by Bianca D’Arc
She believed him. She didn’t know why, but she did.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, but thank you for the sentiment.”
Brody moved closer, his hips in line with hers as his hands went to her waist. “It’s not a casual declaration, honey. There’s something between us. I’ve felt it from the first moment I saw you. In a way, I should be thankful to that stupid koala, because now, I’m finally free to talk to you about who, and what, I really am.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Tina showed up, and Brody stepped back, but not before her little sister got an eyeful of Brody Chambers standing right up in Nell’s personal space. The big wink Tina sent her was almost comical. Nell would have laughed if the situation wasn’t so serious.
As it was, she allowed Brody to hustle her out of the bakery in record time, Tina taking over during the slow mid-afternoon period. Nell usually used that time to do paperwork, but not today. Nope. Today, apparently, she was going to learn all about shifter bears.
She wasn’t sure she wanted to know, but then again, spending time with hunky Brody Chambers was something she’d let herself think about off and on since moving to Grizzly Cove. She didn’t think anything would ever come of it, but she’d let herself dream…occasionally.
Now she was getting her wish, but she honestly didn’t know if she could handle the why of it. Suddenly, Brody was asking her out, but it wasn’t for any of the normal reasons she had imagined. No, it was to explain the freakish nature of the town, and only after she knew all about it would the decision be made—by the Alpha, whatever that meant—as to whether or not she would be killed.
Hysteria tried to bubble up, but Brody took her hand and led her across the street toward the public beach area. It wasn’t large, but the town—which was owned and operated by John Marshall, she had just learned—had put a few wooden picnic tables along the side of the road for public use. Beyond the sandy area, down a sloping incline, the waters of the cove lapped at the shore in a hypnotic rhythm.
Nell liked to go down to the water a few times a week to just listen for a bit and commune with nature. The town was out of the way and didn’t see many travelers passing through, but that was okay by her. The residents bought enough of her breads and pastries to keep the bakery afloat, and that’s all that really mattered. Nell wasn’t here to make a killing. She’d come here to start over, with her sisters, and that was just what they’d done.
Now the only question was, would they be allowed to continue?
Brody let Nell sit before he placed the box with the honey buns on the table and sat opposite her. He didn’t like the fear and uncertainty in her pretty eyes, but he understood why she was afraid. The unknown was usually frightening.
He hoped he could set her mind at ease, but he’d never done this before. As long as he’d lived, he had never had to explain what he was to anyone. They either had no clue, or they knew all about shifters because they were shifters too. Brody didn’t usually hang out with humans.
But he found himself doing all sorts of new things when it came to Nell. From the first, she had stirred something in his blood. She had almost called out to him on some primitive level he didn’t quite understand. Following his instincts, he’d spent time near her, having lunch at the bakery as often as possible, trying to figure out her allure.
So far, the only thing that had accomplished was to make her even more intriguing. And after today’s debacle, he at least could be completely truthful with her at last. Only time would tell if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
He opened the box he’d packed earlier and bit into a honey bun before starting the conversation he knew he had to have with her. Honestly, he wasn’t really sure how to do it, but he had to try.
“These are truly delicious,” he said around a bite of the honey bun.
“Thank you. Ash makes them. I just do the glazing,” she admitted.
“That’s the best part,” he said with a smile, licking his fingers absently. “Look, I’m not really good at this. I’ve never done it before. I’ve never had to tell anybody about shifters in my entire life, so I might mess up. Stop me at any time and ask questions, okay? Nothing is out of bounds now that you’ve seen my bear.” He thought about his words. “Well…almost nothing is out of bounds. I’ll let you know if we hit on a sensitive topic, okay?”
She smiled faintly and nodded. At least it looked like she was willing to try.
“Good. Now, the first thing you ought to know is that there are all kinds of shifters in the world, not just bears. Though we’re among the most powerful, we’re also far fewer in number than some of the others. There are tons of wolves, for example. A lot of big cats. Quite a few raptors. Get the picture?”
“You mean there are people that can turn into wolves and tigers and eagles?”
“Yep. But in Grizzly Cove, so far there are only bears. That’s the way Big John designed this place. It was to be a haven for bears, specifically.”
“Why?” she asked in a quiet but clearly interested tone. “Why only bears?”
“A number of reasons. Each of the original residents worked directly with John over the years. We’re all bears, so we understood each other in ways we don’t really understand the other shifters. Wolves have their Packs. Cats have their Clans. Bears…well…a lot of us are loners. We tend to stake out large territories and don’t often interact with others of our own kind.” He shrugged and finished the honey bun he’d been eating. There were still two left in the box.
“That sounds kind of lonely,” she observed.
“It can be. But living too close to other bears can also be a problem. That’s why most of us own property along either side of the cove. We need our space. The town is great for the times we want to be around other people, but the forest is home to the other half of our souls.”
“That’s kind of beautiful,” Nell said quietly. He liked the soft, open, accepting look on her face. Maybe this was going to turn out okay after all.
