Protected Hearts Read online

  The bedroom door opened and Wes walked in carrying two coffee mugs. “Good morning beautiful.”

  Emma blushed. “Good morning.” She started pulling the blanket over her chest.

  Wes cleared his throat.

  She looked up at him.

  “I like the view the way it is,” he said.

  Emma let the blanket drop back into her lap. She realized it was kind of silly to cover herself when he had already seen everything. She was just nervous because now he was seeing her in the light.

  Wes handed her one of the coffee mugs. “I put cream and sugar in yours.”

  “Thank you for remembering.” Emma sipped the coffee. She sighed. “It’s perfect.”

  Wes watched her. “Is there something you need to tell me?” he asked before he took a sip of his coffee.

  Emma blinked. “What do you mean?” she asked even though she knew exactly what he was talking about.

  He held up his left wrist. A ring of scrolls and quills that perfectly matched hers encircled his wrist.

  Emma blushed again. “You are my heart’s mate…my soulmate. You bit me and left your mark on my shoulder. When witches mate with their heart’s mate, the mates end up with matching mating marks. Each set of marks is unique to the mates.” She raised her hand so he could see the matching mark encircling her wrist. “I knew it would happen. If I had thought about it, I would have told you. I’m sorry.”

  Wes slowly grinned. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. You marked me like I marked you.”

  “You’re not upset?” asked Emma.

  “I was surprised to see it this morning, but no, I’m not upset. There is no doubt to anyone that we are mates. Ivy and Ben have matching marks. They let people think they have matching tattoos,” he said. “I don’t like the idea of leaving you, but I have to be at the shop in a few minutes. Will you be okay?”

  Emma glanced at the clock. “I’ll be okay. I have to be at the bookstore in about forty-five minutes.” She smiled at him. “We both have businesses that are going to take some of our time. It’s just the way it is.”

  Wes bent down and kissed her. “I’ll bring you lunch.”

  “I would like that.” She smiled. No one had ever brought her lunch before, and it was even more special because it was her mate who was going to bring it to her.

  “And we will make plans to move your stuff. I want you in my den tonight. I have to get going. Your keys are on the kitchen counter. I’ll see you in a few hours. Be careful.” He kissed her again before he turned and walked out of the bedroom.

  “You too,” she called to him. Emma heard the front door close. The place suddenly felt empty. She already missed him. Emma glanced around her bedroom as she sipped her coffee.

  Packing and moving wasn’t a big deal. She actually didn’t own much stuff. In fact, most of her belongings would probably fit into two suitcases and maybe a couple of boxes. The duplex was fully furnished when she rented it, so there wasn’t any furniture she had to move.

  Emma smiled.

  She liked the idea that Wes wanted her in his home…correction…his den. It made her feel warm and wanted.

  Emma drank the rest of her coffee and put the mug on the nightstand. She gently traced the marks on her wrist and smiled. She had found her heart’s mate. So many witches searched their whole lives for the one person who was their heart’s mate and never found them. Emma wondered how she had managed to get so lucky. “Thank you,” she whispered to the goddess.

  Emma put the coffee cup on the nightstand and got out of bed. It was time for her to get ready for work. The bookstore wasn’t going to open itself.

  *****

  “Thank you. I will call you when the books come in.” Emma handed the man a bag and his receipt.

  “When do you think they will be here?” asked the man.

  “If my distributor has them in stock, which they said they did, the books should be here by Friday.” Emma smiled at the man.

  “That works for me. Thank and have a good day.” The man walked to the exit.

  “Have a good day,” Emma called to him. Her cell phone ding. She pulled it out of her back pocket and tapped the screen. A smile slowly spread across her face.

  “You must have gotten some good news.”

  “I did.” She looked up from her cell phone. Her smile slowly faded. “What are you doing here?”

  “What? No hug and smile for me?” Orson Goodwin smiled and held out his arms.

  Emma ignored his outstretched arms. There was no way she was going to hug him or let him hug her. The thought of him touching her made her sick to her stomach.

  He slowly put his arms down. “Well, that will change once you’re my mistress. You will learn to appreciate me.”

  “That is not happening.” She stared at Orson. He looked older than he she remembered him. There was no warmth in his eyes.

  Orson looked around. “This is not a bad space. The décor is okay, but it could use some work.” He sniffed. “It’s not exactly the place I would expect to find my mistress working.”

  “I’m not your mistress. I never have been and I never will be.” Emma crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Yes you are. Your aunt and I have already made all the arrangements. It’s time for you to take your place in the grand scheme of things as it was meant to be. And that place is as my mistress, serving me and my wants and needs in every possible way,” said Orson.

  Emma shook her head. “I turned down your offer once and I’m turning it down again. Besides, my aunt has no say in what I do or don’t do. She is no longer my guardian and hasn’t be since I turned eighteen.”

  “Guardian or not, you can’t turn it down. You don’t have a choice. No one wants you. You are damaged goods.” Orson’s voice was cold and hard. “Women like you have only one destiny and that is to become a mistress to a more powerful witch who can protect you.”

