Read Goal: A Mate (Bachelor Auction #2) for Free Online Page A
Authors: Selena Illyria
can’t understand this behavior at all. Thank you for defending my home, Kelly.” Susanne got up and held out her hand, which Kelly took.
“You OK here?” Kelly asked Jazz.
“Aces, boss. I’ll put in a full report when I get back.” Jazz reached into her apron pocket and pulled out a pair of gloves. Then she got back to work.
“I’ll drive you back to the office. It’s on my way.” Susanne headed for the door with Kelly on her heels.
The ride was a short one. They didn’t speak until Kelly got out of the vehicle. “Thank you, again.”
Susanne smiled. “I understand…well, not what’s going on, but things happen. I’ve had rivals sabotage my business before. Didn’t think a woman could sell cars without showing off cleavage or wearing a short skirt.” Pride shone on her face before turning to sorrow. “I’m just sad about the situation. Caroline used to clean for me. But I needed someone whose attention wasn’t bogged down by school and family stuff.”
Kelly could understand both sides. “I see. We’ll talk later?”
Susanne grinned. “Absolutely. I may even have some clients for you.”
Kelly’s spirits soared. “Thank you. Later!” She headed into the office with a smile on her face. Reenie spotted her and bobbed her head. As soon as she settled back into her office, her thoughts strayed to what Susanne had said. She considered calling Madison Weston to see if she could talk to her fellow feline shifters. Could lions have any power over domestic cat shifters? She didn’t know, but she knew one thing—she already wanted a vacation. Preferably with Brandon, and preferably for a year of more. Or at least until her father forgot all about his declaration.
How could she drag Brandon into her crazy life without him getting hurt? It wasn’t a simple crush on him. Nope, it was full on love and intense lust. They spoke on a near daily basis about everything and nothing. She loved watching him play hockey, even if watching him get bloodied up made her stomach drop. Once the game was over, all she wanted to do was make sure he was OK and take care of him. And once she’d made sure of all that, her intentions would turn in another direction, and she would get the urge to make sure that all his working parts were intact.
Fire flared to life in the pit of her stomach. She could picture him the way he had looked at the auction. Tuxes were dangerous on men, even ones she didn’t know, and on him a well-tailored suit was devastating. It had made her weak kneed and caused a crack to open in her armor.
Kelly hoped Reenie hadn’t told anyone how close she’d come to bludgeoning Blanca when the werewolf tried to bid on her man. He may not officially be her mate, but she’d felt he belonged to her and damn anyone who got in her way. But if she wanted him for real, she had to claim him, and by doing that she’d put him the line of fire. Why the hell had her father issued that ridiculous decree?
A knock on her door drew her attention. Her father stood in the doorway, filling the entryway, dressed in his riding leathers, jeans, and black T-shirt that couldn’t hide his barrel chest. He wore fingerless gloves and held a helmet in one hand. The light bounced off his bald dome. His dark-brown eyes glimmered with pleasure.
“Hey, kid.” He strode into the space, filling it with the scent of his expensive cigars and spicy cologne.
Kelly rose and shuffled around the desk to hug her father. “Hey, Daddy.” She snuggled her face into his chest and inhaled the calming scent of her childhood: sweat, leather, and tobacco.
“Looks like you’re busy.” He dropped a kiss on the top of her head and stepped back. His gaze bounced over her face. “It also looks like you’re not sleeping. What’s up, kiddo?” He took her chin in between his fingers and turned her head this way and that. “Is it Brandon? Did he do something?” A glint of the wolf shifted his eyes from amber back to brown.
Kelly shook
“You OK here?” Kelly asked Jazz.
“Aces, boss. I’ll put in a full report when I get back.” Jazz reached into her apron pocket and pulled out a pair of gloves. Then she got back to work.
“I’ll drive you back to the office. It’s on my way.” Susanne headed for the door with Kelly on her heels.
The ride was a short one. They didn’t speak until Kelly got out of the vehicle. “Thank you, again.”
Susanne smiled. “I understand…well, not what’s going on, but things happen. I’ve had rivals sabotage my business before. Didn’t think a woman could sell cars without showing off cleavage or wearing a short skirt.” Pride shone on her face before turning to sorrow. “I’m just sad about the situation. Caroline used to clean for me. But I needed someone whose attention wasn’t bogged down by school and family stuff.”
Kelly could understand both sides. “I see. We’ll talk later?”
Susanne grinned. “Absolutely. I may even have some clients for you.”
Kelly’s spirits soared. “Thank you. Later!” She headed into the office with a smile on her face. Reenie spotted her and bobbed her head. As soon as she settled back into her office, her thoughts strayed to what Susanne had said. She considered calling Madison Weston to see if she could talk to her fellow feline shifters. Could lions have any power over domestic cat shifters? She didn’t know, but she knew one thing—she already wanted a vacation. Preferably with Brandon, and preferably for a year of more. Or at least until her father forgot all about his declaration.
How could she drag Brandon into her crazy life without him getting hurt? It wasn’t a simple crush on him. Nope, it was full on love and intense lust. They spoke on a near daily basis about everything and nothing. She loved watching him play hockey, even if watching him get bloodied up made her stomach drop. Once the game was over, all she wanted to do was make sure he was OK and take care of him. And once she’d made sure of all that, her intentions would turn in another direction, and she would get the urge to make sure that all his working parts were intact.
Fire flared to life in the pit of her stomach. She could picture him the way he had looked at the auction. Tuxes were dangerous on men, even ones she didn’t know, and on him a well-tailored suit was devastating. It had made her weak kneed and caused a crack to open in her armor.
Kelly hoped Reenie hadn’t told anyone how close she’d come to bludgeoning Blanca when the werewolf tried to bid on her man. He may not officially be her mate, but she’d felt he belonged to her and damn anyone who got in her way. But if she wanted him for real, she had to claim him, and by doing that she’d put him the line of fire. Why the hell had her father issued that ridiculous decree?
A knock on her door drew her attention. Her father stood in the doorway, filling the entryway, dressed in his riding leathers, jeans, and black T-shirt that couldn’t hide his barrel chest. He wore fingerless gloves and held a helmet in one hand. The light bounced off his bald dome. His dark-brown eyes glimmered with pleasure.
“Hey, kid.” He strode into the space, filling it with the scent of his expensive cigars and spicy cologne.
Kelly rose and shuffled around the desk to hug her father. “Hey, Daddy.” She snuggled her face into his chest and inhaled the calming scent of her childhood: sweat, leather, and tobacco.
“Looks like you’re busy.” He dropped a kiss on the top of her head and stepped back. His gaze bounced over her face. “It also looks like you’re not sleeping. What’s up, kiddo?” He took her chin in between his fingers and turned her head this way and that. “Is it Brandon? Did he do something?” A glint of the wolf shifted his eyes from amber back to brown.
Kelly shook