Love at First Mate - Badlands Territory

I look around the jobsite. There are five guys standing around doing nothing and I should stay here and finish this fireplace mantle, but I need some fresh air. I’m not the foreman, he’s another friend of mine, Jerome, a panther shifter but I don’t hold that against him, but the guys treat me like I’m in charge because I’ve been doing this a long time, and the real boss puts me in the driver’s seat when he’s not on site.

“Naw. I’ll go. I’ll pick up some soda and snacks for the guys. A twelve pack for the end of the day.” I set my hammer down, tug back on the end of my tool belt and release the buckle, letting it fall and setting it on the floor next to my tools. “I could use the air.”

Wayne chuckles. “You could use something.”

I growl as I pull my phone out and see it’s closing in on 4 PM. I need to call Gran anyway. I call her every morning, again around 4, then one last time at 9:30 when she’s heading to bed. Although, lately, that last call of the night can get a little awkward.

“You okay?” Wayne asks. “I’ve know you for almost twelve years, never seen you like this. Myra okay? You know we all care about your grandmother, man.”

Everyone who knows me at all, soon gets to understand that when it comes to the priorities in my life my grandmother is at the top of the food chain. I’d do anything for her, just like she’s always done for me.

I nod. “Yeah, she’s fine. I’m just…in a fucking mood.”

“Your bear finally convincing you looking for your mate might be a good idea? Release some of that pressure?”

I draw my brows tight, my fingers curling into fists, and inside my bear growls. “Just get them something to do until I get back.” I jerk my head toward the five guys standing around, jack-jawing. “They’re still getting paid, they can sweep the floor or take the trash out.”

I grunt as I head outside, noting their uncomfortable glances my way. I know I’ve been an ass ever since I saw her that day. Well, more of an ass, I should say. Hell, fighting off these feelings is like pushing a boulder up a hill and every day it’s getting worse.

But I have no choice.

I have my reasons for not wanting to find my mate. Ever.

Being celibate sucks, sure, but I’m not trolling for tail just to get my rocks off. Some shifters can do that but not me. I’m caught between a boulder and an oncoming locomotive.

My reasons for never wanting to find my mate don’t seem to be important to my bear anymore though. We’ve always seen eye to eye on that, but from the first moment when we caught her scent on the air, from the second her blue eyes turned my way and she smiled… Nothing’s been the same.

And I’m afraid my time is running out.Chapter 2Wynter“The usual?” Josephine, the owner and bartender at her namesake place, Josephine’s, smiles, wiping her hands on the white towel over her shoulder.

“Sure.” I smile back, rubbing my hands down the tops of my thighs. “Tall.”

“You got it. One tall Raspberry Lemonade coming up.” She spins around, grabbing a chilled glass from the cooler and starts mixing up my drink. “Any news on the space down the street?”

I stop rubbing my legs and grip my knees, feeling the tension in my neck and fighting the urge to look over my shoulder every time someone comes in the door of the bar.

It’s been almost a month since I got to the Badlands, nearly a thousand miles away from the reason I keep looking over my shoulder, but old habits and all.

Josephine sets the glass on a napkin in front of me and I lean forward, taking the straw between my lips and drawing in the sweet, cool liquid. It transports me back to Bowling Green, where I grew up. My mother made the best raspberry lemonade from fresh raspberries that grew all along the dirt road where we lived.

When I come up for a breath, I realize I didn’t answer her question.

“Oh.” I smack my lips and twirl the glass on the napkin. “I’m meeting Robert in about twenty minutes. Wanted to settle my nerves a bit before I go see the space.”

“That’s awesome. That shop’s been empty for going on four months I think.”

“Yeah. I’ve just never started a business before. There’s so much I don’t know.”

“Well, you can always call Clay, he’s one of the attorneys in town. He’s fair and will give you good advice. Robert, on the other hand…” She bobs her head back and forth. “Just, let’s say, keep your guard up. I don’t know him that well, but he’s got that creepy, used car salesman vibe.”