Fascination: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Shifters Forever After Book 2) by Elle Thorne
Authors: Elle Thorne
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1
N o one said being a cat burglar would be easy.
But it was worth it. And it was the quickest way for black panther shifter Cadence Araya to get her hands on a boatload of money.
Eyes burning like she’d had a handful of sand thrown in them, Cade was suffering from a sleepless night, but she couldn’t pass up this dinner. She hadn’t seen her sister Laken in a month, not since she’d left for Africa to work with the victims of war. She’d taken her new mate Ky Romanoff with her. He’d given up a prestigious job with the Shifter Supreme Court to travel with Laken, and they were coming back today.
Cade missed Laken. Missed her sister’s caring mannerisms. Missed the way she calmed her when Cade was in a tizzy over the details of one job or another. Except Laken didn’t know about Cade’s jobs.
Miss Goody Two Shoes that she was, Laken wouldn’t get it.
Nope, not one bit.
“Ready?” Cade turned to their baby sister Carina.
“What’s the hurry? We’re not expected for another hour.” Cari yanked on the zipper on her pants. The zipper’s steel teeth sealed with a metal-on-metal grinding sound. The two sisters were meeting Laken and Ky at the Romanoffs—Ky’s aunt and uncle—for dinner.
“I don’t know. I’m just antsy.” Cade tugged on her dress’s hem. She hated dresses; she’d rather be in her yoga pants and a comfy tee that hugged her curves just so.
“Because of last night’s job? I thought you said it went okay.”
I lied. “It did.”
Of course Carina knew about Cade’s nighttime activities. Cade had to confess after Cari found Cade’s stash of equipment. Not a very abundant stash, but when one considered what else was in the stash—jewels and cash, lots of it—Carina had a right to ask questions.
And Cade couldn’t lie to her.
So she’d told Cari everything—including what she was doing with the money.
Cari understood, but that didn’t stop her from worrying and hovering like an overprotective hen at times.
“Let’s get a latte on the way. My treat.”
----
C ade and Cari arrived early at the Romanoff residence. Ky’s uncle Mikhail and aunt Miriam were welcoming and sweet, making them feel comfortable.
Laken and Ky were a few minutes behind. A luggage situation, Miriam explained.
They’d just become acquainted with the Romanoffs and Ky’s brother Jonah, a polar bear shifter, when a knock sounded at the door.
Miriam slipped away to open it. Seconds later, Cade heard the deep timbre of Ky’s voice, and the softer sound of Laken’s.
Then she heard Miriam say, “I’ve never seen you so happy. Come in. Almost everyone’s here. Including Carina and Cadence. And they’ve missed you.”
“Almost everyone?” Ky’s voice. “Let me guess, Jonah’s not here.”
Miriam laughed. “Oh, no. He’s here. This time it’s your other brother Isaac. He said he’d be a few minutes late. Something to do with a case.”
“Did Mae and the others make it safely to Bear Canyon Valley?” Ky again.
“No incidents, thankfully,” Miriam said. “And we’ve seen Bain twice. He had lunch with your uncle once, and dinner with both of us last week.”
Cari tugged on Cade’s sleeve and they headed for the front door. They grabbed Laken in a hug.
“I’m glad you’re home.” Cari took Laken’s hand. “Tell me you’re staying through the holidays.”
“Yes, say you are,” Cade insisted.
Miriam shuttled them toward the next room.
Mikhail came in, carrying three wine glasses filled with dark red wine. He handed Laken, Cade, and Carina a glass each. “Merlot? You’ll love this one, if you’re a fan. It’s a special edition.”
“Thank you,” Laken said to Mikhail, accepting the wine glass. “And yes, we’re staying through the holidays. What have you two been up to?”
“Just work,” Cari said.
“You?” Laken looked at Cade.
Cade shrugged. Oh, just a burglary or two. “Work, mostly.” She took a sip of the wine.
Behind them came the sound of a
N o one said being a cat burglar would be easy.
But it was worth it. And it was the quickest way for black panther shifter Cadence Araya to get her hands on a boatload of money.
Eyes burning like she’d had a handful of sand thrown in them, Cade was suffering from a sleepless night, but she couldn’t pass up this dinner. She hadn’t seen her sister Laken in a month, not since she’d left for Africa to work with the victims of war. She’d taken her new mate Ky Romanoff with her. He’d given up a prestigious job with the Shifter Supreme Court to travel with Laken, and they were coming back today.
Cade missed Laken. Missed her sister’s caring mannerisms. Missed the way she calmed her when Cade was in a tizzy over the details of one job or another. Except Laken didn’t know about Cade’s jobs.
Miss Goody Two Shoes that she was, Laken wouldn’t get it.
Nope, not one bit.
“Ready?” Cade turned to their baby sister Carina.
“What’s the hurry? We’re not expected for another hour.” Cari yanked on the zipper on her pants. The zipper’s steel teeth sealed with a metal-on-metal grinding sound. The two sisters were meeting Laken and Ky at the Romanoffs—Ky’s aunt and uncle—for dinner.
“I don’t know. I’m just antsy.” Cade tugged on her dress’s hem. She hated dresses; she’d rather be in her yoga pants and a comfy tee that hugged her curves just so.
“Because of last night’s job? I thought you said it went okay.”
I lied. “It did.”
Of course Carina knew about Cade’s nighttime activities. Cade had to confess after Cari found Cade’s stash of equipment. Not a very abundant stash, but when one considered what else was in the stash—jewels and cash, lots of it—Carina had a right to ask questions.
And Cade couldn’t lie to her.
So she’d told Cari everything—including what she was doing with the money.
Cari understood, but that didn’t stop her from worrying and hovering like an overprotective hen at times.
“Let’s get a latte on the way. My treat.”
----
C ade and Cari arrived early at the Romanoff residence. Ky’s uncle Mikhail and aunt Miriam were welcoming and sweet, making them feel comfortable.
Laken and Ky were a few minutes behind. A luggage situation, Miriam explained.
They’d just become acquainted with the Romanoffs and Ky’s brother Jonah, a polar bear shifter, when a knock sounded at the door.
Miriam slipped away to open it. Seconds later, Cade heard the deep timbre of Ky’s voice, and the softer sound of Laken’s.
Then she heard Miriam say, “I’ve never seen you so happy. Come in. Almost everyone’s here. Including Carina and Cadence. And they’ve missed you.”
“Almost everyone?” Ky’s voice. “Let me guess, Jonah’s not here.”
Miriam laughed. “Oh, no. He’s here. This time it’s your other brother Isaac. He said he’d be a few minutes late. Something to do with a case.”
“Did Mae and the others make it safely to Bear Canyon Valley?” Ky again.
“No incidents, thankfully,” Miriam said. “And we’ve seen Bain twice. He had lunch with your uncle once, and dinner with both of us last week.”
Cari tugged on Cade’s sleeve and they headed for the front door. They grabbed Laken in a hug.
“I’m glad you’re home.” Cari took Laken’s hand. “Tell me you’re staying through the holidays.”
“Yes, say you are,” Cade insisted.
Miriam shuttled them toward the next room.
Mikhail came in, carrying three wine glasses filled with dark red wine. He handed Laken, Cade, and Carina a glass each. “Merlot? You’ll love this one, if you’re a fan. It’s a special edition.”
“Thank you,” Laken said to Mikhail, accepting the wine glass. “And yes, we’re staying through the holidays. What have you two been up to?”
“Just work,” Cari said.
“You?” Laken looked at Cade.
Cade shrugged. Oh, just a burglary or two. “Work, mostly.” She took a sip of the wine.
Behind them came the sound of a
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