Their Missing Lynx (Big Cat Mates) by Cynthia Sax Page A

to irritation. The wolves had found her, and they looked furious. The largest one, Nels, bared his teeth at her, his hairy fingers folded into huge fists, his boot heels ringing on the hardwood floor.
    Rue slipped off the bar stool and smoothed her skirt down, ready to make a quick escape. Nels’s henchmen spread out, blocking her in. Luckily she wasn’t alone. She glanced over her shoulder at the bartender. He nodded at her, silently confirming he wasn’t going anywhere.
    “The deal is ours, bitch,” Nels growled, his beady, brown eyes hard. “Those big tits of yours might have temporarily confused the decision makers.” He sneered, his gaze lowering to Rue’s breasts, her curves completely covered by her conservative black blazer. “But that confusion ends now. If you know what is good for you, you’ll close your legs and let the big boys do business.”
    Rue straightened to her full height, which was over a foot shorter than the smallest wolf. “I won the contract fair and square.” She bristled inwardly at the implication she’d used her body to land the deal. She was a damn good negotiator. “There’s no confusion. They chose the best company for the job.” Rue glared up at Nels, prepared to defend herself, the company she worked for, and her two males.
    “You don’t want to mess with us, human.” Nels leaned forward, looming over her, forcing her to tilt her head farther back. He smelled of wet dog and stale sweat. “You’re no longer in your prissy city. This is the north. People disappear here all the time.” One of his henchmen sniggered.
    Rue had heard the stories of missing negotiators and had dismissed them as rumors. Now, she wasn’t as certain. “Are you threatening me?”
    “Why would we have to make threats?” The big wolf’s eyes gleamed with malice and fear skittered up Rue’s spine. “You’re smart… for a woman.” His trained dogs chuckled. “You know what you have to do. We’ll give you until Friday to make this right.” Nels pivoted on his boot heels and walked away. The other two wolves followed him.
    Rue exhaled, her shoulders lowering, tension easing from her body.
    “Those three are bad news, miss,” the bartender observed. She turned to face him. He appeared genuinely concerned. “You must really love your boss to confront them like that.”
    “Bosses,” Rue corrected. “And I love my job, not them.”
    “You tell yourself that.” The bartender placed one of his polished glasses on the top of the bar. “But no one risks her life for a job.” He poured two fingers of whiskey into the glass.
    She twisted her lips, hearing the truth in his words. “They’re gay.” And she was a fool. She should put in her notice, find a safer job, obsess over men who could return her affections. Rue returned to her bar stool.
    “Ahhh…” The bartender set the glass of whiskey in front of her. Sympathy reflected in his pale eyes. “This is on the house.”
    Her state was so pitiful, it warranted free alcohol. Rue stared into the rich amber liquid, the color of the whiskey reminding her of Ben’s eyes. She had to get away from Ben and Lorcan… preferably before Friday, before the wolves hunted her down. She cradled the glass between her palms. It was time to end her fantasy.

Chapter Two
     
    Ben rubbed the ivory cushion over his face, searching for more of Rue’s delectable scent in the soft silk. Their yet-to-be claimed mate had been out of town for a week, finalizing a big lumber deal with a pulp and paper company, and her absence was driving his inner bear crazy.
    “You’re destroying the couch again.” Lorcan perched on that piece of furniture’s farthest armrest. “When Rue returns on Thursday, she’ll be upset with us.” He batted one of the crystals dangling from the chandelier, and the sunlight streaming through their home’s floor-to-ceiling windows split into a rainbow of colors, bathing the hardwood floor with light.
    “When Rue returns on