Page 5 of Bear Boss’s Mate (Pleasantville Shifter #1)

AUSTIN SAT AT HIS DESK , looking over paperwork when there was a knock at the door.

Bern peered in seconds later. “Hi. Do you have a sec?”

Austin nodded, motioning for him to come in. Bern entered and took a seat in one of the black leather armchairs in front of Austin’s desk. His face was somber.

“What’s up?” asked Austin, furrowing his brow.

Bern’s lips were pressed into a frown. “I just met up with Jake Braeden.”

“How is he?” asked Austin.

Jake was a Pleasantville police officer and also a shifter. The three men had been friends all their lives.

“He’s doing well, but he wanted to give us a heads up about some attacks on women here in town.”

Austin sat forward. “Do they know who’s behind them?”

“Witnesses say it’s a group of shifter haters. Human men. Women who are dating shifters are being targeted.”

Austin shook his head, pursing his lips. “Not good news. What are the police doing about it? Are there any suspects?”

Bern shrugged. He put one ankle over his opposite knee as he spoke. “They have a few suspects. The problem is that they don’t know if it’s an organized gang or just a couple of disgruntled boyfriends that have gotten together. There have been at least four attacks over the last few weeks.”

Austin’s brows moved up and down. Pleasantville was a town of over seven thousand people, with a considerable shifter population.

It was the last place Austin would have expected hate crimes against shifters. In the past, there had been issues with rogue werewolves or cougars. This was something new, and it was cause for concern.

Bern ran a hand through his hair and continued. “The news is being kept low-key, for now. The shifter community is being told because we need to get a handle on this as soon as possible. There is concern that women could end up dead, not just attacked.”

“Did he say anything about having volunteers out looking for these idiots?”

“Yes. I told Jake to count us in. He said he would be in touch about doing patrols with other shifters,” said Bern.

Austin let out a laugh and shook his head.

Bern’s brows raised. “What’s funny?”

Austin scoffed. “I finally find the one woman that I think is worth my time and I can’t ask her out, just in case she gets attacked. I think she has a boyfriend, but I wasn’t going to let that small detail put me off forever.” A tiny smirk crossed his lips.

“Yeah? Who is this woman? Do I know her?” asked Bern.

Austin nodded. “That sexy new accountant you hired a few weeks back.”

Bern grinned. “She’s got some nice curves. She’s a bit on the quiet side, though. I like my women more extroverted.”

Austin laughed. “You mean mouthy. The last woman you dated was mouthy Bern. Don’t get me wrong, she was hot. I just didn’t see what you saw in her.”

Bern belly laughed. His eyes lit up with mischief. “Yeah, I guess she was. Doesn’t matter. She wasn’t my mate, anyway. So, back to Marcy. What are you waiting for? Why haven’t you asked her out?” Bern gestured with his hand toward Austin.

Austin stroked his chin. “Like I said, I think she’s in a relationship, and I wanted to give her some time to settle in here first.”

Bern’s brows drew together. “What makes you think she is seeing someone?”

“I don’t know, just figured she might be. How is she doing at her job, anyway?” Austin changed the subject.

He knew Bern got along well with Marcy, and hoped he might shed some light on her situation. But he didn’t want to let on how much he was itching to get close to the beauty.

Bern was more laid back than he was and people shared information with him they would not with Austin. His friend gave him a knowing grin and put his hands on his thighs, sitting up straight in the chair.

“She’s great. In fact, she has that department running better than I could have hoped.

All the work is up to date. She’s very good at what she does, and I can see she likes the job.

She’s an intelligent, hardworking woman.

I have a lot of respect for her. Especially after everything she’s been through. ”

Now Austin was curious. “What do you mean?” He felt a sudden protectiveness toward Marcy.

Bern sighed. “She had to leave her last job because of a problem with someone she dated there. Her boss was not very supportive, and it sounds to me like she was treated pretty poorly overall. She didn’t tell me a lot, but I overheard her talking to Darla about it.”

“She was honest in her interview and said to me she’d been out of work for a month before we hired her. I liked her right away, and I could see she was more than qualified. It isn’t easy finding employees like that, especially here in town.”

“Now that I know more about her, I’m glad we hired her.

I know she’s a bit introverted and shy, but she’s coming out of her shell more every day.

Though Darla has commented that she stays in her office all day.

Even eats her lunch there. I don’t honestly think she’s involved with anyone,” he explained.

Austin’s lips curled. I think it’s time to get to know this new employee.

Bern stood and looked at his friend. His face became serious. “Just be careful with her, Austin. Don’t ask her out if you just want a roll in the sack. I don’t want to lose one of our best employees.”

It was nearing five o’clock and Austin would soon be leaving for the day. Another week was nearly over, and he still hadn’t approached Marcy to ask her out.

Knowing that women were being attacked for dating shifters, he did not want to put her at risk. He hoped they’d put a stop to the attacks sooner rather than later.

Austin brought a hand to the back of his neck, rubbing it. He couldn’t bear the thought of finding his mate, only to have her be subjected to the danger of attack. A war waged in him over whether to approach her.

