Her Big Bad Polar Bear

by K. D. Jones

  “You can sit back here with me, Andy!” Denny called out, scooting over.

  She couldn’t avoid it now without making him mad or hurting his feelings. “Thanks.” She looked to the front passenger seat and saw a beautiful young blond woman watching her. “Hi. I’m Andy Johnson.”

  The young woman laughed. “Andy? I saw the name on the list and thought you were a man.”

  Andy laughed. “I get that a lot. My full name is Andrea Marie Johnson.”

  “I’m Sage Vedar. It’s nice to meet you. Come on inside and get warmed up.”

  “Thanks.” Andy climbed up and went to the third-row seating and sat next to Denny.

  “This is so exciting! Except, I didn’t realize how cold it would be,” Denny commented.

  “Yeah, I looked up this area online and what the weather would be like. We’re lucky it’s starting to turn warmer.”

  “This is warmer?”

  She nodded. “Yep. Can you imagine coming at the coldest time of the year?”

  Denny shuddered. “No way. I want to get this thing done and go back home.”

  Andy was hoping for the exact opposite. She wanted to spend as much time as she could here in the field. If she went back, she knew her boss would put her back on coffee duty again. This was her chance at freedom and she was taking it.

  *****

  Cosmo was in his polar bear form. He used his long claws and made a hole in the ice covering the lake and sat on his thick haunches, reaching into the hole and pulling out a fish. This was freedom. He was out in nature away from all the noise and pressure from his clan. He was in his element, hunting his food. He might even take a nap. His cell phone rang from the side of the lake. He sighed. He almost made it an hour before reality interrupted. His cell had been ringing continually. He couldn’t ignore it forever.

  He tossed the fish back and stalked over to where he left his clothes. His muscles contorted as he changed back into his human form. He bent over and picked up the phone. The caller ID showed that the office was calling. He hit the callback button.

  “Vedar Scout and Tour, this is Dahlia. How may I help you?”

  “It’s Cosmo. What’s up?”

  “Cosmo, I am so sorry for interrupting your break. Luka has been trying to get hold of you for a while now.”

  “Why?”

  “From what Luka could tell me, there’s a problem at the Fielding boarding house with the rooms. One of the new arrivals didn’t like their accommodations and started arguing with poor Mrs. Fielding. Sage stepped in and she ended up arguing with the newcomer. Luka sounds pretty worried that Sage may lose control of her bear.”

  “Shit. Okay, call him and tell him I’m on my way.” He hung up his phone and grabbed his clothes. All shifters had to work on keeping their beast under control. His sister was still young and temperamental. If Sage lost control of her beast, she could shift right in front of the humans. That would put not only his clan in danger, but all shifters everywhere. Their shifter status had to remain a secret. This could be bad. Very bad.

  Chapter 4

  Andy watched the freak show going on in front of her with a bit of shock and embarrassment. The town they were in wasn’t big enough to have a hotel. All they were able to book without going outside the town were rooms in a small bed and breakfast. Unfortunately, when they arrived, the nice old lady who owned the boarding house only had two rooms available. She suggested that Rhonda and Andy could share a room. That was fine with Andy, but Rhonda went off on the poor lady.

  “What do you mean by share? I am too old to be sharing a room with another woman. I refuse. Absolutely refuse,” Rhonda had yelled at the owner.

  “I’m very sorry, but there isn’t anything I can do. The other two rooms were booked before yours,” the owner tried to explain.

  The tour guide, Luka, stepped up in an attempt to calm things down. “That’s okay. We have a cabin on my family’s property that can accommodate Miss Lee.”

  Rhonda, who previously flirted with Luka in the van over to the bed and breakfast, turned on him lightning-fast. “A cabin? Out in the wilderness? I don’t think so! What do I look like, Annie fucking Berkley?”

  “I think you mean Oakley...Annie Oakley,” Andy corrected her, which earned her a glare from Rhonda.

