It had been pure impulse that made him wander the town. Ryan was off looking for his sister again, but Bunny had decided he needed some time on his own.
He’d felt the urge to roam, discover the town his cousins were planning on living in, maybe visit the comic book store Ryan had pulled him away from the day before. Hell, if he liked it enough, maybe he would move his business here. The Alpha Puma appeared pretty open about other shifters living on his territory, and his father had been looking into the area anyway for Ryan and Chloe’s family.
If the Alpha had been a Wolf, they wouldn’t even be thinking about it. They’d have avoided Halle and looked for another place to live. Wolves hated having other shifters in their territory, even Bears who didn’t give a rat’s ass about that kind of thing.
He’d found the tattoo parlor almost by accident, the sound of feminine laughter faint through the picture window. He’d caught a glimpse of three women and gone in expecting to find three lovely ladies, perhaps even a date for the night.
Instead he’d found his future.
“Can I help you?”
Bunny turned around to find a tall, dark-haired man in a sheriff’s uniform staring at him, a hard expression on his face. He nodded to the other man, taking a surreptitious sniff. Puma. “Sheriff Anderson?” Bunny held out his hand when the other man nodded warily. “Alexander Bunsun. You’re dating my cousin, Chloe.”
Sheriff Anderson winced, but visibly relaxed. “No, actually, I’m not. Never was.
Chloe and I are just friends.”
Bunny frowned. “That’s not what it sounded like when we talked to her.”
The sheriff sighed. “Common problem. Trust me, we’ve never dated.” He shook his head. “Are you here to see Chloe?” He led the way into the diner and guided Bunny to a table. He settled in and laid his hat on the table next to them.
Looked like he was having lunch with the sheriff. Now to see if the man would try and run him off. “Yup. Her brother is heading to the university as we speak.” He’d have to ask Ryan to find out what had happened between Chloe and the sheriff.
Why had Chloe made it sound like they were together if they weren’t?
“That sucks, because she’s here right now.” Anderson pointed toward a bright red ponytail bopping behind a counter. “She always works Monday afternoons.”
“Oh.” Bunny turned back to the sheriff, trying to keep his expression blank. “So what’s this about you not dating my cousin?”
Anderson grimaced. “Long story short, Chloe and I are friends. Just friends.”
“Really?” One of Bunny’s brows rose questioningly.
Anderson winced again. “Let’s just say my wife wasn’t happy with the amount of attention I paid to Chloe and let me know about it. It took me a while to prove that Chloe doesn’t mean nearly as much to me as Sarah does.”
Ouch. He hoped the man’s mate hadn’t given him too hard a time. A jealous mate on the warpath was nothing to sneeze at. “I’ll call Ryan and let him know Chloe’s here.” He pulled out his phone but hesitated. “Do you know anything about a woman named Tabby? She works over at the tattoo parlor.” She’d carried the vague whiff of the sheriff’s scent. Getting some information from the sheriff seemed like a good idea.
“Tabby?” Anderson eyed the triskelion tattoo on Bunny’s arm. He sat back, the edges of his lips curving up in a knowing smile.
Bunny grinned. Just the thought of his mate made him feel like his heart was filled with sunshine. “Yup.” He leaned in close, barely whispered the words.
“She’s my mate.”
“Oh? Oh. ” Bunny growled. The blank surprise in Anderson’s voice was shadowed by a tinge of concern. Just because he’d be mating a Wolf instead of a she-Bear didn’t give the sheriff the right to say anything. Anderson nodded, his expression turning grim. “Then there are a few things you’ll need to know before things get too serious between you.”
Bunny nodded. Why do you think I asked, dumbass? “Do you think the local boss will have any problems with us living here?”
Anderson’s brows rose. “Live here? In Halle? I knew Chloe’s family was coming, but I didn’t know that included her cousins.”
Bunny shrugged. “Tabby’s here.” Bears didn’t mind moving to where their mates were happiest, and Wolves were, well, territorial. Odds were good Tabby would want to stay, so moving to Halle was Bunny’s best option. The last thing he wanted was a grumpy Wolf chewing on his ass all the way back to Oregon.
