Betting on Bear (Charmed in Vegas Book 6)

by Tabitha Conall

  “Hardiman.” Her soft hand touched his cheek and pulled him around to look at her. “I’ll keep an eye on him, okay? You need to call this in so they can come get him.”

  Looking into her eyes, he felt an overwhelming urge to kiss her. What would he have done if she’d been captured and enslaved? He would have torn the city apart to find her and free her. No question. He lifted his hand toward her face but before he could grip her around the neck and pull her into him, she moved away toward the asshole lying on the ground.

  He growled when she got too close to the man. But then he remembered what she’d told him to do. Still keeping his eye on the two of them, he pulled out his cell and dialed his precinct. While he waited for them to pick up, he took a few deep breaths and willed his sharp teeth to recede enough so they’d be able to understand him.

  A dispatcher came on the line and Hardiman asked them to send some uniforms to get the guy. When he hung up, Krena spoke without taking her eyes off the man. “You better?”

  “Yeah,” he said gruffly. He hoped she wouldn’t ask for details. He felt more and more certain he needed to make a move and claim her, but this wasn’t the right time. How romantic would it be for him to say, ‘I almost ripped that guy apart because you’re my mate. Will you be mine forever?’

  Then again, Krena might like that. He could never tell with her.

  “We need to question him before they come get him.” She rolled the man over and pulled him to a sitting position. “How did you know I was a naiad from a block away?”

  She had a point. Now that his bear was letting him take control again, Hardiman could see exactly where she was going with this. Full-blooded naiads were tied to their water source. Mixed race naiads weren’t, but they looked like Krena—completely human, even if they weren’t. There was no way this guy could have known what she was from a block away unless he already knew she was a naiad.

  And considering he was waiting here with a binding cord, not far from where she’d been found the night before, it was a good bet he knew exactly what had gone down.

  The man didn’t answer Krena’s question, so Hardiman chimed in. “Why were you waiting in front of the theater?”

  The man shot Hardiman a dirty look but still didn’t say anything.

  “Fine,” Hardiman said. “We’ll get our answers another way.” He knelt in front of the man and patted him down, finally yanking his wallet from his back pocket and flipping it open. “Bruce May.” He rifled through the plastic cards and pulled out an id card. “Blue Horizon casino. You work there?”

  The man jutted his chin forward but didn’t respond.

  “I’m thinking he works there,” Krena said. “Maybe we should go have a word with the people over at the Blue Horizon.”

  “They won’t speak to you,” the man hissed. “They know I’ll fire them if they do.”

  Hardiman stood. “So you’re in charge? What did you want with Krena?”

  The man’s eyes focused on her and Hardiman fought not to growl. “She’s a Krenaia? Better and better.”

  They asked several more questions but the guy stopped responding. Finally, Hardiman and Krena stepped back a few steps and lowered their voices.

  “As soon as they come get him, we need to check out that casino,” Hardiman said.

  “Agreed.”

  A black and white pulled up at that moment and two uniforms got out. Hardiman and Krena identified themselves and explained that the handcuffed man had attacked Krena. The uniforms pulled the guy to his feet and put him in their car.

  “You coming to the station to make a statement?” one of them said to Hardiman.

  Hardiman rubbed the back of his neck. “We have something we need to do first. We’ll be in to fill out the paperwork in a few hours.”

  “Sounds good. Just make sure you get there before we have to release him.”

  “We will,” Hardiman said. “There’s not a chance in hell I’m letting that guy get out after what he almost did to Krena.”

  The cops left with Bruce May.

  Naya gazed down the block. “You want to get some lunch before we head to the casino? It’s almost time and I didn’t get breakfast.”

  Lunch. Hardiman felt an absurd joy at the opportunity to feed his mate.

  Chapter 5

  Naya and Hardiman headed to the restaurant. The big brick building stood at least three stories high and had a patio that was enclosed by a wrought iron fence.

