Todd felt the itchy ripples run across his skin as his bear pushed toward the surface. He shoved the huge beast. The last thing he needed was a fifteen hundred pound Kodiak bear charging out his door and through the front door of the Sheriff’s Department. Settle down!
His bear growled at him. It rammed its head and shoulder against Todd’s ribcage.
The force of the impact caused him to grunt. Todd ran his hand over his face. What his bear was putting him through was maddening. “How did Skylar deal with this all those years?” He had a new respect for his cousin. He had only been dealing with his bear’s one-sided determination for a few days, and he was ready to go crazy. Todd could not imagine doing this every day for years. There was no way he could do it. He didn’t think he had the strength and determination to do it. Settle down and we will go to the diner and get a slice of cherry pie.
Cherry pie. The bear smacked its lips. Cherry pie good.
We will go get another slice of the cherry pie Joy brought us yesterday, but you have to settle down.
Cherry pie. The bear quit pushing against Todd. Mate will taste like cherry pie.
Todd sighed again. It was sad. Even the lure of cherry pie did not keep his bear from thinking about their mate. Could he blame the bear when he wanted the same thing? Todd was ready to find his mate, settle down, and start a family. The thought of two or three cubs scampering around the house made him smile.
We get cherry pie and we get mate. His bear sat down.
We will get the cherry pie, but finding our mate will have to wait.
His bear growled.
Todd threw his hands up. We are going to the diner for cherry pie. You had better behave yourself.
You behave and find mate.
That is easier said than done. I have no idea where to look for her.
You smart. You find mate. Want cubs and cherry pie and mate.
Cubs, cherry pie, and a mate? You want everything, don’t you? Todd stood up and grabbed his hat off the corner of his desk. He turned off the lights as he left his office. “Judy, I’m going over to the diner. I’ll be back later.”
“It’s been quiet, but I’ll call you if something comes up.” The older woman smiled at Todd. “I heard Scott is in town, and I heard he brought a pretty young lady with him.”
“He is back, but I haven’t had the chance to talk to him or meet the female yet.”
“If you see Scott, tell him hello for me and good luck with the young lady. He deserves some happiness after all those years of service to his country.” The telephone rang. Judy waved Todd away as she answered it.
Todd nodded and left the building. A rush of jealousy smacked him in the head. He had heard about the female Scott brought with him…about how gorgeous she was and about how she could bake. He wondered if she had baked the cherry pie he had yesterday for lunch.
Cherry pie. His bear sat down and rolled over onto his side.
Todd chuckled. The thought of a slice of cherry pie did not sound too bad. He climbed into the cruiser parked out front.
* * *
Scott grabbed the last slice of apple pie and poured himself a cup of coffee. He made his way around the counter to one of the few available seats in the room.
The lunch hour had barely stared and already the diner was packed.
Moreover, Courtney’s pies were selling as fast as they came out of the oven.
Apple pie. Scott’s bear licked its lips. Want more.
I got us the last slice.
Sister makes good pies.
Yes, she does. Scott knew his bear was talking about Courtney. They both thought of her as their sister, just as Joy was their sister. He took a bite of the pie.
Good. His bear sat down and smacked its lips.
Scott agreed. The pie was good. Really good.
“Scott Anderson.”
Scott turned to find a huge man in a uniform standing behind him. “Todd, what are you doing here?”
Todd grinned. “I could ask you the same thing. Long time, no see.”
“It has been awhile. Sit down.” Scott gestured to the empty barstool next to him.
Todd looked around. “It’s busy today.” He took a deep breathe. The air was filled with the smells of food, human, colognes, perfumes, and the soft scent of something else. Todd’s bear growled. It tried sniffing the air too, but Todd forced it back. The bear started pacing. It was unhappy about being confined.
“Joy and Courtney are doing a good job. They work really well together. So, what have you been up to?” Scott took another big bite of his pie.
