If she were honest, it was Joshua who was responsible for her sleepless night and her bad mood. But she wasn’t in the mood to be honest with herself. There was no way she was going to admit her attraction to him; she was on the rebound, that was all. Helping organise the wedding had made her long for a man of her own, but there was no way she was going to make a fool of herself by throwing herself at Joshua. It was a recipe for heartbreak.
“There you are,” Chloe said as Olivia walked through the door into Bear Brides. It always struck Olivia as being a strange name for a bridal shop, but she guessed it was because it was in Bear Creek, with Bear Bluff away to the north.
“Hi, Chloe,” Olivia said, walking into the bridal boutique and immediately getting swept up in the romance of white gowns laced with beads and embroidery.
“Hello, Olivia,” Alli, the owner of Bear Brides, said. “How are you? Recovered from last night?”
“Last night?” Olivia asked, thinking back to how she had driven Joshua to Nate’s house. Had they been gossiping about her already?
“Yes. That was a great shower you threw Chloe last night. You must be exhausted.” Alli handed her a cup of coffee. “Here, this will perk you up.”
“It was fabulous,” Chloe said. “I think you should team up with Alli here and arrange them for all the brides in Bear Creek and Bear Bluff.”
“Yes, Marjorie has this crazy notion of opening a Bear Brides dating agency, with a webpage and everything,” Alli said enthusiastically.
“Do people ever get matched up in those things?” Olivia said, wondering if that might be the best thing for her to do. Looking through lots of pictures of lonely men who wanted a woman would make Olivia see she wasn’t the only one alone.
“Of course. And there are so many lonely … men.” Alli and Chloe exchanged a quick glance, and Olivia once more was suspicious they were talking about her. But Alli quickly continued, “...around here, that she is convinced it’s a good idea.”
“And then Alli can supply dresses, and you could organise the weddings and bridal showers.”
“I work at the police station,” Olivia said, not sure she could bear watching loads of other brides getting married while she was still single. But that was being selfish.
“That’s the great thing. You could build the business on the side. And everyone will trust you because you work for Declan,” Chloe said as if the whole thing was a done deal.
“I’m not so sure.”
“Give it some thought. Marjorie has been talking about this for ages and it might not even come off,” Alli said.
“I’ll think about it.” Olivia walked over to Chloe, wanting to change the subject. “Have you tried your dress on?”
“No. I’m just about to. I was running late, I went over to see Nate on the way; he introduced me to Josh.” Chloe’s eyes were fixed on Olivia as she spoke. Again, the feeling that everyone was gossiping behind her back hit her square in the chest. And her heart lurched: what if they had all been having a good old laugh about how she had been in love with Nate?
She would never be able to face Nosh again. Now she was being too paranoid. “I met him last night, practically ran him over.”
“How romantic,” Alli said with a soft smile. “You know we would all love for you to find the right man.”
“One day maybe, but right now I think we should concentrate on Chloe.” The other two women exchanged one last look and then Alli, who was already happily married to Kian, went to fetch Chloe’s dress.
“We weren’t prying too much were we, Olivia?” Chloe asked quietly. “You know we all want you to be happy.”
“I know, but it’s not something you can force. And I really want to concentrate on your wedding,” Olivia said honestly.
“You should think about the offer to work with Marjorie and Alli, you know. It would be great.”
“I’ll think about it,” Olivia promised, and then they got swept along on the excitement of Chloe’s final dress fitting.
***
“Nate is cooking dinner,” Chloe said as they left Bear Brides. “I’m worried if I eat too much I won’t be able to fit into my dress.”
“It will be perfect,” Olivia reassured her, thinking how wonderful it would be for someone to cook her dinner, instead of the microwave meal she would probably heat up when she got home, because she hated cooking for one.
“I thought we could all go over the plans once more while we eat,” Chloe said, stopping outside her car.
“All of us? While we eat?” Olivia asked.
“Yes, you need to meet Josh properly, and the best way is over food. So I’ll meet you there,” Chloe said, getting into her car and shutting the door before Olivia had a chance to say no.
“Great,” she said under her breath, feeling as if she were getting railroaded into a double date. But as she walked to her car she realised how unreasonable she was being, and how out of character that was.
Joshua had done nothing wrong; it was all in her head. Chloe was right, this would break the ice, she would get over the stupid idea that she found him attractive and they could establish a working relationship. Not that there was much for Joshua to do. Olivia had organised everything.
Alli’s offer popped back into her head, if she could get over the feeling of being left on the shelf and actually be happy for other women who had found their ideal man, then Olivia would love to try something new and be a wedding planner.
With happier thoughts in her head, she got into her car and drove out to Drummond Cottage, all the while remembering the same journey she had taken last night, with that hunk of a man in the passenger seat. Convincing herself that she would probably see him this evening and wonder what she had ever been attracted to, she began to sing to the radio.
Yet when she pulled up outside the house, and walked up to the front door, she couldn’t ignore the fluttering in her stomach. She was nervous and excited all rolled into one. Turning around, she looked back at her car, and wondered if she might be better to make a run for it. But before she had the chance, the door opened and Joshua stood there in all his blond-haired, blue-eyed glory, and her stomach stopped fluttering and did a back flip instead.
