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.
