Chapter Eight

“So, I thought we’d have breakfast in town this morning,” Doc said as he drove them both back to his office. He had patients to see, and Joe was going to call in on Mal and Rocky and let them know about the phone call from ex-mayor Quincy. How real the threat was, now Robert was dead, was unclear, but Joe felt strongly his department should be informed. It would be up to Rocky then, if he wanted to discuss it with Ra.

“Together? I…er…I thought you had patients to see. I was going to go straight to the office.”

“I do have patients to see,” Doc looked over and grinned. “But that’s not for another hour. I thought we could sit together, share a meal. It’s what mated people do.”

“Doc….” Joe twisted his hands nervously.

“I think now we’re mated, you should probably call me Nathan.”

Joe’s eyes widened and then he seemed to give himself a shake. “Nathan, you do realize people in town will hate me for killing my uncle. I’m a common murderer; it was an accident, but a man’s still dead. I’ll probably get run out of town - banished. Oh, my gods, what will we do then? I bit you. We’re bonded. Fates, I should’ve thought about what this will do to you and your career.”

Pulling his car in behind the surgery, Doc turned off the engine and turned in his seat, taking Joe’s frantically wringing hands in his. “Joe, no one hates you. You need to believe me. I’m sorry, I should have told you this last night. I heard about you being hurt from Mrs. Hooper when I went to post some letters. The whole town thinks you’re a hero for standing up against your uncle and protecting Rocky. Rocky himself told me if I hurt you in any way he’d pretty much bury me. He said he considers you family and so does Liam and Mal. Seth came to your aid at a moment’s notice for the same reason. Don’t you understand? People care about you and are proud of what you’ve done.”

“But I’m still a Quincy,” Joe protested, and Doc could see he wanted to believe, but it was really hard for him. That’s what years of self-doubt and insults would do to a person.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone call you a Quincy,” Doc said, trying to remember if Joe had ever been referred to that way. “Everyone in town knows you as Deputy Joe and as far as I’m concerned you’re now Deputy Joe Farriday.”

“Doesn’t mean any of them like me. Doc, Nathan, I’m not doubting your word. I know you’d never lie to me, but most people in town ignore me, unless I’m taking them in for something, or they’ve got a complaint they want investigated.”

“I think you might find that’ll change now,” Doc said. “If nothing else, they’ll know you’re my mate and I won’t stand for anyone teasing or bullying you. Just as I know,” he added as Joe opened his mouth, “you want to protect me too. It’s what mates do. It’s right up there with having breakfast together. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Joe nodded. “I’m proud to be your mate, although there are going to be a few broken hearts drinking at Cam’s tonight.”

“They’re not our concern. The only heart I care about is yours.” Restricting himself to just a brief kiss of Joe’s knuckles and then a longer kiss on those lips because they were there and as tempting as sin, Doc got out of the car, pleased when Joe came around and took his hand. Doc hadn’t cleared him for work yet. He’d asked Joe to take another day off before reporting back for duty, although that was mostly selfishness on his part. He wanted Joe to spend the day with him. But that meant instead of the beige uniform Joe usually wore, he was looking particularly handsome in a pale blue polo shirt and blue jeans that showcased his rounded ass.

Doc was going to have to stop grinning, or people were going to start wondering what was wrong with him, but he couldn’t help it. Now he’d gotten over his reservations about mating, he could see just how perfect Joe was for him. Walking along, hand in hand with his mate was the perfect start to the day.

The diner was just a short walk, situated between Doc’s office and the sheriff’s department. Along the way, people called out, said hello and more than one slapped Joe on the shoulder and winked at Doc as they went past. Joe clearly didn’t know what to make of the attention and it didn’t get much better in the diner.

“Doc and Deputy Joe?” Hazel, the owner of the diner eyed their joined hands. “Is this a new development or a permanent thing?” A couple of other regulars sitting over by the window, looked up, and one Doc recognized as Mr. Dash, waved and nodded in greeting.

“It’s a private matter,” Doc said quickly. “But for the record, Joe is my fated mate and we’re both very hungry.”

Her eyes gleaming with undisguised curiosity, Hazel led them to a table and hurried out the back, probably to spread the news to her husband, George who did all the cooking and their eldest son Lander who worked behind the cash register and generally helped out.

“I was so busy worrying about the reaction to the death of my uncle, I never thought what others might say about us being mates and not acknowledging it before. Just about everyone in town is aware we’ve known each other for years,” Joe whispered as they sat down.

“It’s none of their business.” Doc kept his voice low too, not that it would make any difference. The whole town would know they were together by lunchtime. It was one of the joys of living in a small town. “But I will step up and tell the truth, that it was my decision to hold off our being together if necessary.”

“If anything has to be explained you simply tell them there’s a huge age gap between us and you were giving me a chance to experience life to the fullest before you claimed me. That’s not unheard of. I’m only twenty-five now.” Joe’s jaw was rigid.

“We live in a shifter town,” Doc shook his head. “They’ll scent a lie.”

“Then believe it, and it won’t be a lie. Look….” Joe broke off as Hazel came over.

“You lovebirds ready to order? Joe, you want your regular?”

“Yes, please, ma’am, and a coffee if you don’t mind.”

“He’s got such lovely manners,” Hazel beamed at Doc. “You’re lucky you got your head out of your ass and claimed this boy when you did. There’s been a lot of chat about your mate’s sexy attributes in here over the past few days from both men and women. You could have had competition for your attentions if you’d left it much longer.”

Doc knew Hazel was simply fishing for more information, but his grip on Joe’s hand tightened. “I never was one for listening to gossip, you should know that by now, Hazel. Joe and I both value our privacy. I’ll have the pancake stack with double bacon and coffee, too, please.”

