Miss Matched: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Raging Falls Book 2)

by Milly Taiden

  Carly sighed and stomped back to the kitchen. She was restless and jittery. For some reason having the FBI involved made her more nervous than the two kidnapping attempts did. They were here to help, logically she knew that, but sometimes logic wasn’t enough.

  “Don’t worry. I will ensure your safety. I won’t ever let anything happen to you. I swear on my life.”

  “What if that’s not what I am worried about.” She gulped at the dryness in her throat. Fear and horror made it hard for her to speak above a whisper. She’d finally come to terms with her feelings for Bastien. Now this? Why was the world so unfair?

  “Losing you would be worse,” she admitted. “I can’t live in a world that you aren’t in.” Her emotions were all over and now they wanted to spill out of her mouth. “Maybe it’s being in danger, but I know what my heart wants and it’s you by my side until I take my last breath.” She licked her lips and took a deep breath. “This is so unlike me. I don’t open up this way but I can’t help it with you. I’ve searched years to find what you have given me in a matter of minutes.”

  His gorgeous lips tipped up in a smile that lightened the stress on her shoulders. “I knew the first time I laid eyes on you outside Luke’s cabin that you were mine. We were meant to be together. My heart started beating for you and only you that day.” He cupped her face and leaned in to brush his lips over hers. “I love you, Carly. There’s nothing that will ever keep me from being with you. Always.”

  Carly sighed. She really, really loved this man. “I don’t know what I am going to tell my father. He’s gonna shit puppies when he finds out. There’s no way in hell he’ll approve or accept our being together. His hatred and anger burns deep. I fear nothing will ever change that.” She shook her head. “I didn’t want to, but I might have to cut our ties if he doesn’t come to terms with us.” She met his gaze. “This. Us. Means more to me than anything else.”

  He hugged her tightly. The embrace flooded her with warmth and inner strength.

  “I think you underestimate your father. You are his only daughter. He won’t cut you out of his life. You two have only had each other. His love for you will overcome his dislike of my kind.”

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  Bastien wasn’t sure what to do next. The weekend with Carly had been amazing. They laughed, talked and made love until neither could move. Or breathe. He knew he looked like an idiot, but he couldn’t help the smile or the giddy feeling in the pit of his stomach.

  He glanced at the clock on the dashboard of his truck and groaned in frustration. Eight long hours before he would get to see her again. He had work he could be doing himself, but concentrating while his mate was in danger wasn’t going to happen. A brilliant idea formed. He pulled out his phone and dialed.

  “I need your help,” he said into the phone.

  “This is starting to get repetitive.” Garrett sighed “Hello, Bastien, how are you? Me, I’m fine thank you for asking. My weekend, it was the usual. But more importantly how was your weekend?”

  Bastien laughed. “Yeah, yeah, I get it. When did you start with all this polite crap anyways?”

  “As soon as I figured out it would bug you, of course.” Garrett chuckled at Bastien’s growl. “Okay, point taken. Anyway, what’s up? What do you need help with?”

  Bastien explained about Carly’s kidnapping attempts, the escaped suspects, and the FBI paying them a visit. “I want you to help me find out what is going on. I know the FBI is looking into it, but I can’t sit here and do nothing. You want to go shake some trees with me and see what we can learn? Somebody has to know something in this town about what’s going on.”

  “I can do that. Where do you want to meet?”

  “I’m on my way back to my place. I didn’t get a chance to pack a bag and I want to have that taken care of before I pick Carly up from work this afternoon. Can you meet me there?”

  “Yeah, no problem. I have to finish up a few things, but I can be there in about half an hour if that works for you.”

  Bastien agreed and hung up, plans already forming in his head. If this was a scheme by the cartel then he knew the perfect place to get some answers. The trick was convincing someone there to talk. He picked up his phone, he wished there was a better way, a less complicated way. “Luna, I have an idea and you aren’t going to like it, but it’s the only way.”

