Changed Mate (Cybermates Series Book 4) Read online

  Copyright © 2020 by Lovestruck Romance Publishing.

  All Rights Reserved.

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  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

  This book is intended for adult readers only.

  Any sexual activity portrayed in these pages occurs between consenting adults over the age of 18 who are not related by blood.

  Contents

  Story Description

  1. Mariah

  2. Patton

  3. Mariah

  4. Patton

  5. Mariah

  6. Patton

  7. Mariah

  8. Mariah

  9. Patton

  10. Mariah

  11. Patton

  12. Mariah

  13. Patton

  14. Mariah

  15. Patton

  16. Mariah

  17. Patton

  18. Mariah

  19. Patton

  20. Mariah

  21. Patton

  Mariahs Lemon Sugar Scrub

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  Changed Mate

  Cybermates

  Candace Ayers

  Lovestruck Romance Publishing

  My gratitude goes to my beta readers,

  Sarah D. Anderson, Andrea Garcia and Yvette Quarles Woolridge.

  Thank you, ladies.

  I greatly appreciate your help with this.

  Someone once said, “Opposites attract.”

  (Clearly, they’ve never met these two.)

  Mariah Starr comes from humble beginnings.

  She’s worked her tail feathers off.

  And her dream is now at her fingertips.

  Goals require sacrifice.

  Patton James works in the family construction business.

  When he has to.

  He’d rather hang out on his boat all day.

  Life should be fun.

  As shifters, they know instantly they’re mates.

  That doesn’t mean they like it.

  Or each other.

  Someone also once said, “You can’t fight destiny.”

  1

  Mariah

  I pushed open the door to Jammie’s Salon, and as soon as Jammie’s eyes landed on me, she dropped the comb in her hand and hurried over with outstretched arms. Her hot-pink hair was twisted into a knot atop her head and the ends stuck out in all directions like a fan.

  “Kitty, your niece is here,” Jammie called over her shoulder as she pulled me into a tight hug. “You look so good, sweetheart.”

  I wasn’t a huge hugger, but I feebly attempted to hug Jammie back as best I could. Fortunately, I had two heavy bags full of my products hanging from my wrists to use as an excuse for the lame hug.

  “My beautiful Starr!” Aunt Kitty called across the salon as she hurried over, nudged Jammie aside, and threw her arms around me. Aunt Kitty rocked me back and forth and then finally let go, held me at arms’ distance, looked me over, then pulled me back in for another hug. “I’m so proud of you, baby.”

  I smiled and turned to put my bags down on the receptionist desk, but stopped when I realized someone was sitting there.

  “Oh, Mariah, meet Elin, our new receptionist.” Jammie gestured to the attractive woman.

  Elin slid off the counter and slapped a perfectly manicured hand to her chest. “Mariah Starr? Oh my goodness. I have to admit, I’m fangirling a little over here. I’ve heard so much about you.”

  I grinned and made a face at Jammie and Aunt Kitty. “I’m sure that whatever you heard, only half of it is true. These two tend to embellish when it comes to singing my praises.”

  Aunt Kitty shook her head emphatically. “Oh no, she’s used your products. She knows all our bragging is the truth.”

  Jammie pointed to the half-empty bottle of my Bubbles® brand lotion on top of the desk. “See?”

  Elin nodded. “I’m completely hooked on your products. I’ve fallen in love with everything I’ve tried. Your latest fragrance, Aquatic Evening, is to die for.”

  I nodded. “Ahh, bergamot, neroli, and jasmine.”

  Elin clapped her hands together in a prayer pose, like she was about to fall on her knees and start worshiping me. “I bought soap, lotion, leave-in conditioner, bath bombs, and whipped body butter all in that fragrance.” She cupped her hand around her mouth as if her next words were private. “Which, isn’t easy on a receptionist budget. No offense, Jammie.”

  Jammie mock scowled. I laughed and held up my finger. “Hold that thought. I’ll be right back.”

  I hurried out to my seven-year-old Honda Civic. It was packed to the gills with the supplies from my latest trip to the warehouse of my raw materials supplier in Miami. Digging through everything, I found the box with the gift bags in the back, underneath a pile of Sunkissed Bombs. I checked it to make sure everything in it was in tiptop shape and then carried a couple back inside.

  Jammie had returned to her client, but Elin and Aunt Kitty were still standing next to the front desk, talking. I smiled inwardly as I heard them oohing and aahing over my products and comparing favorites.

  Elin seemed a little different in that she was dressed to the nines to work as a salon receptionist. Not a single strand of her golden-blonde hair was out of place. She looked so perfect it might have been off-putting if it wasn’t for the huge Bambi eyes, adorable dimples, and the sweet smile on her face.

  When I handed her the gift bag full of sample products, she was so grateful I thought she might try to gift me her firstborn. She threw herself at me in a tight hug. “Oh, I’ll treasure this! I can’t believe how generous you are on top of all that talent!”