“Just the same old stuff…a robbery here and there, an occasional wreck due to the weather.” Todd grinned. “It’s not too bad. What finally brought you home?”
“Scott, can you help Courtney for a few minutes?” Joy appeared behind the counter. “Hey Todd, do you need a menu?”
Todd shook his head. “I want a burger, fries, and a large slice of cherry pie.”
Joy nodded as she wrote down the order. She stepped to the window to the kitchen and stuck the paper into a holder. “I need a burger and fries for the Sheriff.”
“What does Courtney need help with?” asked Scott.
Joy looked at his plate and raised her eyebrow. “I take it that was the last slice of apple pie.”
Scott shrugged his shoulders as he ate the rest of the pie. “It was cold. Nobody would have wanted it. So, I did you a huge favor and got rid of it.”
Joy rolled her eyes. “Whatever! Courtney has a tray of pies that needs to come over here for the pie case.”
“So, I’m just the hired muscle.”
“Who says I hired you? You’re just the muscle.”
Scott laughed as he got off the barstool. “I expect payment, and I’m not cheap.”
“You’ve already had a piece of pie.” Joy crossed her arms as she raised an eyebrow.
“That doesn’t count. I was getting rid of a tiny, cold slice you couldn’t have sold, even if you wanted to. Plus, I made room for fresh, whole pies.”
“Whatever!”
“I think two slices should just about cover my fees.” Scott grinned at his sister.
“You can have another slice of pie in payment.” Joy grinned. “But just one slice,” she said as he left.
Todd sniffed the air as he listened to his cousins. His bear stopped pacing and pushed forward before Todd could stop it. The bear sniffed and growled. Todd shook his head. A slight hint of honey and cherries drifted off Scott’s clothing. He frowned. it couldn’t be. He had to be wrong.
Mate! Todd’s bear growled.
Todd stood up and followed Scott.
“Where are you going?” asked Joy.
Todd turned and growled at her before he could stop himself.
“You need to settle down. There are too many people in here!” Joy growled at him in a low voice.
“Who is the female Scott has been with?” Todd fought to keep his bear from taking over.
“Just Courtney. They are living in the apartment over the bakery.” Joy frowned.
“The same Courtney who runs the bakery?” Todd’s bear rammed its head against Todd’s chest. It snarled.
“What’s wrong?” A frown covered Joy’s face.
Todd did not answer her. The sweet feminine smell of honey and cherries was driving him and his bear crazy. They had found their mate. She was here. The thought of her being with another man made them see red. It did not matter the man was Scott, his cousin. She did not belong to Scott. She belonged to them. No one had the right to touch her except them.
His bear was too close to the surface. Todd’s skin itched and tingled. His bear growled and left long claw marks as it tried digging its way out through Todd’s ribcage. It’s determination to get to its mate fueled the man’s determination too.
Todd followed Scott through the new doorway leading into the bakery. He stopped and looked around. The room was empty except for Scott, who was standing behind the counter.
“Are all these
pies going next door?” asked Scott.
“No, not all of them. Half of them are to fill the orders. I just have to get them boxed and ready for delivery. But all of the brownies go to the diner.”
The husky female voice wrapped around Todd. He could not think. He could not breathe. All his blood rushed straight to his cock, making it grow painfully hard.
Mate, growled his bear.
Yes, our mate!
A strawberry blonde came out of the kitchen carrying a tray. She put it down on the counter in front of Scott. The corners of her pink lips turned up into a smile.
Todd sniffed the air. The feminine smell of honey and cherries filled his senses. He closed his eyes and breathed in the scent, making it a part of him.
“These taste good.”
The sound of Scott’s voice caused Todd and his bear to growl. Todd opened his eyes.
“Would you quit eating the brownies? They are for the diner, not you.” Courtney slapped Scott’s hand.
“Hagen wasn’t lying when he said you were the best baker around.” Scott grabbed another brownie off the tray.
