Caroline lifted her knees, changing the angle of her body. He thrust hard, penetrating her fully, as he watched her beautiful face. She might not speak of her emotions but her eyes, brilliant blue in the morning light streaming in through the window, showed them.
“Quit staring,” she said, her pale cheeks turning pink.
“Make me,” he challenged.
She moved so swiftly, her body strong, catching him off guard. Before he knew it, he was flat on his back, and she was straddling him. Caroline closed her eyes, and moved her hips in a mesmerizing rhythm, her head flung back, as she buried him deep inside her. Carter placed his hands on her hips, feeling the strength of her body, the softness of her flesh, and the heat of her skin.
Caroline placed her hands on his and rode him, whimpering as her orgasm closed in on her. Carter followed, his need for release overwhelming. He lifted his hips off the bed, impaling her on his hard cock, thrusting ever higher until his climax crashed into him and his essence filled her body. Her sex tightened around him, gripping him, pulsing and throbbing as she came.
Carter sat up, and held her close, rocking gently inside her as his arousal waned. “You are perfect.” He kissed her, her lips, her neck, her breasts. “And you are mine.”
“Always.” She cupped his face in her hands and stared into his eyes. He smiled, and she kissed the corners of his mouth before she whispered, “I love you,” in his ear.
“Of course you do, Swanky Tanky. Why else would you put up with this shit?”
She groaned. “Spoiling the moment.”
“Sorry.” He leaned forward and rested his forehead on her breasts. She circled her arms around him and cradled his head.
“Out with it,” she said.
“What if I did an interview?”
“Is that what you want?” Caroline asked.
“It’s not a matter of what I want.” He looked up. “If I do an interview or two, it would probably take the heat off.”
“I think it’s a good idea,” Caroline agreed. “We have nothing to hide. But what if Fern gets dragged into this?”
“That is my greatest fear. I didn’t protect her when I should have.” Carter thought back to that day. “She was a fan, only a child, and I panicked.”
“I’m sure she doesn’t blame you,” Caroline said.
“She tried to take her own life,” Carter reminded her.
“You know what?” Caroline asked. “I doubt whether what happened was enough for her to do something so drastic. Really. She may have had something else going on her life.”
“And I should have found out. Instead, I did what I thought was best to protect her. But maybe what I did hurt her more.”
Caroline’s phone began to ring before she had a chance to reply to Carter. “It’s Fiona.”
“At this time in the morning?” Carter asked, checking the clock, it was 7:34 a.m., too early for a social call even from Fiona.
He watched Caroline’s face and listened as she spoke. “You did.” Caroline looked up at Carter, before swiftly looking away. “And you think that is a good idea?” She listened to Fiona’s voice, then added, “OK, set it up… Yes.” Then she hung up and looked at Carter.
“What’s wrong?”
“Fiona has found Fern.” She took a deep, shuddering breath. “She wants to meet you.”
“She’s found Fern?” Carter asked. A sense that things had been going on behind his back hit him. “Why was she even looking?”
“I asked her to try to track Fern down. I know how much it meant to you to know she was OK. So, dead or alive, happy or sad, I asked Fiona to try to find out what she could.”
“And you weren’t going to tell me that she was looking?” he asked, feeling betrayed.
“I didn’t want to get your hopes up. Fiona didn’t know if she could find her.” Caroline came to him, and held him close. “Please, do this. Speak to her.”
“Caroline, I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“Isn’t that what you wanted? Closure?”
“Yes.” He held her close. “It’s what we all need.”
“Thank you,” Caroline said.
He only hoped the girl he met wasn’t hurt and broken over how he had handled things.
Chapter Seventeen – Caroline
“It will be OK,” Caroline assured Carter as they waited for Fiona to arrive.
“I know.” He took hold of her hand. “I’m more nervous than when it was my first-ever audition.”
“It will be fine,” Caroline said. “Fiona said Fern was OK.”