  I was flattered she loved my products, but—awkward. I’d already been nearly smothered by Jammie and Aunt Kitty. Jammie saw that I was a little uncomfortable and broke us apart. “Alright, Elin. Don’t squeeze the life out of my favorite supplier.”

  I grinned and picked my bags off the floor. “If you need more of anything, let me know. I make samples all the time. I’d gladly let you go through my stockpile.”

  “Or you can go shopping for yourself in a few weeks when she opens her new bath and body care boutique.” Aunt Kitty grabbed my shoulders and playfully shook me. “I’m so proud of you. I can’t wait until you open the doors of your new place. I’m only sad it will be at the other end of the island.”

  My eyes widened at her loose lips. I wasn’t hugely superstitious, but I suppose some of my mother’s beliefs in sorcery, magic, and the occult may have rubbed off on me, no matter how much I tried to distance myself from the negatives of my upbringing. Still, I didn’t want to talk too much about my plans before they manifested or I might end up jinxing myself. “Aunt Kitty—”

  “You’re opening a shop? Here on the island? That’s great news!” Elin looked down at the bag of full-sized products I’d given her and tried to hand it back to me. “You sure you want to give me these? Maybe wait until the shop opens and I’ll come in and buy them.”

  I pushed her hand away and shook my head. “Don’t be silly. It
’s a gift. Besides, I’m not yet sure the store is opening.”

  “Pshaw!” Jammie waved her scissors in the air. “Of course it is! You’ve had a business plan in place for years.”

  “But if the lease doesn’t come through…” I frowned and looked away. I’d already bitten my nails till they bled worrying over the lease.

  “It’s going to. Everyone knows Megan. She’s a sweetheart, and once she looks over the paperwork, she’s going to lease to you. She’s all about helping women business owners.”

  “What’s this about leasing Megan’s place?” I turned and saw Parker Pettit pushing her way into the salon. She lifted her sunglasses to the top of her head with one hand and maneuvered a baby stroller with the other. “Don’t tell me you’re the one who put in an offer to lease her building, Mariah?” Parker gave the stroller a final shove with her hip.

  I scooted out of the way and smiled down at sweet little Stella. “I’m the one trying to.”

  “No kidding? It’s a brand-new building. Hurricane Matilda flattened the previous place. Megan’s been busy with her new little addition, but I’m pretty sure she’s eager to get it leased.”

  I felt my chest flutter. “You think so? I don’t want to be pushy and risk losing the place altogether, but I’ve been waiting for word and I’m super anxious.”

  “Tell you what. They’ve been staying at Megan’s mother’s place since the baby was born. I’m headed up north with Heidi and Hannah to see her and Roman and their new munchkin, Kade, tomorrow. I can ask her about it.”

  “Oh my god, would you? I don’t want to bother her, but this is so important to me.”

  “Leave it to me, I’ll take care of it. In fact, I’ll call her right now and get the ball rolling. Just keep an eye on Stella for me.” She pushed the stroller toward me and opened the door. “But you’ll owe me.”

  Laila came over and peeked into the gift bags I was still holding. “Do you have more of the coconut-and-lime-scented hair oil? I’ve been out for a week, both at home and here in the salon, and I’m slowly going insane.”

  I put the bags down in front of Stella and knelt to search out the hair oil. “What did Parker mean by that? That I’ll owe her?”

  Laila snorted. “It means she’s going to try to set you up soon.”

  “Set me up?”

  “She’s putting together a matchmaking service for ‘special’ clients.” Laila winked, letting me know she meant shifter clients. “She’s already gotten three matches. Or, at least, she’s taking credit for three matches.”

  Elin perked up. “She can set me up.”

  “No, it’s not something you want. It’s something that just happens to you—like a force of nature.” Laila laughed. “Parker just hits you like a bus and then, next thing you know, you’re in a serious relationship and she’s talking about how she should be credited on your wedding invitations.”

  I shook my head. “Hard pass. I’ll owe her in another way. I’m too busy for a…boyfriend. I’ve got a million things going on, and if she’s really helping me get that lease, I’m about to be even busier.”

  Aunt Kitty sighed. “Mariah, you know you have people to help you. You hired two employees that you’re basically paying to stand around and watch you work. Those kids want to pitch in. Besides, I’ve known you since you were a teenager, and I’ve never known you to be in a serious relationship.”

  Kitty was my father’s sister, but she and I hadn’t met until after my mother died when I was seventeen. I’d never known my father, but I found some paperwork with his name on it when I was going through my mother’s things. So, I looked him up. Unfortunately, he’d died a few years after I was born. But lucky for me, I found Aunt Kitty, who welcomed me with open arms just like she’d known me my whole life. In the time I’d known her, Aunt Kitty had been a better mother to me than my own had.

