by Ruby Shae
“Oh, no. What happened?”
As soon as he sat across from his sister, Fiona, she grilled him. They’d always been close, and even though she now lived four hours away, they still visited every other month and talked on the phone weekly.
She knew about his relationship with Marianne, but once she’d asked him to explain it, and he’d brushed her off. How could he explain it to his sister when he couldn’t even explain it to himself?
“She has a date tonight.”
“What? Why?” Fiona asked.
The waiter came with his drink and took their order. When the man hurried away, he continued.
“I don’t know. Apparently she didn’t know what my plans were, and she didn’t want to be alone. Looks like we’re both doing great this year, huh?”
Fiona was nursing a broken heart, and had also planned on having the Matchmaker set her up. A man she’d dated for a long time had gotten married two weeks ago. His new wife was a surprise to everyone. His sister was handling it well, but he knew she was devastated.
“Yeah,” she laughed, “only I think you can fix this. Tell her how you feel.”
“I can’t. She wouldn’t have set up the date if she felt the same.”
The waiter dropped off their salads and they began to eat.
“Or,” Fiona pointed her fork at him, “she got tired of waiting around for you to make your move,” she reprimanded gently. “You guys love each other. Everyone sees it but you.”
“You think she loves me?” he asked.
“I know she does. Caleb, you have to tell you how you feel, before it’s too late.”
“Maybe you’re right,” he pondered.
“You know I am,” she said, laughing.
“Oh, shit. Do not turn around, but there is an angry bear headed our way,” he said.
He’d never met Owen, but if he had to guess, then he’d say the tall, blond bear storming toward him was his sister’s ex.
“I’m sorry, there’s been a mistake,” the man said to him. “Fiona is with me.”
“Owen,” Fiona whispered his name, confirming his suspicion.
“It doesn’t look like she’s with you,” Caleb said. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re having a nice lunch.”
He went back to his salad, and Fiona followed his lead and ignored Owen.
“Look,” Owen spoke again. “I don’t think you understand. I’ll reimburse your fee, but this woman is my mate, and you need to leave.”
Caleb stood abruptly. The legs of his chair scraped across hardwood floor, drawing the attention of all the other patrons in the room. He had a feeling the man wasn’t married, but as far as he knew, this man had hurt Fiona. Caleb would protect her if needed.
“If she’s your mate, why doesn’t she bear your mark?” Caleb accused. “Why is she with me on Valentine’s Day instead of you?”
Owen spoke directly to Fiona.
“Fiona, I’m not married. Heather is my cousin and I hired her, and two other people, so I would have time to be the kind of man you deserve, not some stressed out workaholic who can only see you every few months. You’re my heart, and the most important thing to me. Please give me a chance to show you how much I love you.”
Caleb looked at Fiona and raised an eyebrow in question. Whatever happened next was up to her. If she gave the word, he would throw Owen out.
“It’s okay, Caleb,” she sighed. “Owen this is my brother, Caleb. Caleb, this is Owen Waverly.”
He stuck out his hand, and Owen grabbed it.
“It’s nice to finally meet you,” Caleb said, his face still hard as granite. He couldn’t let this guy off without a warning. “You break her heart, and I won’t be so nice the next time we’re in the same room together.”
“It’s nice you meet you, too, and you don’t need to worry,” Owen replied. “I don’t plan on breaking her heart.”
“Caleb,” Fiona said, “I think you should go now. Owen and I have a lot to talk about and you need to fix things with Marianne.”
“Call me,” Caleb said, looking at her pointedly.
“I will. Happy Valentine’s Day,” she smiled back at him.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, sister. I love you,” Caleb said, and leaned down to kiss her on the cheek.
He turned back to Owen, smiled, and patted him on the back. “Hopefully the next time we meet it will be less eventful.”
“Hopefully. Good luck, tonight,” Owen said.
“Thanks,” Caleb called over his shoulder. “I have a feeling I’m going to need it.”
He left the couple to deal with the rest of the meal, and raced back home to Marianne.
***
“Are you sure you want to do this?” CeCe asked.
Marianne took a deep breath to settle her nerves and nodded to her friend.
“I’m sure.”
“Okay, then. Let’s find you a hotel.”
CeCe started pounding away on her laptop and Marianne took a sip of her coffee looked out the window of the tiny coffee shop.
Shadow Creek was a wonderful, small, picturesque town almost entirely inhabited by black bear shifters. Like its sister town, Shadow Ridge, the main drag lured tourists in with its beautiful mix of historic and modern architecture, unique shops, and friendly atmosphere.
Both towns had plenty of trees and wooded areas for bears to run, but they usually stayed in the shadows, away from curious humans. Years ago, after Shadow Creek had been established by the first shifting settlers, the family decided shifters needed more land to comfortably be themselves, and they moved to the east and founded Shadow Ridge.
In the early years of colonization, both towns survived many attacks and invasions until the full humans realized they were fighting a losing battle and befriended the bears. Now both towns were recognized as historical landmarks by the government.
