When it was time for her break, she decided to leave the restaurant to get some exercise — her inner bear needed to move. Darcy walked out onto the concourse toward one of her favorite shops in the airport. She wanted to get a gift for Rider to show him how much she appreciated him and the beginning of their life together.
As she was stepping into the shop, she passed a man wearing a custodial uniform, carting a suitcase. He had the strangest expression on his face. Darcy had never seen him in the airport before, but something about him seemed familiar. The young grizzly growing inside her picked up the scent of a shifter, and Darcy smiled with recognition.
“What kind of shifter are you?” she asked, stopping him in the middle of the concourse. “If you don't mind me asking.”
“Mind your own business, woman,” he snapped, hurrying away.
Darcy was shocked at his response as she watched him walk away. Rider was so polite and kind, she had expected other shifters to be the same.
Then Rider's warning came to mind. Her mouth dropped. The rude shifter seemed very suspicious. Why did a custodian have a suitcase? Darcy thought it could be a bomb. Her heart started to race in her chest. She quickly snapped a photograph of the man as he walked away and texted it to Rider, explaining what she'd seen.
“That is one of the shifters I saw with Rebecca yesterday. You need to warn security and get out of the airport immediately.”
“I think it's too late for that, Rider,” she said, watching the man duck into a bathroom.
“I'll be there any minute, Darcy. Get out of the airport immediately.”
“I'm going to be brave for once,” Darcy said aloud.
She felt the little bear inside her stirring and growing and growling. She concentrated on it until its growls were all she could hear. Moving on instinct, she followed the man down the concourse. She didn't want to make Rider worry, but she couldn't stop now that she'd started. She had to see this through. Her inner bear wouldn't let her back down.
“Stop what you're doing,” Darcy said as the man bent over the open case. He turned to her, his hand over a switch.
“You're too late, little girl,” he said.
Something snapped inside Darcy. Her eyes flashed and her temper flared. All the rage she’d ever felt as a neglected and abused child came to the surface. She was tired of people treating her badly. She was tired of people taking advantage of the weak and small. She wasn’t going to let it happen anymore.
All at once, the little bear inside her snapped into full focus. Instead of a tiny bear cub, she was a full-grown grizzly, intent on protecting those she loved.
The bear burst out of her. Her body contorted and grew, breaking apart and reforming into a giant beast. The hyena's eyes flashed as she charged.
She knocked him off his feet and onto the ground. She roared, pinning the man under her giant paws. Moments later, security and federal agents were behind her, pulling her off the hyena.
Darcy backed away in her massive grizzly body, not quite sure how to shift back. Slowly, her body shrank back down into her human form. A police officer threw a blanket around her shoulders, and she watched the commotion as the hyena was carted away.
The bomb squad took the bomb, and Darcy sat on the concourse, dazed by the events. Her body was too full of adrenaline to care about going back to work. She looked up and found Rider standing at the other end of the concourse. She stood and he walked to her, his eyes alight with pride and respect.
“I hear you’re the hero who saved the airport,” he said.
“My grizzly did it. I couldn’t have stopped her if I’d tried. I’m sorry I didn’t leave like you asked.”
“You don't need to apologize. You saved hundreds, if not thousands of people today. I'm proud of you.”
“And you saved an entire plane today.”
“Yes,” he said. “Rebecca is being taken into protective custody. She's agreed to inform the FBI of all the hyenas’ plans and locations in exchange for protection. They’re extracting her daughter from the local hyena compound now.”
“You did a good thing, Rider.”
“I was just doing my job. And now, I want to take you home.”
Chapter 19
Rider pulled the ribs out of the marinade and dropped them on the grill. The sound of sizzling and the smell of cooking meat filled the air. Darcy flipped the burgers and the sausage links she had stuffed herself. Everyone was gathered around the picnic table in his backyard, celebrating his safe return and the completion of another successful mission. Hawk cracked another beer and slapped Rider on the back.
“Your mate is an amazing woman,” he said.
“And one of the few people who is better on the grill than I am,” Rider said, dishing up the finished barbecue.
He set it on the table in front of the gang and everyone began to dig in. He poured a round of wine, but Stephanie put her hand over her glass and shook her head.