“Here they are.” Carter let go of Caroline’s hand and walked toward Fiona’s car as it pulled up outside of the house.
Caroline stayed out of the way, giving Carter the space he needed. As the door opened and Fiona got out, he stepped forward and opened the passenger door. A young woman with dark hair and dark eyes got out. She was dressed in a summer dress with a long-sleeved cardigan, which she nervously pulled down her arms.
“Hi, Fern,” Carter said.
“Hi,” Fern answered shyly, avoiding his eyes.
“It’s good to meet you again.” Carter cringed and Fern’s body language softened.
“It’s good to meet you, Carter.” She raised her eyes and met his, a breath shuddering through her body. “I’ve been carrying around the guilt of what I put you through ever since that day.”
“No, you don’t have to feel guilty,” Carter told her quickly. “I’m the one who overreacted.”
“I understand why. I never thought at the time.” Fern blushed red. “I didn’t realize how it would be perceived. A teenager hiding in a movie star’s trailer. It was so stupid of me.”
“You were young…”
“Still. I should have known better. I thought…” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”
“But here you are…” Carter said, holding out his hand, but not touching her. “And it does matter.”
“Here I am. Yes. Thanks to Fiona.”
Caroline was trying to control her feelings, but a rush of jealousy swept over her. This young woman was a big part of who Carter Eden was. She had shaped his life, in more ways than Caroline had, or was ever likely to. Yet she looked so young, fragile in a way.
“Fiona is a miracle,” Caroline said, stepping forward.
“A miracle worker,” Fern said. “I don’t know how she traced me, but I’m glad she did.” Fern smiled shyly at Caroline. “You are Carter’s partner, Caroline, right?”
“I am.” Caroline glanced across to Fiona, wondering what else the old dragon had told Fern. Had she spilled the beans on the whole shifter and fated mate things?
“I told Fern how you and Carter will be getting married, as soon as he produces a ring,” Fiona said shortly, her eyes boring into Carter.
Carter turned around and looked at Caroline. “I never gave it a thought.”
“No, because you are a man,” Fiona said. “Now let’s get inside, and you can talk it all over.”
“I’m sorry this happened,” Fern said quickly.
“Don’t worry about it,” Caroline replied, her conscience taking over and sweeping her jealousy away. She had nothing to fear in Fern, Carter was all hers and always would be. “The way I look at it, is if none of this had happened, I would never have met Carter, and well…”
“You love each other?” Fern asked.
“We do,” she replied. Carter walked ahead, but Caroline was sure he could hear what they were saying. “And how about you?”
“Oh, no one. And that suits me. My parents were not the best role models when it came to relationships. That’s why I latched on to Carter.” She smiled softly at Caroline. “So my therapist tells me.”
Caroline frowned. “I’m really sorry about that.”
“It’s not your fault. And one day I hope to be able to help people, young people just like me. If I ever get the chance.”
“You will. I know you will.” Caroline truly was impressed. “You can achie
ve anything, I really believe that.”
“As you have. A soldier, what a great role model you are,” Fern said. “You are strong. While I’m all… I’m not very good at standing up for myself. But I’m working on it.”
“It takes time.”
“Which is why I’m so grateful to speak with Carter. I want to overcome some of my fears. And I want to set the record straight and apologize.”
“Carter isn’t after an apology,” Caroline said, her eyes fixed on Carter, who turned around and smiled at her, making her stomach do backflips. He would never run from her. She was as vital as air to him now, as he was to her.
“We all try to run in our own ways,” Fern agreed, fiddling with her sleeves again.
Caroline’s heart went out to this young girl who had lived a childhood filled with enough trauma to make her want to take her own life. “You know, if you are looking for a new start, Bear Creek is a good place to do that.”
“Oh yes,” Fiona agreed. “The best place.”
Carter had gone inside, and Caroline, Fiona, and Fern were on the doorstep. Caroline looked at the time. “I should go.”
