by Ruby Shae
“Hey, I was wondering where you’d disappeared to. Is everything okay?”
No!
“Yes, but I need you to do me a favor.”
“Of course,” Izzy said. “What do you need?”
“Can you empty out my locker and meet me by the delivery door in two minutes?”
There was a long pause on the line, and Michelle could feel her panic rising. Was Gabe with Isabelle? Would she be loyal to her cousin and tell him her request?
“Sure, but…,” Izzy started. “Are you sure you’re okay? I can come back there.”
“No!” That was the last thing she wanted. The room smelled like sex, and the moment Isabelle walked in, she’d know Michelle had fucked their boss. “I mean, no, that’s okay. Everything is fine, but I have to leave and I don’t want to walk across the bar or come back inside.”
“Is Gabe with you?” Isabelle asked.
“No, he’s not,” she barked, and then softened her tone. “I mean, no, and I don’t know where he is.”
“Okay, what’s your combination?”
She rattled off the numbers, and then hung up the phone.
Her friend knew her well, but she was confident the woman would follow through and bring her belongings. Now all she had to do was leave the office, walk down the short hallway while avoiding the stares from the women waiting in the bathroom line, and push open the heavy metal door leading outside.
Easy as pie. Right.
She took a deep breath and exited the room with more confidence than she felt. She locked the door from the inside, and after checking her handiwork, she hurried down the hall, ignoring all the curious gaping in her direction.
Once outside, she ran around the building and got to the door at the same time Isabelle and Lucky stepped outside. If she’d been thinking clearly, she would have known the giant man would accompany her friend, but Lucky’s rule had slipped her mind.
He stayed by the door, and Isabelle ushered her a few feet away. The worry was evident on her friend’s face, and in person it was hard to stay strong.
“Is this everything?” Isabelle asked, handing her the small purse and keys she’d left on top of the bag.
“Yes,” she said, looking down at the now blurry items.
“You sure you don’t want to talk about it?”
“I’m sure,” she said, looking up to her friend. “Thank you for your help. I… You’ve been a good friend to me, and I’ll miss you.”
“Did Gabe fire you?” Isabelle roared.
“No, it’s nothing like that,” Michelle said, placating her. “I quit. It’s time for me to move on, that’s all.”
“Did something happen between you two?”
“Yes, but I don’t want to talk about it,” she said. “I’m sorry, but I have to go now.”
“Call me if you need anything,” Izzy said, catching her in a surprise hug. “Anything at all, and don’t be a stranger. Call when you don’t need anything, too.”
“I will,” Michelle agreed.
“Good. Lucky is going to walk you across the lot.”
“No,” she said, pulling away from the woman. “Please have him just watch from the door. I need to be alone right now.”
“Okay,” Isabelle nodded.
“Thanks again,” she smiled, and then turned and hurried toward her car.
Once inside the safety of the vehicle, the tears threatened to fall again, but she knew if she didn’t drive off right away Lucky would come and check on her. If he found her in tears, he’d drag her back inside to talk to Isabelle, and that couldn’t happen. She could never go back.
She started the car, and drove home in the darkness by rote. For the first time since her parent’s deaths, she felt truly and utterly alone. She also didn’t have a job, and thanks to Gabe, would never be able to find one in Liberty.
She let herself into her dark apartment, walked into the bathroom, and turned on the showerhead. She stripped off her clothes and threw them all away. It was bad enough her skin felt branded by his touch, and her memories were crystal clear, but she didn’t want any physical evidence of their one night together.
When the water was warm enough, she stepped into the spray and let the tears fall.
***
Gabe stood by the bar and scanned the room. He rolled his shoulders and silently dared anyone to challenge him. It had been a week since he’d ordered Michelle into his office, made love to her over his desk, and then ran out on her. He hadn’t gone back to the bar that night until an hour before closing, and that’s when he’d found the note she’d left him.
I quit.
The two simple words had mocked him every day and every night since.
The day after their encounter, he’d walked around the bar in a daze. Both Lucky and Isabelle had tried to talk to him, but he’d blown them both off. The next two days were Sunday and Monday, and without work to occupy him, he’d slowly driven himself insane.
By the time Tuesday had rolled around, he’d channeled all of his love, desire and desperate longing for his mate into anger and aggression, and he’d been a walking time bomb ever since. To make matters worse, he knew it was his own damn fault.
He should have never touched her, never known the way their bodies fit together perfectly, as if she were made specifically for him. To make matters worse, her note had struck a chord. For the past three days, he’d teetered a fine line between tracking her down and forcing her to accept him, and going back in time and erasing every memory of her existence.
Neither were viable options.
Despite her hatred of shifters, he and his mate were created for each other. Unfortunately, he had to live with the fact that they would never be together.
“Do you want a bottle of water?” Isabelle asked.
“If I wanted water, I would have asked you for it,” he snapped.
Izzy held up her hands and waved them in a sarcastic, sibling-like apology, but Lucky wasn’t about to let him pick on his cousin.
“Hey,” Lucky said, “you don’t need to talk to her like that.”
