Chasing Tara (Bryant Station Curves)

by Rachels, Rayne

  You were lonely for our dead mate.

  That’s not an excuse, Jason told his bear. I should have known.

  She was not right. Did not know how bad she was. Want to show her bad.

  If I had bad judgment about Tina, how can I trust my feelings for Tara?

  Mate smells like honey and lemons. Jason’s bear licked his jowls. Mate wants us. We protect mate and cub. Want to taste the honey and lemon.

  “Dad, trust your bear,” said Ben. “Trust mom. Tara is your mate. You need each other. Don’t throw away this chance because of Tina. Don’t give Tina that kind of power.” Ben put his hand on Jason’s arm. “Mom knew her time was limited. Don’t push Tara away. You need her. You have to live again, not just exist.”

  Our cub is smart.

  Scary smart.

  Cub takes after me. Mine. Jason’s bear grinned at him.

  You blame me for the bad stuff and take credit for the good stuff? That isn’t right.

  I do it before you. His bear made a snorting noise. Honey and lemon. Want mate!

  Determined, aren’t you?

  Our mate is here. You want her too. The bear butted against Jason’s chest causing Jason’s skin to itch.

  Go lay down! Jason gritted his teeth and shoved his bear away from the surface.

  The bear snorted. Want mate.

  Is she our mate? After Tina, Jason doubted his judgment.

  Smell mate’s scent. You know she is ours. The bear swatted at Jason. No more dumb stuff.

  Just settle down and take a nap or something.

  So you can run away from our mate and cub. No!

  Jason rolled his eyes. I’m not going to run away.

  Are you sure, you are not running away?

  I’m sure.

  Jason’s bear grunted, but sat down.

  Thank you! Jason looked at the chair where Tara had been sitting. He sniffed. The honey and lemons scents were faint, but enough linger causing Jason’s pants to grow uncomfortably tight. He could no longer deny the truth. It stared him in the face. The scared, little spitfire was his mate.

  “Jason, are you okay?” asked Lisa.

  “Yeah. I’m okay.” Jason smiled at her before he turned his attention to Ben. “From now on I don’t want you keeping anything from me. Do you hear me?”

  “Yes sir.” Ben gave him a quick grin. “Does that mean you accept Tara as your mate?”

  “I’ve got to fix the mess I’ve made and convince her.”

  “You can do it.”

  “I hope you’re right.” Jason pulled out his cellphone.

  “What are you doing?” asked David.

  “I’m calling Noah Stone to tell him what’s going on with Tara,” David punched a series of numbers on the screen of his cellphone and waited.

  “This is Noah Stone.”

  “Jason Anderson.”

  There was a long paused and then an audible sigh. “Something’s come up and I’ve had to temporarily set aside your case.”

  “I’m not calling about my case.”

  “If you’re not calling about your case, then why are you calling me?”

  “Tara is here.”

  “Is she safe?”

  “She’s scared of the guy chasing her. I assume it’s a guy because she won’t tell me much.” Jason got up and walked to an unoccupied corner.

  “You shouldn’t have to worry about him.”

  “Right! I need to know what’s going on so I can protect her.” Jason ignored the coldness in Noah Stone’s voice. The intimidation technique did not work on Jason. Most people failed to realize that male bears were mostly alphas, but the Great Mother bear had taught them how to temper their alpha sides so the males could live near other males. Bears were territorial, but it helped have family around to help protect the females and cubs.

  “I’ll arrange for one of my people to pick her up.”

  “That’s not happening.” Jason’s bear filtered through his voice. No one was taking Tara away from him.

  “She is my daughter!”

  “She’s my mate!”

  Both men were quiet, letting their declarations hang over each other.

  “You told me your mate died years ago,” said Noah after several uncomfortable minutes of silence.

  “She did.”

  “How can Tara be your mate?” asked Noah. Skepticism flowed from the man and through the phone. It washed over Jason and left a bitter taste in his mouth.

  “I don’t know the how or why, but the Great Mother Bear has granted me another mate.”

  “How is Tara taking it?”

