Tad

by Harmony Raines

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Foreword

  Chapter One – Tad

  Chapter Two – Heather

  Chapter Three – Tad

  Chapter Four – Heather

  Chapter Five – Tad

  Chapter Six – Heather

  Chapter Seven – Tad

  Chapter Eight – Heather

  Chapter Nine – Tad

  Chapter Ten – Heather

  Chapter Eleven – Tad

  Chapter Twelve – Heather

  Chapter Thirteen – Tad

  Chapter Fourteen – Heather

  Chapter Fifteen – Tad

  Chapter Sixteen – Heather

  Chapter Seventeen – Tad

  Chapter Eighteen – Heather

  Chapter Nineteen – Tad

  Chapter Twenty – Heather

  Chapter Twenty-One – Tad

  Epilogue

  Also By Harmony Raines

  Get In Touch

  Tad

  Three Silverback Bears and a Baby

  Book Two

  ***

  All rights reserved. This book, or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written consent of the author or publisher.

  This is a work of fiction and is intended for mature audiences only. All characters within are eighteen years of age or older. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, actual events or places is purely coincidental.

  © 2019 Harmony Raines

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  Tad

  Three Silverback Bears and a Baby

  Book Two

  A silverback seasoned shifters romance

  He’d waited half a lifetime for her. There was no way he could let her walk away.

  Renowned sculptor, and father to baby Milly, Tad has seen his brother meet and fall in love with his mate. He’d almost given up hope that she would walk into his life. But she did. She walked right into his studio and asked for his help.

  And he could not say no. Never. Ever.

  Even if helping his mate, Heather, meant standing in front of a crowd of people and making a speech. Yeah. Give him a child to protect. Or a mate to defend and he’d do it. No question. But public speaking? Hell no!

  But she asked. So he’ll do it. Because she needs a win. She needs her plans to come to fruition. She needs to feel that rush of triumph to be able to get over her past.

  So of course, he’ll do it. She’s his mate.

  Thaddeus Harrison. The guy makes her go weak at the knees. Not a thing Heather had ever expected when she makes a last-minute plea to the famous sculptor to open her new business venture. But then he’s not your average sculptor.

  He is so much...more.

  There is something about him. Something she can’t explain. Maybe that’s it. A little mystery goes a long way. And she’d be willing to go all the way with him.

  Not that she has time to go anywhere. Moving to a new town with her two children and her mother, and opening a new business, takes all her time and energy. There is no time for a man in her life. And she wouldn’t want one even if there was.

  However, being with Tad makes anything possible. Even a happy ever after in the arms of a man she loves.

  But just when Heather thinks she’s got it all worked out, her ex-husband shows up to ruin everything. Or so he thinks. But Heather has grown, she’s a different person. A new person.

  With Tad by her side. She will succeed. Because when Tad looks at her with those soft, sensual eyes she can do anything. Be anything.

  Most of all, Heather can be Tad’s mate. Forever.

  Chapter One – Tad

  “And how is our little girl doing this morning?” Tad asked as he breezed into the kitchen, only stopping on the way to the coffee pot to kiss Milly on the head. The little girl looked up at him and squealed in delight, completely ignoring Jake’s attempt to spoon oatmeal and mashed banana into her mouth.

  “We were doing great until you disturbed us.” Jake, the eldest of the Harrison brothers, set the spoon down in the bowl before handing it to Tad. “So you get to take over.” He drained his coffee cup as he got up from the table and crossed the kitchen to set the empty cup in the sink.

  “I don’t mind taking over one bit.” Tad slid into the chair his brother had vacated and placed his mug of hot coffee on the table. “We are getting good at this, aren’t we?” He picked up the spoon, scooping up some oatmeal and mashed banana. “Open wide.” His hand snaked toward Milly’s mouth which she opened wide while she kicked her legs in excitement.

  “You certainly have the magic touch when it comes to Milly. She loves anything you do.” There was no hint of jealousy as Jake crossed the kitchen, pausing to kiss a clean bit of Milly’s cheek. It was no secret that Jake struggled the hardest when it came to being the father of a baby that wasn’t his. But he wasn’t in this alone, all three Harrison brothers were joint guardians to Milly. A task that had been thrust on them suddenly when her mother died of a drug overdose. “I will see you later.”

  “Bye, bye, Daddy.” Tad waved while Milly gave him a toothy grin and blew a messy raspberry causing Jake to take a quick step backward. He checked his suit for signs of baby food, a lesson he’d learned early on in their adventures in daddyhood. Baby drool, regurgitated milk, and mashed baby food had a habit of getting onto clothing without being noticed. During week one of adopting Milly, Jake had worn a dark gray suit to work, with a very stylish patch of goop on the collar.

  He’d never made the same mistake again.

  “You missed me,” Jake said in a singsong voice to Milly before grabbing his car keys and his briefcase from the countertop.

  “You haven’t forgotten Max and Josephine are due back from their honeymoon today?” Tad asked as he fed Milly the last of her breakfast. “I thought I’d cook something special.”

