Bite My Bengal: Paranormal Dating Agency (Heads N' Tails Book 3) Read online

  The only thing that would have been better at that moment was if she was at Dare’s cabin with him in the hot tub. Last night she wanted to go to his cabin, but she could barely hold her eyes open. She wouldn’t have been any fun. Plus, she would rather see his place when she could actual remember it. Maybe he’d play his guitar for her and even sing a little. She washed up with thoughts of Dare in the shower with her. His touch was gentle the other night and exactly what she needed. Everyone was right, she needed to let go of Dave and move on, and Dare was the perfect one to do it with.

  The music suddenly cut off. What the hell? Quietly, she listened for another song to start as she rinsed the shampoo from her hair. When the music didn’t start back, she turned off the shower and pulled the curtain open. Surrounded by steam, she stepped out of the shower and wrapped her towel around herself. She heard a crackling and she pulled open the bathroom door. Her apartment was in flames. The fire crackled as flames licked away at her window curtains. All her exits were blocked included a way out of the bathroom. Realizing the severity of her situation she screamed to the top of her lungs.

  Twelve

  Dare wasn’t able to sleep when he got home from dropping BJ off last night. Instead, he grabbed a beer and started working on her half door. He worked through the night and all morning, but he managed to finish it a day early. Finally tired, he managed to grab a few hours of sleep in the afternoon.

  He slept longer than he wanted to. Looking at his phone, there were no missed calls. He left her alone to do her thing today, hoping she would find clarity to their relationship. He checked his phone again when he got out of the shower. Not hearing from BJ didn’t sit well with him, but he did promise to give her some space.

  Coming up with a plan, he decided to use the half door as an excuse to pop in. He just needed to know that she was okay, without coming off as being worried or possessive. Carefully, he loaded the wrapped half door into the bed of his truck. The look on her face would be worth it when she saw what he carved. Getting in the driver seat, he started the truck. Leaving behind his quiet cabin by the woods, he headed into the city. It was a longer drive than it would have been from Heads N’ Tails. By the time he got there, BJ would have closed the bakery. Thinking he should grab some food on the way, he tossed the idea. Maybe she had already eaten or she may want to go out to eat.

  As he was approaching, the bakery the door opened. It wasn’t BJ slinking out of the door. The lights were off. She had already closed for the night. Pressing the gas, he sped up. Slamming on the breaks, he pulled to a stop in front of the bakery. He opened his door and jumped out. This asshole wasn’t getting away this time. Dare took off in a run. The man ran down the alley beside the bakery. Dare was faster though. Letting his tiger free, he shifted. He never missed a beat. When he was behind the man, he pounced, bringing all his tiger weight down on the unsuspecting man. Without using his claws, he swatted the man to flip him over. The young man screamed in a high-pitched voice. It wasn’t Mr. Jones like he expected. Dare shifted back but left his tiger paw on the young man’s chest.

  “What did you do in there?” he demanded.

  “Please don’t kill me,” the man cried.

  A crackling sound caught Dare’s attention. He looked up toward the window of BJ’s apartment where flames were rising.

  “Son of a bitch! If she dies, you die.” He slammed the man’s head down, knocking him out.

  Jumping up, he slung the man over his shoulders. He ran into the bakery with the man bouncing against his back. Stashing him in the cooler, Dare trapped him in. Once he got BJ out, he’d come back for the man. BJ’s scream echoed through the building. Taking the steps three at a time, he ran upstairs. The door to her apartment was already on fire and smoke was filling the upstairs ceiling. Kicking through the flames, his foot hit the door. It broke from the hinges and landed a few feet from the entrance. BJ was standing at the bathroom door, swatting at the flames with a towel. She must have been in the shower. All she was wearing was a towel

  “Dare!” Her scream pierced through his heart. Not again. He wasn’t going to let the fire take BJ too.

  “Take some towels into the shower and turn the cold water on. I’m coming to get you,” he yelled to her.