  “I haven’t told her, but she’s feeling the connection.” Jason watched Tara walk back to the table. Haley reached for Ben as soon as she saw him. “She’s fighting it.”

  Noah chuckled. “If she’s anything like her mother, you’re in for a hell of a ride.”

  “Tell me about it, but from what I see, she’s worth it. Now, who’s chasing her?”

  “It’s her brother-in-law.”

  “Why is he after her?” Jason frowned.

  “Money. Donald Wilson has a serious gambling problem and he owes a lot of money to a nasty group of characters.”

  “So what does Tara have to do with this?” Jason’s bear stood up and pushed against Jason’s ribs.

  “Andrew, Tara’s husband and Wilson’s younger brother, died in a car accident, but the clues I’m finding tell a different story. Andrew’s death wasn’t an accident.”

  “Wilson killed his own brother?” The more Jason heard, the more he understood why his mate was afraid and running, but it did not explain the bruises on her face.

  “Wilson killed his brother and collected a huge life insurance policy he took out a few months ago on his brother. Wilson also managed to get himself set up as his brother’s executor.”

  “How did he do that? Tara’s the widow. She should have control of the estate.”

  “I’m not sure yet, but Wilson was recognized as the executor of Andrew’s estate. He has taken control of the bank accounts and has managed to block Tara from her personal accounts. Wilson sold her condo. You need to realize, he’s not just after the money. He wants Tara.”

  “I’m going to kill the guy.” Jason’s bear shoved against his skin. Jason gritted his teeth and mentally shoved his bear. The last thing he needed was an angry, twelve hundred pound, Kodiak bear in the middle of Joy’s diner. Joy would skin him alive.

  “Get in line. If I get my hands on him, he is dead.” There was a pause. “Anderson, you need to know that Wilson has more plans for Tara.”

  “What kind of plans?” Jason felt his heart skip a few beats.

  “Wilson plans on selling Tara into prostitution with the loan shark he owes. I have a feeling that’s not his only plans for Tara, and I have no idea what he’ll do with Haley.”

  Rage swept through Jason. His bear growled and clawed at his ribs. The beast desperately wanted out. It wanted to hunt and kill the threat to its mate. Jason wanted the same thing.

  “Give me the phone and get to my office.” Joy grabbed the cellphone from Jason’s hand as she shoved him toward the back of the diner.

  “Give it to Tara,” said Jason. His voice was somewhere between an animal growl and human.

  “I will.” Joy watched her cousin go into her office. She looked at the phone for a couple of seconds, and then put it to her ear. “This had better be good,” she said.

  “Who is this? Where is Anderson?”

  Joy shook her head. The voice on the phone was cold and hard. “This is Anderson, a different Anderson, but an Anderson. If you are referring to Jason, whatever you told him has him in an agitated state. If my diner is hurt in anyway because of what you said, I am holding you responsible. Now, Jason told me to give the phone to Tara. Who can I tell her it is who wants to talk to her?”

  “Noah Stone, and who do I have the pleasure of speaking to?”

  “Joy Anderson, the owner of The Blue Plate, and you’re worst nightmare co
me to life.” She took the phone away from her ear, walked over to Tara, who returned to the table, and handed her the phone. “Noah Stone wants to talk to you. Make sure Jason gets his phone back when you finish with the call.” Joy turned and walked away leaving Tara staring at her and the phone.

  “Aren’t you going to speak to him? I think it might be important,” said Ben as he feed Haley another piece of her hamburger.

  Tara put the phone to her ear. “Noah?”

  “Are you and Haley okay?”

  Relief flooded through Tara when she heard her stepfather’s voice. “The car broke down outside of Bryant Station. It’s at the mechanic’s right now, but I don’t think he can repair it. Can someone come and get us?”

  “Tara, I need you to listen. Trust Jason Anderson. He will protect you and Haley.”

  Tara’s eyes widened. She got up from the table and walked a short distance away to get as much privacy with the conversation as she could in the packed diner. “Do you know what he is?”

  “He and his family are bear shifters.”

  “But can I trust him?”

