Bear Claw (8 page)

They met, and it seemed perfectly natural for Jamie to position himself as a barrier between her and the rest of the room.

“Good meeting,” he told her sincerely. True, he’d been too entranced with her to pay attention, but the conversation around him proved that his words were true.

“Yes, it was. I’m glad the turnout was so good.”

“We really appreciate all the work Chris is doing.”

“I’m glad he’s gotten involved. If anyone can take this proposed legislation on, he can.”

Jamie agreed. “And you. Thank you for the use of the building and your support.”

Her wide, beautiful smile dazzled him. “You’re welcome.”

“Maybe I can repay your kindness.”

She opened her mouth, closed it then said, “Really?”

“Can I buy you a cup of coffee? There’s a café on the corner that will still be open.”

“I love their lattes,” she replied softly.

Hope sparked within Jamie. This was going well so far.

“So can you sneak out?”

Glancing around, she bit her lower lip. “Let me see what I can work out.”

“I’ll wait by the front door.”

As she hurried away, Jamie turned to watch. He admired her movements around the crowd as she headed toward a younger woman he’d seen a few times in the library.

“Plans?”

Jamie actually jumped then laughed and spun around. “Damn, man, put a bell on,” he told Cody.

“Aubrey tells me the same thing. We were going to invite you to go out to dinner with us but I believe I just heard you making other plans.”

“I’m only taking her out for coffee so get that look off your face.”

“Uh-huh.” Cody slapped him on the back. “I’ll tell Aubrey you’ll take a rain check. I don’t think she’ll be too upset after she finds out why you won’t be joining us. Although I do think she’ll want details.”

Jamie had no doubt Aubrey would get a hold of him early the next morning. She was the one person he could always talk to about his crush on the sexy librarian.

“I’m ready,” Brandy said as she returned. “Cam is going to lock up for me.”

“Great,” he responded, pleased. He placed his hand on the small of her back to guide her, although, if he were honest with himself, he wanted to touch her as much as he could. “Let’s walk over. It’s a really nice night. Finally a break from the scorching temps.”

“Sounds good.”

While Brandy waved as they passed a few people, she never stopped or moved away from his touch. Pulling open the glass exit doors, he took a deep breath of the cool night air.

He hadn’t noticed how crowded the small space in the library had been until he was free of it. The sun had set just when he’d arrived but the neighborhood was nicely lit.

Since the area had gotten more and more rundown over the years, the locals had taken it into their own hands to keep their streets properly lit. The kids could still ride their bikes, and couples who wanted to enjoy the day or evening could stroll down the sidewalk.

The café was only a few shops down and he could already see the bright coffee cup sign.

“This was one of the first places I stopped after I moved over here. The waitress, Angela, was the one who actually recommended that I visit the library.”

“I love Angela. Her kids never miss one of our special days. Eight-year-old Kevin always helps me pick the featured children’s books every month. He says that he has to read them first to make sure they’re good.”

Jamie chuckled along with her. “That’s great.”

“They are such good boys,” Brandy told him wistfully.

He glanced over at her face. Did Brandy want children? Jamie already knew he did, but not too soon. Knowing he was ready to find his match, he was still committed to his career.

A first date was probably too early to bring up the topic of her bearing his kids anyway.

“What made you pick this side of the city?” she asked.

It was a good question. The answer, however, was complicated. “Honestly? I felt like this was where I was supposed to be.”

“Really?”

A little embarrassed, Jamie stuck his hands in his pockets. “Yeah, well, I’d looked at several places but when I came across the apartment here I instantly knew as soon as I walked in.”

They’d reached the café and he noticed that the patio seating was almost empty. “Inside or out?”

“I’m good with here, if you are.”

“Great.” He had been hoping she would say that.

As Brandy walked toward one of the small tables located in the corner, Jamie spotted Angela through the window and waved.

The sweet server returned the gesture. Brandy had chosen the chair next to the railing, allowing Jamie the seat with his back to the wall where he could keep an eye out. He didn’t know if she’d done it on purpose but he was extremely grateful.

