Free GettingLuckyinGalway by Allie Standifer

fashion at the thought and followed her nose to the wonderful
smell of breakfast.
    “Ah, finally you’re showing yourself. I wondered if I would
have to send a rescue party to find you in that monstrosity of a bathroom,” Nob
greeted her while flipping something golden and delicious-looking on the stove.
    “It’s a monument to gold, that’s for sure. What did this
place look like before Roark took over?” She grabbed the single cup in front of
the coffeepot and filled it to the brim. “Hmmm, this smells just like home.”
She took a small sip, aware of the danger of slurping the steaming liquid.
“Tastes like my home brew too.”
    “As it should, since I took the beans straight from your
apartment. Also I sent a few of the younger cousins to tidy up your place a
bit. It’ll give them something to do and keep them out of trouble for the next
little while.” Nob carried a full plate of corn-style pancakes, thick sausages
and buttery potatoes and set it in front of her.
    “Eat it up. Shifters need their protein and from what I’ve
seen of your home you don’t eat enough to keep a sheep alive.” His scolding
came firm but lovingly.
    Calder speared a corn cake into her mouth and forgot about
protesting Nob’s lack of insight on her eating habits. “Hmm, yum, you keep
feeding me like this and I’ll let you insult my fridge all you want.”
    “Calder, I simply don’t understand.” The little man tugged
nervously at his strangely dotted scarf. “You are a shifter, born and bred, but
nothing exists in your home except food for cattle and goats. Nothing a
predator of your nature should be eating. I confess it’s left me feeling a
little confused.”
    How to explain the modern woman’s aversion to looking like a
female without causing the poor brownie’s head to explode? “Umm…it was my
grocery day?”
    “Oh.” The little man looked relieved. “Oh my yes, that
explains so much. Well, no worries then my younger cousins will have you
stocked up in no time.”
    Really she should be worried about these cousins of his
trampling through her home, but it wasn’t as if they could make a bigger mess
than what she’d left behind. Packing had never been her strong suit and
unfortunately her home reflected it. “Do I need to pay these guys or do they
work on a barter system?”
    “Oh heaven no.” The Fae looked insulted at such an offer
you’d think Calder offered to blow his dad the way Nob reacted.
    “Fine,” she said, more than willing to drop the subject. “So
how long before Roark comes to his senses?”
    “Oh not long, not long at all, my dear, maybe only twenty or
thirty years, if that.” He looked pleased as punch at his announcement.
    “Hell, no!” Calder pushed back from the table and her
delicious meal. “I’m not hanging around waiting a quarter of a century for a
man who may or may not come around to being my mate.” The very idea of lowering
herself to waiting for a man, not even a male lion, had her seeing red.
    “But, Calder, Roark needs some time to settle down and come
to terms with the idea,” Nob protested, cutting her off as she headed straight
to the back door and into sanity.
    “I am a fully grown, capable and mature female shifter. I am
not some two-bit human woman willing to beg for a man’s attention. If he
doesn’t want me now then he won’t want me twenty years from now. I’ll find a
man who does want everything I offer and he damn well better be a lion I can be
proud of. Not some sorry excuse for a leprechaun, useless to anyone but
himself.”
    Calder stormed past the determined brownie, careful even in
her anger to avoid brushing by him. No sense in hurting the last innocent
person in the house.
    “Bye, Nob. It’s been…well…it’s been something. Thanks for
the great breakfast and sending the cousins to straighten out my packing
attack. If you ever get a vacation from Lord Vain-A-Lot be sure to look me up
in Louisiana.”
    “Oh I can’t let this happen,”