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  Brock’s Bunny--Chestnut Rock Shifters, Book Three

  written by Jane Wakely

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  First Edition

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  Chapter One

  Hollie Dawson looked around the restaurant while her date rambled on the phone to one of his “clients.” The atmosphere was nice if you enjoyed the western thing. Hollie didn’t. Saddles, spurs, horseshoes and cowboy hats decorated the walls. She could appreciate the antler chandeliers if she convinced herself that they were fake, but she couldn’t forgive the skulls. Steer skulls occupied several walls and she couldn’t shake the probability that they were real. Her stomach rolled at the thought.

  Hollie eyed her date. Her initial response when he asked her out had been no. He was attractive, but she knew he wasn’t meant for her. She’d only agreed to avoid another Friday night alone. Or working. With nothing else to do, she spent most of her time at her health food store, The Harvest. Her friend, Christina, had expressed her concern and Hollie agreed. She needed to get involved in something else. Have fun again. A thriving business was nice, but life was more than just work. It had to be.

  Now that Christina had found her bear, and knew about Hollie, she’d been invited to several weekend get-togethers at Christina’s or Jenn’s. Christina and Jenn were best friends, but they welcomed her into their group, and Hollie was grateful. It was nice to be around shifters again—even if they were predators.

  Shifters aren’t natural joiners. They’re used to keeping secrets and spend most of their time alone. With no one to share their lives, many shifters border on depression and some can even die of loneliness if they don’t find a mate. Hollie envied the friendship her four friends shared. Why more shifters didn’t try and stick together, she didn’t know.

  Hollie thought about the other shifters she knew of in Chestnut Rock. She hadn’t met them, but she’d picked up their scents easily enough. Maybe she should reach out and try to befriend them. Could it be dangerous for them to stick together? Not likely. She’d have to see what Matt and Bull thought. The cougar and skunk cousins seemed friendly enough. They might be fun to hang out with.

  The waiter came, and her date finally ended his call and cut her off to place his order. Hollie ordered a Caesar salad and a baked potato. Being a vegetarian meant her choices were often limited, but she was surprised there wasn’t even a fish option on the menu. The steakhouse had several steak options, obviously. There was one pork dish and three chicken choices, but no fish and nothing meatless. Both were very poor business decisions by the owner, in her opinion. Though she didn’t eat fish, Hollie had several friends that were pescetarians.

  Hollie was surprised at the popularity of the eatery. A Chestnut Rock exclusive, many people from nearby towns visited on the weekends. Everyone knew there would be a waiting list on Friday and Saturday nights. It was a place you brought a date if you wanted to impress her—unless she was a vegetarian. At least, in the beginning, her date had tried. Unfortunately, after the thirty minute wait outside, it was clear they really weren’t compatible.

  “A salad and a baked potato? Really, Hollie? This is a steakhouse, one of the best; I brought you here to try the steak.”

  She’d thought about leaving several times, but something held her back. Hollie couldn’t figure it out. Her date was turning out to be more of a jerk than anything else. “I’m a vegetarian, Ronald. I told you that when we met in my store, and I reminded you of it again when we were waiting outside. I don’t eat steak. Or any type of meat.”

  “You should try it just this once. It won’t kill you. Look around, everyone is fine!”

  “It’s not a matter of it killing me, it’s a choice. I choose to not to kill and eat animals for food.”

  “Why did you come here then?” His slightly raised voice spat the words like venom.

  Was he seriously mad because she wasn’t eating a steak? Why had she agreed to go on a date with him? Fear slithered down her back.

  “You brought me here.” She calculated where she could run and cursed herself for allowing him to pick her up at home.

  “Yeah, well, I wish I hadn’t!” He started looking at his phone again, using his finger to scroll down the screen and Hollie scooted out of the booth. She was just about to stand up and run when a man stopped at their table.

  “How are you two doing tonight?”

  Hollie looked up and read his name tag. Brock Smith. The owner. She’d read enough news about the place to know who he was, but she’d never seen him before. Not in a photograph or on the street. She’d remember if she had. Hollie understood why she hadn’t left sooner.

  Brock was her mate.

  ****

  Brock Smith walked out of the kitchen and smiled. Another packed night. Every weekend had been packed since he opened the restaurant three years ago. People drove for miles to eat the signature dishes prepared perfectly by his chefs. He was so glad he took the leap and opened the place even though everyone except his sister, Candace, had discouraged him. He was too young, too inexperienced and too poor, they’d said. Those things were true, but he was also smart, driven and business savvy.

