Page 6 of Marked By The Grouchy Grizzly

“Is that your sister?” I ask Magnus, because I’m curious like that. They have to be related to have those same piercing jade-green eyes.

“Yes, that’s my sister Victoria,” Magnus says, smiling, “and our brother Julian is around here somewhere.”

“That’s so cool,” Carly says, running her hand over the old oak counter. “My brother is an accountant. He’s so lame.”

An Incubus song is playing through the speakers in the ceiling as Magnus checks our reservation on the computer. “Who is getting the lily?”

I raise my hand. “That’s me.”

“Then you’ll be with Victoria once she’s done over there,” he says. “It shouldn’t be much longer. And I have a koi fish and a quote.”

“Quote,” Carly says, raising her hand.

“Koi fish,” Himari says, smiling wide.

“Julian specializes in animals,” Magnus says to Himari, “so, you’ll go with him. I’ll do the quote.”

He opens the window beside the cash and sticks his head out. “Julian!” he bellows into the outdoors. “You’re up!”

“Wish me luck,” Carly says as she skips over to Magnus’ station and hops into the big leather chair.

I swallow hard. This is real. This is happening.

Permanent choices being made in real time.

There’s no backing out now.

“So, what are we writing?” Magnus asks as he pulls up the stool beside Carly and puts on some black latex gloves.

My neck starts tingling when I hear the back door slam shut. It sounds like one of those old screen doors with an overly aggressive spring.

I touch the spot on my neck under my ear, wondering why it’s doing that. It feels like it’s buzzing.

“Oh,” I whisper when Julian walks in. He’s built like his brother, but shorter and stronger if that’s possible. He’s all muscle, but he’s not ripped like the sleaze-bag in the chair. He’s got a layer over it that looks perfect for snuggling up on the couch.

His arms are tattooed from the top of his wrists to under the tight sleeves of his white T-shirt, covering every inch of his thick muscular arms. He’s wearing a black apron like his brother and jeans that show off his muscular legs.

He’s hot.Reallyhot.

My breath quickens as I watch him clearing his throat. His jaw is clenched tight and his bright green eyes are on the ground like he’s angry about something. He’s intimidating. He looks mean but I can feel in my soul that he’s not. If he was an actor, he could play prison bully number one.

He grunts and clears his throat as he stomps over to his station, not even glancing at us. My eyes are locked on him as he grabs a full glass of water and downs all of it, making rough sounds in his throat as he drinks.

“Julian,” Magnus says to him, “the nice lady over there would like a koi fish on her back shoulder.”

His green eyes snap over to us, but they narrow on me.

I feel the intensity of his gaze gripping me like steel.

I can’t breathe as we stare at each other.

The world narrows to just him.

Julian.

His name vibrates in my chest, settling into some deep, secret part of me that I didn’t know existed until this moment. The part is ripped open now, the contents flooding through me, taking over. My pulse stumbles, then speeds up, heat rushing over my skin like a wildfire.

The demanding spot on my neck tingles so much I have to touch it and when I do, his nostrils flare. He inhales deeply, watching me the entire time.

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