A Second Chance (Fated Mate) (9 page)

“
I hadn’t seen that one. It looks like it was taken right outside my bedroom window. Creepy.”

“
So, why did you want me to come pick you up girlfriend?”

Katie
stepped away from Conner and replied, “He got pissed after seeing the pictures, and I don’t want to be a nuisance.” She grimaced, “I think he believes Decker to be my boyfriend, or something.”

Conner turned around with a harsh expression.
“I thought no such thing. I know that’s your partner, Brett Decker. You’ve been partners for a little over five years, and according to what I’ve read, you both work well together.” His face softened slightly, “You didn’t call them to take you away because you thought I couldn’t protect you?”

She looked dumbstruck,
“No, why would you think that?”

“
You didn’t even talk to me, or give me a chance to talk to you, about the new threat. Your first reaction was to bolt.”

“
I thought you thought I was cheating on you. And you left to make other arrangements for my care. You looked angry.”

“
I am angry that someone invaded your privacy. I’m angry that whoever wants to harm you, found out where you’re staying. And I was angry because you were leaving.”

“
Oops, sorry. Communication breakdown.”

“
Katie your first reaction to things can’t be to leave, otherwise this’ll never work. I know you would never cheat on me, unless one of the photos showed you puking your guts out.” He chuckled at the picture he created in his mind. And then became angry at the picture in his mind, because he didn’t want to think of her with other men.

“
I understand now, and I’m sorry. I truly don’t want to be in your way. This has all gone so wrong, and I don’t know how to fix it.”

“
You don’t need to fix anything. It’s new and we’ll get the hang of it, just stop trying to leave.” He went to her and scooped her up into his arms. “I want you here, with me. I want to be a family. Stop fighting it.”

She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his temple.

There it was again, gingerbread coming from his mate.
She loved him.

The mood was broken when
Shana said, “Damn, finally. I thought it was never going to happen.”

Jake
covered her mouth but it was too late.

“
What?” Katie’s innocent inquiry as Conner scowled at Shana.

Jake
said, “We’re just going to, uh, go.” He went to the door and punched in the code to leave, dragging Shana out, with his hand still covering her mouth.

“
What the bloody hell was that? And they know the door code, but I can’t have it?” And the gingerbread was replaced with pepper, yuck.

There was no getting around it; he
’d have to thank Shana later. “Babe, you smelled, very briefly, like…cookies.” He took a step back like he was afraid of her.

“
So, what’s the big deal?”

“
Uh, do you remember the conversation of scents we had at the hospital?”

“
Yeah, I remember. So?”

Was she honestly not getting it?
“It means that even though you don’t want to, or don’t realize it, you sort of love me.”

Chapter 12

“Yeah, what do you expect? Somewhere in between the loss of my virginity, the fire, the hospital and the shower, it just kind of crept up on me.” She looked awkward, “Why, did you change your mind too? That would be my luck. Finally fall in love with a guy, just to have him fall out.”

He just stood there across from her, wide grin splitting his face.
Did she really just say she loved him? He was in hog heaven. “I love you Katie, with everything I am.”

“
Uh, yeah, okay. I think I’m going to have to remind you of that, several times throughout our relationship.” She gave him a tentative smile.

He simply beamed back at her,
“And…”

“
And what? You’re pushing your luck mister. I’m still hungry, you know.”

A look crossed his face, guilt?
“I’m so sorry; you must be starved by now. Come on let’s get you fed.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her into the kitchen, pushing her down into a chair roughly.

“
Oops, sorry, I got carried away.” Quinn was already sitting at the table eating quietly.

Conner gave
Katie double servings of everything. Her plate was so full the food was falling off the sides, and he was still trying to pile on more. “That’s enough Conner, Thank you.” Katie turned to Quinn, “And thank you for making a lovely meal. I appreciate it.”

“
You haven’t tasted it yet, Dearie. I may have spit in it, or slipped in some laxatives, while y’all were in there fighting like children.”

