM?” In all the e-mails, Robert had been extremely diligent with dates and times and the like. Perhaps he’d realized that chefs weren’t always organized. She was.

  “Absolutely.” His voice had such a commanding finishing air, it gave her a chill despite the perfect temperature outside. “We’re excited to have you. I’ll be helping you through the process the entire way.”

  Now, she felt a prickle of excitement as the conversation continued. What did this guy look like? She imagined handsome, strong features and a glorious tan and eyes that—

  “Ms. Eve?”

  She coughed, nearly sputtering. “Yes. Sorry, my phone disconnected for a bit. Still getting used to the new cell reception.” An easy enough lie. She hoped he would buy it, but she imagined he might be the man used to making women weak.

  He chuckled, a wonderfully easy sound coming from him. She pinched herself to stay focused.

  “I’ll see you at 10 AM then. Let me know if you have any questions before then, but please, enjoy your time on this wonderful island before work.”

  “I will,” she nearly squeaked. He ended the call politely. She stood with her phone to her chest. Carol popped her head out and looked Eve up and down.

  “Everything ok, darling?”

  “I think you might’ve been right about those Shifter men, Auntie.”

  Carol smiled deviously. “You should trust your elders.” Eve followed her inside, scooping Joan into her arms.

  This year might turn out more interesting than she thought. She said as much to Carol, who hadn’t stopped smiling.

  “You never know what kind of magic can happen on these islands.” From the back seat, Joan let out a gurgling sound, as if in agreement. Carol and Eve laughed all the way back to the house. Eve watched the passing scenery with a sense of wonder and excitement.

  She couldn’t seem to get Robert’s voice out of her head though…or stop the ensuing shivers when she remembered how he’d said her name.

  Robert

  Eve... Robert simultaneously liked and loathed that name. It reminded him of women tempting men with fruit and then reminded him again that humans had long traded stories that often painted women in a poor light.

  Her voice yesterday reminded him of a delicate creeper birdsong. But he was always likening humans to something vulnerable. He bit back his smirk. How could he help it? Turning into a lion at whim made you feel a bit stronger than your human neighbors.

  He checked his watch. 9:45 AM. He was always early. He strode across the tiled floor in the sleek kitchen to the espresso machine and turned it on. Black coffee. He adjusted his cufflinks. The doorbell rang right as he served up two espressos on the counter. The valet showed her in. He turned and felt something hard settle in his throat.

  She was...beautiful. In a very petite way, tiny compared to him. Not unlike the bird he’d been imagining, but more like a subdued songbird that promised a melodious tune. She was looking around the room before she met his eyes. He took in her sunny blonde hair, braided neatly to one side, and her sun-tanned freckled skin. She dressed in a plain white Oxford shirt and black slacks, typical restaurant wear.

  “Eve,” he greeted and held out his hand. She swiveled toward him, took one look, and her heart thumped.

  “Hi,” she said and shook his hand with surprising strength. Perhaps a stronger bird than he’d initially imagined. Her scent shifted to one of intrigue.

  “Nice to meet you.”

  He tr
ied placing her accent. “This is our kitchen, which I hope you’ll find is up to your liking,” he said. “Would you like a coffee?”

  He watched as she accepted the delicate cup. She added no sugar. For some reason, this made him like her even more. Her sharp eyes surveyed the equipment.

  “Excellent set-up,” she said.

  “We try.” He adjusted his tie. “I’m the head of the Lionheart Lodge, and it’s my job to make sure that everything runs smoothly. As chef, you’ll have lunch and dinner to take care of. Our hours are sharp. Lunches are typically lighter, so nothing more than two courses. Always include meat.” He grinned, a bit of his small fangs flashing. “We are Shifters, after all. Dinner will be the largest meal. So, hours are generally 1-3PM and then 6:00-10:30PM. We tend to have wine much later into the night, but everyone knows that the kitchen closes at 10:30.”

  “Wow,” she said. “You guys have got everything down to a system!”

  The corner of his lips quirked upward. “We try. I like to keep my Clan happy. It’s not always easy with animal hormones and magical abilities between groups.”