“You aren’t coming inside?” Fern asked nervously.
“No. Fiona is going to be here with you. I think you and Carter have some things you want to say to each other that do not involve me. I’m going to go over to my brother’s house. Good luck. And thank you.”
“For what?” Fern asked.
“For being brave enough to come here.”
“I’m not brave. I’m a coward, deep down. But I’ve carried this around with me, and I want it to end. How can I help other people when I can’t help myself?” Fern asked.
“Knowing the pain other people are going through helps,” Caroline offered. “You can access that pain, and know it’s not as simple as brushing it off with a smile.”
“I’m going to try,” Fern said, looking up shyly as Fiona ushered her inside.
Caroline turned and walked away from her house, leaving her mate to talk about a past he had run from with a girl who bore the scars of her own turbulent past. All under the supervision of Fiona.
What can go wrong? her bear asked acidly.
Fiona will make sure it turns out OK, Caroline replied.
You trust that old dragon?
I do. She didn’t feel certain, although she tried to sound it, but could not fool her bear.
Caroline ran across the road. It was early evening, and her stomach rumbled from lack of food. Carter had helped her prepare some snacks for Fern, but she had not eaten herself, her nerves wouldn’t let her. But now she wanted to eat. Preferably chocolate. She was in a comfort-eating mood.
Which wouldn’t go down well with Dani if she was feeding the children. Aunty Caroline would be a bad influence if she turned up for tea with an armful of candy bars.
She mounted the steps, stepped across the porch, and knocked on the door before opening it and going inside. “Hi there.”
“Hi,” Dani called, coming out of the kitchen, wiping her hands dry before hugging her sister-in-law. “How are you?”
“I’m OK,” Caroline said.
“Would a glass of wine help?” Dani asked.
“Definitely.” Caroline looked around. “The house is very quiet.”
“Jamie took the kids to the park. I had some homework I had to grade, and it’s hell trying to do it with three noisy kids.” She gave a crooked smile. “Not that I don’t love them to bits. But sometimes I need a quiet hour.”
“And I interrupted you,” Caroline apologized.
“No, I’d finished and now I’m finishing dinner. Which you are more than welcome to join us for.”
“Yes, please,” Caroline replied. “If it’s not too much trouble.”
“No, there’s plenty.” Dani took her hand. “Wine first, and then you can tell me all about it.”
“There isn’t much to tell.” Dani and Jamie both knew that Fiona had tracked down Fern. “She’s a sweet girl. Damaged.”
“Really.” They were in the kitchen and Dani was getting a bottle out of the fridge. “That is sad.”
“Apparently, her home life wasn’t good. Which is what led up to the … you know … incident.”
“Poor kid. It must take a lot to push a girl over the edge like that,” Dani said, handing Caroline a glass.
“It does.” She took a sip; it was cold and crisp, just what she needed. “I feel bad, because part of me feels jealous.”
“Oh, Caroline, that is understandable. Carter is bound to have feelings for her. Not those kind of feelings, but sympathy. And a need to help.”
“I know, and he wouldn’t be the man I love if he didn’t,” Caroline said.
“I’m so pleased you found him, and I know Jamie is too,” Dani confided.
“Me too,” Caroline agreed. “I never thought it would happen.”
“Me neither,” Dani said, sitting down next to Caroline. “When I came here to Bear Creek, I wanted a quiet life. I’d had my heart broken, suffered a miscarriage, and thought I could bury myself in a job I loved.”
“Thank goodness for fate,” Caroline said. “And my brother.”
“To fate.” They touched glasses, and Dani took a big gulp.
“Do you ever get over a broken heart?” Caroline asked.
Dani looked down at her glass. “Yes. At least I did. You still carry the scars.” She smiled sadly. “I lost my heart to the uncle of one of the pupils in my class. He was everything I thought I wanted. Handsome, liked the theater, loved books. We were perfectly matched.”
“What happened? Was it the loss of the baby?” Caroline put her hand over Dani’s. “Don’t answer if it’s too painful.”
