He frowned and gave a slight eyeroll. “Not interested, huh?”
I walked around the car and leaned down so I could press a kiss against his cheek. “Thank you for the ride. I put an extra couple of twenties in the envelope for you. Maybe I’ll see you around.”
His eyes were down my low-cut dress when I pulled back. “You’ve got my number,” he winked, “Don’t be shy about using it.”
I patted the door of his car and grinned. “That’s one thing I’ve never been called. See you around, cowboy.”
I grabbed my bags and headed inside. From what I could see of the town and bar, they were both laden with a rustic flavor characteristic of the old west. With wide front porches and buildings that looked like they were from the days of stagecoaches and showdowns at high noon, it wasn’t hard to see why Allie had been so drawn to the place. It had charm, no one could deny that.
I held my phone in my hand and looked down at it as I pushed inside the bar. Charm, but terrible cell reception. I was just sliding my phone back into my purse when a jarring collision sent me sprawling backwards on my ass.
I looked up, ready to spit nails, when I realized I was looking into the face of my best friend. Wow, she looked good. Allie was wiping spilled beer, from the smell of it, off of her chest with a scowl. Just as she looked up to toss out a snide comment, her eyes widened and she screamed.
“Georgia!” Allie dropped to her knees in front of me and smashed me against her chest. “I was so distracted waiting for you to get here I wasn’t watching where I was going! Are you okay?”
I pushed her away gently and looked down at my white dress. “I was. You’re lucky I love you so much. I just changed into this to show off for you and make a good first impression on the man of your dreams, and look at how you repay me.”
She laughed and tugged at a piece of my hair. “You look great. A sight for sore eyes.”
I looked her over and noticed the subtle changes. Her skin glowed bright with happiness and I could see the edges of the bite mark she’d told me about, the one that let the shifter world around here know that she was Thorn’s. “Holy shit, Allie. You look amazing. I thought you were a little cuckoo to move out to the middle of nowhere, but obviously, this place agrees with you!”
She pulled me up and gave me a proper hug. When she released me, I noticed a huge hulk of a man coming our way. His eyebrows were furrowed like he was worried about something.
“I heard you scream. You okay?”
Allie gazed up at him with a look of what had to be true love in her eyes. I wasn’t sure. I’d never really seen it before, but it sure looked good on her. She stretched up and kissed the man before turning to me. “This is Thorn. Thorn, this is Georgia.”
I smiled up at the man, feeling ridiculously small. I stretched as much as I could, trying to feel a little less vertically challenged. “Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
He grinned and wrapped his arm around Allie. “All good, I’m sure.”
“Sure. All good.” I laughed when Allie swatted me. “This is a really nice place.”
“We do alright.” He kissed Allie and then nodded towards the back. “I’ve got to finish up some work, ladies. Anything you want or need is on the house, Georgia. There’s a football game tonight, too, if you want to stick around the bar. It’s held in the field out back.”
We both watched him leave and then looked at each other with dreamy looks on our faces. It caused us both to erupt in a fit of laughter that had me holding my side.
“You bagged the big one, Allie. That man is beautiful.”
She grinned. “Yeah, he is. His friends are pretty hot, too.” She laughed as a growl came from the back. “Not that I noticed or anything.”
My mouth fell open. “He can hear you from back there?”
She nodded. “It makes it really hard to keep secrets.”
“What secrets?” Thorn shouted from the back.
I laughed and tugged her with me to a booth. I momentarily forget about my bags while the bar was slow, and just focused on enjoying my reunion with my best friend. “So, tell me about his hot friends.”
She shook her head. “Hot, but bad news. They’re not exactly known as being one-woman men. They’re good guys, though.”
“I don’t know. I passed on the chance to do that whole save a horse, ride a cowboy thing earlier. I might be thinking of taking a hiatus or something.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’ve known you for a long time, Georgia. You’ve never truly taken a break from the opposite sex. Why start now?”
I grimaced. “You heard part of the fighting with that last asshat. I think my taste in men has regressed. It’s worse than ever. They’re all overbearing, difficult to handle, and just not worth the effort.”
“Not all of them.”
I glanced towards the door her man had disappeared through and forced a smile for her benefit. “You’re right. Of course, your guy is worth it. Way better than that piece of trash, Eric.”
She shuddered and I heard another growl from the back. I couldn’t help but giggle. There was going to be a learning curve, being around these man-bears, it seemed.
4
Wyatt
I washed off the floral scent, feeling frustrated at myself for some reason. It’s like there was something in the air, but I couldn’t figure it out. Something was making my skin feel too small for my body, and my lungs too weak to deliver the oxygen I needed. I felt my forehead for the hundredth time but there was still no fever. Was I coming down with something? I wouldn’t know. I’d never been sick. My bear was angry too, but damned if I knew why.
Long after I was clean, I stayed in the river, letting the cold water soothe me. I let my bear swim around and catch a fish or two before shifting back and rinsing off again. I kept soap at a spot on the river bank and used it to clean up. My Mom wasn’t a fan of my hygiene methods, but I came out clean enough and that was what mattered.