Anderson opened his mouth, but before he could respond there was an ear-splitting shriek.
“BUNNY! ”
The sheriff nearly got bowled over by a pint-sized redhead hurtling toward Bunny at top speed. Bunny laughed, standing just as Chloe reached them. She hurled herself into his arms, giggling like a schoolgirl, her legs wrapping around his waist. Bunny took it, giving her a bear hug that had her gasping to be put back down.
“When did you get here? Where’s Ryan? Did Mom and Dad come too? Where’s Uncle Will and Aunt Barbra?” Chloe was practically bouncing in place, her ponytail waving gaily. Bunny watched his little cousin with an indulgent smile, his heart singing at the happiness in her face.
He’d missed the little squirt.
But there was something behind her eyes, a sadness that hadn’t been there before. If it turned out that the sheriff had broken Chloe’s heart, he’d have to have a few very private words with the man. “We’re staying at the Holiday Inn, checking out the town. Ryan’s on his way here to see you, Aunt Laura and Uncle Steve are still in Maryland with Mom and Dad, but they’re thinking of visiting soon if we all decide to stay here. And we got here yesterday.”
Chloe bounced again. “It will be so good to have family around again.” Her smile turned wistful for a brief second before her innate sunshine came out once more.
“So, what’s new with you?” She nudged Bunny’s arm.
He leaned in and whispered in her ear. The joy of finding the one woman who could complete him still rode him. “I found my mate.”
Her jaw dropped. “No shit! Since when?”
Bunny was struggling with a smile. His cousin’s bubbly personality was infectious. “Today. She works in the tattoo parlor.”
“Living Art?” When Bunny nodded Chloe’s eyes went wide. “Does she have blue hair?” Bunny shook his head. “Okay, not Glory then. Pink hair?” Bunny grinned and shook his head again. “Not Cyn, either. Oh! Tabby? Cool!”
Bunny started to laugh. He still couldn’t get over his mate’s name. He planned on having some fun finding out what in hell her parents had been thinking.
“Chloe! Order up!”
“Be right there, Frank!” She turned to Bunny, giving him a quick hug. “Get the fruit salad, you’ll love it.” She laughed and waved goodbye as she headed back for the kitchen.
“Bunny?” Anderson was hiding a smile behind his coffee cup. “Seriously?”
Bunny gave Anderson the one-finger salute. He still wasn’t certain he shouldn’t rip the good sheriff’s arms off just to be on the safe side.
Something was bothering him, though. That look in Chloe’s eyes was so wrong.
His cousin had always known who she was and where she was going in life, and today she looked like she’d lost her way. “Is she having problems with something?”
Anderson shrugged. “I’m not certain what’s going on. She’s not talking, but I think the man she’s… interested in is giving her fits.”
Huh? Bunny stared at Anderson, startled. At Anderson’s nod, he damn near reeled in his seat.
Chloe’d found her mate? Since when? Bunny took a deep breath, but couldn’t detect anything other than Chloe’s lingering scent. Ryan was gonna love that. His little sis, still in college, and already mated? The man would go ballistic. “Why?
What’s wrong with him? Chloe’s cute as a button.”
Anderson shrugged. “I’m not sure. But I wouldn’t worry too much.” He smiled tightly. “I’m sure she’ll help him
figure it out. And if she doesn’t, I’ll rip his head off and give it to her wrapped in a bow.” And he sounded like he’d relish the opportunity. The kind of eager happiness on the sheriff’s face was usually reserved for kids and Christmas presents.
Bunny snorted. The only way Anderson would lay his hands on Chloe’s mate was if he beat Ryan to the man.
Pumas might be fast, but Bears, when motivated, were faster.
“Ohmigod, ohmigod.” Tabby pulled her hair, staring into her closet. It was six forty-five and her mate would be here any minute, she didn’t know his name and she had nothing to wear.
“Little black dress.” Cyn stuck her head in Tabby’s bedroom, grinning at the pile of clothing around Tabby’s feet. “Can’t go wrong with a little black dress.”
“Guh.” The panic was threatening to tear Tabby apart. She stared at the three black dresses hanging in her closet, her hand moving between them like a demented butterfly.
