Chapter 5

The ringing of the front door startled Heather. She’d been so engrossed in her book she hadn’t realized how much time had passed.

“Heather, get the door for me!” her mother yelled from the kitchen, where she’d disappeared to with Heather’s father some time ago.

“Okay, got it.” She put her book down and padded barefoot to the front door. She grinned as she swung it wide open. “Bunny!”

“Heather!”

She laughed as he mimicked her. “What’s up, cuz?” She let the big, burly Grizzly in, delighted to see him. It had taken her some time to get over her fear of him, but now she was glad every time she saw him. He’d protected her when no one else could, and she was grateful for that.

“Um.” Bunny scratched his bald head. “Yeah. See, Barney left for Arizona about an hour ago. He wanted me to let you know so you didn’t worry about him when he didn’t stalk you for a few days.”

“He did what?” Heather tapped her foot and glared at Bunny. She ignored the whole stalking thing. After all, keeping an eye on your mate made sense to her, especially because her Hunter hadn’t claimed her yet. “What the fuck?”

“Now hold on.” Bunny held up his hands like she was holding a gun on him instead of a glare. “You know he needs to investigate the Senate, right?”

She blew out a frustrated breath. “Yes, but I didn’t think he’d go so quickly.” She was being childish and she knew it, but the thought that her mate was out there, possibly in trouble, was giving her hives. Big strong

Hunter or not, he was hers. He should have been the one to tell her he was going, not Bunny. Wasn’t that what mates did for one another? And hadn’t he acknowledged that she was his mate?

Bunny patted her on the head. “It’s okay, Heather. He probably didn’t want you to worry any more than you already are. And he’s not going to be gone long, you know?”

“Pfft. I call bullshit. He didn’t want me to yell at him.” She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Barney’s number. “Give me a sec, I have a message to leave someone.”

To her surprise, he answered. “Hello, sweetheart.” “Why didn’t you—” Sweetheart?

He laughed, the sound low and wicked. “Why didn’t I what?”

Grr. He was not going to distract her from her righteous wrath. “You didn’t tell me you were going away.”

“Nope. I’m a strong, independent Bear, and I don’t need no woman to—” “Oh fuck yes you do,” she snarled back. Being cute wasn’t going to get him out of trouble. Besides, she could hear two other yahoos laughing in the

background. She just bet he’d brought Casey Lee and Derrick with him.

“You just want me barefoot and pregnant all the time.” He sniffled. “You don’t understand the struggles I face.”

“Asshole.” She wished she could see his face. “How difficult is it to dial a phone?”

“With my big fingers? Do you have any idea how often I’ve accidentally called 1-800-SEX-MEUP?”

“Oh, I bet it was an accident.” Heather was seriously considering some sort of child safety lock for his phone. They made that kind of thing, didn’t they?

“Hey, the plane is going through a—” he made a bizarre buzzing noise,

“—and I think the signal is—” that buzzing noise again before he hung up on her.

“Grr.” She put her phone back in her pocket. “You weren’t even on a plane yet, dickhead.” She glared at Bunny again just for good measure.

He put his hands up in the air. “I didn’t do it.”

She wanted to snarl some more, but he wasn’t the one who deserved it. “Fine. But I reserve the right to kick his shins when he gets back.”

“He’ll love that.” Bunny hugged her cautiously, as if afraid she’d break if he used even a fraction of his strength.

He was always careful with her. It still hurt to know she was the reason that Alex had become so passive that he’d earned the nickname Bunny, but she’d truly been terrified by his rage when he’d defended her from her attackers. That was eight years ago, though, so maybe she could get him to understand that she wasn’t afraid of him anymore. The more she was around him, the more comfortable she became. He wasn’t some angry avenging angel, he was just a man who’d tried to protect her the best way he knew how. “I’m not made of glass. You can hug me tighter. Maybe I’d feel it then.”

He chuckled and let her go. “I’ll try to remember that.” He winked at her. “And I’ve got an even better surprise for you.”

“Oh? What is it? Are we kicking puppies next?”

“Not quite.” He rubbed his hands together gleefully. “You ready?”

“Sure.” She crossed her arms and stared at him. Whatever it was, he seemed mighty pleased about it.

Heather was startled when he walked right back to the front door and opened it up. “Come on in!”

In walked—

“Holy crap!” Heather raced toward her brother and sister, squealing in

delight. “When did you guys get here?”

Keith picked her up and twirled her around. He was the spitting image of their mother, dark haired and blue-eyed, with a swagger that was all his own. “Hey, squirt, how’s it going?”

