Reforming the Bear

by Vanessa Devereaux

  Liam licked his lips as Maureen sliced up the pie, put it on four plates and then topped it with a scoop of ice cream.

  “Why don’t you and Lucy go outside and sit on the bench while Uncle Liam and I make some lemonade and we’ll be right with you,” said Maureen.

  “Okay,” said Sam, leading Lucy out to the patio off the kitchen.

  “So what do you think of him?” asked Liam. He guessed that Maureen wanted to talk to him in private–– hence her subtle way of getting him on his own.

  “You’re so lucky to have found him. I know Danny and Stan would both be…”

  She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. Liam took her hands and squeezed them. “We both have Sam now. I think he’s been sent to help us with our loss.”

  Maureen nodded. “Maybe you’re right. And he’s okay now. You said he was ill?”

  “Good as new, as long as he shifts regularly.”

  “And Danny never knew he’d fathered Sam?”

  “No. He must have been conceived less than a month before he was killed.”

  “And Sam’s mother. She’s human, but marrying Bear McWilliams.”

  Liam nodded.

  “And you, young man, I heard that you were causing trouble for Aiden Renner and stirring up a big fuss with the other members of the group. Some sort of rebellion you wanted to get started.”

  He looked to the ground. Maureen had always had a way of making both him and Danny feel guilty when they’d done something stupid. The investigative agent, Ava, who’d been sniffing about had set him off, making him fear for himself and the others. Ava was now married to wolf shifter Nick, and he guessed that made her one of them. Sometimes he spoke before he thought.

  “You know I’m always thinking of other people’s welfare,” said Liam.

  She raised her eyebrows. Neither he nor Danny had ever been able to bullshit Maureen, or even Stan for that matter.

  “And the young lady, Lucy?” she asked, and nodded her head toward the window. Liam looked outside and saw her and Sam chatting away while they ate their slices of pie.

  “Human, smelled her even before I opened the door. When I saw you were with her, well, I was surprised. I know you’ve not liked living among humans.”

  “She’s different.” The words flowed over his tongue without him having to think about it. Was she really any different to the other humans, or was it his perception of her? Maybe her vulnerability that night had made him see humans in a different light. Or perhaps her beauty had. Or maybe, just maybe, she’d understood his pain when he’d cried about his brother and finding the medallion. Perhaps that had won him over. Humans and shifters weren’t really that different.

  “So what’s her story?” asked Maureen, pouring four glasses of lemonade.

  “I found her crawling along the highway. Her car had broken down and some trucker had tried to rape her.”

  “The beast. I don’t know what the world’s coming to. I’m so glad I have my refuge and slice of heaven here. Don’t know if I could tolerate town or city living without Stan.”

  Maureen placed the glasses on a tray.

  “And you’re smitten with her.”

  He could argue and deny it but Maureen knew better than that. He knew better than that. He was smitten with her.

  Maureen handed him the tray. “You think she’s your mate?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “She’s very pretty and I don’t want you letting a little thing like her being human get in the way of your happiness.”

  He smiled. Maureen smiled too as she opened the back door and signaled for him to head outside.

  Lucy looked up at him as he placed the tray on the picnic table. Sunlight danced on the highlights in her hair. He suddenly wanted to kiss her but they weren’t alone. He sat down and their knees bumped.

  “Maureen, this is the best pie I’ve ever eaten,” said Lucy. “What sort of berries did you say were in here?”

  “Huckleberries,” said Maureen taking a bite of her pie. “They grow all around here so I’m making a pie just about every day. My freezer’s full of them, so I’d like you to take a couple home with you.”

  “And for me too?” asked Sam.

  “Of course for you. You’re a growing boy,” said Maureen.

  “Did you tell Maureen that you’re going to be giving your mom away at her wedding?”

  “Well, young man, what a task.”

  “Bear will give her back, right?” asked Sam.

  “I’m sure he’ll share her with you, yes,” said Maureen.