* * *
They walked down to the waterline and then began a lazy stroll around the curve of the cove while Nell asked questions and Brody did his best to explain about shifters. He tried to gauge his progress by her mood. She was calmer now, which he took to be a good sign. And when her foot slipped on a wet rock, it was all the excuse he needed to put his arm around her shoulders.
There. That was better. He liked the feel of her petite frame under his arm. She was the perfect height for him. They fit, for lack of a better word. Just as he’d always suspected but had never been able to test out before.
It had been hell staying away from her. Not that he’d actually been able to stay away. He’d had lunch at her place more days than not, just to be around her. But he hadn’t been able to touch her or ask her out. Or even walk on the beach with her.
That had all changed now, and Brody’s bear side was pleased. As was his human side. Both wanted to get to know this lady much, much better, and they finally had the chance.
“You know, I’m glad you found out,” Brody admitted after he’d explained as best he could and they’d turned their steps back toward the picnic area. They’d walked quite a way down the cove, away from the main street and toward the wilder areas bordered by dense woodlands. “I mean, the way you found out was kind of bad, but the result is something I can endorse, if it means you here with me, walking on the beach. I’ve wanted to ask you out for a long time, Nell.”
“Then why didn’t you?” She stopped walking and turned slightly to look at him. She was so close he wanted to bend down and kiss her.
“I couldn’t. I didn’t want to have to live a lie. I can’t be only half what I am. I’m a man, but I’m a bear too. Both parts of me want to be near you.” His words were impassioned, and he felt her respond, her small hands coming between them to rest against his chest as she moved even closer.
When her body swayed, he put his hand around her waist, his other arm still at her shoulders. He pulled her against him
, and she didn’t resist. In fact, she reached upward, standing on tiptoe. The invitation couldn’t be any clearer, and he was happy to take it.
Brody lowered his head, and his lips met hers.
Sparks tingled through his body at the first touch of her lips. A sort of magic shimmered around him and through his bloodstream.
Nell didn’t quite know how she’d ended up kissing Brody Chambers on a deserted stretch of beach, but she didn’t mind at all. Not one bit.
There was something almost magical about his kiss. Something she’d never experienced before in a man’s arms.
She felt…safe. Protected. Cared for.
And that was a lot of baggage to tack on to a first kiss, now wasn’t it? But even though the undeniable fact that she’d seen him turn into a giant grizzly bear scared her on some level, the feel of his arms around her was something welcoming and warm. Like coming home.
Nell had always been a practical sort of woman. She knew she wasn’t the prettiest of her sisters. That honor fell to the middle sister, Ashley. She probably wasn’t the smartest either. Tina was the clever puss in her family. But Nell had grit. Determination to see that her sisters had as good a life as she could make for them all.
She’d always thought she had good judgment. But one kiss from Brody and all her best-laid plans of a long spinsterhood and non-involvement with the male of the species went right out the window. In his arms, she found she wanted this—for herself.
She had sacrificed a lot to keep her sisters with her after their parents died, and she’d always put them first. She had let her own desires take a backseat to making sure there was always food on the table and a safe home for her little tribe. But Brody made her want something for herself… Him.
She wanted him, and she couldn’t deny the instant attraction she’d felt for him from the get-go. Now that she was finally experiencing his kiss, she could no longer blind herself to the fact that he was just about perfect in every way that mattered.
Oh, there was the bear thing. That had been seriously unexpected. She’d have to find a way to make peace with that in her mind…when Brody wasn’t overwhelming her with his delicious kisses that tasted like honey.
CHAPTER FIVE
Brody walked Nell home a little while later, leaving her at the bakery door. She and her sisters lived in the small apartment above the store.
As sheriff of the sleepy town, Brody didn’t have much to do normally. Today though, he had a drunk koala shifter in the tiny jail under his deputy’s supervision that he had to deal with. Brody smiled as he walked down the main street, which ran along the apex of the cove. He’d finally been able to take Nell Baker in his arms and find out if her kisses were as sweet as the honey buns she baked.
He licked his lips remembering. Her kisses were even better than the buns, and that was saying something. He wanted more.
More importantly, his inner bear wanted more. It was the first time the grizzly inside had sat up and taken notice of a female. Brody knew that meant something special. He had been wondering for weeks if the eldest Baker sister might not just be his mate.
But until the drunk shifter had shown up in her shop today, Brody hadn’t been able to cross that final line. He hadn’t wanted to get involved with her—with any female—unless she knew about his bear. He hadn’t wanted to start something with Nell that could turn out to be serious with a lie of omission between them. Especially not something as big as he was when he shifted into bear form.
Now that it was finally out in the open and she’d seen his alternate shape, the self-imposed restriction was gone. He was free to court her and to talk about his dual nature. Oh, sure, the town council would probably meet and discuss the ramifications of letting the Baker sisters know about shifters, but Brody wasn’t too worried about all that. Nell had heart. She would never betray him or any of the bears who called Grizzly Cove home.
Brody was whistling a jaunty tune as he entered his office. He had a koala to corral and a courtship to plan.
* * *
The next day dawned bright and clear. The Alpha stopped by the jail first thing and had strong words with their new guest.