“What the hell are you going to do about it, big guy?”
What the fuck?
He had no idea why he was challenging his cousin’s mate, his longtime friend, but he didn’t back down from the big bear. Jared, who was usually the first in line for a fight, rounded the bar and wedged himself into the small space between them.
“Back off,” Jared said, his black eyes narrowed. “Both of you.”
They both refused to budge and he had a feeling he was about to get his ass kicked by his staff. No doubt he deserved it, but it wasn’t the kind of publicity he wanted for the Wild Bear.
Suddenly, Isabelle stood next to Lucky and whispered something in his ear. The man glared at him, but he took a step back and slowly returned his attention to surveying the room.
“Jared, cover for me, okay?” Izzy said.
Jared nodded and returned behind the bar without a word.
“Your office,” Izzy growled. “Now.”
He thought about ignoring her, but when he glanced at Lucky, the man raised one eyebrow as if to question his sanity. If he didn’t go with Isabelle, he’d have to fight his friend.
Damn it!
He stormed across the room toward the hallway that led to his office and Isabelle followed, hot on his heels. He unlocked the door, and she followed him inside, securing the door behind her.
“What. The. Fuck?” Izzy asked. “You’ve been in a shitty mood every day this week. What gives?”
Leave it to his cousin to get straight to the point. They’d grown up together, and the woman was a tomboy to the core. She could take him if she wanted to, and the thought sobered him. He had no desire to fight his cousin, her mate, or anyone else. He especially didn’t want to fight Jared. They’d be equally matched, but Jared’s brand of fighting would most likely earn him a trip to the emergency room.
She narrowed her eyes when he didn’t answer right away, and he knew h
e couldn’t hide the truth any longer.
“This has something to do with Michelle, doesn’t it?” she asked. “What happened between you two?”
He stared at her, trying to find the words, but she was too quick.
“Oh my god. She’s your mate, isn’t she? Is that the reason she quit? What did you do to her?”
“I didn’t do anything to her…well nothing she didn’t ask for…but yes, she’s my mate.”
“So what’s the problem?” Izzy asked. “And by the way, ewww!”
“The problem is,” he said, “it was more powerful than I expected and I couldn’t bear to watch her walk away, so I left. When I got back, I found her note. I never thought she’d quit. I guess I just hoped that after we…you know… I thought she’d change her mind about me.”
“So you thought sex would make her hate you?” Isabelle asked, deadpan.
“What? No, of course not,” Gabe said, warily. “I know she hates shifters, but I stupidly hoped she would see how combustible we are together and give me a chance.”
“What do you mean, she hates shifters?”
“I know she hates us,” he said. “You don’t have to cover for her.”
“You’re crazy,” Isabelle said, shaking her head. “What gave you the idea she hates shifters?”
“I overheard her telling a table of guys a couple weeks after I hired her.”
“Have you also heard her tell them she has a boyfriend? Or that her mate won’t let her dance with anyone, or allow her talk casually to the men she serves drinks to? She lies all the time,” Isabelle said, shrugging. “It’s part of the job.”
“Do you do it?” Gabe asked.
“Rarely, but I’ve got Lucky, and I’m not on the floor serving drinks. I can’t even believe you would fall for that,” Izzy chastised. “She’s lived in this town her whole life, and her boss and most of her friends are shifters. If she’d wanted to get away, she could have left after her parent’s died.”
“But that means…,”
He drifted off, unsure what to say as Isabelle’s words seeped in.
He’d heard all the examples of lies Izzy rattled off come out of Michelle’s mouth at least once at one point or another, and the boyfriend one had been the most recent. Why hadn’t he questioned her about it when she’d said she didn’t have a boyfriend?
Because your mind had temporarily stopped working.
No, even though he’d heard her say it to one of her customers, he’d believed her. Why hadn’t he done the same when he’d heard her say she hated shifters?
Shortly after that terrible night, she’d asked him out to coffee and he’d rudely declined. Had she felt drawn to him all this time? Did her feelings for him explain her anger with the Easter basket, and the fact that he’d dressed in a bunny costume for another woman?
“Oh, my god,” he said out loud. “I’m an idiot.”
“Yes, you are,” Isabelle agreed.
“I have to talk to her. Now,” he said. He handed Izzy the keys on his way to the door. “Will you and Lucky lock up?”
“Of course,” she said. “Good luck!”
The last part she’d called as he’d opened the door and stepped out into the loud, crowded hallway. He smiled as her words reached his ears over the din. She’d known he would hear her.
Later, he would apologize to his entire staff, but right now his only mission was to convince his mate he was worth a second chance.
Chapter Five
Michelle pulled her car into the last vacant space in the tiny lot provided by her apartment building and shut off the engine. The darkness of the night called to her, and she wished she had the ability to shift so she could run into the woods and disappear. She closed her eyes, leaned her forehead on the steering wheel, and sighed.
Her life sucked, and she didn’t think it could get any worse.
After she quit her job at the Wild Bear, she’d contacted the last two places she’d submitted applications, only to find out Gabe had gotten to them first. No one in Liberty would hire her, and openings in the surrounding towns were slim.