  “I’ve dated.” I found the oil and handed two bottles to Laila. I’d dated a few different guys. Well, I’d been on a couple of first dates—a couple of quick hookups. I was honestly too busy for a relationship, and that wasn’t just an excuse.

  “Good news!” Parker flew back into the salon, grinning from ear to ear, and tapped me on the tip of my nose. “You’ve got the lease. I’ll be honest here—it was never a question of whether you’d get it or not. All I did was light a fire under Megan. She’s getting in touch with the property manager as we speak.”

  Laila patted me on the back. “Now for the bad news.”

  “It’s not bad news!” Parker’s hands flew to her hips, and her eyes flashed with mock anger.

  Then, she turned to me with an unwavering grin. “Not a single one of my matches is unhappy or ungrateful. I’m going to find you the perfect man.”

  Aunt Kitty laughed loudly and backed away before giving Parker advice. “Girl, meet your twin. She may be pretty, smart, and accomplished, but Mariah here is as stubborn as they come.”

  Parker shot Kitty a challenging look. “I can find a man who likes stubborn women.”

  Jammie laughed. “I don’t think that’s what she meant.”

  I grabbed my bags and went to assess the display shelf where my products were displayed. I was going to need to make more than one trip to the car to refill everything. “Why didn’t you let me know you were out of almost everything, Jammie?”

  Elin waved her hand. “That’ll be part of my job duties from now on. Do you have a card you could leave with me?”

  Parker wheeled Stella over. “Wait, I wasn’t done. Why don’t you seem excited about the perfect man?” She narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re not going to be as complicated as these other women, are you?”

  Laila scoffed and Fern poked her head out from the massage room in the back. “I wasn’t complicated. Also, thank god you’re here. I need some massage bars. I love the shea and carnauba blend, and I’m low on several of my scented oils.”

  “I’m not complicated at all. Just not interested.”

  Parker sighed. “One day, I’ll have someone come to me and beg me to match them up—super simple and uncomplicated.”

  Elin looked like she was going to shoot up from her seat. I just ignored them and kept filling the shelves. Once I finished at Jammie’s, I had six other businesses to visit, just on the islands alone. I also had three personal clients waiting for deliveries. The last thing I had time for was a man. Perfect or not.

  2

  Patton

  I stretched out on my deck chair and pulled the brim of my hat down over my face to block the rays. It was noon, judging by the blinding sun, on a Tues… No, Fri… Hell, I had no idea what day it was. I’d been on my boat for days, kicking back, doing a little fishing, a little swimming, and a lotta nothing much. I loved hanging out, staying out of arm’s reach of the rat race on the island. My only company was a cooler full of beer, my guitar, and my good buddy Dylan—when he finished his work for the day.

  I must have checked out for a midday snooze because when Dylan tossed my phone onto my stomach, I startled. “Jake keeps calling. Call him back or shut the damn thing off. He’s interrupting my concentration.”

  I reached over and grabbed another can of beer from the cooler. “You’re like an old lady sometimes, you know that?”

  “Look who’s taking a nap in the middle of the afternoon. I’m still trying to figure out why I let you talk me into this. Brittany’s having a shit fit. I was supposed to be back in Miami weeks ago.” He snatched the beer from me before I had a chance to open it, and held it over my prone body before pulling the tab so it spit on my stomach.

  I scowled. “Nice. Appreciate that. Brittany? I thought her name was Ashley.”

  He sighed and sank into the beach chair next to me. “That’s the other one.”

  I snickered. “An entire harem and you can’t stay away from my charm and great personality. I’m honored.”

  “Fucking hardly.”

  My phone started ringing again, and Dylan met my eyes with a look that pointedly dared me to ignore it
again. I shrugged. “Must be important. He’s called half a dozen times.”

  He raised his brows. “Well?”

  I ignored the call and grabbed another beer. “Just because it’s important to him doesn’t mean it’s important to me.”

  Dylan snorted a laugh. “He’s going to kick your ass.”

  I knew Dylan was probably remembering some of the old brawls we’d all had when we were younger. Jake was five years older than us, and even though I was a bear shifter like my brother, and Dylan was a lion shifter, Jake had been substantially bigger until we were around fifteen. He used to wipe the floor with us. “He can try. Since he has found a mate, he’s gone soft.”

  “We’ll see. You keep ignoring him and I’m assuming he’ll show up here eventually.”

  “He can try that too. I swiped the keys to his boat, so he won’t get very far.”

  Laughing, Dylan took a long pull from his beer. “Did you ever think that maybe that’s the reason he’s calling? He wants to take his boat out and can’t find the keys. So, why are you hiding from him?”

  “I’m not hiding. I’m just on vacation.”

  “Didn’t you just have a vacation a couple of months ago?”

  “Why are you here again?”

  Dylan held his beer up at me. “Yeah, yeah, I hear ya’. To be fair, though, my job is location independent. I’m a digital nomad, so I have been working. In fact, I’ve got several jobs going on currently.”