He wanted his mate. Now. But he didn’t want to risk their future together. Or her safety.

His attraction to Marcy did nothing but remind him how long he’d been without female companionship. It had been quite a while since he’d slept with any woman. Not since deciding he wanted his mate, instead of mindless sex that led nowhere.

It was getting harder and harder to keep himself and his inner bear distracted. He had to release some of the pressure that was building inside him, and soon.

At thirty-three, he was ready to commit to the right person. But there had to be chemistry there for both him and his inner bear. Preferably his fated mate.

Sheila wasn’t his type, even though she threw herself at him all the time. She was tall and slender, with no real substance to her.

Women like Sheila used sex as a means of control and to find a rich husband. He didn’t want any kind of future with her. Besides, he liked women with meat on their bones and plenty of curves.

He was certain Marcy was the woman he’d been waiting for. His bear thought so, too. Since bear shifters had multiple births from one pregnancy, his mate had to be sturdy enough to handle it. Marcy was that mate.

His mind drifted to more lustful thoughts about Marcy and how she might respond to his touch.

He longed to hear her scream out his name as he pleasured her over and over.

There was a knock at the door, pulling Austin from his thoughts.

He adjusted his trousers, waiting a moment for his erection to subside before answering.

He cleared his throat. “Come in.”

The door opened, and Marcy stood staring back at him, wearing a sweet smile. Her big blue eyes sparkled as she spoke. He could see she was out of breath. She had a file folder in her hand. “Sorry to bother you. I have some papers for you to sign.”

His office was on the top floor of their building, and he tended to not venture down to her department very often. So far, he’d only seen her at the Monday meetings.

According to Bern, the staff that she was overseeing seemed quite fond of her and spoke highly of her and her work ethic. She’d spoken up at this week’s meeting, updating everyone about her department, but she’d barely made eye contact with him.

He felt sure she fitted in well, but was still unsure of him .

Seeing her standing in the doorway of his office, all he wanted was to spend time with her. Alone.

His throat was dry at the thought of pleasuring her until she screamed his name in ecstasy. He wondered if she’d be open to the idea of a date. Her now familiar scent of vanilla and cinnamon wafted in his direction, leaving parts of him and his inner bear standing to attention.

“Come on in and close the door,” he said as his eyes slipped to her heaving chest and back to her face in one quick movement. Why is she breathing so fast? The rise and fall of her ample bosom made his throat dry. He bit his bottom lip, stifling a moan.

Marcy didn’t notice his gaze because she was looking down at the file in her hand. She continued to stand half in and half out of the office doorway.

She looked flustered herself. A blush rose in her cheeks as her eyes slid up to meet his. “You don’t have to be afraid of me,” he teased.

“I’m not,” she whispered, looking at him through thick lashes. She walked over to his desk and passed him the folder.

He inhaled and motioned to her. “Have a seat. I’ll sign these for you now.”

Marcy fidgeted after popping the file into his hand. “I can leave them here. I’m sure you want to get home.” She took a step back and rubbed her hands down her sides.

“I’m in no rush, but if you have to get home to your boyfriend, I understand. I’ll put them on your desk when I’m done,” said Austin. He hoped she’d settle the boyfriend issue once and for all.

She flinched when he mentioned her boyfriend. Was that fear? He studied her face while forcing his bear to be quiet.

“I live alone and I’m not seeing anyone,” she blurted, looking stunned.

“Oh? I thought. On your first day here, the flowers—”

“They were from a guy I hung out with a couple of times,” she interrupted, rolling her eyes.

“I stopped going out with him months ago. The situation’s complicated.

” Looking uncomfortable, she smoothed some hair off her cheek with one hand and let out a sigh.

Austin pushed down the urge to go to her and wrap his arms around her.

His face lit up with a close-lipped smile, and he wondered if she realized how attracted he was to her. Marcy began to bite her lip and twirled a strand of stray hair between her fingertips. Their eyes locked. He watched as she blushed and looked away.

She wasn’t throwing herself at him like some other women did. In fact, he was sure she’d been avoiding him.

He was intrigued.

He opened the file folder and began signing the papers. There was a long pause before he spoke. He couldn’t help himself. “So, you’re single?”

“Uhm. Yes,” she said.

Austin stopped writing and made eye contact with her. “In that case, I would like to take you out sometime.”

Her lips parted, and she inhaled sharply. “Really? Isn’t there a rule about dating employees?” She continued to twist her hair with her fingers.

Her hands were shaking, and Austin put it down to a personality quirk. Then he remembered what Bern had told him about her. He hoped she’d give him a chance for them to get to know one another.

Smoothing his hand along his jaw, he let out a laugh. “Not a rule that I’m aware of, and I’m the CEO. It’s just a date. If you say no, you won’t lose your job, I promise.”

She chuckled and tilted her head. Now she was studying him.

He held her gaze. “So?” he asked.

She thought for a moment longer, then shrugged. “Okay. Yes.”

He thought he saw a glimmer of something in her eyes. Was that hesitation? Worry? He meant to find out all he could about Marcy Wright.

She’d come into his life for a reason, and something told him she was worth getting to know.