Fiona huffed, then turned back to stomp her way to her truck. Damn, that woman could be stubborn. Wyatt climbed into his truck, then waited for Fiona to pull out. She did and didn't try to lose him. He stopped in front of her apartment. She walked up to him. He rolled down his window. "Happy?" she said."Yes.""Good night, Wyatt."She turned away from him. He watched her climb the steps to her place. He waited until she unlocked the door, then turned on a light. He waited a few more minutes before driving off. Something wasn't right about this situation. Someone could've been waiting in her apartment. He should have checked first. Shit. He turned his truck around. Wyatt knew he wouldn't sleep until he was sure she was safe. That was his job. Even if she didn't know that she was his mate, he had to protect her. He'd failed when she left, but now she was back. She was his responsibility even if she didn't like it, no matter how stubborn she was, he would always push back when it came
"Fi, come on. I'm here. I'm willing to listen without judgment. If nothing else, we are friends. We work together. I respect you and your skills. At least give me a chance to help."Fiona shook her head. Shit. She was going to be stubborn. Wyatt looked around her apartment. It was her usual mess. He found a chair and sat on it. "I'm not leaving until you tell me."Sometimes with Fiona, you just had to dig in and wait. He'd stay all night and into tomorrow to figure this out. She was his mate. He owed her at least that much. Even if she never felt anything for him, he was going to protect her. She was part of him, part of his den. He couldn't walk out of here knowing she was in danger. Especially not knowing if that person could come back. Nope he was here for the duration. If she left, he'd follow. He wasn't letting her go that easily a second time.She sighed. Her gaze traveled back up to him and held his. "Okay, I'll tell you."***Fiona couldn't lie to Wyatt, but she didn't really
Wyatt wasn't going to budge on this condition. He wanted Fiona in his life. In his house. In his bed. That way he could prove to her that they belonged together. Prove that she was his mate, and if he did, he wouldn't have to live alone for the rest of his life. He'd protect her. Protect her sister. They were all part of his den. He'd die for them. That's the deal.So she could sleep with him. Fiona used a band on her arm and pulled her hair back into a ponytail. He preferred her hair down, but this meant she was getting down to work. "I guess I'll pack."He couldn't hide his grin. With Fiona, the victories were few and far between. He wouldn't gloat, but he'd enjoy it. "How can I help?"She looked around, then laughed. "You think I have trunks and trunks of clothing hidden somewhere?""I guess not."He settled on her desk chair to watch her. She scurried around in a haphazard way. Of course she would. That was Fiona. If there was an efficient way to do something, she would do the op
"Can't say. Have you called the cops?""I wanted to wait until you got here," he said. "Or Wyatt.""Wyatt hasn't been here?" Fiona said."No. I was waiting for one of you.""Call the cops. We need to make a report to get the insurance money."But she knew who this had been and there would be no evidence left behind. He must've left her place last night and come here. He must have been following her to know where she'd been working. Fiona pulled her phone out of her pocket. She was going to have to fire her crew. They weren't going to be needed. She was giving the job to Wyatt. And getting out of town. No matter what he said, he couldn't protect her from this. She couldn't let this spill over onto him.She walked outside with Jeb who was calling the cops. Wyatt pulled up. He climbed out, concern on his face. Fiona knew that she didn't have a poker face. He could probably tell something was wrong. He glanced at Jeb then back to her."What's going on?" he said."Someone pulled out the wi
"That bitch is trouble. You should stay away from her.""I don't take advice from punks. I expect you to deliver this message to your boss.""Fuck you."Wyatt smacked his head against the wall again. "Do it… Or what I do next will be worse."The man gritted his teeth. Then he nodded. "Fine."Wyatt pushed him down. He wanted to let his bear loose to tear this man from limb to limb, but he couldn't do that on Main Street. He'd threatened his mate and that was not a forgivable offense. "Tell your boss," Wyatt said, then walked back to his truck. He didn't look back at the man. The message had been clear enough and Wyatt knew the man was a bully. He wouldn't attack Wyatt because he knew he'd lose. Wyatt climbed into his truck. He let his heart slow down. He wasn't one to beat up people, but he wouldn't back down from a fight. Not when he had to defend someone in his den. Especially when he had to defend his mate. When he was sure he was calm enough, he started the truck. He pulled up
Wyatt shifted off of Fiona, then came back to lie next to her. He nuzzled her neck, his hand resting on her stomach. "I wish we could stay here forever," he murmured."That would be glorious. Pretend that the world wasn't out there. That nothing was wrong.""We'll work it out, Fi. I promise.""How can you be so sure?" she said. He groaned. "I just am. Trust me. I know that's hard for you."He was right. She didn't trust easily. Too many important people had let her down in life. Including Wyatt. He seemed as if he wanted to make that up to her. She patted him. "We need to get to work.""Ever the practical one," Wyatt said.He kissed her cheek, then stood. He held out his hand, helping her up. He pulled her into his arms, his face against her neck.She couldn't imagine being anywhere else. She loved this man, and as much as that scared her, she knew he wouldn't break her heart. At least not intentionally. He was a grown man who clearly knew what he wanted. And that was her. Her phon