  Brock knew he would
succeed.

  He came from a family of culinary specialists. Both parents had been chefs in five star restaurants in Las Vegas before moving the four of them to Chestnut Rock after his senior year of high school. He and Candace wanted to follow their parent’s footsteps and attend the same culinary school, so they’d moved to the Pacific Northwest and settled in Chestnut Rock.

  Brock had enjoyed the business classes more than the culinary, and refocused his goals. He loved cooking, but he loved managing more. He’d had a five year plan that included a chain of family restaurants with his family name on them.

  Unfortunately, plans had a way of changing.

  The day he’d graduated from college, his parents had an accident on the way to his celebratory dinner. They both died instantly and left Brock to care for Candace. She was twenty, only two years younger than him, but he didn’t want her to throw her life away. He wanted her to finish school and follow her dreams.

  Several of his parent’s local friends stepped forward and let him work with them, cooking and managing, gaining experience to open his own restaurant. They ultimately discouraged him, but not because he didn’t have the skills. They wanted to protect him. It was tough for a business to succeed in this new economy, especially in an unpopular mid-size town. Brock understood their apprehension, but he had to try anyway. He was glad he did.

  Brock always walked the dining room, gauging customer’s reactions to the atmosphere and food. Sometimes he would clear dishes or talk to patrons, asking about their visit.

  A raised voice brought his attention to a booth in the middle of the room and he walked over to check on the couple.

  At the sound if his greeting, the man looked up and smiled. His grin reminded Brock of a hyena and he wondered what the man would try and take from him.

  “Everything is great, Mr. Smith, just great. You’ve done great for yourself, this is my favorite place to eat.”

  “Thank you,” Brock turned from him to the woman. “Can I get you anything while you wait for your dinner?”

  Their eyes met and time seemed to stop. Violet eyes stared back at him from a petite face surrounded by platinum blond hair. Not many could pull off the look, and though he was sure her hair and eye color were fake, he wanted them to be real. Her beauty was unmatched in the crowded room and he wanted to scoop her up and hide her away for protection.

  “No, thank you, but why don’t you have any vegetarian dishes on your menu?”

  “Vegetarian dishes?”

  “Don’t mind her, Mr. Smith, she’s one of those health nuts.” Her date glared at her and through tight lips, said, “Shut-up, Hollie.”

  Why was she with this piece of slime? Brock’s anger grew and he laughed.

  “This is a steakhouse.” One look in her direction and he knew it was the wrong thing to say. He cleared his throat, forced himself to stop laughing, and tried again. “Truthfully, a vegetarian dish never crossed my mind and no one has ever asked for one before.”

  “Well, now someone is asking. I’m not the only “health nut” in Chestnut Rock.” She kept her eyes on him and he saw anger and something else. Pain. He’d unintentionally hurt her and it affected him more than it should. He didn’t know her, would probably never see her again, but her pain made him uneasy.

  “No, of course you’re not,” he said at the same time she stood, causing him to back up and get out of her way.

  “Good night, Ronald. Don’t ever call me.” She looked at her date and whispered the words. Then she turned her attention to him. “Excuse me.” Her voice broke on the last two words, but why? Why was she so upset?

  Brock stepped out of her way and watched her hastily make her way out of the dining room and run out the front door. She confused him. Why were his feelings toward her so strong?

  “Good riddance. She’s crazy, huh?”

  He wasn’t confused at all by his feelings toward her date. Without responding, Brock left the man alone and disappeared into his office to clear his head.

  Chapter Two

  Hollie ran out into the night, the cool air was a shock to her heated skin. Before the owner showed up, she’d been thinking about where to go when she walked away from her date. The feeling that he’d follow her had fled when she saw his reaction toward Brock. He would stay and eat his steak, desperate for Brock’s approval.

  Hollie thought about running into the woods and shifting, but the night was nice and home wasn’t too far away. Besides, she was a lot slower as a bunny.

  “Rabbit” was the proper term for her shifted form, but Hollie was a solid white fur-ball with violet eyes. Not a normal sight in the forest, and very much like the star of so many children’s tales surrounding Easter. The term “bunny” was a better fit. What would Brock think?

  She shook her head. It didn’t matter what he thought. He’d laughed at her when she questioned his menu. As she replayed the events of the night, her heart nearly broke in two.

