Caging Her Bear Lovers [Werebears of Shatland, Texas 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Jane Jamison

  Brynn liked Taryn right off the bat. She was direct, yet thoughtful. The girl’s blue-green eyes were different than any she’d ever seen. Her curly blonde hair waved around her round face, giving her an innocent look.

  “So are you two passing through?”

  “We’re staying here for a short while. Kind of a vacation.”

  Taryn’s bright laugh drifted in the air. “A vacation here? Now that’s a new one. If I had money for a vacation, I’d be off to Tahiti or Bali. Anywhere other than a small Texas town. But like I said. To each their own. Would you like to come inside and browse around?”

  “Maybe another time. Right now we’re starved.” As though to prove it, Brynn’s stomach growled. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” Taryn opened the shop’s door. “Maybe another time. Welcome to Shatland.”

  “Thanks.”

  She and Lizzy eased down the sidewalk, passing by a few other people who didn’t seem like they had anywhere urgent to go. Most of them nodded and said hello, but a few, the ones dressed in darker clothes and hugging the shade of the awnings, kept their heads down and didn’t acknowledge their presence.

  “What’s up with them? Kind of creepy, right?”

  Brynn had to agree with her. With their pale skin and shadowed faces, they didn’t fit in with the rest of the townspeople.

  “So where is this diner?” Lizzy tugged on her arm, hurrying past another to peek into another store window.

  “Right here.” Brynn pointed at the front door where a friendly sign with brightly colored flowers hung on the inside.

  “Earline’s Eatery? It doesn’t look like much.”

  “What’d you expect? This isn’t Dallas, you know.”

  “I guess I was hoping for something a little more along the lines of a Denny’s. Like a place that has to follow the safety guidelines of the state.”

  “Well, whatever it is, this is where we’re eating.” Brynn didn’t share her sister’s assessment. All of Shatland looked old but in great condition. The citizens obviously took pride in maintaining the appearance of their town.

  “We could’ve stayed at the house and eaten there.”

  The owner of the rental home, a man named Jackson Carr, had stocked the place with more food than a family of five could eat in two weeks.

  “I know, but I wanted to check Shatland out. And it was nice meeting Taryn.” She glanced around and again found the place homey and quaint. Forever had struck her the same way until she’d stepped inside the café. “Are you hungry or not? I’m starving.”

  As soon as they stepped into the air-conditioned coolness of Earline’s, she felt like she’d come home. It wasn’t the look of the place, or the way the people inside turned to check them out as they’d done at Milly’s Coffee Spot. Instead, it was an internal sense of welcome, a feeling of belonging that swept over her. A welcoming feeling that was reinforced when a heavyset older woman stopped in the middle of the room, slid her gaze over her, then lifted her arms out as though to hug them. Coffee sloshed in the pot she held in one hand.

  “Hi, y’all. Welcome to my home away from home. Hell, it’s everyone’s home away from home. Welcome to Earline’s Eatery.” She set the pot down on the nearest table, swinging the long gray hair that was held by a rubber band over her shoulder. She waved for them to come farther inside. “If you haven’t guessed so far, I’m Earline. Here you go. Have a seat and take a load off.”

  Brynn lifted a hand to the crowd still watching them then took one of four seats at a nearby table. Lizzy had a wide smile on her face as she landed in the seat across from her.

  Earline flipped over the two mugs that were already sitting on the table then retrieved her coffee pot. “What can I get you? Coffee? It’s decaf, by the way. I can get you the hard stuff, if you want.” Not waiting for an answer, she poured the hot liquid into the cups.

  “Thanks. This will do.” She shot her sister a look, asking her not to make an issue of drinking decaf instead of her strong, caffeine-filled black sludge that she loved. “And maybe something to eat?”

  “I didn’t name the place Earline’s Eatery for nothing. How about a big, juicy hamburger? Or better yet, how about a big ole grilled catfish?”

  “Hamburger for me, thanks.” Lizzy took a sip of the coffee. To her credit, she refrained from making a face.

  “Do you have any good salads?”

  “‘Course we do, hon. Garden salad, okay? It’s big enough for a meal.”

