Destined to be His (Love of a Shifter Book 5) Read online

  Emerson took a second look in the mirror before she walked outside. She could already feel herself start to sweat, thinking about being around all the people eating in the dining room. Was her father right, was she not meant to be here? Maybe she wasn’t good enough to do this job. She loved the job she had back home, but it didn’t fulfill her. When she was approached about being on the Unit, she couldn’t hide the excitement she felt about being chosen. She actually felt like she was flying high above the clouds. That was until she told her father what she was going to do, and he deflated her dream rather quickly. He’d told her that she couldn’t do that type of work, that she wasn’t good enough to do it. Of course, he added in that she was his only child, and a Prescott.

  Who cared? Nobody cared that she was a Prescott. Dammit, you can do this. Just take it one moment at a time. Turning the knob, Emerson unlocked the top lock and then the bottom. Before she opened the door, she closed her eyes, praying for strength. When she swung it open, Nash was waiting for her, just like he’d said. She could smell something sweet as he took a step closer to her.

  “You look beautiful.” She couldn’t stop the blush that crept up her neck to her cheeks.

  “Thank you.”

  “Are you ready?” he asked. He wasn’t pushing her, but urging her on, which she appreciated because otherwise she’d most likely still be in the bed. That wasn’t going to help her at all.

  “Yes, I’m ready.”

  Nash motioned for her to start walking. He walked beside her, but never reached for her hand or made her feel uncomfortable. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all, she thought—until the elevator stopped on their floor and the doors slid open. She hesitated before finally taking a deep breath and walking inside. She backed up against the wall as Nash pushed the button for the ground floor.

  “If for any reason you want to stop and get off, that’s okay too. We can walk down the stairs if we have to. Baby steps, remember?”

  Emerson could feel a panic attack coming on. Her vision started to blur as thoughts of being strapped onto the table rushed forward. Then the man with the blue mask was on top of her… She couldn’t get past the feeling of being trapped. She couldn’t do this right now.

  “Do you like to ice skate?” Emerson opened her eyes. Nash was standing beside her, still far enough away that she didn’t feel cramped or cornered.

  She hesitated, realizing that this was real and that the man in the mask wasn’t here. This was Nash. He was someone she could trust, someone who wouldn’t hurt her. “Yes, but I…I haven’t done any skating since I was a little girl.”

  “We have a great skating ring here, with twinkling lights all around it in the trees.” Nash turned toward her and leaned against the wall. He lifted his hands and moved his fingers in the air. “At night when the moon comes out, the staff sometimes gets together and we all meet at the ring just to enjoy the night in silence. Most of the time you can’t keep everyone quiet for long, especially when the kids come too. They love it.” Nash glanced over to the door. “Are you ready to eat?”

  Emerson couldn’t believe it, but the door stood wide open on the ground floor. They had made it down without her even realizing it. “Maybe if you would like to, maybe we can go ice skating. I think you would love it.”

  The man had talked to her and calmed her down until the elevator got to the bottom. It wasn’t a long trip, but once the panic started she couldn’t stop it. But somehow Nash knew just what to do.

  “Yes, I’m starving,” Emerson admitted. Nash held out his hand, and she took it locking her fingers inside of his as they exited the elevator. The lodge was hopping, too: the lobby was full of people checking in and walking around. She could feel the panic coming on again as strangers walked near them. Swallowing hard, Emerson scooted closer to Nash as she followed him through a maze of rooms. Finally, they reached the dining room, which was packed full of people. There was even a line waiting to be seated. But Nash didn’t stop; he continued on to the very back of the room. A table sat nestled in the corner with a view of the mountains glowing through a nearby window.

  “Is this table okay with you? I thought you might not want to be around a lot of people right now. Today is about baby steps and getting you some food.” The sun was shining brightly through the window, and the heat felt wonderful as Nash pulled her seat out.

