“He’s beautiful,” she said, and then promptly burst into tears and fled from the room.
Chapter Three – Ben
“Go after her,” Freyja said.
“I can’t. I think I’ve already scared her off.”
“Ben, go. Don’t make the same mistakes we did.” Will looked at him and then shoved him off the bed. “Man up and go and find her.”
Voices were outside. The Clan chief had arrived. Soon it would be bedlam in here, so Ben thought it was probably the best time to get going. It was either stay and be congratulated, when in his opinion, Freyja had done all the hard work, or go after his mate.
“I’ll be back to see you after things have calmed down. Listen, I’ll tell them on the way out they have half an hour, and then you have to have some rest and feed that little man of yours.”
“OK. Don’t worry, Will can get rid of them if we need to. However, my dad won’t be here long. He isn’t fond of hospitals and he will be much more interested in his grandchild when he can run and kick a ball.”
“Are you sure?” He hated leaving like this.
“Go,” Freyja said, shooing him away.
Ben walked out of the room and straight into Stuart McCormac’s outstretched hand. “Thank you, my boy. I knew you were the man for the job.”
“It was all Freyja and Will. He was very supportive.”
“A fine son-in-law, even if he is from Bear Creek.”
“They are a fine family, Stuart.”
“That they are. Anyway, can we see them?”
“Yes. Although Freyja is very tired. I have said half an hour, but I think the shorter your visit, the better.”
“Certainly. We just want to see him for ourselves. An heir at last. I never thought she would find a mate, you know. Now it’s your turn, Ben. Plenty of women lining up. Shame none of them are the one.”
“There’s always hope, Stuart.”
“Good boy.” Stuart shook Ben’s hand one more time and then disappeared into the delivery suite with his wife.
Immediately, Ben began to look for Beth. Where would she have gone? He didn’t want to ask Daphne; he didn’t want people talking, not yet. So he stopped to think it through: she would have gone somewhere quiet, the ladies’ room? He made his way down the corridor, but before he got too far, he became aware of her. It was almost as if he had developed another sense. Part of him was drawn to her, as though they were magnetically charged particles.
Pushing the door open, he went outside, around the corner of the building and there she was, sitting in the small, scented garden. It was for relatives to come and sit when they had lost loved ones, or if anyone needed peace and solitude, or just a good cry. Which was what Beth was doing.
For a moment, he hung back, not wanting to disturb her peace, but as another shudder passed through her, he couldn’t hold back: she was his, whether she knew it or not, and he had to comfort her—it was his duty. And he really wanted to fulfil his duty, every single last piece of it.
“Here,” he said, sitting down beside her and offering her a handkerchief.
She looked at him and took the handkerchief. “Thank you.” She dabbed her eyes. “I didn’t know anyone still carried handkerchiefs around these days. It’s a little old fashioned.”
“I’m an old-fashioned kind of guy.”
They sat in silence for a moment or two, Ben allowing Beth the time she needed to compose herself. After she had dabbed her eyes and then noisily blown her nose, she looked around at him. “I’ll launder it and get it back to you.”
“No. Keep it. I have a supply of them.”
“Is that because you always have someone crying on your shoulder?”
“Sometimes it seems that way. But not always in a sad way. This job has its downs, but it also has its ups.”
“Like Freyja giving birth?”
“Yes. My favourite part of the job. A new life, new hope.”
“I’m sorry if I misjudged you at first. I thought you were incompetent, but I was very wrong. You gave Freyja such strength.”
“Don’t be silly. I was a little off, wasn’t I?”
“Freyja kind of explained why.”
He sounded startled. “She did?”
“Yes. I understand.”
“You do?”
“Yes.”
Damn, that was easier than he had thought. “So, does that mean you will have dinner with me tonight?”
She looked at him, her eyes narrowing. “No. It does not. I don’t know what you think I am, Dr. Hansom, but I am not the kind of woman to help a man cheat.”
“Cheat? I don’t know what you mean.”
