Chasing Tara (Bryant Station Curves) (3 page)

BOOK: Chasing Tara (Bryant Station Curves)
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We
don’t need her that bad. Why are you so fixated with a mate now? We had Tina and you ignored her.

She was not our mate and not worthy of our attention.
Honey and lemon scent is our mate.

The honey and lemon smell intensified causing Jason’s cock to double in size. A low rumble vibrated his chest. His bear wanted the mate with the honey and lemon scent. Even Jason’s body betrayed him.

Deep down Jason knew he was being unreasonable. The chance of a second mate sat in front of him, but here he was, making excuses to shove his new mate away. He hadn’t even met the woman yet. What was wrong with him? He did not have any of these issues with Tina Davenport.

Because she was not our mate, we did not care for her or about what happened to her.
Jason’s bear rubbed against Jason’s ribs.

Quit! I
can’t let you out in the middle of Joy’s restaurant. There are too many humans here; besides, Joy would kill us if we damaged her business.
Jason warned his bear. He ran his hand through his brown hair.
Maybe you’re right about Tina.

I know I am right. You would not listen.

Jason frowned. He thought about Tina and about Allison. It was not just that they had different personalities; it was that one was his mate and the other was not.

He
didn’t care what happened to Tina, but Allison, his mate, was a different story. She had been the most important person in his life, and when he lost her, he lost a part of himself. Losing Tina was a huge relief.

Jason looked across the room. He raised his eyebrows. Ben, his son, was bouncing a cub on his lap while feeding her French fries. A woman with beautiful auburn curls and a curvy hourglass figure walked over to the table from the back. She sat down next to Ben. The honey and lemon scent wrapped around Jason, driving his body and his bear crazy. He knew she was his mate—his second chance.

Go get our mate,
growled his bear.
Go get our mate.

For once in a long time, Jason and his bear agreed about something. The woman with all the luscious curves was their mate, but Jason
wasn’t sure if he really wanted the second chance like his bear did.

 

 

CHAPTER 3

 

“Was Eddy still at the garage?” asked Lisa when Tara returned to the table.

“He’s going to pick up the car right now,” said Tara. “I hope it can be fixed. I don’t have the money to get another car, at least not right now.”

“If there’s anything we can do, we will help.” Lisa reached over and squeezed Tara’s hand.

“Thanks, but you’ve done enough already.” Tara gave Lisa a quick smile. She watched David, Lisa’s mate, but his arm around her shoulders. Tara
didn’t want Lisa’s mate, but she wished someone a handsome as David would hold her and look at her the way he looked at Lisa. She shook her head. “What am I thinking?” she mumbled under her breath.

“You’re thinking about going home with me,” said Jason.

Tara’s eyebrows shot up. “That’s the crappiest pick-up line I have ever heard. I feel sorry for the women who fall for it,” she said as she turned her head. Tara found herself staring at a pair of jeans with a huge bulge in the front.

“My eyes are up here, baby.”

“If you want me looking at your face, you shouldn’t park that so close.” Tara let her eyes slowly travel up the man’s body, and what a gorgeous body it was. She licked her lips before she could stop herself.

“We could get closer,” said Jason. He struggled to keep his bear in check. It wanted to grab the woman and mark her as theirs. The luscious beauty was his mate, and his second chance at the happiness only a mate could give him, if he could get past his lingering doubts.

Tara stared into the guy’s beautiful, liquid green eyes. The desire she saw there sent her heart racing. She took a deep breath and slowly released it. Tara looked away from the man. She stared down at the table, making sure her hair covered the bruises on the left side of her face. It was bad enough Lisa and her mate had seen them and questioned her before this guy arrived, but she didn’t want him to see the bruises. Everyone in the diner probably saw the bruises and they were thinking she was running from an abusive husband. How many times had she seen women with bruises and thought the same thing?

She peeked up at the
guy without moving her head. He stood there, staring at her. Tara bit her bottom lip. Andrew, her deceased husband, loved her, but he never looked at her with lust and hunger the way this stranger looked at her.

Her nipples hardened and her breast felt heavier. Her pussy quivered. Moisture pooled between her legs. Tara cursed her traitorous body. This was not a priority in her life. With Donald chasing her, keeping Hailey safe and staying alive were her only priorities.

She did not have time for anything else. Tara pressed her legs together and told her body to cooperate.

A warm hand gently pushed her hair out of her face. Tara winced when he brushed her bruised cheek.

