Page 9 of Hidden Mate

No, she mustn’t think of him as Erik Hutchinson. He was the target. Target. Target.

Her system was overwhelmed as arousal and heat flashed through it. All she could think about was what it would be like to feel him pull her beneath him, take her nape in a claiming bite and… then what? The erotic images were replaced by those of his cold, dead corpse lying on a table in the morgue with a bullet hole between his eyes.

One thing was clear as she stood and stared. Erik Hutchinson was her target, but he was also her mate—her fated mate. This could not be happening to her. She didn’t believe in such things. Yet there he stood, and she knew with a certainty she had never known before that her target—her fucking target—was her fated mate.

Now what the fuck was she supposed to do?

CHAPTER5

HUTCH

Repressing the urge to push the sheriff away from her, Hutch put his arm around her, supporting her as her knees began to give way.

“I’ve got you,” he purred. “Let’s get you over here to this chair, and you can have a seat. Have you had anything to eat?”

“That I don’t know, but she asked about coffee,” supplied Jax.

“We should get her up to the B&B and call Doc,” said Trudy.

“No. No, I’ll be fine. Please don’t fuss.”

He wanted to tell her that it was his job as her fated mate to fuss over her, but he had the distinct impression—based on nothing—that she wouldn’t receive that information with a great deal of joy. But he did. Fated mates weren’t common in clouded leopards. More so than any other shifter, their kind did not form strong, familial bonds.

Instead of telling her any of that, he said, “Let me get you some coffee. How do you take it?”

She smiled. “Heavy contrast—I like it strong and dark, but then want to add a good dose of cream and sugar.”

Hutch grinned. “You’re going to fit right in up here in Mystic River. I’m pretty sure most everyone takes it that way.” Hutch turned to get her a mug of the dark magic potion and then added an orange/cranberry scone. She didn’t seem like a croissant or muffin kind of girl and sweet with a hint of tart seemed right for her. “Here you go. Careful, the coffee is hot.”

He knew he was fawning over her and looked up to see Jax had noticed and was grinning from ear-to-ear. Everyone said the big gruff Kodiak shifter had changed since he’d found his fated mate. He was still fairly intimidating until you saw him deal with his mate, Autumn. Autumn had no fear of him or anyone else. Trudy, thank god, hadn’t noticed.

Holding his breath, Hutch watched her take a bite of the scone, and exhaled as she smiled, and her delicate tongue came out to lick the crumbs from her fingers.

“Oh my god. This is delicious. I don’t think I’ve ever had anything that tasted this good.”

Trudy smiled. “Hutch is a marvel. He supplies all my baked goods at the B&B. I walked down here. I’d planned to have time to go get my SUV…”

“Not to worry, Trudy. You can stay until Ms. Brady is feeling better and I’ll give you both a ride, or you can head back up to the B&B, and I’ll bring Ms. Brady…”

“Naomi. Please call me Naomi. Everyone is being so nice. Calling me by my last name seems out-of-place.”

Hutch nodded. “I’ll bring Naomi up when she’s feeling a little better. You were pretty pale there for a minute, but your color seems to be coming back.”

“I should say it’s the coffee—which by the way is delicious and perfect—but honestly, I think it’s this scone. I can’t remember ever taking a bite of anything that tasted so amazing.”

“Well, then, I’ll skedaddle back up to The Refuge. I’ll take your bags up to your room.”

“Come on, Trudy, I’ll walk you over to the office and take you back. I don’t think Hamish would want you out in the cold.” Jax tipped his baseball cap to Nora. “Naomi. Welcome to Mystic River. I hope you enjoy your stay.”

She gave them all a bright smile. “I think I will.”

After they left, Hutch kneaded the last loaves of bread to put in the proofer, while putting the second to the last batch in to bake.

“We have a window of opportunity,” he said as he turned back to her to find her resting her elbow on the small bistro table. Her chin was atop her fist, and she was blatantly staring at him. Her inscrutable stare seemed to disarm him. “I can either take you up to Trudy’s right now, or it’ll be an hour before I can.”

“I probably should go now. I don’t want to be in the way.”

“You aren’t.” He smiled sheepishly. “Well. That’s not true, you are a most enticing distraction, but I don’t mind.”

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