Glory’s head peeked in from the other side of the doorway. “The sleeveless one.”
“Uh?” She held up her sleeveless black dress, the one with the red belt and matching shoes.
Two heads bobbed in agreement.
Tabby stripped, more than used to being naked in front of her roommates. Hell, when she’d first moved in with them, they’d been shocked at how easy she felt being nude. Glory had actually asked her if she was gay and trying to tempt them to “the dark side”. She’d giggled and said that she might be susceptible to temptation if the dark side had chocolate. Tabby had just shaken her head and put some clothes on. She’d spent so long as a Wolf, she’d forgotten some of the basic parts of being human, like pants. The first time she’d used a toilet after so many years had been an interesting experience, something Mrs. Anderson still chuckled about.
When Cyn and Glory had found out what she was, they’d freaked a little. They hadn’t accepted her immediately. In fact, there’d been another girl, Brit, who’d worked at Living Art. Brit had left, refusing to believe what she’d seen the night Tabby, drunk off her ass for the first time in her life, let her Wolf loose in the middle of the apartment. She’d gone so far as to quit her job when Glory and Cyn refused to fire her or kick her out of their apartment. But Glory and Cyn, after the initial shock had passed (and after, they claimed, they wiped up the dog drool), had accepted her without reservations. Hell, they’d mocked her once the hangover had passed. There was still a huge bag of Kibbles N’ Bits in the pantry the bitches refused to throw away “just in case”.
If she thought they’d take it, she’d make them Pack in a heartbeat. She missed having that connection, the knowledge that there were others for her to rely on without a shadow of a doubt. Part of her wondered if her dipshit ex had ever told his father the truth, or if he’d shrugged and let it go. Let her go.
Tabby shook her head and reached for her hairbrush, smoothing down her hair.
That didn’t matter now. Her mate would be here any minute. She slicked on some berry gloss and stared at herself in the mirror. Then she stuck out her tongue and made a face. She was so nervous, her Wolf was whining. She slipped her feet into the red high heels, grabbed her favorite purse and headed for the living room. “Well?”
Cyn circled her finger. “Twirl.”
Tabby twirled.
Glory wolf-whistled. “See you at work tomorrow.”
Cyn snickered and threw a bunch of condoms at her. “You’ll need these.”
Tabby swallowed. “I’m gonna throw up.” Nausea roiled in her belly. She bent and picked up the condoms just as the doorbell rang.
Glory had the door open before Tabby could hide the packets. “C’mon in!”
In stepped the hottie from the store. He wore a green shirt that really emphasized his hazel eyes, dark wash jeans that looked painted onto his thighs and thick-soled black boots. Now that she was upright, she could see how tall he was. He towered over her, the top of her head barely reaching his upper lip, even in her four-inch heels. She’d hit his chin in her bare feet. His bald head gleamed, his jaw clean-shaven. She could see the tattoo that circled his biceps and her fingers itched to trace the design. In his hand, he held a daffodil.
My favorite flower. How did he know? Tabby smiled, knowing her mouth was trembling. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had given her flowers.
“For me?”
He held it out, a smile on his full lips. “Hello, Tabby.”
“Thank you.” She reached for the daffodil.
He coughed. “I’ll take those.” He reached over and removed the condoms from her hand, grinning at her embarrassed squawk. “It’s okay, honey. I’m just glad one of us is, um, prepared.” He eyed the condoms. “Very prepared.” He unrolled them, one eyebrow rising in disbelief. “And optimistic.”
Glory was practically doubled over with laughter. Tabby’s face was beet red. She snatched the condoms back with her free hand, snarling as one got left behind in his big paw. She could hear Cyn snuffling and snorting behind her and just knew they were practically choking on their laughter.
She turned to her two roommates with a smile. “Don’t make me forget I’m housebroken.” They stopped, but from the way they were clinging together, Tabby figured it was only a matter of time before one of them broke again. She turned back to her new mate. “And you, whose name I don’t even know.” She smiled at Mr. Chocolate. “Thank you for the flower. My name’s Tabitha Garwood.”
Mr. Sin held out his paw, the condom miraculously gone. “Bunny.” She wondered if he’d dropped it or shoved it into his pocket for later.