Jason heard her sharp intake of air and felt her jerk away from his touch. He frowned. He smelled her arousal. He knew she wanted him as much as he wanted her, but something was not right. His touch should not hurt her, just the opposite. She should be leaning into it. Jason lifted her hair away from her face.

Jason’s gums ached. He felt his teeth lengthen. His bear growled and pushed toward the surface. Jason’s skin itched with the need to shift. Someone had hurt his mate. Someone would pay for the marks he had left on her face.

“Jason, get control now!” David stood up and put his hand on his older brother’s shoulder.

Jason barely heard David over his bears growls and roars of rage. He shoved his bear, forcing it back.
We have to find out who did this before we can make him pay,
he told the bear.

Reluctantly, his bear retreated. It snarled at him, but did not say anything.

Jason stared at the ugly bruise marring his mate’s face. “Who did this to you?” he asked Tara.

Tara knocked his hand away. “It doesn’t concern you. In fact, why don’t you go away?”

“That’s not happening.” Jason grabbed an empty chair from the table behind him and sat down next to Tara.

She frowned at the
guy. “I think I told you to leave me alone.”

“You did, but I don’t listen very well.”

“That’s obvious.”

“Who hit you?” Jason put his hand on the back of her chair.

Tara turned to Lisa. “Do you know who he is?”

“Unfortunately, that’s Jason, my older brother and Ben’s dad,” said David before Lisa could answer.

“Has he always had the hearing problem?”

Ben and Lisa laughed.

“I don’t have a hearing problem,” said Jason.

“Obviously, you do, because I told you to go away and you didn’t listen.” Tara crossed her arms.

Jason’s bear made several clicking noises.

Would you shut up,
Jason snapped at his bear.

Mate knows you. You do not listen.

I do too listen.

“Was he dropped on his head when he was a baby?” asked Tara.

“What did you say?” asked Jason.

David snorted. “Mom may have dropped him a time or two. I’ll have to ask her.”

“I wasn’t dropped on my head as a baby. Quit changing the subject,” said Jason. He scooted his chair a little closer to Tara. “You know my name, but I don’t know yours.”

“You didn’t bother to ask my name. You decided to use that crappy pick-up line instead,” said Tara.

“Jason, what’s your probl—”

Lisa elbowed David. When he looked at her, she motioned her head toward Tina and then toward Jason.

David frowned, but sniffed the air and took a good look at his brother and the woman Lisa found on the side of the road. A huge grin spread across his face. He leaned back in his chair and put his arm around Lisa.

“Tara, this is Jason Anderson. Jason, this is Tara Wilson, and the cute little girl Ben is holding is her daughter, Haley.” Lisa winked at David as she snuggled up against him.

“Tara? Like the plantation in that old movie?” Jason grinned.

“Now you’re going to make fun of my name? Unbelievable!” Tara felt the tears forming. It had been years since anyone had made fun of her name, but during her junior and senior years in high school, the football team started calling her Plantation Tara and Tara the Cow, all because she refused to go out with Tucker Goodman, the star quarterback and the biggest jerk in high school.

Jason saw the unshed tears glistening in Tara’s eyes. The scent of her pain wrapped around him like a vise. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“You didn’t hurt me.” Tara wiped her eyes.

“Yes, I did, and I didn’t mean to. It may sound cheesy, but the movie with Tara and Scarlet was one of my favorite movies.”

“Yeah, I’m sure it is. Go away and leave me alone.” Tara wanted Jason to go away almost as much as she wanted him to pull her into his arms kiss her while he plunged his cock deep inside her.

“I’m not leaving.”

“Fine, I’ll leave,” said Tara. “Lisa, is there a motel or something around here?”

Lisa’s cheeks turned pink. “I’m sorry, but the only motel in town is filled.”

Tara frowned. “It’s filled? How do you know it’s filled?”

“Family and friends have been arriving all day. They’re coming here because of my wedding. I’m sorry,” said Lisa.

“Absolutely,
fricking great! Can my day get any worse?” Tara folded her arms across her chest.

“I’m sorry,” said Lisa.

Tara looked at the other woman. “You have nothing to be sorry about. This is my problem and I have to deal with it.” Tara gave Lisa a quick smile. “Congratulations on your upcoming marriage, and I mean it.” Tara looked over at Haley.

Ben was still feeding her French fries. It was odd. Haley
didn’t like people she did not know, but she was sitting in Ben’s lap and eating the fries. She reached over and ran her hand through her daughter’s hair, causing Haley to giggle.