“It’s not. Not anymore. Not now I have a real family, and Richard…” She sniffed. “He liked his life the way it was. We didn’t break up because I lost the baby, we broke up when I told him I was pregnant.”
“He dumped you?” Caroline asked, shocked.
“Yes. Although he was kind enough to offer to pay for an abortion.”
“Oh, Dani, I’m so sorry. So when you lost the baby, you were all alone?”
“Yes.” She nodded, and took a big sip of wine. “I guess I can understand how easy it would be to end up like Fern.”
“Me too, I was screwed up enough over Rich before I met Carter. Now I find it hard to remember those deep feelings of loss at his death. It makes me feel guilty. You know, that I’ve forgotten him, or forgotten how I felt about him.”
“Which is how it’s supposed to be,” Dani said softly. “We were both in love with a ghost. Someone who wasn’t real. Rich was never going to love you the way he loved Mary. And … well, compared to what I have with Jamie, I realize now, that I had never been in love before. Ever.”
“To new beginnings, and new loves.”
“And babies,” Dani said.
“You’re not…?” Caroline asked.
“No, but we are trying.” She giggled. “A lot.”
They both laughed, and Caroline let go of her fears. Meeting Fern would give Carter closure, and hopefully enable Fern to let go of her guilt and move on with her life.
Epilogue
“Hello, Teagan,” Carter said to the young woman standing looking nervous at the front door of the big house he and Caroline had finally moved into a month ago.
“Hi, Carter.” She grinned, and then quickly asked, “What did you think of the article?”
“Do you want to come in first?” Carter asked. After talking about what happened with Fern they had finally contacted Teagan to write the article. Teagan was what Fiona called one of her children, and as soon as Carter sat down with her, he knew it was the right decision. Teagan had a deep well of emotion and it came out in her questions, while her enthusiasm and optimism gave the article a feeling of optimism.
As for Carter’s relationship with Fern, it had mutated from movie star and greatest fan, to more brother and sister, something Fern desperately needed. Her childhood had be
en unhappy, and his movies became a focus of a future she craved, where someone looked out for her, when her own family did not.
After her attempted suicide, she had been taken into foster care. Now, as an adult, she longed for a stable life, and that he could help her with. He’d rented her a small cottage, and Will had given her a job, until she decided what she wanted to do with her life. She dreamed of becoming a therapist, but Fern lacked the confidence, and the qualifications. But everyone in Bear Creek was trying to help her achieve her goals. It really was the best place in the world, and Carter Eden had seen a lot of the world.
“That depends on what you thought of the article,” she answered brightly.
“I thought you covered both sides of the story perfectly,” Carter said. “You gave it a sincerity that I had not expected.”
“Great,” Teagan replied, her body language softening as relief swept over her.
“Come on in. We’re all ready to watch the commercial,” Caroline said, coming to the door and handing Teagan a bottle of beer. “Here, try some.”
Teagan took the bottle. “Thanks. Oh, the labels look fab. Bear Creek Honey Beer.”
“Thanks for designing those too,” Carter said. “You are a woman of many talents.”
“But not as good an actor as Carter Eden,” Teagan said.
“You might change your mind when you see the commercial,” Caroline said.
“It’s a great commercial,” Carter told her bluntly.
“Sorry, Captain Orang. I forgot I was supposed to take this whole thing seriously.”
“You revived the character?” Teagan asked, sounding suitably impressed.
“At a price,” Caroline said.
“Which is?” Teagan asked.
“A sequel,” Carter said. In truth, once he had cleared the air with Fern and realized he had completely overreacted, and that she held a tremendous amount of guilt about his abandoned career, he had started to listen to some of the offers being sent his way.
“Space Monkeys?” Teagan asked overjoyed.
“Yes. They made me an offer, and I could not refuse it.”
Mountain Bear (Return to Bear Creek Book 2) Page 10
