Chasing His Lynx’s Sass (Sass And Growl Book 4) Read online

  “Wait, you can’t do that!”

  “Looks like she just did,” Cannon said dryly, folding his arms over his thick chest, his brown eyes darkened to almost black in anger. “Get the fuck out of our bar, Debbie, and don’t come back.”

  “But… my paycheck,” she sputtered, even as she began to move away.

  “We’ll mail it,” Camila said, taking a step forward. “Go. Now.”

  Shayna watched the woman until she was sure she’d left through the front door, before turning to look at Camila. Lifting the beer bottle up, she drained it, then handed it over to the bear shifter with a wink. “I think I’ll take another one now, please.”

  Camila’s face brightened into a wide smile and she stepped forward, wrapping Shayna in a hug, squeezing tightly before stepping back again. “Thank you,” she said, her eyes shining brightly with unshed tears. “No one’s ever stood up for me like that before, except for my brothers and sister.”

  Shayna tugged on one of her curls, sending her a teasing wink. “You could have taken her.”

  Camila giggled, nodding her head. “Maybe.”

  “No doubt about it, little bear.”

  Camila’s smiled widened even more if possible. “Let me get your beer.”

  As she rushed off, Shayna finally let her gaze move to the man who had stayed silent after telling Debbie to leave. His eyes were back to their normal amber shade, but the kindness she’d seen in his picture was gone. They were harder now, and filled with heat as they raked over her body before coming back to meet her gaze. His scent enveloped her, causing her already beaded nipples to tighten even further. She was wet and ready for him. Wanted nothing more than to rub against him like a cat in heat. His eyes and the thick bulge in his jeans said he would be on board with the idea. The problem was, she really wasn’t. It didn’t matter how much she wanted to take the two steps forward that were keeping them apart, wrap her arms around his neck and sink her teeth into his shoulder, she couldn’t. Wouldn’t. The plain fact was, she still didn’t want a mate.

  “This isn’t going to happen,” she said quietly, ignoring the looks she knew were coming their way from the people who’d seen her go batshit crazy on Debbie.

  “Oh, it’s going to happen, kitten,” he promised, taking one step closer to her.

  “No,” she growled, refusing to back down, “it isn’t.”

  A slow, sexy grin crossed his lips, and he lowered his head until his cheek was right next to hers. “Yes, it is. We’re fated mates, kitten. You can’t deny it, nor can you change it.”

  “Stop calling me that,” she snapped, irritated with the nickname, even though a part of her wanted to purr at the fact that he’d given her one.

  She felt his hand on her hip, and the other went around her waist as he pulled her flush up against his hard body. She fought back a moan when the evidence of his arousal pressed into her. She was so fucking hot and turned on, she wanted to jump up and wrap her legs around his waist. Wanted to feel the hard length of him pressing against her core.

  “This is going to happen,” he vowed, as he nipped at her earlobe and pulled a stifled moan from her. “We don’t close for a few hours, but I’ll get Cora to take over for me now. Wait for me here, kitten.”

  With those words, he slammed his lips down on hers, stealing her breath, and then left her standing there alone. She wasn’t sure how to feel. She was definitely hot and bothered. But she was also pissed off, angry as hell at fate, and just plain terrified. Glancing over at the bar, she saw Cannon in an animated discussion with his sisters, his back to her. She had come here for a reason. To find Casen’s family, and through them, hopefully find him. Not to climb his freaking brother like a tree, the way she was wanting to so badly now. And definitely not to find her mate. This was never going to work.

  Taking one last look in Cannon’s direction, she saw that the three of them were still talking, not paying attention to her, so she did the only thing she could do. She ran.

  Chapter Four

  Cannon knew the minute his feisty mate left The Hide Out. It was as if she took all of the excitement he’d felt since meeting her with him, but not his sexual frustration. No, he still had that in excess. He tried to concentrate on what Cora was saying, but all he really wanted to do was hunt down his mate and once again taste those rose-colored, plump lips that were as soft as they appeared. Which then made him think about what they would look and feel like wrapped around his cock. Groaning, he turned away from his sisters and readjusted himself.

  “Let’s take this to my office,” Cora ordered, glaring at him.

  “I need to leave,” Cannon said, his gaze roaming around the room and then going to the door. Yep, she was gone.

  “You need to come to my office first, unless you want to have this discussion in front of the entire fucking bar.”

  Cannon growled low at the tone in her voice, then stalked away from them and down the long hall to the room Cora used as her office. It was basically the size of a large closet, with room for a desk, chair, and one filing cabinet, and nothing else. He walked into the room, going to lean against the far wall behind the desk, crossing his arms over his chest as he waited for his sisters. Camila came in first, walking over to stand beside him. It didn’t take long for Cora to flounce in, slamming the door shut behind her. Crossing her arms over her chest she glared at them.

  “What in the hell is going on, Cannon?” Cora demanded, her temper flying. “Did she really just fire Debbie and then claim you in front of the entire bar?”

