Free The Shifter's Mate (Paranormal Pleasures) by Nadia Nightside Page B

responsibility, would still be making five thousand. Not bad for just playing at Day Care and making rope knots and fresh cookies with kids. Heather Springs could afford these salaries because she took so little herself, and because she boasted one of the most progressive summer camps in the whole region, complete with recycling classes, do-it-yourself initiatives on making electronics and machines from old junk, survival kits for economic and industrial collapse, and spiritual health awareness assemblies. Only the most bourgeois of bourgeois parents could afford it—and so of course, they all were desperate to do just that.
    Stepping around the small crowd of counselors, Lauren approached Maryse and Bryce. Maryse was already stroking Bryce’s face, his hands on her sexy hips, shown off expertly in a tiny white miniskirt. Her platform sandals were completely inappropriate for the tasks at hand...but they made her legs look stellar. Lauren had trouble deciding who she was instantly more attracted to. They were an obvious power couple, each radiating clear, easy authority with their good looks and charm.
    Still, Lauren was a little less intimidated by Bryce. She had tutored him through Calculus all the last semester of high school, becoming quite close to him. She liked his easy sense of humor, and his lack of any sense of superiority or formality about his status at school—he was, in that way, the direct opposite of Maryse.
    Lauren had been the one to encourage him to apply to the job here. And, of course, Lauren was also the one who ensured he got hired.
    “Hey, you guys,” called Lauren. She tried to sound both friendly and authoritative at the same time—a congenial manager. “Good to see you. Maryse, are you going to be staying?”
    “I am!” She slipped her arms around Bryce, squeezing tight. “I just can’t stay away from my Brycey for long, you know?”
    Maryse delivered sizzling hot kiss, sliding her long, tanned leg up and around his waist. He seemed surprised—and more than a bit embarrassed—at her level of affection.
    Sliding out from her grip, Bryce held out his hand to Lauren to shake. God, his shirt was so tight around his hard pecs...
    “Thanks for putting all this together,” he said, pointing out at the food table, the banner over the center building. “It looks really great. We’re lucky to have you in charge!”
    He said this with a brilliant smile—of course—and Lauren’s heart practically melted, all thoughts of Maryse banished for a few beautiful seconds. That was, at least, until the sexy blonde slipped back into view, her ample cleavage almost sliding completely out from her tiny purple halter top.
    “Yeah, it looks pretty neat,” she said enthusiastically. “Why’s it all so...brown, though?”
    Lauren cast an eye back at the decorations with them.
    “Well, we want to promote endearment to nature,” explained Lauren. “So, even our decorations should reflect that.”
    “I guess so,’ said Maryse, appearing as though she was honestly trying to be sympathetic, sliding a hand through her soft golden hair. “But, do you really think people will care about nature if it looks so drab all the time?”
    Their conversation was interrupted by the throaty rumble of an arriving motorcycle. The last one of the counselors to arrive—Caleb. Oh, Caleb. He scared Lauren a little.
    A gorgeous, tall woman dressed in denim and leather, with long, long ebony hair that wrapped around her waist, positively dripping liquid sex, rode on Caleb's bike. She was seated behind him, not bothering to wear a helmet. Just from looking at her from a distance, Lauren felt her body heat up—even more than it did when she was in front of Maryse and Bryce. When Caleb slipped off the bike with his bag, the woman gave him a quick hug and drove off.
    Was that goddess Caleb's girlfriend? It was hard to believe.
    Up until a year ago, he had been your average high school nerd. Then, he fell in with the biker