Chapter 3

Heather shook her head. She could have sworn she saw Barney’s car out there, but that couldn’t be. Could it? Or was she finally getting to the point where she saw him everywhere?

If Glory had sprouted a Barney head Heather was checking herself into Chez Crazy as soon as possible. But if that had been Barney out there, why hadn’t he come in? “I just don’t get it. Why is Barney avoiding me?” It had gotten worse since she fell and scraped her palm. He’d avoided her for a week now, and it was starting to make her itch.

“Because he’s a chicken-shit coward?” Glory Walsh blinked, her baby blue eyes filled with mischief. Her powder blue curls were up in a ponytail today with loose strands flying around her face. Her multicolored gauze skirt was matched with a plain tank top and a chain belt.

Heather wasn’t fooled by the fairy-like appearance of her co-worker. Glory Walsh was one tough female. She’d been through hell and back, and anyone who thought her prey would quickly find out just how predatory she could be.

“A lot of men are yellow-bellied when it comes to ‘the one’,” Cyn added. She was behind the front counter, scowling at something Heather couldn’t see.

Heather pretended to put a phone up to her ear. “Hello, Kettle, this is Pot.

I’m calling to tell you that you’re just as black as me.”

Both women glared at her before continuing on with their tasks.

Heather wasn’t about to let it go. She started with Glory, since she was closest. “I’m just saying, Ryan should have athlete’s foot, he chased you so

hard.”

“I have issues, okay?” Glory stuck her tongue out, but Heather knew she’d struck out at a sore point by the look on Glory’s face. Glory had abandonment issues and sometimes had panic attacks so severe she passed out.

“You know what I mean.” She hugged Glory to show she meant no harm. “And I understand why you ran, but you still did. It’s the not knowing why Barney’s running that’s killing me.”

Glory hugged her back. “It’s okay, baby girl. You know Mama Glory loves you to pieces.”

Heather did. The women of Cynful were awesome that way. “What do you think I should do?”

“Jump his ass.” Cyn grinned at them. “Bite him until he’s humping your leg.”

Heather giggled as a mental image of a tiny Barney clinging to her leg and going to town filled her mind’s eye. He looked so cute as a chibi she might have to draw him that way.

“What she said.” Glory let Heather go and got back to her inventory. “We’re closed up for the night. If you want, I can finish this.”

“But—”

Cyn pointed toward the front door. “Go. Get food, go home, count Bears and go to sleep. Everything will look better in the morning, I promise.”

Before Heather could say anything else her cousin Ryan came out from behind the employees-only curtain. “You almost done, SG?”

Ryan always worked in the shop when Glory was scheduled for the day. He’d bring his laptop and do the accounts for Bunsun Exteriors while making sure Glory knew he was there for her. Since he’d begun doing that, a lot of her anxiety had dissipated. And if, for some reason, he couldn’t be

there for his mate he made sure that one of the other men was.

Glory smiled sweetly at her mate. “Almost. I’m finishing up inventory, then we can head out.”

“Great, because I’m starving.” Ryan glanced at Heather. “You need someone to walk you home?”

It was both touching and aggravating, how protective her cousins were of her. “I’ll be okay. I’m going to head to Frank’s for a burger, then head home.”

Ryan scowled. “You want to wait for us? Glory and I could go with you.”

Heather waved him off and grabbed her purse. “Nah, I’m fine. You worry about Glory, I’ll take care of me.”

Ryan didn’t look happy, but he backed off. “Okay, but if you need anything you have my number.”

“Thanks.” Heather gave Ryan a peck on the cheek. “I promise I’ll call you if I’m uncomfortable walking home.” Ryan was a brand new Hunter in training, which took his natural urge to protect to the extreme sometimes. “Don’t forget the family dinner this weekend, by the way. Mom’s looking forward to having us all there.”

Glory looked like a deer in the headlights for a moment before smiling weakly. “Ryan? Why didn’t I know about that?”

