Chapter 16

 

Ava stared at herself in the bathroom mirror and straightened her shirt. “Okay, so you’re on a date with a gorgeous man who really seems to be into you. You can do this.” She muttered to herself.

She stepped out of the bathroom and stared in surprise at the bear shifter pacing the narrow hallway.

“Bishop? What are you doing here?”

He glared at her. “You shouldn’t be here, Ava.”

“What are you talking about? How did you even know I was here?”

“I told you to stay away from Keegan.”

“No, you didn’t.” She said pointedly. “And besides, who I have a drink with is none of your business.”

She tried to move past him and he gripped her arm gently and pushed her lightly against the wall. “He only wants one thing from you.”

His nostrils flaring, he dropped his gaze to her large breasts. She pulled self-consciously at her shirt before clearing her throat.

“You don’t know that.”

“I do.” He insisted. “I don’t want you seeing him.”

She frowned at him. “Since when did you get to tell me what to do, Bishop? I barely know you.”

He leaned forward and sniffed at her throat. “I can smell him on you.” He said grouchily. “I don’t like it.”

She sighed as he gave her an irritated look. “Has he touched you, Ava? Has he tried to take what is mine?”

“One – that’s none of your business and two – it isn’t yours.”

He snorted loudly and she pushed at his broad chest. “Let me pass, Bishop.”

“I don’t want you seeing him. He’s only interested in fucking you and nothing else.” He repeated.

“And you aren’t?” She suddenly hissed at him. “Every time I’m around you, I end up half-naked while you grope me like some kind of - of horny bear! I know all about bear shifters, Bishop, and it’s pretty damn hypocritical of you to be telling me that Keegan only wants sex.”

She whacked him in the stomach. He didn’t even flinch and she rubbed at her hand and glared at him again. “Let me pass, Bishop. I mean it.”

“Ava, I just don’t want you to get hurt.” He said softly. “Keegan is – “

“I won’t ask you again, Bishop.” She warned quietly. “Unless you’re going to ask me out on a date, stay out of my personal life.”

He gave her a wounded look and she tamped down the guilt rising inside of her. She’d given the damn bear shifter plenty of chances, and he’d made it perfectly clear what he wanted from her. She refused to feel bad for hurting his feelings.

He stepped back and she slipped past him and hurried down the hallway without looking back. As she sat down next to Keegan, he gave her a large grin and pushed the wine glass toward her. “I figured you could use a second drink.”

“I can. Thank you.” She drained the glass quickly and Keegan blinked in surprise before signaling to the waitress for another.

From the corner of her eye she could see Bishop stomping across the bar and her eyes widened when she realized that Willow, Mal and Kat were sitting in a booth across the room. Willow caught her eye and waved wildly at her.

She gave her a weak smile and wave as Keegan turned around. He studied the four of them before nodding to them. “Looks like your friends are here. Do you want to go over and say hello?”

She shook her head. “No, I don’t. Unless you really want to.”

Keegan took her hand and ran his thumb over the palm. “Definitely not. I’m a greedy lion, Ava, I want you all to myself.”

She smiled tentatively at him as he continued to caress her palm.

* * *

 

“I think it’s time we left.” Mal gave Kat a strained look and she nodded in agreement.

Bishop, his chest rising and falling rapidly, was staring at Ava and Keegan again. They could hear him growling deep in his chest and Mal tapped him lightly on the arm.

“Let’s go, Bishop.”

“No!” The bear shifter snarled. “I’m not leaving her alone with him.”

“Bishop, Ava doesn’t need a babysitter. I’m not particularly happy about her being with the ‘braid my hair and let me wear your underwear’ lion shifter either, but we’re not her parents. She can make her own decisions.” Willow said quickly.

“If he goes anywhere near her underwear, I’ll kill him.” Bishop growled.

“I’ll talk to her tomorrow, tell her what he’s like, okay?” Willow said soothingly. “Let’s just leave them to their date and – “

Bishop’s growling suddenly grew louder and the waitress walking by gave him a startled look.

Willow grabbed Mal’s arm. “Uh-oh. He’s making a move on her.”

Mal turned to see Keegan, his hand cupping Ava’s face, lean in and kiss her softly on the mouth.

“Fuck!” He muttered as Bishop shot out of the booth and ran across the bar. He was already shifting, his clothes tearing away with a thick ripping sound and Mal chased after him.

“Bishop, stop!” Willow was right behind him and he stopped abruptly as Bishop shifted fully. He put his arm out and caught Willow as she tried to run by him.

“It’s too late, Willow. Don’t get any closer to him.” He said grimly.

“Ava!” Willow shouted. “Look out!”

With an angry roar, the giant grizzly grabbed the back of Keegan’s jacket and tore him away from Ava.

“What the fuck?” Keegan shouted as Bishop, his claws tearing at the lion shifter’s jacket, picked him up and heaved him across the room. Keegan crashed into the wall, dropping to the floor with a loud thud as Ava gave a startled scream.

Bishop, his large shaggy head lowered like a bull’s, charged at Keegan. With a loud snarl, Keegan shifted to his lion form and crouched on all fours. Roaring, he leaped at the grizzly. Bishop caught him and howled with pain and anger when Keegan dug the sharp, thick claws on his back feet into his stomach.