  “Yes, I can turn you down, and yes, I have choices and being your mistress or anyone else’s is not my choice or my destiny.” She touched her right shoulder and smiled. “I found my heart’s mate and I’m staying with him. Even if I hadn’t of found my heart’s mate, I would still tell you no. We are not living in the middle ages. I have rights to choose who I want to be with, and I choose my heart’s mate.”

  Orson’s dull brown eyes narrowed as he stared at the ring of scrolls and quills on Emma’s wrist. He knew exactly what it meant. “How dare you go and do this. No one besides me would ever want a disfigured, fat cow like you.”

  “If I’m so disgusting, why would you even want me? You need to leave.” Emma’s eyes snapped with the anger raging through her. She gestured to the door.

  The bell over the door jingled.

  Orson reached over the counter and grabbed Emma’s wrist. He jerked her toward him causing her to hit the counter hard. “There is no way you can have a heart’s mate. Even the goddess has rejected you. You are worthless and only good enough for what I say you are.”

  “Let go of me!” Emma used her other hand to push against the counter as she tried jerking her arm out of his grip. She winced when he tightened his hold.

  “Let go of my mate!” growled Wes.An oily scent filled the air.

  Orson turned and looked at Wes. He laughed. “Your joking. You’re so called heart’s mate is a shifter. There is absolutely no way that is possible. Witches and shifters don’t mate with each other.”

  “Emma is my mate, and I’m her heart’s mate. Now let go of her before I rip off your arm.” Wes growled. His eyes were no longer human. His bear was hovering at the surface and it was angry. It wanted to rip apart the man for daring to touch its mate.

  Orson’s eyes widened when he saw a set of scrolls and quills on the man’s wrist. It was an exact match to the one on Emma’s wrist. Slowly he let go of Emma.

  She took several steps back. She wanted distance between her and Orson. Her wrist and stomach hurt but she refused to rub them. There was absolutely no way she was going
to give Orson that kind of satisfaction. She watched him as he turned to leave. He stopped and stared at her for a couple of seconds just before he exited the building. The cold, black fury in his eyes terrified her more than she wanted to admit.

  Wes took several deep breaths. He walked around the counter and pulled Emma into his arms. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded her head. “I am now.”

  “Let me see your arm.” He released her and picked up the arm Orson had grabbed. Bruises in the shape of a hand were already forming around her wrist. “Do you have something for this?”

  “I have several herbs at home that will work. I will wrap it tonight with poultice and by the morning it should be gone.” She gently touched her stomach.

  “Let me see.” Before she could protest, Wes pulled up her shirt. He let a deep growl. Bruises were forming across her stomach where she had hit the counter. “I should have ripped off his arms. If he ever comes near you again, I will kill him.”

  Emma pulled her shirt out of Wes’s hands. She wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled close to him as she hugged him. “I will be fine. You got here and prevented him from doing anything else.”

  “Who was that guy?” asked Wes as he hugged her back.

  “That was Orson Goodwin. He’s a witch from one of the old families that has money and social standing. Several years ago my aunt suggested I become his mistress since I was too flawed to ever find a suitable mate. I told her there was no way I would be his mistress. She told me that she had already contacted Orson and he was favorable to the idea. A couple of nights later, he showed up for dinner. Let’s just say, it got a bit ugly. Not long after that night, I moved out, found a cheap place to live, found a job and saved everything I could until I was able to start this store with the help of a small business loan.”

  Wes felt his bear pacing in the back of his mind. The beast wanted to hunt down this Orson and rip him to shreds for hurting their mate. “You really need someone here with you.”

  “I know, but right now, I just can’t afford to hire anyone. I’m starting to make a profit, but everything except the small salary I pay myself goes back into the business,” said Emma.

  “You won’t have to worry about rent or any of the other stuff anymore, so you should be able to hire someone. I don’t won’t you here alone.”

  Emma nodded. “I will look at my books,” she promised. She understood why Wes didn’t want her alone but she really hated being told what to do even if it was her mate telling her. She knew alpha male shifters could be stubborn about things. Her stomach decided to let remind her that it was lunchtime.

  “You need to eat. I brought sandwiches from the deli.” Wes walked around the counter and picked up the paper bag he had dropped when he saw Orson manhandling Emma.

  “I’ll lock the door and put up the sign. We can sit at the table in the back corner.” She didn’t wait for Wes to answer. Emma went and locked the front door, and put the sign up letting people know the store would reopen in thirty minutes.

  “Are you ready to eat?” asked Wes when she turned around.

  She smiled at her mate. “Yes, I am. But first I need a kiss from my mate.”

  “I can do that.”.

  Before Emma could say anything else, Wes closed the distance between them, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her. Emma leaned into Wes as desire rolled through her. “Wow,” she whispered when the kiss ended.

  “I second that. You’re beautiful,” said Wes. He stared at Emma. He cleared his throat. “You need to eat.” He took her hand and led her to the back of the store. “Your table is ready,” he said as he pulled out a chair for her.

  “That looks yummy,” she said as he pulled out the trays of food and opened one for her.

  “Yummy?”

  “Well, it does.” Emma smiled even though her cheeks were growing warm.

  Wes sat down across from her. “Actually, they are yummy.” His eyes twinkled.

