half and half.”
“More strangers, more potential new friends. It’s all good.” Shayla signaled at Johnny, her favorite bartender. He nodded and a minute later brought her a glass of white wine, a nice chardonnay, her usual. Maddie already had her beer, a dark one this time.
The band announced they were taking a break and left the stage. While she’d enjoyed the music, Shayla was glad since this would give her and Maddie an opportunity to talk without having to shout.
“How’s things at the job?” Shayla asked. Maddie always had great stories about the drama going on both inside her emergency communication call center and in the outside world. Shayla loved hearing these, since her own work was so solitary.
“I don’t know how much longer I can take it there.” Maddie’s usually ready smile vanished. “With the tourism season upon us, crimes are skyrocketing. They’re demanding we work more hours to cover the personnel shortages. All of us are exhausted and miserable and crabby. I almost didn’t get off work in time to make it here. One of my coworkers had to cover the last hour for me.”
“That sounds rough,” Shayla commiserated, even though she had no real frame of reference.
“Oh, it’s only just starting. First, we have spring break, which is next week. And then, you know how things are once summer arrives. The island is packed.” Shaking her head, Maddie took a slug of beer. “They know I take night classes at Texas A&M Galveston. I can’t miss those, but my supervisor told me the job has to come first. I don’t think they can force me to work mandatory overtime, but who knows.” She sighed. “I’ve already paid for this semester, so if I don’t attend class, I forfeit the fees. I’m working on redoing my resume so I can see what other employment might be available.”
This was the first time her friend had mentioned leaving her job. “I could maybe give you some part-time work,” Shayla offered. “But it wouldn’t pay as much. And it’d be extremely part-time. I don’t have a lot extra that I can’t do myself. In fact, I was thinking of finding something else to help occupy my time.”
Maddie tilted her head, smiling once again. “You’re so sweet for offering. Actually, I might take you up on it if they drive me insane enough. Who knows, maybe I can cobble together several part-time jobs and make it work.”
“Maybe we can start our own business,” Shayla mused. “If you could do anything, what kind of work would you like to do?”
“Private detective work.” Maddie didn’t even hesitate. “You know my father owned a PI agency. I worked there from the moment I could walk. I hated that Mom sold it after Dad died.”
At that moment, Derek, the bass guitarist, and Rory, the lead singer, came over to chat. Their band played Broken Chains several times a month, and the two men continually asked Shayla and Maddie out, alternating which man asked whom. Both women found them amusing, but had no desire to mess up the fun dynamic they currently enjoyed with the band.
The drummer, Waylan, wandered over, reminding the others it was nearly time to get back onstage. Shayla and Maddie shared amused looks as Rory and Derek took their leave, promising to stop back before the evening ended.
“Hey,” Maddie said, motioning to Shayla that she should lean in closer. “Don’t look now, but the man right behind you has been eating you up with his eyes. Messy, dark blond hair, silver-blue eyes and a body to die for.” She sighed. “He’s drop-dead gorgeous, so you’d better hope he comes over.”
Feigning interest, Shayla nodded, though she didn’t turn around. Instead, she took a sip of wine and focused on the band, who were now getting ready to play another song.
* * *
The two women sitting at the table right behind his bar stool were both stunning. When he swiveled around to face the band, they were right there in his line of vision, their beauty a welcome diversion from his dark thoughts. Zach couldn’t keep from staring despite his preoccupation with finding Nantha. One of the women’s auras revealed her to be Shifter, and he’d bet the other, the slender gorgeous dark-eyed one with long, jet-black hair, was Mermaid. He’d spent enough time with his younger stepsister, Nantha, and her pretty Mermaid friends to recognize that certain glow in their aura.
Pretty didn’t even begin to describe this woman. Heart-shaped face, high cheekbones and lithe, graceful movements combined to make her breathtakingly gorgeous. Her long-lashed, emerald eyes spoke of Asian heritage, and the curve of her lush lips revealed her sensuality.
There wasn’t a single man in the bar who hadn’t noticed her or her redheaded friend. They were both stunning and sexy, in opposite ways.
Any other time, Zach might have approached the table with a flirtatious smile, offering to buy her a drink in exchange for a dance. However, now that he’d agreed to an engagement arranged by his stepfather, his flirting days were over. He could only fervently pray that his fiancée, a Mermaid he hadn’t yet met, resembled this one.
Right now though, he had more urgent and pressing business on his mind. Nantha had gone missing and he needed to find her. He’d come to Broken Chains with the intention of asking every Merfolk in the place if they’d seen her.
Might as well start now. He turned, locking gazes with the raven-haired Mermaid. Hounds, he felt the impact of her beauty like a punch in the gut. Even by Mermaid standards, she was gorgeous. Her eyes were the deep green of a stormy sea, framed in long, jet-black lashes. The pout of her lush lips had him longing to claim them with his. Damn. Summoning up all his willpower, he pushed the jolt of attraction aside and stood. Both women eyed him as he took the couple of steps necessary to bring him to their table.
Of course right at that moment, the band started playing again.
“Excuse me,” he said loudly, wishing the music could have held off a few more minutes. “Have either of you seen this woman?” He passed the redhead a picture of Nantha, one of his favorite ones of his younger stepsister. He well remembered the day that snapshot had been taken. Nantha had been about to return home after a visit. She’d stood in knee-deep water, filled with the joy the touch of the sea seemed to give its people. The full moon reflected on the calm night sea colored everything with a silver tranquility. She looked young, carefree and happy.
The red-haired Shifter shook her head, handing the photo to her friend.
The Mermaid’s long-lashed eyes widened as she accepted the photograph. She inhaled sharply, her gaze rushing from Nantha’s image to his. Of course, she immediately recognized that Nantha was Mer. “She’s lovely,” she finally said, raising her voice to be heard over the music. She passed it back. “But I’m sorry, I haven’t seen her. When was she in here last?”
“She hasn’t been here. She’s too young.” He swallowed, trying to contain his disappointment. Of course it wouldn’t be that easy. It never was. “Her name is Nantha. She’s my sister, and she’s missing.”
The two women exchanged glances. The red-haired Shifter looked Zach up and down. “What happened to her?” she asked. “How do you know she’s missing? She might just be taking a long swim or something.”
The Mermaid nodded. “We have been known to disappear under the sea for extended periods of time. I’m guessing, though, that you have more reasons that make you think something has happened to her?”
“I do.” He didn’t elaborate. Instead, he dragged his gaze away from the attractive pair and began scanning the bar
