Bane: Single Daddy Shifters #2 Read online

  Copyright © 2020 by 13th Story Press

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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  Swarthmore, PA 19081

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  Cover design by The Book Brander

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  Bane

  Single Daddy Shifters #2

  Tasha Black

  13th Story Press

  Contents

  Tasha Black Starter Library

  About Bane

  Bane

  1. Kelly

  2. Bane

  3. Kelly

  4. Bane

  5. Kelly

  6. Kelly

  7. Bane

  8. Kelly

  9. Kelly

  10. Kelly

  11. Bane

  12. Kelly

  13. Bane

  14. Kelly

  15. Bane

  16. Bane

  17. Kelly

  18. Bane

  19. Kelly

  20. Bane

  21. Kelly

  22. Bane

  23. Kelly

  24. Bane

  Chase - SAMPLE

  1. Izzy

  2. Chase

  Tasha Black Starter Library

  About the Author

  One Percent Club

  Tasha Black Starter Library

  Packed with steamy shifters, mischievous magic, billionaire superheroes, and plenty of HEAT, the Tasha Black Starter Library is the perfect way to dive into Tasha's unique brand of Romance with Bite!

  Get your FREE books now at tashablack.com!

  About Bane

  What happens when a curvy café owner falls for a single daddy wolf shifter… literally?

  Kelly McDermott has always wanted to own a book & bake shop. Her dream has come true, except that the business across the street is decimating her customer base. If it weren’t for the generous monthly rent payment from her handsome new tenant and his adorable little boy, she might be in real trouble. But Kelly is determined to turn things around.

  Bane has just reinvented his whole life in the charming town of Tarker’s Hollow. Between trips to and from pre-school with his sweet toddler, Ollie, and his freelance writing career, Bane should have his hands full. But it’s all too easy to get distracted with his delicious landlady around.

  When an unlucky tumble takes Kelly off her feet, Bane and little Ollie step in to help with the cafe. But while Kelly is on the mend, she starts to have her suspicions about some shady activity across the street. Can she resist the call of Bane’s animal magnetism long enough to solve the mystery, or is it just her imagination getting the best of her?

  If you like strong women, sexy shifter men and unbelievably adorable babies, you will love the Single Daddy Shifters series, set in the steamy shifter world of Tarker’s Hollow!

  Single Daddy Shifters:

  -Axel

  -Bane

  -Chase

  -Dax

  Bane

  1

  Kelly

  Kelly McDermott gazed out the window at her approaching quarry.

  Minna Randolf was practically trotting toward the shop. The older woman was wearing a sweatshirt with kittens on it today. Her ample bosoms made the friendly felines seem to nod emphatically with each step.

  Kelly glanced down at her wares one last time.

  Everything was in order. The muffins in the baskets were lined up like soldiers, juicy blueberries and coffeecake toppings proudly on display. The bagels leaned on each other in long rows, showing off, swirls of rye, seas of sesame seeds and crinkly onion bits. Stainless steel urns of fragrant flavored coffee lined the countertop.

  And under the glass case, in the center of a circle of bear claws was the pièce de résistance - a mountain of fragrant cinnamon buns, their glaze glistening in the morning light.

  Kelly sighed with satisfaction.

  She had to be up before five every day to make it happen, but Mornings at McDermott’s was ready for business.

  Kelly had always dreamed of having a book and bake shop. When this space had opened up just after her grandmother left her a tidy sum of inheritance money, she figured it was meant to be.

  For now, the books on the built-in shelves Jack Harkness had installed for her were all Kelly’s own - free for any customer to borrow.

  But one day she hoped to make the place a real bookshop, where local authors could come in to do readings and sell their work.

  Outside, Minna had almost reached the shop.

  Kelly couldn’t help noticing the worried look on her favorite customer’s face. Minna was glancing at her watch, almost as if she were late.

  Kelly wasn’t sure how you could be late to grab a cinnamon bun and curl up with a good book, but it was the only way to explain Minna’s expression.

  Then it happened.

  Minna turned and went into the storefront across the street.

  Kelly’s mouth dropped open in horror.

  Et tu, Minna?

  But she had seen it with her own eyes.

  Minna was going straight in the door of Yoga Valhalla.

  Kelly sighed and looked around her café.

  It was empty.

  And it looked like it was going to stay that way a little while longer.

  Ever since Whitney Ogden had opened Yoga Valhalla right across the street, no one seemed to want to buy artisanal baked goods and chocolates anymore.

  And it made a certain kind of sense.

  The gigantic windows of the yoga studio had a direct view into the café. Kelly figured her customers must feel guilty for luxuriating in good old-fashioned carbs and literature in front of their fitness-minded friends.

  Kelly had nothing against good exercise, she enjoyed a nice long walk every evening herself. But she couldn’t deny that this particular studio in this particular location was making things harder for her.