I let my body air dry as I stretched out on a flat boulder in the sun. On the outside, the picture of relaxation, inside I was crazy mixed-up. I was losing my mind. After a spell, I managed to get dressed and head back into town. I needed a beer or two to settle the insanity in me. Or maybe sixteen. I sighed and forced my bear down. Thorn had a strict no bears inside the bar rule—one more rule I didn’t care to follow.
I went straight to the bar and waited for Abram, to get to me. When he did, I ordered a double whiskey and shot it straight back.
He stared at me and then at the table where I normally sat with the guys. “Rough day? I’ve never known you to start off the evening with a stiff double shot like that.”
I rolled my shoulders. “Did you ever have a day where it felt like your bear is literally trying to crawl through your pores to get out? I think I’m sick or something.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You think getting shit-faced is the best way to handle that?”
I shrugged. “It’s driving me fucking crazy.”
Thorn came up to us and gave me a strange look. “You okay?”
Abram put the bottle up and rapped his knuckles on the bar top. “Thinks he’s sick.”
“We don’t get sick.”
I groaned. “I know. I don’t know. I just have chills and my bear is freaking out. Something is wrong.”
“Bro, take a deep breath in and chill the fuck out. I can’t have you losing it right now. Allie’s best friend is here and Allie will kill us both if we scare her away.”
As if on cue, the sweetest scent filled my nose and I breathed it in, greedily. Wild berries. The kind you had to know how to identify to avoid eating poison. It was sweet with an edge of something dangerous.
My bear growled, suddenly wanting to fight everyone, but the sick feeling I’d had promptly settled. I straightened and looked around. “What is that?”
Thorn frowned. “What is wha— son of a bitch.”
The aroma was wafting in from the back. I knew for a fact that Thorn had never ha
d anything on the menu that contained the delicious wild berries from the forest behind my house, so it had to be something else. I moved like a man possessed, drawn to the thing I couldn’t identify.
“Fuck, Wyatt, just hang on.” Thorn grabbed the back of my shirt and pulled me to a stop. “You run in there like a fucking bull and you’re going to scare her half to death.”
I froze and looked back at him. “Her?”
He nodded slowly like he was dealing with a five-year-old. “Her. Allie’s friend, Georgia.”
Suddenly if felt as though my bear had taken over my throat and all I could do was utter one word. “Mate.”
5
Georgia
I took a deep breath and tried to settle my nerves. I wasn’t normally the anxiety-laden type, but something had my nerves on edge. Maybe I was just tired. It had been a long trip, first by plane, then car. “Want to show me to my temporary set-up and help me decide what to wear to this game tonight?”
Allie nodded. “Hey, Brady, will you let Thorn know we’ll be back soon?”
The lanky chef nodded and sent a wink my way. “Y’all have fun.”
I grinned and returned the frisky wink as we headed out the back door. The fresh air helped calm me a little bit and I shrugged off the rest of the uneasy feeling as jetlag. “So, where is this trailer?”
She led me down the street and through a small patch of trees that opened up to a small camper that was tilting slightly to one side. “It was a perfectly fine trailer until Thorn shifted inside. He was a little too heavy for it. We’re getting it fixed, don’t worry.”
I shrugged. “It’s not a big deal.”
I stepped inside the trailer and laughed at the sloping floor with a dent in the middle. The back room was fine, though, so I went straight to tossing clothes around the bed. “What should we go for? Something more casual?”
She laughed at the dress I was holding up. “It’s a football game, G. Just wear jeans and a hoodie.”
I scoffed. “It’s not just any football game. It’s my first impression on this town. You said everyone would be there. I want to look good. Do you like this dress?”
“Yeah, it’s fine.”
I tossed it aside and grabbed the next one. “Is this one better?”
She let out a small laugh and fell onto the bed, rumpling more clothes. “I missed you.”
I stretched out beside her and grabbed her hand. “I missed you, too. I was mad at you at first for just up and leaving me like that, but I get it now.”
She rolled to her side and looked at me. “Do you?”
I nodded, straight faced. “Yeah. It’s the bad cell reception.”
She snorted and slapped my arm. “You’ll never make it here for longer than a week. That bad cell reception and the lack of any all-night parties will have you running back to the city in no time.”
I looked up at the emergency exit over our heads. Something settled deep in my bones and I smiled. “I’m not so sure.”
Bright sunlight filled the little trailer. I sat up, feeling fresh and a little bit like Snow White with the sounds of birds chirping outside the window over the bed. I looked around and noticed that all my clothes had either been hung in the small closet or folded and left sitting on the shelf next to the door. Allie.
I smiled and stood up, stretching before heading into the kitchen. I needed to grab a coffee but there was nothing there. I groaned. I’d meant to pick up some coffee before coming back from the game.
My head cleared and I gasped. I’d slept straight through the game! I’d slept through my first night with Allie. Some best friend I was. I headed to the little shower, planning to get dressed and find her as soon as possible. Hopefully, she’d forgive me for being a turdball and passing out on her.
