“How are Louise and Storm doing?” Suzie asked.
“Good, really good. Storm is starting to talk. She calls Louise mama. Zak is dada, and I’m deda.” Dean spoke with love and pride; he couldn’t help it. Louise and her baby Storm had entered his life when they needed a home, and he had taken them in. Even after Louise turned eighteen and social services no longer supported them financially, Dean had been happy to pick up the bill, which Louise had not found out about until much later. But by then she had met her own mate, another of his foster kids, bad-boy-turned-good Zak. They were mates, and Dean could not be happier.
“Storm is adorable,” Suzie said wistfully. “She’s certainly growing up fast.”
“Kids always do,” Elizabeth said, her comment aimed at her own daughter.
“I’ll always be your daughter,” Suzie said, and then returned to admiring the blood-red petals, half hidden in their green sheaths. “I love the color. Deeply romantic.”
“This is my favorite, and the scent is divine.” Dean chuckled. “I’m a red-blooded male, honestly.”
“There is nothing wrong with a man who likes to nurture,” Suzie said, linking arms with him, and then with Elizabeth. “Where are we going to plant it?”
“I think over there.” Elizabeth pointed to a sunny spot. “It gets the full sun, so the buds should open in time for the wedding, and the warmth should make the scent fill the air.”
“Just the right spot.” They walked over to the flowerbed Elizabeth had indicated.
“I’ll go grab a spade,” Suzie said and slipped away before anyone could protest.
“It’s a beautiful rose,” Elizabeth said, her attention fixed on the ground.
“Roses are my favorite.” He sighed inwardly, hadn’t he already told Elizabeth that?
“I love jasmine,” Elizabeth began, her voice faltering. “Night-scented. I love to sit outside as the sun sets and let the scent envelop me.”
Dean swallowed. She was one sexy lady; her voice had the power to carry him away. “I don’t have any jasmine in my garden.”
“I can take a cutting for you.” She smiled, and his heart pounded in his chest so hard she must be able to hear it.
“I’d like that.” He swallowed again, wanting to step closer to her, to bathe in her presence, but instead he placed the rose bush on the ground and held out his hand for the spade as Suzie approached. “Let me do the digging.”
“Are you sure?” Elizabeth asked.
“I have spent so many hours babysitting lately, I need the exercise,” Dean replied. In truth, he got plenty of exercise, but didn’t want to sound like an overbearing male. He was all for equal rights.
Nothing to do with showing off your muscles? his bear asked, a comment Dean chose to ignore.
“It’s going to look beautiful.” Suzie glanced around the garden nervously. “I can’t believe the wedding is so close.”
“It will be ready,” Elizabeth said. “The wedding tent is arriving tomorrow. Karen and Scott are going to take care of that. And I’ll come around the next day to check the garden again.”
“Oh, I’m not worried about the garden, I’m worried about something going wrong, or messing up my vows.” Suzie bit her bottom lip. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous.”
“You’ll do fine,” Dean replied, looking up at her as he paused in his digging. “Just remember, you will be surrounded by people who love you and care about you. If you mess up, it doesn’t matter.”
“Thanks, Dean.” Suzie didn’t look convinced.
“Dean’s right, it’s your special day, and everyone will be behind you. Don’t worry.” Elizabeth gave Suzie a comforting hug, but didn’t look as if she could believe her own words.
“And if anyone upsets you, they’ll have this old bear to deal with,” Dean said, giving her a wink. “There.” He stood up, looking pleased with himself. “Perfect.”
“I have some compost we can put in the hole, let’s give this rose bush the best start.” Elizabeth went to fetch the compost from the shed, just as Karen appeared with a tray of tea and homemade cake.
“I’ll set it down over here,” Karen said, placing the tray on the table. “We can sit and admire the garden while we drink tea. You deserve a break after all the work you’ve put in.”
