Protected Hearts

by Rayne Rachels

  And that had been the major bane of her childhood growing up in her aunt’s house.

  She lost count of the number of diets her aunt put her on over the years in her aunt’s self-absorbed attempt to make Emma look like the perfect thin child…to look like her cousin. Anything that deviated from what her aunt considered acceptable had to be fixed or hidden away so that others would not find it.

  Emma’s scars ranked right up at the top of the list of unacceptable things along with her extra weight. Over the years, she was constantly told that both issues were her fault. There was always something about her bad behavior being the reason she looked like she did. Her aunt’s cruel words filled her childhood. Emma’s cousin was just as bad by adding her own twist to the torture and getting other kids to taunt her when the adults weren’t around.

  It took Emma several years to finally accept her flaws as her aunt called them. As she grew, Emma realized her scars and curves were not her fault. They were a part of who she was, just as her chestnut hair and hazel eyes were a part of her. Once Emma realized that, she was finally able to move out of her aunt’s house and create a life for herself; something she should have done when she turned eighteen but didn’t have the moxie to do it. But when she turned twenty-seven Emma found the strength and determination she needed.

  The bell over the door jingled as someone walked into the store.

  “Welcome to Tea Time Books,” said Emma. She looked up and saw her cousin standing just inside the store.

  “Tea Time Books? Really? I still can’t believe that’s what you named this place, but then I guess you couldn’t think of a better name than that, could you? It’s not like you’re very creative or anything like that.”

  Emma cringed when she heard her cousin’s high pitched voice. April Martin was the last person she expected to see in her bookstore especially after she threw her aunt and cousin out of the store last year for harassing her and the customers. Emma pasted a smile on her face. “April, it’s nice of you to visit my store again. Is there anything I can help you with?” The muscles in Emma’s face were really starting to hurt. She wasn’t sure how much longer she was going to be able to keep smiling.

  April shoved her long platinum dyed hair out of her face. With a quick toss of her head, the long strands flew behind her and cascaded down her back. The artificial light made her hair shimmer. “An expresso would be nice.” She crossed her arms. “But I see you still don’t have a coffee bar.”

  “No, I don’t have a coffee bar,” said Emma. She fought the urge to roll her eyes.

  “Too bad. Coffee bars are hot.” She looked around.

  “I just don’t have the time or space; besides I have no desire to compete against the coffee shop that’s over on the next block. They make wonderful coffee.” said Emma. And it didn’t hurt that Cami Allison kept her supplied with coffee, and Emma kept Cami supplied with all the paranormal romances she loved. Emma didn’t have the heart to tell Cami that shifters, witches and other such paranormal creatures really did exist. She didn’t think Cami would handle it too well. Most humans didn’t and hunters like the man in the shop earlier were the result of the fear humans had for anything or anyone who was different. Emma shook her head as she looked at her cousin. “Why are you here?”

  “If you moved some of these shelves or completely got rid of them, then you would have plenty of space for a coffee bar and it would really boast your profit a lot more than these dusty books no one wants to read. Coffee shops are so much more profitable.” April completely ignored what Emma said about the coffee shop down the street. She took a couple of steps toward one of the bookshelves. “I’m here to help you, and from what I see, is obvious you need it.” April gave a little shudder. “I honestly don’t see how you’ve managed to stay open.”

  “I don’t need your help. I don’t want to put in a coffee bar. Besides I don’t have the employees to do something like that and I don’t want to compete with the coffee shop. “

  “Maybe you should have opened a specialty coffee shop and ditched the idea of this sad little bookstore. Reading is so yesterday. That’s why you’re not doing well. Now a coffee shop is a completely different story. You would have so many customers which would mean you had a more profitable business than this.” She made a grand sweep around as she rolled her eyes. For some reason April was stuck on the idea of a coffee shop.

  Emma sighed. “There’s nothing wrong with my store. Reading is not yesterday. Lots of people read.”

  “Keep telling yourself that and maybe the rest of us will believe it too.” She patted Emma on the top of her head as if she was a child even though she was only two years older than Emma.

  “You have nothing but issues with my bookstore.” Emma crossed her arms. “Why are you really here?” She knew her cousin had some sort of agenda and it had nothing to do with helping her or the store.

  April’s eyes widened. “You don’t have to get all defensive. A few small changes and this could be a really profitable place even though it’s small and not on the main street where all the traffic is. I’m just suggesting things you can do to in order to ensure you make more money.”

  “You have never cared if I made money or not. It’s always been about what you and Aunt Susan wanted.” Emma raised an eyebrow. “So what is the real reason you’re here?”

  “Can’t a girl come visit her cousin?” April blinked several times.

  “You have never just stopped by to visit. With you and Aunt Susan, there is always some sort of agenda.” Emma made a set of air quotes when she said agenda. “So what is it that you really want?” She knew her cousin wanted something, otherwise she wouldn’t be there. Emma just had to figure out what it was.

  April walked over to one of the smaller book displays. She picked up one of the books and made a huge show of turning it over. She stared at the back cover for a couple of seconds before she dropped on the table. “I’ve never heard of that author. Maybe if you stocked all of the popular authors, you would have more customers in here than you do. The popular authors sale. That’s why they’re popular.”

