Fortunate unfortunates, she liked that. Most of the time she saw herself as just unfortunate, or unlucky, and definitely unlovable. Where did that come from? Her bear nudged her; damn, why did her inner beast still crave love and romance?
Romance is dead, and love, true love, does not exist, she told her bear firmly.
“Everything OK, Grace?” Dylan asked, taking a glass of champagne off the trayful she held, in readiness for when the guests had finished watching the ceremony.
She ignored the clatter of glasses as she regained her composure. “You made me jump,” she accused.
“Sorry,” Dylan apologized, smiling as he looked across to his own wife, Steph. She was heavily pregnant, and looked… How was it people described pregnant women? Oh, yeah, blooming.
“This is for after the ceremony,” she said, chastising him, as he drank half the glass in one gulp. “And it’s supposed to be sipped.”
“Are you a champagne connoisseur?” he asked, grinning at her. Then he looked at his glass. “You might be right, though. It’s too fizzy to gulp down.”
“Don’t burp,” she said, as the couple at the altar turned to kiss each other.
He chuckled. “Who knew you would be the one trying to save this romantic moment?” He looked her up and down. “I always knew there was a young lady in there somewhere.”
She scowled at him, politely, because she had been given strict instructions to make sure everything was happy and harmonious. “I’m only doing this because you asked me to.”
“I know.” His face grew serious. “Thank you. Mrs. Grunion, the caterer, was a waitress short, and I want this day to be perfect for Caleb and Zoe.”
“Why?” she asked, preparing herself for the onslaught of people who would be heading her way any moment, all smiles, needing some refreshment before they entered the next round of wedding hell, the photographs.
“Because ever since I came back to Bear Bluff, and met my mate, I have made it my mission to spread happiness.” He said it with a straight face.
“You’re like the happiness fairy,” she said, nodding. “At least I know what to buy you for Christmas. A magic wand to help you look the part.”
He grinned. “So you’ll still be around at Christmas?”
“Might be,” she said. “As long as you don’t insist I have to be full of joy. For me it’s not the season to be jolly.”
He nearly sprayed his champagne over his suit. “No, although when you come over for Christmas lunch, you are going to have to at least smile.”
“What?” she asked, genuinely shocked Dylan was talking about inviting her over for Christmas. It was two months away, and it made her kind of warm and fuzzy to think that she was even in his thoughts when he had so many family and friends to spend the day with.
“All my employees are invited, and unless you have somewhere else to be, and that does not include sitting in that one-bedroom apartment of yours all alone, then you are required to attend.”
“No,” she said, her face a mess of consternation.
“Argh. Happy. Smiling. Isn’t that what Mrs. Grunion said?” Dylan warned.
She fixed a big, false smile on her face. “Better?”
“No, but the guests are too happy to notice.” His face sobered. “Listen, Grace, I mean it. Christmas day, I have an open house. Anyone who has nowhere else to go is welcome.”
“Ahh, so you want me to come and keep the rest of the saddos in town company,” she said brightly.
“That’s not what I mean. Most of the people from work are coming over. If not for lunch, then later in the afternoon, for drinks and yule log. Please. You don’t want to ruin Christmas for me, do you?” he asked, putting on puppy-dog eyes.
“What are you two jabbering away about?” Steph asked, eying up the champagne.
“One glass won’t hurt you,” Dylan said, passing her a glass of champagne from Grace’s tray.
“I don’t think I can drink it; my taste buds have been killed off by this little one.” She rubbed her baby bump.
“Then I’ll have to drink it,” Dylan said, taking the glass back from his wife. He downed the rest of his first glass and put it back on Grace’s tray.
“So?” Steph asked. “You’re not talking work, are you?”
“No, Christmas,” Dylan said. “I was telling Grace she wasn’t allowed to spend it alone.”
“Oh, no, you must come over to visit us. Half the town already are,” she said, watching Caleb and Zoe. “Come on, we need to go and watch the photographs. I think Caleb wanted one of us with him.”
“Sure,” Dylan said, taking her hand. “Do you remember our wedding day?”
Grace watched them walk away, her tray of glasses emptying as other guests walked by. She’d better go and get some more. Full tray, and smile, those were her orders and she was doing everything she could to make sure she got good references from wherever she worked. It was going to take a lot to rectify her past; the good was never going to outweigh the bad in equal measures.
As the last full glass was lifted from her tray, she turned to go back inside the large wedding tent that had been set up for the wedding breakfast. Whether it was from standing around too long, or because she had skipped breakfast to get here early, she felt suddenly faint. A strange sensation trickled up her back, fanning out across her shoulders and over her face.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to keep the tray of glasses from toppling out of her hands, but she didn’t seem to be in complete control.
However, just as they were doomed to be smashed to pieces on the ground, and her good references with it, a hand appeared out of nowhere. No, two hands. One caught the tray and the other caught her.
“I always dreamed my mate would fall into my arms,” a warm, smooth voice said. “I never expected it to actually happen.”