She’d searched for nearly five days, but finally found something two towns over. In an effort to avoid the drama, she’d been honest with her new potential boss. When he’d asked if Gabe would give her a good recommendation, she’d explained that he’d fucked her both literally and figuratively, and no, he wouldn’t be providing a reference she could use. The man had hired her on the spot.
Her first day, yesterday, had been great, but the only reason she’d been able to finish her shift tonight was because one of their usual waitresses had called in sick. At the end of her shift, her new boss had paid her for both days and sent her on her way.
She’d never purposely lashed out at a customer, but when she’d heard the blond bombshell talking about how she’d tricked the big bear shifter into dressing up as a bunny for her, Michelle had snapped and poured a frozen, fruity drink over the woman’s head.
The woman and her friends’ annoying laughter had carried across the club, and in that moment, Michelle had been swamped with jealousy and rage. Jealousy for the fact that Gabe had gone out of his way for the woman, and he would never make that kind of effort with her; and rage because the woman had dared to try and humiliate her man.
She knew he wasn’t hers, but since the night they’d had sex in his office, she’d felt more attached to him than ever. Somehow she had to forget about him, but she had no clue where to start.
A knock on her window caused her to jump, and she let out a small scream before she realized the man looming over her driver’s side door, and looking inside her window, was Gabe.
What the hell is he doing here?
She quickly glanced at the time on the dash, noting the early morning hour, and then she gathered up her belongings and exited the vehicle.
“My god, Gabe, you scared me half to death,” she said. “What are you doing here?”
“What are you doing sitting in your car alone in the middle of the night?” he demanded.
She shook her head and started walking toward the building. She didn’t work for him anymore and she didn’t owe him anything.
“Wait,” he said, grabbing her bicep. “You didn’t answer my question.”
She glanced to where his hand held her arm, and hated the fact that her pussy tingled and ached for his touch. He held her firmly, but she could easily step out of his grasp if she wanted to. She didn’t move. Heat from his palm warmed her flesh, and spread up her arm. The desire to wrap her arms around him and find solace in his arms pushed her to retreat.
“Not that it’s any of your business,” she said, stepping out of his grasp, “but I’m just getting home from work.”
“It’s past three in the morning,” he said, incredulous. “Why are you home so late?”
“I had a long drive. Look, Gabe, It’s been a long night—”
“Where are you working?” he asked.
“I was working in Pembrook, but tonight was my last shift.” She started walking away, hoping he would get the hint.
He didn’t.
“Pembrook?” he said, matching her stride. “That’s too far for you to travel for work.”
She stopped at the entrance to the building and turned to face him.
“I agree, but thanks to you, no one in Liberty will hire me.”
“About that, I—”
“It’s fine,” she said, holding up her hand to stop him from saying anymore. “It’s been nice seeing you, but I have to go now. Have a great night.”
She walked through the double glass doors and took the stairs to her second level apartment. The key slid in the keyhole easily, and she sighed when she heard the familiar click signaling the lock had opened.
“Actually, I was wondering if we could talk.”
Damn shifters and their stealth-like abilities.
Another scream escaped from her mouth.
“Damn it, Gabe. Are you trying to fucking kill me?”
“Sorry,” he said, taking a step back. “I’m sorry. Not trying to kill you, I swear, but I do want to talk.”
“People don’t talk at three in the morning, and I doubt that’s why you’re really here,” she said softly. “Please leave and don’t bother me again.”
She walked into her apartment, closed the door and turned the deadbolt.
“I love you,” he yelled.
She placed her hand on the knob, but she didn’t open the door. She desperately wanted the words to be true, but she knew he didn’t mean them.
He couldn’t.
“I know you don’t believe me, but I do,” he yelled again. “I. Love. You.”
When she heard murmurs from some of the neighbors, she rolled her eyes and opened the door. Gabe turned toward her, grinning and fully aware of the commotion he’d caused.
“What the hell are you doing?” she whispered. “Keep your voice down.”
“Is everything okay, dear?” one of her neighbors called to her.
“Yes, Mrs. Stevens, everything is okay,” she called back. “We’re sorry to bother you.”
“Get in here,” she said through clinched teeth, “and wipe that stupid grin off your face.”
***
Gabe looked around her living space and shame washed over him. Michelle should be sharing his home, not living in a small one bedroom apartment. The living room was smaller than the studio apartment above the bar, and he would bet money the bedroom had even less square footage.
Her furniture consisted of all the basics, but none of the pieces could be considered new, and he wondered if they’d come from her family home. A few picture frames sat on top of a small bookcase, and he bent over to see the framed faces more clearly.
“Are these your parents?” he asked, pointing to one of the frames.
She moved closer to see where he pointed.
“Yes,” she said, simply. “What are you doing here, Gabe?”
He straightened his back and faced her.
“I love you,” he said, “and I think you love me, too.”
“You have to go home, Gabe. You don’t love me,” she said, sadly, “and just because we had sex once, doesn’t make me your new booty-call.”