  Naya still wasn’t sure why Hardiman was going to such lengths to help her, but she wasn’t going to argue. Though the chances of them ever finding Sneezy seemed to be getting smaller and smaller, she wasn’t ready to give up yet. Her career depended on her finding him and handing him over to Hardiman. She had to keep her eye on the ball.

  Hardiman put his hand on Naya’s back as they approached the hostess. In spite of the attractive exterior, the inside of the restaurant looked kitschy, all done up in hearts and ridiculous depictions of Cupid as a baby in diapers with a bow and arrow. The real Cupid would shudder to see it. And then he’d probably wave his beautiful hands and make it all disappear.

  Not that she knew Cupid well. She’d encountered him a few times growing up, when the Greek and Roman pantheons had their infrequent conventions and pretended to get along with each other.

  Still, the place was unlike anything she’d ever seen. Instead of tables and chairs or booths, all they saw was a long red curtain hanging from a metal rod at the ceiling, blocking most of the restaurant from view. As they waited for the hostess to get to them, Naya watched a waiter part the curtains and lead a young couple into a secluded alcove.

  This looked like a restaurant for lovers, which she and Hardiman most definitely were not. “We should go,” she said.

  “What are you, afraid?” He rubbed his hand on her back.

  A shiver ran through her. Why did he keep touching her? Like she wasn’t confused enough already. “Of course I’m not afraid. I just think there are other restaurants where we’d feel more comfortable. You know, as colleagues.”

  A low growl came from Hardiman’s throat. What the hell?

  “We’re fine here,” he said, a rumble in his voice.

  Before she had a chance to argue, the waitress arrived and beckoned them forward.

  Maybe it would be fine. They’d eat, talk about their next steps, and then get the hell out of there. Who cared if their lunch would be secluded and romantic? They wouldn’t see anything but the food on their plates.

  Hardiman’s thumb rubbed against her back, sending shivers over her skin as the waitress held a curtain open for them.

  Inside, it was just as bad as she’d imagined. The lights were dim, candlelight flickering against the deep red curtains that surrounded their table. The table itself was set for two and looked smaller than usual—no doubt so lovers could hold hands across the table with ease.

  Gah. What was she doing here? This wasn’t her. And it definitely wasn’t Hardiman. Nevertheless, when Hardiman held out a chair for her, she stumbled into it, jumping as he pushed it in to the table.

  As soon as he settled down across from her, their private space shrank. He was so big, his broad shoulders wider than the table, his legs so long they not only brushed against hers but reached as far as the legs of her chair.

  He gazed at her. She’d never sat down face to face with him before. It was too intimate, too revealing.

  That warm, achy feeling she so often felt around him returned full force, and she suddenly couldn’t meet his eyes. What in Hades were they doing here? Why couldn’t they be sitting side by side on a park bench, eating burgers they grabbed at a fast food joint?

  Hardiman rested his arm on the table, his wrist and hand extending into her space. As his hand fell open, she had the horrible feeling he wanted her to take it.

  Her eyes met his. “Hardiman?”

  “Call me Brick,” he said.

  Shit.

  “Hardiman. I—” Whatever she’d been about to say go
t lost as the waitress slipped through the curtain to take their order. As they hurriedly looked over the menu and picked out sandwiches, the achy feeling in Naya’s gut grew. By the time the waitress left and Naya looked into Hardiman’s eyes, she’d forgotten why she fought so hard against him.

  Hardiman—Brick—tapped his hand against the table, palm up. This time she didn’t even hesitate. She slipped her hand into his.

  At the back of her mind, she knew there was a reason she shouldn’t do that, but the reason was clouded and fuzzy and his hand was warm and strong. The reason quickly faded into mist.

  Brick’s hand closed around hers as a low rumble came from his chest. “You’re so beautiful.”

  She felt a heat in her cheeks that spread through her entire body.

  “I could look at you all day,” he said.

