That was the night he’d almost kissed her.
He knew his parents would be upset. A Strauss didn’t just go ditching a cotillion and if he did, he was probably Nathan. Nobody expected that kind of behavior out of Eric.
He’d taken her back home sometime after midnight and they’d both stood awkwardly by her back door, shivering because the night was chilly and they hadn’t brought coats. But Eric had lent Liddy his tuxedo jacket and he liked seeing her wear it over her dress.
“Thanks for ditching to hang out,” Liddy had said. She bit her lip, her cheeks rosy from the cool air.
“I’d rather hang out with you than those stuffy jerks,” he said. He felt ballsy.
Then things had gone quiet. He leaned forward, but Liddy was already pulling away. His heart broke just a little. But it didn’t dampen the whole night. Nothing could.
He watched her go inside and only then did he whisper, “I love you.”
“Eric?” Connor’s voice was unmistakable; low and stern.
Eric stirred. He was warm and comfortable and Liddy looked so pretty in her blue dress…
“Eric,” Connor said more firmly. “I see your eyes twitching, man. Wake up. It’s been two days already.”
“Mmm...comfy,” Eric murmured.
He heard Connor laugh and managed to open one eye, shutting it just as quickly when the bright light of the room threatened to blind him.
“Hey, Nathan, man,” Connor said, “dim the lights?”
Eric tried again and ever so slowly opened his eyes again. He was in his suite, in his bed. He felt...okay, outside of being a little tired.
With a jerk, he sat up and said, “Liddy!”
“She’s okay!” Connor said quickly. “She’s in your spare room-”
“Cody-”
“Cody’s at his place,” Connor said. “Everyone’s okay.”
“Everyone’s okay,” Eric said slowly. His head was throbbing suddenly and he winced, lying down again. “Everyone’s okay.”
“Lydia actually recovered first,” Connor said. “I mean she was conscious. Whatever you did, Eric, it took a whole lot out of you. But we’ve had the best healers looking after you. Shifter specialists and all. We think it was fighting off the mind control that really did you in. I know it was tough, but one of our healers said you shouldn’t have been able to fight it at all. Michelle was powerful as hell. Then you went and kept Liddy going. Whatever that connection is between the two of you, it’s something. Saved both your lives.”
“We’re mates,” Eric said. “I want to see her. Head hurts though.”
“Sure,” Connor said. He had been sitting on the edge of Eric’s bed as Nathan hovered in the doorway. “Hold on. Let me get you something for your head…”
Connor handed him a bottle full of some funky smelling milky stuff. He knocked it back and immediately felt a little less cloudy and when he sat up, his head didn’t hurt. Once he got out of the bed, he felt much stronger.
“Look at you,” Nathan said, cackling. He had a full beard now. He looked a lot better than when Michelle had him pinned against the wall. “Tough as nails, my kid brother. That’s a Strauss for ya.”
“Learned from my elders,” Eric said, tossing him a wink. “Okay. I gotta see Lydia. Thanks for looking after me, guys.” He got to his feet, steadying himself, and only then did the notion of his job even occur to him. “Oh shit. What about the front desk-”
“We’ve got it covered,” Connor said quickly. “I’ve been covering the front desk and I changed some schedules around to help out. Everyone’s pullin’ for you. Although I can’t say concierge duties are up to their usual standard without you around.”
Eric rubbed his eyes, shuffling toward the door, eager to see Lydia. “What happened after that throw down anyway? Didn’t the guests get freaked out-”
“We did make some noise,” Connor said, sighing. “But we managed to smooth it over. Put it down to a brawl between troublemaking guests. Told everyone we kicked the offenders out.”
“And Michelle…”
“You killed her,” Connor said quietly.
Eric nodded, his jaw clenching. He didn’t know how he felt about it. He wondered if he ever would. “I didn’t want to have to do that. But, she gave me no choice. And James-”
“He tried to come after us while you were up there,” Connor said. “We ah...took care of him. He talked a lot before he went though. Apparently, he and Michelle have been scamming any shifter with some money they could find and piling up a lot of bodies along the way. But I get the impression you were the biggest fish she’d ever gone after.”
“She could’ve pulled it off,” Eric said. “Maybe. If I didn’t have Lydia.” He headed toward the door. He could almost sense her in his mind already. He wondered if that would be happening more often now. “We saved each other,” he said, just as Connor patted him on the back.
Connor and Nathan had been busy making Lydia comfortable from what he could see as he crossed the hall into the spare bedroom that he didn’t often use. Any personal guests he just put in their own suite, though he had often fantasized about turning the room into a nursery someday when he had a mate of his own and a cub on the way.
“You’re awake!” Lydia said from the bed.
The room was softly lit. Lydia was sitting up in bed, reading, and she moved to get up as he walked in.
“Don’t get up,” he said. “I just…”
It was such an overwhelming relief to see Lydia, alive and safe. He was weak kneed with relief and he smiled to himself, sitting on the edge of the bed happy just to look at her, almost embarrassed by how little he could control his expression. His eyes brimmed with tears and he swallowed.
