Saving Courtney (Bryant Station Curves Book 4) (3 page)

Todd Anderson closed the file and pushed it away from him. He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. The report from the state medical lab did not tell him anything he did not already know about the skeleton found in the
building Abby Wolfe Anderson renovated a couple of months ago. If anything, the report left him with more questions.

He was back at square one.

He had an unidentified female skeleton and a huge mystery surrounding it. Who was she? How did she die? Why was she entombed in the basement with what looked almost like a shrine around her? Who committed the crime? The questions kept multiplying, and then there were the old photographs of a woman who closely resembled Abby.

Todd pulled his keys out of his pocket and unlocked the bottom drawer on the right side of his desk. He grabbed the file and slipped it into the drawer with the other file filled with notes and crime scene photographs.

“So much for DNA identification,” he muttered as he closed and locked the drawer. He was beginning to believe the case would never be solved.

Want my
mate.
Todd’s bear butted its massive head against his chest.

Todd grunted and rubbed his chest.
Would you stop it?

Want our mate.

Todd growled and rolled his eyes. Ever since Ben told him his and Harrison’s mate was coming, his bear thought of nothing else.
She is not here
, he told his bear.

Find our mate.

Settle down.

Want our mate.

Todd sighed.
Damn stubborn bear!

Find our mate. I tire
d of waiting. I find my mate. Tired of waiting for you to find her.

Todd felt the itchy ripples run across his skin as his bear pushed towar
d the surface. He shoved the huge beast. The last thing he needed was a fifteen hundred pound Kodiak bear charging out his door and through the front door of the Sheriff’s Department.
Settle down!

His bear growled at him. It rammed its head and shoulder against Todd’s ribcage.

The force of the impact caused him to grunt. Todd ran his hand over his face. What his bear was putting him through was maddening. “How did Skylar deal with this all those years?” He had a new respect for his cousin. He had only been dealing with his bear’s one-sided determination for a few days, and he was ready to go crazy. Todd could not imagine doing this every day for years. There was no way he could do it. He didn’t think he had the strength and determination to do it.
Settle down and we will go to the diner and get a slice of cherry pie.

Cherry pie.
The bear smacked its lips.
Cherry pie good.

We will go get another slice of the cherry pie Joy brought us yesterday, but you have to settle down.

Cherry pie.
The bear quit pushing against Todd.
Mate will taste like cherry pie.

Todd sighed
again. It was sad. Even the lure of cherry pie did not keep his bear from thinking about their mate. Could he blame the bear when he wanted the same thing? Todd was ready to find his mate, settle down, and start a family. The thought of two or three cubs scampering around the house made him smile.

We get cherry pie and we get mate.
His bear sat down.

We will get the cherry pie, but finding our mate will have to wait.

His bear growled.

Todd threw his hands up.
We are going to the diner for cherry pie. You had better behave yourself.

You behave and find mate.

That is easier said than done. I have no idea where to look for her.

You smart. You find
mate. Want cubs and cherry pie and mate.

Cubs,
cherry pie, and a mate? You want everything, don’t you?
Todd stood up and grabbed his hat off the corner of his desk. He turned off the lights as he left his office. “Judy, I’m going over to the diner. I’ll be back later.”

“It’s been quiet, but I’ll call you if something comes up.” The older woman smiled at Todd. “I heard Scott is in town, and I heard he brought a pretty young lady with him.”

“He is back, but I haven’t had the chance to talk to him or meet the female yet.”

“If you see Scott, tell him hello for me and good luck with the young lady. He deserves some happiness after all those years of service to his country.” The telephone rang. Judy waved Todd away as she answered it.

Todd nodded and left the building. A rush of jealousy smacked him in the head. He had heard about the female Scott brought with him…about how gorgeous she was and about how she could bake. He wondered if she had baked the cherry pie he had yesterday for lunch.

Cherry pie.
His bear sat down and rolled over onto his side.

Todd chuckled. The thought of a slice of cherry pie did not sound too bad. He climbed into the cruiser parked out front.

*
              *              *

Scott grabbed the last slice of apple pie and poured himself a cup of coffee. He made his way around the counter to one of the few available seats in the room.

The lunch hour had barely stared and already the diner was packed.

Moreover, Courtney’s pies were selling as fast as they came out of the oven.

Apple pie.
Scott’s bear licked its lips.
Want more.

I got us the last slice.

Sister makes good pies.

Yes, she does.
Scott knew his bear was talking about Courtney. They both thought of her as their sister, just as Joy was their sister. He took a bite of the pie.

Good.
His bear sat down and smacked its lips.

Scott agreed. 
The pie was good. Really good.

“Scott Anderson.”

Scott turned to find a huge man in a uniform standing behind him. “Todd, what are you doing here?”

Todd grinned. “I could ask you the same thing.
Long time, no see.”

“It has been awhile. Sit down.” Scott gestured to the empty barstool next to him.

Todd looked around. “It’s busy today.” He took a deep breathe. The air was filled with the smells of food, human, colognes, perfumes, and the soft scent of something else. Todd’s bear growled. It tried sniffing the air too, but Todd forced it back. The bear started pacing. It was unhappy about being confined.

“Joy and Courtney are doing a good job.
They work really well together. So, what have you been up to?” Scott took another big bite of his pie.

