Page 39 of Bear In A Bookstore
“The locals are curious about you. I’m sure you can understand.”
She didn’t understand what prompted people to talk so shamelessly about someone else’s terrible situation, but if she’d learned anything from researching psychology for her thrillers, it’s that humans loved to roll around on other people’s trauma. Gossip was lifeblood.
Talk was bound to happen sooner than later. She’d have preferred it occurred behind her back when she was at home behind closed doors.
He pulled out a chair for her and indicated that she should sit. She looked around for Desi but didn’t spot him.
“Actually, thank you Mr. Mitchell, but I think I’ll be going.”
“Why? Because of a little gossip?”
His voice was light, but it sure got her attention. How dare he? He put up a hand in placation. “What I mean is, gossip is bound to follow you wherever you go. Why let it deter you from a perfectly good buffet?”
His smile deepened, reaching his eyes, which is something she suspected didn’t happen all that often. Rowan Mitchell was incredibly handsome for his age, but hardened, his face weathered as if he’d spent his entire life outdoors. This was a man who didn’t take shit from anyone and smiling, really smiling, probably took some effort.
He had a point. She couldn’t run away anytime someone brought up her past, right? Her therapists had said the same thing. Then again, her therapist had said a lot of things that hadn’t helped with her anxiety and social aversion.
“I’m afraid my appetite has left the building.”
“How about a drink, then?”
“I’m going to use the ladies’ room. I’ll be right back.”
He looked as if he didn’t believe her, and honestly, she didn’t know if she would be back. But she did need a minute, even if it was to stand outside and feel sorry for herself for a few minutes. She stepped onto the sprawling porch surrounded by a curtain of heavy rainfall. The air had chilled, bringing gooseflesh to her arms and legs. Wrapping her thin silk shawl around herself, she closed her eyes and took a breath of cool, damp air. It instantly soothed her even as it chilled her clear through.
Just then, someone gripped her wrist. She opened her eyes and gasped.
“We need to talk.” Jonathon Baker glared at her fiercely. “Before this nonsense goes any further.”
Kora pulled back from him, but he wouldn’t release her.
“Let go.”
“Listen to me.”
She jerked again. “I will not. Let. Go.”
Breath strangled in her throat. Tremors of fear racked through her limbs. Her brain screamed at her to fight back, but she stalled, focused on the pressure of his hand on her arm. His fingers squeezed one by one, the pads of each pressing into the tender flesh beneath her wrist. The casket of fear that paralyzed her cracked as she realized his grip was passive-aggressive in its laxity. He wasn’t really hanging on, just acting like a tough guy to get her attention.
Focus returned in a rush. He wasn’t bigger than her. She should be able to dislodge him with a well-placed heel to his groin. But there was something otherworldly in his eyes, as if he wasn’t completely human.
He was a shifter!
It hadn’t dawned on her before. He was small compared to Desi. It hadn’t occurred to her that a man his size was capable of transforming. She’d better move before he did.
Kora snaked out a hand and grabbed Baker by the base of the throat, pinching over his Adam’s apple and pressing her thumb hard against it. He sputtered and grabbed at her hand with both of his. His body suddenly flew backward. Kora gasped, realizing Desi had the man by the back of the neck. He laid him out on the ground and glared down at him. Tension snapped between the two men. Baker clearly had the disadvantage and his red, fury-filled face said he knew it.
“Get up before you cause a scene,” Desi ground out.
Thunder cracked the sky, shaking the porch.
The smaller man rubbed at the base of his throat as he pushed to his feet and stood warily as if expecting Desi to attack. And oh, did Desi look like he might. His body was staged and coiled, his presence primally violent like a lion waiting to be challenged so it had an excuse to unleash. She recalled the challenge tap he’d given her with his fake sword.
She almost hoped Baker gave him a tap, but also, she wasn’t sure it was a scene she wanted to witness.
Desi sliced a hand at the front doors. “Inside, Baker. We’re going to have a little chat.”
“The hell we are.”