Cyn chuckled behind her hand. “Busted.”

Heather made a run for it as Ryan began to stammer out excuses. Glory was still getting used to having a large family around her, and finding out there was going to be a family gathering always made her uncomfortable. “Bye!”

Through the window she could still see Cyn chuckling, but Glory and Ryan had disappeared.

“What’s going on in there?”

Heather jumped, almost shrieking in fear.

“Easy, there.” Julian DuCharme, the handsome Bear who’d won Cyn’s heart, gently took Heather’s chin in his hand. “Are you all right?”

Yikes. Another overprotective Bear, but this one had superpowers. He was Kermode, a Spirit Bear, one of a rare breed who consorted with the spirit world on a regular basis. His healing skills were amazing, but they came at a terrible price. They’d almost killed him more than once.

“I’m fine, Super Bear.” Heather patted his cheek. Really, the guy was too nice for his own good. “Cyn’s just finishing up, I think.”

His gaze immediately went back to the window, a wicked grin on his face. “So I see. Time to go get my lady.” He glanced back at Heather. “Where are you headed?”

She bit back the urge to roll her eyes. “Frank’s.”

“Ah.” He looked up and down the street, then shrugged. “Be careful on the way home, all right? If anything happens to you the entire clan will be on my furry ass.”

She laughed. He was the one who’d first termed their family a clan, but it fit. “I will. Oh, family gathering Sunday.”

“Your Aunt Laura already ordered my attendance.” He chuckled. “Cyn and I will see you then.” He strode over to the front door of Cynful and waved, catching Cyn’s attention. “Later, Heather.”

“Bye.” She smiled as she heard Cyn greet her mate. Maybe she should just bite Barney and get it over with. Once bitten, he’d have no choice but to finish the mating. The heat generated by the bite would ensure it.

But…

Damn it.

Taking away his free will wasn’t something she wanted to do. He had to need her as desperately as she needed him. He got on her last nerve, argued

with her, refused to explain things and was a general pain in her ass. He was bossy to the extreme, cautious, arrogant, gorgeous and everything she never thought she’d want in a mate.

Just thinking about him made her want to hit something. Preferably Barney’s stubborn head.

Walking to the diner took longer than she’d thought. She’d been so busy grumbling about Barney that she’d slowed down, but the smell of those delicious burgers sped her up once more. Her stomach grumbled as she opened the door.

Another scent hit her then like a freight train. Barney was in here somewhere.

She started moving around the diner, looking for him. The moment she spotted him she slid into the booth with him. “Hey.”

He looked up from the menu and winced. “What?”

Heather smiled despite the sting of his dismissive tone. “The bacon cheddar barbecue burger is my favorite.”

Barney shrugged and looked back at the menu. “Good for you.” She couldn’t see his face, but his fingers clenched around the edges of the menu, turning his knuckles white. Maybe this was as hard on him as it was on her.

They sat in silence until a waitress appeared to take their order. When she left, Heather tried once again to talk to her mate now that he couldn’t hide behind the menu any longer. “How’s the investigation going?”

“Peachy.” He sat back in his seat and crossed his arms. His gaze was stony, encouraging her to drop it.

He stared at her with such indifference her heart started to pound in fear. “Barney. Please? Give me something, anything.”

For a moment his expression softened. His hands clenched, but then he put the on the table. His expression hardened again. “It can’t happen. Not

yet.”

Not yet? What the hell did that mean? “I just—” She was interrupted as the waitress brought them their sodas. “Thank you.”

Barney grunted and opened up his straw, surprising her when he thrust it into her drink. “You look tired.” His tone was far less brusque. If anything, there was a hint of concern that made her heart race with hope.

“Long day at the shop, but I love it. There’s something new to see every day.” She loved what she was doing, so the long hours were worth it to her. “We had this one client come in who wanted a lobster tattooed on his ass. Full color, 3-D and everything.”