  “Tara, how does Jason Anderson make you feel?”

  Tara turned several shades red. “I don’t think that’s something we should be talking about. Besides, it’s not important.

  “It is important. Believe in your feelings toward Anderson.”

  “Why?” asked Tara.

  “Jason Anderson is your mate. Your body already recognizes it. Now you just have to accept it with your head and your heart.”

  “I can’t believe I’m hearing this!” Tara shook her head. “Are you hearing what you’re telling me?”

  Noah chuckled. “You’re going to be just as difficult as your mother, aren’t you?” He did not wait for Tara to answer him. “Go with Anderson. He will protect you and Haley. Bears are as mean as cats when it comes to protecting what’s theirs. I will be there in a few days to check on you.” He ended the call.

  “Hello? Noah, are you still there?” Tara looked at the phone, but she knew Noah had ended the call. She was not sure if she should scream or cry. What was Noah thinking? There was no way she was Jason Anderson’s mate. She did not want to be anyone’s mate. Tara just wanted a safe place where she could raise Haley and start writing again. She wanted her life back before Donald had messed it up.

  “Are you okay?”

  Tara knew Jason was standing next to her before she even heard the voice.

  “Are you okay?” Jason repeated.

  Tara bit down on her bottom lip. A hot rush of need and desire swept through her body causing her pussy to weep with anticipation.

  Jason sniffed the air. His lips turned up into a huge grin. “You want me as much as I want you, mate. I am sorry about my behavior. It was inexcusable.”

  “I will fight this and you.” Tara crossed her arms.

  Jason leaned closer to her. “I’m game. Are you?”

  Tara swallowed. She heard the challenge in his words.

  Jason straightened up. “Let’s get our cubs and go home.” He gently turned Tara around and put his hand in the small of her back.

  Before Tara could stop herself, she let him lead her back to the table.

  CHAPTER 5

  “This is all you have with you?” Jason raised an eyebrow.

  “Sorry, I wasn’t exactly packing for a vacation.” Tara tried to take the small suitcase from him. “Traveling light is the in vogue thing to do when you’re on the run. Give me my bag.”

  “I’ve got it.”

  “I can carry my own bag.”

  “Give it a rest. I’ve got the bag and anything else I don’t think you should lift.”

  “Great! I’m stuck with a pig-headed Neanderthal! How did I get so lucky?”

  “Maybe you should buy a lottery ticket too. You never know, you might win it too.”

  “Let me pull out the wad of ones I earned at the gentlemen’s club I danced at last night.” Tara crossed her arms over her ample chest.

  Jason stopped and stared at his mate. “You had better be joking or I’m going to spank you when we get home.”

  Tara snorted. “Spank me? You and who’s army?”

  “I don’t need anyone but me.”

  “I hope you’ve got good insurance, because you’re going to get seriously hurt if you try spanking me.”

  Jason sniffed the air and smiled. “I think you like the idea of a spanking more than you’re willing to admit.”

  “In your dreams.” Tara’s cheeks grew warm. She turned and stomped back to Jason’s truck.

  “Are you okay?” Ben asked as she climbed into the front passenger seat.

  “Just peachy thanks to your dad. Is he always like this?” Tara glanced into the back at Ben and Haley as she snapped the seatbelt into place.

  “Like what?”

  “A pig-headed Neanderthal!”

  Ben laughed. “Sometimes, when he thinks he’s right.”

  “Great! And why did I agree to go with him?” Tara closed her eyes and shook her head.

  “Because you can’t resist this pig-headed Neanderthal,” said Jason as he opened the driver’s door and climbed into the truck.

  Tara glared at him. “Let me guess! You’re the new and improved Neanderthal with super hearing. Is there anything else I need to know about you?”

  “You love me and you know you want my body.” Jason grinned and winked at Tara.

  “And he’s got a fat head to match the ego.” Tara turned her head and looked out the window at the hunk of useless metal sitting in the mechanic’s garage. Her life wasn’t supposed to be like this. Running from a maniac wasn’t on her to do list. She bit on her bottom lip. Fear, worry, and anger had been her constant companions for months. They were safe. She knew what they wanted, but the new emotions scared her in a different way. Tara was not sure what to make of them or even how to handle them. Not even marriage had prepared her for them.

