I also needed to find a congratulatory bouquet to send to Penny. Callie’s email was the first thing that caught my eye. Subject line: YOU NEED THIS! Yep, she was shouting in all caps. She knew I hated that, but it did the trick. I clicked open the message and my heart dropped to my toes. I know it can’t physically happen, but the feeling of such an act filled me with dread. Callie was dead. Not yet, but she would be when I got my hands around her skinny neck. She was the most presumptuous friend I’d ever had.
The link she placed in the email was for a dating website called, ‘Aphrodite’s Love Connection’. Worse, that particular hyperlink sent me to my own profile. A profile I knew I never created. How Callie thought she could jump in and try to save my dating life was beyond me. If she was here, she’d appreciate the massive eye roll I gave as I read the profile.
My eyes wandered the site. ‘I love the outdoors.’ Okay, that was true. My plus size figure didn’t indicate the hours of hiking I did just to be outside in nature. ‘Camping and white water rafting’, all true. ‘I also enjoy days at the beach, warm summer days, and ice cream dates’. As I read through the faux profile I had to give it to Callie, the girl knew me inside and out, which was expected since she’d been a part of my life since we were in diapers. ‘I’m looking for a strong man who can country dance on Saturday night, and enjoys reading the Sunday Times with a cup of coffee in front of the fireplace the next morning.’
‘I’m a curvy spitfire who knows what she wants.’ “Hardly!” I shouted, harsher than necessary, at my computer screen as I continued to read the words generated by my well-meaning, but overly enthusiastic friend. “The only thing missing is ‘For a good time call….,” I snarled as I shut the laptop and picked up my cell phone.
I didn’t offer a hello when Callie picked up the phone on the second ring. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Oh, I see you got my present.” Callie’s voice purred over the line.
“You and I have differing opinions of what a present is,” I told her. “Take it down!”
“Nope, I won’t, and this Friday, you and I are going to the monthly mixer.”
“Like hell,” I snorted, as I laughed at her ridiculous idea.
“Tell me something, Ashlee. When you got Penny’s news, what did you do?”
“I toasted her good news with half a pint of ice cream.” The words poured from my lips and made me regret them the moment they hit the air.
“I rest my case.” Callie continued, “Your divorce has been final for three years and you haven’t had a decent date in ten. It’s time to get back into the saddle again.”
“Yes, but--”
“You’re not getting any younger, Ash.” She interrupted me from the excuse I was trying to come up with.
“Neither are you,” I pointed out a little too snidely.
“Which is why we’re doing this together. I’m picking you up at 5:30, Friday. Be ready.” She hung up the phone before I could argue further.
I wanted to scream ‘Witch’ into the phone, but something in my mind told me she was right. I loved her and hated her for that ability, but she was almost always right.
I sighed heavily and flipped open the laptop again. I clicked on Monthly Mixer and perused the photos of past parties. There were definitely some good looking bachelors and bachelorettes. I didn’t look like the typical patron. Callie did, but I had a feeling I was going to be out of place. Story of my life.
The dress was classy, business casual to semi-elegant attire. It looked like I was going to be spending my lunch hour tomorrow shopping.
Chapter Two
Tucker
“YES, I LIKE TO HAVE a personal meeting with all our clients. It makes things easier for me to make matches. If the meeting cannot happen until the mixer, that is fine, but before I make a match, my son and I must meet the client. This is not negotiable,” Aphrodite told the voice on the other end of the telephone line, which was on speaker.
“I will do my best.” The lady’s voice on the other end responded.
“Good. I’ll connect you to my assistant to get the payment processed and she’ll also forward the details of the mixer tomorrow night. I look forward to meeting him.” Aphrodite clicked hold and transferred the call. She flipped open her binder and started writing notes. A look of surprise crossed her face when her half-sister, Artemis, appeared around the corner with a reluctant Tucker in tow. “Hello, Artie. What’s new in your part of the woods?”
“We need your help.” Artemis pointed to one of the plush white chairs in front of the desk. “Have a seat, Tucker.”
“I really don’t understand…” He stopped talking when Artemis crossed her arms over her chest and raised a red eyebrow. A moment later he sat down.
Aphrodite hid a smile behind a pink feathered quill pen and waited for his goddess to continue.
“I need you to find Tucker here his mate.”
Aphrodite looked between the handsome bear shifter and Artie. “Okay,” she cleared her throat and turned to Tucker, “what are you looking for in a mate?”
“I really don’t need a woman,” he argued.
She nodded. “So you’re looking for a man?”
“No, I’m not looking for anyone.” Already he was feeling like he was in an interrogation. Why did he have to anger Artemis? He should’ve left well enough alone and done as he was told.
Aphrodite glared at Artemis. “I don’t have time for games, sis. If he isn’t looking for love, I can’t help him.” She closed her pink and white striped notebook.
“He has no choice. If he doesn’t find a mate, I am going to remove him from his alpha seat.”
Tucker stood up, angry. “You never said anything about losing my alpha claim.”
“I don’t answer to you, bear. Besides, it was pretty obvious when I told you that you have no choice.”
