Bunny Bear - Wild Bear 02 Read online

  Nearly fifteen minutes later, the hostess led a man to her table.

  “Michelle Larsen?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m sorry I’m late,” he said, holding out his hand. “I’m Hunter Black.”

  “It’s nice to meet you Mr. Black.”

  He sat down and they spent the entire meal talking about everything but her application. The whole thing seemed like a date, and though she liked him, she really just needed the job.

  Finally, when dessert came, he brought up his business.

  “So, I looked over your application, and everything seems good,” he said. “I’ll still have to get a reference from Gabriel, but I’m assuming that won’t be a problem?”

  “Not at all,” she assured him.

  “Good. The dress code is a tight club logo t-shirt and a short skirt. We’re open every night, so your days off won’t be the same, but I can start you at two dollars more an hour. Chubby girls are rare, so when you find someone who likes you, you flirt. A lot. The idea is to have his wallet empty by the time he goes home. Any problem with that?”

  Yes…

  “No problem at all,” she said, smiling.

  “Good,” he snapped his fingers twice and the waiter ran over with the check.

  He filled the folder with cash and shooed the man away.

  She hated way his demeanor had changed completely when he’d started talking about the job, and she had a feeling he’d just given her a glimpse of how he treated his employees. She wanted to retract her acceptance, but then she remembered Gabe in the bunny suit and the vision strengthened her resolve.

  Who cared if she had to flirt a little bit with a few chubby chasers? She would be making more per hour, and she knew from experience the short skirt would help her tips.

  “Okay,” he said, standing. He held out a business card and she took it. “I’ll call Gabriel tomorrow, and then let you know. If you don’t hear from me by Friday, give me a call.”

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “You’re welcome.”

  He left as soon as he uttered the last word, and instead of feeling elated about the possible job, she felt bereft. Even though they only had a working relationship, the thought of leaving Gabe and never seeing him again, or seeing him in passing with another one of his dates, left a hole in her heart.

  If she could, she’d never go back to the Wild Bear. Instead, she’d disappear and leave without confronting him. Unfortunately the real world didn’t work that way. She had to give him two weeks notice, and allow him the chance to find another waitress to take her place.

  Maybe the new girl would be the one to hold his heart in her hands.

  Don’t think about it! You’re doing the right thing!

  She repeated the words over and over as she slowly walked out of the restaurant. When she reached her car, she took one last look at the forest and saw a large grizzly bear staring at her. He wasn’t roaming or playing like the other bears, and instead of a happy, carefree smile, he looked angry.

  For some reason, his stiff shoulders, combined with the way his forehead bunched, reminded her of Gabe, and a wave of sadness washed over her. Even though the animal was an integral part of a shifter’s entire being, her boss had never let her see him in his other form.

  Of course, she’d never asked, but she could identify most of her friends in their bear forms, and she knew he’d kept that part of himself away from her on purpose.

  The snub was another confirmation she was doing the right thing.

  God, she was so ready for this night to be over.

  She glanced at the bear again, and then pressed the button on her key ring, unlocking the driver’s side door. She slid into the vehicle, turned the key and the engine roared to life.

  The drive home was filled with dread as she realized tomorrow she had to say goodbye to the only man she had ever loved.

  ***

  Gabe ignored the greetings of his staff, Isabelle and Lucky, and unlocked the delivery door that also served as their employee entrance. He walked through the storage room and rounded the bar, waiting for them to follow.

  He drummed his fingers on the counter as the minutes passed and his irritation grew. God damn! A newly mated couple was nauseating.

  When the doors to the Wild Bear opened for business nightly, his cousin and her mate worked their asses off, but in the interim, they utilized every spare moment to steal a kiss, or a touch, or a fuck.

  He shuddered and cleared his throat obnoxiously. He did not want to think about his cousin fucking anyone, even if it was her mate.

  “Sorry,” Izzy said, laughing.

  Her cheeks were flushed, and she giggled like a school girl as she and Lucky walked into the room. For a moment, his bad mood subsided. Her happiness was contagious, and he was grateful Lucky hadn’t given up on her.

  “We have five minutes,” he said. “Open the doors when you’re ready. I’ll be in my office.”

  He walked across the empty dance floor, but his anger grew as he thought about Michelle. By the time he reached his office, his grumpy mood had returned and he slammed the door at the same time the music from the jukebox boomed through the speakers.

  He turned on his computer, but he was too wired to work. The mound of paperwork in his inbox taunted him and he had an intense desire to clear the tabletop with one swift brush of his arm. He pushed his chair back and paced the room, his bear desperate to get out and run.

  He should have never attempted to work tonight, but despite his resolve to ignore her, he had to see Michelle.

  Fuck!

  His hands curled into fists. He wanted to do more than see her. He wanted spank her ass, claim her, and fuck her until she screamed his name. He wanted her pledge of devotion, and her promise to never see Hunter Black, or any other man, again.

  The night before, he’d been running in his bear form near the edge of the forest when he’d spotted Michelle in the window of an upscale restaurant having dinner with fucking Hunter Black. The man was not only a rival to his business, but he was an asshole to the hundredth degree. He treated his employees like shit, and his business practices were less than honest.