  “Berkley...Oakley...I don’t give a shit! I’m not staying in a run-down, dirty cabin!” Rhonda was fuming. The owner started crying. That’s when the sister to the guide, Sage, stormed up to Rhonda and started letting her have it. Things were getting worse and worse by the minute and if she wasn’t mistaken, Sage might have actually growled at Rhonda. The door to the bed and breakfast banged open.

  Andy turned and stared in awe at the massive man walking in. He was dressed similar to Luka, with a form-fitting jacket and a pair of jeans. He walked right past her without a second glance. She could see him checking Rhonda out. Why were men so obsessed with Rhonda? Was it that she had a body like Jessica Rabbit? Damn Rhonda and her bionic boobs! Andy stepped back and leaned against the wall to watch what the stranger would do.

  *****

  Cosmo could hear the yelling as he approached the bed and breakfast from outside. His sister growled a couple of times, which was a sure sign that her bear wanted to break free. He heard the other woman’s voice and became infuriated with how she was talking to Mrs. Fielding and his sister. Who was this bitch?

  He shoved the door open and stomped inside. A scent hit him that made him halt a step and glance to his side. It was a strawberry and cream scent, but it was faint. He saw a large, heavily dressed man to his right and dismissed the scent. It was probably someone’s perfume that had lingered. He turned his attention back to the three women in front of him that were making the chaos in his world.

  “What is going on here?” Cosmo demanded. He looked the blonde over. She was attractive and built for fucking, but his bear didn’t want to have anything to do with her.

  The blond looked at him with disdain. “Who the hell are you?”

  “I’m Cosmo Vedar. I own Vedar Scout and Tour. Why are you yelling at my sister and Mrs. Fielding, the woman who’s like my second mother?”

  The blonde’s demeanor changed immediately. She turned a dark shade of red. “Oh, hi. My name is Rhonda Lee. I’m sorry for overreacting. It’s just that I thought I would have my own room. I was told by this...by Mrs. Fielding that there are only two rooms and I would have to share.” She tried to make it sound like it wasn’t her fault. Cosmo wasn’t fooled.

  Cosmo turned his attention to Mrs. Fielding and his expression softened toward her and he spoke with a gentle voice. “Hello, Mrs. Fielding.”

  The elderly lady stopped crying and smiled up at him. “Now, Cosmo, you know you can call me Myrtle. Did you like the pie I left for you at the Scout and Tour office?”

  “I did. I ate it in one sitting. Thank you for that. Do you want to tell me what happened here?”

  “Yes. Well, we only have two rooms available so I suggested that two of them share a room.” She handed him her booking log.

  “That sounds reasonable to me.” Cosmo looked at Mrs. Fielding’s book. “Andy Johnson and Denny Vega can share a room and Miss Lee will have her own.”

  “Oh, hell no!” a voice from behind Cosmo called out.

  He turned and his eyes locked onto a pair of soft brown eyes. The body was hidden, but he could make out her delicate facial features. He hadn’t seen a man when he first walked in, but a woman. “Who are you?”

  “I’m Andy Johnson. I’m not sharing a room with Denny, or any other man, for that matter.” She tried to cross her arms over her chest, but the parka was too big and prevented her from doing it. He had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing.

  “I apologize. I assumed Andy was a man’s name.”

  “It’s Andrea Johnson, but I go by Andy.”

  He stepped closer to her and the scent of strawberries and cream grew stronger. His bear was at full attention and prowling back and forth, wanting t
o come out to investigate. His sister cleared her throat, bringing him back to the matter at hand.

  “Well then, Miss Lee and Miss Johnson can share a room,” he stated. When the room was awkwardly silent, he turned to his brother Luka. “What’s wrong now?”

  Luka waved his hand at Rhonda then at Andy. “Miss Lee doesn’t want to share a room at all. I tried to offer her one of the cabins on our property, but she refused that as well.”

  Cosmo narrowed his eyes at Luka. He would have to talk to him about offering humans access to their family and clan property. He would have to see if someone in town could offer Miss Lee a room in their home.

  “I’ll take the cabin,” Andy called out.