Like most cops, he preferred a spot where he could watch for any danger. The fact that Brandy had sensed this about him had started their coffee date off in the right direction.

And this
was
a date as far as he was concerned.

“Anna saw us,” he told Brandy, sitting down. “She should be right out.”

“Cool. So finish telling me about picking your apartment.”

“I’m sure you don’t really want to hear about that,” he hedged.

She leaned forward and smiled. “Actually, I do. After you’re done, I will tell you how I came to work at the county library.”

Jamie wasn’t sure why she put the two stories together but decided he really didn’t have anything to lose. “Okay, so after I viewed the apartment, I told the landlord I’d call him back. I don’t think he expected to hear from me. From what the neighbors told me, he’d shown it several times that month and no one wanted it. They were beginning to think it was haunted.”

She giggled softly and the sound traveled through his body, warming him from the inside. His cock started to lengthen and he had to adjust his position in the chair.

“Instead of hurrying to my next appointment, as I’d done all day, I decided to check out the neighborhood.”

Brandy smiled, already nodding as though she knew what he was going to say next.

“What I saw was what I’d always thought a real neighborhood should look like. The kids were playing and several parents were sitting or standing around watching. There was basketball, bike riding and hopscotch. It was neat. And as I took all of this in, everyone I passed said hello. I was amazed. I lived in a gated condo residence in Phoenix and can honestly say I didn’t know any of my neighbor’s names.”

“And now?”

“If I’m working late, I know someone is keeping an eye on my truck or motorcycle. On the weekends, one of the ladies will drop by some kind of baked goods. The kids all look up to me—the biker dude with tattoos. But they don’t see that. They call me sir and are respectful.”

Right as he finished his story, Angela came out.

“I’m so sorry.” She rushed over with two mugs full of coffee. “At least I could deliver both your drinks since neither of you ever orders anything different. If you didn’t bring me so much business, I might be worried about the fact you both have the same coffee addiction.”

They laughed at Angela’s observation.

“Now tell me what my two favorite customers are doing together? Date?”

Brandy had picked up her coffee to blow on it. She jerked her hand, slopping some over the edge. “Jeez.”

“Oh, honey,” Angela chided. “A woman can hope.” She handed Brandy some napkins.

Jamie couldn’t help but notice Brandy’s deep blush.

“Hoping?” he inquired, picking up his cup.

“Well, I have two smart and kind customers who are the same age and single. If the two of you ever came in at the same time I would have done everything I could have to make sure you met.”

“Angela!”

Jamie chuckled at Brandy’s exclamation.

“Guess it turns out we figured it out on our own,” he said and winked at Angela.

The older woman beamed back.

Brandy set the napkins to the side, peering at him. “Uh, yeah. Guess we didn’t need any help.”

Her bright eyes urged him to lean forward.

Clearing her throat, Angela started backing away. “Just coffee?”

Without taking his gaze from Brandy’s, Jamie nodded. “Yes. Thanks, Angela.”

She made a quick but discreet exit.

“So addiction, huh?” Brandy asked, blinking and breaking eye contact.

“I may drink a cup or two or ten a day,” he confessed.

“Should I ask about any other vices you may have? I think I can live with the caffeine.”

“I hope so since I know I can’t do without my daily java,” he said. “But other than beautiful, sexy, sweet librarians, I can’t say I have any other dependencies at this time.”

Brandy’s mouth opened slightly as her heartbeat sped up enough for him to pick up the change easily. Jamie itched to reach out and touch her. Seeing her hand shaking, he wondered if she had the same need.

She cleared her throat, the spell once again breaking between them.

“It’s funny. I never saw you anywhere other than the library,” Brandy told him, quickly changing the subject.

Jamie let her move to a safer topic. The way the heat burned in her gaze was enough to let him know he wasn’t alone in his desire. “Yeah, although I have to blame that on my job. I work some weird hours. Plus, you don’t actually live around here, do you?”

“No, I live in Park Palace Estates.”

“Wow.” He was impressed. “Nice neighborhood.”