  “Tell me, little bear. You know I will do what I can to help.” That’s one of things Bastien loved about Luna, she fought for her family and didn’t give up.

  “Can you spread the word I need to gain access to someone in the cartel who will talk to me. No hidden agenda, no Feds, no cops. Just some information.”

  Luna was quiet for a minute thinking of his words before she agreed to help. “I heard some rumors that Maggie the deer shifter is dating a low level member. I don’t know how true it is, you know how gossip flows in shifter clans. Though I bet either way she will be our best bet. She has a long history of dating men with questionable employment, if you know what I mean.”

  Bastien let out a relieved breath. “I knew you were the perfect person to call. Will you talk to her and see if she will help me?”

  “Of course, I really like Carly and I don’t want anything to happen to either of you. Please be safe.”

  Bastien ended the call as he pulled up in front of his cabin. It seemed odd but the house looked desolate and empty now that Carly was gone. She had made his house a home with just her presence. He walked in his bedroom and her scent filled his nose. His groin pulsed in arousal, it was going to be a long day.

  He was just packing the last of his clothes in a duffel when his phone rang. He grabbed the cell with eagerness of an adolescent girl waiting on her crush to call. Bastien sighed in disappointment, the caller ID said it was Luna and not his Carly.

  “Hey, Luna, what’s up?”

  “Wow, don’t sound so thrilled to talk to me.”

  “I’m sorry, I was just hoping…never mind.” Luna’s laughter filled the silence left from Bastien’s aborted apology.

  “You were hoping it was your mate. It’s okay, I don’t mind your pouting tone of voice now. But, I have good news for you. Maggie’s boyfriend can’t help you, he is too ‘low on the totem pole’ as he puts it. He can arrange a meeting with you and someone higher up though.”

  “What’s the catch? Seems too easy, what do they want in return?”

  “I asked the same thing. They don’t want anything for the most part, just information. It would seem the cartel doesn’t like people doing things under their name. Something about honor among thieves or some shit like that, according to Maggie’s guy.”

  “What’s the next step? When do they want to meet?” Bastien asked as he headed to answer the ringing doorbell. Garrett had arrived and right on time. He waved him in and headed back to his room to finish up while Luna gave him the details.

  “Maggie’s boyfriend is Greg. He is going to call you with the place and time. I gave them your number. I didn’t think you would mind for this. They said expect a call within the next forty-five minutes with the time and place.” Luna paused and Bastien could feel the worry radiating off her in waves. “Please be careful. Don’t go alone and call me as soon as you are done. I count you as my son, and I can’t lose another child.”

  “I love you, Luna. You have always been like a mother to me. Don’t worry. I’ll be careful. Garrett is here already. He’s going with me. I will call you in a few hours. Stay safe or I’ll have even more stuff to worry about.”

  They said their goodbyes and hung up the phone. Bastien growled in frustration and spun in a circle in the room, taking everything in. He didn’t want to forget anything and have to come back.

  “Bro, you okay?” Garrett’s words startled Bastien and he spun to see him in the doorway leaning against the frame.

  “Sorry, didn’t realize you had followed me back here.” He sat on the bed, put his head in his heads and growled. “I just don’t want to forget anything, and I
can’t think straight. Every thought is taken up trying to figure out how to keep my mate safe.” Bastien looked to Garrett, “I can’t lose her. She’s my reason for breathing, for living. Without her there is no color left in the world.”

  He knew he sounded like a whipped cub, but it was true.

  Garrett walked over and sat beside him. “I can’t say I know exactly what you are feeling, but I get she’s your mate. If I am lucky enough to one day have my mate, I wouldn’t let go either. We will solve this, together. Now first things first. You got enough clothes to last you a week? Underwear and socks too? Shoes? How about toiletries and anything like that you might need?”

  Bastien couldn’t help the laughter that flowed as he listed to his bachelor of a friend’s list of things for him to pack. Garrett was a friend you could always count on no matter the circumstances.