  Hollie practically stopped breathing when Brock stepped up to their table. He was average height, with strong, squared shoulders and flat abs. He would complement her small frame, and not tower over her like Matt or Bull. His black hair was cut short and blue eyes stared back at her from a strong, clean-shaven face. His voice caressed her skin, chasing away the anxiety and bitterness from Ronald’s nasty words. He was flawless and more than she ever hoped for.

  A shifter dreams of only one thing: meeting her mate, changing him, and sharing a mating bond. What is she supposed to do now that the dream is dashed? Every story she’s ever heard about a shifter finding his or her mate is always the same. There are strong, confusing feelings, but there is always instant attraction and admiration. Though they don’t understand it, the non-shifting partner longs to be with the shifter and bind their lives together. It’s then up to the shifter to explain things and hope a bond can be forged.

  For a brief moment, Hollie remembered her mother and wished she was still alive. Her mom would comfort her and know just what to say to make everything seem better. A single tear slipped down her face. Hollie never knew her father and her mom passed a long time ago. Nothing could change that.

  Unfortunately, her mating wasn’t meant to be. Brock owned a steakhouse and she was a vegetarian. That one difference was a big obstacle to overcome considering he probably liked steak. Adding to that major detail, he’d laughed at her. He was no different than slimy Ronald and she wanted nothing to do with him.

  If she repeated that thought enough times, maybe she could convince herself it was true.

  ****

  Ugh! Why had he laughed at her? Why couldn’t he get her out of his head? Brock knew nothing about the girl, other than her choice of men was questionable, but he couldn’t stop thinking about her.

  She’d challenged him, yet instead of being mad, he wanted to rise to the challenge.

  Going to his office did nothing for his muddled head and he’d spent the rest of the night doing menial tasks in the dining room, hoping for distraction. Nothing worked. The staff closed the doors, completed their nightly tasks and left for the evening. Brock sat alone at the dimly lit bar, nursing a beer.

  The only solution was to make the menu changes and find her. Maybe not in that order. Menu changes take time and he wanted, no needed, to see her again. Soon. Right now.

  Brock thought about calling Ronald, but decided to save that recourse as a last resort. Brock didn’t trust him and wouldn’t speak to him again unless he had no choice. The guy was shady. He’d left his business card in the payment folder with a note for Brock to call him for details on a business venture. He could only imagine what the venture would be. More than likely it involved Brock’s reputation or money while Ronald did nothing and reaped the benefits. Brock didn’t do business that way and he didn’t voluntarily associate with anyone that did.

  His fingers rolled on the counter as he tried to come up with a solution. Her date had called her a “health nut.” Maybe other “health nuts” knew who she was. The Harvest was
the only health food store in town. Brock had been inside a few times with Candace. Maybe Candace, or one of the employees, would know who she was. Lucky for him, her features were unique. Anyone he described her to wouldn’t make a mistake and direct him to someone else.

  Brock started to get excited about the possibilities of a healthier, lighter menu. Candace had expressed an interest in running her own place. Maybe his dream of owning a chain of restaurants wasn’t extinguished after all.

  Chapter Three

  After hours of staring at the ceiling, Hollie finally gave up on any hope of sleep. An image of Brock rolled around in her head, mocking her. Now that she’d found him, she wanted to be with him more than anything. It hadn’t even been a full day and she was convinced she would go insane. Brock occupied her every thought.

  The need to see him was beyond anything she had experienced before and she finally gave in to the overwhelming desire.

  A quick check online the night before confirmed his address and his close proximity added to her desperate need. He was only a few blocks away, his house bordered the National Forest.

  With no real plan, Hollie rolled out of bed, quickly brushed her teeth and hair, and threw on some jeans and a t-shirt. At the door she slid her feet into a pair of no-back sneakers, grabbed her keys and left for her car.

  The brisk morning air cleared her head some and reminded her of the early morning hour, but she wouldn’t be deterred. If there was a chance to see him, she was going to take it. What if he wasn’t alone? That thought had her sitting at a green light until the only other car on the road honked and she stepped on the gas. Finding him with another woman would be bad. Very bad. Still, she continued driving until she pulled into the National Park and found the small parking lot she was looking for.

  Bull and Christina had shown her their favorite cave for remaining undetected to full humans. The entrance was large, but also misleading. The depth of the cave looked small from the outside. Once inside, Hollie took off her clothes and hid them, along with her car keys, in one of the crevices in the wall. She shifted, then made her way to the entrance, sniffing for predators, before hopping onto the forest floor.