  “I like the way you smell. It calls to me.”

  Tara squeaked and jumped. The seatbelt held her in the seat. “Don’t do that!” She whipped her head around only to find herself staring into Jason’s eyes.

  “Do what? This?” Jason’s left hand snaked around the back of Tara’s neck and pulled her closer. His lips captured hers.

  Stunned, Tara let him kiss her.

  Jason took advantage of Tara’s lack of resistance and pulled her closer. Something snapped in Tara’s brain and she struggled, trying to resist the invasion, but Jason deepened the kiss.

  Tara groaned. She stopped struggling and started kissing him back. The sweet taste of sugar and cinnamon tickled her tongue. She could not get enough. She wanted more.

  “Guys, I don’t think this is a good place for what you’re doing. You’ve got young impressionable eyes watching you.” Ben’s voice swept over Jason and Tara, barely cooling the heat between them.

  Jason broke the kiss. He caressed Tara’s cheek as he watched the emotions swirling in her eyes. “I’m just getting started.”

  Tara sat back in her seat and stared at Jason. Her hand came up and touched her swollen lips. Her heart pounded against her chest and at that moment, all she could think about was crawling into his lap and letting him have his way with her. If just one of his kisses did this to her, she was doomed. An image of Andrew, her dead husband, flickered into her mind. His kisses never did this to her. In fact, they were downright tame compared to Jason’s kiss.

  Tara glanced at Jason only to find him grinning at her. She quickly turned away. “Don’t ever try that again.”

  Jason’s grin grew bigger. “Try what?”

  “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

  “Oh, I plan on trying that and a lot more as soon as I get you alone.”

  Tara shook her head. “I’m not interested.”

  Jason chuckled. “Keep telling yourself that.”

  “And I’ll keep reminding you until you get the message. Now stay on your side of the truck or else.”


  “Didn’t your momma ever tell you never to challenge a bear shifter? It’s worse than waving a red flag in front of a bull.”

  Tara made a face at him and stuck out her tongue.

  “Now that gives me a few ideas as to what you could do with that tongue.” Jason put the truck into gear and pulled out onto the street.

  “Keep dreaming. Just keep dreaming,” muttered Tara.

  Our mate is feisty.

  She is that, Jason agreed with his bear.

  Mate is going to be fun to play with. She wants us.

  She sure does. Jason took a deep breath. Tara’s lemon and honey scent engulfed him, causing his cock to grow. He shifted in the seat, but it did not help. Only sinking his cock deep into Tara’s wet folds would help it, and even then, he was not sure. Maybe kissing her was not such a good idea, he thought as he shifted again.

  He glanced again at Tara. Even in the dark, he easily saw every curve and dip of her body.

  Tara felt Jason’s eyes on her, but she refused to look. Instead, she folded her hands in her lap and stared out the window at the darkness surrounding them.

  The sound of the tires on the road combined with the warm air blowing out of the vents caused her eyelids to droop. For the first time in weeks, her muscles loosened, letting the tension and worry slip away. Tara fell asleep without worrying about her and Haley’s safety.

  Jason heard the change in Tara’s breathing and heartbeat long before he glanced at her. He reached over to the console and turned one of the knobs, causing more heat to fill the cab. Neither he nor Ben needed the extra heat because they had their bears to keep them warm but Tara and Haley were human. They needed the extra heat, and Tara needed the rest.

  Mate too tired. Mate needs rest and food.

  We will have to make sure she eats. I didn’t like the way she picked at her food.

  She did not eat. She played with the food. Cub ate more than mate did. Mate must eat. Mate needs strength to carry our cubs.

  We will take care of her and Haley.

  We protect mate and cub. Jason’s bear sniffed. Honey and lemons.

  Jason shook his head. He could not be angry at his bear’s one-tracked mind. Since he kissed her, all he thought about was the sweet honey and lemon cream coating the lips of her pussy.