Harsh.

“
That’s not very nice, Quinn. It’s all pretty new, and we’re trying to learn each other still. Give it time, Old Bag.” Conner was feeling a bit aggressive still from the pictures, so he hoped Quinn would back off. He wasn’t so lucky.

“
Well, maybe she shouldn’t have let you mate her, if she didn’t know she liked you, or that you were compatible. And she sure as hell shouldn’t have let you impregnate her, Floosy.”

“
Okay, old lady you are pushing too far now. I am not a floosy. If you want me to leave, say the word and I’m gone. This was your home long before it was mine.”

“
No one is leaving,” Conner’s voice was strained, “Damn, you two are going to give me a heart attack. First, Quinn you need to apologize to Katie; who was a virgin when we mated.” At Katie’s gasp of outrage he continued, “And, she didn’t know what I was, at the time, other than the best man at her friend’s wedding. The same wedding that I mated her, accidentally.” Wait, that didn’t come out right.

He was pondering how to fix what he had just said, when
Katie stood with her plate of food and sneered at him, before walking towards their room.

Quinn
laughed, “Whoo boy, you sure mucked that up, didn’t ya?”

“
It would appear that I did.” Conner sat at the table eating his food alone, wondering how he was going to get out of his current quandary.

* * * * *

Katie had just gotten to the room she shared with Conner when her phone rang. Without looking at the caller ID she answered, “Hello.”

“
Katie? It’s Big Eddie, where are you? I thought you’d be back to work by now.” He sounded annoyed.

She suddenly didn
’t feel so hungry, “Uh, I’m at a safe house. I’ve been getting some recent threats.” She wasn’t sure if she could classify them as threats, but the car accident was definitely an attempt.

“
Oh, I wasn’t aware of anything additional going on. I know about your house, and the vandalism on your car. You haven’t reported anything else.”

“
I’m handling it with the local authorities.” Partial truth, because this town was mostly shifters, and Conner reported today’s incident as well as the car accident.

“
Oh, well, you know I’m here if you need to talk or a place to stay. When will you be back to the office?” He was becoming more irate as the conversation continued.

“
I’m not sure; I guess it depends on when we catch the person making the threats. You told me to take my time, no hurry.”

“
I did, didn’t I? Well, report your location so I can contact you if I have questions, or need to see you.”

Katie
was becoming more uncomfortable as the conversation continued. “I’m sorry sir, but I’m in protective custody, and I cannot give out my location or risk putting more people in danger.”

“
This is ridiculous. I am your superior, and I demand you tell me where you are,
right now
!”

“
I’m sorry sir, your breaking up. I don’t have a good reception on my cellphone. I’ll call you later.” And she hung up on her boss. That was probably not the greatest idea, but it was done and she couldn’t summon the energy to care.

She suddenly got the urge to write up her letter of resignation.
If she had her laptop, the one that burned in the fiery pit that was her house; she would have done just that.

She
’d just noticed Conner was standing in the doorway. “Who was that? He was acting pretty pushy, and I don’t think I liked it.”

“
You and me both, Conner. Do you have a computer?”

At his slight nod she continued,
“That was my scary boss and he’s a bit unnerving at times. I’d like to use your computer tomorrow. I need to type up a resume, and write a letter of resignation. I’m done working for that creep.”

“
Great, but you never told me what he wanted. I could hear bits and pieces. He wants you to come back, even though you might be in danger, right?”

“
Yep, that was the gist of it. He was a teensy bit peeved that I didn’t call him with each incident but, like I said he’s unsettling. Both Decker and I hate to have to contact him, for anything.” She appeared worried.

“
You should call Decker and update him on what’s been going on, and see if he’s heard anything. But please, don’t give him the address. I’m fairly certain he wouldn’t leak the information, but someone could have tapped his phone.”

She gave him a kind smile,
“Thank you for understanding. Decker and I are only partners, but we’re very close, he’s like a brother to me.”