Courtney’s eyes and voice suddenly reflected a strong sadness. “I miss Hagen.”
“I know.” Scott walked around the counter and pulled Courtney into his arms. “Everything will be okay.”
“Get your hands off of my mate!” Todd’s voice was barely human.
Scott shoved Courtney behind him as he turned to face Todd. “What is with you?” He heard the odd mix of human and bear coming from Todd.
“Get away from my mate.” Todd’s eyes swirled with silver and blue.
“Oh shit!” Scott pushed Courtney away from him, but made sure to stay between her and his cousin. “Courtney, go upstairs right now, and lock the door. Don’t let anyone in until I tell you it’s okay.”
Todd growled. “Courtney, come here.”
His bear growled its approval.
Courtney looked from Scott to the officer. Something about the man made her want to throw caution to the wind and race around Scott to get to him. All of her girly parts soared to life. The rush of emotions and sensations threatened to drown her.
“Todd, I can’t let her do that. You have to get control of yourself. You will make Joy mad if you let your bear loose in here. Besides, you’re scaring Courtney. She is human and has never seen anyone shift before. This is not the impression you want to make.” Scott moved to block Todd’s view of Courtney.
“Scott, what’s going on?” Courtney shifted just enough to her right to look around Scott. She gasped. Her eyes widened. The man growling at her and Scott was obviously a police officer, but his eyes were not human. A predator stared at her. It startled her but for some crazy reason she was not scared of the man or the beast. She wanted to rub against him.
“Todd, you want to focus on me. I’m the threat.” Scott moved again to block his cousin’s view of Courtney.
“Scott?” Courtney started to reach out to touch his shoulder, but a deep growl from Todd stopped her. She dropped her hand and stepped back. “Don’t you dare growl at me!”
“Remember when I said you might find your mate here?” asked Scott.
“Yeah, I remember, but I figured you were joking. Besides, I told you I don’t want a mate, especially one who growls and tries to order me around.” Her voice was barely audible. Courtney swallowed. Her brain said she did not want a mate, but her body was having different ideas. Todd’s growls sent shivers rippling down her spine, but it definitely was not because she was afraid of him.
“Courtney, meet Sheriff Todd Anderson, your mate. I think he wants you whether you want him or not.” Scott sniffed the air. The scent of Courtney’s desire filled the room. “I don’t think you’re going to get away from him.”
“Courtney, come here.” Todd liked the sound of her name, but the fact she was disobeying him angered him and his bear, and what was this about her not wanting a mate? He needed her away from Scott.
Mate smells good. Why she no want a mate?
Todd sniffed the air and smiled. She wants us, even though she says she doesn’t.
“Todd, you need to get control so we can sit down and talk.” Scott tried reasoning with Todd. “I’m not trying to take her from you. I just don’t want you to hurt her or scare her.”
“I would never hurt my mate, but you are a different story. I smell her scent on you. Get away from her now.” Todd did not want to hurt his cousin, but the fact Courtney’s scent was on him was driving him and his bear crazy. “Leave.”
“Courtney’s scent is on my clothes, not me. We just live together.” Scott held his hands up.
Todd growled. “Wrong thing to say.”
“There is nothing going on between Courtney and me. We just share an apartment so I can protect her.” Scott tried to reason with Todd and his bear.
Todd rushed Scott, hitting him in the face with his right fist.
Scott staggered but did not fall. He countered with a right hook.
The two men continued pounding each other with their fists. The glass display case cracked and shattered when someone’s fist landed in the middle of the glass. The two men locked onto each other, trying to force the other to submit. They twisted into the counter, hitting the trays. Pies and brownies fell off the counter, splattering when they hit the floor.
“Would you two break it up before you destroy the bakery?” Joy closed the door between the diner and the bakery. “Break it up!” She yelled at the two men, but they ignored her.
“They are too pig headed to listen to anyone.” Courtney shook her head.
“Stay back so you don’t get hurt,” said Joy.
