by Olivia Arran
Brent let out a wolf whistle, waggling his eyebrows. Both of them. “Why the eyebrow?”
He took the question straight out of my mouth.
Jake was still staring at his legs, as if he could will the hair to grow back.
Nate shrugged. “I got bored and I had some of the cream left over.” He was too busy looking at us.
Jake slammed into him with a snarl, both men crashing to the dirt floor and rolling. Fists flew and elbows jabbed, muscles bulging as they grappled.
Austin stood, taking Leona’s hand and pulling her up and into his side. “Remember, no shifting. Now, play nice.” With that, he led his mate back into their cabin, closing the door with a backward kick.
Brent joined me, sinking into my spare chair. “Spoils the fun, don’cha think?” I noticed he had retrieved a plate from somewhere and was chewing on a sandwich. He offered me half, which I accepted.
“What?” I mumbled around a mouthful of thick sliced bread and crunchy bacon.
“The no shifting rule.”
“Makes sense, though. Means we can’t kill each other.”
Brent considered my point, his eyes following the two men who were still brawling in the dirt, showing no sign of letting up. “Yeah. If we could kill each other then Nate wouldn’t prank so much, and that would definitely spoil the fun.”
I thought about it, then decided not to point out that Nate’s next target could be one of us; let him live in delirious denial. I drained the last of my water and was weighing up whether to grab a coffee, or not, when his eyes narrowed, swerving away from the fight. “What’s up?”
“It’s happened again,” he growled, jumping to his feet and launching himself down the steps.
I lived with a bunch of lunatics. Dusting crumbs from my shirt, I resigned myself to playing the game, following him down to where he stood at the edge of the yard, poking at what looked like dirt. “What?”
“Can’t you see?” Crouching down, he peered intently. At dirt.
“No.” Sucking in a deep breath of the morning air—already heavy and promising another scorching day—I searched for patience I knew I didn’t have. “I need more, man.”
He jabbed a finger at something green. “Someone’s stealing my plants.”
I searched for the words, then gave up. I had nothing. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted my salvation from this weird conversation. “Someone is steamrollering your plants.” I pointed at the tangle that was Jake and Nate. They’d rolled themselves right into one of Brent’s flowerbeds.
Brent blinked.
Three … two …
His roar was ear splitting. He barreled over to them and yanked Jake off, throwing him clear across the yard, planting a foot on Nate’s throat when he tried to follow. “Both of you owe me new bulbs and some hours planting,” he snarled, his face dark with anger. Surprisingly—or maybe, not—both Jake and Nate didn’t argue. One by one, they took one look at Brent’s face and nodded.
Brent was a flower loving, worrying, hard ass, that’s for sure.
Brent let Nate up, giving him a look that a momma bear would be proud of. “And this is why we can’t have nice things.”
Jake’s eyes promised further retribution, but he disappeared into his cabin without another word. Probably going to check himself out in the mirror and come to terms with having the best legs in Heartsridge, no doubt.
Coffee called, then work. “Not your brightest idea, Nate, but funny. I’ll give you that.”
The other man shrugged. He really didn’t give a shit.
After a few hours patrolling the boundary with Jake, we changed back to human, threw our clothes back on and headed back to the office, passing Nate and Brent on their way out. Jake tensed, but he didn’t fly after them. All in all, his control had improved leaps and bounds since he had joined the team.
Not that I was telling him that; it would be like poking a boa constrictor with a crash test dummy.
Making a beeline for the coffee pot, I grabbed the largest mug I could find and heaped three sugars in before splashing the rich, barely burnt nectar over the top.
Austin glanced up at me from where he was buried in paperwork, his eyebrows raising when I collapsed onto the couch with a contented sigh. “Tough shift?” His eyes slid to Jake, who had dragged two chairs together in the corner of the room, then promptly laid down and closed his eyes.
“No, it was fine. Same old,” I replied, sucking down some coffee.
His pen clattered onto the desk, then he folded his arms, giving me one of his looks. “What is it then? Something’s up; you’re not on form.”
