Chapter 12 I Hate Bullies
I Hate Bullies
Suzie stared at the two men. They were not attractive specimens. Along with having an aversion to water and soap, their clothes reeked of cigarette smoke, and Bulbous Nose’s faded black T-shirt bore a red splotch that brought blood to mind.
She pulled out her phone and hit several buttons.
“Who’re ya ringing?” Ruddy Cheeks demanded.
“The cops. This is extortion, and it’s against the law.”
“Ya bluffin’,” Ruddy Cheeks snarled.
“Try me.” She held up a hand as if to stop him talking.
“Yes. This is Suzie from the Full Cup Tea shop. I have two male customers causing a disturbance. Could I have assistance in evicting them, please? Five minutes? That’s fine.
” Suzie hung up and eyed the two men expectantly. If anything, they appeared nonplussed.
“You’re shittin’ us,” Ruddy Cheeks said finally.
“Nope,” Suzie chirped. “You’re bullies and rely on scaring people and forcing them to do your bidding. I don’t care how big and bad you are. I’m cranky, and you came across me at the wrong time.”
“Them’s fightin’ words,” Bulbous Nose said. “And you a tiny thing against two men.”
“Wow,” Suzie said, amazed one man could be so stupid. She had confidence since she’d trained with Isabella. Then, there was her shifter status, which made her stronger and faster than humans.
Evidently, Ruddy Cheeks wasn’t as foolish as Bulbous Nose. He rose and pushed back his chair. It scraped across the tiles while he glowered at her.
Suzie stood her ground, watchful and cautious. One of these idiots was going to break and hit her, and she hoped her confidence wasn’t misplaced.
It was Bulbous Nose who made the first move.
He jumped up and sprang at her. Suzie moved automatically, the endless drills Isabella had subjected her to now instinct.
She stuck out her foot, and Bulbous Nose sprawled headfirst into the neighboring table.
Empty plates and a half-eaten sausage roll went flying on impact.
Cups and saucers crashed to the floor, and one thumped Bulbous Nose over the head.
Cold tea dripped over him, and he cursed, something inventive that made Suzie’s brows rise.
She hadn’t heard that one before. She grinned, taking mental notes.
One never knew when an excellent mouth-rounding oath would come in handy.
Bulbous Nose climbed to his feet and charged. Suzie used her speed to dodge him, then seized him from behind. She applied her foot to the back of his knee, and he went down. Unfortunately, Ruddy Cheeks had come to his senses and shoved her away from his friend.
“Leave my brother alone,” he shouted.
She was lucky these two used their size and appearance to intimidate people, yet at heart, they were cowards. When someone stood up to them, they folded under the pressure.
“If you leave, I’ll call off the cops,” she said sweetly.
The front doorbell tinkled, snapping them out of their standoff.
An older woman stalked inside and summed up the situation with one glance.
She set her shopping bags on the counter, her lined face full of contempt.
She wore a tweed skirt with a faint dusting of flour on the hem while her salt and pepper hair was tied back in a braid.
The wisps that had escaped softened the woman’s lined face.
“Georgia!”
“Yes, Ma?”
“Come and get the shopping. We need to make more shortbread and a fresh batch of scones.”
“Yes, Ma.” The young girl appeared from the back and seized the shopping bags before retreating.
“What the devil do you think you’re doing?” she demanded, her gaze including Suzie. “I’ve been out for one hour, and you’ve driven away my customers, broken my plates, and spilled tea and milk on the floor.”
“They were trying to intimidate your daughter and demanded food and tea,” Suzie said. “I merely stepped in to tell them to stop, and they took exception to my interference.”
“That’s not true,” Ruddy Cheeks protested. “We were gonna pay for our food.”
“Lie,” Suzie said calmly. “Check with your daughter. She’ll corroborate my story.
I was reading and didn’t notice what was happening.
Customers were waiting for tables, but the place emptied while I was immersed in my book.
These two gentlemen, and I use the term loosely, watched you leave and tried to take advantage of your absence. ”
“Georgia, ring the police,” the woman called, raising her voice. She turned a fierce glare on the two men. “Harold and Timothy Bracewell, your mother would be ashamed of your behavior. God rest her poor soul. Now leave. The police know where to find you, and I’m pressing charges this time.”
Suzie fought the need to grin. Well, she sure told them. Both men muttered curses then slunk from the cafe, slamming the door and kicking the sandwich board promoting the specials.
“Good riddance. I planned to be absent for ten minutes, but the bank was busy. Thank you for stepping in to help. Georgia…” She shook her head. “She needs to assert herself.”
“I don’t like bullies.”
“Me neither,” the woman said briskly. “Now, can I get you something?”
“No, thanks. I was relaxing after my shopping.” And trying to think how to win over a stubborn bear. Or maybe she should kick his butt for thinking the worst of her.
The woman nodded and bustled away, clearing several tables as she went.
Suzie returned to her table to drink her last cup of tea.
How did one seduce a hard-headed bear determined to place her in the enemy role?
She should’ve been eager to return home and take up her university place.
Her shoulders sagged. She’d thought it before, and it was still true—it wouldn’t be an adventure without Edwina.
