Page 6 of Bear Boss’s Mate (Pleasantville Shifter #1)

A MONTH WENT BY QUICKLY at Marcy’s new job, it had turned out to be a perfect fit for her. Her staff seemed to like her, and she was forming work friendships that made going in each day a lot more rewarding.

Her life outside of work hadn’t changed at all, however. Mick was still taunting her regularly. He’d even taken to parking outside her building and buzzing her apartment.

Marcy told herself she would never have a happy-ever-after. She also knew she was letting fear rule her life. There was constant worry about things that might happen, and this seemed to rule her decisions now.

Everything in her life was tainted by Mick. A man she couldn’t even call an ex because they’d not been anything to one another.

The only good thing about Mick-the-dick coming into her life was that because of him, she had a great job now. She just wished that he’d leave her alone to live her life. Instead, he was still watching her every move.

Obsessed with her in the worst way possible. She shuddered at the very thought of him.

Though, for the last month, there was one spark of light in her life. And one person who occupied her thoughts the most. One who brought a grin to her face every time.

Austin.

The man’s presence turned her into a puddle each time she saw him. Leaving her unable to speak without falling over her words.

Marcy always looked forward to seeing him and the way he looked at her with the most intense, soulful eyes. His smile was always genuine and warm. The mere sight of him brought joy into her otherwise sad and lonely life.

He had approached her after a couple of meetings and asked about how things were going.

She usually became lost for words and embarrassed by her reaction toward him.

Each time, her palms would sweat and her body would tingle in his presence.

His voice sent sensual waves through her when he spoke.

Her core ached the longer she was near him.

Her body’s reaction to him made no sense, and it only confused things more.

Marcy barely knew the man, but there was an unexplained magnetic draw to him.

It was clear there was something special about him.

More than the fact he was a handsome shifter.

She’d never experienced these sensations and desires for anyone else in her life.

She wasn’t sure if he felt the same way about her. Regardless, she thought he was pretty damn amazing.

The problem was that she feared what would happen if she got involved with anyone.

As long as Mick was around, her happiness would have to be shelved. Not that she believed she had a hope in hell of ending up with Austin.

It was Austin’s job to sign things that weren’t done electronically, and she’d delayed going to his office for as long as possible. She reasoned that her lack of a romantic life fed into her less than professional feelings toward him.

It was important to Marcy that she avoid making a fool of herself around him. This meant having minimal contact with Austin. At least until she got her feelings for him under control.

But she could no longer put off going to see him, and knew she needed to deal with Austin in person if she was going to do her job. It was near the end of the work day when she’d worked up the courage to go to his office to get some papers signed.

Marcy worried that if she was alone with Austin, she would lose control of her barely restrained desire for him and beg him to take her right there in his office. The amused smirk he often wore when he saw her made her wonder if he knew how much she wanted him.

Austin almost always seemed to study her during their interactions. It was as though he was looking into her very heart. This puzzled her and also excited her. She had no idea what he was really like, of course.

She preferred it that way right now. Things were complicated enough in her personal life. Perhaps her lust for him would curb the longer she worked at the company?

She chuckled at herself. Her active imagination filled in the more intimate details about Austin when she was lying in bed alone at night. Her body heated when an image of a naked Austin entered her mind. The very idea of being with him left her entire body aching with need.

Yeah. You’ve really got the whole lust thing under control, Marcy.

Sighing, she picked up a file folder off her desk and headed up the flight of stairs to Austin’s office.

By the time she reached his floor, she was breathing heavily from taking the stairs. Her anxiety level was through the roof as Marcy walked toward his office door.

Her negative self-talk made everything so much worse these days. Please don’t let me act stupid.

Part of her doubted he was attracted to her, anyway. She walked toward his office door, secretly hoping he had left for the day. That way, she could leave the file on his desk with a note.

She knocked on his door and waited.

Her heart jumped into her throat when he responded in a husky tone.

She was still out of breath and hot from the jaunt up the flight of stairs. Biting her lip for a moment, she entered his office.

Her cheeks burned from the way he looked at her when she stood in the doorway.

By the time she left his office, she was shaking her head in shock. He asked me out. On a date. What am I going to do now?

When she’d met Austin on her first day of work, the thought never crossed her mind that he would ever ask her out.

In fact, it was the last thing she would have thought might happen.