I got Deniece from our agency placed in Nowhere to watch over Laleesha.
Deniece came into my office for the briefing. She wore a pair of jeans and a nice sweater, her coat slung over her arm—normal clothes for a woman pretending to be taking a vacation in the mountains. We’d worked together for several years and I knew she was perfectly competent to protect most targets, but the usual wasn’t good enough for Laleesha.
“Those wolves might retaliate,” I warned.
“That’s why I’m there, right.” Deniece grinned at me. “A little bit sensitive about this job, Dominic?”
“Just ensuring her safety. And you’ll need to not attract her notice or she might get spooked.”
Deniece rolled her eyes. My tone might have come across as a little pompous, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me from cautioning Deniece about how careful she needed to be. My mate’s safety was everything.
“So this is the one, huh?” Without waiting for my reply, Deniece stood up and put on her coat. “I’ll do my best,” she promised, and left.
Was I that obvious?
To distract myself, and incidentally to do my job, I logged into my computer and did a search for Laleesha’s family. She would probably be safer back with them. The information I pulled up scotched that thought. In Nowhere she’d stay, although my bear and I both hated her being so far away from our protection.
For two days I managed to immerse myself in my work. But by the start of the third day I’d had enough of being on the sidelines. I wasn’t scheduled to work that day, so after a couple of hours of sleep I was on the road to Laleesha.
The sun rose while I was driving. The rosy light and the bright golden streaks in the sky made me feel foolishly optimistic. I was going to see my mate. My mate, after giving up all hope of ever having one. My bear purred in contentment.
It was nearly noon when I arrived in Nowhere. The town was still rinky-dink, but it was my mate’s home. The weathered buildings looked a little more picturesque, the lack of sidewalks quaint. I parked in the tiny lot in front of the market and made myself stroll, not rush, inside.
My mate’s scent swept over me, rich and with an undertaste I didn’t recognize. I stopped dead, quivering with anticipation at seeing Laleesha again.
The owner, Sophie, was behind the counter. She acknowledged me with a friendly nod. “Good morning. Glad to see you again.” She’d been another one who greeted Bear by name when we visited.
I forced myself to approach the counter. “Laleesha is staying with you, I understand.” From habit I pulled out my notebook. Some of the guys put all their notes on their phones. Maybe I was old-fashioned, but I thought better with a pen in my hand.
“She sure is.” She eyed my notebook. “More questions?” Her tone was discouraging.
“I’m a private investigator. We think the people who hurt Laleesha”—those words sent rage gusting through my body—“are the people who committed another crime we’re investigating.”
“And you’re going to drag Laleesha into your mess?”
“No, we are not,” I said emphatically. Hell no. We’d take care of those wolves without bringing Laleesha into it at all. Bear knew better, and if he didn’t I’d make sure he knew it.
Sophie drew away from me. Maybe I’d been unnecessarily fierce. That was one of the problems dealing with humans. They required such a delicate touch.
I sighed. Laleesha would need extra-delicate handling. For a moment doubt shook me. Mated to a human? It worked for Bear and Georgette, but would Laleesha be able to handle mating with a bear?
An image that was totally inappropriate raced through my head. I dragged myself back to the current situation.
I whipped out one of my cards and handed it to her. “Here. This is my contact information in case you ever need to get hold of me.”
“Hmmph.” She turned it over in her hands before sticking it in a drawer under the counter.
“Name and address?” I politely requested.
She gave them to me, along with other information that I didn’t request but took down anyway. It didn’t seem important that she’d run the store and mail delivery for twelve years, but you never knew. That she still needed to get the wood for her fireplace split also seemed inconsequential. The make and model of her vehicle—an old Toyota pickup—was more useful.
“How long do you expect Laleesha to stay with you?”
“That’s up to her,” Sophie declared. “She’s welcome to stay as long as she wants. She’s no trouble at all, and pleasant company.”
My ears pricked up at that. It made my bear happy to hear good things about my mate.
“What’s the weather like up here?” I asked casually.
She gave me a withering look. “It snows, of course. Another six weeks is when we’ll start to see the worst of it. Best of it, if you’re concerned about the drought or like to ski.”
“The roads here are kept clear, right?”
“Caltrans does their best.”
My bear was less happy to hear my mate might be snowbound in this desolate town. He was also very tired of waiting to see her.
I shoved the notebook back in my pocket. “Actually.” I cleared my throat. “I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by to see how Laleesha is doing.”
“You were?” Her eyebrows lifted skeptically.
“Yes, sort of.” What was I blathering about? “Is Laleesha here?”
“Would you like to see her?” Damn, the woman’s eyes twinkled.