“Um, it’s nice in here,” he mumbled, glancing around. “Actually, it’s really nice in here. How?”
Connor and Nathan had redecorated a little, softening the room up for Lydia. Which seemed unlike them. There was a new baby blue bedding, and a new lamp on the nightstand, and fluffy throw blankets and decorative pillows. Neither of them had been any use in decorating the lodge and only rolled their eyes when anyone said words like “sconce” or “ crown molding.”
“Alanna,” Lydia said, chuckling. She took his hands in hers and he swallowed, letting his eyes slip shut for a moment just to listen to her heart beat for a minute. “Nathan’s mate. She’s so sweet. She’s been visiting me everyday. We’re friends already.”
“Yeah?” He opened his eyes again and smiled. “That’s good. I’m glad you guys are buddies.”
“It made me think…” Lydia took a deep breath. “It made me think maybe there really is a place for me here. In a way I didn’t dare to dream before. Like I could have a home here. And I’ve never really felt that about any place.”
“That’s what I’ve always wanted for you,” Eric whispered, his voice cracking just a little. But he held himself together as he leaned forward and kissed Lydia softly, just enough to taste that familiar sweetness he had loved for so long.
My Liddy’s finally home.
“You’re tired,” Lydia said, raking her hands through his hair. “We both are. Still got a little recovering to do.”
“Hey, I’m a Strauss,” Eric said. “Tough as nails.”
“Okay, well for my sake,” Lydia said, rolling her eyes. “Will you stay here with me for a bit?”
“I’ll do anything you want,” Eric said, and kissed the tip of her nose.
“Shift,” she said, scooting over on the bed. Her cheeks were pink when she said it, as if she might be a little embarrassed. “It’ll be like it was when we were kids. When we’d take naps as cubs. Just be careful not to claw up the bedspread.”
Eric laughed under his breath and waited until Lydia was comfortable again before hopping off the bed and shifting into his bear form. For once, it seemed like his bear was only peaceful and content as he climbed up on the bed that creaked under his weight. The bed was, mercifully, a king size, at least. Though he still had to curl up
carefully atop the covers so as not to push Lydia off the bed. Lydia remained in her human form and she curled up against him, humming happily as her fingers sank into the thickness of his fur.
“This is how it should be,” Lydia murmured, “always.”
Epilogue
Lydia
Three months later…
The afternoon was crisp and cool and a gust of wind made Lydia shiver as she jogged across the campus of Black Bear Lake Community College. Her last class for the day had been cancelled and as much as she was enjoying her first quarter of school, she was excited to catch Eric just as he was getting off work. The bus that stopped off near the lodge was just about to pull out as she veered around a manicured hedge and muttered apologies to the couple she nearly mowed over. But she made it and climbed up the bus stairs, flashing her bus pass as she caught her breath, her cheeks rosy from the cold.
It was spring in Black Bear Lake.
The bus ride was short and she barely had time to get distracted by her book - a thriller about an art thief - before she was hopping up again, smiling in thanks to the bus driver as she disembarked, readjusting the straps of her backpack as she headed up the short hill to the grand entrance of The Black Bear Lake Lodge.
It was no longer the busiest season at the lodge. But there were still guests frequenting the place. When winter turned to spring, the snowy mountain peaks became lustrous green forests and humans and shifters alike still came from miles around to stay at the resort, if only to stare at the beautiful views while sipping their cocktails on the patio before heading off for spa treatments. The pools were heated and and the tennis courts were bustling. There were also bike tours, guided hikes, and kayaking on the lake itself. The lodge wasn’t booked to capacity as it was so often in winter, but it was still doing a brisk bit of business.
“Hey, Tom!” Lydia grinned at the bell man who stood at the door and tipped his cap to her. The sliding doors opened automatically and Lydia swept in.
After just a few months, she was pretty sure she’d managed to meet nearly everyone who worked at the lodge. Her phone buzzed in her pocket and Lydia grabbed it. She’d already texted Eric to let him know she was off early.
Late lunch in the dining hall- come!
Lydia nodded to herself and turned on her heel, heading off to the dining hall. The Strauss brothers often ate in the kitchen, usually with Nathan’s mate, Alanna, in attendance. But, apparently, today was special as they were all sitting around a big table by a window that looked out on the lake in the distance.
Everyone at the table waved as Lydia neared and she felt that now familiar and almost nervous flutter in her heart approaching this new family.
There were still times, even after three happy months with Eric, where she felt she didn’t belong with someone like Eric Strauss. Her childhood had been rough, at best. She was distant enough from her own parents that she hadn’t so much as spoken to them in two years. But oddly, even though they came from such different backgrounds, Eric’s relationship with his own parents wasn’t so far off.
“My brothers and I always felt closer to each other than to my parents,” Eric had told her just a few weeks ago. “That’s why it always made me crazy that you thought you didn’t fit in with us. We didn’t even fit in with us.” It had made her laugh but it also made her love him even more.
“Come, sit,” Eric said. He hopped to his feet, kissing her cheek when she came over. “We have fresh sea bass. Cody worked a miracle again.”