  “Thank you. This is perfect.” The rich scent of pancakes encompassed her as she sat looking at the menu. “Do you smell that?”

  Nash smiled back at her. “You mean the pancakes?”

  “Yes, I actually think I can eat a whole plate of them.”

  “We have all kinds, but you can eat whatever you want.”

  “Are you kidding? I want pancakes now.”

  “I’ve tried every type of pancake they have here. Lilly was the one who showed me what to do. She said that you should start at the top or the bottom of the menu and try a different flavor each time you come. It took me a while, but I got through all one hundred flavors.”

  “Do you have a favorite?”

  “I love the strawberries with caramel dripped on top. I know it sounds like a crazy combination, but it tastes so good.” Nash provided her with a perfect smile to go along with his scrumptious description of the pancakes she now had to order. She could feel her whole body heating up just listening to him.

  Clearing her throat, Emerson said, “I think I’ll have that.” At least it would give her something to think about later.

  “Hello there folks, my name is Betty Jackson and I’ll be your server today. What would you two like to drink?”

  “I’ll have orange juice, Ms. Betty,” Nash told her.

  “I think I’ll have orange juice, too,” Emerson whispered.

  “Sounds good. I’ll be back in a few minutes to take your order. Look over the menu in the meantime—we have every kind of pancake you could possibly want, and if that doesn’t suit your fancy then check out all the different types of omelets.”

  “Emerson, what are you doing down here?” Kingston Prescott demanded, walking up to the table.

  “Eating.” She could feel her body tense up at her father’s demeanor.

  “I would’ve gotten you something before we left.”

  “Dad, I’m not leaving. I’ve spoken to Jonas, who’s in charge of the Unit, and they still want me.”

  “Only because of your name, sweetheart. I can’t protect you here.”

  “I can.” Nash stood up, and she could tell things were going to get ugly.

  “Please, please. Can I not sit down to a quiet meal without you two arguing?” Emerson stood up and leaned in. “Dad, I’m not leaving. If you would like to join us for a meal, then sit down, but I can’t take the arguing right now.” The table started shaking, getting the attention of some of the other customers. Sitting down, Emerson closed her eyes and tried to gain some control before she flung the table against the wall.

  “Emerson, people are watching,” Kingston said, sitting down at the table.

  She took a few deep breaths before she sat back down. She could hear the table as it settled on the floor. Nobody said anything, but she wasn’t calming down enough. She could still felt the anger bubbling up.

  “I think Ms. Betty is coming with your orange juice. Everything will look better once you’ve eaten,” Nash murmured, placing his hand on top of hers. She didn’t know how to explain it but that simple touch made all the difference in the world, and finally calmed her down.

  Opening her eyes, Emerson smiled at Ms. Betty, who sat her drink in front of her. The older lady’s answering smile calmed her more. Her father just sat there scowling, letting everyone know that he didn’t like the fact that Nash was there.

  “Well hello! What can I get you to drink, sir?”

  “Coffee,” Kingston Prescott muttered.

  “Have you had time to look over the menu yet?”

  “We have, Ms. Betty. Go ahead, Emerson,” Nash said letting her go first.

  “I’
d like the pancakes with strawberries and caramel,” Emerson told her with a smile.

  “Strawberries and caramel? Emerson, what are you thinking? You’ve never eaten something like that before,” Kingston said in disgust.

  She braced herself for a lecture on how eating strawberries and caramel with her pancakes wasn’t ladylike and would make her fat.

  “You picked one of the most popular choices, miss. It was actually the Queen of England who suggested the combination of the two when she stayed here at the lodge. Now it’s one of the most popular items on the menu. In her honor, Larken put it under the ‘Queen’s Choice’ category. There have been so many people over the years who have given their suggestions. We don’t use all of them, though; some are just too far fetched.” Ms. Betty put her hand on Emerson’s shoulder and continued, “But hey, if you don’t try new things now and then, well you’re not living life to its full potential.”