  Fall was typically Kelly’s busy season. Off-routine moms hurrying their kids to school would stop in for a store-bought pick-me-up, and if they enjoyed the experience, they’d pick up a new habit that involved books and baked goods. Deeper into the season, shoppers would stop in for a quick bite and a gift card.

  Her slowest time was normally January when so many people were still trying to stick to their New Year’s resolutions.

  But if things kept up like this, she might not make it until January.

  At least she still had one regular customer she could count on. Well, two…

  She smiled to herself as she headed back to the kitchen, thinking of Bane Wilson and his son Ollie.

  When Kelly bought the building, she’d been excited about the two apartments above the shop. She would have one for herself and the other would make an amazing guest suite for visiting authors one day.

  But the last six months after the yoga studio opened had been lean, and she’d decided to rent out the other apartment to help her business stay afloat.

  Dulcie Blanco of Tarker’s Hollow Realty Group found her a perfect tenant at a rent so high Kelly worried it might be unethical.

  “There aren’t too many rentals in Tarker’s Hollow, so it’s simple supply and demand,” Dulcie explained. “And Bane has plenty of money. He just needs a place for himself and Oliver while they wait for the big house to sell.”

  Bane Wilson was kind of a legend in Tarker’s Hollow - at least among book nerds like Kelly and her friends. Popular and athletic in
high school, but always polite and friendly, Bane had gone on to a high-profile career as a literary agent out in Glacier City.

  But when his sister and her husband died in a car accident, Bane gave it all up to move back to Tarker’s Hollow and raise his nephew, Oliver, in his home community.

  Bane wasn’t even keeping the house - an exquisitely renovated and gargantuan stone center hall colonial up on Elm Avenue. Rumor had it that his plan was to find a nice little cottage in the center of town and put the proceeds from the sale of the big old house into a college account for Ollie.

  Kelly McDermott had been anything but popular in high school. The curves she had grudgingly learned to love in adulthood had just cropped up back then. Her petite height made her seem even rounder. And the flashy grill of metal braces made her hide her shy smile.

  She knew Bane Wilson was supposed to be a nice guy, but she hadn’t exactly run in his circles.

  Now that she saw him every day though she had to admit that everyone was right about him - he really was perfect.

  But not as perfect as Ollie.

  Three years old and full of wonder, Oliver Wilson was the embodiment of Kelly’s own spirit. He loved baking, he loved books, and he wore his big heart on his little sleeve.

  She adored him and dreaded the day when the two of them would inevitably move on to slightly bigger and much better things.

  But until then, she was determined to make life as cheerful for Ollie as possible.

  She grabbed the box that had arrived yesterday afternoon out of her little office and headed back into the café to set up. If she was quick, she could get it all done before Ollie got downstairs.

  2

  Bane

  Bane Wilson tried not to smile as he faced off with his adversary.

  “No,” Ollie said, the word somewhat muffled by his favorite dinosaur mask.

  “Now, Ollie,” Bane said reasonably. “We’ve talked about this before. You can’t wear a costume to pre-school.”

  “Why not?” the small dinosaur demanded, stomping its mighty foot.

  “Well, for one thing your teacher might get confused,” Bane said. “Where is Ollie? Is he lost?” His imitation of Teacher Helen was pretty good - he’d had plenty of practice. He pretended to look all over the room. “Oh dear, oh dear, dear, dear…” He sniffed a little for effect. Ollie loved Teacher Helen.

  “I’m here!” Ollie cried, ripping off the mask.

  “Oh, thank heavens,” Bane said in Teacher Helen’s voice.

  Ollie wrapped his arms around Bane’s waist.

  Bane felt the familiar pang of pride and loss.

  Ollie was the spitting image of his mother, and Bane’s sister, Risa, in moments like this. He missed her exuberance so much, and he was very grateful that he had this small person to remind him of her.

  “That won’t really happen,” Ollie said, sounding a little uncertain. “I can still wear my costume.”

  “How about a compromise?” Bane suggested.

  “Okay,” Ollie agreed, amazing Bane.

  “Do you remember what a compromise is?” Bane asked.

  “Yes,” Ollie said seriously. “I get what I want - but only kind of.”

  “Wow, bud, very good,” Bane said, nodding. “How about this compromise? What if you don’t wear your dinosaur costume, but you do wear your light-up dinosaur sneakers and your dinosaur backpack?”

  Ollie considered for a moment.

  “Yeah, okay,” he said at last, peeling his costume off and leaving it on the floor in a pile.

  Bane figured they could focus on cleaning up later. For now, the calm negotiation was a victory.

  “Great,” Bane said. “And look, I even packed you this dinosaur cheese stick for your snack.”

  He showed Ollie the cheese stick.

  “That’s not a dinosaur cheese stick,” Ollie said. “That’s just a regular cheese stick.”