“Yes.”
Without leaving her seat, Sophie raised her voice. “Laleesha, you’ve got company.”
I winced when a pair of customers at the back of the store turned from the freezer case to see what was up. I wasn’t embarrassed about calling on Laleesha, but it seemed undignified to court her at full volume.
Then Laleesha emerged from behind the curtained doorway to the storeroom. Everything else left my head.
She was so beautiful. Her skin was that dark shade that made a man think of licking its sweetness. She’d done something with her hair, and the tight curls fit like a cap around the graceful curve of her head. The grocer’s apron still wrapped her like a sheet, but her arms were plumper. So were her cheeks.
It pleased me to see her filling out. My mate shouldn’t look half-starved.
Too thin or not, I wanted her. Without realizing it, I took a step toward her. My cock, instantly hard, throbbed with need. Take her, my bear growled.
She froze, her eyes huge. The smell of her fear hit me like a blast of arctic rain.
I retreated. Forcing my bear down, I smiled. “Hello,” I said pleasantly.
She scurried along the wall to stand beside Sophie, her head bowed. Seeing her avoid me like that made my heart ache. I wanted her dark eyes to acknowledge me and know I was her mate.
“It’s almost lunchtime.” I kept my tone as casual as possible. “I hear the café has good food. Would you like to have lunch with me?”
Her mouth fell open, and she darted a glance at me. Just a flash of her eyes, but they gave me hope.
“Have to work,” she murmured. She gave Sophie an imploring look.
“No,” Sophie said, shaking her head. “You do so much already. A break will do you good.”
“I—” She stood there, clearly reluctant to reject me but not wanting to go with me either.
I might have taken pity on her and left, but I couldn’t. She was my mate. I wouldn’t rush her, but I couldn’t leave her alone either—not when I felt this burning need to be in her presence.
“Come on,” I coaxed gently. “You’ll be doing me a favor. I don’t want to eat alone.”
She peeped up at me. “Really?”
I nodded.
Sophie reached out to Laleesha. “Let me have the apron.”
Obediently Laleesha untied the strings that had been wrapped around her waist and tied in front, and she slipped the neck strap over her head.
My blood pounded in my ears. She was fully dressed beneath the apron, but her movements were so graceful and the act of removing even an apron so seductive I wanted to grab her in my arms and squeeze her tight against my hard cock.
The shirt and jeans she wore were loose, probably something someone had loaned her, but they didn’t hide her curves. Despite being overly thin, she had a gorgeously sexy body. Her shirt draped over rounded tits that begged to have my hands cup them. The jeans were cinched tight over hips that swelled out temptingly.
Desire raged through me. I wanted to fuck her then and there, in front of Sophie and customers and whoever else showed up. I wanted to pull down those jeans and shove my cock in her sweet cunt and sink my teeth in her shoulder and claim her as mine for all to see.
Whoa.
I took a long breath. I’d never felt anything like this before. Of course not, never had a mate before. The need was so strong it scared me, and that helped me remember to tamp it down fast before I frightened my mate away for good.
Very carefully not touching Laleesha, I gestured toward the door. “Ready?”
She nodded without looking at me and, hesitating until I moved first, followed me out.
Out on the market’s concrete sidewalk, I waited for her to come up alongside me. She gave me sidelong glances when she thought I wasn’t looking at her, and totally captivated me with her shyness.
The sidewalk ended at the next property. I had to shove my hands in my pockets to stop from lifting my tiny Laleesha over puddles. She skirted them deftly, and I let her precede me up the concrete step to the next sidewalk.
There was a bench in front of the café with a couple of not-so-old-timers sitting on it. They observed every step we took without bothering to hide their interest.
“Good morning, Laleesha,” one said, and was echoed by the other.
Laleesha ducked her head. “Morning.” She hurried past them.
I acknowledged them with a nod. These people wouldn’t be any protection against rogue wolves, but my Laleesha wasn’t totally alone here in Nowhere.
Reaching past Laleesha, I held the café door open for her. She ducked under my arm, and I followed her into the café’s dining area. A row of booths lined the plate glass window along the front of the building. On the back wall was a counter with stools. Between the counter and the booths was a row of four-person tables.
There were three people in the closest booth, two at the middle table, and a single man at the counter. When we walked in, the conversation hitched, a moment of silence before a utensil clanked against a plate and they resumed speaking. No one looked directly at us, but I felt their interest.
Small towns, I snorted to myself. Not enough going on to keep people busy.
The smell of hot grease hung in the air, making my stomach grumble. I was ready for some food.
A man came from behind the counter with a couple of hand-printed menus stuck in plastic sleeves. “Anywhere you want to sit.” He waved his arm.