As a result of Seamus’s solemn promise to lay off the booze, straighten up and fly right, Big John had agreed to let him out. There was one condition. John demanded that Seamus make his way back to the bakery, with Brody as his police escort, and apologize to Nell for causing trouble.
And so, right before lunchtime, when Brody knew Nell would be manning the bakery by herself, but not too busy yet, he escorted Seamus into the store. Seamus, hung over and looking it, held his hat in his hands, his head down as he shuffled towards the counter.
Brody, by stark contrast, felt lighthearted at the vision of Nell, a little flour dusting the side of her cheek. She looked good enough to eat.
Down, boy.
“Morning, Sheriff,” Nell greeted him.
“Miz Baker,” he acknowledged with a private smile just for her. When her cheeks flushed rosy under the sprinkling of flour, his smile grew even wider. “Seamus here has something he’d like to say to you. Miss Nell Baker, this is Mister Seamus O’Leary, originally from Australia.”
The shorter man looked up sheepishly. “I’m sorry for the trouble I caused yesterday, ma’am.” His voice had a decidedly Aussie twang to it.
Nell had met a few Aussies before and generally liked them. The overall impression she had was that they were hardworking people who knew how to party.
“My only excuse is that I just escaped from the private zoo of some corporate jackass with Gestapo security and cameras on me twenty-four-seven. I couldn’t shift until I got free, and it was hard getting out of there as a koala. All they fed me was eucalyptus leaves, which are great normally, but the human side of me likes to have a little protein, now and again. And a few hops, preferably in beer form.” He winked as his story lengthened and his manner became easier.
Brody stepped in. “When we founded the town, Big John put out a call for any loners in the various bear shifter populations, hoping to attract females, honestly.” Brody chuckled. “A few have applied for residency so far, and all, with the notable exception of Lyn and her child, are brown and black bears. Frankly, I’ve never seen a koala shifter before yesterday.”
“We’re rare,” Seamus said, puffing out his chest.
Brody rolled his eyes before turning back to Nell.
“It’s totally up to you, Ms. Baker, whether or not Seamus here is allowed inside your establishment. You can think over your answer and let me know later today.” He didn’t want to put her on the spot, and he liked the idea of knowing she would have to talk to him again that day, but she threw a monkey wrench into his master plan.
“No need. I can tell you right now that he’s welcome, as long as he behaves. That means no drunkenness and no shifting inside, okay?” She looked straight at Seamus, and the other man had the sense to fidget under her no-nonsense scrutiny.
“I can promise you that, missus. Big John set me straight about the rules of this town, and I won’t go breaking them again. I promise.” The golden-skinned Aussie with the seriously Irish name seemed so contrite Brody almost believed him.
But Brody knew trouble when he saw it. And Seamus O’Leary had trouble written all over his furry gray koala ass.
“In that case, are you gentlemen here for lunch?” Nell asked, flashing a smile that hit Brody right between the eyes.
“Yes, ma’am,” the koala answered without consulting Brody.
Not that he would argue. Any time spent near Nell was time well spent according to Brody. And if the Aussie was going to stick around in the bakery, better that Brody was here to keep an eye on him.
They placed their orders for sandwiches on the delicious artisanal bread Brody liked and sat at one of the indoor tables. He watched Nell bustle around behind the counter, liking the way her ponytail swayed as she worked.
Seamus nudged Brody’s arm with his elbow. “You got something going on with
the lady?” the koala shifter asked in a low voice.
Brody nodded once, staking his claim.
“Shame.” The other man sat back in his chair. “You’re a lucky man.”
Brody nodded again, thinking truer words were never spoken.
Maybe Seamus wasn’t so bad after all.
Nell came over a moment later with a large tray. It almost overflowed with the two plates holding substantial sandwiches, cutlery, napkins and condiments. Nell laid it all out before them, then pulled a small bottle out of her apron pocket and presented it shyly to Seamus.
“I wasn’t sure…”
“Beauty!” Seamus exclaimed, taking the little jar from her. “I haven’t had Vegemite in years. Thanks, doll. You’re a peach.”
Nell smiled, and Brody realized again how thoughtful this little human woman was. Here she was, facing the idiot who had revealed the existence of shifters to her just yesterday, in the most bizarre way, treating him to something special from his homeland. Brody could see the pleasure she took in providing Seamus with the small treat. It indicated how big her heart really was.
The koala shifter was right. Brody was the lucky one to have found a woman as extraordinary as Nell.
Brody and Seamus spent about an hour in the bakery, eating their sandwiches and finishing off with a slice of pie. Nell was kept busy as most of the people in town came in to pick up lunch. The town wasn’t that big, but it seemed everyone who was in the area made it a point to stop by and talk to Nell.
A few of the women—and there weren’t that many living here, yet—offered to answer questions Nell might have about their society. More than one gave Seamus the once-over. Apparently, news of the fracas here yesterday had gotten around. Brody was pleased to see the friendly overtures toward Nell. It seemed as if the bear shifter community was welcoming her.