  “Not if you eat it like this,” Bane said. “Rawwwrrrrrr.”

  He pretended to gobble up the cheese stick while holding it with tiny T-Rex hands.

  Ollie’s laughter was like a waterfall.

  “Are you ready to walk to pre-school?” Bane asked.

  “Yes,” Ollie said.

  “Are your shoes on?”

  “Yes.”

  “Backpack on?”

  “Yes.”

  “Yes,” Bane said. “Let’s do it.”

  They headed out of the apartment together and down the narrow staircase.

  Ollie walked ahead, obligingly holding the handrail even though it was high for him. Another compromise, because he didn’t want to have to hold Bane’s hand every time.

  “Good morning, Ollie,” Kelly’s voice sang out when they reached the café below.

  She was bent over something in the corner near the glass case, but she stood and waved to Ollie.

  “Hi, Kelly, I’m hungry,” Ollie said, unsubtly angling for a treat from their friendly landlady.

  “I was hoping you might say that,” Kelly said. “I made something new this morning and I need someone to try it out.”

  “Me,” Ollie cried, delighted. “I will try it!”

  “Thank you, Ollie,” Kelly said.

  Bane watched as she scurried off behind the counter.

  Kelly McDermott had been the quiet type in high school. Bane remembered her as forever awkward, hiding behind that silky cascade of hair.

  The soft hair was back in a ponytail today, so he could see her heart-shaped face. She had blossomed into a beautiful woman who was right at home in her own skin.

  And she was especially beautiful when she was talking with Ollie.

  “Okay,” she said, carrying a small bag. “You know how sometimes you want to try a muffin, but it’s too big?”

  Ollie knew about that. He nodded enthusiastically.

  “These are mini-muffins,” Kelly said. “This way you can try three different muffins and they are the right size.”

  “Oh,” Ollie said, his eyes sparkling as he examined the bag of small muffins.

  “Give them a try, and when you get home from school you can tell me if you liked them, okay?” Kelly asked. “I put them in a bag, in case you wanted to save some for your snack.”

  “I swear I feed him,” Bane told her quietly.

  She smiled up at him, eyes sparkling, and he felt something shift in his chest, a whisper of excitement.

  The wolf inside him pricked up his ears and tasted her scent. She was exquisite.

  Mine.

  “You’re a great dad,” she told him, blissfully unaware of the effect she was having on his wolf. “I just like giving him a little treat. I hope it’s okay.”

  “It’s more than okay,” Bane said, forcing himself to look away from her.

  He glanced down at Ollie, who was already sampling a mini muffin and making happy humming sounds as he chewed, cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk.

  “You’d better go,” Kelly said. “I don’t want to make you guys late.”

  “Sure,” he said reluctantly. “See you later.”

  They waved good-bye to her and then headed out.

  Bane took a deep breath of the cool fall air to center himself.

  It was overcast, the damp air saturating the colors of the small town: slate gray sidewalks festooned with fiery fallen leaves, bright shop signs, and the glistening yellow and scarlet leaves that still whispered in the wind through the tree branches.

  The scent of rain was on the air and Bane could practically feel the sizzle of lightning.

  Or maybe it was just the aftereffects of his interaction with Kelly.

  “I think it’s going to rain today, bud,” Bane told Ollie, putting himself back into dad-mode. “You still have your jacket in your backpack, right?”

  “Right,” Ollie said through a mouthful of muffin.

  “Good work,” Bane told him. “How’s the muffin.”

  “Great,” Ollie squeaked.

  “Kelly’s a good baker,” Bane sa
id.

  “Mm,” Ollie agreed around his next bite.

  They walked on, crossing Yale and passing the community center.

  “Playgroup,” Ollie said, casually pointing at the building on his way past.

  “Yup,” Bane agreed.

  The pre-school was just on the other side of the parking lot.

  Normally there was a tangle of cars at the drop-off and the shouts of children on tricycles and playing in the sandbox.

  But the place was empty - no cars, no kids, no barricades out.

  “Not again,” Bane groaned, pulling out his phone.

  The pre-school was the best in the area, but they were closed for every conceivable holiday known to man.

  “Nobody’s here,” Ollie said sadly.

  “It must be Talk-Like-a-Pirate Day or something,” Bane said, scrolling through his phone to see if he had an email about it.

  “It is?” Ollie asked excitedly.

  “Oh, I was only kidding, bud,” Bane said. “But you can talk like a pirate if you want.”

  “I’ll talk like a dinosaur,” Ollie decided. “Rawrrrr!”

  Bane smiled and roared back.

  Yup, there was the email. The pre-school was closed today for staff reinvigoration - whatever that was. It was even in his calendar.

  Bane sighed.

  Though he knew he was doing his best in his new role as a dad, and trying to accustom himself to his new lifestyle, this was proof positive that he was still overwhelmed and having a hard time staying organized.