“Not much. I admit most of the people I know don’t think they exist. They believe they are some sort of internet prank, but I work for a company rumored to be run by a Werewolf, so I think I know better.”
“I see. Well, I can assure you, dear, they aren’t a prank. Shifters are very real, and I happen to know some who are looking for a woman just like you.”
“Is it safe?” she bit her lip.
“Of course,” Gerri nodded, “when I introduce a client to a potential mate, I guarantee his or her safety. No one will mess with you while I am protecting you. That said, I think you should know, I have an impeccable reputation for finding mates.”
“What do you mean mates? Like friends?” Annalia asked.
“Oh no, love, a mate is more than a friend,” Gerri leaned forward, “to a Shifter there is no one or thing in the universe that compares to his or her fated mate. It’s destiny. You see, Shifters are dual-natured. They share their essence with an animal spirit that they are then able to manifest in the physical realm. A Shifter knows his or her mate upon meeting them. It’s instinct, intuition, or a combination of the two.”
“So, a mate is like a girlfriend?”
“Still so much more than that, Annalia. A mate is the one person he will place above all others. She is essentially made for that Shifter. Please excuse my use of pronouns, but I think in your case you would be looking for a male.”
“Yes,” she swallowed the lump in her throat, “your pronouns are perfect.”
“As I was saying,” Gerri grinned knowingly, “to a Shifter, his mate is the most important thing in the world. She is his reason for living. If you mate a Shifter, you will be cherished, worshipped, loved, and did I mention the sex is incredible?”
“But what if I am not his mate?”
“Annalia, if you allow me to work with you, at the very least you will have a hot date with loads of sweaty, delicious sex. What do you have to lose?”
Holy shit. Gerri had her at hot date. The promise of sex was icing on the cake. She swallowed a sip of tea and looked into Gerri’s eyes.
“I don’t have anything to lose, Gerri,” Annalia nodded, “sign me up!”
Two
“Welcome to Jessica’s Closet!” a redhaired woman with an infectious smile came running at them once they entered the small, boutique.
“Gerri! OMG! Does Elissa know you are here?” the woman embraced Mrs. Wilder, and the two seemed close.
“Of course,” she hugged the younger woman back, “Do you think I’d invade Maverick Point without letting the Nari know?”
“Oh, it’s hardly an invasion,” Jessica laughed, and turned to Annalia, “Who’s this? A new client? Yay! You are going to love Gerri, she’s wonderful.”
“Hi, I’m Annalia Reese, but you can call me Anna or Lia, either is fine,” she offered her hand.
“We are here for your expert advice, Jess. Anna here needs a fresh look,” Gerri grinned wickedly.
“I see, well, have you booked Gretchen yet?” she asked after taking a glance at Anna’s wildly frizzy curls.
“Not yet, I was hoping you could?” Gerri responded before she could.
“Yes, let me see if Pamela has an opening,” she grabbed her phone, “she does wonders with curly hair.”
“Gerri, I don’t think,” Annalia whispered, but it was no use.
The owner of the PDA was a force to be reckoned with once she had a project in sight, and right then, it was Anna’s hair on the chopping block.
Take a chance, she told herself. Nothing to lose.
So, she closed her eyes, counted to three, and decided to go with it. What could be the harm in allowing herself to be pampered for a weekend? Even if the date was shit. She’d have a haircut and some cool new clothes. Even better, she’d made a friend or two.
Her date was for eight o’clock that night, but because of the hike Gerri had insisted she book a cabin for the whole weekend. She’d assured her that if the date did not work out, she was free to enjoy her stay in the picturesque wintry setting free of entanglements.
That sounded great, especially after making the move north from Florida. Of course, the city she’d moved too was more slush and mush, but Anna had loved the look of the snow frosted trees and pretty forests on the drive down.
It was exactly the kind of inspiration she needed for the new Ice Battles game’s winter fantasy-scapes she was working on. Using the software to make real, 3D snow was harder than it seemed. She could do with a little inspiration.
But of course, Annalia was there for more than the scenery. She was there to go on a date with a Shifter! Goosebumps sprouted over her arms as she imagined her date. Would he like her? Would he be kind? What if he wanted to, er, come home with her? Was Anna ready for that step?
Yes please, her inner voice practically screamed. Okay, so maybe her dry spell had been long enough. So, sex was a definite yes. If she liked him, and provided he liked her. She wasn’t a slut or anything.
Sheesh. No kidding. You’ve had three sexual partners in thirty years. That does not a slut make!
After an hour of trying on clothes, she was finally ready for her hair appointment. Anna sighed and bit her lip. Her credit card was going to cry if she used it again, but one more stop, she promised the little piece of plastic. She had bought everything from new underwear to a stylish winter coat, high heels, and boots.
“You are in good hands, love, I will be back to collect you soon,” Gerri said goodbye, and dropped her off at the salon next to the boutique.
“Hi, I’m Pamela,” a very lovely, very pregnant brunette greeted her and walked her to a salon chair, “Let’s see what we got to work with.”
“Hi, I’m Annalia,” she smiled.
“Anna-Leah?”
“Yeah, but it is spelled A-n-n-a-l-i-a,” she told her.
“Great name! I am making a list since my husband and I, and our son Paulie, can’t seem to agree,” she grinned.
“Congrats, is it a girl?”
“We don’t know yet. Twins,” she practically yelped.
“That is exciting! Say, can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“Is everyone here beautiful?
“Ha, you’re funny,” Pamela laughed, ignoring her question, “Hmm. Your hair is good, but I think you could use a trim, and a conditioning treatment.”
“Can you blow it out? I kind of have a date tonight,” she bit her lip again.
“Absolutely,” Pamela grinned, “so, Gerri set you up?”
“Yes.”
“Well then, we better get to work. This could be a lifechanging event,” Pamela said.
The woman must be teasing her, Anna thought and sighed. But she was kind and friendly. Settling into the salon chair, closing her eyes as the stylist worked her magic, she allowed herself to float.
Sandra had left three text messages that morning. She wanted to know if Annalia was finished being selfish, and when she was coming home. Her sister was always doing things like that.
She’d been making her sign these papers for years about her husband’s business and the loans for school. This last packet was super long and complicated. She hadn’t had a chance to look it over. Besides, there was no rush, she was done with graduate school.