  “I have to wear a silly suit and the sleeves are way too long.”

  Liam smiled and Maureen winked at him.

  “How about after we’ve eaten we let Liam and Lucy go for a stroll so they can take in the scenery, and you and I will sit down and look at some photos of your dad and Uncle Liam.”

  “Can I keep them?” asked Sam.

  “Oh, I think we can find some for you to take home with you.”

  It was Lucy who winked at him this time and just that little gesture made his heart flip.

  ****

  Lucy hoped that Liam hadn’t seen her glancing in the back of her car peering at her bag and then double-checking that the door was locked. She knew she was being completely paranoid. Maureen didn’t have neighbors for miles. This place was about as far from civilization as possible.

  “You ready?”

  Liam’s voice made her jump. She turned around to see him look at the car and then back at her.

  “Something wrong?” he asked.

  “No, it’s fine.”

  He put out his hand to her. She slipped her into his palm, feeling his big firm fingers wrap her around her knuckles. Something about him, his touch, his calming voice, always made her feel safe.

  “Maureen said there are some great views around here, but I told her you probably can’t go far because your leg’s still healing. However, she told me if we just walk to the hill there, we’ll be able to see the beginning of Glacier National Park,” said Liam.

  “Have you ever been there?” asked Lucy as they slowly set off toward the hill.

  “Nope, never have.”

  “But you’ve lived here all your life. I mean in Montana?”

  He hesitated for a bit. “We moved here when Danny and I were young.”

  “And Maureen raised you?”

  “That’s right. How about you? You have family? In fact, I hardly know anything about you.”

  Lucy balked. How much should she tell him?

  “My parents live in Hawaii, both retired. They had me and my brother, Mike, late in life.”

  “And Mike has a family?”

  Sure, it was okay to talk about her brother.

  “Yes, two children, but he’s divorced. He got a girl pregnant while he was in high school. He thought getting married was the right thing but after their second child was born, well, she ran off and left him. He’s been a single father ever since … but a great one.”

  “And what does he do for a living?”

  All the questions suddenly panicked her and she stopped dead in her tracks.

  “Your leg hurting you?” asked Liam.

  “It’s fine.”

  They began walking again. She’d hoped he’d forgotten about asking her the question that was still unanswered but he hadn’t.

  “So what does your brother do?”

  “He works for a research company. Mostly drugs and medical devices.”

  There, it was out and it was the truth. She hated lying to him. She’d already told a whopper about her being an interior designer.

  Liam stopped and pointed. “Maureen’s right. Will you take a look at that view?”

  Lucy had to admit it took her breath away. Valleys, mountains, and a horizon that seemed to stretch on forever lay before them.

  “Maybe one of these days I’ll take Sam there. And maybe you’d like to come along too.”

  She looked at him. So he was planning on th
is being a long-term thing. She suddenly wanted that too, but when Mike called her to bring the bag back to Philly she’d have to leave.

  Chapter Twelve

  Liam didn’t think he’d ever be this happy ever again. Had he ever been this happy?

  He watched as Lucy reached up with the roller to cover the top part of the living room wall. He’d chosen a light blue color, knowing it had been Danny’s favorite hue. This was, after all, his former home. Yes he wanted the place to look different so he didn’t get sad each time he stepped through the door, but at the same time he wanted to honor his brother’s memory.

  “So what do you think?” asked Lucy, stepping away.

  “Perfect color … you’re an expert. You do this for all your clients?”

  “Just the ones I sleep with.” She winked at him. He walked over to her and slapped her butt. “You’d better get cleaned up because we have to go to the rehearsal in less than two hours. Right now you have paint on your face, and in your hair too.”

  He pulled her in close. He was hard and wanted nothing more than to fuck her on the living room floor.

  Lucy grabbed his butt and pinched. “Maybe we have time for a little fun. Paint fight followed by toe-curling sex?”

  “Um, we’re running short on time. We could have sex while you shower.”