Winking at Joe, Hazel sashayed off and Doc let out the breath he was holding. “Now, you were saying?”

“I don’t see why people are suddenly interested in me,” Joe whispered fiercely. “Sexy attributes, my ass.”

“That is one of them.” Doc grinned.

Joe’s cheeks turned dark red. “What I meant was, in all the years I’ve been coming here, Hazel has never said anything to me beyond asking me for my order. No one has ever shown an interest in me sexually unless they’re drunk and horny enough to fuck a fence post – which is hardly a compliment. Have I got this dangerous edge now it’s public knowledge I killed someone? Do they suddenly see me as a bad boy, or what?”

Doc was saved from answering by Lander who came over with their coffee. There was nothing short of hero worship in Lander’s eyes as he asked Joe if he wanted anything else.

“No, thank you, Lander.” Joe looked up and smiled politely and Doc wondered if he had smelling salts in his bag. The boy looked ready to swoon. He hovered, clearly working himself up to say something but a glare from Doc sent him scurrying back to the kitchen.

“I’ve never been noticed by anyone before,” Joe continued when Lander was out of earshot. “I’ve worked hard, paid my dues and done my best to live my life right, and I’m ignored. I do one thing, that I struggle to handle and suddenly everyone knows my name.”

“Babe, everyone has always known your name. You seriously underestimate your appeal.”

Joe arched his eyebrow and Doc’s cheeks felt uncomfortably warm. “A lot of my grumpiness towards you in the past was because you’re so damn appealing,” he growled. “Everyone complains how uncomfortable my treatment room beds are. There’s a reason I haven’t replaced them, even after all the money Darwin and his friends raised for the clinic. You’ll never know how close you came to being claimed over any one of them a number of times.”

Joe leaned as close as he could. “I don’t care about a bed. You could fuck me up against a wall and the last thing I’d be worrying about was comfort.”

Doc heard a little squeak and realized it’d escaped his mouth. He was almost relieved when Lander brought over their food. Apart from some lust-filled looks in Joe’s direction, which Joe didn’t notice, the food was delivered without incident and the two men were quiet as they ate. That was something else Doc appreciated about his mate. He was quiet and easy to be around – his energies exuded calm and confidence even as he kept a watchful eye on people as they came and went in the diner, and out on the road visible through the large front window.

Doc was just mopping up maple syrup with the last of his pancake when Mr. Dash and another man he hadn’t seen around before came over. “Doc, Deputy Joe,” Dash nodded respectfully. “I didn’t feel it was right to interrupt when you were eating, but as you’re all finished, I was wondering…I mean, I hope you don’t mind me asking…but….”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Dash, grow a pair,” the stranger interrupted. “You there, you don’t look like a deputy anything. What’s all this about you killing Robert Quincy? Is that how the law works in this town? Killing people in their shifted form so they don’t get a chance to verbally defend themselves? What did you do? Shoot him down in cold blood simply because he got lost and didn’t realize he was in Arrowtown territory?”

Joe’s face went white, but he very deliberately wiped his mouth with his napkin and set it on the table. “I’m sorry, I don’t believe we’ve met. You are?”

“I’m Justin J. Hargraves, attorney for the Quincy family.” Hargraves pulled a card from his jacket pocket, handing it to Joe. Doc did not like the man on sight. His suit was too shiny, his dark hair too greasy and his scent marked him as human. A human who didn’t have a lot of respect for shifters, obviously.

It seemed Joe had the same idea. “Mr. Hargraves, I am not sure where you got your information….”

“It’s all over town, boy.” Doc seethed at the disrespect. “I was in town on a totally unrelated matter, and all anyone can talk about is big, brave Deputy Joe.” Doc wanted to punch the man’s sneer right back down his throat.

“I don’t have to justify my actions to you, Mr. Hargraves, nor do I consider a diner the suitable place to have this discussion,” Joe said quietly. “If you have a complaint, then you need to speak to Sheriff Rocky, or Mayor Ra King. However, as you are the Quincy’s attorney, then you will also be aware that under shifter law, any banished person found back in the territory he was evicted from can be killed on sight. No one takes the banishment of anyone lightly, and the Quincy family’s removal from Arrowtown was endorsed by the shifter council for their crimes against many people in this town.”

“But you’re a Quincy too, aren’t you, deputy?” Hargraves curled his top lip. “I’ve done my homework. Who’d you give your ass up to, to keep your job, boy?”

Doc’s fists clenched, and Joe gave him a warning look. By now the diner was crowded, attracted by the altercation and the last thing Doc wanted was to make Joe look weak in front of the people he worked among every day. But gods, he wished he had a suture handy, so he could sew Hargrave’s mouth shut permanently.

“I’m sure as a well-respected lawyer from Jackson,” Joe slowly stood up, “you’d be well aware of the penalties of human involvement in shifter affairs, especially in a shifter town.”

“I was retained by the Quincy family who didn’t get a fair hearing from this town or the shifter council.” Hargraves backed up as Joe reached full height and his adams apple bounced.

“And I’m sure you can explain all of those grievances to the Sheriff in his office.” Bending over the table, Joe kissed Doc quickly on the cheek. “I’m sorry my work’s interfered with our first breakfast together, especially when I’m off duty. I’ll come and find you at your office when I’m done?”

“Looking forward to it, babe.” Doc gave his hand a squeeze and then let him go. “Yes,” he added for the gathered crowd, “Deputy Joe is my mate, he claimed me this morning.” The cheers rang out long after Joe had escorted the pompous lawyer from the diner. Doc wasn’t sure who or why they were cheering exactly, but he resigned himself to a busy morning.