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Jenna, who had since married her fiancé and moved to Colorado Springs, told Jamie that she should move there. The city was growing and there were a lot of jobs. She would have a place to stay until she got herself established.
Jamie decided to stay in Ivy Springs, at least for the time being. She sold her parents’ house and most of their belongings to pay off the remaining hospital bills and found a small bungalow to rent. It seemed almost fate when she ran into Clara Montgomery, who had just bought a popular café and was looking for a manager. Jamie liked her, and Clara’s son, Zeke, right away. It didn’t take long for the two of them to become close friends.
Clara was completely surprised when she, a human, was introduced to the shifter world. Jamie had to laugh when she shifted into her bear form in front of Clara. Jamie was pretty sure that Clara was going to pass out from shock. Jamie explained to her that there were shifters for practically every animal species in existence.
Clara soon became enamored with Dillon Adams, the wolf shifter who owned the general store next door.
“I really like him. There is just something about him that draws me to him,” Clara confided over coffee and danishes one day.
“Dillon is a great guy. If you have feelings for him then you should pursue them,” I encouraged.
She hesitated.
“You know that I just got the divorce from John. I’m not so sure that I’m ready.”
John was her abusive ex-husband.
“What does your heart tell you?”
“That Dillon is nothing like John.”
“Then, I say go for it.”
She nodded and then changed the subject.
“What about you? Have you ever been in love?”
Jamie was quiet for a minute and nodded.
“I thought that I was, once. But it didn’t work out.”
Jamie knew that Clara wanted to know more, but she didn’t want to talk about it. Even after five years, Jamie still felt the humiliation of being left at the altar on her wedding day because the man she loved and trusted had betrayed her.
Clara sensed that Jamie wasn’t in the mood to discuss it, so she changed the subject.
Life went on for Jamie. She was satisfied that she had a great job with a close friend. Clara’s son, Zeke, and Zeke’s chihuahua, Reno, made Jamie smile. Every once in a while, though, she wondered what it would be like to have her own child to love. She quickly pushed those thoughts away any time they came up though. It was out of the question.
About a month after Clara and Dillon finally tied the knot, everything got back into a routine. Jamie appreciated that because routines were comfortable.
One morning, the bell on the door jingled, letting Jamie know that there was a customer. Her jaw dropped when she saw that Luke Abrams was back in town. The last she had heard about him was that he had joined the military and was part of some elite unit that was busy saving the world from terrorists.
The man who had joined the army was not the Norse god who walked into the café. He had been a skinny, gangly teenager. Jamie had never paid much attention to him, since she had been so enamored with Ryan.
“Luke?” Jamie asked in disbelief.
He gave the sexiest grin that Jamie had ever seen. She was certain that her heart started beating a little faster.
“In the flesh,” he said. “How have you been?”
There was no recognition in his eyes at first. Jamie was sure that he had squinted at her name badge so that he knew who she was.
“Terrific. I didn’t know that you were back home. Is it permanent or are you on leave?”
“It’s permanent. I decided that I had enough fun to last me a life time.”
“Are you sure that you won’t be bored in Ivy Springs?”
“I’ve learned that excitement isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. Excitement is very,” he said. “Boring is just what I need.”