  Liam thought back to all his past relationships and sexual conquests. He’d never done it in the shower before. Lucy would no doubt tell think he was joking but as she grabbed his hand and began leading him out of the apartment and across to his place, he realized she wanted it as much as he did. Lucy marched him into the bathroom and closed the door.

  “You run the water and I’ll get undressed.”

  He decided to take off his pants before he did that because he was hard and growing harder and getting the zipper past his dick could be a problem. By the time he reached for the tap, Lucy was naked and brushing up against him. She caught him off guard, sliding down his body and taking his cock into her mouth.

  Jeez, this had taken him by surprise.

  She held his hips, those sexy fingers of hers sinking into his skin, her tongue flicking underneath his cock like she was enjoying an ice cream cone on a hot summer’s day. He grew lightheaded as she took him into her mouth.

  Wow, he hadn’t expected this when he’d suggested sex in the shower. She moved her lips slowly up and down his shaft, making him close his eyes and enjoying every second of this treat. He held the shower curtain as she picked up her tempo. He pulled on it, feeling his toes curl upward. He wanted to hold on, let her keep going as long as she’d be willing to, but he was on the edge. Liam licked his lips. Heard as the curtain began to pull away from the rings that held it in place.

  He threw his head back, feeling his eyes change color and knew he had to find release soon or there was a good chance he’d shift. He didn’t want Lucy finding out about him, about them, this way. He made two fists, drove his feet firmly into the tiled floor and found bliss.

  By the time he’d recovered and gotten himself together Lucy was in the shower, her body shimmering with water, a condom wedged between two fingers. Lucky for her shifters grew hard within mere minutes of ejaculation and he was ready for the second round.

  He stepped into the bathtub with her. She reached down and sheathed him this time.

  “That was a nice warm-up just now,” he said. “I’ll have to return the favor soon.”

  He raised her up, rested her butt on the tiny shelf in the corner of the shower and pushed her legs apart. Cream bubbled from her opening, a sight that almost made him come again. He drove into her as she wrapped her arms around him. He bit her neck, licked her collarbone as he took her hard and fast.

  “You fuck like no other,” she whispered in his ear. “I think you might be a keeper.”

  He thought she might be one too.

  ****

  Lucy wasn’t usually shy around new people but she sensed that everyone was looking at her and probably wondering what she was to Liam and vice versa.

  “And you’ve already met Charlotte. And this is her husband Aiden,” said Liam.

  Aiden smiled and put out his hand to her.

  “And this must be your little girl?” said Lucy, looking at the cute little girl with dark curls who sat in the baby carrier, kicking her feet against it.

  “This is Bridget,” said Charlotte. “Who can be smiley and happy one minute and whining the next because she’s cutting her first tooth.”

  “Hi, sweetie,” said Lucy, stroking her leg.

  Bridget gave her a toothless grin, showing off the cutest dimples Lucy had ever seen.

  “She likes you,” said Aiden. “She’s only given a smile like that to Barney who’s my brother’s dog, and her grandpa, who thinks she’s a princess.”

  “Okay, let’s run through the day’s events,” said Bear clapping his hands to get everyone’s attention.

  Lucy took the cue to sit at the back and observe.

  “I’ll be here at the front with Ash,” said Bear.

  A young man that looked a lot like Bear waved his hand in the air. “And Aiden, you and Christopher will act as the main ushers.”

  “Is it okay to seat people on either side of the aisle?” asked Christopher.

  “Yes, don’t worry about that too much as most people attending know both of us. Now, Kaitlin honey, you will walk down here with your basket.”

  Christopher took a pretty little girl by the hand and gave her a pink basket filled with pieces of paper they’d obviously torn up for her.

  “Honey, pretend the paper is the petals and throw it when you walk,” said Christopher’s wife Lilly, who she’d been introduced to as soon as they’d arrived at the rehearsal.

  Kaitlin threw her arms in the air and walked toward Bear.

