M&L03 - SS by Stacie Simpson Page B

and the colors filled in as
the couple got to know each other and fell in love. The marks on my body
weren’t as colorful as they could be but they were certainly more complete than
I’d ever seen on a newly mated shifter before. That led me to believe the spell
was strong enough to complicate my life by blocking the flow of emotions
through the bond, but it wasn’t strong enough to stop the mating altogether.
    Deciding not to reveal my
newly mated status quite yet, I put on a long-sleeved Walking Dead T-shirt and
a pair of black cargo pants. The fox did not like hiding the mating marks, but
I wanted to make sure Renee was ready before the inevitable gossip started.
    Heading downstairs, I went in
search of Katerina to see if she needed any help with the finishing touches
before the banquet tonight. When she wasn’t in her office, I checked the dance
club but only found a few dancers rehearsing on stage. My next stop was The
Outer Rim, the one and only restaurant in this dimension. It was adjacent to
the Supernova dance club and served breakfast, lunch and dinner 24/7. Scanning
the dining room, I noticed several people looking like death warmed over,
probably hung over from the night before, but no sign of Katerina.
    Moving on, I reached out to
push my way through the swinging door to the kitchen when it nearly hit me in
the face and Olivia, The Outer Rim’s Head Chef, barreled through it muttering,
“Thinks he’s Chef Fucking Ramsay, he does. I’ll show him hot and tangy... ”
The tall brunette didn’t even notice me as she stormed by fuming with anger.
    Shaking my head, I reached
out again and this time the door opened easily allowing me to pass through into
the kitchen where I finally found Katerina. She was stunning as always in her
designer dress and spiked heels with her silky black tresses hanging in loose
curls down to her waist. Our friendship went back to her childhood and she was one
of the few unmated females I’d never even considered approaching for sex.
    Some things just weren’t
worth risking your life for.
    Katerina was arguing with
Serrano while the kitchen staff tried to ignore their presence and continued
working.
    Taking a deep breath Katerina
said, “Serrano, I need you to have a little faith in Olivia. She and her staff
are more than capable of handling the extra workload this tournament and
especially the banquet tonight have created.”
    He ran a frustrated hand
through his shoulder length black hair. “I’m only doing my job Katerina. She
needs to learn how to accept constructive criticism.”
    Katerina snorted. “Look, I
know Dragon put you in charge of everything related to food service at all of
his properties, but that doesn’t mean you have to come in and step on the local
managers’ toes every time you come for a visit - especially not at this
particular location where the Head Chef happens to be your ex-girlfriend.”
    “Olivia was a lot more to me
than a girlfriend,” Serrano growled.
    “Fine,” Katerina said
throwing her hands in the air. “Whatever she was to you it’s over now, and has
been for decades. Let it go. And if you can’t, at least leave her alone for the
remainder of the tournament or I’ll be forced to take this up with Dragon.”
    With that, I knew the
argument was over. Dragon very rarely sided against Katerina and everyone knew
it.
    Serrano glared at her for a
moment with the black eyes of his vampire then turned on his heel and stalked
past me.
    Once he was gone I asked,
“Playing dirty now aren’t you?”
    Katerina smiled, a slow
mischievous curl to her full lips and came over to give me a hug. “Is there any
other way to play Solomon?”
    Chuckling I pulled back from
the hug. “I guess not.”
    She stepped back and leaned
casually against a stainless steel countertop. With her four-inch heels, she
was just slightly taller than I was. “Why can’t all the division managers be
more like you Solomon? You never come here and make waves, not even