  “Sounds good to me.” Brynn took a big whiff. “And if my nose isn’t lying, how about a pile of those fries?”

  Earline’s laughter boomed around the room. “Yep. I pegged you right as soon as you stepped through the door. You’re a girl after my own heart. Eat something good for you, then add a little something bad. Keeps the digestive system confused. I’ll be right back with your grub.”

  Unlike at the café in Forever, the other customers had gone back to eating and talking among themselves and were no longer staring at them. Brynn breathed a sigh of relief.

  Her gaze drifted to the door. The breath she’d dragged in came back out, hard and fast.

  Whoa. He’s amazing. They’re amazing.

  Hell, they could be brothers of the man I saw.

  Two sets of green eyes locked onto her like heat-seeking missiles. Heat that was burning her from the outside in, searing all the way to her pussy.

  “Brynn, what is it?”

  She swallowed, hard, and tried to break the hold those eyes had on her. They were like the man she’d seen, all blond, gorgeous hunkiness rolled into two hard-packed bodies. They had the same green eyes, bodies that wouldn’t quit, arms and legs that took her breath away. The ordinary faded jeans and work shirts they wore seemed more like clothes fit for kings. Each of them sported the same short-cut hair, although one man’s hair was a darker blond instead of the sun-kissed blond that only beach bums were supposed to possess. Yet it was their presence, a magnetism that had little to do with their physical forms, that reminded her of the man she’d met three months earlier.

  Take me.

  Soft, knowing smiles tweaked the corners of their mouths. Could they read her mind? But then again, they probably knew what she was thinking just by looking at her.

  Pulease. Take me.

  It wasn’t until Lizzy twisted around in her chair to see what she was staring at that she could break their mesmerizing spell.

  “Damn. Who are those two?”

  Earline arrived to place their food in front of them. “Those two? That’s Connor and Liam McGarrett. They’re something, aren’t they?”

  She couldn’t even nod. “Something” wasn’t the way she would’ve described them.

  Fantastic. Sensual. Sexy. Hot. Animalistic. Primal.

  Mine.

  “Hey, boys, come on over here and meet a couple of nice ladies.”

  As much as she wanted to meet them, Brynn couldn’t help but wish she could slide straight through the floor. Warmth that had nothing to do with their sex appeal flowed up her neck and into her cheeks.

  “No, Earline, it’s fine. I wouldn’t want to bother them.”

  They strode over to their table, moving as smoothly as fine wine sliding down her throat.

  “It’s too late for that.” The taller of the two took the chair next to hers, spun it around, and straddled it. His intense emerald gaze took her in, one languid inch at a time. “You bother the hell out of me.”

  “I do?” Her blush intensified. “But how? We just met.”

  Mirth twinkled in his mesmerizing eyes. “I don’t mean that in a bad way.”

  “Oh.”

  The other man slid into the chair next to Lizzy, then gave her sister a smile before fixing his focus squarely on her instead.

  When had that ever happened? When had two men ever paid more attention to her than to her sister? It was wrong of her, egotistical of her, but she couldn’t help but enjoy the hell out of it.

  “Hi.” Her sister leane
d over the table, making sure both men got a good look down her low-cut blouse. Her sister liked to flirt, but she’d never cheat on Bobby. “I’m Lizzy Caraway.” She stuck out her hand, putting it directly below the man’s face.

  Lizzy was anything but subtle.

  The second man leaned back but didn’t take her hand. “I’m Connor McGarrett and that’s my brother, Liam.” Once again, he shifted his body more toward her than toward Lizzy. “And who are you?”

  Liam edged even the closer. “I’ll tell you who you are.”

  She felt sandwiched between the two hunks, but what was a girl to do but enjoy it? “Okay, I’ll bite. Who am I?”

  The green eyes sparked, alight with bits of amber. “Never say ‘I’ll bite’ around here.”

  “Huh?” She cringed. She wouldn’t win any prizes for being a witty conversationalist.

  “Never mind. You’re the woman we’ve been waiting for.”

  We?

  “What?” Brynn was only vaguely aware of her sister’s irritated harrumph. “Is that the pickup line you always use?”

