Page 18 of Mismatched Mates

He leaned in, breath just brushing the shell of my ear. I shivered. “Looks like our work here is done,” he murmured, and although it was impossible, I felt as though his canines scraped across my skin. It was a primal feeling; as if he'd marked me, leaving an invisible but unmistakable imprint.

I cursed internally, my pulse still racing.

"I... I should go," I managed to stammer out, acutely aware of Leon's stunned silence nearby. "The boys will be wondering where I am."

His warm hand grazed the small of my back briefly; it’s absence felt strangely stark and cold in contrast. I turned to see Grant's intense gaze fixed on me. He mouthed silently, "I'llcall you," before walking towards the car, leaving me with my tumultuous mess of emotions and Leon’s waggling eyebrows.

GRANT

Iadjusted my dress coat, the closest thing to a suit, feeling the smooth silk inner lining the elevator climbed. The morning's headline flashed through my mind: "Billionaire Playboy's Secret Affair: Unveiling the Mystery Behind His Latest Flame." For someone new to the spotlight, Jane Rider had played her hand to perfection.

“You serious?” Konrad asked me, adjusting his tie in the reflection of the elevator doors. “The agency set you up with a bear?”

I shrugged, aiming for casual indifference. "Why not? Father set it up, after all. She had no idea either. That’s what you get for hiring a human matchmaker.”

The elevator hummed softly, filling the silence between us.

“But you’re still seeing her?”

“You weren’t there, Konrad. Father was extremely clear. I needed to go on the date, charm whatever woman was unlucky enough to be paired with me, and stick with herat leastuntil the gala.”

“Yeah, there’s stick with her and then there’s making out with her in front of everyone in Pine River. There are pictures.”

I rolled my eyes. “There arealwayspictures.”

"Relax, Konrad. I'm just following orders, remember? Father wanted this match. I'm simply... embracing the opportunity."

Konrad folded his arms, giving me a glare that could’ve sat perfectly on our father’s face. "Just be careful. You're playing with fire, and I won't always be there to put out the flames."

The elevator dinged, doors sliding open to reveal the executive floor.

"Who says I want the flames put out?"

The satisfaction of leaving Konrad speechless was short-lived. As I rounded the corner to the reception area, I saw Mara waiting, her posture rigid and eyes blazing.

“You,” she said, hopping down from the desk and stalking toward us. Her petite frame was always elevated by a pair of sky-high stilettos, which she not only used to add height but also as a secret weapon. She could throw one like a ninja star if the situation called for it. Mara proved looks could kill and she reveled in it. “Father’s livid.”

“He doesn’t have a leg to stand on. And that’s what’s going to make him mad, because he’s shot himself in the foot. Plus, now that everyone knows we’re dating, I can’t break up with her, which means I’m going to be bringing a bear to the gala, and he won’t be able to say a word.”

Konrad was unbuttoned enough to grin. Some people who didn’t know him thought my brother didn’t have a sense of humor, but that was because he kept everything close to his vest. Father’s training was thorough enough that the humor had to live deep down—but that didn’t mean it wasn’t there.

For a moment, I faltered. Mara's intensity always had a way of catching me off guard. Unlike Konrad's calculated concerns, her worry came from a place of fierce protectiveness.

"It's just a date, Mara," I said, keeping my tone light. "Not exactly grounds for an inquisition."

“She’s not some girl from a couple states over who we can all forget about. This is going to be messy.”

“You're missing a key detail here," I said, relishing the moment. "Father set this whole thing up himself."

Mara's brow furrowed. "What?"

"Oh yes, dear sister. Our esteemed father forced me to use a matchmaker. I had no intention of dating a bear, but here we are." I spread my arms wide. "I'm just playing the hand I've been dealt."

“Actually,” Konrad cut in, “it’s true. The date was set up by Victory Matchmaking. The fact that she’s a bear was entirely coincidental.” He fired me a glare. “The kiss, on the other hand, was?—”

“Genius,” I said. “Now he can’t tell me to break up with her.”

“What about her?” Mara looked about three seconds away from puncturing a hole through my foot. “Is she happy to be used as a pawn in some kind of power play because you’re just pissed you’re not going to be alpha?”

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