“Wrong friends, wrong place, anything can kick off a whole world of shit.” He thought for a moment. “Declan got him this job, right?”
“Yes, he coordinated with the sheriff of Merry Wood.”
“Is that where you come from?” Caleb asked, storing this small piece of knowledge away in the small trunk in his brain labeled Zoe.
“Yes,” she answered. “My family have lived there for generations.”
“Does that mean you’ll be wanting to move back there one day?” Caleb asked, wondering if his move back to Bear Bluff, and his parents, was going to be temporary after all.
She hesitated, and he rocked backwards and forwards on his heels, waiting for her answer. “Not necessarily.” She sighed. “It’s complicated.”
“So tell me all about it over dinner.”
“I’m sorry, Caleb, I might have to put that off. I want to try to get Tony to stay in tonight.”
“Listen, he’s going to go out whether you are there or not. So why not give him the benefit of the doubt? We’ll go and have dinner, and you’ll be back before midnight.”
“Why, do you turn into a frog or a pumpkin after midnight?” she asked.
“No, but if I have to come to work again tomorrow, then I need my beauty sleep.”
“If you have to come to work? You’ll carry on working there, for Tony?” she asked.
“For you. Please, have dinner with me,” he begged.
Smooth, his bear said in his head.
I know, Caleb agreed.
“OK,” she said quickly, as if daring herself to agree to go on a date with him.
“I will pick you up at seven, and now I’m going to hang up before you talk yourself out of it.”
“Goodbye, Caleb,” she said.
“I’ll see you at seven,” he confirmed and then hung up, realizing he had no idea where she lived. Maybe he’d have to give Tony a ride home to find out.
His phone buzzed. It was a text from Zoe, and he smiled as he read it, their thoughts must be linked in some way. It read: Don’t come to the house, I’ll meet you at the yard. I’ll leave my car there.
He replied: What, no kisses oxox
You’re not on my kiss list, came back her answer, which made him chuckle.
“All loaded,” Tony’s voice behind him made him start. Did Caleb look as nervous as he felt? It was like being caught red-handed with your paws in the honey pot.
“Great. Let’s get going. Dylan wants me to replace the handrail on a property he’s renovating. Do you have lunch or anything to eat?”
“No,” Tony shook his head. “I didn’t have enough time to make any.”
“Despite getting here so late,” Dylan said, coming out of the office. He must have seen them getting ready to leave.
“Stop off in town and pick something up.” He took some cash out of his pocket and handed it to Tony.
“I can’t take it,” Tony said, holding his hand up to refuse the money.
“Yes, you can. If it makes you feel better, I’ll deduct it from your first paycheck. But you’ll take it and buy yourself some food. First thing you have to learn is to take care of yourself.” Dylan’s gaze rested on Tony’s face and the black eye. “Second is to walk away from a fight.”
Tony’s hand went to the bruise, his fingers touching it lightly. “Sometimes that’s hard to do.”
“I know, Tony, but sometimes the right decisions are hard; doesn’t mean we don’t have to make them.” Dylan passed him the money and Tony took it.
“Thanks.” Tony put it in his pocket, and stood patiently while Dylan went over their job instructions and the directions to the house one last time.
“I’ve got it,” Caleb said to Dylan, swinging himself into the driver’s seat of the truck. “We need to discuss my pay when I get back.”
“I thought you were doing it for lurvvve,” Dylan said, grinning, and then his face dropped as Caleb drove off, shaking his head and glaring at him.
“That man.” Caleb sighed.
“You don’t like him?” Tony asked, sounding surprised.
“No. I like him.” Caleb assessed his feelings for Dylan. “He’s just good at getting his own way.”
“I guess that’s why he’s a millionaire.”
“I guess it is, Tony.” They were heading toward Bear Bluff; he knew exactly where they could grab some lunch to take with them. “So how do you like it here? You’re new to Bear Bluff, aren’t you?”
“Moved here with my sister. Dylan offered me a job.” Tony sat and watched the houses as they passed by.
“And you’ve settled in?” Caleb asked.
“In some ways.” Tony turned his attention to Caleb. “Have you always lived here? You are a bear, aren’t you?”
“I am,” Caleb answered, which led him to a question he hadn’t asked Zoe yet. “And you are?”
Tony shook his head and looked out of the window. “I’m your dinner.”
Caleb snorted. “What the hell does that mean?”
“I’m a stupid rabbit.”
Caleb only just managed to keep the truck on the road. “A rabbit.”
“Yes, laugh, everyone else does.”
“Arhh, so that explains the black eye. Been trying to defend your honor?” Caleb asked.
“No.” Tony put his fingers up to the bruise once more. “No family honor to defend. We’re all stinking rabbits.” He folded his arms across his chest, just as Zoe had this morning. “I couldn’t have been born something cool like a bear or a lion. No, I had to be a small, cute bunny.”
Caleb roared with laughter. “Kid, there is nothing wrong with being a rabbit.”
“Seriously, you would trade… that body, for this? I’m a wimp.”
“Everyone is a wimp at your age. Even those poor humans who have no idea we exist. Can you imagine the people in this world who would give anything to be a shifter? Even one with a fluffy bobtail.”