Tiffany hugged Heather hard once Keith let her go. She kept her dark hair short, and her blue-green eyes were a perfect blend of both their parents. “Just now. Alex picked us up at the airport.”

Bunny was grinning so wide Heather was surprised his head didn’t split in half. “It was hard keeping it a secret from you. I thought for sure Tabby was going to blab.”

Tiffany held her at arm’s length and looked her up and down. “Damn, girl, you look good.”

Keith tapped her on top of her head. “And what’s this about tattoos?

Aren’t you too young for that?”

Heather rolled her eyes and pulled away from her siblings. “I’m a big girl now, Keith. I’ve even gotten my own tattoo.” She turned around to show off her two-tailed kitsune tattoo. It was one of two that she had, but this one signified her new life, one where she wasn’t afraid of large men like her mate. The little red fox had sprouted wings and was ready to fly. Her fox was high up on her right shoulder. She hoped someday to put her mate on her left.

The other one, the one she couldn’t show them without taking off her shirt, was a beautifully detailed Victorian birdcage, and inside that cage was a blue and green bird, its head bowed and its eyes closed. Outside the birdcage was a palette of bright colors, a paint brush and an easel with a halfway-finished portrait of the bird and cage, but the bird in the painting was lively and happy, unlike the one in the cage. It filled the space between her shoulder blades and continued halfway down her back. It had been

immensely painful, as the needles kept striking her spine, and utterly worth it.

It represented her family’s desire to see her go to school for bookkeeping, when all she wanted to do was be an artist. Until she’d met Cyn, she’d never have had the courage to stand up to her parents and demand that she be allowed to apprentice at the tattoo shop, but when she explained it was a way to make a living at something she loved, they’d bowed to her persuasions. It helped when the Cynful girls agreed to watch over her while she was there, making it a family business Heather was entering. Without the connection of mates, marking the Cynful women family, they might never have agreed. “I’m even working there as an apprentice tattoo artist.”

Keith scowled. “What happened to bookkeeping?”

Heather gagged. “Ugh. No thank you. Numbers make my eyes bleed.”

Tiffany popped Keith in the back of the head as they followed Bunny into the dining room of the house they’d rented. “She never wanted to do that. She’s always wanted to be an artist.”

Heather nodded. “Cyn told me to try for art school, but honestly, I like what I’m doing now. And the shop is amaze-balls!” She bounced toward a seat, knowing her parents would probably bring in drinks and snacks for Tiffany and Keith. “You’ll like Cyn, Glory and Tabby. They’re awesome. And family. And, like, the best thing to ever happen to me, other than Barney.”

Keith sat across from her while Tiffany sat next to her. It was clear where the interrogation was going to come from. “I’m not sure about Cyn, but Glory and Tabby are family.”

Mom entered the room with a huge pitcher of iced tea and a stack of glasses. “So is Julian. I told you about this, remember?”

Behind her, their father had a platter of sandwiches. “He saved Chloe’s life and almost lost his own. He’s bound to her and is her mentor, and your Aunt Laura adopted him into the clan. So that makes Cyn and Julian family.”

Keith shrugged. “I still need to meet him.”

“That’s fine, but you’ll treat him with the respect he deserves or you’ll hear it from me.” Mom put the pitcher down and began passing out glasses. “I’m more interested in finding out more about this mate of yours.”

Tiffany leaned her chin on her hand, her green eyes wide with curiosity. “I hear he’s a Hunter?”

Heather nodded proudly. “Yup. He’s working on Chloe’s case right now.

In Arizona. Damn it.”

Keith laughed. “He hasn’t marked you yet.”

“Nope. He wants to wait until he decides I’m safe.” Part of her still wanted to tell him to shove that idea where the sun didn’t shine, but she’d chosen the compromise instead of the argument. “I gave him one year.”

“Good for you.” Tiffany patted her back. “You shouldn’t have to go through what Chloe did.”

“Speaking of Chloe, how is she doing?” Keith smiled in thanks as their mother handed him a sandwich. “I heard she’s as good as she’s going to get speech-wise, but how are things between her and her mate?”

“Good. Better than good, actually. He’s just as protective of her as anyone could wish for. In fact, he’s encouraging her to finish her degree and become a vet technician.” Their father sat down at the table with a handful of napkins and passed them around. “Dig in, guys. You’ve had a long flight, you have to be hungry.”

“That’s all I wanted to know. I figured if he needed his ass kicked Ryan would take care of it.” Keith bit into his sandwich and gave his mother a

thumb’s up. “’S good.”