  “Come on, let’s go. I’m good, and if I forgot anything I can always run back up here or go to the store and buy it. I want to be in town when they call.” Bastien grabbed his bag and turned off the lights as he headed to the front door. “I’ll fill you in on everything on the way down.”

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  Garrett nodded and they climbed into the truck to start their journey and the answers to keeping Carly safe. The short trip into town was made in silence after Bastien explained what he had put in motion. The ringing of his phone startled them and Bastien scrambled to answer.

  “This is Bastien,” he said into the phone without looking at the caller ID.

  “Hey, gorgeous, is this a bad time?” Carly’s voice instantly calmed Bastien and his bear.

  “Never a bad time for you, babe.” Garrett snorted at Bastien’s words. He glared at his friend and turned his attention back to the road and the sound of his mate in his ear.

  “I just wanted to say hey. I’m sitting here and counting down the minutes ‘til I can leave. God, I’ve never wanted to be out of the office so badly. It’s strange how far you have dug your way under my skin. I can’t stand to be away from you. I feel like it’s been forever and I just saw you two hours ago.”

  “I have something to do, but if I finish in time, I’ll call and we can do lunch. Oh, Garrett is with me as well.”

  “That would be great. I will drag Toni along and we can all have lunch. She and I were planning on going out anyway. Send me a text if you can make it.”

  “Sounds like a plan. I’ve gotta go I have another call beeping in. I love you.”

  “I love you too, Boo Boo.”

  Bastien groaned in humiliation as Garrett busted out into laughter at her words. “Don’t say a word or I will kill you.”

  Garrett muffled his laughter and wiped the tears that flowed down his cheeks. “I’m not going to say a word. You can count on my not forgetting that though. That is too priceless to ever forget.”

  Bastien shot him a look that would have killed a lesser man, but in Garrett’s case all it did was make him laugh harder.

  “This is Bastien.”

  There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then an oily voice. “This is Greg. Meet me in twenty minutes at Lou’s Diner on Third Ave. You know the place?”

  “I’ll find it, I won’t be alone though. I just want you to know ahead of time that I have my friend Garrett with me.”

  The two men shared a glance as they waited for Greg to respond to Bastien’s words. Finally he came back on the phone, “Yeah, okay. That’s cool. I’ll see you in twenty minutes. Don’t be late.”

  Bastien hung up and debated what to do now. Luna had told him Greg didn’t have any information for him. So why was he meeting Greg now instead of someone higher up?

  “Dude, I can feel you thinking and it’s hurting my brain. Let’s just go meet him and see what happens. Maybe his boss got tied up; let’s not jump to any conclusions yet.”

  Garrett was right, worrying wasn’t going to solve anything. They pulled up in front of the run down diner a few minutes later. Run down wasn’t quite the right word for this place. It looked like it hit rundown about fifty years ago. The parking lot was packed though, so it must have something going for it. At least he hoped so.

  “If I die in this place I will haunt your hairy ass for all eternity. I’m warning you now.” Garrett stared at Bastien and dared him to say a word about his threat.

  “You will be fine, princess. Besides you’re a shifter, not much in there that can kill you. Hurt you, yes, kill you no.”

  “What kind of friend are you? I agree to help and you are okay with me getting maimed.” Garrett climbed out of the truck mumbling about the lack of quality friends and stupid bears lacking any sense.

  Bastien smiled and followed him into the diner. The rundown appearance continued on the inside, but at least it appeared clean. They stopped in the doorway and waited for a waitress to instruct them where to sit. The booths and tables were covered with bumper stickers, band flyers and all sorts of miscellaneous junk. A tired waitress passed in front of them carrying five plates of food. “Sit anywhere you can find a seat. Someone will be with you shortly.”

  Garrett nodded and headed to a booth in the back corner. The two men slid in and continued their appraisal of the diner. “Interesting assortment of everything.” Garrett said as he gazed at the table and read the different stickers and flyers under the thick Plexiglas surface.