  He didn’t even think about it. “Yes, that’s the perfect solution.”

  “Wait. I may have jumped the gun a little early on the cabin offer. I’ll take it.” Rhonda reached for Cosmo’s hand, but he pulled it away.

  “The cabin has been spoken for. Miss Johnson, I can take you to your new accommodations if you like.”

  “Great!” She tried to lift her suitcase handle to wheel it out, but the wheels locked up. “Dang it!”

  “I’ll get that for you.” Cosmo bent down and lifted her large suitcase in one hand. He turned to Luka and Sage. “Get the others settled, then head to the office. I’ll be there as soon as I drop off Miss Johnson.” He turned and headed out the door with Andy trailing behind him.

  Chapter 5

  Andy tried to keep her eyes on the scenery outside of the big black Denali SUV. It was hard when what she really wanted to do was have Cosmo strip bare so that she could lick him all over. The man was drop-dead gorgeous. Her heart rate sped up and her palms were sweaty. She’d never responded to a guy like this before.

  “So how long have you worked for the Rasbone…”

  “Rasbone Archeological Research and Consultant Firm? I’ve been there about four years now.”

  “Is this your first field experience?”

  “Yes. Normally I’m in the research department but I was offered this position and couldn’t pass it up. How long have you lived in Miracle, Mr. Vedar?”

  “All my life. Over five generations now.”

  “Have you ever thought about moving to a city?” Yes, he should move to a city and become a male underwear model. Good grief, the man was hot! His voice was like warm chocolate.

  He pulled over to the side of the road and pointed out the window. “Why would I give up all this just to live in a large, overcrowded city?”

  She looked out the window and it was like a winter wonderland. The snow cascaded down the limbs of the trees and the ground was coated with the white stuff. “It’s beautiful. Point taken.”

  The SUV started moving again. She kept her eyes on the gorgeous landscape. She should have pulled her camera out of her bag so that she could take pictures. She jumped when her pants pocket started to vibrate. She reached down to pull out her cell phone and answered.

  “Hi. No, the bed and breakfast was booked up. I’m being taken to a cabin by my tour guide. You know that I will. Okay, love you too.” She hung up her phone and felt eyes on her. She glanced over at the guide. “What?”

  “How does your husband feel about you coming out here in the middle of an ice village all alone?”

  “I wouldn’t know since I’m not married.”

  “So that was your boyfriend then?”

  She looked at him curiously. Was he trying to find out if she was available? Did he miss the sexual looks that Rhonda was giving him? He couldn’t really be interested in her. She was dressed like an oversized Koala.

  “I don’t have a boyfriend, either. That was my dad.”

  Cosmo smiled at her and she felt her heartbeat speed up. What kind of game was he playing with her?

  “Here we are,” Cosmo told her as he parked the SUV.

  Andy looked out at the cabin. It was larger than she thought it would be and had a nice front porch with two rocking chairs facing a lake. She could picture herself waking up in the morning and having a cup of coffee as the sun rose. She bounded out of the passenger seat, almost losing her footing on the ground.

  Cosmo caught her before she hit the ground and steadied her. “Easy, now.” His hands lingered on her hips.

  “Thanks.” Her voice was breathy as she stared up into his dark brown eyes. For a moment, they almost looked black. Then they lightened up. She blinked. Had she imagined that? “I’ve got it now.”

  He pulled his hands away. “Go on inside. I’ll bring your luggage.”

  “Okay.” She walked more carefully over the snow covered ground toward the cabin, then climbed the steps and paused once she was on the porch to look back toward the lake. The sun was starting to set and the view was breathtaking. “I definitely see why you would want to stay here.” She turned and opened the unlocked door.

  At first glance of the interior, she burst into laughter.

  “What’s so funny?” Cosmo asked, coming inside.

  Andy waved her hand around the nicely decorated cabin. It had big, comfortable furniture, and the kitchen was a chef’s dream: an eat in bar and a small kitchen table. There was a large stone fireplace with comfortable looking couches and chairs around it. The place had electricity and all the necessities. It looked like it should be on the cover of a magazine.