  “I’ll try to get home early today, depending on how the day goes,” Jake said absently as he looked at his watch.

  “Are you okay?” Tad asked his older brother with concern. There was something off about Jake.

  There has been for the last couple of weeks, Tad’s bear agreed. And not just his usual offishness. This is something more.

  “Yes, why shouldn’t I be?” Jake reached the doorway leading from the kitchen to the hallway. As he turned to face his brother, he smoothed his features, but he could not mask the tension in his jaw.

  “I don’t know, these last couple of weeks…” Tad picked up the bowl of baby food and scooped a small amount onto the spoon.

  “I could say the same about you.” Jake walked back into the room. “I suppose I’m missing Max. And Josephine.” His face muscles tightened, making his laugh lines deepen around his eyes. “I just wonder if things are going to be different now.”

  “Of course, they will be different,” Tad told his brother. “But that doesn’t mean to say they will be bad different. Having Josephine and Milly in our lives has been nothing but good.” He fixed Jake with a penetrating look. “Don’t you think?”

  “Yes. But now Max and Josephine are married…” Jake shook his head and gave a wry smile. “I’m being selfish.”

  Tad stood up and wiped Milly’s face clean before heading to the sink with her bowl. “You don’t want things to change. You’re worried that the time Max and Josephine have spent alone with each other has made them decide to move out and buy a place of their own.”

  “Yeah.” Jake raked a hand through his dark
brown hair, flecked with silver. “As the years went by and none of us found our mates, I’d come to believe we’d always be together under one roof.”

  “If it makes you feel any better, the last time I spoke to Max and Josephine they were eager to get home. This home.” Tad pointed down at the floor.

  “And when was that?” Jake asked.

  “Last night.” Tad raised an eyebrow at Jake. “I Skyped them while I was working.”

  “You Skyped them?” Jake asked in surprise.

  “You haven’t?” Tad asked, matching his brother’s surprise even though he knew from Max that Jake had only sent a couple of brief texts to the newlyweds while they were on their honeymoon.

  “No.” Jake shook his head. “I figured they would want some time alone. Without us calling every five minutes to check in on them.”

  “No, they wanted to be kept up to date with everything Milly does or says while they are away. They miss her like crazy.” Tad finished washing Milly’s breakfast dishes and moved over to the coffee pot and refilled his large mug of coffee before heating a pan. He planned on starting the day with some eggs and maybe a little bacon.

  Jake sighed. “Why is it I’m good at reading my opponents in a boardroom, or conference room, but when it comes to real life, ordinary life, I suck?”

  Tad half turned to his brother and waved a spatula at him. “Because you have spent a lot more of your life in a boardroom than dealing with real life. Sometimes you have to listen to people. Really listen to people and try to understand what they want and need, rather than bashing them over the head with what you want.”

  “And that is why I am successful in business and you are the glue that holds this family together.” With that, Jake backed out of the door. “Text me what time I need to be here for dinner, and I will be here.”

  “Promise?” Tad called after him.

  “Promise.” The house fell silent as Jake closed the front door behind him.

  “You are awfully quiet.” Tad turned to Milly, who was staring at him with her large, innocent blue eyes. “You don’t think he’ll make it home for dinner either, do you?”

  Milly opened her mouth and said, “Mama beh.”

  “Yes, Mama bear will be back later. I know you’ve missed Josephine.” Tad dished up his breakfast and sat down at the table. “They will be back later. So we are going to spend the morning cleaning the house and then this afternoon, while you take a nap, I am going to finish my latest creation. Which I have titled, Mama Bear.”

  He picked up his knife and fork. The sooner he started on his breakfast, the sooner he could get all the dishes washed and put away. All he had to do then was tackle the large pile of laundry that had built up over the last couple of weeks and clean the whole house from top to bottom.

  “Maybe I won’t have time to finish my sculpture.” Life had been hectic while Max and Josephine were away. “How anyone manages to raise children singlehandedly, I have no idea. You are lucky, you have four parents. Three daddies and one mommy.”

  Milly grinned a four-toothed grin of pure happiness at Tad as she babbled an incoherent string of words in reply. The poor child hadn’t had the best start in life. Her mom, Sally, had died of a drug overdose, leaving Milly an orphan. As Milly’s only living relatives, social services had asked Tad, Max, and Jake to consider adopting her.

  After a short discussion, they had unanimously agreed to give Milly a home and all the love and support she would need growing up as a shifter. For three brothers who were resigned to bachelor life, with no prospect of having children of their own, it was as if fate had stepped in to give them the most precious of gifts.

  However, fate had one more ace up her sleeve. When the Harrison brothers met Milly’s foster mom, Josephine, Max had known instantly she was his mate.

  “The rest, as they say, is history.” Tad waved his spoon at Milly. “And you have the brightest of futures.”

  If only fate would send another couple of mates our way, his bear commented.

  At least Max is happy, Tad answered.

  But his bear was right, Tad wished Jake would find his mate. The eldest Harrison brother deserved to find his happy ever after.

  And we don’t? his bear asked.