  “I promise you. I’ve never used it before.”

  She was getting hot all over. Hot enough to spontaneously combust. She lifted her drink and took a dainty sip, then grimaced at the awful taste.

  The one called Liam chuckled. “We should’ve warned you. Earline and her man, Ben, are the best cooks around, but her coffee sucks.”

  She set the cup down, happy to never touch the stuff again.

  “And your name is…?”

  She startled at the low, husky tone of Connor’s voice next to her ear.

  “I’m Brynn Caraway. Lizzy’s my sister.”

  The men’s gazes darted to Lizzy, who had slumped into her chair and was munching on a fry. She smiled, the gesture lasting only a moment before it was gone.

  “Why are you here, Brynn Caraway?”

  It was silly, but she loved the way Liam said her name. Like the words were filled with seduction, promising sex between dark, silk sheets.

  They were alike physically, but Connor looked at her with a soulful, emotion-packed glint in his eyes while Liam seemed more reserved, his cool eyes studying her, ready to size her up. If she’d had to guess which man was the leader of the two, she’d have chosen Liam.

  “We’re here to find a man who can change into a bear,” blurted Lizzy.

  Oh, hell. Why’d she have to tell them that? They’re going to think I’m crazy. Then they’ll be out the door in the next five minutes. Hell, in five seconds.

  Instead of chastising Lizzy, she plastered on a smile and tried to look like she was the sanest person alive. But it appeared as though she didn’t have to worry. Instead of reacting like she was about to foam at the mouth, both men tilted their heads at her. They didn’t seem surprised or shocked. If anything, they’d grown more interested.

  “Really? A man who can change into a bear?”

  She wasn’t going to lie to Liam. What was the use anyway? “That’s right. I know it sounds insane, but that’s the truth.”

  “So you’re not just passing through?”

  She was the one who was surprised. After hearing that she was searching for a mythical creature, he hadn’t asked why. Instead, he wanted to know if she was passing through.

  “Yes and no. We’ve rented a place from a man named Jackson Carr.” She stilled as a grumble erupted around the room. From the sound of it, Jackson Carr wasn’t very popular. “It’s the one off a road called Culler Lane, number five.”

  Liam sat up straighter, then gave the rest of the people a stern look. “Knock it off, y’all. Jackson’s one of the good ones.”

  “I’ve never met the man.”

  “It’s okay.” Connor put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t pay them any mind. He’s a good man. It’s just that he’s from Forever and Shatland folks don’t see eye to eye with the people in Forever. At least most of the time.”

  She startled, gasping as a rush of energy swept through her. It felt alive, like an invisible being had somehow raced into her and taken charge of her thoughts. Her heart pounded against her chest and her breath hitched in her throat as she looked down at his hand that still rested on her shoulder. The heat that was already burning her grew into a fiery monster that wrapped its flaming arms around her and wouldn’t let go.

  Stunned, she met Connor’s eyes and knew that he’d felt it, too.

  He took his hand off her and gave his brother a slight nod. If she hadn’t been studying them so intensely, she wouldn’t have seen the gesture.

  “Are you all right, baby?”

  Baby? She’d just met Liam and he was already calling her baby? And yet, hadn’t the other man, the one she’d hit as a bear, called her babe right off the bat? Was it just the way men talked there? Or was there more of a reason?

  She nodded, then took a sip from her drink. What the hell was that weird, exciting sensation whipping through her? It reminded her of the time she’d pulled the toaster’s plug out of the socket and had gotten a quick shock. But the feeling she had now was much more intense and enjoyable, warming up all the best parts of her.

  Liam watched every move she made, ratcheting up the heat even more. “So? A bear that can change into a man, huh?”

  Lizzy scooted her chair farther away, giving up on flirting with them. “Actually, what she said was a man who could change into a bear.”

  “Wouldn’t that be the same thing?”

  “Yeah.” Lizzy frowned, having a tough time getting a grip on the conversation. “Sure. Why didn’t I think of that?” She narrowed her eyes then tugged on her ear.

  Brynn recognized their old gesture that they’d used whenever they were in a situation they wanted to get out of. But, unlike all the times before, she ignored it.