She opened and closed her mouth, trying to search for the right words to say to him. Her bear would not let her use words like let go, get lost, or you are not my mate, so nothing came out at all. In those moments of looking like a goldfish, she stared up into the handsome, well-groomed face of a man she had never seen before, but who would check off all the requirements for a modern-day Prince Charming.
“There,” he said, making sure she was upright and the tray secure in his hands. “I saw you from where I was seated watching the wedding. It took all my willpower not to jump up and push everyone out of the way to get to you.”
Her mouth now simply hung open like a gate. Any moment now she would drool, she knew it.
Get a grip!
“Wow, how strong of you. Being able to resist.” She snatched the tray back, his steady hand the only thing stopping the glasses from falling off.
“You’re mad at me.” He looked at her intently. Too intently, it was like he was reading her mind, and she didn’t want anyone to ever read what went on in her head. It was bad enough she had to share her thoughts with a bear.
“I’m not mad.” She cleared her throat, trying not to sound mad, at least. “I’m working, I have a job to do.”
“Of course,” he said, releasing the tray and taking a step back. “I’m sorry.”
“That’s OK,” she said with a nod, and then stalked off to the kitchen, while her bear stared behind them at their mate, who must be wondering what the hell had happened.
If Grace had any answers, she might have shared them with him. However, her brain refused to function on any level above the need to go and get a fresh tray of drinks—and avoid her mate, whom she did not want. Ever.
Liar, her bear said. And that was the truest word Grace had ever heard.
Chapter Two – Matt
“Awkward,” Matt said to himself, disappointed and bemused.
Throughout the ceremony, he had been drawn to her; she’d been talking to Dylan, the man he had travelled to Bear Bluff to meet with. Although for all other intents and purposes he was here for the wedding of Zoe Cantrell, who had redesigned his website, creating a perfect brand for his ne
w venture. Which consisted of him giving away his large fortune.
He wondered what his mate would think about that.
Wherever she had gone. The temptation to follow her was almost too great, but he unnerved her in the same way she unnerved him. Matt did not want to be the person responsible for her getting fired for dropping champagne meant for the guests.
Looking around, he figured he had two choices. He either went and watched the photographer make Caleb and Zoe stand in endless poses with family and friends, or he took a walk around, and got a sense of Bear Bluff and the people who lived here.
“Hi.” Matt had just made up his mind to go the walkabout route, when a woman’s voice called to him. “I don’t know you, do I?”
He turned to see a well-dressed, perfectly groomed woman. “No.”
She smiled. “I’m Tessa Conway.”
“Good to meet you, Tessa.” He smiled warmly, a mistake, because out of the corner of his eye he saw his mate—he’d forgotten to ask her name—watching him.
At least she was interested, and maybe jealous. She also looked mad. Matt was not the type of guy to play on a woman’s emotions, especially not one so important to him.
“You are here alone,” Tessa said, and before he knew it, she had linked arms with him and was guiding him towards the wedding party. “So am I.”
“I’m not exactly alone,” he said, his eyes on his mate, who was making a remarkable effort to avoid watching him, but she couldn’t help it. His heart tightened as an unmistakable look of pain crossed her face. She soon recovered, her eyes glazing over as she fixed a smile on her face.
“Well, I didn’t see you with anyone. As a gentleman,” she patted his chest, “it is your duty to keep me company.”
He moved to pull away. “I can’t, I’m sorry.”
“You can,” she said. “I won’t bite, and you never know, once we get to know each other, maybe we might feel like getting a little cozier.” She sighed, and then lifted her lips to his ear and whispered, “Weddings always make me incredibly horny.”
They were close to his mate, and he saw her eyes widen. The champagne in the glasses on her tray sloshed around as she struggled to keep her composure.
“I can’t. Really.” He extricated himself from her grasp, trying to keep his tone friendly, without giving his mate any more cause to hate him. “I am spoken for,” he said, firmly, knowing his mate would hear.
“Oh, I didn’t know that?” Tessa said, in a tone that was much too interested.
Matt smiled. “It’s not common knowledge.” Was it his imagination, or did her expression say, it is now?
“It’s a pity she couldn’t be here with you. Weddings are always so romantic. They’re enough to make most men propose. If the relationship is that strong.”
“Indeed,” he agreed, the blood in his body rising as his senses reached out to scent his mate, his eyes trying to swivel to look at her. But that would give the game away, and he was sure this was a game. Only he wasn’t aware of the rules.
“Is she here?” Tessa asked.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t ask you what your occupation was?” Matt asked. “I get the impression you know more about me than I do about you.” He smiled congenially, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
“Busted,” Tessa said, pouting, and then turned and walked away, not joining the wedding party, but heading towards where the cars were parked. He watched her, his eyes narrowing as he noted the make and registration number of her car.
“It looks as if you’re out of luck all round,” his mate said.
Matt glanced back at her, drawn to her black hair and her red lips; her skin was so pale, she might be a modern day Snow White. He shook his head, his brow furrowed. “I think she’s here to dig dirt. Comes with the territory.” With that, he took a glass of champagne and sipped it, standing next to her, allowing his senses to drown in her, while he let his troubled thoughts go.