She loved her town, and was proud of her ancestors’ foresight and vision for future shifters.
People rushed by the shop in droves, and many of them wore red, festively honoring the day. Others carried a red retail bag of some kind, or roses, signaling gifts received or yet to be given. She smiled when she counted at least six different shades of the pretty flower.
Maybe I should pick up some flowers.
Roses were her favorite flower, and although she liked the red ones the best, it didn’t matter the shade. The flower was strong and elegant, and looking at them always made her feel good. She could use some positive reinforcement tonight.
Earlier, after her altercation with Caleb, she’d gone to her room and closed the door. Except for her closet and her desk, the room hardly looked lived in. The bed was made with all her frilly pillows in place, the nightstand was free of clutter, and her bookcase was tidy with every book in its proper order.
She’d spent so much time in Caleb’s room, her alarm clock, water bottle, lotion dispenser and tablet had all found a permanent residence on one of his nightstands. She decided to wait until he left to retrieve her things, and turned on her laptop to print the short note she’d written him at the beginning of the New Year.
After a quick reread, she printed the note, signed it, and set it on her desk. She pulled her suitcase out from under her bed, and built a pile of clothes next to it. She packed carefully, making sure she would be comfortable for the next two weeks.
When she found a new place to live, hopefully soon, she’d pick up the rest of her belongings. Until then, her new address was CeCe’s couch.
Her friend had tried to talk her out of taking drastic measures without talking to Caleb, but she knew nothing would ever change. Caleb didn’t think of her as anything more than a friend with benefits and she couldn’t live that way anymore.
She’d rather be alone than with someone she loved who didn’t return her feelings.
“Two nights, right?” CeCe asked, with her hand covering half of her cell-phone.
The woman had a gift for finding special rates on hotels and travel, and she’d moved from the laptop to the p
hone a few minutes ago.
“Yeah,” Marianne nodded again.
She knew Caleb would check CeCe’s apartment first, so she opted to stay in a hotel for two nights until his initial search wore off. She knew he’d tire of looking for her after a couple of days, and if he did keep looking, the distance would provide her with the strength to carry out her convictions.
“Oh, you’re a lucky girl,” CeCe said, putting down her phone.
“And why is that?” Marianne asked dryly.
She knew her friend referred to the room she’d found, not Marianne’s life in general, but seeing all that red through the window, and thinking about Caleb, had brought her spirits down.
“I got you a room in the Rosewood.”
“What? Really? How?”
Rosewood Suites was an incredibly popular five star hotel in the center of town. Reservations were always needed for a stay, and she’d never heard of anyone getting a room on the same day, let alone a holiday of any kind.
“I’m just that good,” CeCe laughed, “and I know a guy. By the way, I owe him a favor now because of you, so you’d better make the most of it.”
“Thank you, CeCe,” Marianne said solemnly. “I will forever appreciate your sacrifice.”
“Shut up,” her friend said, and they both laughed loud enough to gain the attention of everyone in the tiny shop.
“See what you did,” CeCe whispered.
They both giggled and sipped their coffees, ignoring the stares of those around them.
Nearly an hour later, the two women hugged in front of the coffee shop.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you? What if you get too lonely?” CeCe worried.
“No, I need to do this on my own. If I get depressed and can’t shake it, I’ll call you,” she promised.
“And if he calls or comes looking for you?”
“You don’t know where I am,” she said, deliberately.
“Right. Okay, have fun.”
“Thanks.”
Marianne drove the two blocks to the hotel’s underground parking structure, pulled her suitcase out of the trunk, and rode the elevator to the lobby.
When the doors opened, she stepped into the large room and smiled.
I could get used to this.
The beauty and detail of the grand room made her feel like a princess, and she walked to the reservation desk with her head held high. Being alone on Valentine’s Day might not be so bad in such a beautiful place.
She decided to make the most of it.
Chapter Three
“Marianne, I’m back,” Caleb called when he entered the house. “You’re never going to believe what happened in the restaurant.”
He peeked in the living room, and when he found it empty, he checked his room and then Marianne’s. He’d parked on the street, but when he looked inside the garage, he noticed her car was missing.
Disappointment flooded him and he placed the roses on the table. He’d been to three flower shops looking for the red buds, hoping to surprise her. She couldn’t have left for her date already. It was only three o’clock.
He pulled out his cell-phone and called her, but she didn’t answer, and he hung up without leaving a message. Maybe she’d run down to the store to pick up some last minute thing for her date…like condoms.
Fuck no!
He couldn’t stand the thought of her with another man and dialed her cell again.
“Where are you?” he said after the beep. “We need to talk. Please come home soon.”
He stared at his phone for two full minutes before he realized she wouldn’t be calling him back right away. In order to pass some time, he sat down on the couch and turned on the game.
An hour later, Marianne still hadn’t called him back or come home.
Where is she?
He went into the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of water, and leaned against the counter as he drank the cool liquid. Then he saw the note taped to the coffee maker.