  “You don’t say.” Emma rolled her eyes. “Why are you really here?” she asked again.

  “Moving here and starting a bookstore was a stupid idea. You really need to give up on this store and come back home where you belong.” April made a face as she wiped her hand off on her designer jeans.

  “I’m exactly where I belong. This town is my home.” Emma was surprised at what she was hearing though deep down she knew she shouldn’t be.

  “You’re just being a self-centered, spoilt brat.”

  Emma blinked. “Excuse me?” April had called her a lot of things over the years but she had never called Emma a spoilt brat. If anyone should be called a spoilt brat, it should be April and even Aunt Susan.

  “If you weren’t so self-centered, you would realize how bad you’ve hurt mother and me.” April dabbed the corners of her eyes.

  Emma shook her head. “I left because I was tired of you and Aunt Susan using my talents for your personal gains. You did it for too many years. It’s wrong to profit from the gifts the goddess gave us. The gifts should be shared to the benefit of everyone.” She wondered why she was even trying to convince April. She doubted April even understood what she meant about sharing their gifts. It would definitely be easier to save someone from drowning than it was to convince April that she and Aunt Susan were wrong.

  “Mother took you in after your parents died. We provided you a home, gave you clothes and food to eat. Mother didn’t have to do any of those things. You owe us for everything we did for you, and you repaid us by running away,” said April.

  Emma rolled her eyes. “I was twenty-seven years old. It was time for me to start living my own life the way I wanted to live it,” she said. “It was time for me to quit letting you and Aunt Susan use me.”

  “So you left us without anything.” April glared at her. “You are pathetic.”

  Emma looked at her co
usin. “Both you and Aunt Susan have gifts you can use and you’re both capable of working for a living. But you chose to use my gifts to fund your lifestyle.”

  “You are the most selfish person I’m ever met. I wish mother had never taken you in. She should have let you go into foster care.” April sniffed.

  “It probably would have been better if I had gone into foster care. At least I wouldn’t have been used by the people who were supposed to have loved and cared for me.”

  The telephone rang.

  “I have to get that,” said Emma.

  “Of course. Run away like you did before.” April made a shooing motion with her hand. “That’s what you’re good at.”

  Emma pressed her lips tightly together. There was no point trying to explain the concept of running a business to her cousin. The concept was over her head. She turned and picked up the telephone off of the counter. “Tea Time Books. This is Emma. How may I help you?” she said when she answered the telephone.

  Emma watched her cousin turn and walk down one of the aisles. It was odd seeing her in the bookstore because April absolutely hated reading. Even in school she avoided reading and the library as if they were the Black Death.

  Emma turned her attention back to the person on the telephone. “Yes, we are open until 6:00 p.m.” She hung up the telephone. She didn’t see April anywhere.

  *****

  Several minutes and a couple of customers later, Emma picked up the bottle of water under the counter and took a drink. The bell above the door jingled. “Welcome to Tea Time Books,” she said as she recapped the bottle and put it back under the counter.

  “Hello Emmaline.”

  Emma froze. This can’t be happening. First April and now her! She forced her lips to turn up into a smile as she turned to face the woman she hadn’t seen or heard from in over a year. “Aunt Susan, it’s a surprise to see you. How are you doing?” Emma tried making her voice as pleasant as possible. “It’s been awhile since we last saw each other.”

  Susan Martin raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow. “If you had stayed home instead of moving here, you would have seen me a lot more often. But that’s neither here nor there. I have the most wonderful news for you,” she said as she removed an expensive looking wrap from her shoulders.

  Emma frowned. She felt a huge knot form in the bottom of her stomach. Something told her she wasn’t going to be thrilled with Aunt Susan’s news.

  “It’s actually the most fabulous news we could have possibly gotten.” Aunt Susan sighed. “Too bad it couldn’t have happened sooner. But at least it’s happening now. Our family will finally have the social standing and connections that we deserve.”

  “Are you getting married?” asked Emma. She doubted April was getting married. If she was, April would have been bragging about her fiancé and his social status instead of making snide remarks about Emma’s bookstore.

  “No my dear. Don’t be absurd. I’m not getting married. Why would I want to do that?”

  “April’s getting married?”

  Aunt Susan laughed. “April getting married? That’s funny. She is not meant for marriage. She is a free soul who would shrivel up and die if she was tied down by the constraints of marriage.” She reached over and patted Emma’s cheek. “My news is so much better. Orson still wants you for his mistress.”

  “What?” Emma’s eyes widened as she stared at her aunt. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She blinked several times. Dreaming. No. It was a nightmare. That was it. She was having a horrible nightmare. “Why would you…I thought you or April was getting married.”

  “Why on earth would I want to get married?” asked her aunt.

  “I just thought…”

  “How many times have I told you not to try thinking. Honestly, you don’t have the mental capacity for it. Unfortunately, you take after your mother in that respect.” Susan made a rather dramatic sigh. “It’s a good thing you have me to do the thinking for you. Now that we have that covered, we need to plan the ceremony that will make your position as Orson’s mistress official.”