Caleb pulled up outside of the diner. They could get some lunch to go, and he could go to the hardware store to pick up the specialist tools he needed. His tools were back at his house in the city. It would take him a few days to pack it all up and bring it here.
“I would rather not have another side than be a stupid bunny rabbit.”
“Tony. Is this why you got in trouble? Because of what you are?” Caleb asked.
Tony turned away and shrugged. “No one understands.”
“Man, you’re a teenager, no one understands a teenager; it doesn’t matter if you’re a bear or a bunny. But that will change. And when it does change, you want to make sure you are the best person you can be. Make the most of your life, wherever that road leads.”
Tony turned to look at Caleb. “You’re just saying that. Look at you, I bet women fall over themselves to date you.”
Caleb laughed and smacked Tony on the shoulder. “Is that what this is all about? Well, let me tell you, I’ve had my fair share of girls. And it meant nothing. You know why?”
“No.” Tony shook his head.
“Because they weren’t the one. You know, the one, my true mate. And that is what makes you so special and unique.” Caleb thought of Zoe, and of the way he felt for her. “One day you’re going to meet that one person who is meant to be with you.”
“And she’ll be happy that I’m a bunny rabbit?” Tony scoffed.
“She will if the rumors are true,” Caleb said, opening his door and getting out, knowing they had to get on with the work they’d been assigned, but grateful he seemed to have figured out Tony’s problem so soon.
“What rumors?” Tony asked, opening his door and climbing out.
Caleb came around and clapped Tony on the back. “You’ve heard the saying, fuck like rabbits? Has to have some basis in truth. I’m telling you, Tony, give yourself a few more years, and you’ll fill out. You might never be as handsome as me,” Caleb joked, with a grin. “But you will do just fine.”
Chapter Six – Zoe
“What did you say to him
?” Zoe asked accusingly as she got out of the car and walked over to Caleb, who was already at the yard, leaning up against his car waiting for her.
“We had a man-to-man talk,” Caleb said evasively.
“About what?” she asked, unsure of how he could have accomplished in one day that she and her parents had been unable to accomplish in months.
“That is one of those things that will remain private between me and Tony,” Caleb said.
Zoe wondered if there was a way to get him to talk, and she was sure there was, but she didn’t want to break him. She found his loyalty kind of sweet, even if he was withholding information she would love to know.
“He came home and apologized.” She walked up to Caleb, and said, “For the first time in forever, we actually sat down together and talked like brother and sister. He told me about the handrail—and I thought you were the professional.”
“I am,” he insisted. “But my head wasn’t in the game. I’ve just met my mate, remember?”
“How can I forget?” she asked, moving so close to him, she could feel the heat of his body. Could he feel the heat emanating from her? Did he know how much she had been looking forward to their date, even though she told herself nothing would happen, other than dinner and small talk.
“Shall we go? Or else I am going to drag you into one of the warehouses and make love to you.”
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“I thought we could head over to Bear Creek, grab some food…” He must have read her guilty expression. “You’ve eaten?”
“I had dinner with Tony. We actually made it together, so technically it’s your fault.”
He shook his head. “I’ve eaten too. I got home to find my mom was having a good day and had made a roast dinner.” He patted his toned stomach. “I’m stuffed.”
“So we might as well go home now,” she said, taking a step away from him. He was quick, impossibly quick, his arm snaking around her waist and pulling her back to him.
“There are other things beside food.”
She tilted her face up to look at him, seeing the passion in his eyes and she wanted to make him burn for her, with flames that only she could quench. “Like what?”
“Like getting to know each other. Just think of all the time we’ll save if we don’t have to think about what to order.” He lowered his head, and she watched him moisten his lips.
Her breathing became ragged. What was wrong with her? She had always played it safe, and this was dangerous. She was in the middle of nowhere with a man she didn’t know, looking into his eyes, with an expression that surely told him she wasn’t worried if they talked or kissed, if they danced or made love, as long as she was close to him.
Zoe closed her eyes, and waited for the promised kiss. She was ready, her lips buzzing as they waited for that first contact. But it never came, and when she opened her eyes, he was staring down at her. “What’s wrong?”
“I was thinking how beautiful you are and how much I really want to kiss you.”
“Then, why don’t you?” she asked, hoarse with need.
“I don’t know if one kiss will be enough,” he answered, his voice gruff. “And I know what I said about the warehouses, but that’s not how I want our first time to be.”
She swallowed down the knot of nerves that swelled in her throat and made it impossible to breathe. She should tell him tonight would not be their first time together. They’d only just met. If she valued her bunny hide, she would get back in her car and go home to Tony. That was a valid excuse. Zoe only had to say she was worried about her brother, and she would have a good reason for turning her bobtail around and running away.
Or did she step into the future Caleb was offering her in his eyes? She was transfixed by them, caught up in their heat and passion.
“Where do we go?” She should have clamped her hand over her mouth to stop such words escaping, but it was too late, they were out in the world now, and she was pleased. Pleased when the heat in his eyes grew hotter, his hands pulling her tighter against his body so she felt the full extent of his arousal.