“Of course you don’t,” she replied sarcastically. “Listen, I don’t know what you’ve heard about me. But I am not an easy lay. So unless you want me to file a complaint for sexual harassment, you will leave me alone.”
With that, she was gone. Ben just sat there; she might just as well have slapped him around the face. He had made such a fool of himself. Of course, Freyja wouldn’t have told her about the mating bond. But what had she said?
He got up from the bench. Whatever it was, it would have to wait. He had patients to see and Freyja needed to rest; he would ask her on his rounds. Right now, he was actually wishing he could press reset on this whole day and do it again. After all the waiting and hoping, he had finally found his mate and alienated her in the space of around two hours! That was good going, but what he didn’t know was that things were most definitely going to get worse before they got better.
Chapter Four – Beth
Now she was mad. How dare he try to use her to cheat on the woman he loved? She should have stuck to her first impression of him. He was too damn handsome for his own good, and he thought, with his good looks and his easy manner, that she would fall at his feet and into his bed.
Did she have fool written all over her? Or was there a doctor network that spread gossip and rumours? Was it possible that he had been in contact with Francis? No. No one from her old life knew where she had gone. Apart from Human Resources. Would they divulge that information to Francis? Had Francis tracked her here and then spread rumours about her?
You are being unreasonable, she thought. Yet the feeling remained. It made her paranoid. As she walked back inside, past Daphne at reception—who smiled warmly at her—and into the lounge to get a coffee, she wondered if they all knew. Were they all talking about her behind her back?
Yet she kept picturing Dr. Hansom, seeing him beckoning her over to look at the baby. That was not the face of a corrupted man. Was it? Had her ability to read people left her?
“Hi there,” said Daphne, coming in to join her. “How did it go? An intense morning for sure.”
“Yes,” Beth answered. “But the baby was perfect. It all went smoothly.”
“That’s because our smooth Dr. Ben was in charge.”
“You’re a fan, then?”
“Oh, sweetheart, the whole town’s a fan.”
“He’s a ladies’ man?” Her heart beat rapidly; so she was right, he was a cad.
“Well, the ladies like to think he is. They hound him from pillar to post. It’s those boyish good looks of his. But I don’t expect you to take much notice of him. Broken heart, is it?”
“I ... I don’t know what you mean,” Beth answered, scared that her secret really was all around the hospital.
“I don’t mean to pry. But when a nurse comes in with crying eyes, I notice. And nine times out of ten, it’s because of a man. That’s why I told Dr. Ben he would be safe with you.”
“Safe?”
“Yes. You know. You wouldn’t be interested in him if you were nursing a broken heart.”
Beth frowned. “Is that because his partner might get jealous?”
“His partner?” It was Daphne’s turn to frown. “He doesn’t have a partner.”
“Oh. I thought Freyja said something about him being in love.”
“Did she?” Daphne asked. “Not that I k
now of. Maybe that’s how he’s trying to fend off his admirers these days, telling them he’s spoken for. Not that that would stop half of them. I tell you, until he is up the aisle and putting a ring on a woman’s finger, the women of Bear Creek are going to drool over him.” She sighed. “He deserves to be happy. He’s such a good man.”
“I guess we’re all entitled to our opinions.”
Daphne laughed. “I was right, you are immune to his charms, you’ll get on well with him. I know there aren’t many he lets in, they’re like a rabid mob around him. But your heart is sealed up tight. Men, they can be complete bastards, can’t they?”
“Yes, they can.”
“Well, anytime you want a chat, come find me. I’ve probably seen and heard more about men then a woman has a right to know. I’m a bit of an agony aunt around here.”
Daphne moved to leave, her hot cup of coffee in her hand. But Beth decided that there was one question she needed an answer to. “Daphne. Did anyone ever contact the hospital about me, before I came here?”
Daphne’s ears pricked up, sensing juicy gossip. “No dear, did you expect them to?”
“No. I just left my old job a little fast. I didn’t want it to reflect badly on me here.”