Hot damn! He was more attractive then she thought. His eyes pierced her soul, while his blond hair begged to have her fingers run through it, and his chest—well, broad would be one way of describing it, but she might go for strong and oh so well-muscled.
“Are you OK?” he asked, with a small smile.
“Oh, yes, sorry, miles away,” she said, trying to recover. “Wedding details. You know.”
“I don’t,” he said, “But I think by the end of the evening, I might. I hear you have everything under control, though, so I am in safe hands,” He lowered his voice, conspiratorially, “I’ve never done this before. So I hope you will hold my hand through it all.”
She let out a small sigh and then cleared her throat, wiping all thoughts of what else she would like to hold out of her mind. “I’ll do what I can to help you.”
“Great. Thank you.” He backed inside the house, turning so his back was flat against the wall, and she went to go in, but the hallway was narrow and her curvy hips rubbed against him. Olivia was sure he let out a strangled groan, but when she looked up at him he was looking the other way.
Overactive imagination, she told herself.
“Dinner is ready,” Nate called from the kitchen.
She walked through to where Nate was opening a bottle of wine, very aware of Joshua following her. His eyes were fixed on her; she was sure of it, and the thought made her warm inside, but it shouldn’t, and she told herself to let it go.
“That smells wonderful,” Olivia said, sitting down at the kitchen table. Everything about this house was warm and cosy, so opposite to Chloe’s dad’s house.
“It does, doesn’t it?” Chloe said, breathing in the scent of the warm casserole that bubbled away on the stovetop.
“And Joshua made some fresh bread too,�
�� Nate said, pouring the wine.
“Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around?” Chloe said laughing. “Aren’t women supposed to cook the meal while the men go out to work?”
“I will find a job,” Nate said, sounding distant.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Chloe said. “I only thought about how my stepmom stays at home all day, doing her nails and god knows what else, while my dad works. Come to think of it, she doesn’t cook much either; she hires someone. I’m glad were not like that. I’m happy you don’t expect me to stay at home and cook and clean.”
“What about when we have cubs?” he asked.
Olivia was struck by how strange it was to call your children cubs. But she let it go; maybe it was a Bear Bluff thing she had no idea about. She didn’t mix with mothers with children very much.
“Why don’t you tell us how the dress-fitting went?” Joshua said, steering the conversation away from what was obviously a touchy subject.
Chloe looked relieved, and said, “It was perfect. That is why I am only going to have a small plate of food. I don’t want to put on a single ounce.”
“I wouldn’t mind if you did,” said Nate, kissing her cheek, and then he began to dish up the food.
Joshua came and sat down next to her, impossibly close, at the small table. “Do you have a suit sorted yet?” she asked, having no idea what to say to him.
“We are going tomorrow,” Joshua said, his voice sexy and low as he sipped his wine. “It’s going to be quite an experience. I can’t remember the last time I wore a suit.”
“Maybe Olivia should go with you two to make sure you are colour coordinated,” Chloe said. “Alli has been trying to persuade her to become a wedding planner, so it would be neat for her to see it from the male perspective too.”
“That’s a great idea,” Nate said, putting the wine bottle down on the table and finally taking is seat. “Enjoy.”
They began to eat, Olivia finding her appetite returning, and her butterflies subsiding.
“Will you come with us?” Joshua asked. “And then maybe we could go along to the reception venue. I would love for you to show me around. I don’t want to get lost on the day.”
“That would be awkward if you did,” Olivia said, smiling at him. Whether it the wine or the food, she wasn’t sure, but he was looking altogether dreamier with every minute that passed.
“So you’ll spend the day with me tomorrow?” he asked.
“I’m working in the morning, but I can meet up with you after lunch,” she said, trying to ignore the voice that told her she was already beginning to fall for this guy and she should keep her distance.
“Then it’s a date,” he said, and winked at her, making her throat contract with longing.
Olivia turned her attention back to her meal and ate slowly, trying not to let herself stare at Joshua, but it was hard, so damn hard, when she found him more irresistible than Nate’s cooking.
Chapter Four – Joshua
“Why don’t we wash the dishes while you and Chloe go and sit down,” Joshua said. “If that’s OK with you, Olivia.”
“Are you sure?” Nate said, “You are our guests.”
“It’s the least I can do when you cooked such a fabulous meal,” she said, her cheeks rosy. Joshua didn’t know if it was from being out in the cold earlier, or the glass of wine she had drunk with her meal. And he didn’t much care; he just thought it made her look adorable. His bear agreed.
“I’ll wash and you dry?” he asked.
“Sure.” She took the dish towel from him and waited while he ran the hot water and added the dish soap. “Are you domesticated at home?”
“Very well trained.” He turned and looked back at her. “Because I live on my own, not because I have a girlfriend, or a wife.” Subtle.
“Is it cold where you live?” she asked. “It is Alaska, right?”
“It is, especially in the winter and the snow is on the ground. But in the summer, I like to head inland and enjoy trekking through the wilderness, watching the world come to life.”
