“You know I love you, right?”
Sighing, I shook my head. “I don’t want to hear it right now, Penny. I’m not being unreasonable. He’s dangerous and problematic! Not to mention a complete arrogant ass!”
“Do you remember Eric Granger?” She gave me a teasing look. “You spent six months telling me what a jerk he was and then you nearly wet yourself when he asked you to prom.”
“Eric Granger moved to Detroit and got arrested for feeling up a woman on a bus.”
“Still. You practically shouted from the rooftops about how much you hated him. When, really, all you wanted was for him to notice you.”
I faked a gag. “I’m not a teenager anymore, Penny. I no longer think that a boy teasing me and dipping my pigtails in the ink well means he likes me. I’m not saying this about Maxim, or whatever his name is, because I want him to ask me to the high school prom. He’s rude. He fucking calls me Bunny. What the hell is that?”
Jacob rounded the corner, a scowl on his face. “Who fucking calls you Bunny?”
Penny pointed at me. “This is why you have to watch your mouth.”
“Mom, come on. I’m not a kid. Plus, you say fuck all the time.”
Penny’s head looked like it might explode as she angrily pointed back the way Jacob had come from. “Go to your room.”
“I’m supposed to be helping with the luggage.”
“Well, go to someone else’s room, then. I don’t care. I just don’t want to see your dirty little mouth in my face right now.” She shook her head. “I don’t swear that much, I really don’t.”
Jacob, grinning because he knew his mom was a pushover and wasn’t as mad at him as she pretended to be, winked at me. “See you later, Bunny.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Don’t call her that.”
“Whatever.”
Penny glared at me. “I blame you. He gets that attitude by emulating you.”
“I kind of think he has a great attitude. Besides hitting on me, kid’s got an awesome sense of humor.”
“Tell me again why I continue to employ you?”
“Anyways. Laila thought the whole thing was great. She’s completely fooled by him. She said I need someone like him, someone who stands up to me. I think she’s lost it.” I winced as the bell rang, but cheered up when I saw it was Paige coming over with coffee. “My favorite twin!”
“Don’t let it go to your head, sis. She’s hating on me right now because I pointed out that she’s crushing on one of the guys from that rescue group.”
“I am not crushing on him.” My stupid little rabbit was up and hopping around, though. She seemed to like polar bears just fine. Matter of fact, she seemed to looove polar bears, and one in particular. Why she wasn’t afraid was beyond me.
“Ooh, which one? I’ve heard the one with the perfectly styled hair is a total playboy.”
There was a word I abhorred. Playboy. It reminded me of the man for whom my species was named. Not that I had anything against Hugh Hefner personally, but who wanted to be the namesake of a man considered to be the world’s largest-scale and longest-running pimp? It was utterly disrespectful and bordered on defamation.
Of course, Maxim was a playboy. No wonder I found him so off-putting.
“Look at that, she’s at a loss for words. Her brain just short circuited, or something.”
I tilted my head and leveled Penny with a glare. “You are going to end up doing this job with just 89-year-old Marvin to help if you don’t behave yourself.”
The threat fell on deaf ears, though. Both sisters giggled and poked at me, having fun at my expense and acting like unruly children. Penny even ended up singing that childhood song about kissing in a tree before I surrendered and went upstairs to see if I couldn’t find something to clean.
Still, as I stripped a bed and laid out clean sheets, I could hear her singsong voice in my head, taunting me about love and marriage and a baby carriage with the goddamned polar bear.
9
Maxim
That night, P.O.L.A.R. house was full. The entire team was seated around the dining room table as were the new mates. Serge and Hannah had cooked a great big Italian meal. The smell of garlic and oregano filled the house and made my mouth water and my stomach rumble. I had plans to go out later, but I wasn’t about to miss a good, homecooked meal.
The dining room table wasn’t big enough for the whole crew, but the guys preferred their mates on their laps anyway. I was seated at the end of the table, watching as the food was passed around. When it got to me, I piled my plate high with spaghetti and meatballs and dug in.
