Bear's Match (Bear Heat Book 6) by Natalie Kristen Page A

tonight, with Jade and Dylan. I dropped her off this
morning at Kit's Kitchen. She was meeting a client there.”
    “Did you get a look at
the client she was meeting?”
    Luke swore at himself. “No
I didn't. I should have.”
    “Was she upset when she
went to meet the client?”
    “No, but her client
sounded flustered over the phone. I heard bits of their conversation
this morning.”
    A pause. “What's your
girl's name?” Baxter said, his tone light and conversational.
    “Nicole.”
    “You know where Nicole
is right now?”
    “She should be at work,
but—she isn't.”
    Baxter frowned. “How
do you know?”
    “I don't. But my bear
does.”
    Baxter nodded and Luke rushed
on, “I can feel her, I can't explain it. It's like I can feel
she's in trouble and my bear is leading me to her. I don't
understand...”
    “The mate bond is a
powerful thing. Don't ignore it. You can feel your mate's pain and
fear, and your bear will always rise to protect her,” Baxter
said sagely.
    Luke gripped the steering
wheel, his claws glinting dangerously.
    “Just let your bear
drive. I mean, not literally!” Baxter yelled as Luke floored
the pedal. “You do the driving, but let your bear lead you.
Trust your bear. Nothing keeps a bear from its mate. Channel your
inner bear and, hey, hey, hey! Keep your eyes on the road, man!”

CHAPTER
FIFTEEN

    The tires squealed as Luke
took a sharp turn and gunned his car down the street. He could sense
Nicole's sudden spike of terror. His bear was pulsing beneath his
skin, angry and anxious. He needed to get to Nicole now. He knew
where she lived. She had grabbed his phone last night after their
second, or was it third? session of lovemaking to type in her contact
details.
    He saw her as he turned into
her street. She was scrambling down the fire escape with a bundle in
her arms and a bulging backpack on her shoulders.
    “There! She's there!”
    “I see her,”
Baxter said.
    They both looked up at the
same time. Three beefy men in black suits were racing down the fire
escape after her. Luke saw a car idling at the side of the road, and
he glimpsed a black suit in the driver's seat.
    Baxter’s eyes were
darting from the car to the building, scanning all the windows and
exits. “Bastards are shooting at her,” Baxter spat,
drawing his weapon. “Okay, slow down but don't stop the car.
I'll throw your girl into the car and you take off. Got it?”
Baxter tapped his watch and activated a signal.
    “What about you?”
Luke yelled.
    “I'll stay and play.
Don't worry.” Baxter flashed his watch. “I've called
for immediate backup. The Black Bears won't want to miss out on the
fun.”
    Luke slowed his car and
Baxter bounded out. He saw Baxter run to Nicole and grab her around
the waist. Nicole kicked out but stopped struggling when she caught
sight of Luke. Luke beckoned to her through the open window and she
nodded.
    Baxter opened the car door
and flung Nicole into the backseat. “Go!” He pounded
the roof.
    Luke swerved away from the
curb and zoomed down the street. “Get down!” he bellowed
to Nicole.
    The windscreen shattered as a
bullet punched through it. Luke ducked his head but kept driving.
    It would take more than a
bullet to stop him.
    “You okay? Nicole!”
    She had thrown herself on the
floor and was huddled behind the driver's seat. The baby was wailing
at the top of his lungs and Luke was afraid the rest of his windows
wouldn't be intact much longer if the kid kept it up.
    “How's the baby?”
He twisted round to glimpse an angry, red face and flailing fists.
    “He's upset, of course!
He doesn't like being shot at. Neither do I,” Nicole cried.
    Luke concentrated on
navigating his way round the cars coming up the street while
maintaining his breakneck speed. He wasn't slowing down for
anything.
    Horns blared and some choice
expletives were hurled at him but he didn't care. He was getting
Nicole and the kid away from…
    “Who are they?”
he shouted over his