Protected Hearts Read online

  If there was one hunter, there would be others. They never travelled alone, and like cockroaches, they turned up when they were least expected.

  Wes sighed.

  He felt his bear’s anxiety. Base instincts were driving the animal to act and it all centered around the bookstore.

  Wes braced himself as he opened the truck door. Behave yourself, he told his bear as he stepped out of the vehicle. Pressing the automatic lock on the key fob, the truck beeped a couple of times. Wes looked up and down the street and waited for a couple of cars to pass. He felt his bear growing more agitated as it paced back and forth.

  Wes gave the animal a warning. They needed to go inside the store in order to find whatever it was that was upsetting the animal. Two years of this crap was enough.

  Wes focused on putting one foot in front of the other as he stared at the building.

  The bookstore was tucked into the bottom floor of one of the original buildings that had been restored and modernized yet it kept the look and feel of the past. A bell jingled as he opened the door and walked into the store.

  “Welcome to Tea Time Books. Let me know if you need anything.” The soft musical voice came from somewhere in the middle of the store.

  Wes paused. Something about the voice made his heart beat faster. Even his bear’s ears twitched at the musical sound. It urged the man to find the source of the voice. “Thanks,” he finally managed to say without too much of a growl.

  Almost hidden under the thick scent of paper and ink was a soft, sweet scent neither he nor his beast could ignore. He had to find the owner. He walked over to a display of new books not far from the entrance. He picked up one of the books by an author he enjoyed reading and turned the book over. The sweet scent grew stronger and more defined. His nose twitched and his bear made several low chuffing noises as it pushed closer to the surface. The soft scent of lavender and honey wrapped around him.

  Wes put the book back on the shelf. He looked around, searching for the voice and sweet scent. Not seeing anyone he took a deep breath.

  His bear pushed even closer to the surface. Mine, it growled as it tried to break free.

  Wes mentally shoved the beast, reminding the animal that they were in a public place.

  The animal didn’t seem to care. It growled again. Mine!

  Wes shook his head and took another deep breath. His heart thumped against his ribcage. His jeans grew uncomfortably tight in the front. His bear was right. Mate! His eyes widened at the realization.

  His mate was in the bookstore.

  He shook his head in disbelief. Wes knew the day would come when he found his mate. He used to dream about what it would be like when he did. He closed his eyes. With the threat of the hunters, he wished fate hadn’t put her in his path. She would have been safer without him.

  Fate had different plans.

  The lavender and honey scent called to his soul. There was no denying the pull of his mate now that he had found her.

  His beast growled.

  Yes, she is ours. But first we have to find her. And you have to settle down. I don’t need you scaring her.

  The bear answered by pushing hard against Wes. The animal wasn’t concerned about anything except going to its mate.

  The bear growled but slowly receded.

  Wes followed the sweet scent of lavender and honey deeper into the store. The closer he walked toward the center of the building, the stronger the sweet scent grew.

  He turned down the first aisle and stopped when he saw an almost too thin, platinum blonde female blocking his path. She shook her head as she stared at one of the bookshelves. She let out a very unladylike snort before she turned and looked at him. Slowly the corners of her lips turned up into a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. They stayed cold and distant. Staring at her was like staring at a deadly snake.

  Wes sniffed the air. The woman’s scent was sour like an old musky oil that had sat out in the sun too long. She definitely wasn’t the source of the wonderful lavender and honey scent that belonged to his mate. He said a quick prayer of thanks as he nodded at her. He quickly turned and picked another aisle.

  The closer he moved toward the back of the store the stronger the lavender and honey scent grew.

  “Who is your favorite author?”

  Wes winced at the high pitched female voice. It wasn’t in any way similar to the soft musical voice of his mate. This voice was the complete opposite in sound and effect. The musky oil scent hit him as he turned to the woman behind him. He was glad the woman wasn’t his mate. Nothing about her appealed to him in the least. “Excuse me?” He stared at the woman.

  His bear let out a low growl. It wanted nothing to do with the female.

  “I’m April. April Martin.” She held out her hand.

  Wes sighed to cover the low menacing growl his bear let out. Reluctantly he shook her hand. “Wes Durant.”

  “Wes Durant. It’s very nice to meet you.” April closed the distance between them and wrapped her arm around his before he could move away from her. “So what do you do when you’re not looking at books?”

  “I’m a mechanic.” He was trying not to be rude, but the last thing he wanted to do was stand there and chit chat with April Martin.

  “A mechanic. I bet you’re really good with your hands.” She winked at him.

  Wes pulled his arm out of hers. “Actually I’m not very good with my hands. If you’ll excuse me.”

  “Maybe I should be the judge of that.” April frowned when he stepped away from her. She knew she had the looks that men craved and there was absolutely no reason for Wes not to like her because she would look stunning on his arm. “How about we forget about this place and go get something to eat? I know exactly what would be perfect for dessert.” She took a good look at his body.