“Well, if they did, I don’t know about it. I can ask around if you want. But there isn’t much gossip that passes me by.”
“Oh.” Beth’s face dropped.
“Don’t worry, Beth. I am very discreet. I’ll make some unofficial enquiries.” She winked at Beth. “Now, you stop fretting and let go of that man who broke your heart. There’s some good ones out there.”
“Like Dr. Hansom,” Beth murmured.
“Like Dr. Hansom.” Daphne patted Beth on the shoulder. “Now, a young thing like you should be out enjoying herself. Why not join me later for a drink at the local bar?”
“I couldn’t,” Beth said.
“Why not? It’s nothing fancy and there are no rowdy men. It’s all a bit sedate, really, in Bear Bluff, but all the same, it’s one way to meet the townsfolk. Do you good.”
Beth took a sip of her coffee, and thought about it for a moment. Daphne was so kind to be offering her the chance to get out of her apartment; it would do her good to look at something other than the bland four walls. And the middle-aged lady in front of her looked as though she enjoyed taking lost souls under her wing; and right now, Beth was beginning to feel very much like a lost soul.
“OK. Shall I meet you there?”
“No. I’ll swing by about seven. That way you can’t think of some excuse and stand me up. I will not take no for an answer. OK?”
“OK.” She took another sip of coffee and then said, “And thank you, Daphne.”
“My pleasure. I enjoy good company.”
Beth went back to work, feeling a little happier. She didn’t see Dr. Hansom for the rest of the day. Which she was both relieved about, and also somewhat disappointed. When she was getting ready to go out, after enduring yet another microwave meal, because she lacked the enthusiasm to cook for only herself, she took those feelings out and examined them. She had become quite good at trying to work out how she acted the way she did. Eventually she came to the decision that she was simply on the rebound.
It was natural to want someone to make you feel wanted and attractive, and that was what Dr. Hansom did. Only he made every other woman feel the same way. She had simply misread his kindness, and she must have misunderstood Freyja about him being in love. The one thing that had become clear, as she did her rounds this afternoon, was how popular Ben was. The one question that had rung in her ears, from every single woman, was when Dr. Ben would be coming their way. It seemed he had a magic touch.
Yet in all the comments about him, she was yet to find one single woman who had actually dated him. Her curiosity about the man grew, and she began to fantasise about him. Had he really asked her out? Or had she just misinterpreted his question about dinner? If she went with what Daphne said, he had asked her because he felt safe with her. All she had done was fling it back in his face.
Now she felt bad, and it became obvious that he, in fact, had been avoiding her for the rest of the day because she had been so rude. By the time Daphne knocked on the door, looking every inch a vamp now she was out of her work uniform, she knew that tomorrow she would have to find him and apologise to him. All she had to do was get through tonight.
She needn’t have worried. Daphne was a bundle of fun, in all the right ways. “You look stunning, Beth. You’ll turn heads tonight.”
“I hope not,” she said, as they walked along the street towards the centre of Bear Bluff. “I’m really not interested in a rebound relationship.” Except with Ben Hansom, she thought and then immediately shut that little voice of betrayal up. She wanted to have a quiet life here in Bear Bluff, and having a relationship with one of the doctors would lead to trouble, and more heartbreak. Plus, she wanted to settle down and not have to move on. After Francis had let her down so terribly, she had struggled to show her face at the hospital; she knew that everyone there had heard the story.
There goes poor old, frumpy Beth Andrews. Thought she was good enough for Dr. Francis Norton, the heart specialist! Silly girl, she should have known she was reading too much into things. There was no way such a man would settle down with a woman so below him in looks and social standing.
Yes, Francis was a heart specialist. It appeared he delighted in breaking them. She should comfort herself with the knowledge that she wasn’t the first he had led on in such a cruel way. But it didn’t dampen her shame and embarrassment. All she had to cling to was the knowledge that she had never slept with him. At least in that way, she had retained a shred of dignity.