  “She did!” Camila said, a giggle slipping free. “It was awesome!”

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” Cora snarled. “You think it’s funny that we just lost a good waitress over some jealous twit who caused a huge scene in our bar?”

  “Watch yourself, Cora,” Cannon warned, lowering his voice to a deep growl. He didn’t care who she was, she wasn’t going to talk about his woman like that. “That’s my mate you’re calling a twit.”

  “What the hell?” Cora snarled, her eyes narrowing on him. “She’s your mate?”

  “And yes, I think it’s funny,” Camila chimed in. “Debbie was in my section, serving my people, trying to take money from me. That woman stood up for me.” For the first time, Camila’s eyes sparkled with tears as she whispered, “And when Debbie said I’m nothing but a doormat, and everyone here believes the same thing, she told her I’m stronger than they all realize.” Camila’s bottom lip trembled as she said, “It was nice to have someone think I’m strong. No one else does. Not even me, sometimes.”

  Cannon closed his eyes, blocking out the loud country music blaring in the main part of the bar from his head as he thought about what his sister had just said. He’d heard the truth in her voice, along with self-contempt and despair. It had taken a virtual stranger to make them realize how she felt about herself. Someone she didn’t even know to make her feel strong. For that, he owed his mate everything.

  “She was right. You’re one of the strongest people I know, Cami,” he said, putting his arm around her waist and pulling her close. “I love you, little sister.” He heard her gasp of surprise and realized that was something he hadn’t said to either of his sisters in the past year, whereas he used to hand out the words to them on a daily basis.

  He felt her arm go around his waist, and she snuggled closer as she whispered, “Me, too.”

  He frowned. Camila had always been the first and last to tell someone she loved them. To not actually say the words back to him was strange, and it felt wrong. What had they done to their family since Casen went missing? Why had they let it happen?

  Cora stepped in closer to them and whispered, “Well, I love both of you idiots, and I am now very glad your mate got rid of that bitch, Cannon.”

  Another grin split across Camila’s face as she leaned back and looked at them both. “She was so amazing, Cora! I’ve never seen anyone like her before. Do you think she would teach me to be more like her?”

  Emotion
clogged Cannon’s throat at the hopeful look in Camila’s eyes, and he leaned down to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. “I think you are perfect just the way you are.” As her eyes began to cloud with disappointment, he said, “That doesn’t mean I don’t think she would do it.”

  Camila’s eyes lit up again with excitement. “She was so badass! I bet she could even take Casen in a fight!” Right after she said the words, she slammed her hand over her mouth, her eyes widening in horror before they misted over with tears.

  “It’s okay, Cami,” Cora said, reaching out to lay a gentle hand on Camila’s arm. “Casen wouldn’t want us to act the way we have been with his disappearance. He wouldn’t want us to suffer the way we have been. I think he’s alive. No, I know it. I can feel it. In here.” Cora placed a hand over her heart. “He’s alive, and we are going to find him.”

  The door opened, and Cannon stiffened when his mate’s scent hit him. She stood in the doorway, watching them closely before she said, “We need to talk.”

  “Yes, we do,” he agreed, taking a step forward, pausing in confusion when she shook her head.

  “No, we all need to talk.”

  “About?” Cora asked, arching an eyebrow.

  “Not here. I’ll meet you at your farm after you close the bar.”

  “Not going to happen until I know what the hell is going on,” Cora snapped. “And just how do you know where we live?”

  A deep growl rose in Cannon’s chest at the tone in Cora’s voice, his bear pissed that anyone would speak to his mate like that, even family.

  “No, Cannon, it’s okay,” his mate said quietly, holding up at hand. “I would be leery, too, if I were her.” She paused, as if trying to figure out how to proceed.

  “What’s wrong?” Camila whispered in concern.

  “I’m not sure,” came the response, as his mate frowned. “Something feels… off.” Seeming to shake herself out of her thoughts, she said, “Look, Cora, I agree with you. I think your brother is alive. That’s all I am willing to say here. Something isn’t right.”

  “What do you mean?” Cannon demanded. “What isn’t right?”

  “And how the hell do you know anything about our brother?” Cora growled.

  “Later,” was all his mate would say as she turned to leave.

  “Wait,” Camila said, crossing the room quickly. “We don’t even know your name.”

  Cannon’s eyes narrowed on his mate as realization hit him. “No, but she knows ours. She’s been using them all night.”

  She cocked her head to the side, as if trying to figure out when she gave herself away, and then grinned. “You used Cami’s name in front of me, but she didn’t use yours.”

  “Right.”

  “Only family calls her Cami,” Cora growled.

  “She’s Cannon’s mate, so that makes her family,” Camila said, reaching out to place a hand on his mate’s arm. “You can call me Cami. What do we call you?”

  Her unusual cat-like eyes, green rimmed with a golden hue, shifted uneasily for a moment before she said, “My name is Shayna. Shayna Cromwell.” Gently pulling her arm from his sister, she turned to the door. She paused, glancing back at Cora, her eyes glowing a brighter golden color. “I will give you the answers you deserve at your farm, but don’t ever speak to me like that again. I don’t care who you are; I won’t tolerate it.”