“
I’m not a monster that’s going to cut you off from the world. Nothing is going to change. You can still have friends, but now you also have me.”

“
And I do love having you.” She dialed Decker’s number.

“
Do you want me to leave?” Conner asked trying to sound considerate, but coming off mildly panic-stricken.

“
Why, you’d be able to hear me through the door anyways. Plus, I have nothing to hide.”

The phone clicked on,
“Decker.”

“
Hey there, miss me?”

“
Is everything okay? What’s wrong?” He sounded frantic, “I’ve been trying to get ahold of you for hours. Last I heard, Shana answered your phone and said you were in a car accident.”

“
Calm down, everything is fine. I was in a car accident with Conner, but we’re both fine.”

“
The guy from the wedding, and the fire? What’s up? Are you two an item?” He had a teasing note to his voice.

“
Yeah, and don’t start with me. I’m tired and grumpy. Have you heard anything?”

“
Katie and Conner sitting in a tree…”

“
I swear to God, if you were here right now I’d Taser you. Please focus, some more stuff has happened down here, I need your help.”

“
Are you safe?” Just like that, his switch was flipped to cop mode.

“
Yes I’m safe. What have you heard?” Conner was sitting next to her on the bed, attempting to contain his laughter.

“
Just bits and pieces, nothing about the upcoming trial. What happened?”

Katie
sighed, “Well according to Conner, someone pushed our car off the road, and then he brought me to…uh, a safe place and someone threw a bottle at the front door. It had random pictures of us in it, and one picture of me in my underthings.” She was blushing, and it was the most beautiful thing Conner had ever seen.

“
What kind of pictures of us? That doesn’t make any sense.”

“
Pictures of us at the office, I told you random. In one you were at your desk and I had my hand on your shoulder, the other we were in the hall at work hugging.” She suddenly got to thinking, “Hey Decker, have you talked to Big Eddie lately?”

“
Yeah, he’s been a real prick. He called me into his office and asked if anything was going on between us. Why?”

“
He just called my cell, demanding to know where I’m at. I didn’t tell him and to be honest I plan on quitting; you should to.”

“
First things first, were you dating him?”

“
Who?” She was genuinely confused.

“
Big Eddie, you are dense sometimes.”

“
No way was I ever dating him, that’s asinine. Why would you ask me that? You know damn well he freaks me out.” Eew, she got the heebie jeebies just thinking about it.

“
Big Eddie implied that if we were dating, I should step back. I thought it was odd because we’ve never been, ya know, together and maybe he didn’t want relationships in the workplace. But he’s been asking a lot about you since the fire.”

“
No, I never dated him. Yuck. He did come on to me pretty strong once. Remember when he was wearing that wrist splint?”

Both Conner and Decker chuckled.

“
It wasn’t funny. It was very traumatic; I had to go home and shower twice that night just to get his stench off me. I still didn’t feel clean.” Katie didn’t like where this conversation was going.

“
Why didn’t you ever tell me? Never mind, I know why. Because you can take care of yourself. Would it hurt to let someone help you?”

She grinned at Conner and said,
“No, it doesn’t hurt, I’m sorry.”

“
Holy crap, did you just apologize? Lordy, the world just stopped turning.”

“
Funny, you’re a riot. Listen, I feel like something’s going to go down, so watch your back. I don’t know why all this stuff is happening. It’s all very random and most of it is non-violent. Keep your eyes posted.” She was about to disconnect when she heard, “wait,” called through the phone.

“
What now Decker?” She knew she was being impatient, but she wanted to finish eating and go to sleep.

“
So, this Conner’s a good guy, and you’re happy?”

“
Yes, to both. He’s great, and if he can put up with me I plan on staying. Goodnight Decker.”

She disconnected the phone, and looked sideways at Conner who was hip to hip with her on the bed.
“Now that that’s all taken care of let’s eat, and then hit the sack.”

“
Want me to warm up your food?”

“
No, I’d probably be asleep when you came back.”