  Wes cringed. The way she was undressing him with her eyes left him feeling dirty. He knew exactly what she meant by dessert and it was the last thing he wanted from her, especially since his mate was so close. “I’m sorry but that won’t be possible.” The scent of lavender and honey suddenly grew really strong. “Excuse me,” said Wes. He turned and followed the intoxicating scent of his mate. The need to find her overrode everything else.

  At the end of the aisle, Wes stopped and stared at the curvy denim clad rear sticking up in the air. A smile spread across his face. A growl of approval escaped. His bear pushed forward for a look.

  The woman stood up and spun around. Her eyes widened when she looked at him.

  Wes saw the flicker of recognition and desire in her brown eyes. Her long chestnut hair covered one side of her face. He willed her to tuck it behind her ear so he could see her entire face.

  “Can—Can I help you?” she asked. Her voice was low but it had the same soft musical qualities that he had heard earlier.

  Wes grinned before he could stop himself. Finding her excited him and scared him at the same time. Not wanting to frighten her with his size, Wes slowly walked toward her. He stopped just inches from her. “You know who I am?” he asked.

  She nodded her head. “You’re my mate,” she whispered as she looked up at him. Her warm chestnut hair slid off her face, revealing a line of scars running down the left side of her face.

  “I’m Wes Durant and you’re my mate.” He wondered what had caused the scars but didn’t say anything. He thought she was beautiful and the fact she had curves was perfect. He had always liked curvy women and his mate was perfect. He knew could make love to her without worrying about breaking her.

  “Durant Customs, right?” she asked. Emma hadn’t noticed her hair had slid off her face revealing her scars.

  “My brothers and I own Durant Customs.”

  “Ivy works for you.” She nervously shifted from foot to foot.

  “She does. I’m a…”

  “A bear shifter. I know. I’ve dreamed about you. I’m a witch.” She chewed on her bottom lip. Would he reject her because she was a witch? She hoped not.

  Wav
es of worry rolled off of his mate. Wes frowned. “Is something wrong?”

  “No. It’s just that…”

  “You really think she is your mate? Emma isn’t good enough to be anyone’s mate. Those scars on her face are just the tip of the iceberg. Just wait until you see the scars she was hiding from you. They are hideous. And then there’s the fact she is fat. Why would you want a fat mate?” April’s high pitched voice sounded like fingernails scrapping across a chalkboard. She wrapped her arm around Wes’s arm and pressed her body against his. “I don’t have any scars. My skin is flawless, and I’m definitely not overweight like some people and I know exactly how to please you in the bedroom.”

  Wes pulled his arm out of her grasp and put some distance between them. Neither he nor his bear could stand the woman’s touch. “I don’t know how to make it much clearer, but I’m not interested in you and I never will be interested in someone like you. You need to leave.”

  April smiled. “You don’t have to pretend you’re not interested in me. Emma knows she isn’t good enough to have a mate, especially a man like you. You need someone who can appreciate you and give you what you need. She doesn’t have a clue what to do with a man.” She looked at Emma and laughed. “Why don’t you go stock some books or something. You’re embarrassing me.” The hate rolling off of April was directed at her cousin.

  Emma took a step back. She didn’t remember bumping the table, but the books she had been arranging on the table fell over. Several of the books tumbled to the floor with a loud thump. She felt her face heat as her cousin laughed. Emma knelt down and started picking up the books.

  “Here, let me help you with those.” Wes knelt down next to her.

  “You don’t have to do this,” said Emma.

  “I know. I want to help you.”

  April rolled her eyes. “You don’t need to help her. Emma is capable of picking up the books. She is a big girl and I don’t mean her age or her size though her size does classify her as a BIG girl. Let’s go get something to eat and discuss our mutual attraction to each other.”

  “Is she always this pushy and self-centered?” Wes asked Emma.

  Emma shrugged her shoulders. She put several books back on the table. “Most men over look it because of her looks.” Her hand strayed to the scars on her face. “I know you’ve seen the scars. There are more down the left side of my body.”

  Wes took her small hand into his larger one. “Some people have physical scars and others have mental scars. I have scars too, though most of mine are mental. Your scars are a part of who you are, just as mine are a part of me. Would you reject me because of them?”

  Emma shook her head. “No, I wouldn’t reject you.”

  “And I’m definitely not rejecting you. I want to get to know you and give you a chance to get to know me. Though it wouldn’t bother me one bit to toss you over my shoulder and carry you back to my den.” Realization struck Wes. Nothing mattered except his mate. If the hunters showed up, he would give his life to protect her.

  His bear chuffed in agreement.

  Emma felt liquid heat pour through her. Never in her wildest dreams would she have thought she would be so turned on by the idea of such a caveman act. She knew it wasn’t the act itself, it was the man who suggested it that had her all hot and bothered.

  “I think I’m going to be sick.” April made a horrible gagging noise. She looked form Wes to Emma. “Great! Now you’re ignoring me.” She turned and stomped off.

  “Did you hear something?” asked Emma.

  “No, but I smell something I believe will taste really delicious. I can’t wait to sample it either,” said Wes. He picked up the rest of the books and put them on the table. He looked at Emma. “Would you have dinner with me tonight?”