The table was quiet for a while as we all got busy stuffing our faces. I was always hungry; I was a bear, after all. Even as I ate, though, I couldn’t help stealing glances at Heidi. I wanted to ask her if she knew anything more about Parker, but not in front of the others.
I couldn’t help but wonder about the hot-headed little rabbit shifter. Where did she live? What did she do? How did she like her eggs?
Nope, not going there. It didn’t matter what breakfast food she preferred or how she liked it prepared. I was never going there with her. I drew the line at overnights. Too messy.
Still, I found myself starting to open my mouth and ask about her. It wasn’t my business, though. Plus, I wasn’t some dweeby high school nerd who couldn’t get a girl’s number without going through her friend.
“What is it, Maxim?” Heidi put her fork down and narrowed her eyes at me. “You keep looking at me like you have something to say and it’s driving me crazy.”
Alexei growled at me, clearly not appreciating that I was looking at his mate. “Keep your eyes to yourself, fucker.”
“Hush for a second, Alexei. Is there something you want to ask me, Maxim?”
I looked at Heidi and shook my head. Nope. I wasn’t about to ask about Parker. Especially not with a live audience sitting around. “No, nothing. Nothing at all.”
“Come on. Out with it.”
I let out a slow breath. “I was just wondering who’s working the bar tonight.”
She rolled her eyes. “Something tells me that’s not what you really want to say.”
Alexei continued to glare at me as we finished our dinner. Everyone else went back to normal, but I was ready to get away. I didn’t like that I seemed to be preoccupied by Parker. I needed to go out and do something to get her out of my head.
After everyone had finished eating and we had all helped with the cleanup, Heidi sat down next to me. “Spit it out.”
I feigned complete ignorance. “What?”
“Is this about the new bartender? Or Sarah?” She grinned suddenly. “Or that feisty little woman you were eyeing last night?”
“What feisty little woman?”
“Nice try, Maxim, but I’m on to you. So, it was the rabbit shifter who caught your attention?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’ve got to go, though.” I stood and patted her head as I walked past her. “Tell Alexei I said he’s a dick-faced loser.”
“Uh huh. Well, before you go, I don’t know anything else about her. I liked her, though.”
I forced myself to keep walking—one foot in front of the other—out of the house and down the street to the bar. In minutes, I was back at Mimi’s, hoping I could forget about Parker. I had no idea why she had gotten under my skin. My bear was all freaked out by her, too.
The pervasive thoughts were threatening to ruin my night, but I wasn’t going to let that happen. I was going to have a good time and get her out of my head. Maybe for good.
Mimi’s Cabana was busy when I got there, but I found a seat at the bar and ordered a beer. I scanned for single women but didn’t see anyone who held my interest.
Mimi came over right away with a cheeky grin for me. Her coconut-covered breasts swayed. It was always a gamble whether or not one of those suckers was gonna pop right out of its coconut. “Hey, honey. What can I get you?”
&nb
sp; “Whiskey. Neat.” I answered before I even thought about it. I realized I’d only ordered that because that was what Parker had been drinking. “Scratch that. Make it a beer, actually.”
“Having an identity crisis, Mr. Maxim?”
I gave her a grin and shook my head. “Not me.”
After she handed off my beer and waddled off to her other patrons, I turned to face the crowd. There was an eager looking blonde on the dance floor making eye contact and adding a little extra sway to her hips. I wasn’t interested. In truth, as attractive as she was, she did nothing for me. But I had something to prove, so I forced myself.
I joined Blondie on the dance floor and we danced a few songs before she dragged me to her table and sat on my lap while telling me about herself. I tried to listen, I really did, but only a few words here and there registered. I didn’t give two shits about her and would have preferred to stand up and let her just slide right off my lap and onto the floor, but I had to do this. When Blondie snaked her arms around my neck and leaned in to kiss me, I couldn’t do it. I flinched reflexively and drew back. She giggled, thinking I was teasing, and arched her body against mine. I felt nothing.
