Grizzly Dare (Mayberry Protectors #7)

Chapter 1 Dare

ONE

DARE

Some days were hard. Most days were hard, especially when you’ve had your heart, mind, soul—hell, your entire world—destroyed and you’re still trying to pick up the pieces.

Most days it was tough to get out of bed.

If it weren’t for my responsibilities, I’d probably never leave the house.

I’d sit inside and go through the motions, pretending I was okay, when I was just existing.

I’d been in survival mode for the past five years, yet it felt like an entire lifetime. And how could it not, considering how much I’d lost and how busy I’ve kept since.

Thankfully, there was a ray of sunshine in my life. It was only one, but it was so bright it had the capacity to make me feel good if I let it.

The ray’s name was Zach. And that was who I was going to see this morning.

After driving around the block a few times, I managed to nab a spot in one of the parking bays on Main Street.

The street was heaving with tourists and locals alike.

Most were dressed in costumes, some wearing spooky makeup, and the kids were running around their parents screaming at the top of their lungs, trying to out-scare their friends.

Pumpkin lanterns lined in front of all the window displays and fake cobwebs were spread out across doorways and passages causing more fuss than fun.

My chest felt fuzzy as I walked past those images, even if it would never be completely warm again.

I wanted nothing more than to be like the people walking around, able to enjoy myself and the community but it was hard.

I may have been in Mayberry Holm for five years, but I still felt like a stranger, an imposter, an outsider looking in.

Though if you asked any local, I was part of the island. I was one of them. The man who’d bought up the abandoned blueberry farm and brought it back to life. The man whose blueberry pies were legendary. The man who always had a smile on his face. I guess I was good at pretending.

I took a right turn on Main Street that led to the bay and onto the boardwalk bustling with colors and life.

The bubble tea store, Bubble Bubble, had a line going all the way outside, everyone eager to get their hands on the Halloween special blend.

The tourist gift shop had a whole display full of animatronic skeletons and boiling cauldrons making everyone desperate for pictures.

The pub was crammed with patrons gagging for brunch.

I ignored them all and joined the line at the end of the boardwalk looking ahead at the blue food truck. At him. My ray of sunshine.

He seemed flustered. But who wouldn’t be in his situation? He was a one-man show trying to serve droves in a timely fashion and with a smile on his face. And yet, despite how busy he was, he managed to do both like the pro he was.

Fifteen minutes later I was standing in front of him looking up and doing my best not to get distracted by his beautiful kind eyes and plump pink lips.

He had on a black furry onesie with the hood up, giving him a cute pair of fluffy cat ears.

The tip of his nose was painted black and white whiskers were painted along his cheeks.

He looked cozy and perfectly huggable, even more than usual.

Just thinking about wrapping my arms around him made me feel like I could breathe again.

“If it isn’t my favorite patron!” he exclaimed, and I had to shake my head to focus on his words.

“I’m sure you say that to everyone,” I chuckle and he narrowed his eyes.

“I swear to God, I don’t. Have I told any of you that?” he raised his voice and asked the customers that had come before me, who were standing around tucking into their baked goods.

A few chuckled. Most shook their heads, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Do you believe me now?” he laughed.

I simply shrugged because it was impossible to speak. If I did, I’d only make a fool of myself.

“So what will it be today? I’ve made some pumpkin spiced banana bread that’s to die for, chai cinnamon rolls that are so freaking good, apple and burnt caramel muffins, and a pumpkin spice carrot cake that I might just eat myself before anyone gets a chance to try it,” he said and I couldn’t help but stare at him, marveling at his incredible ability to make everything sound… mouthwatering.

“I…uhm…I’m not sure. They all sound delicious.”

He pushed his shoulders up and his smile deepened. “Then maybe a little bit of everything?”

Laughter roared from deep within me, making my entire body shake and I tapped my hand on my big belly.

“Are you trying to get me fatter?” I asked.

Zach glared at me again and raised an eyebrow.

“No. I’m just trying to feed you,” he said.

“I think I eat enough all on my own,” I said.

Zach rolled his eyes. “But not nearly enough of my cake.”

I had to bite my lip to keep myself from groaning, because what I wouldn’t give to eat him up, but as much as I wanted to, that was never going to happen.

“I’ll try your pumpkin spice banana bread and add a couple chai cinnamon rolls, thanks.”

Zach nodded and grabbed a greaseproof paper bag and a pair of tongs.

“Right away. Would you like a coffee?”

“I’d love one but you’re busy enough as it is,” I said.