  Emerson couldn’t help but giggle when she saw her dad’s expression of total disbelief that the Queen of England had stayed here and actually suggested the combination. Take that! She wanted to say it out loud, but she didn’t want to make matters worse.

  “What can I get for you, sir?” Ms. Betty’s tone changed dramatically as she stared at her father, waiting for his order.

  “Omelet with spinach and cheese.” He was being rude, and she wished he would just go home if he was going to be like that. She loved him, but he could be such a snob.

  “Thank you, and I’ll be right back with your coffee.” Ms. Betty glanced at Nash and rolled her eyes, then walked off.

  “Kingston!” A well-built man walked up to the table. She’d seen him before, but she couldn’t recall where.

  “Jim!” The surprised look on Kingston’s face said it all. He was shocked to see someone like Jim here at the lodge. Apparently, he was a friend, or someone who ran in the same circles as her father. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

  “Oh, I spend a lot of time here at Meadowland Lodge.” Finally, the man glanced around the table. “Nash, hello, how are you?” He stuck his hand out to Nash.

  “I’m fine, Jim. How are you doing?”

  “I’m good. Are we still on for today?” Jim asked.

  “Yes, sir. We can meet in my office,” Nash offered.

  Emerson could tell that her father was confused about how someone like Jim would do business with, or even know, someone like Nash. She hated that her father was like this. He’d never told her why he disliked shifters so much. Ever since her mother was killed in a car accident, he had changed. She would never forget the day her father sat her down in his study, to tell her that her mother had been coming home from one of her meetings when her car hydroplaned across the road and then fell off the side of the mountain. They didn’t even have a body to bury. Her car had burst into flames, incinerating her. She shivered, thinking back to that gruesome day. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, her father had become a different man from that day on. He’d changed into someone she didn’t like.

  “Would you like to join us, Jim?” Nash offered. The look on her father’s face was simply priceless. She loved him, but he needed to see that Nash and his family were just as good as they were.

  “I hate to eat alone, so if you don’t mind I would love to.” Jim sat down beside her, and she could feel his energy. He was a wizard; his aura was green like her father’s. “Hello, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Jim Rush.”

  Emerson shook the wizard’s outstretched hand. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Rush, I’m Emerson Prescott.”

  Jim glanced back at her father. “Your daughter?”

  “Yes.”

  “Wonderful. I’ve heard a lot about you from the staff at the council hall, Emerson. They all speak very highly of you.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Rush.”

  “Just call me Jim, please.”

  “Are you on vacation here?” Kingston asked, being nosey.

  “No…”

  “Emerson is going to be part of the Unit,” Nash interrupted Kingston before he could say something different.

  Jim smiled at Emerson. “Excellent! I think you’ll be a great asset to the Unit. They need more of us on the team, and I couldn’t have suggested anyone better than a Prescott,” Jim stated proudly.

  Again, her father looked shocked at Jim’s remarks.

  Jim pulled out his phone and checked it. She watched as Jim smiled at whatever the screen told him and then put it away again. “Nash, I just got a text from my office. Your offer went through, and you’re now the proud owner of Wilson Incorporated. The paperwork is sitting in my e-mail, and when we meet today you can sign it. Congratulations, my friend. Any ideas what you’re going to do with it?”

  Recognition dawned on her face. Emerson knew that name. Her father had been trying to buy that business for years.

  “Did you say Wilson Incorporated?” Kingston asked, shocked.

  She watched as her father’s jaw dropped and he leaned forward in disbelief.

  “I’m sorry Nash, I should’ve told you in private. I just got excited. I’m…”

  “No worries Jim, everyone will know soon enough. But yes, I just purchased Wilson Inc., Mr. Prescott,” Nash confirmed.

  “Jack Wilson’s company in New York?” This was a great coup for Nash. He’d purchased one of the biggest electronics companies right out from under her father. Just about every computer company got their components from Jack Wilson’s company because he gave them such a great price.

