How the cook kept all the orders straight was a wonder that boggled the mind, but Tonic knew better than to dilly dally. He got the man’s attention with a nod and waited patiently till he was ready to take their order.
“We’ll have eighteen burgers, please, with onions, cheese, pickles and ketchup,” he looked at her and she shrugged, but nodded at him, a whimsical grin on her too cute face.
“What can I get you?” the other employee of the establishment asked and, once more, Tonic answered for them both.
“Two fries, cheese sauce on the side, a cup of pickles, and two chocolate shakes.”
“You got it,” the man said, and went to take the next order.
They sat in silence for a moment and watched the cook as he flipped the small, delicious beef patties on the hot grill, adding cheese and onions depending on the order. Tonic handed her some napkins, noting the rush he felt when their fingers touched.
“My father took me here years ago,” Maya confided and he grinned at her warmly, happy that she was happy with his choice.
Hell, making Maya smile made him feel ten-feet tall. The conversation after was surprisingly easy. They chatted about this and that, little things, avoiding the elephant in the room, as it were, but he was okay with that. Small talk was necessary, good even. It showed they could get along.
“You would rather read a book then watch reality TV?” he asked in mock horror, ducking as she swatted him playfully.
“I hate reality TV, and I love to read. You already knew that otherwise why did you get me that Kindle Fire for Christmas?” she returned.
“You caught me. It’s true, I asked Nita what you liked,” he confessed, “but she didn’t tell me what you like to read.”
“Oh,” she blushed, but answered, “I like romances. Paranormal ones with big sexy Shifters who find their mates. I know, it’s silly,” she blushed and munched on a pickle.
“Not at all,” he said, “if you like something it isn’t silly. Reading is a personal choice. I like thrillers and mysteries myself.”
“You read?”
“Yes,” he said and turned just as the rest of their food was placed in front of them.
Silence ensued for several moments while they ate. Tonic slowed down, not wanting to make a bear of himself with the food. She grinned at him, and he felt himself blush around his mouthful of burger.
He hadn’t realized how hungry they both were but was glad he stopped when he did. Nothing beat this joint for burgers and shakes. He supposed it was the excitement from the meeting that made them so ravenous. That and the possibility of what was to come.
Please say yes. Tonic offered up the fervent prayer to no one in particular as he took a long pull from his chocolate shake.
“This is thick enough to use a spoon,” she laughed as she tried sipping hers as well, “how did you know I like chocolate?”
“Lucky guess,” he said but in truth he’d learned that one from simply watching and listening.
Everything about the woman fascinated him. Had for months, truth be told. Tonic kept the things he’d learned about her locked away in a secret compartment inside of himself to take out and observe during those long, lonely nights when he was alone and she’d filled his head and heart with visions and dreams of loving her. Dreams that might be reality sooner than he thought, he licked his lips expectantly.
“Go on, have another,” he pointed to the burgers and watched as she wiped her lips clean with a napkin.
“I had three,” she laughed then hiccupped loudly, which in turn, made her cheeks turn the most amazing shade of pink.
“Yeah, but they’re like baby-sized,” he said picking up one of the remaining cheeseburgers and polishing it off in two bites.
“Well, this baby is full,” she smiled and took another sip of her shake, “this shake is just sooo goooood, mmm,” she moaned and Tonic almost went cross-eyed at the sound.
He dropped some bills on the counter when they were done and waited for her outside. Maya excused herself to the ladies’ room and he decided he needed some fresh air. Besides, there was no place for Tonic to stand in the tiny hallway.
He might be the smallest Nanouk, but he was still bigger than the average person and the restaurant couldn’t hold more than thirty people at any given time. At six-foot five-inches tall, he was whipcord lean with shoulders any linebacker would kill for.
Tonic was a big fucker and he knew it. The cold wind bit through his flannel, but he liked it. It reminded him of home in some ways.
He never wore a coat around these parts. What kind of Polar Bear would? He scoffed and shook his head at the sight of the bundled up patrons of the burger joint.
New Jersey had some pretty cold winters, but twenty-degrees was fucking springtime where he was from. He chuckled and shook his head, stomping his work boot into a pile of snow that was blocking the walkway. He made quick work of flattening out the mound. Of course, it was all for her, so she didn’t slip or stumble when she came back outside.
Where was she anyway? She was taking an awful long time. Tonic listened for signs of her, peeked in the windows, but nothing.
Suddenly, his head whipped around when he heard a tiny yelp coming from the back of the truck stop. Fucking hell. That yelp was familiar. His Bear rose up on his haunches with a threatening growl that rumbled through to Tonic’s throat.
He walked around the building, stopping when he came upon a group of men huddled around something on the ground.
Rrrrrroooooaaaaarrr.
It was Maya. Either she’d slipped and these assholes forgot their manners or she’d been knocked down on the cold, snow-covered concrete on her ass by these soon-to-be-dead SOBs.
He knew the answer in an instant. Maya was looking up at the group of laughing, sneering men and Tonic had to pause a moment to get control of his beast. Polar Bears were not exactly common in New Jersey. It would be difficult to explain a sighting in an area ripe with normals. Hell, these might be human men for all he knew.
Sniff. Not men. Grrr. Shifters. Sniff again. Bear Shifters. Ones with a death wish apparently.
“Look guys, we’re not in high school anymore and I’m not here alone. My date will be missing me,” she said forcefully.
Tonic liked that she’d called him her date, but now was not the time to think about that.
“Awe, we’re just having some fun, freak,” taunted one of the soon-to-be-armless fuckers.
“No need to get bitchy,” another said.
“I told you, leave me alone,” she growled and slapped the hand away from one of them who tried to poke her.
Maya got up, shaking snow off her pants and backed away from them. Her eyes met his and he saw her visibly relax.
Tonic’s Polar Bear had been snarling and snapping at his skin, furious at the sight of his small mate down on the snow-covered ground with three males surrounding her.
It was all he could do to hold the beast inside when all it wanted was to tear the fuckers apart. Maya’s eyes on his calmed him, but only just.
“Tonic,” she said with both relief and wariness evident in her voice.
Fuck. He growled loudly, allowing his eyes to bleed black with his Bear and his claws to pop out one at a time. He saw two of the three men shiver, presumably in fear, and his animal wanted more of that. He wanted them afraid.