  Cannon watched her go, a feeling of pride seeping through him. Camila was right. His mate was badass.

  Chapter Five

  Shayna stopped her car in front of the farmhouse, taking in the old, rundown barn and the way the paint was peeling off the house. It was after two in the morning, but the outside light was bright, illuminating the area clearly. It wouldn’t have mattered either way. With her shifter genes, she could see just as well in the dark as she could in the light. The Channings hadn’t put much money into the place, even though with her extensive investigation into their financials, she was aware that they had it and easily could. She was also pretty sure she knew why. It was smarter to hold onto their money in case they had to move quickly. They normally didn’t stay in one place longer than a year, but this time was different. Because of Casen.

  The front door opened and Cannon appeared, coming to stand at the top of the stairs. He stayed there, waiting for her, letting her come into the house on her own terms. She appreciated that more than he would ever know. After she ran from the bar, and from him, earlier, she’d realized there was no way she could leave. For two reasons. First, her job was to find his brother, and she was determined to do that no matter what. Second, he was her mate. The thought scared the hell out of her after everything her mother went through, but the pull was strong. She’d seen the way it affected her mother, making her stay with a man she didn’t love. She also saw the way it was tearing Nadine to pieces right now. Not to mention how it connected her to Cannon, even if they hadn’t completed the bond yet. She couldn’t just walk away from him. She had to figure this thing out.

  Slowly, Shayna opened her door and stepped out of the car, shutting it firmly behind her. Taking a deep breath, she whimpered softly when her mate’s scent hit her. Damn, she loved it, but her desire had no place in the discussion she was about to have with him and his family. Opening the back door of her car, she took out her briefcase, and then shut the door quietly. She was stalling, and felt like such a freaking wimp because of it. This wasn’t her. Normally, she would confront anything that terrified her head on. Which is what she knew she needed to do now. Closing her eyes, she searched hard for her courage, and then turned to Cannon.

  He hadn’t moved. Just stood there waiting patiently for her to get her head out of her ass and come to him. Knowing she had no choice, she put one foot in front of the other and forced her pansy ass up the stairs to him.

  “You okay?” he asked quietly when she finally reached him.

  She was there to talk to him about his brother, someone he had been very close to from what she could tell, and he was worried about her? Shayna’s heart warmed slightly toward him at the thought.

  “Yes,” she whispered, “just didn’t expect any of this.”

  “Me?”

  “These feelings.”

  He nodded, gently cupping her cheek in his hand. “Me neither.”

  “I’m not mate material, Cannon.”

  “Neither am I.”

  “What are we going to do?”

  He lowered his head, placing a light kiss on her lips, groaning softly before pulling back. “Figure it out as we go, I guess.”

  Shayna stared into his glowing amber eyes, her own hand coming up to rest on the hard line of his jaw. “And if we can’t? If I can’t get past my… issues?”

  Cannon’s eyes darkened and his grip on her cheek tightened slightly. “If I can’t help you past your issues, then I’m not worthy to be your mate, Shayna. We are in this together.”

  Shayna fought the tears that threatened to appear, her heart nearly breaking at the thought of failing the strong bear in front of her. Shoring up her courage, she straightened her shoulders and nodded. “I’m ready to talk to your family.”

  A teasing light entered his eyes, the corner of his mouth tilting up into a grin. “According to my sister, they’re your family now, too.”

  Shayna’s heart squeezed tightly at the thought, her hand falling to rest on his arm. “I don’t have a family anymore.”

  “You do now.”

  As the sweet voice reached her, Shayna turned to look at the young woman with dark curls flowing over her shoulders. She stood in the doorway, an angel with the light glowing behind her. She looked happy, and Shayna had a feeling it had been a long time since she’d felt any kind of happiness in her life. The pictures she’d found of the Channings were from a good five years ago, way before Casen went missing.

  “How about we go inside and talk?” Shayna said softly, tension suddenly flowing through her as a wave of uneasiness hit her. It was the same as what had happened at the bar earlier,
but she couldn’t put a finger on what was wrong. It almost felt as if someone were watching them, but she hadn’t noticed anything suspicious, either at The Hide Out or when she pulled in the driveway just a few minutes ago. Her protective instincts kicking in, she moved away from Cannon and grasped Camila’s elbow in her hand, gently guiding her back into the house, through the mud room, and into a large kitchen. “It’s chilly out.”

  Cora looked over from where she sat at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee. “We’re shifters, the chill doesn’t affect us.”

  No, but something out there might, Shayna thought as she walked over to peek out of the small window over the kitchen sink. Nothing. Shaking off her uneasiness, she looked back around at the others and then let her gaze wander around the large kitchen. It was clean, but had older cabinets and countertops. The linoleum on the floor was at least twenty years old, if not more. It was taken care of, but not replaced in the places where it was starting to come up.