“Thank you, and please swallow before you speak again.” Mom shook her head and turned to Tiffany. “Anyway, Jim’s really come around. We have high hopes for Barney as well.”

“Barney?” Tiffany blinked, then huffed out a laugh. “You’re mating someone named Barney?”

Keith’s expression went blank as he stared at Tiffany. “I love you…” Tiffany put her hands to her chest. “You love me…”

“I will beat you both senseless if you keep going.” Dad reached out and swatted at both of them.

“It’s just a nickname.” Heather balled up her napkin and threw it at Keith. “His name is James Barnwell.”

“So he calls himself Barney.” Mom pointed to the floor, where the napkin had landed. “Pick that up please.”

Keith didn’t argue. He picked up the napkin and tossed it back at Heather. “So why not call him Jim?”

Heather started to laugh. “Well, there’s Chloe’s mate Jim—”

“And Jamie Howard, who’s going to mate Glory’s sister,” her mother added.

“Too many people in this family are named James.” Dad handed Keith another sandwich. “If he wants to call himself Pluto I’m not going to argue.”

Mom tilted her head. “Or Mercury. That’s a cute name.” Mom turned to Heather. “Isn’t that the name of one of those sailor girls Bunny likes?”

Bunny nodded. “But I like Sailor Moon better. Tabby looks killer dressed as her.”

Heather nearly choked on her sandwich. “I can’t see Barney in a sailor scout uniform, Mom.”

“Please, just not Uranus.” Keith held up his hand. “I really don’t want a brother-in-law named after a gassy giant.”

“He is pretty big,” Heather muttered.

“Just…” Dad groaned. “Call the man Barney, please?” He turned to Mom. “Now I’m going to picture him in a powder-blue sailor dress every time I see him. Thanks for that.”

Mom patted him on the hand. “You’re welcome, dear.”

Heather grinned at Keith and Tiffany. “Aren’t you glad to be home?”

They rolled their eyes, but Heather could tell both of them were pleased to be back with the family once more. Now if Barney could solve the mystery surrounding them all, things would be damn near perfect.

“Is the Oregon office closed down?” Bunny, who’d helped run the business with his father, was sort of Tiff and Keith’s boss.

“Everything’s taken care of. There’s a skeleton crew dealing with a few minor details, but otherwise it’s done. Bunsun Exteriors is officially an East Coast operation.” Keith held up his glass. “More tea, please?”

“Good.” Bunny finished off his sandwich in two bites, then stood. “I need to get back to Tabby. Thanks for the sandwich, Aunt Stacey.”

“You’re welcome, Alex.” She tilted her head, smiling when Bunny kissed her cheek. “Tell your mate I said hello and to bring Wren over whenever she wants.”

Bunny beamed. “She is a cute little bit, isn’t she?”

Stacey patted his side. “Looks just like her grandmother.”

Bunny left, no doubt heading home to coo at his daughter and his wife.

“So.” Keith put his hands on the table and folded them together. It was never a good sign when he did that. “Tell me about Barney.”

Heather nodded. That was fair. Besides, she’d been waiting for the big- brother interrogation since she’d found out she had a mate. “You’ve

probably heard from everyone else what they think of him, but I’ll give my side. He’s tall, broad, strong as hell and just as stubborn. He’s a Grizzly shifter, like Bunny, but he’s got a wicked sense of humor and can move silently when he wants. He’s a Hunter, and he trained Gabriel Anderson, the sheriff here, and is also training Ryan.”

Keith waved at her for her to continue.

She blew out a breath as she leaned back and thought of her mate. “He’s nothing like I imagined my mate would be.”

“So he’s not Prince Charming rolled up with Ken?”

Tiffany giggled at Keith’s description. “Oh, I could totally see that.”

“No wonder Barbie goes to G.I. Joe for some lovin’.” Heather was about to lose it herself. “Ken’s totally bending over for his Prince.”

“That’s sick.” Keith wrinkled his nose.

“I think it’s hot.” Tiffany chuckled. “Blond, buff Ken, bent over the sofa, his ass up in the air, just begging for it.”

“And the Prince, all nice, making sure Ken is properly stretched out.” Heather tilted her head and tapped her chin. “I bet he buys the best lube for his butt-buddy.”

“Ladies.” Her father’s voice overrode the sounds of Keith banging his head on the table. “That’s enough. No one gets to break Keith’s brain but me.”

“Ahem.” Their mother cleared her throat. “And your mother,” their father amended. “I hate you all,” Keith groaned.

It was so good to have her family back.