Page 10 of Bear Boss’s Mate (Pleasantville Shifter #1)

He clenched and released his fists a couple of times before realizing she was watching him. His brow furrowed. She frowned with guilt at drawing him into her drama.

Austin smoothed one hand through his hair and sighed.

“I’m sorry to call you in such a panic. I didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t mean to bring you into my problems,” Marcy piped, putting her hands out to her sides and shrugging.

Austin raised his brows and grinned. “I’m glad you did.” He gave her a quick once over. His face lit up. “You look stunning, by the way.”

Marcy blushed. “Thank you.”

Standing in the middle of her living room, she began to fidget with her hands. Austin checked his watch. “We should go now if we’re going to make our reservation. Are you sure you’re still up to going out?” He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and peered into her eyes.

Marcy was touched by the tenderness his eyes reflected. “I’m okay to go. Besides, I’ve been looking forward to it.”

She’d spent a couple of hours preparing for their date and didn’t want to postpone it. Especially now that she’d seen another side to him. No one had ever come to her defense before. Ever. She beamed a toothy grin.

“So have I,” he said, as the corners of his lips curled.

THE RESTAURANT WAS a lot fancier than any Marcy had ever been to in the past. When they arrived, the host welcomed them and sat them at an intimate corner table away from the windows.

Once she and Austin had a couple of glasses of wine and ordered their food, both of them began to open up more with one another. As she nibbled at her first course of butternut squash ravioli, Austin asked her questions about her life.

“Have you always lived in Pleasantville?” he asked, digging into his own plate of food.

“I’m from out west. Washington State, actually. I moved to Pleasantville six years ago after university. I can’t imagine living anywhere else now. I enjoy it here. I’m a small-town girl originally, so it’s the lifestyle I prefer. What about you?” she asked, taking a sip of her wine.

He grinned from ear to ear. “Born and raised in Pleasantville. My family goes back several generations in this area. Most bear shifters tend to stay close to their clans. Bern and I have known each other since we were cubs.”

Marcy tilted her head. “I know little about shifters. I never met any when I was growing up. What’s it like?” she played with the stem of her wineglass, stroking it from top to bottom with one finger.

Austin glanced at her hand movement and swallowed hard. Marcy stopped what she was doing and put her hand on her lap while a tinge of pink colored her cheeks. Austin smirked before taking a drink of wine.

“What’s what like? Shifting or being a bear?”

“Both. Does it hurt?” She winced at the thought.

“A bit. The first time I shifted, it hurt like hell. After a while, you don’t notice it so much. My bear’s side is just another part of me. I was born like this, so I can’t compare it to anything else. Does it scare you? The fact that I am a bear shifter?” He eyed her.

Marcy finished her first course and put her fork down. She dabbed her lips with the napkin. “No. Not at all. I find you... I mean, it’s fascinating.” She studied Austin for a moment before asking, “Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?”

“Go ahead.” His lips curled. He took another fork-full of pasta, clearing his plate for the next course.

Marcy twisted her mouth up in one corner, then asked, “Do you date a lot of human women? Or do you mostly date other shifters... like you?” She took a sip of wine, and Austin topped up her glass again.

“There aren’t many single female bear shifters left in our colony here. In the past, I’ve dated only human women.”

Marcy took another sip of her drink. “Have you dated anyone else from work?”

Austin laughed and glanced down for a moment. She thought she’d heard his cell phone buzzing. They both ignored it.

Austin looked back at her with a smile. “You’re referring to Sheila. And the answer is no. I haven’t dated her. She just refuses to take no for an answer.”

“Sounds a bit like Mick.” She chuckled.

With an intense gaze, Austin asked, “can I ask you a personal question?”

She smoothed her hair. “Of course.”

“What happened with Mick?”

Marcy shifted uncomfortably in her seat and began running her fingers over the smooth stem of her wineglass once again. The liquid courage was working. She wasn’t sure how much she wanted to reveal to him.

After pausing a moment, she settled on telling him the truth.

“We hung out a couple of months ago. I only went out with him a handful of times. I never wanted to go out with him in the first place, to be honest. He bugged me until I gave in. Boy, do I regret it. He became possessive right away. It got so I couldn’t talk to another guy at work. ” She cleared her throat, pausing.

“When I ended our friendship, he didn’t take it well.

Then one night, he hit me. No one had ever done that.

I mean I dated jerks before, but that was not something I was equipped to handle.

We worked together and my boss blamed me for the way Mick treated me.

I quit my job so I wouldn’t have to see him every day.

Mick didn’t get the memo because he kept harassing me.

He believes we had something we didn’t. I couldn’t bear to have him touch me.

But he acts like I am his property. I hate him.

” Her eyes burned with tears, and she looked down at her plate.

“I’m sorry.” Austin narrowed his eyes. A muscle in his jaw twitched, and he shook his head.

Marcy continued. She couldn’t stop herself once she began explaining. It felt good to talk to someone else about it besides her friend Amara.

“Don’t be sorry. Without Mick, I wouldn’t have found you. I mean, I love my job with your company. It’s the best job I’ve ever had. I just wish he’d move on.” She pursed her lips, hoping he hadn’t noticed her slip-up.

“It’s been two months, and he won’t leave me alone.

The flowers he sent me were a taunt to say that he knows where I work.

He threatens me repeatedly, and as you saw tonight he’s got a real problem with shifters.

He said he’ll kill me if I date one. Then again, he told me he didn’t want me going out with anyone else, ever.

I haven’t been on a date since I left my old job. ” She shrugged.

“I hope you don’t think I’m whining. I’m not. I manage okay on my own.” Marcy grimaced and shrank in her seat.