“You like it there,” she said, taking the first plate from him and beginning to dry it.
“Yes, I do.” And then he added, “But I like it here too. I like the mountain. And I like the people.”
“Bear Bluff is a good town. The people are amazing, so welcoming.”
“You haven’t always lived here, then?” he asked, enjoying getting to know her.
“No, I moved to the next town over about four years ago. I work at the sheriff’s office part time. It pays the bills.”
“But you might take up the offer of being a wedding planner?” he asked.
“I might, but I would have to get a team together to help me, and I would have to do more than just weddings in Bear Creek and Bear Bluff. Unless Marjorie is very successful in her dating agency, I would need a lot of weddings to pay the bills.”
“Exciting, a new start,” he said, and realised that if he ever got round to telling her they were mates—which we will, his bear interjected—then he might have to relocate. If her career was in Bear Bluff, he could no longer live in his beloved Alaska.
“Yes, it would be.” She dried the dishes absently, and he wanted to know what she was thinking.
“Back to Nate and Chloe,” he said, drawing her attention back to him, which was where he liked it. “Is everything OK between them?”
“You mean over the job issue?” she said quietly.
“Yes.”
“Well, he went to live on the mountain, you knew that?”
“Yes. He thought she was happy with someone else.”
“Exactly. Well, by doing that he gave up his job and was self-sufficient; now he has to be part of the real world again, and he feels he should support Chloe.”
“And she is self-sufficient in her own way?” Joshua nodded, understanding how the dynamics were shifting for both Nate and Chloe. A bear liked to feel he could provide for his mate, after all. It was written into his DNA.
“Yes. And her father is stinking rich, so Nate feels as though he has a lot to live up to,” Olivia said. “This is strictly private, OK? I never talk about Chloe behind her back, but you are Nate’s best man.”
“I won’t repeat what you said. But I want to help him. It’s good to see him so happy.”
“Where do you two know each other from?” she asked, placing the last plate on the pile of dried dishes.
“When we were younger, Nate was backpacking, you know, seeing the world for himself. He came up to Alaska and stayed a while. We got on, got into some scrapes, and became best friends.”
“I’m surprised he didn’t come up to live with you when he thought he had lost Chloe,” she said, hanging the dish towel up.
“It’s not so easy to walk that far away from your mate,” Joshua said, and then realised his mistake. He wasn’t used to keeping it so much a secret. Up in Alaska, in the village where he lived, shifters were an open secret.
“Mate?” she asked, frowning. “Is that an Alaskan term?”
“Yes,” he said quickly. “It’s like another language.”
She laughed. “I like that.”
“I’m glad you do,” he said, liking the sound of her laugh. It was sexy, and he imagined running his hands over her skin and finding all the places she was ticklish just so he could make her laugh.
“OK, we’re finished,” she said. “I should get home.”
“I’ll walk you out to your car,” he said, as they went through into the living room where Nate and Chloe were nestled together on the sofa.
His heart ached to be like that with Olivia, for all their differences to be put aside and for them to be content, happy in each other’s company. Olivia looked at him, and he thought he saw that same longing, but she turned away and he knew he had misread it. How was a bear meant to explain to a woman, a woman who had no idea that shifters existed, that she was his mate and they belonged together?
“Night, you two,” Ol
ivia said.
“Night, Olivia, I’ll speak to you tomorrow.”
“Yes, we have a couple of things to go over, but don’t worry, it’s all pretty much set. Three more days,” she said and watched Chloe go pale. “It’s all under control. And you’ll enjoy your special day. I promise.”
“And Olivia knows what she’s talking about,” Nate said reassuringly.
“I know. I don’t know what I would have done without her. Not having my mom around has been tough.”
“Hey, Chloe, don’t cry.” Nate put his arms around Chloe, and Olivia bent down to hug her as she sat on the sofa.
Joshua saw how close these people were. This might not be a bad place to live, and they could always vacation in Alaska. His bear wasn’t overly impressed, but he agreed they would do anything to keep their mate happy.
“Speak tomorrow,” Olivia said, and went out of the room. Joshua followed her, trying not to stare at the way her hips swayed and the thought of how much he would like to see that curvy body of hers naked on his bed.
“Good night, Olivia,” he said as she stepped out of the house.
She turned to him, her chin tilted upwards. Her lips looked so kissable and they were right within his reach. But he resisted. Once the wedding was over, he would make his move. There was nothing he wanted more than to see Nate and Chloe happily married.
Except for claiming their mate. But that could wait three more days. Couldn’t it?
She drove off, and he wanted to go with her, to check she was safe, but instead, he went back inside to find Nate and Chloe still on the sofa.
“I am going to bed,” Joshua announced, knowing they probably wanted some time alone.
“Night, Josh,” Nate said.
“Night, Josh. I know you’ll be in safe hands with Olivia tomorrow.”
“I’m sure he will,” Nate said cryptically, and Joshua had the sense that Nate had guessed his attraction to Olivia.
Complete Bear Creek and Bear Bluff Box Sets: Including brand new exclusive book Best Man Bear Page 83