  “Looks like an okay place, once you get past the outside. Seems busy, must be either cheap or good food.”

  “Dude, some of these band flyers are from the forties. This place is ancient.” Garrett’s words were cut off as the same haggard waitress approached their table.

  “Welcome to Lou’s. Food is good, prices are okay, and the service is fast. What can I get you to drink?” she asked in a tired and worn out voice.

  Both men ordered water and asked for a few minutes to look over the menu. The waitress nodded and rolled her eyes. “Don’t sit here all day and order no food. I got paying customers who could use this table.”

  “Ma’am, I promise I will make our time sitting at his table worth your while. No matter how long it is. Food or not. You won’t regret it.”

  The waitress narrowed her eyes and sized them up before nodding. “You got a deal. You need anything flag me down. My name’s Betty.” She walked away before either man could utter a word.

  “That was interesting to say the least.” Bastien smiled at his friend’s words and picked up the menu, curiosity getting the better of him. They still had a few minutes before Greg was to arrive anyway. “They have a wide assortment of food, quite impressive for a hole in the wall diner.”

  “Heads up, something tells me Greg has arrived and is heading our way as I speak.”

  At Garrett’s words, Bastien stood and moved onto the bench next to him so they could face Greg head on.

  Greg didn’t waste time, he just slid into the booth and gave a wide grin. “Hello, Gents. It’s nice to make your acquaintance. Maggie speaks highly of the two of you. She is the reason I agreed to set this meeting up.”

  Bastien stretched his hand out in offer of a handshake. “I’m Bastien and this is Garrett. Nice to meet you. We appreciate you making this happen for me.”

  Greg smiled a self-deprecating smile. “Well, it’s not exactly for you. My ‘friends’ no offense could care less about your problems. They don’t like people using their name though, and therefore are anxious to solve this as well.”

  Bastien frowned. “If that’s the case, why aren’t they here?”

  Greg’s smile widened. “Who says they aren’t. You can’t expect them to just walk up and answer your questions now can you? They are watching and have been since you entered this place. They mean you no harm, so you can relax. They just needed to know it was safe and that you were really who you say you are.”

  Garrett and Bastien frowned in confusion. “And just how are they supposed to know that just by watching us?” Garrett asked with a perplexed expression.

  “They have their ways. No worri
es they gave me the all clear to come and talk to you,” Greg announced as he glanced up to the hovering waitress. “Hey, Betty love, how’s business today?”

  Betty rolled her eyes at Greg’s antics. “None of that nonsense, boy. I ain’t got the time for it today. You eating or just wasting my time?”

  “It’s Monday that means special surprise, right?” Greg asked with an eagerness that shocked Bastien.

  “You bet, one plate coming up.” She turned to Bastien and Garrett. “You boys eating?”

  “No, thank you. We have someplace to be.” Bastien started to say and was cut off by Greg’s next comment.

  “None of that. Stay and eat. I promise you it will be worth your while. Not only is the food outstanding, but we have somethings to discuss and it’s going to take a bit of time.”

  The two men nodded and picked up menus. “If I may, I suggest the special surprise. It’s delicious. It’s like beef stew, but better. It comes with homemade rolls that will melt in your mouth.” Greg moaned in anticipation as he finished speaking and winked at Betty who rolled her eyes again.

  They agreed to give it a try and Betty walked off. Bastien returned his attention to Greg. “What next?”

  “We eat and wait. My boss is tied up and can’t meet us quite yet. He put out some feelers this morning after he got word and he is waiting for them to get back to him before meeting us. No worries though, they have the best homemade pies and cakes here.”

  Bastien wasn’t sure, but something told him they were stalling for more reasons than the guy was admitting too. His hands were unfortunately tied. Looks like lunch with Carly and Toni was off. He turned his attention to Garrett. “I’m going to step out real quick and cancel lunch with Carly.”