Aphrodite turned her gaze back to Tucker. “Well?”
Tucker’s green eyes bounced back and forth between the two goddesses like a ping pong ball in mid volley. The silence stretched tight like a rubber band. After what seemed like forever, he sat down in the chair, defeated. “Fine.” He knew Artemis well enough. She wouldn’t relent once she set her mind to it.
“Great, what are you looking for in a mate?”
“I really don’t know. Someone who isn’t going to distract me from my responsibilities. She needs to like the outdoors. She’ll need to relocate to the mountains and live with us in seclusion.”
“So perhaps an earth witch?”
“I am not big on other supernatural creatures,” he admitted. It wasn’t that they were out of the question, it was that they complicated matters. He didn’t need more complications. But then again, a human would make him weaker, so it was really a toss-up.
“So you are looking for an enlightened human that is accepting that her mate turns into a bear multiple nights of the month? One that has no problem living with a camp full of bears?” Aphrodite raised a blonde eyebrow, her doubt obvious.
“Preferably.”
“But he is open to witches and shifters as well,” Artemis interjected.
“There aren’t many female bear shifters. Actually, I don’t have many male bear shifters.”
“We’re a dying breed,” Tucker conceded. It was why he was so focused on the survival of his pack and less focused on finding a mate.
Artemis crossed her arms over her chest defensively when Aphrodite tossed her a compassionate look. “My bears are fierce warriors. Unfortunately, that means many of them died off over the years without focusing on procreation. Daddy has forbidden us to make more supernatural creatures so their survival lies in breeding,” she explained.
“Which is why it is so important for the alpha to take a mate, lead by example and all that jazz.” Aphrodite nodded. “How about Amazons? Or demons?”
“It isn’t just that. Tucker here is so focused on the survival of his pack, he needs to soften his edges before his pack leaves him and they are left to
fend on their own, or worse, create war between two packs and kill off more of their species. I believe love, real love, will turn this pile of coal into a diamond.” Artemis brushed Tucker’s plaid clad shoulder, removing a cloud of dust which made him cough involuntarily.
“Pile of coal?” Tucker was offended. “I am one of your best warriors!”
“And I respect that, which is why I am giving you this chance. But mark my words, bear, if you don’t settle down with a mate in the next month, I’ll be forced to make some leadership changes.”
“A month?” Tucker gulped. That was an impossible timeline.
Artemis nodded, crossed her arms over her ample chest, and raised an eyebrow along with her chin, daring him to defy her.
He knew better. She was serious.
“So you’re a top priority case. No problem. Why don’t we start with the mixer tomorrow night?”
“Mixer?”
“A get to know you party. Who knows, you may meet the love of your life right away or it will give me and Eros a chance to see where your preferences really lie.” She handed him a card. “We love a challenge, and something tells me you’re going to be a challenge.”
***
Tucker watched from the corner of the room as humans and supernatural creatures weaved in and out of the elegant ballroom. Laughter and chatter filtered through the crowd. As far as he could tell, the party was going well. People were mingling, pairing up, Aphrodite and her son, Eros, seemed pleased with the mixer.
He couldn’t remember a time when he felt more out of place. It didn’t help that he wasn’t happy about being here. He knew his responsibility to Artemis and her expectations. She expected him to find a mate. He’d do just that, but he was looking for one that didn’t strike his fancy. He didn’t need a distraction, and he knew all too well that a woman, a mate, was a terrible distraction. If she was a true mate, she’d tear his energy in two or worse, if she was weaker than him, she’d become a problem. He didn’t have time to protect someone while he tried to rebuild his flailing pack.
He’d met suitable potential mates at the party. Josette seemed like a good option at first. Her red hair and lightly freckled skin made her pretty enough. She was a little too skinny for his tastes, but that could always be rectified. The problem was her day job, she was a dominatrix and enjoyed her power over men. She was the last thing he needed in his den. A little whipping wasn’t the issue; it was that she’d be far more interesting than dealing with the fight he had over property with the neighboring wolf pack. Not to mention, he wasn’t the kind of man that could share his woman. She’d have to quit her job.
Mariah also sparked his interest, a witch with dark, exotic looks. Not only could she protect herself, but she’d offer more strength to their dwindling numbers rather than becoming a hindrance. The problem was that she had no intention of living in the forest. To be fair, even if she wanted to, she couldn’t. She came from a powerful witch family, and had responsibilities on the council.
He was beginning to think that was the case with most of these women. For him, nature was his sanctuary, but they seemed to run from it like it was the plague. It was a deal breaker for him. His mate would need to live in his den with him while he rebuilt his pack and strengthened his borders. He knew these objections wouldn’t appease Artemis. She wanted him to find a mate and would not accept excuses.
A pretty blonde woman, who had been eyeing him across the crowd, caught his interest for a moment, until a scent drew his attention to the door. Two women entered; one tall and skinny, and the other, shorter and far curvier. They were both very attractive. The taller woman had brown curls and sun-kissed skin, and the lovelier woman was blonde and beautiful. It wasn’t their looks that caught his attention initially. He thought it was the witch, or maybe it was the human friend. Whichever scent drew his attention, it was something strong, distinctive, and completely intoxicating.