  She disappeared into the bathroom. The flames grew and the crackling got louder. Stepping back into the hallway, he shifted into his tiger. He ran in and jumped over the fire blocking the doorway. He dodged the burning table. The smoke on the ceiling began to get lower as more smoke formed. He leapt over the flames and into the bathroom. He shifted the second he landed. BJ was standing under the water in the shower. He ran over to her and gave her a quick hug.

  “I don’t know what happened,” she spoke as he picked up the wet towels from the bottom of the tub.

  “Someone started the fire.” He draped wet towels around her so the flames wouldn’t get her skin. He draped another over her head. “It will protect you from the smoke. When I shift, climb on to my back and hold on for your life.”

  “What about you?” she asked with a terror in her eyes.

  “I’ll be alright. I’ll heal quicker than you. We’re wasting too much time.” The moment the words left his mouth, she pressed her lips against his.

  She took a step back and he shifted in front of her. Facing the door, he backed up for her to get on. He jerked when a cold towel was draped over him rather than her climbing on.

  “You need to be safe too.” She climbed onto his back, tucking her feet underneath him. “I’m ready.”

  Her arms went around his neck. He was going to get her out of this. The flames completed their way around the door frame, creating a ring of fire. Wishing he had more running space, he backed up as far as he could until his hind legs hit the side of the tub. The creak of a board breaking had him shooting forward. He leapt through the doorway, his fur singeing from the flames. He roared out and BJ squeezed on tighter. Without stopping, he dodged the flames. A beam cracked in the ceiling over the couch. Flames trapped them in at the door. He leapt through the flames, knowing BJ would be safe under the wet towels. The flames touched his stomach, burning his fur and skin. He didn’t have time to react. He ran down the steps.

  “I’m slipping,” she said sliding forward.

  Almost there. Holding his head up he kept her from falling as they made it down the rest of the way. Sirens rang out in the distance. Another loud crack sounded as they reached the bakery kitchen. Frantic pounding and yelling came from inside the cooler. BJ jumped from his back, dropping some towels as she ran to a stool and grabbed her cardigan.

  Keeping true to his word, Dare shifted and opened the cooler. The man tried to run past him but Dare wasn’t letting him go anywhere. He grabbed him by his throat, bringing him to a dead stop. BJ ran outside while he escorted their fire starter out.

  “When the cops get here, you will tell them everything,” Dare ordered him.

  “I have nothing to say,” the man hissed out.

  Dare slammed him down on the table by the door. Partially shifting his hand, he borrowed his tiger’s claws to instill fear. The man’s eyes widened and panic began to creep in. Dare fished around in the man’s pockets until he found his wallet. Looking at the man’s driver’s license and photos, he smiled.

  “Well now, Dylan Miller. You will tell them everything, or I’ll come for you.” Dare slipped a family photo into his back pocket. He scraped his claw down the man’s throat. “You wouldn’t believe what a lonely tiger like me is capable of. I do love a good game of cat and mouse.” His claw nicked the man’s skin and a bead of blood formed. “I trust you’ll do the right thing.”

  Dylan nodded and Dare let him up but didn’t let him go. They walked out as the firefighters were pulling up at a safe distance. BJ was tucked away in his truck, safe from people’s prying eye. He crossed the street with his prisoner. When BJ caught sight of them, she jumped out of the truck.

  “You’re the man pretending to be from the telephone company.” BJ p
ointed her finger at the man as they walked up to the truck. Her knee came up, connecting with Dylan’s manhood. He went down on his knees and Dare let go. BJ balled up her fist and punched him in the nose. “That’s for my bakery.”

  The commotion got the attention of the officer on scene. Dare handed Dylan over to the police. The officer on scene was the same one from the night of the rat incident. The officer cuffed Dylan and detained him until he got all the statements he needed. Dare pulled Dylan’s family photo out of his pocket and showed it to BJ.