“I love bass,” Lydia said, still a little out of breath from hurrying over from the bus. She spotted Alanna across from her and threw her a wave. Nathan had his arm around his very pregnant mate and he seemed more interested in making sure she had enough on her plate than anything else. “Hey, Ali!” Lydia said.
“Hey!” Alanna said, giggling as she shoved Nathan’s hand away. “Nathan thinks I’m eating too much fish.”
“Oh my God,” Lydia said, rolling her eyes. She leaned back to talk around Cody sitting next to her and caught Nathan’s eye. “Eating some fish while pregnant isn’t bad! Also we’re bear shifters. It’s fine. The Omega-3s are good for the baby, actually.”
“I told you,” Alanna said.
“Sit on my lap,” Eric said. Eric kept slipping his arms around her waist, pulling her closer as he kissed her neck.
“I’m not sitting on your lap at lunch,” she said, laughing. But she compromised and scooted her chair closer. He’d already ordered her favorite Arnold Palmer with a splash of gin and she took a sip, letting Eric throw an arm around her shoulders.
“How was school?” Eric said. He nibbled on her ear and she couldn’t help but smile at him.
Eric had absolutely no compunctions about showing affection in public or in front of his brothers.
She’d decided it was cute.
“I think I want to major in Art,” she said, blushing, “especially art criticism.” She spoke quietly enough that only Eric could hear. She had always been shy about speaking her dreams and ideas aloud. Her parents had been such hard people, used to a rough life, and completely unable to support any ‘silly’ dream of hers. It wasn’t as if they’d ever encouraged her to want more. Even now, knowing just how supportive Eric could be, she waited with baited breath for his reaction. What if he thought it was silly? What would she even do with an Art degree at Black Bear Lake?
But Eric didn’t laugh and his eyes didn’t narrow.
In fact, he light up like a candle, grinning and gripping Lydia’s hand in his. “That sounds great!” Eric burst out. “You know, I remember when we were young, you used to always want to look at my parents’ art books.”
All the tension left Lydia’s body and she felt a huge sense of relief. “Yeah,” she said, squeezing his hand back. “You used to try to give them to me but I didn’t want to get you in trouble.”
“They never would have noticed,” Eric said. “But hell, I’ll buy you all the art books you want. In fact, I’ll take you into town to that big bookstore on Elm. We’ll go on a spree.”
“You’re too good to me,” Lydia whispered.
“Hey.” Connor clapped his hands loudly and Lydia and Eric jumped. She turned away from her mate, clearing her throat. They’d practically been on top of each other without realizing it and even if Eric didn’t mind affection in front of his brothers, she supposed there was a line. “I want to make a toast,” Connor declared. “To Alanna and Lydia. To family.”
Everyone clinked glasses and said cheers but Lydia saw Eric frown at Cody who did seem a little distracted. “Hey, what’s up?”
“Oh, there’s this new maid we just hired,” Cody said. “Nicole. Just uh… I don’t know. She’s kinda down on her luck. She was really desperate for the job. I’ve just been thinking about her situation, I guess.”
“You still thinking about that maid?” Connor said.
“You shut up,” Cody said, but he was smiling. “He thinks I have a crush on her.”
“You do,” Connor said with a snort. “You were practically drooling when we interviewed her. I thought you were going to shift and go feral.”
Lydia burst out into giggles and Cody threw a lemon rind at his brother. Eric laughed and they went back to chatting and eating their gourmet sea bass.
It all felt so natural and when Eric took her hand and led her back to their suite after lunch - because he’d taken the afternoon off just to hang out with her and do nothing - it felt even better than the old days when they were young; it felt like home.
Thank you for reading ERIC. I hope you enjoyed it! If you did, may I ask you to please write a review HERE!
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NATHAN (EXCERPT)
If you missed the first book in Strauss Bear Shifter Brothers of
Colorado Series, CLICK HERE!
Blurb
* * *
Billionaire bear shifter, Nathan, wants nothing more than to claim his stake on Alanna.
* * *
She’s a beautiful new guest at the Black Bear Lake Lodge. The woman who has forced Nathan to break the one rule he was asked to follow as a Strauss brother. Him and his bear shifter brothers had vowed to not get involved with the guests, but Nathan doesn’t care. Not when Alanna is his mate. She’s all he thinks about, and she needs his help.
* * *
Alanna is in possession of another man. The brutal monster has forced her into joining his harem of wives. Alanna had no choice but to obey his orders. He’s holding her brother hostage and she can’t let him hurt her family.
* * *
Nathan is a ray of light for her. The man who’s so hot that she could melt into his arms. But love isn’t supposed to come easy for them. It’s never easy for the Strauss Bear Brothers of Colorado.
* * *
Can Nathan protect Alanna and free her from her captor?
* * *
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
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Do you like sexy alpha dragons?
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The Dragon Shifters of Kahului are over-the-top alpha males who like things their way.
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Four dragons, Four friends and Four happy-ever-afters!
Eric (Strauss Bear Shifter Brothers 0f Colorado Book 2) Page 13