  The thought that something was wrong tickled her brain. “Should we be doing this?”

  He squeezed her hand. “This is what we’re meant to do. We’re meant to be together.”

  When he said the words, she knew it was right. Why was she fighting? This big man-bear had stolen her heart.

  “I’ve wanted you for a long time, Naya.”

  She put her free hand over her chest. “You called me Naya.”

  “Of course. I want to be close to you. We can’t be close calling each other by our last names.”

  “But we’re—” Again, a stray thought flitted past. What were they? Not lovers.

  No, but they should be lovers. Why weren’t they lovers?

  The curtains opened again, the waitress returning with their drinks. Brick didn’t even glance in her direction. “Why don’t you trust me?”

  “I do trust you,” she said immediately. She did. Didn’t she?

  “You thought I’d turn you in. I’d never turn you in. I want to protect you.” He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand.

  Was he having the same trouble thinking that she was? He seemed more laid back than usual. More open.

  “Say something,” he whispered.

  “You’re always so hard on me.” She knew it was true and yet those memories seemed far away and hazy.

  “To protect you. You keep doing things that put you in danger.” He tugged her hand closer to him and placed a kiss on the back of it. The feel of his soft lips against her skin sent a jolt through her body.

  Her sluggish brain tried to review their past encounters to see if what he was saying was true, but she couldn’t quite remember. Finally, she said, “I’m a cop. Of course I’m in danger.”

  The growl started in his chest. “I can’t stand it.”

  She wasn’t sure what a self-sufficient career woman like herself should feel with a bear shifter growling at her like that, but what she felt was humbled. How could he feel so strongly about her that it affected him so much? And how could she never have known? “I never meant to cause you pain.”

  “I know, sweetie.” He pressed his lips against the back of her hand and kept them there for several long moments.

  And oh, how she wanted those lips elsewhere.

  Finally, she remembered. “You tried to get me kicked off that case. How was that protecting me?”

  “I’ve never tried to get you kicked off a case.” He kissed her hand again.

  “Yes, you did. The Stevenson case. You told my chief that he never should have had me on the case. I was there. I heard you.” Some of the fuzziness in her brain cleared. She tried to tug her hand out of his.

  He squeezed her hand, not letting go. “You didn’t hear me right. Or I said it badly. What I told your chief is that he was incompetent for not paying attention to his people. He knows you’re a naiad, but he put you in a position where you couldn’t get adequate water. He compromised you.”

  That wasn’t how she remembered it. “You said I shouldn’t have been on the case.”

  “On the stakeout. He never should have had you on the stakeout, or he should have given you enough time to keep yourself hydrated. By working you so hard he created a bad situation. It’s his fault the whole thing went sideways. He needs to pay more attention to the needs of his people.”

  She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You thought it was my fault.”

  “His fault.”

  “But all this time—you’ve hated me, because I screwed up the Stevenson case.”

  He squeezed her hand again. “You’ve got to be kidding. I love you. I don’t hate you. And I told you—you didn’t screw up the case. He did.”

  “No, I know you hate me. That’s why you’re always coming down so hard on me.”

  “I’m hard on you because you keep putting yourself in danger.”

  He’d said that before. Could she really believe what he was saying? She had thought she knew what their relationship was about, but the things he was saying turned everything upside down.

  The longer she sat thinking about their history, the more blurred it became until all she could see was the strong, capable man in front of her. The man who had told her he loved her.

  His eyes met hers, his mouth pressing hard against her hand. She could see her want and frustration reflected in his eyes. He released her hand and reached across the table toward her but before his hands could close around her shoulders, the curtain slipped open.

  “Don’t mind me,” the waitress said softly. She slipped their meals onto the table as Brick pulled his arms away. “We have rooms upstairs, if you’d like to extend your stay after you eat. Enjoy.” And then she was gone as fast as she’d arrived.

  Brick smiled. “I’d like to extend our stay.” His words dripped with innuendo.