I eyed the booth against the far wall, where I could check out the street as well as the dining room. “How about there?” I asked Laleesha.
She nodded silently.
I let her slide in first, my arms itching to help her although I knew I couldn’t touch her, and then I sat opposite her.
The man handed us the menus. “I’m Mac.” He glanced at Laleesha, who’d grabbed the menu and started reading it like her life depended on memorizing every item, and back to me. “Anything you need, you let me know. You too, Laleesha.”
She lifted her head then, her eyes wide and startled, before sinking back into the menu. “Thank you.” Her voice was so soft I didn’t know if Mac heard her.
He nodded. “I’ll be back to get your order.”
I stared across the booth at my mate. She resolutely studied her menu. I glanced at my own. Despite my belly’s gurgling, I had trouble concentrating. All my senses focused on my mate, her scent, the sight of her, the weight of her presence. I hungered to touch her and taste her, to merge my body completely with hers.
She might have known what I felt. She pressed herself against the back of the booth, away from me, her eyes locked on the menu.
Holy hell. This was never going to work out, not when I could barely control myself and she was so scared.
“Um, Laleesha?” I made my voice as gentle as possible.
She looked up reluctantly.
“What do you recommend?”
Her mouth made an O of surprise. Quickly she closed it. “This one.” She jabbed her finger against her menu. “The lumberjack breakfast.”
I found the dish on my menu. Three pancakes, sausage and bacon, hash browns, three eggs, and a muffin. Gravy optional. “Looks good.”
My eyes roamed over her, wondering if a little thing like her could eat that much. I’d like to see it. My bear rumbled agreement. My mate needed the sustenance.
She’d been watching me. Her skin was too dark to show a flush, but I sensed the heat rising to her cheeks. Bravely, she didn’t look away this time.
My heart flipped over. Oh Laleesha. Those big brown eyes…
“What are you having?” My voice was surprisingly steady.
She shrugged. “Maybe some oatmeal and toast…”
“That’s not enough,” I protested.
“I’m not going to eat until I throw up,” she said sharply.
I grinned, pleased that she showed some spirit. “I meant, get whatever you want.”
“Really?”
I held her gaze. “Really.”
Mac reappeared at our booth as soon as I set down my menu.
I ordered first. “I want the lumberjack breakfast with a glass of orange juice and a cup of hot cocoa.”
He scribbled something on a pad. “Laleesha?”
“A slice of that cherry pie,” she said, glancing under lashes at me. “A big one. And a chocolate milkshake.” She straightened her shoulders with an air of defiance.
“Okay.” Mac nodded without any apparent reaction, and disappeared with our order.
Alone again with Laleesha, I struggled for something to say. There was lots I wanted to say. I wanted to know all about her and what she liked and whether she could see herself spending the rest of her life with me. None of it was stuff I could bring up now, when she was just getting used to sitting across a table from me.
“Thank you for breakfast,” she said primly, surprising me. I hadn’t expected her to say a peep without my encouragement.
I waved my hand. “It’s nothing.”
“No, it’s not,” she disagreed, her eyes flashing.
Really? She thought someone buying her a meal was a big deal? I couldn’t hope that she thought being with me was worth her gratitude. Studying her face, I looked for some sign of her feelings. Mac had taken our menus and she no longer had anything to hide behind.
Although I couldn’t tell what she was thinking, she was gazing back at me. That alone was enough to make my bear whoop with glee. I couldn’t stop a silly grin from spreading across my face. She looked down at the table, tracing the Formica wood grain with the delicate tip of one finger. When I made a slight sound, a half grunt of pleasure at being with her, she looked up again, her finger going still.
“I’m really happy you came out with me,” I said.
She shook her head disbelievingly.
“Really.” I longed to reach for her hand. It looked lost and forlorn, resting alone on the table when it should be clasped in mine. “So.” I cast around for something else to say. “Nowhere. How do you like it here?”
“It’s wonderful,” she said in a low voice. The husky sound vibrated against my chest. “People here are so nice. And the trees smell so good. Heaven must be like this.”
My cock swelled up at her enthusiasm. God, the sound of her voice was like being stroked. I managed to keep my breathing normal, but it was a relief when Mac brought our food.
He set the platter in front of me. The food was still steaming, and the delicious aromas wafted up. I waited until Laleesha had her pie and milkshake, and then I tucked into my meal.
I took a deep breath, relieved that he’d stopped watching me to eat his breakfast. Except now it felt kind of lonely to be ignored.