Tara smiled.

Haley was her bright ray of sunshine.  Tara had to keep her safe.

Jason watched Tara’s whole face light up when she looked at her daughter. He knew that
look well. Every time he looked at Ben, he got the same look on his face.

Our mate likes cubs.

She may like cubs, but right now, she does not like us.

Not like you. She will like me. She will want more cubs.

We will just have to wait and see.

Mate wants us. She is smart. She needs to know we will protect her and her cub. Our cub is pretty and special.

Jason snorted. His bear claimed Tara’s daughter as its cub, even though they had yet to claim the woman. Jason knew there was no way his bear would let the woman go for any reason. He glanced at her left hand and saw no ring.

“I’ve got your orders.” Joy appeared at the table with a huge tray of food.

“Joy’s burgers are the best.”

Joy rolled her eyes. “You like them because I
comp them for you.” She placed a basket with two burgers in front of him. “And I put extra bacon on Lisa’s.”

Lisa smiled. “You remembered.”

“I have to watch out for my baby cousin.” Joy put the other baskets on the table. “And this little cutie needs to eat something besides all those fries. Here’s a small cheeseburger for her. I took the liberty of cutting it into quarters so that it’s easier for her to handle.” Joy winked.

“Hey, Joy, you’ve got a phone call.” A male’s voice bounced across the room.

“Thanks, Marty. I’ll be right there,” Joy called out to the guy behind the cash register. “I’ll be back in a few minutes with refills for your drinks.” She turned and left.

“Here Ben, let me take Haley so you can eat your burger.” Tara reached for Haley.

“I’ve got her. You eat.” Ben grabbed the basket with the small burger and put it next to his burger basket. He picked up one of the quarters and handed it to Haley. She immediately took it and started chewing on it. “See, we’re good.” Ben flashed a grin at Tara.

“Okay, but give Haley to me when you get tired of feeding her.” Tara watched Ben take care of Haley. He was a great older brother. Haley needed siblings.

“You need to eat before your food gets cold.” Jason pushed a red basket closer to her.

Before Tara could say anything to Jason, Joy came back to the table. “Tara, Eddy’s on the phone. He’s got your car back at the garage, but he said he needs to talk to you.” She handed Tara the cordless phone.

Tara felt her heart beat pick up when she took the phone. “Hello?”

“Mrs. Wilson, this is Eddy at the garage. Your car is here and I’ve done a quick diagnostic on it.”

Tara frowned. She had a gut feeling what he had to say wasn’t good, but she crossed her fingers and hoped for a miracle. “Can it be fixed?”

“Based on the age of the car and the number of things I’ve already found wrong with it, the car isn’t worth repairing. The parts alone are expensive, and then there’s the labor for doing the work.”

“This isn’t good.” Tara closed her eyes and bit down on her bottom lip.

“No ma’am, it isn’t, and I’m afraid we’ll find even more wrong when we actually tear into the engine,” said Eddy.

“Is there any way you can temporarily patch the major problems? I just need the car to make it to the other side of San Antonio,” pleaded Tara. She knew the car was not fixable, but she had to ask.

“Even if I could just patch it, there would be no guarantee if it would even work. It would be a waste of time and money.”

“But, couldn’t you—”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Wilson. In all honestly, you would be better off buying another car and sending this one to the junkyard,” said Eddy. “If you really want to try to repair it, I’ll try, but there won’t be anyway it can be patched. Parts have to be completely replaced.”

“I need to think about this.”

“I understand,” said Eddy. “Why don’t you sleep on it and either call me or come by the garage in the morning.”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Tara turned off the telephone and put it down on the table.

“Are you okay?” Jason fought the urge to pull her into his arms. He knew she was not okay. There was a lot more to her story than just the broken down car.

Our mate is running. Someone hurt her.

That’s
obvious just looking at the bruises on her face.
Jason mentally shook his head at his bear.

We need to take care of her and our cubs.

Her cub doesn’t belong to us.
Jason reminded his bear.

I claim. Cub is mine.  Ben is mine. I will protect my cubs.

Damn stubborn bear!
Jason knew his bear was right.

Tara drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, in an attempt to control her emotions. The last thing she needed was for everyone to see her crying. “I have to get to the other side of San Antonio. The sooner Haley and I get there, the better it will be for us.”

Jason’s bear growled.
Mate does not need to go into cat territory.

BOOK: Chasing Tara (Bryant Station Curves)
8.17Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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