Wait. “Bunny,” she repeated carefully.
“Alexander Bunsun, but everyone calls me Bunny.” He grinned.
She sniffed. Nope, his scent is definitely Bear.
“Are you laughing at my name?” Bunny’s hands went to his hips, but she could tell he wasn’t pissed by the way his lips quirked up.
She blinked. “Yes.”
He coughed, but she could tell he was trying not to laugh. “Dinner?” He held out his arm.
She gave him her sweetest smile and took it. “Yes.”
“Hold on.” Glory stopped them by placing her hand on Bunny’s arm, her expression worried. For all that Glory liked to flirt like mad, when it came down to actual dating she could be a real worrywart.
Bunny chucked her under the chin. “I’ll take care of her. My word on it.”
Glory studied him, and Bunny stood still, allowing her intense scrutiny. Glory relaxed and nodded, looking relieved. Tabby wasn’t sure she felt the same.
Chapter Two
“Tabby? Seriously?” Bunny shook his head and helped her off his bike. “And you’re making fun of my name?”
“At least I can blame my seriously screwed up parents. What’s your excuse?”
Tabby nodded at Bunny regally as he held open the door to Noah’s. He’d asked Anderson to recommend a restaurant in the area and from his enthusiastic endorsement he had decided to give Noah’s a try. He’d made the reservations and requested a nice, private table.
“It’s taken from my last name. It’s a nickname.”
“It’s a sucky nickname for a shifter to have,” she muttered softly. “Bunny. Geez.
Might as well call you Food.” She shuddered delicately as they waited for the hostess to seat them. “Who came up with that anyway? And why didn’t you tell me to wear pants?”
Bunny grinned, knowing it looked predatory. “I enjoyed it.” She’d ridden on the back of his bike, those long sleek legs of hers bared almost to the point of indecency. The heat of her had been intoxicating.
Tabby rolled her eyes and followed behind the hostess. “Are you sure you aren’t a Wolf?”
Bunny began singing “Little Red Riding Hood” under his breath, that deep, gravelly voice sending shivers down her spine. But when he reached the point about being everything a big, bad wolf could want, Tabby had to stop for a moment. She shook her head at him, amusement lighting her face. “Don’t you mean big, bad
Bear?”
Bunny held out her chair, a wolfish grin on his face. She allowed him to seat her, shaking her head. Lime green strands drifted across her face. And damn, what a face. She had the exotic good looks of a woman who had some Mediterranean blood somewhere in her gene pool. She was golden-skinned and full-lipped, with big brown eyes and lashes a mile long that perfectly framed a strong nose and determined chin. She wasn’t classically beautiful, especially with her hair the way it was, but Bunny was already hooked. He could almost taste her. Like a ripe golden apple, she’d be tart and sweet on his tongue, a craving that would never go away.
This was going to be fun.
“Well? Out with it, Bunny. Who, what, where, why and how badly did you mangle them afterwards?”
He chuckled, trying to hide how uneasy the word mangled made him. She had no idea. “My cousins. I have five of the little shits. Ryan, Chloe, Keith, Heather and Tiffany are all my first cousins. They’re the ones who gave me my nickname.”
“Wow. Your aunt must have been churning them out.”
“Don’t make me order you a bowl of milk.” Bunny didn’t even flinch when Tabby punched him in the arm. She, however, got a very pained look on her face and surreptitiously tried to shake out her hand. “Ryan and Chloe are brother and sister and the children of my dad’s first cousin, Uncle Steven. Keith, Heather, and Tiffany are my Aunt Stacey’s kids. Aunt Stacey happens to be Uncle Steven’s twin sister.”
“Big family. Must be nice.” She looked sad for a moment then shook her head. He wondered what that was all about. “You have any brothers or sisters?”
“Eric. He’s my younger brother. He thinks, like you do, that Bunny is a stupid-ass nickname. He refuses to call me that. He mostly calls me Alex.” And that meant something to him, that only those closest to him called him Alex. He’d never tell the cousins that, though. They loved the nickname they’d given him and, frankly, he was amused by it.
“Good for him.”
“He also calls me SFB.”
Bear Necessities hs-1 Page 3