“Yeah, well, I guess you can say I had some help.”

Curious, Jamie waved for her to continue.

“So you know Chris is my cousin.”

“Yes.”

“And our family is…”

Jamie couldn’t believe he’d never put it together. “The Brooks. Of course.” He’d known her last name but he would have never have associated Brandy with the wealthy relatives from a high-society status. Her kin owned several large business and the others had high-profile jobs.

“Yeah, so I have family money. I got an inheritance from my great-grandma on my mom’s side.”

“And you work at the library,” he said flatly. He wasn’t sure how to take this new information. If he’d thought Brandy was out of his league before, he had no doubt anymore that she was untouchable.

“I choose to work there. Just like it is my decision to support the shifters and not the legislation against them.”

“The list Chris handed out named several businesses your family owns that are huge donators.”

“Yes,” she replied tensely.

He was at a loss on what to say. How this coffee date had turned so quickly was devastating. He should have gone back to work.

“Can I tell you how I found myself working a county job before you judge me?”

“I’m not—”

“You are. And I don’t blame you. However, I’m not like my parents, or my brothers, and I don’t believe the same things as they do.”

Of course, that made him feel like shit. He was judging her now that he knew what her lineage was. “I apologize. And I would like to hear your story.”

She seemed pleased, nodding and smiling. “Chris started dating a new girl who lived over here. He wanted me to meet her and we’d made plans at the little Italian place a couple blocks over.”

“Mi Piaci,” Jamie provided. He loved their pasta.

“Right. Well, I was early. I’d been at my parents’ and they were trying to push another one of their suitors at me so I had an hour to kill and didn’t want to drive back across town to my house, so I was driving around.”

She took a deep breath. “Then I passed the library. It was summer, and the trees were in full bloom, the sun shining. I made a U-turn and pulled into the parking lot. I sat there for a little while watching. A mom came out of the building with a stack of books and a child of about five or six. In a backpack, she had a blanket and they set up under one of the large trees. She leaned against it as he put his head in her lap. Then she started to read to him.”

Her eyes had begun to fill at the memory. Jamie placed his hand on the table, palm up. Slowly, almost cautiously, she lifted hers and placed her palm against his.

“It was the most perfect moment I’d ever witnessed. So I climbed out of my air-conditioned car and went inside the old, beat-up brick structure. I walked in and I knew…it was fate.”

Brandy smiled so big that Jamie couldn’t help but grin back at her.

“I’ve never had anyone read to me. I had private tutors and attended only the best schools. All I thought about was how happy that boy was. I walked up to the counter and asked if they had any positions open. The lady who ran the place had been there forty-three years. She took one look at me, came around the counter and hugged me.”

He tightened his hand on hers. “Fate brought you there.”

“Just like your apartment,” she said softly.

With those words, all of his concerns dissipated like sugar in a hot cup of java. The moment was perfect, even if it was overly romantic. Hell, who was he kidding? He loved romance.

They finished their coffees, gazes locked on each another and they still held hands.

Pushing his empty mug aside with his free hand, he leaned closer to her. “I’m glad we did this.”

“Me too,” she whispered.

He brought his lips down on hers. Jamie shuddered as they connected for the first time. Impatient, the bear inside him wanted him to take control and plunder her mouth. Instead, he kept the kiss light, drawing her to him, teasing with a swipe of his tongue. Pulling back slightly, he grinned at her.

She opened her mouth then shook her head. Not understanding, Jamie cursed silently. She’d responded to his kiss so her reaction confused him. He started to withdraw more but paused because she laughed softly.

“Let’s try that again,” she murmured, reaching for him. Brandy buried her hands in his hair and tugged him forward.

This time the kiss was explosive.

She pushed her tongue at the seam of his lips. He opened for her, allowing her entrance, and their tongues rubbed gently.

Swallowing his moan, Brandy pushed off her chair slightly to press their shoulders together. Jamie wrapped his arms around her back, losing himself in the intimacy of the moment.

Too soon, he had to take a full breath and he ripped his mouth from hers. He stared at her, panting, and desperately hard.