I bristled, despite knowing his words rang true. “Personal shit.”
“Dearest Granny warned him away from his mate so he’s blubbering like a baby.” Jake wasn’t asleep. He scowled in our general direction—probably for disturbing his beauty sleep—bolted upright and stalked out of the room.
I opened my mouth, then shut it again. Better they thought that than the actual truth: that my mate didn’t want the first thing to do with me.
Austin’s brows knitted together. “Is that true?”
I shrugged. “Seems Mina’s Granny doesn’t think I’m good enough for her granddaughter.” And damn, if that didn’t sting.
Austin was about to reply, when the door swung open, Leona and Harper spilling into the room in a fit of giggles. Leona wasted no time in planting herself on her mate’s lap and pressing her lips against his, slipping in a soft murmur of greeting.
“Sickening, huh?” Harper threw herself down on the couch next to me, snagged my mug out of my hands and took a sip. She pulled a face and performed a full body shudder. “Ugh! Can I have some coffee with my sugar, please?” Today she’d pulled her long dark hair back into a braid, revealing the shaved slice that was usually hidden underneath. It lent her an edgy look, enhanced by the sudden appearance of a row of studs in her right ear.
“New jewelry?” I reached out, but she waved me away with a screech.
“No. Stings!” She hissed, wafting her hand over her ear. The tip was bright red, obviously still very angry with her for the mutilation.
Leona’s groan was muffled behind her hand, but I had a clear view of her eyes rolling for all they were worth. “She’s having a crisis of some kind. God knows what brought this one on, but there’s always a reason. The last time was when this guy we knew—”
Her sister shot her a look, giving her head a sharp shake.
There was a story here and I was very sure I didn’t want—or need—to hear it. Pushing myself off the couch, I moved toward the door. “I’m going to run into town and grab some lunch.” My hand had barely touched the door handle when Harper bounced to her feet.
“Are you going to the cafe?” She licked her lips, affecting a moan. “I’d do anything for a decent cup of coffee and not the swill you guys serve in here.”
Austin chuckled. “That’s because we don’t serve coffee here.”
“Fine. I’m going to the cafe.” Because where else would I get decent food in the half hour I had for lunch? Plus, I was kind of hoping I might catch a glimpse of Mina around town. If I was lucky.
“Yay!” Harper clapped her hands and joined me at the door.
I shot her a quizzical look. “Don’t you work in the gift shop now?” From what I’d heard, Harper was trialing working as a photographer at the gift shop, taking fun vacation photos for tourists so they could have them printed on t-shirts and mugs and crap.
We headed out after Leona had placed her order, promising to not take all day. “Yep.”
“A couple of doors down from the cafe.”
She nodded. “Yep.”
“The cafe you would have had to walk past on your way here?”
She carried on walking, but gave me the side eye. “What’s your point?”
Leona worked in the municipal building as of today, having found some kind of administrative job in accounting doing something way beyond my pay grade. Of course, Harper co
uld have been visiting her sister, but my sixth sense was twitching. She’d been hoping to visit someone else today, but who? “Nothing,” I murmured. “Are the guys still moving you over tonight?” I’d already informed Austin that I’d be busy driving Mina out to the farm, but today was moving day for Harper.
She stilled, her back stiffening the finest fraction, then she grinned. “Yep. Home sweet home.” We joined the main street, blending into the crowd as we worked our way toward the cafe. “I heard that you’re taking Mina out?” An innocent question, but from the devious smirk on her lips, she had an opinion on the matter.
Shoving my hands into my pockets to keep them from giving my nerves away, I nodded. “I’m taking her to pick her car up.”
“Is it true?” She’d stopped, pulling my arm to bring me to a standstill.
I waited, already knowing what her question was going to be. Austin would have told Leona, who would have told Harper. The only way to keep a secret in Heartsridge was to not tell a soul.
“Is she your fated mate?” Her eyes widened, her smile spreading across her face at my mumbled confirmation.