They’d been friends forever after meeting at school.
She should be angry but couldn’t dredge up a scrap of angst because now that she’d met Niall, she understood.
Meeting someone with a strong connection didn’t happen often.
“Stupid, obstinate bear.”
He should hibernate—preferably with her—and get over his dim-witted ways.
Suzie didn’t know what sort of women he’d been associating with before she came along.
Still, they’d either been manipulative or had been the intelligent variety who’d seen this bear’s high principles and understood he’d never let a woman into his world.
“What am I going to do?” Suzie muttered.
A yellow teapot landed on her table with a thump, along with a box that—judging by her quick sniff—held baked goodies.
“If the man is worth it, fight for him,” the cafe owner said. “If not, do yourself a favor and turn him loose. Life is too short to waste on worthless males.”
Suzie grinned at the forthright advice. This was something her father might tell her while her mother worried and stressed. “I’d come to that conclusion myself.”
The woman nodded. “Thanks again for aiding Georgia when everyone else left. Typical!”
“You’re welcome,” Suzie said. “And thanks for the treats. You didn’t need to give me anything.”
“I sensed that, which made me decide you deserved a gift.” With a brisk nod, the woman marched away.
Suzie smiled after the brusque woman and settled in to drink more tea.
By the time she gathered her shopping bags, ready to return to the castle, she was still unsure how to handle Niall.
The grumpy bear had gotten to her, and she now understood that beneath his protective shell, this shifter cared deeply for those around him.
He had a marshmallow center and was loving and sweet. He was the one she wanted by her side.
At that moment, it felt like an impossible dream. Maybe it was better for her to return home and study her music. At the very least, she’d have firsthand experience of heartbreak, which might help increase her repertoire of songs.
Suzie bid farewell to the cafe owner and her daughter and stepped outside into the late afternoon sun.
She wandered along the sidewalk, taking in the other pedestrians and nodding at the various shifters she recognized from the gathering.
She decided to do a circuit and window shop when she reached the cobblestone square in the middle of the village.
Yeah, she was delaying returning to the castle. She admitted it.
“Hello. Who do we have here?”
For a second, her chest lurched because the man sounded so much like Niall. She swiveled and almost wrenched her ankle on the uneven cobblestones. Niall’s brothers. Both wore mischievous expressions that told her they intended to create havoc. How, she wasn’t sure, but her gut tightened in alarm.
“What do you want?”
“Our little brother likes you,” Colin said, chortling for no reason Suzie could fathom.
She frowned and said nothing.
“You’re going to tell us everything you know about Niall and his business,” Euan said.
Suzie remained mute while her brain tried to fashion a plan to escape these two idiots. Together, they were stronger than her, but surely they didn’t intend to harm her in the middle of a busy square.
“You’ll tell us about the security measures at the castle. The men he has hired and his plans for his new honey.”
How did they know about Niall’s honey? “I can’t help you with that. I suggest you approach Niall yourselves.”
Euan leaned closer until his breath seared her cheek. Suzie jerked away, trying to avoid the toxic fumes. He reached out a beefy hand and curled it around her biceps, not seeming to care he was hurting her.
“You will tell us, or else,” Colin said.
“Or else what?” Perhaps prodding the bear wasn’t the best idea, but she didn’t intend to help these idiots harm Niall.
Without warning, Colin closed the distance between them and kissed her.
She struggled, but his easy strength overpowered her.
Two of her packages dropped to the ground.
To anyone watching, it’d seem they were a couple, especially when Euan hooted, his cry attracting the attention of bystanders.
Suzie gave up fighting, and when Colin relaxed, she kicked him in the shins.
Colin’s grip tightened, and he shook her, delight clinging to his features. Bastard. He was a better actor than she’d given him credit for, and she saw several passersby smile, thinking them a romantic couple. Ugh! Let him try to kiss her again with that slobbering mouth.
“What do you want from me?” she snarled.
“Just proving a point,” Euan said. “So, what’s inside these packages?”
“They’re presents for my family,” Suzie said.
“No honey samples. Pity. We could’ve done with those.”
Suzie froze, her gaze narrowing. “This is about your brother?”
“Runt owes us,” Euan said, punctuating this with a growl.
“He owes you nothing.”
“He’s a Sinclair, but he won’t share his riches with us—his kin,” Euan said.
“It’s his duty,” Colin agreed.
Suzie stared at Euan, lost for words. He…
They… No wonder Niall preferred to strike out independently rather than stick with his family.
They wanted to use his hard work and seize the rewards.
No worse, they expected Niall to hand over his earnings without protest merely because he had the misfortune of being born into their family.
“Niall has worked hard to get where he is now,” Suzie said, but she could tell these two morons would never see that. They could only see the money at the rainbow’s end—Niall’s wealth.
“Kiss her again, Colin. Show her who’s boss,” Euan said without warning.
Colin didn’t hesitate. He crushed her to his chest, and despite her physical and verbal protests, he subjected her to another of his slobbery kisses.
“Good job,” Euan said when Colin released her.
Suzie glared at them both, then realized Euan wasn’t looking at them. He was staring over her shoulder with an expression of utter satisfaction.