“Oh it’s okay. I don’t mind. Everything good is worth waiting for,” he replied with a hint of a smile that made its way all the way to my heart.

If only that were true. Although, when I looked at him, I could almost believe it.

“If you’re sure, I’ll have your cinnamon latte, thanks.”

Zach got to work steaming my milk and I glanced at the line behind me that didn’t look like it was going down any time soon.

“No Teddy today?” I asked.

“I gave him the day off. After everything he’s been through, he deserves it, but he’ll be back tomorrow.”

I grunted a reply and shook my head. After everything he’d been through!

That was the understatement of the century. As if having your partner kidnapped and almost dying saving him was just a fluke. As if it wasn’t what happened to everyone else who had followed Wyatt on this island to help him with his stupid, fucking plan.

“And you’re doing all the work on one of the busiest days of the year all on your own?” I said.

He shrugged.

“I’m used to it.”

I glanced at his cake display and all the satisfied people around us and couldn’t help but stare back at Zach.

“I don’t know how you do it. You work all day, yet you always have tons of cakes available and a smile on your face. Are you sure you’re not a witch?”

Zach laughed.

“No. But I’m a witch’s cat,” he said and spread his hands as if to show off his costume.

“And what a cute cat you are,” I exclaimed before I could stop myself.

Don’t flirt with the baker, Dare. He doesn’t need that. Nobody needs that. Least of all you.

“Besides, I’m not alone. I’ve got Donovan here,” he said and cast his glance behind me.

I turned and looked at the tall man with the dark hair and big muscles who was busy talking to a short brunette and waved at them both.

I couldn’t help but feel sorry for both Donovan, my ex-SEAL teammate, and Autumn, Wyatt’s bar manager.

They had followed Wyatt here under the promise of protection and community in exchange for help with his mission to bring down the crime syndicate that had overtaken the island.

His foolish plan had gotten people close to death more than a few times.

Wyatt should be locked up for what he was doing to these people; for pitting them against a dangerous organization that would protect themselves by any means necessary.

“What’s the point of Donovan being here if he’s not going to help you in the truck?” I asked Zach, shaking Wyatt and his stupidity off my mind.

“He tried, god bless him, but he almost made my espresso machine blow up so he’s on customer satisfaction duty,” Zach replied.

I glanced at Donovan again as he attempted to put his arm around Autumn’s waist, but she pushed him off her and rolled her eyes as if in disbelief he would do that.

“He seems to be dealing exclusively with one customer,” I said.

Zach laughed.

“Yeah. Tell me about it. Those two have been pretending they’re not interested in each other for forever. I don’t know why they don’t get together already,” he said and I chuckled.

“Maybe they’ve got their reasons,” I told him, and he gave me my coffee cup.

Our fingers brushed against each other, and I felt a zing all up my arm that gave me goosebumps.

As usual, I ignored it.

“And don’t forget your rolls,” he added, passing me a paper bag.

“Oh shoot!” I said and remembered the bag already in my hand. “I brought you something.”

I put the plastic bag on top of the metal counter and pushed it toward him.

Zach bit his lip and glared at it.

“It isn’t…is it?”

I smiled.

“It sure is.”

Zach squealed and did a happy dance that made his hood drop, revealing his short buzz cut with the cute, coiled rings at the top and I once again stood there marveling at his beauty.

“Wait, is it for me, or the truck?” he asked.

I chuckled.

“It’s for both. There’s two in there.”

After the last time I’d dropped off one blueberry pie that had sent him into an agonizing dilemma, I’d learned my lesson.

“Hmm, you say that as if I can’t eat both myself.”

“You can. If you want,” I said.

He tapped his chin.

“Decisions, decisions.”

I watched him stare at the boxes inside the plastic bag until he took one out and popped it in the fridge.

“I can’t. Your delicious pie needs to be shared with the people,” he added and took the second box out so he could put that pie on display.

Something tickled in my chest when he acted like that.

When he, a wonderful, talented baker, cherished something I’d made as if it was unique.

But even so, even after almost a year of bringing him blueberry pies in exchange for cake, it still had the capacity to give me goosebumps and to make my heart combust.

Too bad my heart was so badly damaged it was barely holding on with all the duct tape and barbed wire and the last thing I needed was to let anyone—even my small ray of sunshine—in.

“See you tomorrow,” I said, after he waved my credit card off and I picked up my paper bag that felt slightly heavier than it should have been for a couple of rolls.

“Not if I see you first,” he winked, and I held my breath before I did something stupid like wink back or fall in love with him or something.

I couldn’t. Not ever again. Not even with the ray of sunshine that had made the past year bearable.