  “Quit teasing me.” She picked up the turkey and Italian salami sub and took a bite.

  For the next several minutes they ate and talked about their day. Neither brought up Owen or the incident.

  Almost finished with his sandwich, Wes’s cell phone rang. “It’s the shop. I have to take this,” he said as he glanced at the caller id. He stood up and walked away from the table as he answered the phone.

  While he was on the phone, Emma finished her sandwich and picked up her mess. “Is everything okay?” she asked Wes when he returned.

  “A customer decided a few minutes ago that he wants his car painted pearl white with a purple shimmer.” Wes ran his hand through his hair.

  “I take it that’s not a good thing.”

  “I finished painting the car blue yesterday.”

  “Ouch. Isn’t repainting the car going to cost the guy extra?”

  “Forrest needs an estimate,” said Wes. He picked up the remains of his sandwich and put it into the paper bag that Emma had used for her trash.

  “That means you have to go.” Emma stood up.

  Wes hugged her. “I’ve got to get a price for the new paint. That’s if my supplier even has any in stock. And then I have to put together an estimate.”

  “It’s okay. How about I cook supper tonight and after we eat you can help me pack. It shouldn’t take us more than a couple of hours at most. I rented the duplex completely furnished. I’m just packing my personal stuff.” Emma bit her bottom lip.

  A huge smile spread across Wes’s face. “Are you sure you want to cook tonight?”

  “I like cooking.”

  Wes kissed her. “I will see you tonight. I’ll take the sign down and leave the door unlocked.”

  Emma nodded. She watched him pick up the paper bag and leave. She wrapped her arms around herself as she made a mental checklist of all the things she need to do to ensure Wes’s safety. She couldn’t believe how much her life had changed in just twenty-four hours.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  “You are joking!” Wes crumpled the yellow note and tossed it across the room. “Do you realize how much of a pain it was to track down a supplier who had an exact match to the color he wanted? And now he’s decided he wants a completely different color! It hasn’t even been four hours since he changed his mind about the first color.”

  “I wish I was joking.” Forrest leaned back in his chair and ran both his hands through his hair. “The sad part is he either doesn’t care or he doesn’t understand the time and cost his color changes are going to make at this point.”

  “Have you explained it to him?” asked Wes.

  Forrest nodded. “More times than I care to count. I thought I had him talked out of the color change yesterday after I explained to him that the car was already painted and what would be involved to change the color at this point. And then he called while you were out. I told him there was no way we would have the car finish by the date we originally agreed on if he changes the color at this point. He’s worried the color he picked isn’t the right one for the car.”

  Wes shook his head. “This is ridiculous. We need to get him to come down and look at the car as is so he can see the paint job.”

  “I’ll see what I can do about getting him to come by to look at it.” Forrest picked up the phone. “I’ll let you know what happens.”

  Wes nodded. He walked out of his brother’s office and went to the breakroom to get a bottle of water. He put the cold bottle on his forehead. Ever since leaving Emma, he and his bear were both extremely agitated. Wes wanted to go back to her and his animal’s behavior wasn’t helping matters. His bear alternated between pacing back and forth in Wes’s mind and whining about being separated from its mate.

  Shaking his head, Wes left the breakroom. Standing around and doing nothing wasn’t helping his mood. He had already spent enough time behind his desk trying to find the paint color the client wanted only to have all that work tossed into the trash. Hopefully getting the customer to see the original color choice on
the car would put an end to the sudden switching of colors.

  “Just the man I’ve been looking for.”

  The high pitched voice set Wes’s nerves even further on the edge. He looked at Emma’s cousin. Dressed in tight jeans and a low cut blouse that left little to the imagination, the woman looked more like a lady of the evening and that was putting it nicely. Wes’s bear bared its teeth and it was all Wes could do to keep from grinning. He shared his animals dislike of the woman. “What are you doing here?”

  April rolled her eyes. “I came to see you, and to bring you some honey muffins with extra honey. I baked them myself. It’s actually an old family recipe.” She held up a small basket covered with a deep red towel.

  “Why?” he asked. He coughed and cleared his throat to cover the snarl that slipped out.

  A huge smile spread across April’s face making her look more like a deadly viper than a woman. “I thought it would be nice for the two of us to sit down and get to know each other over coffee and muffins.”

  “We have nothing to talk about.” His eyes nothing to talk about.” His eyes narrowed. She was up to something he just wasn’t sure what but he had a feeling it had with trying to hurt Emma.

  “Emma’s not here. You don’t have to pretend that you aren’t attracted to me. I know better.” She walked up to him and wrapped her free arm around his arm. “I know you want me, because I want you.” She leaned forward, giving him a view down the front of her shirt.

  Wes growled as he pulled his arm out of her grasp. “I am not interested in you. I’m only interested in Emma, my mate.”

  “You don’t have to pretend you are interested in her. How could you be when you could have me?” She wiggled her shoulders.

  “Emma is my mate…my heart’s mate. I don’t want anyone else but her.” He held up his wrist so she could see the ring of quills and scrolls encircling his wrist.

  April gasped. Her eyes widened and then narrowed. “I feel so bad that you’re stuck with her,” she said coldly.