“Thanks, Karen, we’ll just finish planting the rose.” Dean stood next to Suzie, and asked, “Are you sure you are OK with all this?”
“All this? You mean you and my mom?” Suzie asked. “Sure. I couldn’t be happier. It’s like all my wishes have come true.” Her eyes filled with emotion. “I sometimes worry it’s all too perfect. I see so much unhappiness in my job…”
“Don’t ever think that,” Dean replied. “You deserve this.”
“Thanks, Dean.” Suzie hugged him and kissed his cheek. “You do too.”
Elizabeth came out of the shed with the bag of compost, and Dean immediately went to take it from her. “Here, let me.”
“I can manage,” Elizabeth said, not letting it go.
“I know you can.” He loosened his grip and straightened up. “I apologize.”
Elizabeth blushed, and said, “I’m used to doing everything for myself, Dean. It’s going to take a lot for me to let that go.”
“I get it.” He grinned. “It’s going to take a lot for me to not want to do everything for you. This old bear is kind of out of his depth.”
Elizabeth stopped. “Here, you can take it this once. I don’t want to stomp on anyone’s chivalrous good nature.”
He took the bag from her with a sigh of relief. “Why don’t we plant the rose together?”
“I’d like that,” Elizabeth said, blushing beautifully, but smiling all the same. “There is something about a rose bush that just can’t be beaten.”
“Here, if you hold the pot, I’ll grasp the rose and try not to get a thorn in my hand.” He held the stem carefully, and between them, with a lot of wriggling, they worked together to remove the rose bush from the pot and place it in the ground.
“Is that straight?” Dean asked, and Elizabeth backed away to take a look. “A little to the right. Perfect.”
As they worked at filling the dirt back around the roots of the plant, Elizabeth’s body language softened and relaxed. She was getting used to him. A warm flood of emotion coursed through him. He wanted her to more than just get used to him, but he could not afford to rush it. But damn, he wanted to.
“Tea?” Karen called, as they both straightened up and admired their handiwork.
“Sure.” Dean looked at his hands. “I should wash up first.”
“Me too,” Elizabeth said.
“Elizabeth, can you show Dean where to go?” Karen asked. She was sitting in the sun, with Suzie by her side. Both of them were trying not to stare at the newly bonded mates.
“Sure.” Elizabeth sounded more relaxed already, as she led him toward the house. “There’s a washroom just inside the back door.”
“Suzie told me you’ve been spending all of your free time over here. I should have come and helped out sooner.” Dean opened the back door for Elizabeth and allowed her to enter first.
Never let it be said that you are not a gentleman, his bear guffawed.
“You’ve been busy. Anyway, Suzie made sure there was always someone here to help, especially in the first couple of months when we were mostly digging the new beds over.” Elizabeth switched on the faucet and began to wash her hands. “It’s helped.”
“In what way?” Dean asked, as he began to wash his hands, while Elizabeth dried hers.
“You know, the wedding.” Elizabeth smiled shyly. “Honestly, I’m still not sure if I can handle it, though.”
“You will.” He nodded thoughtfully. “If there is anything I can do to make it easier, just holler.”
“Thank you.” Elizabeth took a step toward the door, but hesitated and turned back to him, her expression changed to one of worry. Dean took a step closer to Elizabeth, and longed to reach out a
nd touch her, to wipe the frown off her face. “It’s such a responsibility, giving your daughter away. I don’t want to embarrass her.”
“Why would you?” Dean asked, wanting to puff his chest out and act all protective, but he kept his cool and let her answer.
“What if I trip up? What if people stare?” Her hand twitched, and she half raised it, then forced it back to her side.
“Everyone thinks the same thing. Just visualize it all going well in your head. You get to choose the story you replay in here,” Dean suggested as he pointed to his own head.
“I’ll try.”
“It will be fine. And I’ll be there for you.” He placed his hand on Elizabeth’s arm, and although he felt her flinch slightly, she didn’t yank her arm away.