“Just the same old stuff…a robbery here and there, an occasional wreck due to the weather.” Todd grinned. “It’s not too bad. What finally brought you home?”

“Scott, can you help Courtney for a few minutes?” Joy appeared behind the counter. “Hey Todd, do you need a menu?”

Todd shook his head. “I want a burger, fries, and a large slice of cherry pie.”

Joy nodded as she wrote down the order. She stepped to the window to the kitchen and stuck the paper into a holder. “I need a burger and fries for the Sheriff.”

“What does Courtney need help with?” asked Scott.

Joy looked at his plate and raised her eyebrow. “I take it that was the last slice of apple pie.”

Scott shrugged his shoulders as he ate the rest of the pie. “It was cold. Nobody would have wanted it.
So, I did you a huge favor and got rid of it.”

Joy rolled her eyes. “Whatever! Courtney has a tray of pies that needs to come over here for the pie case.”

“So, I’m just the hired muscle.”

“Who says I hired you? You’re just the muscle.”

Scott laughed as he got off the barstool. “I expect payment, and I’m not cheap.”

“You’ve already had a piece of pie.” Joy crossed her arms as she raised an eyebrow.

“That doesn’t count. I was getting rid of a tiny, cold slice you couldn’t have sold, even if you wanted to. Plus, I made room for fresh, whole pies.”

“Whatever!”

“I think two slices should just about cover my fees.” Scott grinned at his sister.

“You can have another slice of pie in payment.” Joy grinned. “But just one slice,” she said as he left.

Todd sniffed the air as he listened to his cousins. His bear stopped pacing and pushed forward before Todd could stop it. The bear sniffed and growled. Todd shook his head. A slight hint of honey and cherries drifted off Scott’s clothing. He frowned. it couldn’t be. He had to be wrong.

Mate!
Todd’s bear growled.

Todd stood up and follow
ed Scott.

“Where are you going?” asked Joy.

Todd turned and growled at her before he could stop himself.

“You need to settle down. There are too many people in here!” Joy growled at him in a low voice.

“Who is the female Scott has been with?” Todd fought to keep his bear from taking over.

“Just Courtney.
They are living in the apartment over the bakery.” Joy frowned.

“The same Courtney who runs the bakery?”
Todd’s bear rammed its head against Todd’s chest. It snarled.

“What’s wrong?” A frown covered Joy’s face.

Todd did not answer her. The sweet feminine smell of honey and cherries was driving him and his bear crazy. They had found their mate. She was here. The thought of her being with another man made them see red. It did not matter the man was Scott, his cousin. She did not belong to Scott. She belonged to them. No one had the right to touch her except them.

His bear was too close to the surface. Todd’s skin itched and tingled. His bear growled and left long claw marks as it tried digging its way out through Todd’s ribcage.
It’s determination to get to its mate fueled the man’s determination too.

Todd followed Scott through the new doorway leading into the bakery. He stopped and looked around. The room was empty except for Scott, who was standing behind the counter.

“Are all these pies going next door?” asked Scott.

“No, not all of them.
Half of them are to fill the orders. I just have to get them boxed and ready for delivery. But all of the brownies go to the diner.”

The husky female
voice wrapped around Todd. He could not think. He could not breathe. All his blood rushed straight to his cock, making it grow painfully hard.

Mate,
growled his bear.

Yes, our mate!

A strawberry blonde came out of the kitchen carrying a tray. She put it down on the counter in front of Scott. The corners of her pink lips turned up into a smile.

Todd sniffed the air. The feminine smell of honey and cherries filled his senses. He closed his eyes and breathed in the scent, making it a part of him.

“These taste good.”

The sound of Scott’s voice caused Todd and his bear to growl. Todd opened his eyes.

“Would you quit eating the brownies? They are for the diner, not you.” Courtney slapped Scott’s hand.

“Hagen wasn’t lying when he said you were the best baker around.” Scott grabbed another brownie off the tray.

Courtney’s eyes and voice suddenly reflected a strong sadness. “I miss Hagen.”

“I know.” Scott walked around the counter and pulled Courtney into his arms.
“Everything will be okay.”

“Get your hands off of my mate!” Todd’s voice was barely human.

Scott shoved Courtney behind him as he turned to face Todd. “What is with you?” He heard the odd mix of human and bear coming from Todd.

“Get away from my mate.” Todd’s eyes swirled with silver and blue.

“Oh shit!” Scott pushed Courtney away from him, but made sure to stay between her and his cousin. “Courtney, go upstairs right now, and lock the door. Don’t let anyone in until I tell you it’s okay.”

Todd growled. “Courtney, come here.”

His bear growled its approval.

Courtney looked from Scott to the officer. Something about the man made her want to throw caution to the wind and race around Scott to get to him. All of her girly parts soared to life. The rush of emotions and sensations threatened to drown her.

“Todd, I can’t let her do that. You have to get control of yourself. You will make Joy mad if you let your bear loose in here. Besides,
you’re scaring Courtney. She is human and has never seen anyone shift before. This is not the impression you want to make.” Scott moved to block Todd’s view of Courtney.

“Scott, what’s going on?” Courtney shifted just enough to her right to look around Scott. She gasped. Her eyes widened. The man growling at her and Scott was obviously a police officer, but his eyes were not human. A predator stared at her. It startled her but for some crazy reason she was not scared of the man or the beast.
She wanted to rub against him.