  Charlotte didn’t have to be told what came next because she headed down behind Kaitlin.

  “Sam, you ready to walk with your mom?” said Bear.

  Lucy turned around to see Hannah holding onto Sam’s arm.

  Liam winked at him and then he offered his mother’s hand to Bear.

  “I need you to give her back after,” said Sam.

  Liam laughed.

  “I sure will,” said Bear.

  “And Liam, you’ll be reading your piece halfway through the ceremony and you’ll come and stand here.”

  Liam got up and stood next to Charlotte.

  “Okay, are we all clear on what happens and who goes where?” asked Hannah.

  “Crystal clear,” said Liam. “And while Sam’s here and everyone’s gathered I’d like to present him with this.”

  Lucy knew what it was. He’d spent the good part of the afternoon cleaning up the medallion and mending the chain. Tears began forming in her eyes.

  “Sam, this belonged to your dad. He always wore it as his good luck charm and … well, I found it when I went into his apartment.” Liam stopped and wiped his eyes. “I know he’d want you to have it. I want you to have it and wear it at your mother’s wedding and every day to keep you safe.”

  Hannah encouraged Sam to step toward Liam, who opened up the clasp and placed it around his nephew’s neck.

  “I love you, buddy … and I’m so proud that you’re my nephew,” he said before planting a kiss on Sam’s head.

  Lucy’s tears crept into her mouth but she didn’t wipe it away. No man’s kind actions had ever reduced her to tears like this ever before. She’d been right. If he wanted her then she’d never let this man go.

  ****

  Liam was speechless and had been since Lucy had emerged from the bedroom in the dress she’d bought for the wedding. Just like a bride’s dress, she’d told him he couldn’t see it before the actual day. It was worth the wait. It was a blue floral print that showed off all her curves. He’d always liked his girls on the bigger side. She’d tied her hair up, showing the beautiful lines of her neck and shoulders. She’d just put the dress on and spent hours getting ready but all he wanted to do was rip i
t off, loosen the pins from her curls and fuck her over and over again. If he hadn’t been picked to read at the wedding and if he didn’t need to be there for Sam, to hell with the nuptials, he had all he wanted right here with Lucy.

  The saying was never to steal the show from the bride. All eyes had to be on her. However, Hannah was about to have stiff competition on her hands. He for one wouldn’t be watching the bride, but instead would be spellbound keeping watch over Lucy.

  “Just about everyone I know gets married here at the Lodge these days. Christopher and Lilly were the first. Melanie used to work here and she met Dane and they got married here. Maisey and Lucas got married here last month too,” said Liam, pulling into the parking lot.

  “It looks to be beautiful and the perfect day for an outside wedding. Not a cloud in the sky,” said Lucy.

  As usual they had valet parking. Liam got out of the car and handed the keys over to the young boy in charge for the day.

  He put his hand on the small of Lucy’s back and encouraged her to walk over to the area where the chairs were set out. Half the seats were already filled. Aiden waved to him as they got closer and offered his arm to Lucy.

  “How about I sit you next to Trent and Emily?” asked Aiden.

  “Sounds great –– they can keep Lucy company when I have to move down to the front row later,” said Liam.

  “Trent, Emily, this is my friend, Lucy Hunt. Lucy, Trent and Emily Burgress.”

  “Hi, nice to meet you both,” said Lucy.

  “Emily is expecting triplets,” said Liam.

  “Oh wow,” said Lucy.

  “Yep, oh wow’s right,” said Trent.

  “You still planning on moving?” asked Liam.

  “No, we’ve decided to put an addition on the back of the house because we like the neighborhood,” said Emily. “It’s a mess right now and this wedding is a welcome break from the chaos and dust.”

  “Hi, hi, how’s everyone doing?”

  Liam turned to see Maisey and Lucas sitting down beside him.

  “Maisey, Lucas, this is Lucy. Lucy, two more of our group.”

  “Hi,” said Lucy. “Good to meet you.”