“Are you sure?” he asked, his lips so close to hers, his breath caressed her cheek.
“No,” she squeaked like a mouse about to be caught by a big cat. But she wanted to be caught.
With a groan, he pulled away from her, letting her go so swiftly she nearly fell over. “Get in the car,” he ordered roughly.
Zoe stood for a moment, to catch her breath and reassess what she was doing. This wasn’t like her; she never slept with men on the first date, let alone on the first day they met. She kept reminding herself this wasn’t a one-night stand; Caleb wasn’t some guy she’d picked up at a bar. He was her mate.
On shaky legs, Zoe walked around to the passenger side of his car and opened the door, taking one last breath of the cool evening air before getting in. There was a look of triumph on his face, for one split second, before it was covered by his desire once more. He reached over, and his hand squeezed her thigh. She whimpered, a soft moan escaping her as his hand slid upwards, so close to the aching need between her thighs she wanted to beg him to touch her there, to ease her need.
However, he placed his hand back on the steering wheel, leaving her perched on a precipice, one she longed to fall into. Trying to regain her composure, she sat up straighter, and watched the road, the lights from his car illuminating it. She wasn’t sure where they were going: all she knew was their destination. Her and him, in bed. Somewhere.
“You OK?” he asked, glancing at her.
“Yes. Any reason I wouldn’t be?” she asked.
“You look pale.”
“This has all come a bit too fast for me,” she admitted. “You know, with Tony and everything.”
“I do. I completely understand. I came here for a short trip to see my parents and find a job close to them. I never expected my whole world to change,” he said, a smile touching his lips. “I am not complaining, though.”
“It doesn’t bother you that I’ve been thrust on you? You don’t see it as unfair, that you have no choice in your feelings or your reactions?” she asked.
“Not especially. I’ve dated enough girls to know how it feels for them not to be with the one you want to spend the rest of your life with. Now, somehow, it’s easier. One less choice to make, one less decision needing my attention.”
“Do you put a positive spin on everything?”
“I try to. So, where is the negative here?” he asked.
“Are you kidding?” Her arousal seemed to have been shoved out of the car to splatter on the tarmac. Suddenly, instead of wanting him so much it hurt, all the decisions they’d have to make came crowding in.
Caleb didn’t feel the same way, when he said, “No. This is the biggest thing that is ever likely to happen to either of us, and it’s done. We have each other.”
He turned the car, heading up into the mountains above Bear Bluff. So, he wasn’t going to make love to her in a warehouse, he was going to make love to her in the wild. Was that a romantic gesture? Oh no! He wasn’t going to want to do something weird in his animal form, was he? Damn, he didn’t know that when she shifted, she would be ten times smaller than him.
“Caleb, I think there’s something you need to know about me.”
He turned off, heading up a dirt road. It was lined by trees on either side, which crowded in on them, making her feel cut off, with no escape. Was there suddenly less air in the car? She took in deep breaths: in through her nose and out through her mouth. This was all happening way too fast.
“There’s nothing more I need to know.” The trees thinned out, and he turned the car once more, and drove up a narrow track, which led to a small house nestled in the side of the mountain.
“Where are we?” she asked.
“It’s a house I came to look at. I’m thinking of buying it, if I move back to Bear Bluff.” He looked out of the window at the house. “It’s the one I worked on with Tony today. The r
enovations are about halfway done.”
“And why are we here?” she asked, looking across to him.
He raised his eyebrow at her. “You’ve forgotten so soon?”
“You mean this is where we are going to…?”
“Yes.”
“What if we’re caught?” she asked.
“By who? Dylan wouldn’t mind. Or if it bothers you, I could always text him and ask him.” He took out his phone, which horrified her.
“No. No, it’s OK, I’d rather the whole of Bear Bluff didn’t know what we are doing.”
He laughed, and leaned closer to her. “What we are doing is the most natural thing in the world. We are going to go inside and we are going to consummate our bond.”
Her stomach filled with fluttering butterflies. She wanted this, but she was scared. Everything about Caleb took her out of her comfort zone.
Maybe that was a good thing. Only one way to find out…
Chapter Seven – Caleb
She looked scared, not of him, but of what they were going to do. Was this a glimpse of the real Zoe? She had appeared so strong, so in control this morning while they were looking for Tony. Was that an act?
“Hey, it’s OK,” he said.
She nodded. “I know, I just don’t want to get arrested for breaking and entering.” They were walking toward the small cottage, the moonlight shining down on them, making everything look surreal.
“I have a key,” he said, holding it up. “No breaking, but there may be entering.”
She blushed, the color returning to her cheeks. “Funny.”
“I don’t want to be funny.” He opened the front door and took her hand. “I want to be serious. I want you to know how much this means to me.”
They were inside the hallway; to the left, a small narrow staircase ran upwards into the dark. The handrail was missing but the smell of newly sawn wood tinged the air. “This is what you were doing today?”
“Yes, this is the handrail I’m replacing. Maybe you could come back and see it in the day.” He moved toward the staircase. “It’s a lovely house. Just right for a family.”
Who Bears Wins: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (Return To Bear Bluff Book 4) Page 3