I was determined, though. Maybe I just needed to get her away from the crowd and let things heat up a bit, I thought. Blondie was quick to invite me back to her place and I pretended I was as excited as she was when she pulled me by the hand toward the door.
I was forcing myself to appear interested as Blondie stripped for me. It was a good show, one I normally would’ve been really into. She put work into it and when she straddled me and leaned in to kiss me again, I should’ve enjoyed it. Instead, I dodged her lips and tried to think of an excuse to get the hell out of there.
Panic started to creep up my spine when she went to her knees and tried to unbutton my pants. Oh, hell no. No, no, no, that wasn’t gonna happen. I wasn’t attracted to her. Not even a little bit. I mean, I wanted to want her, but no go. My dick was limp as a wet noodle and I was getting close to losing the contents of my stomach all over her.
Instead of sticking around to find out if I was having a bad night, or a really bad night, I did the low down cowardly thing and got the hell out of Dodge. I faked a phone call and pretended that urgent work-related business had come up and then I ran off with my tail between my legs.
I wanted to go home, but the thought of listening to a house full of my buddies screwing their mates…naw, it wasn’t a good one. Instead, cussing up a storm, I headed back to Mimi’s Cabana, and settled in our usual booth. In the dark shadows of the back of the establishment, I drank enough beer to sedate a whale all while keeping watch over the crowd, searching for a set of light purple hair knobs.
10
Parker
My cousin came through for me. I had a short list of names of single, male rabbit shifters all of whom resided in the south Florida area. The list was golden. It might very well hold the name of the guy who would be my future mate and my partner in helping to perpetuate our species.
Turned out Ralph Riley wasn’t that guy.
Ralph had answered my text right away.
Ralph had been willing to meet up for a date that very night.
Maybe I should’ve smelled something fishy when he’d called me twice to confirm that the date was still on.
I definitely should’ve smelled something fishy when he’d shown up in what I’d assumed was an Uber. Or, when the older woman driver parked and watched raptly as Ralph entered Tuna’s Seafood House.
But, when he turned and gave her a big thumbs up before greeting me, I just told myself that the fact Ralph hadn’t driven himself to the restaurant could simply mean that he didn’t own a vehicle. Maybe Ralph was environmentally conscious.
When Ralph revealed that the older woman, who ended up remaining outside of Tuna’s and watching us through the front windows, was his mother, that smelled pretty darn fishy.
But I was a woman on a mission—to nab herself a rabbit mate. I still held out hope that there was a remote chance that Ralph and I could make it work.
By the time we’d finished our salads, all hope was long dead and buried. Unfortunately, Ralph, who still lived with and was supported by his parents, was about as exciting as a six hour layover. No job. No house. No car. No money. And no real interests—at least none he cared to share, which made me think he probably spent his days in his underwear holed up in his parent’s basement playing video games and watching porn. What was worse, Ralph didn’t seem to see anything wrong with his status in life. When I tried to tactfully question him about goals and aspirations, he gave me a blank stare. According to Ralph, his parents owed him since, after all, they’d brought him into the world.
By the time our vegetable lasagnas arrived, I was ready to pluck my eyelashes out from sheer boredom. I was getting an antsy feeling in the pit of my stomach, wondering if I was going to be able to find a rabbit mate that would pass muster. I also kept comparing Ralph’s beady eyes to the heated gaze of the polar bear.
Midway through my lasagna, I was actually considering setting the place on fire—just a small bathroom fire. Anything to get away from Ralph. And if I couldn’t get my mind off the damn polar bear, I might just throw myself into said fire.
Little did I know that things were about to go from bad to worse.
The door opened and the air in the place shifted suddenly. I looked up to see the polar bear striding cockily towards our table. With him came the irresistible aroma of pine forests and spiced oranges and I nearly drooled down my chin.
He looked pissed, his face pinched tightly, but when he got to our table, he forced an easy smile and nodded down at Ralph. “Hey, there.”