  She wasn’t going to leave Liam and Connor. Her instinct told her that they knew more than they were letting on. There was that and the fact that she felt compelled to stay near them. If she had it her way, she’d be sitting in Liam’s lap before they went any further. That was almost as crazy as admitting that she wanted to find a shifter. And maybe twice as dangerous.

  “Tell us, Brynn, how are you planning on finding this shifter?”

  She ached to have Connor touch her again. Or Liam. Would he give her the same sensation? She’d bet he would.

  Wait. Did I call it a shifter? Obviously, he knew what a shifter was. Had she found someone who would believe her?

  “So you know what a shifter is?”

  “Sure. There’re shows all over television and all kinds of weird shit in the movies nowadays.”

  She’d gotten excited for nothing. Of course they knew what a shifter was. Was she the only one who hadn’t heard of them before she’d run one down?

  “I’ve set a cage in the barn and I’ll put bait in it to lure him inside.” Although they laughed, she didn’t sense any derision in it.

  “Baby—” Liam’s smile was sweet, understanding, and, surprising her, without a hint of pity. “Wouldn’t you think that a man would know not to walk into a trap? And why in a barn instead of outside?”

  Ooh, there it is again. Baby.

  “Yeah,” added Connor. “Do you really think a man, hell, even a bear, is going to waltz into a barn, then into a cage? Bears aren’t that stupid.” He added a grin that reminded her of the shifter’s grin. “And most men aren’t, either.”

  “I’m going to Hansel and Gretel them inside.”

  “What’s that mean?” asked Liam.

  “It means she intends to waste a lot of money buying fish and steaks, then leaving a trail leading into the cage.”

  She tried not to get irritated with Lizzy. “The way I see it, if a man is in his bear form, then he’ll think like a bear, right? And what bear could resist snatching up several juicy treats that all lead to a bonanza of even more treats? Plus, I bought this oily spread that smells like salmon. It’s supposed to be irresistible to them. I’m going to spread it over the fish and even the fruits and vegetables
. As for being in the barn? Bears raid people’s campsites, even their houses, to get food, so why wouldn’t one walk into a barn? I think it’ll work and it’s well worth the money.”

  “Don’t you think the man part of him will see it for the trap it is? I’m not saying shifters are real, but I’ll go with it for the sake of our discussion.”

  It felt odd coming from a man she’d just met, but she was sure Connor was worried about her.

  “I don’t know. I guess I’ll find out.”

  “Trapping a bear can be dangerous. Do you have anyone helping you? It’s not just you two girls, is it?”

  Connor searched her, his expression leaving no doubt that he was concerned, and yet it didn’t bother her. If anything, it made her feel special. It was a silly notion considering they’d known each other for only a few minutes. Still, being called girls didn’t win him any points.

  “We’ll be fine.”

  Her reassurance didn’t seem to satisfy Liam. “But why do you want to trap him? What are you planning on doing if you find this shifter? Sell him to a zoo? Or a circus? Or put him on television to show the rest of the world that they’re real?”

  He didn’t mean either one of those silly plans. Instead, she still thought he was baiting her while holding back information she’d find useful.

  “No. I just want to prove to Lizzy that he exists. Once I do, I’ll set him free.”

  The air thickened between the men. They had to be holding back.

  “So you’re not going to do anything to him? No photos of him changing? No videos posted on the Internet?” Unlike Connor, it was harder to read Liam.

  “No. I don’t want to cause anyone any trouble. At least, no more than simply getting him to admit what he is.”

  “Huh.” Liam gripped the back of his chair. “Okay. I can respect that. But how do you know that shifters are real, Brynn?”

  Shit. He didn’t call me baby again. Did I say something wrong?

  “I know because…” She paused, then looked to her sister to see if she should go ahead and say it. Lizzy shrugged, letting it be her choice. “I know because I hit one with my car.”

  Chapter Three

  “You ran one over?” Liam struggled to push aside his steadily growing hunger for her. Connor’s worry for their mate was clear enough, but as the oldest and unofficial leader of the werebears, he needed to stay in control. “Did you kill him?”