A Prideless Man by Amber Kell Page A

daydreams. He’d seen the other man watching him from time to time, but he didn’t dare get his hopes up. After all, what did he have to offer such a strong, fit manly man? Some days he could barely make it across the room without screaming.
    Sighing over the hopelessness of his infatuation, James logged into the college website and answered several emails from his students. His slow two-fingered typing took forever, but eventually he got through them all. After he finished working he checked his personal email account. His father’s name sat in bold text squatting at the top of his inbox like a waiting spider beckoning him to its web. With strong resolve he closed his email and shut down the computer. He would deal with his father tomorrow. He had no idea how to explain to his shifter-phobic parent about moving to a town almost completely populated by shape shifters.
    * * * *
    A PRIDELESS MAN
    Amber Kell
    7
    “I haven’t seen him yet, Sheriff.”
    Lou looked away from the window and into the amused eyes of his waitress, Kelly.
    “Who’s that?”
    “Now, Sheriff, we both know you’re waiting for that odd-smelling boy.” The deer shifter waitress gave him a sweet smile.
    “He doesn’t smell odd. He smells wonderful.” Beneath all the medication, James’ scent drove Lou wild even as he wondered about the human’s health problems. The pain the other man suffered carved deep lines on either side of his mouth and the slow methodical way he moved made Lou wince with sympathy and wish he could comfort the stoic human.
    “We all know you’ve got it bad for him. The only thing I wonder about is why he fights it. He wants you so bad even Blaire commented on how he looks at you.”
    “Really?” He ignored Kelly’s disdain as she talked about the other woman. Blaire was a perceptive person but Lou knew they were both vying for the same man—a feckless coyote shifter who wouldn’t be faithful to either of them. He kept that opinion to himself. Kelly wouldn’t thank him for the advice and he had a policy to keep out of other people’s love lives unless weapons and claws became involved.
    “Yep. Oh, look who the cat dragged in.” Kelly winked at the sheriff. “It’s a shame we don’t have any extra tables. Maybe you’ll share yours.”
    “I’d be happy to share mine.” Lou gave the waitress a wide grin, blithely ignoring the five empty booths surrounding him.
    He watched in amusement as Kelly whisked a protesting James to his booth. The young man looked flustered as he leaned on his cane. Lou frowned at it.
    “Is that new?”
    He thought he’d have noticed if the man had a cane before.
    James gave a slow shake of the head. “I only use it on really bad days. You mind if I join you? Apparently you have the only available seat.” He gave Lou an apologetic smile over Kelly’s antics.
    “Of course not. Please sit.” Lou waved a welcoming hand towards the opposite side of the booth. He bit his lower lip to hide his pleased smile.
    As Lou watched the fine lines around the human’s mouth tighten, his shifter muscles twitched in sympathy. The human looked to be suffering from excruciating pain, but he A PRIDELESS MAN
    Amber Kell
    8
    made no sound or bid for pity as he sat and turned to the waitress. “A cup of coffee and a blueberry muffin if you have them, please.”
    “Sure do, be right back.”
    “You need something more than that,” Lou protested.
    James gave a soft laugh as he spied the multiple plates of food sitting before Lou. “I don’t eat quite as much as a bear shifter.”
    Lou offered him a smile even though he didn’t really feel the humour. Worry riddled his chest like a physical ache. He took a deep sniff. “What kind of medication are you on?”
    “Is that a polite way of asking what the hell is wrong with me?”
    “Or a not so polite way,” Lou admitted. He went silent as Kelly returned, placing a muffin and a mug of coffee on the table before James.
    “You boys want anything