  It had taken every ounce of willpower he’d possessed not to shift, walk into the restaurant, and throw her over his shoulder. In that moment, nothing else mattered except saving her and showing her what it felt like to be fucked by a real man.

  He’d eventually reigned in his emotions, and in the end he’d done nothing. Luckily, asshole Hunter had left after dessert, and Michelle had walked out to her car alone. She saw him watching her, but she didn’t cower in fear or spew hate like he’d expected her to. Instead, she watched him with curiosity, until something caused her smile to fade.

  He’d immediately wanted to console her, and the swift change of emotions had pissed him off. As soon as her car exited the parking lot, he’d turned and ran. He’d covered miles of forest until he couldn’t go another step, and then he’d slowly made the trek back home.

  Hours later, he’d arrived on his doorstep exhausted. His muscles ached from pushing so hard, but he’d welcomed the dull, sore, underlying pain. It would keep his mind off of his mate, and his desperate desire to claim her regardless of the consequences.

  Thirty minutes later, after a long, hot, relaxing shower, sleep still eluded him.

  He couldn’t stop thinking about Michelle. She might have seemed vulnerable in those few minutes in the parking lot, but nothing had changed. She still hated shifters, and he was still part grizzly bear.

  In an effort to keep a clear head, he’d allowed himself to latch back onto the anger, and he’d been in a bad mood ever since.

  A soft knock on the door stopped his pacing.

  “Who is it?” he barked.

  “It’s Michelle.”

  He glanced at his watch, surprised to see he’d been roaming around in the tiny room for nearly an hour.

  “Come in.”

  He sat on the corner of his
desk and watched as she entered the room and closed the door behind her. Her movements were measured, and dread filled him.

  “Hi,” she said, clearing her throat.

  “What’s up?” he asked, trying to sound casual.

  Her green eyes looked glossy and she worried her lower lip between her teeth.

  “I…,” she cleared her throat again. “I came to give you my two week notice.”

  “You’re quitting?” he asked, even though he’d already suspected.

  He hadn’t expected the onslaught of emotions, though. Adrenaline coursed through him, and he couldn’t decide whether to fuck her or go beat the shit out of his new rival.

  “Yes,” she said. “I’ve put in several applications, and I think I have a good chance at a few of them.”

  “Why?” he asked, his voice hard and demanding.

  “I don’t know,” she shrugged. “Maybe because I have a ton of experience?”

  “No,” he snapped. “Why are you quitting?”

  “Oh…,” she cleared her throat again. “Because… Well, there’s really no specific reason. I just think it’s time for a change.”

  She was lying, and his anger escalated.

  “And that change involves Hunter Black?” he snapped.

  “Maybe,” she replied. “Did he call you?”

  “Not yet,” he smirked. “Is he planning to?”

  “I believe so.”

  “Oh, so it’s not an automatic offer after dinner and a fuck?”

  “Excuse me?” She glared at him, and once again he found himself smitten with her fiery attitude. He knew he should shut up, but he was past the point of stopping the inevitable train wreck.

  “Hunter Black is notorious for fucking his employees, both literally and figuratively. He throws his money around, makes an offer they can’t refuse and then fucks them into believing they mean something to him. As soon as you sign the papers, he’ll dump you and move on to the next girl.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” she retorted.

  “Right,” he forced out a laugh. “I’ve been in this business long enough to know how Hunter Black works. He’s using you, and you’re letting him.”

  “Not that it’s any of your business, but I didn’t sleep with him—”

  “Oh, so the fuck fest didn’t begin yet?” he laughed dryly. “Well, don’t worry, sweetheart, you’ll get your turn.”

  That did it. She took a step closer, and this time she didn’t back down.

  “Fuck you, Gabriel Turner,” she yelled. “What I do with my life is not your concern. I’d quit tonight if I didn’t need the money, but you and I both know that I do, so who’s fucking me now? I’ll stay with you two weeks, and then I’m gone. You’d better use the time wisely, lover boy, because Tanya will hate you if you hire someone completely incompetent.”

  She stormed out of his office, slamming the door behind her. The urge to roar swamped him, but he didn’t want to cause a scene, so he released his emotions by punching his hand through the wall. The drywall collapsed easily under his assault, but he barely dented the solid wood stud.

  Shifters were stronger, healed faster, and lived longer than humans, but they could still be hurt or killed. He was surprised his act of aggression didn’t end in several broken bones, but he could easily see the bruises and swelling forming.

  Since when did he hit walls to deal with anger? Or lash out at the people he loved? Why hadn’t he talked to his mate calmly instead of accusing her of being a whore? His whole world seemed off-kilter and he felt as if he were going insane.

  He needed ice for his hand, and then he needed to talk to Michelle again and convince her to stay at the Wild Bear.

  He was about to leave his office when the phone rang, and nothing surprised him more than to hear Hunter Black’s voice on the other end. The man questioned him about Michelle, and he made it easy for Gabe to tell the absolute truth: Michelle was a good waitress, but she hated shifters and he only kept her on his staff because she was the mate of a very close friend.