“I know.” Elizabeth turned and walked away from him, and he followed, just as he would follow her wherever she went if she asked him to. They shared a bond that would never be broken.
Chapter Three – Elizabeth
Elizabeth and Dean headed back outside, where Karen and Suzie were waiting for them. Thankfully, the staring had stopped, but Elizabeth did catch the sidelong glances that Suzie gave her before they slid across to Dean, to be finished off with a smile.
Elizabeth couldn’t help but smile too. It was wonderful to see Suzie so happy for her. Although some of that happiness was possibly reserved for Suzie herself, since her wish of having Dean as a dad was coming true in a way.
“Are all the wedding arrangements finished?” Karen asked as she poured tea into two mugs. “Help yourself to milk and sugar. And cake.”
“They are, just about.” Suzie helped herself to a slice of cake. “There are just a few loose ends to tie up.”
“I’m so excited,” Karen said. “And Fiona is going to be your maid of honor?”
“Yes, and little Samuel will look so cute in his suit.” Suzie grinned. Having Fiona and Harlan’s young son as a ring bearer was probably asking for trouble. Apparently, he was a little scamp now that he could walk. But Suzie had insisted on him being part of it. While Louise’s daughter Storm, who was also just starting to walk, was also going to be a flower girl. Sapphi would hold hands with one child, Ruby the other, in the hopes of keeping them under control. Both children had only recently learned to walk, and were filled with a need to explore their new, exciting worlds.
“I don’t know who is going to cause the most trouble, Fiona or the two little ones,” Dean said with a chuckle.
“You are incorrigible. I know how much you love Fiona too,” Suzie stated.
Elizabeth heard the words and felt a pang of jealousy toward Fiona, which was completely out of character for her. It was as if her new found relationship with Dean had awoken something deep inside her. He’d breathed life into her, and they had not even kissed yet.
“I’m just happy she’s happy, and Harlan is a good man. I know how lonely it gets being on your own,” Dean replied.
“Harlan is a gem.” Suzie pulled out her notebook. She’d been carrying it around for weeks; it contained all the notes she’d made about the wedding, including dates of appointments and telephone numbers of all the tradespeople involved. “We have an appointment tomorrow at Bear Brides. It’s the last fitting and then we get to take the dresses home.”
“Anything else?” Karen asked. “Getting information out of Kit is near impossible.”
“No, I think that’s it. Kit is sorting out suits and gifts for the groomsmen. And the honeymoon.”
“Anywhere nice?” Elizabeth asked.
“Somewhere warm.” Karen pulled her cardigan around her shoulders. “I can’t wait until summer gets here.”
“I don’t know, he said it’s a surprise,” Suzie grinned. “Which may mean he has been too busy to organize anything, and doesn’t want to tell me.”
“Oh, he has something planned. But…” Karen pretended to zip her lips and throw away the key.
“He does?” Suzie sounded relieved. “I was worried Kit’s idea of a honeymoon was hiking over the mountains.”
Karen stifled a giggle. “It might have been. But his mother set him straight. You both work hard; you need to go somewhere where you can relax. A nice private villa somewhere.”
“That sounds perfect.” Suzie sighed. “Absolutely perfect. Thank you so much, Karen.”
Karen tilted her head on one side and looked at Suzie. “I don’t know if I’ve ever told you how proud we are to have you as part of the family.”
Suzie blushed, and then her eyes misted up. “I feel the same about you and Scott.” She looked at the three people seated around her. “I love you all so much.”
“Ah, we love you too,” Dean replied, and then added, “I can’t believe one day I’ll get to call you daughter.”
“And I can’t wait to call you Dad. When you and Mom get married.” Suzie looked across to her mom, and then reached out to take her hand. “Although I have had the best mom and dad all in one person growing up.”
Elizabeth sniffed, “You will have me crying soon.”
“Isn’t that what weddings are for?” Karen asked. “And Dean has a point, you will be tying the knot soon.”