Wyatt squeezed her hand. Asking for help was hard for Fiona. He was proud that she was putting aside her pride to save her sister. When the forms were filled out, Colin sent them via email to his boss. "Let me walk over to his office and talk to him," Colin said.He left. Fiona turned to Wyatt. "I'm not sure how I'm going to repay this.""We'll work it out.'"You shouldn't take this debt on. It's my problem. I'll figure it out."He wished she would stop. She would understand as soon as she realized they were fated to be together. "Fi, it's okay. Let's worry about getting your sister back.""I'm scared for her," Fiona said."I know."Wyatt kissed her hand. "They have no reason to hurt her.""I hope not."Colin came back with a smile on his face. "Good news. It's all set. The money will be in your account in twenty-four hours."Wyatt stood, then hugged his cousin. "Thanks, Colin.""Not a problem."Fiona hugged him also and Colin sent Wyatt a leer over her shoulder. Wyatt showed his co
Fiona had no idea what Wyatt was so concerned about. What could he possibly show her that would be a problem? Things had been going well. "You wait on the porch, but you can approach me when I'm done. I won't hurt you. It's still me."Okay. That was weird. She didn't know what to expect. She wanted to lean, pretend a casual posture, but she couldn't. Not with the uncertainty in his eyes. Wyatt had never done anything to scare her. Until now. "You ready?"She nodded. "Go ahead."She only had less than an hour before the kidnappers would call again. Impatience warred with curiosity. He turned to her while standing in the yard. At first she blinked her eyes as if she wasn't sure what she was seeing. A few minutes later, where Wyatt had stood, a bear now stood. She looked around the yard. Wyatt hadn't moved. She'd been watching the whole time. The bear went down on all four paws. Her brain told her to be afraid. She wasn't. This had to be Wyatt, but what had happened? The bear approac
Fiona had no idea what Wyatt was so concerned about. What could he possibly show her that would be a problem? Things had been going well. "You wait on the porch, but you can approach me when I'm done. I won't hurt you. It's still me."Okay. That was weird. She didn't know what to expect. She wanted to lean, pretend a casual posture, but she couldn't. Not with the uncertainty in his eyes. Wyatt had never done anything to scare her. Until now. "You ready?"She nodded. "Go ahead."She only had less than an hour before the kidnappers would call again. Impatience warred with curiosity. He turned to her while standing in the yard. At first she blinked her eyes as if she wasn't sure what she was seeing. A few minutes later, where Wyatt had stood, a bear now stood. She looked around the yard. Wyatt hadn't moved. She'd been watching the whole time. The bear went down on all four paws. Her brain told her to be afraid. She wasn't. This had to be Wyatt, but what had happened? The bear approac
Wyatt squeezed her hand. Asking for help was hard for Fiona. He was proud that she was putting aside her pride to save her sister. When the forms were filled out, Colin sent them via email to his boss. "Let me walk over to his office and talk to him," Colin said.He left. Fiona turned to Wyatt. "I'm not sure how I'm going to repay this.""We'll work it out.'"You shouldn't take this debt on. It's my problem. I'll figure it out."He wished she would stop. She would understand as soon as she realized they were fated to be together. "Fi, it's okay. Let's worry about getting your sister back.""I'm scared for her," Fiona said."I know."Wyatt kissed her hand. "They have no reason to hurt her.""I hope not."Colin came back with a smile on his face. "Good news. It's all set. The money will be in your account in twenty-four hours."Wyatt stood, then hugged his cousin. "Thanks, Colin.""Not a problem."Fiona hugged him also and Colin sent Wyatt a leer over her shoulder. Wyatt showed his co
Wyatt shifted off of Fiona, then came back to lie next to her. He nuzzled her neck, his hand resting on her stomach. "I wish we could stay here forever," he murmured."That would be glorious. Pretend that the world wasn't out there. That nothing was wrong.""We'll work it out, Fi. I promise.""How can you be so sure?" she said. He groaned. "I just am. Trust me. I know that's hard for you."He was right. She didn't trust easily. Too many important people had let her down in life. Including Wyatt. He seemed as if he wanted to make that up to her. She patted him. "We need to get to work.""Ever the practical one," Wyatt said.He kissed her cheek, then stood. He held out his hand, helping her up. He pulled her into his arms, his face against her neck.She couldn't imagine being anywhere else. She loved this man, and as much as that scared her, she knew he wouldn't break her heart. At least not intentionally. He was a grown man who clearly knew what he wanted. And that was her. Her phon