  “Hey, that’s the woman that locked me in the cooler, yesterday.” BJ took the photo from him. She told the officer what happened and about the bug Dylan must have planted in her phone.

  “We’ll get everything sorted out.” He shook their hands. “I’m glad you were able to make it out.”

  “I wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for Dare.” BJ looked up at him.

  “You did a fine job.” He clapped Dare on the back and walked back to his police car.

  “How did you know I was in trouble?” BJ asked him.

  “I didn’t. I came over to bring you the half door I finished today.” He nodded to the back of his truck.

  “Looks like I don’t need it right now.” Frowning, she looked back to her bakery.

  What didn’t burn was getting plenty of water damage. He couldn’t imagine what she was going through at this moment. That bakery was her everything.

  “Will you come back to my place? Stay a few days until you figure things out,” he offered. “I have an extra bedroom. I promise I will still give you your space.”

  “I don’t need anymore space.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’ll be there and that’s all I need.”

  “After Sarah died, I didn’t think I’d love again.” He kissed her lips. “You’ve won my heart already, kitten.”

  “Take me back to your cabin.” She kissed him. She didn’t have to tell him twice.

  “After you, kitten.” He opened the truck door for her to slide inside. She slid over to the passenger side and he slid in next to her. “Let’s go home.”

  Thirteen

  “Wow, this place is beautiful.” They pulled up in front of his log cabin.

  “It’s simple.” He shrugged. “Come on, I’ll show you around.”

  She got out of the passenger side and adjusted her cardigan. His simple cabin had a wrap around porch. A large workshop sat to the right of the cabin. They went inside, and he showed her the layout. It was simple but beautiful. Each piece of furniture was handcrafted by Dare. He took her out to the back porch. It was bigger than the front porch and had a patio attached. There was a hot tub in the corner of the porch. A larger grill and smoker were on the patio a few yards from the hot tub. With the floodlights on, she could see a fire pit in the middle of the back yard.

  Right now, she didn’t even want to look at a fire. Standing against the porch railing, she stared at the fire pit. Ashes and burnt wood were in the center from previous fires. The fire at her apartment flashed before her eyes. Flames lit up her living room. Heat from the flames dampened her skin with beads of sweat. Smoke rolled up to the ceiling, finally escaping when the window busted. Her kitchen was even ablaze by the time they got out.

  “I think I burned my dinner.” She tried to smile but it wasn’t happening. Her stomach growled, protesting to the lack of food.

  “I have some steaks in the refrigerator. How about I grill them while you rest your body in the hot tub? I saw you eyeballing it.” He uncovered the hot tub, placing the big cover behind it.

  “Water is good.” She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Why don’t you hop in too?”

  “I have a little healing to do before I get in the water. Maybe after dinner.” He placed a kiss on her forehead and pressed the button for the jets.

  “Healing?” Stepping back, she looked him over. “You don’t look hurt.”

  “It’s not bad.” He unbuttoned his shirt exposing his stomach. “It just doesn’t look pretty at the moment.”

  “Why are your clothes not burned?” His skinned was charred in patches, but his clothes were untouched.

  “Because I wasn’t wearing clothes as a tiger. I don’t understand all the magic in shifting. Some shifter’s clothes shred to pieces, others can shift with their clothes still intact. I happen to be one of those. I’ll heal fast, give it an hour or two and there will barely be a scar. Tomorrow, you won’t even know I was burned.”

  “Wow, that fast?” Smiling, she pulled his shirt the rest of the way off.

  “Shifter perks.” He leaned down and captured her lips with his. “I should start the grill.”

  He went down the steps and over to the grill. While he started the grill, he kept glancing up at her. With a grin, she dropped her cardigan to the porch floor. His eyes were locked on her body. She slowly climbed into the hot tub.

  “Damn, kitten.” He shook his head as he came back up the steps.

  “What?” She watched as he walked over to her.

  “Gorgeous.” He bent over the hot tub and kissed her lips. “I’m going to get the steaks ready.”