In truth, she wasn’t so sure she could look after herself if tonight was any indication. But that wasn’t Austin’s problem.

She heaved a sigh. It was pretty clear Austin could take care of himself. Especially after what she had witnessed earlier. What she wasn’t so sure of was whether she would be safe if Mick got her alone.

Austin grinned. “I’m glad you’re happy working for us.” He appeared distracted as the sound of a cell phone buzzed again. “Men who hit women are the worst kind of coward there is. I hope you don’t think all men are like him. I assure you, we’re not.” His eyes met hers.

Marcy nodded. “I know most men aren’t like Mick. But because of him, it’s been hard to get on with my life. He just continues to stalk me. It never seems to end. Tonight was pretty awful, and I am sorry about that.” She pushed some stray hair off her face and placed her hands flat on the table.

Austin’s brow creased. He reached across to touch Marcy’s hand and stroked it. “Tonight was not your fault. I’m glad I was there. If you ever need help, if he bothers you again, please call me. Any time. Day or night. Okay?” Their eyes stayed locked in a long gaze.

Marcy looked away, unsure how to respond. She sipped her wine and looked down at Austin’s hand. His touch was comforting. Heat coursed through her entire body as she glanced back at him to catch him still staring back at her.

The restaurant staff took away their dishes and returned with their next course.

Marcy was silent as she tucked into her salad, enjoying the flavor and the time to gather her thoughts. She’d said more than she had intended and hoped he wouldn’t think badly of her now that all her secrets were out.

She also hoped he might understand her reluctance to date anyone right now.

When she glanced over at Austin, he was staring at his phone, looking annoyed.

“Everything okay?” she asked him, not sure if he wanted to share what was going on.

He looked up with his lips pressed. “Sorry to check my phone. I have it on vibrate, but it has been going off since we sat down. It’s Bern. Apparently, there’s been some vandalism at the office.”

Marcy gasped and her eye’s widened. “What happened?”

Austin rubbed his chin, looking calm as usual. “Someone smashed a window out. The alarm company called Bern when they couldn’t reach me.” He brushed it off with a gesture of his hand, placing his cell phone back in his pocket.

“Has that happened before?” Her stomach roiled with worry over why it had happened.

He shook his head. “No. It’s nothing to worry about. Bern will take care of it right away. I’m sorry I was distracted. I’m all yours now.” The corners of his lips turned up in a delicious grin.

As the dinner continued, Marcy and Austin realized how much they had in common. Both were solitary people that preferred a quieter social life with just a few trustworthy friends around them.

She found herself even more attracted to Austin by the end of the meal. When the bill came and they were ready to leave, she didn’t want the evening to end.

AUSTIN AND MARCY LEFT the restaurant and stepped outside.

The evening temperature had plummeted, and it had turned cold.

Marcy put her arm through his to walk back to his car.

He moved closer, which made her happy. She appreciated the warmth his body seemed to generate, snuggling in tight as they walked.

The glasses of wine left her less inhibited than usual, and she hoped he wouldn’t take her home right away. Austin seemed pensive, and she worried she’d said too much. She opened up to him a lot more than she’d intended.

It surprised her how easy he was to talk to now that they were alone and outside of work. Everything about him filled her with longing.

Austin turned to her when they got to his vehicle and surprised her with a question she had hoped for, but not expected.

“It’s still early. Would you like to come over to my place for a while? I have a nice fireplace. We can keep getting to know each other, maybe share more wine in front of the fire?” He gave her a cheeky grin and she couldn’t help but return it.

She knew she didn’t want the evening to be over yet. “Yes. I would like that.”

They got into the car and headed to his home just ten minutes outside of town. The drive took them along a tree-lined road with houses on one side of it, spaced far apart.

Marcy was comfortable and safe with Austin.

There was none of the usual tension she’d been dealing with off and on over the past few months.

It felt good to relax and have only a sense of anticipation. But would he expect her to sleep with him? What if he did? Would she do it? She couldn’t allow herself to go there right now. It was too soon to be intimate with Austin.

Getting involved with her boss could blow up in her face.

Her thoughts were brought back to the car when they reached his property. Marcy’s face betrayed her surprise with the size and style of his home.

“Your house is beautiful,” she said, looking over at Austin.

“Thank you. It’s big. And quiet. I had it built to my own specifications. I want a big family one day, so I had to build a large house.” He shrugged.

Marcy turned to look back at the house.

Austin was quiet a moment and then asked, “do you see yourself with kids one day?”

Marcy was surprised at the question. “Yes. I do. Several, actually. I come from a large family. It’s nice when you’re growing up, to have a full house.” She walked alongside Austin as he led the way inside.

The house had a wraparound porch and was painted a light color. There was a small stone walkway that led from the garage to the front door. Stepping inside the home, she admired the hardwood floors and modern decor. Her apartment was insignificant in comparison.

Once they were inside, he took her coat and hung it up in a hall closet. He then removed his suit jacket and draped it over a dining chair they passed on the way to the kitchen.

“Do you want something to drink?” he asked as he stood in the massive kitchen.

“Sure. That sounds fine.” Marcy tucked her hair behind her ears and stepped up to the counter.

She couldn’t help imagining living there with him, even if it was something that could never happen. She beamed, glad she’d agreed to go with him.

It’s all the wine, the skeptical voice in her head admonished. Marcy resisted a chuckle. She didn’t need wine to fantasize about Austin. She found herself smiling from ear to ear.

Marcy watched as he took a chilled bottle of Chardonnay from the fridge and poured them each a glass.

Passing one to her, he motioned for her to follow him.