“I’m so pleased for you!” she shrieked, lowering her voice to a low hiss due to everyone in the nearby vicinity turning and staring. “You’re going to be my brother-in-law!”
Before I had chance to tell her it didn’t work quite like that, and that I still had to convince Mina yet, she’d thrown her arms around my neck and hugged me.
Her acceptance washed over me, something I hadn’t felt in a long time. Something I hadn’t even realized I still craved, thinking I’d left behind the useless emotion in my childhood. I relaxed, allowing myself the small pleasure of feeling wanted in this world.
Now, if I could only get Mina to accept me like this, then maybe I’d stand a chance.
Chapter Eight
Mina
My feet ground to a halt, refusing to take another step. A rapid thudding sounded in my ears, drowning out the voices of the people milling around me. Chest tight, I swallowed, forcing the breath in and out.
A tall, well built man hugged a woman, his arms wrapping around her and holding tight. It had been her squeal that had caught my attention, dragging my eyes across the crowd like a honing beacon, until … there.
Cade. With his arms around another woman. Strong, corded forearms showed no sign of letting her go, his face tucked into her neck with a look so blissful, I couldn’t even begin to imagine what was going through his head. Still devastatingly handsome, his strong jaw and rugged looks had women nearly walking backward past him, their faces lit with the same emotion I knew was painted on mine.
Jealousy. The big green monster itself.
Before I knew it, my feet were moving again, faster than before, hurtling me toward something my brain was scrambling to catch up with.
No matter what I’d said, or how I’d acted, he knew exactly what he was doing. He was my fated mate and we’d only just found each other, and he was snuggling with another woman? Uh huh. Nope. No way. I could hear the rant inside my head, irrational and crazed, but rational thought had left the building. He was chasing me. It was downright disrespectful. Fueled by a surge of crazed hormonal adrenaline, I pelted him on the shoulder, ignoring the zing that zipped through me at the feel of his work hardened muscle beneath my hand.
He let the woman go.
Good. At least it meant I wouldn’t have to— My mouth fell open. “Harper?” As soon as my eyes registered my immense fuck up, my nose followed suit, confirming that my humiliation was complete. There was no attraction simmering in the air, no scent of desire wafting my way. Shit. Shit, shit, shit.
Harper must have missed my fist launching punch, because her smile widened. “Mina! We were just talking about you!”
Cade shot her a no-nonsense glare and her mouth snapped shut. His eyes returned to me, his head leaning to one side as if trying to work out what the hell was up. I could see his mind working, turning things over and over.
I held my own, gritting my teeth. Better for him to think I’m pissed with him, than what had actually happened. Though I couldn’t help the rush of heat to my cheeks, growing stronger by the second.
Harper glanced at us, her eyes yo-yoing back and forth and widening by the second, until there was more white than healthy. “Uh…” she mumbled, backing away and waving her hands. “I’ll leave you both to it!” She spun on her heel, her braid whipping out and nearly assaulting a poor innocent pedestrian, then she paused. “Hey, could I come over tonight and see Liam? I’d like to see how he’s getting on, with it being his first day here.” She sounded anxious, as if unsure of her welcome.
I pasted a smile on my face. “Sure. Liam’s at school today.”
She bobbed her head, the anxiety morphing into happiness. “I’ll time my visit for when he gets home. I’ll grab the lunches, Cade. See ya!” She disappeared into the cafe, from which I’d just exited.
“Mina.” Cade’s voice was a low growl. He took a step forward, his large body dwarfing mine. The confusion had gone, in its place was a glint of understanding. And satisfaction. Oh, yeah, he had that whole smug bastard thing locked down tight.
Shit times one hundred. I should back away, but I’d been brought up to never show fear, especially not to a dominant predator. “Cade,” I replied, relieved my voice held steady. I tilted my head, tipping my chin up in a defiance I certainly didn’t feel, my body still reeling from the flood of hormones my mistaken assumption had cost me. This close, the heat of his body buffered me, caressing me with promises of nights tangled in sweat drenched sheets and skin slick and sated. Why did he have to be so big? So sexy? So exactly like my ideal man?