After showering, I chose a green cotton dress that brought out the color in my eyes and twirled my still wet hair up in a bun, pinning it into place before hurrying through my makeup. Then, I slipped my feet into a pair of strappy sandals and headed out.
I had no idea where to find Allie, but I figured with a town center the size of a postage stamp, no way could it be that hard. I’d take a walk around town; someone would know her.
I passed a salon and peeked inside to see a couple of women getting their hair done. A pretty blonde nodded at me and waved me inside. I stepped in, taking a deep breath of salon quality products. Ahhh. It was relieving to know that no matter how far I got from home, a salon still smelled like a salon.
“Hey there! You must be Georgia. Allie’s told us you were coming for a visit!” Another blonde appeared from behind an older woman getting her hair permed. “I’m Randi and that’s Samantha.”
“Nice to meet y’all,” I nodded. Over at the counter, there was a display of nail polish colors. My eyes danced over all the colors and then down at the peach color on my own nails. “Do you take walk-ins?”
Randi smiled, and waved a curling iron at me. “Honey, we take anything. You want us to do something for you?”
I was in heaven. “I have to go find Allie right now, but I’ll definitely be back.”
Samantha grinned. “She’s staying at Thorn’s place. Just head on down Main Street and you can’t miss it. It’s the green house on the right. Only green house in town.”
I thanked them, and then headed on down Main Street. I was surprised that I hadn’t stumbled across a coffee shop. There was a small grocery store with a few vending machines out front, one of which sold instant coffee. Oh, well, it would have to do in a pinch. First, I stepped inside and bought a bag of donuts.
On the way out, pinned to the community bulletin board, was a flyer for a local survivalist tour and training. My fingers tingled when I touched it and I had the insane urge to sniff it. Wyatt Drexel. I whispered the name and had the same weird feeling from the night before, like there was something hanging over my head, waiting to fall.
I held the flyer tight to my stomach, and hurried off towards the green house. I suddenly had this wacky idea in my head and it was all I could do not to run straight to Thorn’s to tell Allie about it.
Saying the green house was just right down the road was an understatement. The local shops and offices stopped, the road became dirt and dust with forest on either side, and then, finally, a green house appeared. Allie was just coming down the front steps, a bag in her hands as I headed up the drive.
“Hey! You’re awake!” She gave me a big hug and then pulled back. “I was bringing you breakfast.”
I held up the bag of donuts. “I was bringing you breakfast. Where’s the coffee shop around here? I didn’t see one but there’s got to be one, right?”
She laughed. “You’re out of luck. Come on, I’ll make us a pot inside.”
She showed me into Thorn’s house and got the coffee going while I sat at the kitchen counter enjoying the breakfast she’d made for me. She happily munched on a donut and told me about the football games the night before.
“Of course, Thorn’s team won. They always do. They kick ass.” Her smile turned sly. “Apparently, one of the guys was hoping for a chance to meet you last night.”
“Oh, yeah?”
She nodded. “Wyatt Drexel. He owns a survivalist tour company. Takes tours up the mountain pretty much every week.”
I held up the flier that was still clutched in my fist. “I picked it up at the grocery store. I was thinking it might be fun to ‘do as the Romans do’ and all.”
Her eyes widened slightly and then she shoved a donut in her mouth quickly. She said something but her words were all garbled.
“What? Why are you being so weird?”
“Umm… that could be fun... for some. You’ve never been the type to go all wilderness, though. What’s gotten into you?”
I shrugged. “Just a whim, I guess. I want to experience this place and what it’s like here. You know, with the bears and stuff. Why not get in touch with my outdoorsy, back-to-nature side?”
“Because you don’t have one?”
Allie shrugged and shoved another donut into her mouth without answering me.
I shook my head and finished my coffee. “This place has got you acting weirder and weirder.”
6
Wyatt
Normally, I was a patient man, laid back, took things easy. There was no trace of normal Wyatt today. I’d waited all night at the game to finally meet the sweet-smelling Georgia. My mate. My bear had done a fucking happy dance when he realized what he was smelling. All the tension and anger left and we eagerly waited for our mate to show up.
When Allie had arrived alone, I’d been ready to tear through the town looking for her. I needed to meet her. I’d had no choice but to accept that I would have to wait a little longer, though. I couldn’t do anything about that. The sense of urgency around seeing her was driving me insane. I missed my serenity.
I’d even somehow managed to wake up bright and early after drinking myself into a stupor the night before. I told myself I was going to the bar because I needed to talk to Thorn, but I knew good and well I had nothing to say to Thorn. I just needed to see my mate.
Of course, Thorn had apparently picked that day to sleep in. I considered sitting on the front porch and waiting for him to show up, but decided that would make me look like a creeper. I swore and headed back to my office. Since when did I care how anything made me look?
My phone rang as I was coming through my office door. It still smelled like flowers, which slightly disgusted me after experiencing the delicious aroma of my mate. As I answered the phone, I dug around in the metal cabinet in the small back room for some Lysol.
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