Free Badgering the Bear: A Paranormal Shifter Romance (Mate in a Minute Speed Mating Agency Book 1) by Flora Dare Page B
Authors: Flora Dare
have picked her up, no problem. Just five more minutes, then you can go home.
Then, not even bothering to paste on her fake smile, Jolie looked up at the man.
And up.
And up.
Because the guy in front of her was tall . Even with her dangerously sky high heels he was a solid foot taller than her 5’10” frame.
Her mouth went dry when she met his eyes—hard and dangerous—a striking blue that sank right into her soul.
He quirked an eyebrow and Jolie almost moaned. Her nipples tightened and her insides quaked with forgotten, long repressed desires. Her badger sat up and begged her to get closer. If it was running things, Jolie would be in the man’s lap already.
She slowly extended her hand and whispered, “Hi, I’m Jolie.”
His eyes dropped to her hand and she realized it was shaking. Smooth. Jolie moved to withdraw it, but he was too fast and she found her hand engulfed in his. If his gaze had sparked a fire in her, then his touch was gasoline. Her badger could only pant in her ear about certain needs being met now .
His voice was low when he rumbled, “I’m Gabe.” Instead of releasing her, he lowered their joined hands to the table. His fingers slowly massaged her, each movement setting off yet another bonfire in her blood.
Their eyes locked again—the silence stretching—and for once Jolie didn’t feel the urge to fill the quiet. Just sitting in the warmth of his regard was enough.
When the bell rang, it startled her out of her daze. She pulled her hand back and she already missed his touch. He reached across the table, scooping up her pen and paper. She murmured a protest, but fell silent when he simply raised eyebrow.
All he’d see on her sheet was the word “no” circled nine times. Proof of how disastrously boring the rest of her night had been. He marked the page for her, stood and tossed it down.
“Nice meeting you, Jolie.” That rough voice went straight to her center and she suppressed her shudder. Barely. No man should be that hot.
She wanted to cry as he walked out of the room. He’d stolen her paper so quickly, it was obvious he hadn’t even wanted her to have the chance to say yes. She had to get the hell out of there. She could deal with not connecting with boring men. Whatever. But to finally feel that explosive spark, to feel so alive for five short minutes and then to be rejected?
Yeah, that felt like death.
She stood, tucked her purse under her arm and walked away only to have the waiter call out to her. “Hey, don’t forget to turn your form in.”
Jolie smiled and took the dreaded sheet. It was rough in her hands and like a dagger in her heart. She wanted to crumple it up and put it in the trash, but the chipper blond at the door had her hand extended and it was easier to hand it in rather than argue.
“Thanks for coming to Mate in a Minute ! You’ll get your matches in two days!”
Jolie smiled at the woman and walked out to her car. It wasn’t until she was on the road that a tear slipped down her face. First one and then another and then another…
She consoled herself with the knowledge that she hadn’t been completely broken by her ex. She did have the ability to connect with another being. Even if he didn’t connect back.
At least this proved she was whole and normal . No matter what her stupid ex said, she could feel desire.
Could feel desire. A nice way to spin his words. In truth, he’d called her frigid. Which was why he was very much an ex.
Jolie parked and wandered into the house. At least Zane wasn’t going to make her do a post mortem on the night until tomorrow. Her best friend had her own hot date to deal with.
Zane was never without an escort if she wanted one and her friend’s antics always amused Jolie. But her BFF was no closer to settling down than Jolie. They were both twisting in the single and alone wind.
In addition, she knew Zane’s heart as well as she knew her own. They both wanted home, hearth and family. Little kits of
Then, not even bothering to paste on her fake smile, Jolie looked up at the man.
And up.
And up.
Because the guy in front of her was tall . Even with her dangerously sky high heels he was a solid foot taller than her 5’10” frame.
Her mouth went dry when she met his eyes—hard and dangerous—a striking blue that sank right into her soul.
He quirked an eyebrow and Jolie almost moaned. Her nipples tightened and her insides quaked with forgotten, long repressed desires. Her badger sat up and begged her to get closer. If it was running things, Jolie would be in the man’s lap already.
She slowly extended her hand and whispered, “Hi, I’m Jolie.”
His eyes dropped to her hand and she realized it was shaking. Smooth. Jolie moved to withdraw it, but he was too fast and she found her hand engulfed in his. If his gaze had sparked a fire in her, then his touch was gasoline. Her badger could only pant in her ear about certain needs being met now .
His voice was low when he rumbled, “I’m Gabe.” Instead of releasing her, he lowered their joined hands to the table. His fingers slowly massaged her, each movement setting off yet another bonfire in her blood.
Their eyes locked again—the silence stretching—and for once Jolie didn’t feel the urge to fill the quiet. Just sitting in the warmth of his regard was enough.
When the bell rang, it startled her out of her daze. She pulled her hand back and she already missed his touch. He reached across the table, scooping up her pen and paper. She murmured a protest, but fell silent when he simply raised eyebrow.
All he’d see on her sheet was the word “no” circled nine times. Proof of how disastrously boring the rest of her night had been. He marked the page for her, stood and tossed it down.
“Nice meeting you, Jolie.” That rough voice went straight to her center and she suppressed her shudder. Barely. No man should be that hot.
She wanted to cry as he walked out of the room. He’d stolen her paper so quickly, it was obvious he hadn’t even wanted her to have the chance to say yes. She had to get the hell out of there. She could deal with not connecting with boring men. Whatever. But to finally feel that explosive spark, to feel so alive for five short minutes and then to be rejected?
Yeah, that felt like death.
She stood, tucked her purse under her arm and walked away only to have the waiter call out to her. “Hey, don’t forget to turn your form in.”
Jolie smiled and took the dreaded sheet. It was rough in her hands and like a dagger in her heart. She wanted to crumple it up and put it in the trash, but the chipper blond at the door had her hand extended and it was easier to hand it in rather than argue.
“Thanks for coming to Mate in a Minute ! You’ll get your matches in two days!”
Jolie smiled at the woman and walked out to her car. It wasn’t until she was on the road that a tear slipped down her face. First one and then another and then another…
She consoled herself with the knowledge that she hadn’t been completely broken by her ex. She did have the ability to connect with another being. Even if he didn’t connect back.
At least this proved she was whole and normal . No matter what her stupid ex said, she could feel desire.
Could feel desire. A nice way to spin his words. In truth, he’d called her frigid. Which was why he was very much an ex.
Jolie parked and wandered into the house. At least Zane wasn’t going to make her do a post mortem on the night until tomorrow. Her best friend had her own hot date to deal with.
Zane was never without an escort if she wanted one and her friend’s antics always amused Jolie. But her BFF was no closer to settling down than Jolie. They were both twisting in the single and alone wind.
In addition, she knew Zane’s heart as well as she knew her own. They both wanted home, hearth and family. Little kits of
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