He sniffed the air.
“I told you, don’t do that!”
It was pointless. He’d already sucked in a great lungful of my hormones doing the sexy jig. This was deduced from the light that sparked in the depths of his hazel eyes, little flashes of gold spiraling and dancing in a near hypnotic draw.
I caught myself leaning closer, my breath caught in my throat. I knew that people flowed around us, parting like a sea around a boulder, but, in my mind, they didn’t exist. They’d vanished, along with any hint of self preservation. He called to me and I responded. It wasn’t a choice, it was instinct. He was the one person who was perfect for me in every way, my fox had recognized this man as the one. Hers. Cade knew and wasn’t playing by the rules.
His hand stroked my cheek and I leaned into his touch. If only life were that simple. If only I could get my body back under control. If only I could walk away. If only Liam hadn’t bit Harper. I wanted to go home, back to when life had been simple and this big, sexy threat hadn’t existed.
He cleared his throat.
I blinked my eyes open. When had I closed them? His face was close, his mouth too close. Time slowed, or maybe it sped, I didn’t know, I couldn’t grasp anything but the shape of his lips, the quirk at the corner, the tilt of his head.
Someone jostled me.
His arm came around me, steady and firm.
It was the jolt back to reality that I’d needed, cutting through the fog. I staggered back, putting much needed air between us.
He didn’t look surprised. Or worried. He didn’t try and stop me, only stared, as if memorizing every detail and locking it away.
My fox yipped inside me, clawing at my skin. She wanted the big, burly man in front of us. Wanted him with a ferocity that staggered me. And scared me. I took another step back, widening the chasm. Another step. I half expected him to reach out and stop me, to claim what he so obviously wanted, but he didn’t.
I could breathe again. I wanted to hug my arms around myself, but refused to give in to the weakness. Calm and collected, yeah, right, I could at least try and cling to the illusion. Why didn’t he say something? Anything? What was he waiting for?
He cocked his head, as if listening in on my personal thoughts, a slow smile lifting his mouth at the corners. “Don’t forget, nine o’clock tonight.�
� Not waiting for my answer, he turned and walked away, giving me a perfect view of his denim clad ass clenching with every long stride.
A low whistle sounded next to me. “Damn. That man has a fine ass,” Julie muttered, appearing as if out of thin air, with Harper by her side.
“Bitable,” I murmured, before I had chance to filter the words past my brain. I slapped a hand over my mouth, but it was too late.
Cade’s step faltered, his arm pausing mid swing.
Holy shit, he’d heard me. How the hell was I going to face him tonight?
Harper and Julie collapsed in giggles, grabbing my arm and dragging me toward the cafe.
Placing the last plate, I surveyed the table, adjusting a fork and budging a water glass with my finger.
“It’s only Harper,” Liam grumbled, presumably irked because he’d been made to wash past his wrists.
Granny swatted him with a towel, turning back to the stove and lifting the lid, giving the chili a stir. Spices perfumed the air on a gust of hot steam, rolling like a cloud through the small but cute kitchen and making my mouth water.
A light rap sounded on the door. “Come in,” I called, knowing she’d hear me.
Harper paused in the doorway and took a deep breath, a look of bliss settling on her face. “Smells amazing!”
“I hope you brought an appetite.” Granny indicated a chair and Harper sat, placing her purse on the floor.
“Ever since I changed I haven’t been able to stop eating,” she said with a chuckle, patting her stomach. “If I carry on like this I’ll be the size of a house.”
Sliding into my chair, I filled the water glasses, giving Liam the side eye when he reached out and snagged a sliver of spring onion. “Can’t happen,” I replied, accepting a steaming bowl from Granny and setting it in front of me. “Shifters maintain their metabolism almost perfectly. Whatever shape you’re meant to be, you’ll stay.”
Harper blinked, her spoon wavering in front of her mouth. “No way!”
“Way,” Liam piped up with a grin.
Harper grimaced. “I guess that means that dieting is out the window from now on?”