“Mal! Do something!” Willow cried.

“I can’t!” He shouted back. “Bishop will tear me apart!”

A large black bear ran by them and Kat squeezed Willow’s arm. “Judd will stop them. Don’t worry, Willow. It’ll be – “

She winced as Judd leaped on to the fighting shifters. With an angry snarl, he wrapped his arms around the lion shifter’s body and tore him away from Bishop. He threw him carelessly to the side and Keegan gave a sharp yelp of pain as his head connected with the bar.

The two bears stood on their hind legs and roared at each other. The patrons in the bar clapped their hands over their ears as Bishop took a swipe at Judd. The bouncer snarled and snapped his teeth at him. Although Bishop was both bigger and taller, Judd showed no fear as he moved toward the angry grizzly.

“This is so bad.” Kat muttered. “Mal, we’ve got to do something. Bishop isn’t going to back down and neither will Judd. If we don’t stop them – “

She paused, her eyes widening in surprise, as Ava suddenly stepped between the two bears. Her ample chest was heaving and her face was as red as her hair. She put her hands on her hips and glared at Bishop.

“Uh-oh! This is not good!” Willow shouted.

“Shit!” Mal started forward. “They’ll rip her apart!”

He gave Willow a look of confusion when she clamped her hand down on his arm. “Don’t, Mal.”

“Willow, are you crazy? They’re pissed off and they’re going to seriously hurt Ava! You just said this wasn’t good!”

She shook her head. “I meant Ava. You think those two bears are pissed off? You haven’t seen anything yet.”

She took a step back and stuck her fingers in her ears as Ava took a deep breath.

“ENOUGH!” She shouted. She stomped forward and the paranormals in the bar gave a collective gasp of surprise when she reached up and poked the giant grizzly hard in the chest. “Stop this right now, Bishop King! Do you hear me? I don’t belong to you and I’ll kiss whoever the hell I want, when I want!”

She poked him again and Mal’s mouth dropped open when Bishop flinched back from the fiery redhead and shuffled backwards.

“You shift right now, Bishop!” She suddenly demanded. “Go on! Shift!”

He shifted immediately and gave her a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t mean – “

“Don’t you honey me!” She snapped at him. “You could have seriously hurt Keegan! And for what?”

“He - he touched you! He kissed you!” Bishop protested.

“So what? What do you care? You don’t date humans, remember?” She picked up a piece of his torn shirt and folded it in half before pressing it against the bleeding claw marks across his naked stomach. “Apply pressure.”

“It’s fine, I don’t – “

“Apply PRESSURE!” She shouted at him again and Bishop nodded meekly as he pressed the shirt against his flat stomach.

“Alright, honey.”

“Stop calling me honey!” She snapped at him. “Making out with me in a bathroom doesn’t give you the right to call me honey.”

She glared angrily at him before her shoulders slumped and she rubbed at her forehead. “Are you going to ask me out on a proper date or not, Bishop? This is your last chance.”

He hesitated. “I – I don’t date humans.”

“Are you sure she’s a human?” Someone shouted from the bar. “She’s got bigger balls than an elephant shifter!”

There was a loud chorus of laughter and Ava flushed before stepping away from Bishop. “Fine. Goodbye, Bishop.”

Without looking at him, she crossed the room and knelt beside Keegan as he shifted to his human form. “Are you okay?”

“Just great.” He grunted as she helped him to his feet. He put his arm around her shoulders and Bishop’s loud growl was stopped before it really started by Ava’s fierce glare at him.

“Come on, Keegan. I think it’s time we left.” Supporting him around the waist, she led the naked lion shifter across the bar and out the front door.

There was a moment of silence in the bar before Judd, who had shifted back to his human form, snorted loudly. “And that’s why we don’t want humans in here.”

* * *

 

“I don’t care, Boris!” Mal’s angry shout could be heard even though his closed office door. “You do a walk-through of the building every hour on the goddamn hour or find a new job!”

Kat flinched as she stood at Willow’s desk. “What’s that about?”

“Oh, Boris thinks the shopping mall doesn’t need an hourly walk through and he wants to drop it to every two hours.” Willow sighed. “He picked the wrong day to phone Mal about it.”

“Would there be a good day?” Kat arched her eyebrow at Willow who shrugged.

“He has been kind of grumpy all week.” Willow agreed.

“Kind of? Kind of?” Kat said in exasperation. “He’s been a dink. Why the hell he wouldn’t just give in and date you, I have no idea.”

Willow’s face fell and Kat gave her a guilty look. “I’m sorry, Willow. That was stupid of me.”

“It’s fine.” Willow forced herself to smile at her. “It’s just, I really thought I’d be able to – I don’t know – tempt him into forgetting about his ridiculous idea that humans and shifters shouldn’t date.”

“He’s a stubborn, stupid wolf.” Kat declared. “And between his grumpiness and Bishop’s moodiness, I’m about ready to toss both of them out the window.”

Willow nodded. “I don’t think Bishop’s said more than two words all week.”