“Here we go,” Daphne said, holding the door of the bar open for Beth to enter.
“Oh, I thought you said it was quiet.” She looked around, feeling slightly dismayed at the amount of people who filled the bar.
“This is quiet. The bar over towards the edge of town is much busier. Probably because it attracts people from outside of Bear Bluff. Whereas this one is mainly used by residents. Come on, Beth,” Daphne said, seeing her dismay. “It’s a great way to meet new people. I guarantee you’ll have made new friends by the time you go home tonight.”
Chapter Five – Ben
“It will do you good to get out, Ben.”
“I’m really not in the mood,” Ben said to Eirik.
That was an understatement. He just wanted to have a shower and an early night, not that he would sleep. However, he hoped it would clear his head so that he could think through how he was going to deal with the small problem of his mate.
“We really need to go over some of the wedding arrangements. Look, an hour, that’s all. I’m meeting Drew at the bar around seven thirty.”
“OK. I’ll be there. But an hour, no more.” He made to hang up the phone, but then Eirik’s concerned voice asked the same question he had heard all day.
“Is everything alright with you, Ben? You don’t sound your usual self.”
Ben kept the long sigh that wanted to escape him firmly in check. He was starting to sound like a lovesick puppy instead of a grown bear. “Yes. Everything is OK. Just a hard day at work.”
“Oh, yeah. I heard about Freyja. A boy. I spoke to Stuart after he had been to the hospital to see his new grandson. He’s very proud. I bet if you come to the bar tonight, you’ll get enough drinks bought for you, you’ll be falling down drunk.”
“I have to work tomorrow, so not too much liquor for me. I’ll stick to soda.”
“Whatever. I’ll buy you water if it means you’ll turn up. Drew is already getting anxious.”
“I’ll be there.” Ben ended the call. He had no choice but to go: he was, after all, Eirik’s best man. His friend had found his mate right on his doorstep, and after a bumpy start, they were now getting ready to be married and settle down.
Ben remembered when he had heard the news; he had been thrilled for them both. He had also sta
rted dreaming more about finding his own mate. Well, dreams do come true, but that did not mean everything was instantly perfect. He closed his eyes, rubbing his hand over his face.
Come on. Pull yourself together. You can win her heart, he thought. But the look on her face when she had stormed off earlier made him doubt that.
For now, he headed for the shower. He would wash away all the stress of the day, go and see Drew and Eirik, and then come home. By then he really would be tired and more likely to sleep. That’s what he told himself as he allowed the hot water to run over him. He washed his body, feeling his skin begin to tingle. By the time he got out and towel-dried himself, he was feeling a bit more like his old self.
Grabbing his keys, he went out, walking to the bar in case he did have a drink or two. He would grab a bite to eat there too, while he talked to Eirik and Drew. His stomach rumbled in appreciation of that idea. The bar did decent food, and it certainly beat anything he might conjure up at home. Eating alone was not one of his favourite things. Immediately his brain chased around the idea of having his mate living by his side. He would enjoy cooking for Beth. They would, perhaps, prepare meals together, then sit down and share the meal while they talked over their day. Then they would sip wine and contemplate the rest of their lives together. Before bed.
Beth. His mind was so consumed with her that when he walked onto the bar he completely missed his new sense telling him she was close. So close. For there she was, sitting in a booth with Daphne. A regular at the bar, Trent Savage, who owned the haulage yard, was leaning over the table shooting the breeze. Daphne laughed and Beth smiled sweetly, oh so very sweetly.
Clenching his fists, he walked to the bar where Drew was seated, waiting for Eirik.
“Hi, Ben. Eirik is running a little late. I’m so glad you could make it.”
Ben kissed her cheek. “Hi, Drew. It’s no problem. I know you must be nervous about the big day.”
“Nerves aren’t the worst of it. I’m plain terrified that my dad might fall off the wagon, so to speak.”
Doctor Bear: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Bear Bluff Book 2) Page 2