He watched them enter the room. The tall one seemed confident and exuded a strong aura. If he ventured a guess, she was the witch, but he needed to get closer to be sure. The blonde girl with sexy curves that went for miles seemed like she felt out of place. She was uncomfortable even though she was hot as hell. The way she fiddled with the hem of her black dress and adjusted her low cut neck line made him smile. The other women here were refined and polished, but this pretty, petite blonde was obviously a fish out of water, and as refreshing as a cool breeze.
Before he knew what he was doing, his feet were heading across the room toward the two girlfriends. Just as he was about to intercept their steps to the open bar, a male vampire stepped in front of him and steered them in the opposite direction.
His interest was obviously in the curvy blonde human, since vampires and witches rarely got along thanks to a century’s-old feud between the two supernatural races. No one really knew what sparked this quarrel, except maybe elders of the two groups. If they did know, they weren’t sharing, and they weren’t doing anything to alleviate the tension between both species either.
Tucker’s only real question was if his interest was in food or romance. Either option didn’t sit well with him. Something about the blonde intrigued him. He hadn’t intended to follow, but something told him to go. His bear was driven to protect, despite his desire to walk away. He didn’t need to involve himself in other people’s affairs. He had enough on his plate.
If the human and witch were dense enough to accompany the vampire outside, away from the safety of this event, then so be it. His actions didn’t follow his thoughts which irritated him further, and he pursued them toward the exit.
The curvy blonde allowed the vampire to lead her outside. Her friend tagged along, which he found himself grateful for. At least the human had some form of protection, but he had no idea how strong the witch was, a thought that was unsettling. The nagging voice in his head said to stay out of it, but the bear wouldn’t hear it. Reluctantly, he followed.
“And where are you off to in such a hurry?” Josette stepped in his path and seductively pressed a toothpick into his nipple. The slight prick was meant to be stimulating, but her interruption was nothing more than a gnat circling his head. His lip curled, but he managed to hold in the snarl that was erupting in his chest. He needed to find the girls.
A satisfied smile spread across her pretty face. “I was right, you do like it rough.” She pressed the toothpick in deeper.
He twisted her wrist back as he pulled her hand away and crushed her body against his. His voice was harsher than intended when he whispered, “I’m not interested in playing games, Josette.” He rushed out the door and sniffed the air, seeking a whiff of cinnamon and pine which he recognized as the human’s scent.
Chapter Three
Ashlee
I COULDN’T HELP THE SCREAM that tumbled from my lips when the tall, dark, and handsome stranger, who introduced himself as Andre, knocked Callie across the face and sent her flying diagonally into the wall on the other side of the alley. Terror snaked up my spine, and adrenaline coursed through my body. I had to ignore my first instinct to run. Callie was in danger. I had to stay and protect her. Andre turned his dark eyes toward me. My fingers quickly foraged in my purse. A flush of relief hit me when I wrapped my fingers around the cylinder-shaped canister. The other items were inconsequential at the moment; survival was all that mattered.
“Please don’t hurt us,” I begged as I managed to step in front of Callie’s unconscious body. I prayed she was still breathing. She hit the wall with such force I knew she had to have suffered massive injuries.
“Hurt you? My dear, I plan to give you an amazing amount of pleasure as I suck your blood from your neck.” His voice, smooth as silk, almost made me miss the red eyes as he moved in closer.
“Very funny. Look, I don’t know who you are, but I’m not into those role playing games.” I twisted the cap to the ON position. The glowing eyes were a good trick, but Callie’s and my life were in danger and I wasn’t falling for it. This man was as human as
they were and pepper spray worked well in a pinch against a human.
He took a step closer and reached a hand toward my face.
“I’m warning you, if you take one step further I’ll be forced to protect myself.” How I managed to keep the tremor out of my voice was an amazing feat. Fear was what predators fed off of, it was one of the things my father taught me before he died.
The dangerous looking man laughed. His pointy teeth were just as impressive as the glowing eyes. His makeup artist was phenomenal. I couldn’t help but think how much my ex-husband would’ve loved this man’s costume.
“I’m not afraid of a puny human.”
“Puny? Yeah, I’ve never been called puny before.” I pulled out the pepper spray and took aim. “Leave us alone or I’ll shoot.”
“Your spray bottle isn’t going to do a damn bit of good—”
I didn’t think when he grabbed my arms and pulled me against him. I pressed the button. The response was nothing like what I expected. I was hoping he’d release my arms so I could escape. Instead, his grip tightened. His eyes glowed a deeper crimson. Menace took hold of his good looks and made him scarier than my worst nightmare. Maybe that was what this was, a nightmare. Wake up, Ashlee!
The vice grip of his fingers pressed harder, to the point his fingernails were drawing blood. “Your blood smells like sweet nectar. I knew you’d taste wonderful the moment I laid eyes on you.” He licked his fingertips that were coated in my blood and stared coldly into my eyes. There was nothing there, just emptiness. The man looked soulless, and I moved straight past fear to terrified.
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