Page 23 of Claimed By the Hunter

He stood in front of her with his hands on his hips and a glower on his face as she got dressed.

“I don’t think you should go to work today, Mate. Yesterday was traumatic for you. I think you should rest today.”

Nicole almost snorted as she buttoned her shirt. He’d said the same thing several times that morning, but she was determined to work.

“I don’t want to lay in bed all day. Going to the bakery will keep my mind off things, and I’ll have the girls with me.”

“I understand that, but…”

She wrapped her arms around his waist and set her chin on his chest so she could look into his face. “Babe, how about if I promise to call you if I get tired. How’s that?”

He sighed and wrapped his arm around her. “I think I’m going to have to let you go…”

Nicole stepped back and raised her brow. “Let?” He better learn quickly that he could get away with only so much bossing her around before she rebelled.

“It’s my job to protect you, Mate. And I can’t do that if you don’t listen to me.”

“Oh, I’ll listen.”

He grunted. “When you want to.”

She grinned. He was starting to understand her, making her love him even more.

“Fine, let’s go,” Hunter said, pulling her after him.

Her grin grew as she listened to him mumble to himself about bratty mates.

She didn’t know if she should warn him that he hadn’t seen her real bratty side yet. No, she thought it best to surprise him when it happened.

Chapter Fourteen

Hunter gritted his teeth when he walked out of the bakery after dropping Nicole off. He had to fight himself to keep from snatching her up and going back home, but he caught a look in her eyes that warned him he’d have a huge fight on his hands if he tried.

Who knew it would be so hard to have a mate? He snorted. He saw the way Brenna and Simone pushed their mates and the frustration on his brother’s and friends’ faces. It helped to know he wasn’t alone. The thought of the three women alone for most of the day still bothered him, and he needed to talk to his brother about ideas.

He saw Roman walk into the building next door and followed. His eyes widened when he walked in and saw Blake’s progress on the consignment store he opened a few months before. There were displays everywhere with different items the townspeople made to sell. It was a great idea because it gave them extra money and let them do the crafts they enjoyed more.

“Hey, we’re back here,” Blake called out.

“Hell, it hasn’t been long since I’ve been in here. You’ve made a hell of a lot of progress,” Hunter said.

“Yeah. The people around here flocked when they heard about this place. I’ve got more inventory than I can have on the floor now. I’m trying to come up with ideas on how to make space to showcase these things. Most all of them are works of art,” Blake said.

Roman took a drink from his coffee cup as he leaned against the counter in the back room. “If you can’t go out, go up.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Hunter asked as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

“Make shelving that goes up the walls and maybe a few in the middle. That way, people can see it, and you’re there to get it down if they want to look closer.”

Hunter’s eyebrows rose. “When did you become an interior decorator, brother?”

“The same day I’ll flatten your face,” Roman said.

Blake laughed, and Hunter grinned.

“He’s right,” Blake said. “It’s a great idea.”

“I can help build the shelves this afternoon,” Hunter said.

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