  Yes, we do. But I doubt we’ll all find mates and Jake is the one suffering the most, even though he tries not to show it. Seeing Josephine and Max together has highlighted just how much we’ve missed out on not having a mate.

  His bear agreed. But it would be so much better if we all had mates. And a handful of children running around the house.

  Tad clenched his jaw. His bear had highlighted one of his worst fears. That Milly would grow lonely living here with four older parents. But they had all agreed to encourage and arrange lots of playdates with children her own age.

  Josephine and Max had also talked about adopting another child. But Jake wasn’t aware of those plans yet, and it wasn’t Tad’s news to share.

  “Jake is right, things are certainly changing around here.” Tad finished washing the dishes and then cleaned the countertops. “Let’s go and clean the bathroom and then we can vacuum the whole house.” He lifted Milly out of her highchair. “Maybe Max and Josephine will be so happy to be back home they won’t notice the dust.”

  Tad sang a sea shanty to Milly as he gathered her up in his arms and carried her upstairs. Once at the top, he carefully secured the baby gate since Milly had discovered crawling and liked to dash around at top speed through all the rooms. He’d enjoyed watching the young baby change and grow over the last couple of months.

  She is a gift, his bear said soppily.

  She is. Although you might not say that when she wants to climb on your back and pull at your fur, Tad told him.

  I love her, there is nothing she can do to hurt me, his bear said indulgently.

  What if she stole your honey? Tad asked as he placed Milly on the floor of the hallway and watched the baby push herself up onto her hands and knees.

  I wouldn’t care since she’s already stolen my heart, his bear replied.

  Hey, since when did you get so sappy? Tad asked his bear as he watched Milly rock back and forth a couple of times before she remembered which hand had to move forward first, followed by which leg.

  It didn’t matter that he had a ton of stuff to do before Max and Josephine came home. They would understand since they knew exactly how wonderful Milly-watching was.

  But you wanted to finish the Mama Bear sculpture, his bear reminded him.

  You’re right.

  “Come on, Milly, we have work to do.” Tad dropped down onto his hands and knees, the carpet prickling his palms as he scuttled along the hallway to the bathroom. With a chuckle and a shriek, Milly crawled two steps forward before overbalancing. Squirming around on her belly, she watched Tad as he slowed and waited for her. With some effort, she got one arm under her, then her second arm, before pushing her diaper-clad bottom into the air.

  Milly fixed her eyes on Tad, wiggled her bottom like a cat about to pounce and crept forward. “You’re doing it.” Tad encouraged Milly’s slightly uncoordinated attempt to crawl before continuing toward the bathroom.

  Tad slid across the cool tiles of the bathroom floor and curled his body around until he was in a sitting position with his back against the bath. Holding his arms outstretched, he waited for Milly to poke her head around the door. “Cuddle!”

  She chuckled; her small pink tongue stuck out the side of her mouth as she negotiated the slippery tiles without sending herself sprawling flat on her face like a baby deer on ice. “There’s my smart girl.”

  Milly reached him and climbed onto his lap, with a little help from her daddy. Kissing her cheek, Tad held her close, inhaling the scent of baby. The protective side of him stirred, and his bear practically purred like a pussy cat inside Tad’s head. The depth of love they both had for this small child had blindsided him.

  Tad only hoped he would someday experience the same kind of love and need to prot
ect for his mate.

  With one last squeeze, he sat Milly down on the floor and gathered up some of her bath toys, which he placed down next to her. She immediately picked up her stacking cups and piled them on top of each other, not necessarily in the right order.

  “I can tell Jake gave you a bath last night.” Tad scooped more toys out of the tub and placed them in a basket, where they should have been stowed away by Jake after her bath.

  “Beh,” Milly crooned softly as she caught sight of her reflection in the shower cubicle door.

  “Who is that clever girl? Milly is. She knows she has a small bear cub sleeping inside her just waiting to come out and say hello when she is older.” Tad had never felt so at ease talking to a female. He grinned. Maybe it was because she was too young to understand the drivel that poured out of his mouth in a constant stream. Although, he was certain Milly listened to him, and she knew the meaning of an ever-expanding vocabulary.

  Particularly banana. And bear, his bear replied.

  “It’s an exciting time, Milly. For you and us. And I intend to be there every step of the way, right beside Josephine and Max, and of course, Jake. Whatever is going on with him, he will be there for you,” Tad promised. “He loves you more than he dares admit even to himself.”

  Milly looked up at Tad, her eyes wide as she simply stared at him. It was as if she could look into his soul and see his innermost thoughts.

  “I know, I’m deluding myself if I think I’ll be happy to live my life alone and without my mate if Jake finds his mate first. But I sincerely do want Jake to be happy. He deserves it since if it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t be here now. Max and I would have been sent to foster homes. And that means we would not be here for you either.”

  Milly didn’t answer, she simply looked at him through clear, innocent eyes.

  “So I do stand by what I said. If anyone deserves a mate, it is Jake.” With that he began scrubbing the sink, working as fast as he could so that he could finish his sculpture.