He glanced over at me and smiled. My lips formed an answering smile before I could wipe the expression off my face. Quickly I looked down at my pie. It was so pretty, flaky brown just like on the boxes. But it tasted better than any frozen pie I’d ever had. The cherries were so tart they bit into my tongue, and the crust tasted buttery with a hint of sweetness. I took another bite.
He—Dominic—hadn’t said a word or showed any sign of disgust that I ordered pie for breakfast. It felt strange, good but strange, not to be criticized. But he’d just met me. He would change after he got to know me.
Stupid me. He wouldn’t get to know me. He was just here for the day. Even if he weren’t, he wouldn’t really want anything to do with me. He just felt sorry for me because I’d been dumb enough to go off with some biker and been—
My brain shut off. For an instant there was nothing but blankness, a dark space inside my head where I couldn’t hear anything or see anything or feel anything. Thank god, I couldn’t feel anything.
“Laleesha.” The voice was urgent.
Warmth radiated at me, like standing in front of a plug-in heater. I turned toward the heat, my gaze slowly focusing. Dominic crouched beside the booth, his body inches from mine but not touching.
“Laleesha,” he said again. His caring gaze burned into me.
“Dominic.” I had an urge to clutch at him, to soak in his warmth. Instead I wrapped my arms around myself and held on tight. His gentle voice had to be a lie.
“Everything okay?” another voice asked.
I dragged my gaze over to Mac, who hovered at Dominic’s shoulder. He looked from me to Dominic, a worried frown on his face. The heat rose to my cheeks. I’d made a scene. Everyone was looking at me.
“Fine,” I managed to say.
Without taking his eyes off me, Dominic stood and slid back into his seat. I rubbed my arms, cold without his presence.
The kitchen bell dinged. “You just call if you need anything,” Mac said. Giving Dominic a sidelong look, he reluctantly left.
My gaze firmly on the table, I sucked down my milkshake, ignoring the faint unease in my belly.
“You want to tell me about it?” Dominic asked.
I shook my head. He already knew everything that mattered. The parts I hadn’t told anyone—how it felt, how it was all my fault, how I’d deserved it—I couldn’t tell him. He’d hate me then and be sorry he’d even thought about taking me to the café.
He was probably already sorry.
And I didn’t want him to be. I knew he was just being nice, but he made me feel good. Safe. Protected. Everything I wasn’t. But when he was around, I could pretend I was.
I took another bite of pie. It sat heavy on my stomach. I pushed my plate away, unable to eat any more.
Glancing up, my eyes were caught by Dominic’s. He smiled at me again, so sweetly it made my heart ache. I wished he were smiling for the real me.
“Looks like you’re done.” His voice was gentle.
I nodded.
“Ready to go back to work?”
“Yes, please.”
He sighed. Or maybe he was just catching his breath, and he was so big it sounded like a sigh. That had to be it, because he had no reason to sigh. He’d get to go back to whatever he did without having to deal with me and my problems.
I hated that thought. I mean, I wanted him to not be bothered by me or anything else, but I didn’t want him to leave. As scary big as he was, he made me feel like I was worth something.
Stupid me, dreaming again.
I stood up. He stood up too, and followed me to the register by the door. Mac bustled over to us. It took just a minute for him to ring up our meal and for Dominic to pay.
My stomach was starting to churn for real. I went fast through the door when Dominic opened it. The fresh air helped a little, but I was afraid I was going to lose my pie in front of him. Grimly I clenched my jaw and kept my mouth shut tight.
I hurried back to the store, Dominic easily matching me step for step. This wasn’t the way I wanted it to end. If this were a movie, we’d saunter back, maybe even hold hands, and he’d give me a gentle kiss good-bye.
But I wasn’t the pretty blonde girl in a movie. I was me, just about ready to hurl, and I was so glad when we stepped inside the store. I rushed past Sophie to the bathroom. I’d barely got the door locked behind me when everything I’d eaten, milkshake and pie and my cereal from earlier, came back up.
I leaned against the cold porcelain, panting. My throat was raw, and my insides hurt from the heaving. I stood, my legs shaky, and got cleaned up. I let myself out of the bathroom and went back inside the main part of the store.
Sophie’s face was wrinkled with concern. “How are you feeling?”
“Better now. Guess that flu is hanging on.” I smiled weakly.
I cast a sideways look around the store.
“He got a call and had to go,” Sophie said.
I’d known even before she said anything. The room felt cold and empty without his presence. I felt empty.
Crazy thoughts, not just stupid ones. A big, handsome man like that wasn’t for me. He was twenty hundred times finer than that Mike had been, and even Mike had known I was worthless.
Making myself face the reality was no help at all. Despite knowing how foolish I was, I still yearned for Dominic.
Stupid me.