Ralph looked like he was about to shit his pants. He looked every bit the defenseless, helpless rabbit facing down an apex predator. He stammered out a greeting and paled even further when the bear pulled up a chair from a nearby table.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything. I was just passing by when I caught the loveliest scent of carrot cake.” He extended his hand to Ralph and grinned. “Maxim. I’m a very close friend of Parker’s.”
Ralph hopped to his feet suddenly and nearly turned the whole table over on me. I was saved from being doused by Maxim’s quick reflexes. His hand shot out to catch the water glass that was nearly upended. “S-sorry. I have to go. Mother is waiting.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at Maxim. “What are you doing here?”
He watched Ralph leave and quirked an eyebrow at me. “Was that your date?”
I was so angry that I was practically frothing at the mouth. Just by showing up, the stupid, asshole, cocky, dickhead bear had run off a potential mate. Well, in truth, Ralph had already been mentally crossed off my list, but what if he hadn’t been? Then what?
“You are a dick.”
“Moi?”
“You did that on purpose, scared him away like that.”
“How?”
“By showing up!”
“You didn’t go scurrying off like a timid little churchmouse. Why is it that you’re not afraid of the big, bad bear, Bunny?” He leaned a little closer, that sweet yet spicy scent warming my whole body. “It occurred to me that instead of fleeing, you bare your teeth and prepare for battle. Is there something perhaps a little more vicious than helpless rabbit in you?”
I threw my head back and barked out a sarcastic laugh. “Why the hell would I be afraid of you? You’re nothing but an arrogant bully!”
The waiter appeared at the table and made quick work of whisking away the plates. He made no acknowledgement as to the change of my dinner companions; he just smiled politely and asked if we wanted dessert.
“Do you have any carrot cake?”
I glared at Maxim as the waiter flashed him a warm smile, nodded and left. Feeling betrayed by the waitstaff, I sank back into my chair and grunted. “You were not invited.”
“You didn’t answer my question. Why aren’t you afraid?”
“Becau
se you’re not scary. If I was afraid of every knuckle-dragging mouth-breather who roamed this island, I’d never leave my house.” Then, just to insult him, I nodded to his hair. “Plus, who’d be afraid of a man who styles his hair with more precision than a beauty queen?”
I had to give him credit. He didn’t even react to my insult about his hair. He just sat back and studied me.
“What were you doing with that guy?”
“I was on a date, for your information. A date that you just ruined.”
Bear boy sat up at that and pointed to the exit Ralph had recently run through. “With him?”
I leaned forward. I shouldn’t have entertained Maxim’s questions, but anger got the better of me. “What is wrong with him?”
“You mean besides the fact that his mommy still wipes his ass for him? What’s with you and the rabbit obsession, anyway?” He shook his head. “A woman like you would eat a spineless doormat like him for breakfast.”
My mouth fell open. “A woman like me? Eat him for breakfast? Is that a fat joke? That’s a fat joke, isn’t it?”
I could have sworn Maxim’s eyes went all heavy-lidded and seductive as they trailed over my body. “Not even a little bit, Bunny. It was a statement on how an overgrown adolescent like him could never handle a woman like you. A woman with the fire you possess…that sorry excuse for a male would be reduced to cinders by your flames.”
I rolled my eyes. “You don’t know me.”
The waiter appeared again with a sizable slice of carrot cake, which he placed in front of Maxim, along with a glass of water, and then vanished again.
Maxim used a spoon to scoop a hefty bite into his mouth. His eyes closed, his jaw worked, and the growl that rumbled from his chest affected me way more than I cared to admit. “Fuck, I never knew how much I liked carrot cake until you.”
I watched as he licked his lips and dove in for more. Only, instead of lifting the spoon to his own mouth, he moved it towards mine. My mouth opened instinctively and he slid the spoon in. His eyes glowed as he watched me, the gray in his irises glowing like molten steel. I enjoyed cake as much as any woman, but being fed by Maxim turned the experience into something shamelessly provocative. Suddenly everything felt electric in my mouth.
Tactical Bear (P.O.L.A.R. Series Book 4) Page 4