"That bitch is trouble. You should stay away from her.""I don't take advice from punks. I expect you to deliver this message to your boss.""Fuck you."Wyatt smacked his head against the wall again. "Do it… Or what I do next will be worse."The man gritted his teeth. Then he nodded. "Fine."Wyatt pushed him down. He wanted to let his bear loose to tear this man from limb to limb, but he couldn't do that on Main Street. He'd threatened his mate and that was not a forgivable offense. "Tell your boss," Wyatt said, then walked back to his truck. He didn't look back at the man. The message had been clear enough and Wyatt knew the man was a bully. He wouldn't attack Wyatt because he knew he'd lose. Wyatt climbed into his truck. He let his heart slow down. He wasn't one to beat up people, but he wouldn't back down from a fight. Not when he had to defend someone in his den. Especially when he had to defend his mate. When he was sure he was calm enough, he started the truck. He pulled up
"Can't say. Have you called the cops?""I wanted to wait until you got here," he said. "Or Wyatt.""Wyatt hasn't been here?" Fiona said."No. I was waiting for one of you.""Call the cops. We need to make a report to get the insurance money."But she knew who this had been and there would be no evidence left behind. He must've left her place last night and come here. He must have been following her to know where she'd been working. Fiona pulled her phone out of her pocket. She was going to have to fire her crew. They weren't going to be needed. She was giving the job to Wyatt. And getting out of town. No matter what he said, he couldn't protect her from this. She couldn't let this spill over onto him.She walked outside with Jeb who was calling the cops. Wyatt pulled up. He climbed out, concern on his face. Fiona knew that she didn't have a poker face. He could probably tell something was wrong. He glanced at Jeb then back to her."What's going on?" he said."Someone pulled out the wi
Wyatt wasn't going to budge on this condition. He wanted Fiona in his life. In his house. In his bed. That way he could prove to her that they belonged together. Prove that she was his mate, and if he did, he wouldn't have to live alone for the rest of his life. He'd protect her. Protect her sister. They were all part of his den. He'd die for them. That's the deal.So she could sleep with him. Fiona used a band on her arm and pulled her hair back into a ponytail. He preferred her hair down, but this meant she was getting down to work. "I guess I'll pack."He couldn't hide his grin. With Fiona, the victories were few and far between. He wouldn't gloat, but he'd enjoy it. "How can I help?"She looked around, then laughed. "You think I have trunks and trunks of clothing hidden somewhere?""I guess not."He settled on her desk chair to watch her. She scurried around in a haphazard way. Of course she would. That was Fiona. If there was an efficient way to do something, she would do the op
"Fi, come on. I'm here. I'm willing to listen without judgment. If nothing else, we are friends. We work together. I respect you and your skills. At least give me a chance to help."Fiona shook her head. Shit. She was going to be stubborn. Wyatt looked around her apartment. It was her usual mess. He found a chair and sat on it. "I'm not leaving until you tell me."Sometimes with Fiona, you just had to dig in and wait. He'd stay all night and into tomorrow to figure this out. She was his mate. He owed her at least that much. Even if she never felt anything for him, he was going to protect her. She was part of him, part of his den. He couldn't walk out of here knowing she was in danger. Especially not knowing if that person could come back. Nope he was here for the duration. If she left, he'd follow. He wasn't letting her go that easily a second time.She sighed. Her gaze traveled back up to him and held his. "Okay, I'll tell you."***Fiona couldn't lie to Wyatt, but she didn't really
Fiona huffed, then turned back to stomp her way to her truck. Damn, that woman could be stubborn. Wyatt climbed into his truck, then waited for Fiona to pull out. She did and didn't try to lose him. He stopped in front of her apartment. She walked up to him. He rolled down his window. "Happy?" she said."Yes.""Good night, Wyatt."She turned away from him. He watched her climb the steps to her place. He waited until she unlocked the door, then turned on a light. He waited a few more minutes before driving off. Something wasn't right about this situation. Someone could've been waiting in her apartment. He should have checked first. Shit. He turned his truck around. Wyatt knew he wouldn't sleep until he was sure she was safe. That was his job. Even if she didn't know that she was his mate, he had to protect her. He'd failed when she left, but now she was back. She was his responsibility even if she didn't like it, no matter how stubborn she was, he would always push back when it came
"What are we supposed to talk about? Business is what we have in common.""How does it feel to be back here?" Wyatt said. Fiona hadn't really thought about it. Her only reason for coming back to was show Wyatt that she didn't need him. That she was as competent as an electrician as he was. She'd done that, sort of. "Uh, I guess okay.""It hasn't really changed much.""No, it hasn't."What a banal conversation. Was this how it was going to be for them for the rest of the job? This awkwardness?"How's your sister?""She's fine. In college and loving it.""You didn't want to go to college?"She'd had that dream at one point, but when her parents died, the desire had died with it. "I'm not cut out for sitting in a classroom."He nodded, then sipped his beer. "I can understand that. I'm not interested in theory. Tell me how something works for me. How can I use it in my job?""Exactly. You wire something, a light works. It's more rewarding," she said."Instant gratification.""Yeah, in a w