Dear Caleb,
I’m sorry, but I can no longer live like this. I’m moving out.
I will call you to schedule a time to pick up my things once I find a place of my own.
You have been a good friend to me, and I thank you for everything.
Marianne
What the hell?
He called her cell again, and left another message.
“It’s me again. I just found your note. What the hell is going on? Call me back.”
He waited ten minutes and when she didn’t answer, he called CeCe. Her phone also went to voicemail.
“CeCe, its Caleb. I need to talk to Marianne, and I know she’s with you. Please call me back.”
He stomped through the house, and cursed when he walked into his room. The nightstand on her side had been completely cleared off, and her shampoo and pretty smelling soap was missing from the bathroom. He went into her room and most of her clothes were gone, along with her laptop and a few framed photos she kept on her desk.
She’d really left him.
How could I have been so stupid?
Now he understood her earlier outburst. She’d been trying to tell him about her plans, but he’d gotten angry when he’d heard about her date, and never let her finish. If he’d sucked it up and told her how he felt, she might be here with him instead of prepping for a date with another man.
The Matchmaker!
Desperate to find her and stop the date, he looked up the number for the Matchmaker and called the woman.
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” the woman said, instead of the customary hello.
“Hi…thank you. Um, my name is Caleb and I’m trying to stop a date,” he said.
“Now that doesn’t seem very nice, Caleb. Why would you want to do that?”
“Look, I’m not trying to be mean, it’s just that my roommate—”
“Ah, yes, the lovely Marianne,” the woman said.
“Yes!”
“I don’t give out information over the phone. You’ll have to come out here if you’d like me to help you.”
“But, all I want is—”
“You must come out here, or I won’t help you,” she reiterated.
“How do I get there?”
After giving him specific directions on how to get to her home, including where to park his car and where to shift into his bear form, Caleb hung up the phone and set out in search of the Matchmaker.
He parked in a free lot on the edge of town, and then walked two blocks away from the city until he found a dirt trail that led into a wooded area. There was a garbage can marking the opening, and he laughed at the sign that said, “Don’t feed the bears!”
He walked a few feet down the path, and once he was hidden from the trees, he shifted into his bear form. Bears shifted with their clothes on, and the shift was instantaneous, making changing forms simple and easy. Still, he didn’t do it often enough. He rolled in the dirt, shook out his coat, and reveled in being in his animal form. He thought about climbing a tree, but it would have to wait, he needed to stick to his original plan.
The hill was longer than he’d anticipated, and he travelled to the top in a combination of running and walking. Shifters were graced with the ability to walk long distances in either form, without growing tired, but when he got to the top of the hill, he realized he may have been a bit overzealous.
He lumbered over to the house, and a petite, elderly woman opened the screen door and stepped onto the porch. She had white hair, and a bounce in her step that made her look much younger than her hair indicated, although he couldn’t discern her age. Bear shifters usually outlived their human friends, but only by a few years. She was an anomaly.
Caleb shifted back into his human form and introduced himself.
“Hi, I’m Caleb Montgomery. Are you the Matchmaker?”
“Of course, boy. Who else would I be?” she laughed.
At twenty-seven, he hardly considered himself a boy
, but he wasn’t about to argue with her. Especially not when he needed something.
“Good point,” he laughed with her.
“Your sister was here yesterday, did she tell you?”
“No, she didn’t get a chance. Her ex showed up during our lunch and I left them to talk things out,” he said.
“Good. They make a lovely couple,” she nodded. “But now, we have the problem of you and Marianne. You both have created quite the pickle, haven’t you?”
“I need to stop that date. I was so afraid of losing her friendship, I didn’t tell her how I really feel and now she’s gone. She left me a note that said she’s moving out, and she won’t answer her phone. Please help me. I have to find her.”
“I will help you, but only if you promise to do exactly as I say—”
“I promise,” he said, cutting her off.
She raised an eyebrow and stared at him.
“Sorry. I’m sorry,” he said, holding his hands out as if to placate her.
“Come and sit,” she said.
They sat on her porch in two wooden chairs, with a round, matching wooden table between them. The Matchmaker stared out into the woods, and he realized he would need to be patient if he wanted information. He looked in the same direction, astonished by the view of the land as the sun set.
Several minutes passed before she spoke again.
“Once you claim your mate, don’t forget that shifting forms helps us in all aspects of our lives. Shift together, run together, and you’ll both live long and healthy lives together. Bears need fresh air, wide open spaces, and balance. Shifting forms helps us achieve that in both our forms, especially when the cubs come along,” she laughed.
He laughed with her, but then sobered. He couldn’t wait to see Marianne round with one of their cubs.
“At eight o’clock tonight, knock on door 214 in the Rosewood Hotel,” the woman said.
“They got a room?” he asked, anger lacing his words.
“Don’t even think about going there early, Caleb. You promised to do exactly what I say, and you have to show up at eight o’clock. Your future is riding on your ability to show up at the right time. If you do, then you and Marianne might have a chance at forever. Do you understand?”
