Page 1 of Combust
Chapter One - Hair of the Dog
Bearpaw Ridge, ID
Friday, October 31
“Maggie, hold on a sec. We need to talk,” Andrew Brunborn said.
She was halfway out of her chair, ready to hit the dance floor. The band, Bearly Able to Sing, which featured her cousin Rob as its lead singer, was striking the opening chords of a popular country song.
Halloween at the Hair of the Dog was always fun. Also, HD, as it was known, was Bearpaw Ridge’s only real nightclub, so if you wanted to go dancing, this was it.
“Sure.” With a spurt of excitement, Maggie resumed her seat.
Out on the dance floor, a group of her friends and cousins were already forming up in a line dance. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Rob’s twin sister Malia giving her a thumbs-up.
She returned her attention to Andrew. He was a tall and solidly built bear shifter, clean-shaven with short, dark golden hair, lightly-tanned skin, and a cute smile. His handsome features now wore a serious expression.
Her heart began pounding in anticipation, and flutters of excitement stirred in her gut.
Is he going to agree to the arranged mating? Or at least ask me for a second date?
All throughout dinner, Andrew had been well-spoken, polite, attentive, and best of all, Maggie’s bear hadn’t objected to him.
Maybe,justmaybe, after a year of nothing but first dates, ShiftMatch’s arranged mating service had finally done the trick for her!
Andrew’s profile had appeared a perfect match online. And she had enjoyed talking to him over dinner. He came across as a nice, caring person.
Never mind that her human half hadn’t felt much of a spark. She told herself that the important thing was that their backgrounds were very compatible and that her bear half was okay with him.
Bad enough that the town’s resident matchmaker had been forced to post a profile with the online shifter dating service. But what else could she do when she lived in a small town where most of the young, single, male shifters were related to her?
And Andrew had been different from her other dates. They’d been a parade of male shifters who’d sounded like good prospects online, but who’d been total duds in person.
So what if she and Andrew weren’t fated mates like Mom and Dad or her aunts and uncles? They might still have the foundation for a successful mating.
It would take a little extra work, that was all. Maggie pushed down a tendril of wistful regret, and told herself that she’d always enjoyed a challenge.
After all, arranged matings had been part of the shifter way of life for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years. Their bears would help their human halves work things out.
“Look,” Andrew began. “I want you to know that you’re, uh, really pretty. And nice.”
Dread squeezed Maggie’s chest at his words. This didn’t sound like the lead-up to a mating proposal. Or even a second date.
Her fears were confirmed an instant later, as Andrew continued, “But, uh, my bear just isn’t feeling it. If you know what I mean?”
Dammit, she thought.Still cursed.
She forced herself to nod. This was the part where she was supposed to smile and tell him that it had been nice to meet him, and to thank him for traveling all the way from Spokane.
Frustration welled up inside her.What am I doing wrong?
She opened her mouth, intending to say all the polite words. But before she could stop herself, blurted, “Why? What’swrongwith me?”
Oh, no!Horror flooded her. But it was too late.I’m so pathetic!
Andrew gave her a long, level look. Then he pursed his lips. “Youreallywant to know?”
Even over the deafening music, she heard doubt in his voice.
