Page 12 of Oohs, Ahhhs, and Orbs

This exact thing, this confirmed fated match, was precisely why I was so careful not to touch Logan. I had never been too concerned in the past if I randomly brushed against a man since I had been assured by my grandmother that I would have a gut feeling when I first met the man who was destined for me. The confirmation would come when we touched, and the mate bond would solidify when we repeated the binding words to each other. Grandmother had never gotten that far before her mate got scared and ran away; otherwise, it would have been excruciating to live without the person the fates had made specifically for you.

I made a distressed sound in my throat before quickly covering it with a cough. I turned away, nervously adjusting the pens again.

“You’re hiding something from me. Something that scares you.”

I took in his soft words, said in a tone so patient and understanding that I nearly lost the struggle against the tight hold I had on my emotions at that moment. I had to squeeze my eyes closed so tight that bright flashes of light danced behind my eyelids just to keep from crying.

“It’s okay, Bridgette. You can keep your secrets. For now. I just want to know if you will give me—us—a chance. Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night? A complete do-over, one that has nothing to do with witchcraft, murder, or any cases I may be working on. Just you and me, good conversation and food. What do you say?”

I slowly relaxed my muscles, letting the tension ease out. It was too late to go back at this point. I already knew he was my mate. The cat was well and truly out of the bag. I had the option to kick him out of my life before he hurt me, destroying my heartforever. Or, I could take a chance. I thought of what Shayla had said about the Goddess and accepting her gift. I let a slow breath out through my lips before turning to face Logan Storm.

“Yes.”

Logan looked at me, his expression completely unreadable as he took me in. Finally, he gave a firm nod of his chin and backed away. “Good. Tomorrow. I will pick you up here at seven. Is that enough time for you to lock up and be ready to go?”

I agreed, reluctance and trepidation still running rampant through my system, but there was a new emotion that was starting to make itself known—excitement. Logan turned to walk away but paused at the door to my shop.

“Bridgette?”

I couldn’t help the strange, breathy sound that came out of me as I jerked my head up from where I had been pretending I wasn’t watching him leave. “Yes?”

“No take

backs.” His wink before turning and walking out the door nearly turned me into a puddle of melted Bridgette. The man was lethal with his confident swagger, and his looks were just the cherry on top. He was the kind of man that other men subconsciously moved over for when they saw him coming. His presence was just so commanding without trying. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure what I was supposed to do with a man like that.

The chiming of the bell had me jerking my head back toward the door. I realized that I had been staring blankly at nothing for so long I had lost track of time. When I recognized it was actually Shayla, I let out a relieved breath of air. I knew my smile was forced, but when she saw it, hers immediately shifted into a fierce scowl.

“What the fuck is wrong?”

I shook my head, then promptly burst into tears. Before I could do more than cover my face with my hands, she had me inher arms and was smoothing my hair down while speaking quiet nonsense to me. It felt so much like the way my mother would do it when I was upset; I just cried harder. So many emotions were bombarding me all at once I didn’t even know which way was up. I had missed my mother and grandmother since they left, but never as much as I did in that moment.

“Girl, if you don’t tell me who fucked with you, I swear to the Gods…”

I hiccuped and laughed at her words. Leave it to Shayla to soothe and threaten all in the same breath. I pulled back and gave her a wobbly smile as I swiped the tears away from my cheeks. “No one fucked with me, I swear. Not really. Not unless you count Fate.”

Shayla stood back and stared at me with her brows drawn. “Fate? Do you mean your mate? Is this about the detective? After what you told me last night, I don’t know where to go with this, Bridge. You’re going to have to help me out here. Do I go beat him up, or do I give him pointers on how to get past your walls?”

I blinked up at her. “Uh, neither?”

“Well, is he your fated mate? Is he seeing someone else? What is it?” Her hands went to her hips, and she started tapping the toe of her running shoe as she waited impatiently for me to elaborate.

“He touched me,” was all I could manage through my tight throat as I thought about everything that had happened in the last half hour.

“That motherfucker. Did you tell him to stop? Did you break his hands?” She started shaking her head and flexing her fists as if preparing for a fight. “Doesn’t matter. I’m gonna go find his ass and break his pretty face.”

I quickly grabbed her fists and held her still before she could storm out of the shop and hunt Logan down. “Calm down, killer.I didn’t mean he touched me inappropriately. Do you remember what we told you about fated mates and how we know for sure?”

Shayla looked only fractionally calmed down as she took in my words. “Yeah. You have to touch, and then you… ohhh.”

“Yeah, oh. Logan touched my hand after asking me on a date. A real one. Everything took me by surprise so fast that I almost had a panic attack. Logan calmed me down. He also knew I was lying about it when I told him that my reaction was just due to static electricity.”

Shayla’s grin grew as I spoke until she was practically vibrating where she stood. “Oh my goodness! It’s finally happening! You have a mate, and he wants to go on a date with you? Like a real one?”

I nodded ruefully, unable to get excited the way she was. “Yes, a real date. He told me that his ex is nothing but an ex, and he doesn’t even talk to her.”

Shayla sobered as she took in my expression, and then she pulled me back into another fierce hug. “I know you’re scared, Bridge. But we talked about this before we knew he was your mate for real. You need to trust the Fates, and you need to give your heart a chance. And always remember that I will have your back. Sisters before misters and all that shit. I will be here for you. But, sweety, don’t throw away happiness before you even feel it.”

I blinked back fresh tears as I stared up at my best friend. She was right. I had her. I also had my mother and grandmother, even if they were practically a world away.

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