  As he stood, she glanced down at his stomach. She could tell the healing process had already started. His skin no longer looked charred, but rather had deep angry red marks with a few black specks. Resting back onto the headrest, she let the jets massage her back.

  She wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Dare. He had risked his life to save her. Not everyone would run into a burning building, most would call the fire department and leave it for them. Instead, he ran inside not knowing how bad it was going to be. Dare didn’t have to say it for her to know that he loved her. She could feel it in everything he did. She needed to live and be complete again. Dare could complete her.

  Dare was so much like Dave was, yet different. He was much like Dave wanted to be. Everything that was hers and Dave’s burned in the fire. It was time she let him go for good. He’d always be in her heart, but now was the time for her to focus on her happiness. Dare was who made her happy. She could easily spend forever with him.

  “Deep thoughts?” Dare came out of the cabin with a plate of steaks and a towel. He dropped the towel on the chair by the hot tub.

  “A few.” She watched as he went down the steps. “I was wondering if any of my stuff survived the fire.”

  “I’ll take you by there tomorrow, but we’ll have to check the stability of the building before you can go in. I’m not letting you go up those stairs if the whole thing could collapse.”

  “I know,” she sighed.

  Dare’s phone rang from his pocket. He answered the phone, but didn’t stay on long. Instead he came up the steps and held out his phone to her.

  “For me?” She wiped her hands on the towel he had placed in the chair.

  “It’s the sheriff.” He handed her the phone.

  “Hello?” she spoke into the phone expecting more bad news.

  “Ms. Elwood, sorry to disturb you so late. I wanted to let you know that Dylan Miller confessed to everything, including who hired him. We’re picking up Mr. Jones now. It’s over, with Mr. Miller’s confession and testimony we’ll have a case against Mr. Jones.”

  “That’s great news. I’m surprised he confessed to attempted murder and arson.” She looked up at Dare, who only shrugged and went back to the grill.

  She watched Dare flip the steaks over as she listened to the sheriff. After a minute, she hung up the phone and dropped it on the towel.

  “Dylan confessed to everything,” she told Dare. “Said he would confess once the sheriff promised you wouldn’t go anywhere near him or his family. You know anything about that?”

  “I may have given him the impression that if he didn’t tell the truth, bad things would happen.” Shrugging, he pulled the steaks off the grill.

  “Did you have to threaten him?” she asked as he walked up the porch steps.

  “He told the truth, didn’t he?”

  “Yes, he
did and they’re going to pick up Mr. Jones, too.” Grabbing the towel, she stood from the hot tub. “Steaks smell good.”

  “Dry off and have a seat.” He motioned to the table and chairs on the other end of the porch. “I’ll plate up dinner and bring it out.”

  Once she dried off, she wrapped the towel around her. Picking up her cardigan, she smelled the fabric. It reeked of smoke. She dropped it back to the porch floor. The back door opened and Dare came out with two plates and a shirt thrown over his shoulder. He placed the plates on the table and handed her the shirt.

  “I thought you might like to cover up with more than a towel. Though I wouldn’t mind if you didn’t.” He winked at her. “I’ll grab us some drinks.”

  While he went inside for drinks, she slipped the shirt over her head and let the towel fall from around her. She picked it up and spread it out over the railing to dry. When she sat down, Dare came out with two glasses of sweet tea and set one next to her plate. Cutting into her steak, she took a bite.

  “Oh, this is wonderful. How did you know I liked it medium rare?” she asked taking another bite.

  “It’s how you ordered it on our first date,” he reminded her.

  “That’s right.” She took another bite. “I think you could give Tobias a run for his money.”

  “Tobias?” he asked with a raised brow.

  “He’s the chef at the restaurant,” she told him.

  “Should I be jealous of his spices?” He smiled and took a bite of his rare steak.

  “I love the way you spice your meat.” She took another bite. “You cooked it to perfection.”