  She sipped her espresso with wide eyes. “Fascinating.”

  He chuckled. “I hope you’ll find it to your standards. Meals should be made to accommodate thirty people every day. Many of our Clan is away on business. Lion Shifters tend to be quite corporate, but we have twenty-five confirmed in our villa now. We always have extras in case of guests. You’re more than welcome to bring that home to your family as well.”

  She smiled. “My aunt and uncle will appreciate that.”

  He paused. “You mentioned that you have a child to look after at home.”

  Her cheeks turned a delicious shade of peach. “Well, it’s a complicated story.” The espresso cup that she was holding shook slightly in the saucer. “My sister recently had a baby, but well...she’s in prison thanks to her radical environmental activism.”

  His brows shot up. “She’s an eco-warrior?”

  “Something like that,” she replied, although he caught a bit of frustration buried beneath the reply. “She’s left her daughter behind while she advocates for the rainforest inside prison.” She shrugged. “Family.”

  He smirked. The little chef was beginning to grow on him. “Lion Shifters rarely pass judgement. It’s not wise when society treats you like mutants.” He winked. “But we will welcome you with open arms here.” He brought out a sleek black binder from beneath the counter. “Our last chef has left a detailed listing of our menus for the past five years. My Clan members say they want some fresh takes on the new dishes.”

  She nodded. “Shall I start today?”

  “Not quite, today I’ve got it catered because we have an exchange event at a hotel. I wanted you to have a day at the lodge to get used to things.”

  She nodded, pursing her lips. Her hair smelled faintly of sea salt.

  “Did you go to the beach yesterday?”

  She turned to him, her eyes widening a bit. “Yes! How did you know?” Did he detect a bit of nervousness or was that a trick of his eyes? He tapped his nose playfully.

  “Shifters have great noses.”

  A slow smile unraveled on her face. “I’ll have to remember that.” She ran her hands along the sleek surface of the metal counter as if she was touching gold. Her eyes glittered. “This will do nicely.”

  He gave her a tour of the entire lodge, save for the private rooms which were cozy salons reserved strictly for members and never to be disturbed. They passed a few members along the way, who introduced themselves politely. He watched her eyeing their luxury clothes, but simple jewelry. Everything was classic for his Shifters. An odd sense of pride filled him as he finished the tour in their outside garden with an open bar attached.

  “Can I get you a drink? You’re always welcome to the bar for a cocktail a day during the evening after work,” he explained. She smiled. “We have an exceptional white wine right now.”

  “I’d love to try it,” she said. Her voice was the soft patter of rain on a rooftop. He was baffled by how much he enjoyed it. He gestured to the bartender, who was quick to the task. Robert was nothing if not generous with tipping.

  They were served; he stood next to her and raised his glass. “To your new position.” They clinked glasses.

  Perhaps this new chef would be more interesting than he imagined.

  Eve

  “Completely and utterly gorgeous,” Eve said as she padded around the kitchen in her pajamas. Carol was at the sink preparing the formula for Joan now cradling in Johnny’s arms. Thankfully, the two were retired, which made it a perfect situation for babysitting.

  “I told you,” Carol said. Johnny rolled his eyes.

  “I’m sorry I can’t be a lion, Carol.”

  Carol rolled her eyes but laughed. “Was he wearing a wedding ring?” She raised her eyebrows at Eve. Eve paused, her mouth fluttering silently in response.

  “I didn’t even think to check…and besides; he’s my boss.”

  “That’s never stopped men before,” Johnny announced in a protective tone. Carol swatted him with the kitchen towel in her hand, careful not to hit the hungry squirming baby.

  “Alright, I’m off,” Eve said and kissed baby Joan on the cheek. She was out the door and in her uncle’s car. The drive to the lodge wasn’t far. They had a towering fence and gate that screamed: LUXURY. You could see it ten minutes down the road!

  She recalled the handful of members that she’d come across yesterday. They’d all been beautiful—the men and the women—and dressed in perfectly classic outfits that probably cost more than the car Eve was driving. She took a deep breath and tried to sing along with the radio.

