Free Badgering the Bear: A Paranormal Shifter Romance (Mate in a Minute Speed Mating Agency Book 1) by Flora Dare

1
    J olie looked in the mirror one last time.
    Hair: fluffed.
    Lips: lacquered.
    Eyes: smoky.
    Shoes: four inches too high.
    Inner badger: locked in a cage and grumbling.
    She spun to face her best friend lounging on the bed and gestured at herself. “Seriously Zane? This isn’t me. Even if I do snare a mate, as soon as he sees how I live, he’ll bail.”
    Her best friend, the one responsible for the face, dress and shoes (but not the badger) rolled her eyes. “I told you what would happen if you lost our bet.”
    “I thought you were joking!” Jolie whined. She also reminded herself never to make a bet with her sly, conniving, foxy best friend ever again.
    “Hey, remember, I didn’t make you wear the red dress.” An evil gleam lit in Zane’s eye. “And if you don’t quit bitching, it’s still sitting right there.”
    Jolie glared at her friend. “No, I’m fine.”
    She had tried wearing the dress for all of five minutes. It had taken thirty seconds to pull it on and four and a half minutes fighting to get it off. The terrifying red dress hugged Jolie’s curves so fiercely she thought she’d have to wear it forever.
    “That dress is a freaking designer evening gown. Not appropriate for a bar.” Jolie stared down at her feet, finally confessing the real reason she fought with her friend. “It’s that…” She took a deep breath and let the rest of the words rush out. “I’m not this woman. This woman dressed to the nines—fuck no, dressed to the elevens—isn’t me.”
    Zane grumbled and climbed from the bed, pulling Jolie into a hug the second she was close enough. “Honey, it’s all in fun. Very few people dress up like this on the regular. Why shouldn’t you get to enjoy it? Just because you’re down in the dirt all day doesn’t mean you can’t clean up real nice.”
    “I know, I know.” She sighed. “I feel like I’m lying.” She leaned into her friend’s warm embrace, trying to quell the butterfly migration that had taken up residence in her stomach.
    Zane leaned away from Jolie, her gaze intent. “If you really feel strongly about it, we can call the bet off.”
    Tears pricked Jolie’s eyes. That would be giving up and Jolie Hampstead was no quitter. A whiner, maybe. But no quitter. “And let you hold that over my head the rest of my life?” she snorted. “No way! I’ll do this even if it’s the most terrible idea ever because…”
    They said the line together, “At least it will make a good story.”
    Zane gestured at Jolie, commanding her to spin. Jolie wasn’t going to admit to her friend as she turned that she did feel very pretty. “You look fantastic.” With one swipe of her thumb, Zane adjusted Jolie’s lipstick. “Besides, I know you’re lonely and you want a mate and family. You aren’t going to find that buried in your roses.”
    “I know, but dating has never worked out so well for me. I can’t keep up appearances.” Light gleamed off the red of Jolie’s nails as she splayed them out. “There’s always dirt under my nails and torn cuticles and—”
    “Well, not tonight.” Zane shot down Jolie’s complaints.
    Jolie had to concede, “No, you soaked me and primped me good.” She wrinkled her nose. “But I smell like manure more days than I care to admit.”
    The bed squeaked as Zane flopped down on it, sighing. “Look, the whole idea behind this is seeing if the spark happens.”
    A painful twist in her chest brought Jolie back down to earth. “Not everyone gets a happily ever after, Zane, we both know that.”
    The sharp snapping of Zane’s fingers punctuated her words. “Stop going down that rabbit hole. Oooh, maybe you’ll meet a nice rabbit shifter who’ll want to start a whole warren with you. Bom chicka bom bom!”
    “Stop! You are so ridiculous.” But if Zane wasn’t going to let her out of this whole thing, she might as well try to concede gracefully. “How about I go and not spill anything on anyone, embarrass myself or my hopes