Page 51 of The Finder

They walked back to the shop quickly. Madison and Kyle were on full alert. They walked with her sandwiched between them. Once they made it back to Sip and Drip, Emma got right back to work. She noticed at one point that Kyle and Madison had moved to the table closest to the front door. She smiled at their protective tendencies. She was busy serving customers when she heard a familiar voice. She grimaced but forced a smile to her face as she turned to face the customer. “Hi, Kevin,” she said.

“Hey, Emma,” he said in a too-loud voice. “How’s my favorite barista?” he asked with a smile. He was so relaxed and calm that Emma couldn’t help but smile back.

“I’m good. How about yourself?” she asked.

“I’d be a lot better if you would agree to go out with me again?” he asked.

Emma froze for a moment. She didn’t know what to say. She really didn’t want to go out with him. He was nice, but she just wasn’t into him. There wasn’t the kind of connection with Kevin that she felt with Garrett. Besides, she thought Garrett had made it clear that he didn’t want Kevin around her. Maybe he hadn’t gotten the point; or maybe he didn’t care. Either way, she couldn’t go out with him and risk the wrath of Garrett. It was not a pleasant thing to behold, but she didn’t know how to get out of it without making Kevin feel bad.

“You’re not going to leave a guy hanging, are you?” Kevin asked with a grin.

“I don’t know,” Emma started. “I think...”

“Don’t think. Just say yes,” Kevin cut her off.

“Well I,” she tried but he cut her off again.

“I’m a police officer, Emma. Nothing bad is going to happen. You will be perfectly safe unless you just don’t like me. If that’s the case, just say the word. I don’t want to make you do something you don’t want to do,” he said in a hurt voice.

“No, no. It’s not that. I do like you, I just—” she started but Kevin cut her off.

“Great. Then it’s a date. I’ll pick you up here at the shop tomorrow at one p.m.” He turned and left without another word.

Emma stared after him for a moment before putting both hands over her face. She tilted her head back.How in the world did I end up with a date with him again?she asked herself. “Garrett’s going to kill me,” she mumbled.

“Yes, he is,” Madison said, causing Emma to jump. “I don’t like that guy,” Madison said in anger, looking over her shoulder at the door Kevin had just exited.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened. I told him I didn’t want to go out with him, but somehow I’m going on a date with him again,” Emma commiserated.

“Word of advice?” Kyle said, slipping into the conversation. “Don’t let Garrett hear it from somebody else. You be the one to tell him,” he said. “Call him as soon as your shift is done.”

Panic hit Emma. “I can’t call him.”

Madison looked sympathetic but resolute. “You need to. It will be better this way.”

“Better for who?” Emma asked, but neither of them answered her. A customer came in, and Kyle and Madison turned away from the counter to go back to their table. She took the customer’s order and made his drink, but her mind was far away. How in the world was she going to tell a certain alpha that somehow, she had another date with Kevin looming?

Chapter 29

Emma finished her shift and clocked out, all the while dreading having to talk to Garrett. Kyle left her no choice. They walked across the street to where the car was parked. As soon as they got into the car, he turned to Emma. “Call him,” he ordered.

“But…” Emma began.

Kyle shook his head. “Call him.”

“Fine,” Emma grumbled. She pulled out her phone and pulled up favorites where Garrett’s number was stored. She put the phone up to her ear, trying to control her breathing as it began to ring.

Garrett picked up on the first ring. “Emma?” His deep voice came across the line. “What’s wrong?” he demanded. It startled Emma so much she didn’t answer right away. “Emma,” he barked out at her. “What happened?”

Sheesh, he’s demanding."Nothing happened,” Emma began, trying to find the words to say. “Well, I mean I somethingdidhappen, but Madison and Kyle took care of it. Nothing to worry about. That’s not why I’m calling. I—”

“What happened, Emma?” he asked in a low, dangerous voice.

Emma sighed. “Look, it was nothing. Two guys attacked us; Kyle said they were wolves. But like I said, nothing happened. Kyle and Madison took care of them. Madison’s amazing by the way,” Emma rambled.

“Put Kyle on the phone,” Garrett demanded.

Emma pulled the phone away from her ear and rolled her eyes, handing it to Kyle. Kyle took the phone as if he had been expecting this. “Yeah,” Kyle answered. “She’s not hurt,” he said right away. He began to explain to Garrett what had happened. Emma tuned him out. She had lived it; she didn’t need to hear it repeated. When he finished, he handed the phone back at Emma.

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