Kat rolled her eyes. “He’s lucky that Mrs. Belfry didn’t fire us when she found out what he did to Keegan in the bar.”

“I don’t think he told her.” Willow said. “At least that’s what Ava said.”

“Have he and Ava gone on another date?”

Willow shrugged. “I don’t really know. I think they had coffee but I’m not sure they’ve gone on an actual date. I warned her about his um, sexual preferences, but she didn’t seem to care one way or the other. She’s been pretty damn moody herself this week.”

“What a mess.” Kat sighed.

“I’m sorry. This is all my fault.” Willow replied.

“No it isn’t. Bishop said that Mal was lusting after you during the interview. If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine and Bishop’s for hiring you. Of course, we had no idea that Mal was going to go all alpha wolf on you.”

Willow sighed. “The worst part is that he’s ignoring me. I miss him.”

Kat squeezed her shoulder sympathetically before returning to her office.

Willow stared blankly at her computer screen. She really did miss Mal. He had spent most of the week in his office with the door shut, and she was trying her best not to take it personally but the shifter’s rejection stung. Hell, it did more than sting. It hurt her feelings tremendously and she had spent her evenings sitting in her apartment feeling sorry for herself. To make things worse, the ghost activity had been oddly quiet lately and she couldn’t even use that to distract herself from thoughts of the sexy wolf shifter and his warm hands.

The door opened and she forced a cheerful smile at the tall, elegant-looking woman who entered.

“Hi there. How can I help you?”

“Hello. You must be the new receptionist. My name is Mara. I’m Malcolm’s mother.”

Willow stared in surprise as the woman held her hand out. She stood up and hurried around the desk to shake the woman’s hand. “It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Willow.”

“What a pretty name.” The woman said warmly. “It’s nice to meet you, as well. How are you enjoying the – “

She stopped and her hand squeezed Willow’s tightly before she leaned in and inhaled. “Oh my.” She said softly. “It seems my boy is rather fond of you.”

She studied Willow’s throat. The redness of her skin had faded to a soft pink but it was still covered in tiny scratches, and Willow blushed as Mara smiled at her. “How long have you and Malcolm been dating?”

“Oh, um…”

The door to Mal’s office opened and, studying his phone, Mal stepped into the reception. “Willow? Can you call Mr. Tripke and ask him to…”

He trailed to a stop as he caught sight of his mother. She was still holding Willow’s hand and she gave it another gentle squeeze before dropping it.

“Hello, pudding.”

“Mom? What are you doing here?” Mal glanced quickly at Willow before kissing his mother’s cheek.

“What? A mother can’t stop by and say hello to her child? It’s been ages since we talked.” She replied.

“I was just over for supper two weeks ago.” He took her arm and tried to guide her to his office but she dug her heels in and refused to budge.

“I know.” She smiled at Willow. “I’m surprised you haven’t brought Willow to meet us. She’s so lovely.”

“Thank you.” Willow grinned at her as Mal turned a dull red.

“Mom, Willow is, well, she’s our receptionist and – “

“Yes, pudding. I figured that out.” Mara interrupted smoothly. “Now, I just popped in to say hello and invite you for dinner tonight. Bring Willow with you. I know your father and grandfather would love to meet her.”

Mal twitched violently. “Oh, um, Willow’s already got plans tonight. Isn’t that right, Willow?” He gave her a desperate look and she smiled sweetly at him.

“Nope. No plans at all, pudding.”

He glared at her as Mara smiled with delight. “Wonderful. We’ll see you both around six then.”

“Should I bring anything, Mrs. Burke?” Willow asked.

“No, dearest. Just bring your lovely self. And please, call me Mara.”

“Malcolm, don’t be late please.” She kissed Mal on the cheek and patted his face before walking toward the door. “Oh, and do tell Kat and Bishop I said hello.”

She waved at them as she left the office and Willow waved back as Mal groaned loudly.

“Willow! You cannot come to my parents’ house for dinner.”

“Why not? I’ve already said I was coming. It’ll be rude not to show up.” She said innocently.

“You don’t understand. My mom, she, well she’s fascinated with humans. She’ll grill you the entire night about your life, about human cultures and – “

“I don’t mind.” Willow interrupted. “Besides, this is my chance to get to know the paranormal culture better too. I’m sure your mom won’t mind if I ask my own questions.”

“No, but my grandfather might.” Mal replied. “He’s not fond of humans, Willow.”

“No, I imagine he isn’t.” Willow said softly. “Listen, Mal, if you really don’t want me to go then I won’t.”

He hesitated and studied her face carefully. She had a carefully neutral look on her face but she couldn’t hide the hope in her eyes. Knowing he was crazy but missing her so much he could hardly think straight, he shook his head. “No, I’d like it if you came for dinner.”

Her body relaxed and she gave him her warm, sweet smile. “Can you pick me up or do you want me to meet you there?”

“I’ll pick you up at about five-thirty.”

“Great. It’s a date!” She shook her head. “I mean, not a date. It’s a not date. I’m so excited to meet your family, Mal!”

He couldn’t help but grin at her enthusiasm. “You may change your mind after you meet my grandfather.”