  Her stomach did a flip flop as she approached the gate and flashed her pass to the smiling security guard. His teeth seemed rather sharp. Was he a Shifter too?

  Robert had told her where she could park in the dedicated staff parking, where she’d meet her sous chef and the service staff. When she walked in, two good-looking towering men greeted her. The tallest, dressed in chef pants and a white smock, took a drag from a cigarette,

  “You’re my new boss?” he asked.

  “Sure am.” She’d learn long ago, to survive in the cooking world, you had to be tough and firm as possible with kitchen staff. “Nice to meet you.” She stuck her hand out, and he took it with the cigarette-free hand.

  The other man smiled and offered his hand too. Dressed to the nines as a fine-dining server. “That’s Brad. I’m Jacob. I’m the head server. We’ll help you not get eaten.”

  “So, you’re not Shifters?” she asked. It was hard to tell nowadays when colored contacts could cover those tell-tale eyes.

  “Only thing we shift into is laziness after our shifts,” Brad said and finished his cigarette. “What’s on the menu today, boss?”

  “Beef stroganoff, side salads, and a killer cake for dessert.” She smiled. “I heard these guys are more of a meat and carb crowd.”

  “Ding, ding,” Brad said. “We’ve got a winner.”

  They set about work. Brad was remarkably efficient following her instructions. She left him to prep the salad and cake while she prepared the main dish. Jacob lurked nearby to polish the glasses, although she suspected that he might be bored.

  “So, what do I need to know for this place?” she asked them after she finished prepping the meat.

  “The deal?” Jacob asked. “Well, they’re all stupidly hot and scary, but they tip well. Very secretive. Robert, the big boss, likes to keep everything running efficiently. As long as you serve food cooked and hot, he’ll be happy. He’s generous but strict.”

  “Don’t fall in love with him,” Brad added from his salad station. She rolled her eyes.

  “Hardly my idea.” Jacob darted off to prepare the front of the house, and she sank into her work. When it came to cooking, she was a machine. Although part of her brain was now worrying about how baby Joan was doing at home. Maybe napping or eating.

  “Eve
,” a deep rumbling voice came from behind. She leaped upwards like a cat and turned to see Robert, handsome as ever, staring down at her. The corner of his mouth rose. “I’ve been calling your name.”

  “Sorry,” she muttered and shook her head. “I was concentrating.” Brad began plating the stroganoff. “Light on the sauce,” she told him. It was never good to have too heavy of a lunch. This was a chic stroganoff.

  “I wanted to tell you that we’ll have fewer people that I thought today,” Robert said and glanced at the plates. “Probably fifteen at most. There was a cold going around.”

  “Shifters get sick?”

  He smirked. “Yes, we do. We have immune systems too.” Brad suppressed a snort as he arranged the plates. She made a note to smack him with a towel later for nearly sneezing germs into the meals.

  “Noted.” Her eye wandered to the oven. Without breaking eye contact, she set an egg timer for fifteen minutes for the cake. “Shall I save the rest of the meals in case some people feel brave to eat?”

  Robert’s nostrils flared. “No. The Clan knows that if they don’t eat during the appointed time that they’re on their own. I’m not a babysitter.” She bit her lip. “You’re welcome to box it up for you and any of the staff.”

  “Perfect. I’ll wait until Jacob has the orders in.”

  “So, you’ve met everyone then?” His smile was sneaky. “Great job.” She blushed. It hadn’t been hard. They’d introduced themselves.

  Jacob came in and left with a few plates of salad, Brad following behind him.

  “Yes,” she said. “Do you mind if I help them with the food running?” He waved his hand.

  “Sure, let me help too.”

  He grabbed two plates to match her, and they went around the corner to the restaurant. Indeed, there weren’t many people, but they were altogether a glorious sight to behold. They immediately perked up, seeing Robert following her. Jacob pointed to a two-top that she could serve; two women were licking their lips at her, or rather at the man behind her. She served them with a polite smile.