Barney choked on his drink. “A what?”

She shrugged. “Don’t ask me, but there was some kind of story behind it. Sometimes they tell us, sometimes they don’t. This guy just lay there and let Cyn and I work on him.”

Barney growled. “You touched his ass?”

She held up her hands. “They were covered in plastic gloves.” He huffed and sat back. “I still don’t like it.”

She raised her brows. “Until you bite me, you don’t get a say.” His blue eyes turned brown. “The fuck I don’t.”

The deep, rumbling tone made her shiver. “It’s my job, just like Hunting is yours.”

Barney stared at her, still looking aggravated.

“Cyn let me be the one to draw the lobster and the client almost cried over it.”

His smile was tight. “I still don’t like it.” “Would it help if I told you he farted?”

“Nope.” His expression lightened. “Maybe.” “Cyn made me shave his butt.”

Barney’s lips twitched.

“He had a pimple on one side that—”

He held up his hand, laughing. “Okay, that’s enough.” He shook his head. “TMI, baby.”

She shivered happily despite his grimace. “For a while there I thought you didn’t want us to be mates.”

He sighed. “That’s not it at all. There’s more going on right now than this thing between you and me. I have to focus on my duties first, and if I’m mated my attention will be split. Can you understand that?”

“Nope.” She leaned toward him. “Both Gabriel Anderson and Ryan have mates, and they’re both Hunters. Neither of them would think twice about doing their jobs.”

“But part of their attention will always be on their mates, wondering if they’re safe.” He put his finger over her lips when she tried to protest. “I’m not saying never, Heather. I’m saying later. Once I know no one is going to go after you for what I’m investigating. There are people who will kill you just for having the last name Barnwell. Others will discover you exist and…” He shuddered. “I can’t let anything happen to you. If we’re not mated—”

“They won’t smell me on you?” He nodded soberly.

Shit. She hated that his reasoning made sense. “Damn it.” “It’s the best way to keep your little Hobbit ass safe.”

Hobbit. That was his nickname for her. It sucked that she only came up to his armpit, but he could have come up with something cuter to call her than Frodo Baggins.

Still, she always got goosebumps when he called her that. It was his

name for her, and she was becoming pretty fond of it. Not that she would

ever tell him that.

“And if the Senate is after your family, then I have to keep them all safe, and not just because you’re cute. If they know I’m mated into the family, they could take not only you but any of them as hostages, and I’d do almost anything to get them back.”

Goddamn motherfucking shit humpers. How in hell was she supposed to argue with that? “This sucks rocks.”

“It does.” He put his hand over hers, twining their fingers together. “But not forever.”

She bit her lip, conflicted by his reasoning and her own desires. The mate dreams were driving her crazy, but she couldn’t find any words to use to argue with him. “Damn it.”

“I can’t push you away anymore.” He winced. “I can’t see that pain in your eyes. Not again.”

“You should have told me all of this before, jackass.” But she caressed his hand, hoping to take out some of the sting of her words. “I’m not stupid, you know. I can understand ‘Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!’”

That earned her a laugh. It might have been the flailing robot arm that did it. He was still holding her other arm hostage. “You’re cute. Like a Pomeranian, only louder.”

That did it. She glared at him. “One year.” “Hmm?” He blinked, looking confused.

“That’s my time limit.” The burgers were placed in front of them, forcing their hands apart, but Heather’s focus was all on Barney. She shook her finger at him. “If you haven’t claimed me by then, I’ll track you down and give you a bite to remember.” She picked up her burger and held it out. “Deal?”

He smiled as he clinked burgers with her, like the bun-wrapped meat was

the finest crystal champagne flute. “Deal. I figure my Bear won’t hold out longer than that anyway.”

She blushed brightly. If his Bear was getting as pushy as her Fox, she might just be mated well before the deadline.

With a contentment she hadn’t felt in quite some time, she bit into her burger, happy just to be in her mate’s company.