  Naya blushed. “Things are moving so fast.” But she wanted to.

  “I’ve been waiting so long to make you mine.” He grabbed her hand, silverware clattering in his wake. “This isn’t a one-time thing. You know that. I want you to be mine forever.”

  ***

  Should he have spoken long ago? Was this all it took to make her his? Brick could hardly believe what he was saying, but the words kept coming out of his mouth as though compelled. Amazingly, Naya seemed to be responding.

  “We don’t even live in the same towns,” she said, but her fingers clung to his as though she couldn’t bear to let go.

  “We can make it work. Anything is possible with love.” He felt a jolt when he realized he’d said the “L” word. Not once, but twice. Not that he didn’t mean it, but he never thought he’d say it to her. “Eat. Our food will get cold.”

  When he looked at his plate, he realized what a joke that was—they both had sandwiches and chips. The food was already cold. Plus, he couldn’t make himself let go of her hand, so he’d have to eat left-handed. Not that he minded. Getting to touch her was heaven.

  Part of him knew what was happening was odd. The detective in him told him to investigate. The bear in him told him to hold onto his mate and mark her as quick as he could before she came to her senses. Considering the day they’d had so far, he was inclined to think his bear had a point.

  They ate in a silence fraught with furtive looks and fingers that stroked and touched and rolled over each other in an effort to squeeze every ounce out of the sensation. Brick had never gotten hard from holding a woman’s hand before, but right then, his dick could have broken—well, bricks.

  When he smiled at his internal joke, Naya tugged on his fingers. “What’s so funny?”

  “Nothing,” he said without thinking. He took another bite of his sandwich, not even remembering what it was.

  “Tell me.” He’d never heard that wheedling tone in her voice before. She sounded almost feminine.

  “It’s kind of crude.”

  “Are you trying to protect me again? Because I’m a cop. I’ve heard plenty of crude jokes.” She popped a chip into her mouth. He envied it.

  It took him a moment, thinking about the chip and what her tongue was doing to it, to remember to answer her question. “Of course I’m trying to protect you. I’ll always protect
you.”

  She tugged on his hand again. “Tell me.” The light in her eyes was infectious. Why had he never before realized how intoxicating she was when she smiled?

  “Fine. I was just thinking my… member… is hard enough to break bricks. Get it? Bricks? Cause my name is Brick?”

  She smirked. “You’re loopy.”

  “I’m drinking water.”

  “Something’s got you drunk.”

  “Drunk on love.” That really didn’t sound like him. Maybe she had a point.

  “And who calls their cock a ‘member’?” she said.

  He choked. She said ‘cock.’ His beautiful, innocent mate said ‘cock.’

  No, wait—she wasn’t innocent. He’d never thought she was innocent. What the hell was wrong with him?

  He tipped his glass toward himself and looked at the water inside. “Maybe they spiked it. Sure tastes like water.”

  “They must’ve spiked mine too.”

  Yet she continued to hold his hand and stroke his fingers and send him sexy looks. If this was what it was like to be drunk with her, let him stay drunk forever.

  He reached for his sandwich only to realize it was gone. “I’m done eating. You?”

  “Almost.” She tossed another chip into her mouth.

  He swallowed. “I’ll get the check. And arrange for a room upstairs.”

  When he started to rise, she held tight to his hand. “Are we doing the right thing? I mean, upstairs?”

  “Hell, yes.” His bear showed itself in the guttural tones of the words. “I’ve been wanting to get you alone forever. If you’re actually willing to go upstairs with me, no way am I turning down the opportunity. So—can I arrange a room?”

  He held his breath. His whole life would be decided in the next moment.

  Chapter 6

  What should she do? Every cell in her body wanted to go upstairs with him, to see if it felt as good when he made love to her as it did when he held her hand. Yet that insistent muttering in the back of her mind said this was wrong. Something was wrong.