  “And the London division as well,” Nash added.

  “Wait.” Kingston scratched his head. “You bought both companies?” Kingston’s face said it all. He just couldn’t believe a shifter could make such a big deal.

  “Yes, is something wrong?” Nash asked.

  “I didn’t know they were for sale, or I would have—”

  “You would have bought them yourself,” Nash finished for him.

  “Nash met Jack here five years ago, and they became instant friends. Over the years, Nash has made Jack a lot of money, and of course when he thought about retiring he thought of Nash. Jack doesn’t have any kids, so naturally he gave him the first chance to buy it before he put it up on the market. And Nash took the opportunity. It make good business sense, since he already owns Bartlett’s,” Jim explained.

  Emerson smiled. Bartlett’s was another electronics company, which made the molds for certain computer chips. It was another company her father would’ve loved to own.

  “I’m so happy for you, Nash. You’ve done it, my friend.”

  “Congratulations, Nash,” Emerson said.

  “Thank you, Emerson. I guess I’ll need to explain my business to you sometime.”

  “I thought you did security here?”

  “Oh, I do, but I also own and run Wolf Quest Incorporated.”

  They all turned to stare at Kingston, who had started mumbling to himself. He seemed to be having a hard time believing what he was hearing. He was starting to worry her a little. “Dad, are you okay?”

  After a few brief moments, Kingston lifted his head to look at her. “What?”

  “I asked if you were okay?”

  “Yes, yes. Where is that waitress with my coffee?” Kingston demanded.

  A line etched between Emerson’s brows as she studied her father. What was going on with him?

  “Keep your knickers on, I’m right here, Mr. Prescott.” Her dad’s face turned red as a beet. He had never been talked to like that before.

  Betty set the coffee down on the table in front of him.

  “Thank you,” Kingston mumbled.

  “Hey Jim, your usual?”

  “Yes, Betty, and please tell them to put extra caramel on my pancakes.”

  Emerson glanced at Nash and they both had to look away from each other or they would burst out laughing. Even Jim was getting the same pancakes. Her father looked totally disgusted.

  “I need to make some calls. Can you have my breakfast sent up to my room?”
Kingston asked.

  “Dad, is everything okay?”

  “Yes, why do you keep asking me that?” Kingston snapped.

  “Yes sir,” Ms. Betty answered, taking some of the sting away.

  “Jim, I’ll talk to you later. Emerson, after you eat can you come to my room, please?”

  “Yes, sir.” Emerson and the others watched as her father got up and walked out of the dining room.

  “I hope he wasn’t too upset about Wilson selling to you. I heard through the grapevine that he’s had his eye on that company for years,” Jim explained.

  Nash just shrugged. He didn’t seem to care, and to be honest she didn’t blame him. Her dad had treated Nash like shit, and now he’d just found out that the shifter wasn’t just his competition—he was the only competition.

  “I’m sorry, Emerson. I hope I didn’t upset your vacation now.”

  “No, if he’s that torn up about it then he can go home, but I’m staying here.” Emerson said, cutting off any more conversation until Betty brought their pancakes.

  The look on Nash’s face made her smile.

  Chapter Five

  He listened as Mr. D got on the phone. He was late for surgery, but he needed to take this call.

  “You have one more chance at the Prescott girl. I know her location. If you mess up this time, don’t worry about calling me back.” The phone went dead.

  Yes, one more chance was all he needed—one more chance to see her beautiful, scared eyes. He got such a thrill out of watching her, knowing she couldn’t move, and knowing she couldn’t use her magic against him. It would be a shame to kill her. If only…hmm.

  Maybe if he could get the witch out to his cabin, he could keep her there. It was already decked out like Fort Knox. All he would need were the proper spells so she didn’t have any way to use her magic. Then she would be his to play with all the time, and nobody would know. Nobody would be able to hear her scream. He so wanted to hear her scream.