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

up.”
    Zane sat up abruptly and said, “How about you act like your honey badger cousins and stop giving a fuck?”
    Well, there was that option, too.

2
    J olie sat in the car , staring at the restaurant for fifteen minutes. She was clearly not channeling her honey badger cousins because she was still giving so many fucks. Almost uncountable fucks at that point.
    “Get up and go in.” She muttered and snagged her purse. “It’s not like they’ll kick you out for being a fatty who looms over everyone.” That was a plus, right? “They’ll take your money and send you through the line. When no one matches with you they’ll say better luck next time.”
    Shoulders pushed back, she got out of the car and headed in. It was so exhausting being overlooked and rejected and she’d jumped off that merry go round years ago. Even if it made having a family a mere dream instead of a reality.
    “Hey there!” A chirpy blond stood in the doorway with a clipboard. “You here for the Mate in a Minute event?”
    Do or die, time.
    “Sure am!” She summoned up one of her best fake smiles. The one Zane made her practice before they met clients. “I’m Jolie. Jolie Hampstead.”
    “Great Jolie! You are lucky number seven.” She handed Jolie a nametag, a piece of paper and a pen. “Have you ever participated in one of our events before?”
    “No, I haven’t.” Jolie slapped the tag on her chest. Zane would kill her for ruining the lines of the dress, but Zane wasn’t there.
    “It’s super easy, sit at a table and when we start, a gentleman will sit with you. All you have to do is chat until the bell dings then circle ‘yes’ if you liked them.” Miss Clipboard ushered Jolie to the table and flitted back to the door.
    A waiter magically appeared beside Jolie and said, “Would you like a drink?”
    She glanced around the room. The other nervous women had wine glasses in front of them. That was a very good idea. But she didn’t especially like wine.
    Wait, be the honey badger. Do not give a fuck.
    “What do you have on draft? Nothing too heavy.” She expected a raised eyebrow but instead she got a huge grin.
    “How about a shandy? We tapped a Leinenkugal.”
    Jolie could almost taste the crisp beer mix. “That sounds perfect.”
    “That’s the spirit. Pint or pitcher?”
    “As much as I think I’ll need the pitcher to get through this, let’s start with a pint.” Jolie knew if she got the pitcher, nerves would have her pounding it so fast they would have to pour her into a taxi.
    She fiddled in her chair until a soft bell sounded and a line of men streamed into the room. If she were outdoors, Jolie would have shifted and dug a tunnel to China before having to interact with ten perfect strangers.
    The first man sat in front of her.
    Sandy brown hair. Kind smile. Warm brown eyes. Name tag said “Jim”.
    “Hi Jim, nice to meet you.” Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.
    “Hi Jolie.”
    He extended his hand and she shook it. Decent enough grip. Wasn’t trying to prove his strength.
    There was nothing wrong with Jim, but there was no spark at all. Still, at least he was able to carry a conversation for the five minutes until the bell rung.
    She circled the ‘no’ even though she knew Zane would kill her. Jim might make a nice friend but there was no chance of a love connection.
    As the night continued, Jolie circled ‘no’ eight more times. Aside from the one guy with the handshake entirely too much like a dead fish, there was nothing wrong with any of the men.
    But there was also absolutely nothing right, either. Nothing at all. A sour note of despair wound around Jolie’s heart. She hadn’t really expected anything to come of Zane’s speed dating idea, but apparently there had been a teeny, tiny, little sliver of hope that maybe, despite the odds, she would find ‘the one’.
    She stared at her empty beer glass as the last man settled in front of her, wishing she’d gotten the damn pitcher. Zane would