Courtney could not believe the two men were fighting. She knew she could not physically break them up, but she had to do something. Courtney ran back into the kitchen and filled up a large pitcher with cold water. She carried it back to the front.
Joy looked at Courtney. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m stopping this ridiculous fight.” Courtney dumped the water onto Todd and Scott.
The cold water shocked both men causing them to stop hitting each other.
“Look at the mess you have made!” Courtney slammed the metal pitcher down on the countertop.
Both men stared at her.
“Don’t you even think for one minute that I’m cleaning this mess! You made it with your ridiculous fight.” Courtney put her hands on her hips. “What do you have to say for yourselves?”
Scott looked at Todd then at himself. They were both covered with remnants of ruined pie, and they were soaked from the water Courtney had thrown on them. Blood covered their faces.
Todd looked at his cousin, then back at Courtney. She was furious. She looked beautiful. Todd started laughing. Instead of running away scared, his mate had taken it upon herself to stop the fight between him and Scott, but she had done it in a way that did not bring her near the danger of the two men fighting. Her bravery pleased his bear, but it terrified the man. She needed to know her limitations so she stayed safe.
“Are you laughing at me?” Courtney’s cheeks turned pink, but her eyes flashed with anger. “Let’s see how you are laughing when you two are cleaning this place, replacing the glass in the display case, and baking more pies to replace the ones you ruined.”
“He started it.” Scott pointed at Todd.
“He may have started it, but you could have taken it outside.” Courtney plopped her hands on her hips. “But did you do that? No! You started the fight in the middle of my bakery. You destroyed the glass case and half my morning’s work. I hope you two are proud of yourselves, especially you.” Courtney pointed her finger at Todd. “You should be ashamed of yourself. You are a police officer. You’re supposed to keep the peace. You shouldn’t be starting fights or destroying property.”
Both men stared at Courtney.
“Are they all like this?” Courtney looked at Joy.
“Pretty much. I would tell you to run, but that one would just fol
low you.” She pointed at Todd. “Unfortunately, he has got your scent and has claimed you as his mate, and bears like to play chase.”
Courtney threw her hands up into the air. “That’s just great. The last thing I need right now is a mate.”
Scott shoved Todd off him and pushed himself into a sitting position.
“Watch where you put your hands or we will have to dig glass out of them.”
Scott grinned at Courtney. “Will you bandage and kiss my booboo too?”
Courtney’s eyes widened then narrowed. “You didn’t just ask me that?”
Todd gave Scott a shove. “The only booboos she’s bandaging and kissing are mine.” He winked Courtney.
Like mate, growled his bear.
Yeah, I like her too.
“For your information, I don’t kiss strangers.”
“You will kiss me.” Todd’s eyes traveled up and down Courtney’s body…from the curve of her wide hips to the swell of her large breasts, she tried hiding under the oversized sweatshirt.
The desire reflected in his eyes caused Courtney’s mouth to drop open. She felt her breasts swell and the nipples turn into hard pebbles under his heated gaze.
“Why don’t you come here and help me up.”
Courtney closed her mouth and swallowed. She wanted to do more than just help him up. “I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
“I think it is a great idea.” Todd wanted to wrap his arms around her and drive his cock deep into her until she screamed his name in pleasure.
“I think the both of you need to clean up this mess.” Courtney took a step back. She really wanted to turn and run but did not think that would be a good idea, especially since Joy already told her bears like to play chase.
“They can start by mopping up all this water.” Joy crossed her arms.
“We didn’t put the water on the floor.” Scott looked at the mess he and Todd were sitting in. They were both wet and covered with pies and brownies.
Courtney shook her head as she stared at the men. “Joy, can you call someone to look at the cuts and bruises they have.”
Joy shook a finger at the men. “Don’t you dare leave or start fighting again. I’m calling Harrison to come look at you.”
Saving Courtney (Bryant Station Curves Book 4) Page 3