  Emma closed her eyes and silently counted to ten. She slowly opened her eyes and stared at her aunt. “I haven’t lived in your house for over two years and during that time I’ve done quite well thinking for myself. In fact,” she gestured around herself with her hands and arms. “I own a very successful business.”

  “Oh yes, I know all about your little hobby.” Aunt Susan rolled her eyes. “It’s a cute little hobby. I actually figured it was just a way for you to indulge in that horrible reading habit you have. Successful or not, this is not how you were meant to spend your life. Your destiny is being Orson’s mistress and giving me and April the social status we deserve. It’s time for you to fulfill your destiny.”

  Emma was surprised even though she shouldn’t be. April’s sudden visit and then her aunt’s appearance were both omens of bad news…the worst kind of bad news for her. “You need to leave.”

  “Did you just tell me to leave?”

  “You heard me correctly. I refuse to have any part of your ridiculous scheme,” said Emma in a low voice.

  “Ridiculous scheme!” screeched her aunt. “Do you realize how much work I put into having this happen? How could you be so heartless and cruel?”

  “You don’t get to plan my life. I am an adult, not a child who had just lost both of her parents and who was afraid something would happen to you if I wasn’t good enough.”

  “You are so selfish.” Her aunt’s noise flared. “I need the social status and contacts that your being Orson’s mistress will bring. It’s not like you’re going to actually find your mate. Besides, no man in his right mind would want you for a mate. Just look at yourself.” She wrinkled her nose as she looked up and down at Emma.

  “So I’m not good enough to be someone’s mate, but I’m good enough to be Orson’s mistress. Emma slowly shook her head.

  “You’re very lucky he still wants you after the way you treated him before you ran away,” said Susan. “I’m glad he wants you, but why I have absolutely no clue. You’re fifty pounds overweight and there’s nothing that will hide those hideous scars. Honestly, you should count yourself lucky that someone even wants you. And the fact you’re helping the family is all the better.” She smiled.

  Emma felt her cheeks heat up. “I think you need to leave,” she said in a quiet voice filled with an authority she didn’t quite feel.

  “What did you say?” Susan blinked.

  “You need to leave before I throw you out of my store.” Emma spoke a little louder.

  “How dare you speak to me like that.”

  “No. How dare you speak to me. How dare you try to sell me to improve your social standing in the community!” Emma slowly shook her head. “Yes, I have horrible scars and I’m not skinny like April but that doesn’t mean I have to settle for anything less than my heart’s mate, and Orson is not my heart’s mate. He’s a mean and self-centered jerk with a very black soul and I want absolutely nothing to do with him. I told him that in no uncertain terms and there is no way I’m going to change my mind. The thought of being his mistress…of him touching me…makes me sick to my stomach.” Emma took several deep breathes as she stared at her aunt.

  Susan’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t care if he is the devil. You will become Orson’s mistress. You owe me. When your parents died, I took you into my home and I fed and clothed you out of the goodness of my heart. You owe me for everything I did for you. It’s time for you to pay for that kindness. It’s time for you to finally be useful to me. I need the social status that you being his mistress will bring to the family. I deserve the social status.”

  Emma couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She knew her aunt was ambitious and self-center at times but this side of her aunt was completely unreal. “You received payment for taking me in when you sold my poultices and potions all those years without my knowledge.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Susan�
�s eyes widened in surprise. “Why are you accusing me of such a horrible thing?”

  “Whatever.” Emma shook her head. “It’s time for you to leave.”

  “You’re throwing me out? I can’t believe you would actually treat me this way especially after everything I’ve done for you.” Susan put her hand over her heart causing Emma to almost laugh at the gesture.

  Emma shook her head. “It’s not like it’s the first time and I’m sure it probably won’t be the last. Now please leave.”

  “You will regret this. It’s completely laughable that you think the goddess would give you a hearts mate. You’re a complete waste of her time, so you might as well be useful to me. One way or another you will be Orson’s mistress,” said Susan. Her voice was cold and hard. She turned and stormed out of the bookstore. The bell above the door jingled angrily in her aunt’s wake.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Wes Durant stared the bookstore. He wondered if he would have the strength to control his bear. Already it was pacing and pressing against his skin. The beast wanted out. Wes gave his animal a mental push.

  This wasn’t the first time he had stopped at the bookstore. It was the about the hundredth time in two years and every time his beast became unmanageable. It never said anything. It just growled and whined as it tried breaking free. Something about the bookstore set off the animal but Wes had no idea what it was. All he knew was that it had to end.

  If his animal cooperated, today would be the first time Wes actually went inside. It was rather sad he hadn’t been in there because he loved reading. But the few times he had brought Ivy to the store to pick up stuff from the owner, his bear went crazy. It wanted to charge into the building and it fought the man for control.

  Wes wasn’t sure how he managed to keep the beast contained but the incidents left him leery about going near the bookstore. With the very real threat of hunters, he couldn’t let his bear have control in the middle of town. Wes wasn’t too worried about the sheriff but the hunters were a different story. Even though several months had passed, the memory of the hunter almost killing Audrey and what that had done to Forrest was still fresh in his mind.