“Would you rather have a beer?” he asked, turning toward the cooler.
“Max and I have a little announcement to make,” Stephanie said with a sly smile.
“You're pregnant,” Darcy said, setting the sausages down on the table. “I could smell it a mile away, but I was waiting for you to say something.”
“We just confirmed with the doctor today. She'll be born in the spring.”
“So, big bad Max is going to be a daddy bear,” Rider teased.
“It's the best news I've ever had,” Max said proudly.
“The first cub for the Justice Squad,” Hawk said. “Let's hope there will be many more.” He lifted his beer and smiled meaningfully at Rider and Darcy.
“I'm afraid Rider and I won't be having any cubs quite yet. I want to settle into my new life as a shifter before having any more changes. Plus, I need to find a new job here in Fate Rock. The restaurant in Denver was sad to lose me, but I knew right away I wanted to come home with Rider.”
“I'm sure any restaurant in town would be happy to have you,” Hawk said.
“Have you ever considered opening a place of your own?” Jameson asked.
“In my dreams,” she laughed.
“Why do you ask?” Rider asked him.
“Because my latest real estate development has a building that would be perfect for a restaurant and no one has rented it yet.”
“And you want to rent it to me?” Darcy asked with a stunned expression. “I never imagined...”
“You would be a fantastic restaurant owner,” Rider said. “It's what you've been working for all your life.”
“But I would need investors. I don't even know where to start.”
“We'll be your investors,” Jameson said. “Besides, we need somewhere to hang out other than the backyard. Especially in winter. It gets too cold outside for barbeques.”
“I can't believe this is happening,” Darcy said.
“You deserve it, babe.” Rider beamed.
“My one condition is that you let me help you name the place.”
“Any ideas?” Darcy asked.
“I was thinking something like Squad Goals. It could be part grill, part sports bar.”
“That's hilarious.” Darcy laughed. “I think it's perfect.”
They dug into the barbecue and Rider sat with his friends and his beloved in the backyard, eating their delicious home cooked barbecue. He was happier than he'd ever been.
After all the food was eaten and the beer was drunk, the crew went off to their own homes, leaving Rider and Darcy alone in the backyard. The moon glowed above, and the stars spread out overhead. It reminded him of the night they'd mated, with the big full moon glowing down like a lamp from heaven.
They sat in their Adirondack chairs, holding hands and sipping the last of the wine. He gazed over at his mate, her profile illuminated by the tiki torches on the lawn. He'd never felt so contented in all his life and so ready for a future of peace and tranquility. Mr. Whiskers hopped in her lap and purred as she petted him thoughtfully.
>
“I can't believe this is real,” Darcy said. “A month ago, I never would have imagined that this could be my life. I’ve come such a long way.”
“I know what you mean. I used to be reckless, taking unnecessary risks. But now I know when to take risks and when to take it easy.”
“I used to never take risks. I stayed in my safe little shell, too afraid to step out and experience life. But now I'm strong and brave. I believe I can do anything. Even save an airport or open a restaurant in a brand-new city.”
“It's going to be amazing,” he said as a fragrant summer breeze blew over his skin. “I can’t wait to help you with the recipes.”
He was just as excited as she was about the restaurant. He might not be a professional chef like Darcy, but he loved to barbecue more than anything. He would be there to help her with anything she needed.
“I’d love that. You’re really good on the grill.”
“The gang really likes you,” he said. “I knew they would.”
“I had hoped they would like me too. But I never expected them to offer to finance a restaurant.” She giggled.
“Welcome to the world of shifters,” he said, feeling the satisfaction deep in his chest. “We take care of each other.”
“I had no idea what it’s like to be part of a community like this. And it's everything I’ve ever wanted.”
“The guys really are great. I hope they find their mates soon. Because finding you has been the best thing that's ever happened to me.”
“The feeling is mutual, Captain Hendrix,” she said, leaning over to press her lips to his. Mr. Whiskers hopped down onto the lawn, and they kissed in the soft cool darkness of the backyard. The mountain breeze twisted her curly red hair around her like sparking fire, and the thrill of her love surged through him.
Rider had never been so perfectly satisfied. With Darcy in his life, he had all the excitement he would ever need.
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