  Black ended the call quickly, and Gabe knew he’d never hire Michelle. The man needed willing, single women. A mated shifter hater wouldn’t garner him any money.

  He searched his head for a shred of guilt, but nothing surfaced. He would do everything in his power to keep his mate on his staff, even if it meant outing her to every business owner in town.

  His bear grunted in agreement, and he left his office in search of ice for his hand.

  Chapter Three

  “I’m sorry, Miss Larsen, but we’ve decided to go with another applicant.”

  Unlike the other possible employers who’d snapped at her and then abruptly hung up the phone, the woman delivered the words in a calm, but firm, voice. It was her fifth rejection in three days, and she was beginning to lose confidence in her abilities.

  “I understand your decision, but can you give me any feedback? Is there something…off-putting about me?”

  “It’s the shifter thing, dear,” the woman sympathized.

  “Um… I’m not a shifter,” she said.

  “Yes, I know. That’s not the problem.”

  “Then what is the problem?” she asked.

  “It’s not that you are one,” the woman explained. “It’s that you hate them. This town is full of shifters and I can’t hire someone who openly dislikes most of our clientele.”

  “Wait. I don’t—”

  “I’m sorry, dear, but my decision is final.”

  “I understand,” she conceded. “Thank you.”

  Michelle pressed the off button and sat down on the sofa. The fact that the woman thought she hated shifters was laughable. Nearly half of Liberty’s population was composed of shifters, and she’d lived in the town her entire life. She didn’t know any other way, but if she’d truly hated the species, she would have moved a long time ago.

  There were still a few places in the nation that boasted about being pure with only full human residents, and they weren’t impossible to find. She shook her head and frowned. The thought of living in a town like that creeped her out, as did the fact that they still existed. A place with so much hatred could never be considered home.

  She thought back to all of the other calls she’d received, starting with Hunter’s. He had been cold and borderline cruel when he’d told her he didn’t need another fattie on his staff. The other calls had been less forthcoming. A simple, but harsh, we’re not interested sounded in her ear before each call ended. Today was the first time she’d had a chance to ask any questions, and she was dumbfounded. Why would they think—

  Gabriel!

  Gabriel had smirked when she’d told him about Hunter’s possible call. She’d yelled at him, admitted to needing the job, and then threatened him about finding a replacement. He was probably telling everyone she hated shifters as punishment for her behavior, and to force her to grovel and apologize when she couldn’t find work.

  It seemed he had the upper hand in their little spat.

  She had no idea why he wouldn’t let her go without a fight, but she wasn’t about to throw in the towel. She remembered last Halloween when he’d sent her home, claiming to dislike costumes. The lie had obviously been an excuse for something else. She thought back to that night, and the only thing different had been her short, frilly skirt.

  He obviously had a problem with her curvy, thick thighs being put on display.

  They didn’t have a dress code and Tanya wore short skirts all the time. If the other waitress could get away with it, she should be able to as well. Aside from the one costume, Michelle always dressed in jeans. The sturdy, easy to clean fabric had several pockets and allowed her to move through the crowd easily. Paired with comfortable shoes, she was able to blend in without disappearing completely, and the men rarely tried to grope her ass.

  She’d tried to do the right thing and it had gotten her nowhere. It was time to up her game. If Gabe didn’t want to be civil and accept her resignation, t
hen she’d force him to fire her.

  ***

  Three hours later, Michelle walked into the Wild Bear five minutes before the start of her shift. In the storage room, she put her purse and keys into her locker and tied her apron around her waist.

  It’s now or never.

  She took a deep breath and walked into the area behind the bar. It was Friday night, their busiest night of the week, and both Isabelle and Jared were manning the counter. The two usually split the bar in half when they were both behind it, and tonight Jared was covering the waitress’ end.

  “Hey Jared,” she said, grabbing her tray.

  Jared glanced in her direction and swept his dark, ominous eyes over her form. The orbs looked nearly black, especially in the darkened room, and they seemed at odds with his brown hair. The t-shirt he wore stretched across his muscular form, and the edges of unseen tattoos peeked out from under his sleeves.

  The shifter was quiet, but he rarely relaxed, and before Gabe hired Lucky, Jared had been involved in numerous brawls and arrests. She didn’t know why he’d never been fired, but she suspected it involved the men’s mutual respect for each other.

  “Looking good, Michelle,” Jared said.

  He didn’t smile, but she wasn’t offended. Jared could never be mistaken for happy.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  A short blond, with long, straight hair, jumped off a barstool, leaving her drink behind, and weaved her way through the crowd and out the door. Jared removed her drink and wiped the counter as if nothing was out of the ordinary, but she’d seen the way he’d watched the woman retreat.

  Michelle wanted to ask, but she didn’t. Aside from being tense all the time, as if expecting the worst, and ready to fight at a moment’s notice, Jared didn’t share his feelings. He was the most private person she knew. If he wanted her to know something, he’d tell her.

  “See you soon,” she said, hurrying out to the main part of the bar.

  She and Tanya also split up their work space, and after she visited four tables in her section, she went back to the bar and gave the beverage orders to Jared. As she waited for him to mix the drinks, she saw Gabe enter the room from the hallway leading to his office.