“Are you all right?” she asked quietly.
He looked sideways at her. “Does that mean you care?” His expression softened. “You don’t have to answer; I know you do. You can’t help it.”
She sighed, her breasts rising and falling, as if she were resigned to the fact. “I don’t want whatever it is you think we have between us.”
“We’re mates. You know it. I know it.”
“Knowing and liking it are two different things. And acting on it is another thing entirely.” She looked at him honestly. “I might know what we are, but I don’t like it, and have never wanted it. So, things would be far easier if we both agreed not to act on this.”
“This,” he repeated. “You don’t know who I am. I don’t know who you are.” He sipped his champagne, watching the photography session come to an end. “But one thing I think I know about both of us, is we don’t go for easy.”
“How do you know that?”
He laughed. “If I did easy, I’d walk away now. And if you did easy, you’d already be somewhere private—letting me fuck you.”
Chapter Three – Grace
The rest of the day was unbearable. Not because of the people, or the smile she kept on her face, or watching the happy couple be—happy. But because, thanks to her mate, all she could think about was him fucking her. Long and slow, hard and fast.
As the day turned to twilight, and her feet began to ache, she must have pictured them in just about every position imaginable. He was already affecting her life, and she didn’t like it. Coming to Bear Bluff was supposed to be a fresh start: her probation officer, Kyle Harding, had arranged the job for her, and he was about the only person she swore she would never let down.
He’d been good to her. He knew she was a shifter, Grace never exactly knew how, but he did, and had worked his ass off to get her a job here with Dylan.
Dylan. Yeah, she was unwilling to admit he was probably a close second, in the people-she-never-wanted-to-let-down stakes. He’d been good to her, not only giving her a job, but also making sure she had a place to live. It wasn’t much, just a couple of rooms over the local dry cleaners, but he’d even gone as far as putting down the deposit and first month’s rent for her—a person he didn’t know, and had never met before she came here.
She’d questioned whether he’d expect something in exchange; she’d met more than one sleazebag with an agenda in her life, but when she saw him with Steph, it was plain he only had eyes for his mate.
And so had she, it seemed. As soon as her mind wandered, she’d found herself searching him out, feeling a sense of loss when she couldn’t locate him. He moved around, talking to people. He appeared to be a natural at making friends. It was evident in the easiness of his body language: he was open, as if he had nothing to hide. Was that true?
The woman who’d been hitting on him, what was it he’d said, she’d come to dig dirt.
What kind of dirt did a man like him have? He was rich—that much was obvious from his clothes to his watch, all the way down to his expensive shoes. Grace turned away. If there wasn’t dirt to dig on him yet, there would be if he got together with her. She would be his dirty little not-so-secret mate. Or maybe he would keep her a secret, locked away from his rich friends and colleagues.
“You’re staring again.” She turned to face Zoe. The new bride looked so happy it was criminal.
“Sorry, I’ll get back to work,” Grace said.
“No, I didn’t mean that,” Zoe said, linking arms with Grace and leading her outside. “I wanted to say thank you, for taking this job on at such short notice.”
“No problem, I needed the cash,” Grace said, not wanting to leave Zoe thinking she was doing anyone any favors. Grace had no intention of getting that kind of a reputation.
“He’s cute,” Zoe ventured, and they both knew whom she was talking about.
“Is he?” Grace asked evasively. “He looks a little too rich for my taste.”
Zoe laughed. “Funny, because he is loaded.” She looked past Grace and into the tent. “And very e
asy on the eyes. That is a winning combination.”
“Isn’t this your wedding day? Don’t you have a husband to stare at?” Grace asked.
“It is, but I can still run a critical eye over a man.” Zoe sighed. “Look, I’ve done some work for him, he’s one of the good guys.”
“And I’m one of the bad girls,” Grace said, sounding prickly.
“People change. I should know,” Zoe smiled. “Why don’t you take a break? If Mrs. Grunion comes looking for you, I’ll tell her you are running an errand for me.”
“No, I’m fine.” Grace didn’t like the feeling of owing another person a favor. She liked to be self-reliant.
“I insist,” Zoe said, and then added, “Matt is coming this way.”
“Matt?” Grace asked.
“Yes. I thought you should know his name, since he asked me what yours is.” Zoe looked at Grace’s troubled face; she was trying to figure out how to make her escape without looking as if she was running away. “Hey, you don’t outrun this. Not if you want to stay sane.”
“It’s not my sanity, it’s my freedom I care about,” Grace said.
Zoe touched Grace’s hand and said, “Having your mate by your side, in everything you do, is a different kind of freedom. Just give it a chance.”
“Zoe,” Matt said as he approached.
Grace had a feeling she had been set up, that this was all some kind of trick so Matt could get her alone. As he slipped out of the tent to stand in front of her, her bear was roaring in Grace’s head saying she didn’t care, that they had to give him a chance.
“You look tired,” he said.
Thanks. She bit back the words and replaced them with, “It’s been a long day.”
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