  Emma smiled. Her cheeks grew warm. “I would like that very much. The store closes at six but I have several things to do before I can leave. Would 6:30 be okay?”

  “That would be fine,” said Wes. His bear was nodding its head in agreement.

  “So what were you looking for when you came into the store?” asked Emma.

  “Ivy asked me to pick up some books she had ordered and I wanted to see if you had the last book in the Overland trilogy.” Wes stood up. He helped Emma up off the floor.

  “I have Ivy’s order in the back, and I have the book you’re looking for on the third aisle about halfway down. I could show you.”

  “I would like that.” Wes brought the hand he was still holding up to his lips.

  The gentlemanly gesture surprised Emma. She had read about men doing this in the many romance books she devoured in her late teens and early twenties, but she never dreamed she would actually experience it. The gesture was thrilling, but even more so because it was her mate doing it. She lost another piece of her heart to Wes. She knew she would do anything to keep him safe and alive even if she had to give her life to do so.

  “I’ll show you where the Overland series is and then I’ll get Ivy’s books from the back,” said Emma. She gestured to the bookshelves.

  “Lead the way and I’ll follow.” Wes put his hand on the small of Emma’s back as she took him to the aisle where the book he was looking for was located.

  *****

  Several minutes later Emma watched Wes leave the bookstore. His lunch break was almost over and he had to go back to work. She was sad to see him leave even though she knew he would be back at 6:30 to pick her up for their dinner date. She just wished she had time to go home and change into something nicer than the jeans and flannel shirt she was wearing. She shook her head. Why was she worrying about her clothes? He would just have to get used to her wear comfortable jeans and shirts because she didn’t even own a skirt.

  “He only asked you out because he felt sorry for you.” April walked up to the counter.

  Emma closed her eyes and counted to ten. She opened her eyes as she turned around to face her cousin. “He’s not interested in you so just get over it.” She knew she struck a nervy be the deadly glare April gave her.

  “You will never be anyone’s mate. you’re barely good enough to be Orson’s mistress and once he’s tired of you, he will toss you aside with the rest of the trash. But at least mother and I will benefit from the pairing. After all that we did for you, it’s the very least that we deserve.” April sneered at Emma.

  “Get out of my store,” said Emma. She was sick and tired of hearing about how she owed them and about Orson Goodwin and his offer. As far as she was concerned payment had already been rendered with the money her aunt made off of her magical gifts and April could marry Orson or become his mistress.

  “You don’t like hearing the truth so you’re throwing me out liked you did mother. You are nothing but a fat pathetic person. You are so beneath me in every way possible,” said April.

  “You are no longer welcome in my store. Leave before I call the sheriff and have you arrested for trespassing.” Emma was tired of dealing with her cousin.

  April shrugged her shoulders. “That’s fine with me. This is a ridiculously boring place, but then look at who owns it.” She spun on her heel and stormed out of the store.

  Emma sighed. “That went really well,” she said after April stormed out of the store. She started walking around the counter when the bell over the front door jingled. She put on a smile and turned toward the couple walking into the store. “Welcome to Tea Time Books. I’m Emma. If you need help with anything just ask.”

  *****

  April stood at the corner waiting for the light to change. A cool gust of wind set her teeth to chattering. She crossed her arms, tucking her hands close to her body to warm them. “This is ridiculous. There aren’t any cars.”

  The light changed.

  “About time. I can’t get out of this town fast enough.” She walked toward her car.

  “Is everything okay?”

  April looked at the man leaning against the truck that was parked one space away from her. She noticed the gray showing in his hair.
If it weren’t for that, he probably would have been handsome. “Everything’s just peachy.”

  “Really?” the man raised an eyebrow.

  April sighed. “If you must know I’m angry at that self-centered witch who owns the bookstore. In fact, don’t even bother going in there. She doesn’t deserve any customers. As far as I’m concerned, the building could burn down with her in it.”

  “A little drastic don’t you think? I met the owner earlier. She seemed nice,” said the man.

  April snorted. “I’m surprised you actually survived. There is nothing nice about that witch. She’s extremely self-centered. She refuses to use her magic to help her family, and she threw me out of the store. Stay away from that place.” April unlocked her car and got inside. A few seconds later she pulled out of the parking space.

  The man took note of the license plate as April drove away. He pulled a cellphone out of his pocket. After scrolling through several screens, he put the phone up to his ear. “The problem is bigger than we originally thought. I need someone here who knows how to deal with witches. That’s right. I said witches. We don’t just have a bear problem. And I need the person here yesterday.” He ended the call and put the cell phone back into his pocket. With one final glance at the bookstore, he got into his truck and drove away.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  A few minutes before six, Emma was ringing up the last customer’s purchase, when the bell over the door jingled. Emma looked up and smiled when she saw who walked into the store. Her heart skipped a couple of beats as she stared at her mate. She forced her attention back to the customer. Emma finished the transaction, and put the books and receipt into a plastic bag. “Thank you. I hope you enjoy your books,” she said as she handed the young woman the bag.

  The woman turned to leave but stopped when she saw Wes. “Well hello handsome! I’m Mindy and you are?”