  “I am just thinking that Rhonda is going to be pissed when she finds out that she passed on a luxurious cabin. She probably assumed it was a minimalist cabin with no running water and no electricity.”

  “Well, we do have some of those around, but we would never offer it to hum...our customers.” Cosmo carried the luggage down the hallway. “The bedroom is back here, along with a fully functioning bathroom.”

  She started to remove her coat, gloves, and her extra layers. By the time Cosmo came back to the front room, she was down to just a single clinging sweater and her jeans. She was glad that she had braided her long hair. The braid fell to her waist. She looked up and saw that Cosmo was staring at her intently, and his eyes looked black again.

  “What?”

  *****

  Cosmo’s bear was roaring to break free and claim the female. What the hell? He came back from the bedroom and found what he thought was going to be a plump female to be instead a very curvy, hot brunette. Damn if her scent wasn’t stronger now that she had removed some of those layers. He wanted to remove all her clothing and rub himself all over her so that his scent on her would warn other males away from her. What was he thinking?

  He went into the kitchen and opened some of the cabinets. “There’s not a lot of food in the cabin. We weren’t expecting visitors and it’s probably been a few months since the last person was here. The water comes from a spring so it’s fresh, and there’s coffee beans. If you’re hungry, I can have Sage bring you a meal from the local diner. In the morning I will come by and take you to pick up groceries.”

  “I don’t want to put anyone to any trouble.”

  “It’s no trouble. The local dinner has great food. What things do you like to eat?”

  “I’m fine with anything. What do you suggest?”

  “They have a great T-bone and baked potato.”

  “That sounds perfect.”

  Cosmo pulled out his cell phone and called his sister. “Hey, Sage. Yeah, I’ve got her here at the cabin, but didn’t realize how little food there is. Could you call in an order to Mary’s Diner, pick it up, and bring it out here to the cabin? Yeah, order two T-bone specials with baked potatoes loaded, and two cups of tea. Hold on, let me ask.” He looked over at Andy, who was watching him. “How do you like your steak?”

  “Medium-well.”

  “Do you like chocolate?”

  “Yes.”

  Cosmo put his phone back up to his ear. “Order one T-bone medium-well, one well with pink inside, and two slices of chocolate cake. Thanks, Sage. See you in a few.”

  “So you’re going to eat with me?” She looked a little nervous as she walked around
the cabin.

  “If that’s okay with you. I didn’t get to have lunch or dinner because of issues at work. I’m kind of hungry, and I need to check on the snowmobile.”

  “I don’t mind you staying, and I’m sorry for being part of the issues that kept you from eating. What snowmobile?”

  “We keep a snowmobile in the shed for visitors to use. I figured it would be the best way for you to get around while you do your work. The town is really close. It takes ten minutes to get there on a snowmobile, and having seen your outerwear, you’ll definitely be warm enough. ”

  She blushed a becoming shade of red. “I don’t know how to drive a snowmobile.”

  “I’ll teach you tomorrow when I come to take you to get your groceries. I’ll go out and make sure it has gas and oil.” He headed for the door. “The hot water is working right now, but if we get more snow tonight, the pipes might freeze up, so you should probably take your shower now.” He left the cabin with images of her naked and wet in the shower filling his head. He had a hard-on from hell.

  Chapter 6

  Andy went to the bedroom and opened her luggage, which he had placed on the bed. She grabbed the yoga pants and T-shirt she wore to sleep in, underwear, and her bag of toiletries and headed to the connected bathroom. She turned on the water and started to undress. She sighed, looking at herself in the mirror. She looked like a mess with no makeup on. Her eyes were tired from lack of sleep and her hair was frizzy.

  She got into the large shower stall and washed herself quickly. She debated taking her hair down but in the end she knew her hair would be harder to comb if she left it in the braid. So she took the rubber band off the end and wrapped it around her wrist. She slowly undid the braid, cringing from the painful tingles at her roots. She shampooed, then put in some leave-in conditioner.