“Me?” Elizabeth asked quickly. “We’ve only just met.”
“There’s plenty of time for that,” Dean added.
“Yes,” Karen said, pouring more tea. “But a double wedding would be a thought.”
“Oh no,” Elizabeth said quickly. “This is Suzie and Kit’s day.” Panic fluttered in her chest at the thought of marriage, and what came after. Hell, even what came before. She had not been naked in front of a man for well over twenty years.
“I agree, but it was a nice thought, Karen,” Dean said, his eyes caressing Elizabeth with a possessiveness that made her shiver. Not with cold, but with a delicious warmth that spread through her body, and her skin flushed pink. He left her confused. One second she wanted to cling on to her life as she knew it, the next second she wanted him to whisk her off to some exotic location and make her his.
“You can’t blame me, I’m such a romantic,” Karen admitted. “Well, whenever you two do get hitched, you know I will be willing to pitch in. This garden is all yours, Elizabeth, if you want to get married here too.”
“Thank you,” Elizabeth replied. “Although I’m not sure I would ever want a big wedding.” She sipped her tea, trying to push all thoughts of mates and weddings from her head. It was all becoming overwhelming.
Elizabeth had spent her life cultivating a routine she could live with and feel safe in. The red birthmark on her face had been a terrible burden all through school; her home life had not been happy either, her parents had always thought more of her younger, prettier sister. Elizabeth didn’t blame them, not at all, even though it hurt deep inside.
But if they had loved her, if they had made her feel like part of the family, she might not have fallen into the arms of Henry Michael Willis, the only man who had made an effort to be her friend, and more. Or so she thought. But Henry Willis only wanted one thing. Sex. She should have realized, she should have figured it out. Especially when sex was always with the lights out, so he could not see her face.
Those were the words he’d yelled at her when she told him she was pregnant and expected him to do the right thing.
What a fool, she thought bitterly.
“Mom,” Suzie’s hand on hers made her physically jump. “Are you OK?”
“Yes. I’m just…” She smiled apologetically. “I should go, I have to drive back home.”
“Won’t you have dinner with me?” Dean asked. “The kids have been away for a few days, they aren’t due back until late tonight. It’s only me for dinner.”
Elizabeth glanced at Suzie, catching her eager expression before she managed to smooth it over. “And if it’s too late, you can always stay over with us.”
“I have to go home and collect my things,” Elizabeth reminded Suzie. The plan was for Elizabeth to come and stay with Suzie and Kit from tomorrow night on, and once the w
edding was over, and Suzie and Kit left for their honeymoon, she was going to house-sit, traveling back to her own house every couple of days to water the plants and collect her mail.
“You can manage for one night. You already have a nightie and a toothbrush in the guest room.” Suzie was not going to let her get out of this. And maybe she was right. She would like to get to know Dean. At least if they didn’t get along, the relationship would be over quickly and she could go back to her old life.
Her lonely life, she reminded herself. Ever since Suzie had moved in with Kit, her life had become one of work, and dinner alone in front of the TV. She lived for the days she came over here to the garden, or to visit Suzie and Kit.
“Sure. I’d like that,” Elizabeth told Dean, making herself believe it, when her nerves got the best of her and her stomach flipped over.
“Great. Well, I should get going,” Suzie said, getting up and kissing Karen on the cheek. “Thanks for the tea.”
“You are always welcome, you know that,” Karen replied.
“We should get going too. We can stop in town and pick up something for dinner,” Dean suggested.
Elizabeth covered her cheek with her hand, but then forced it back down to her side when she realized what she was doing. She had to find a way to be strong. When Suzie talked about Kit, she often talked about how shifters believed in fated mates, that fate somehow had a way of pairing up two people who belonged together. Elizabeth desperately wanted to believe that was true. So she promised herself she would do her best, find the courage to grab this opportunity with both hands.
“If you prefer, I can see what’s in my kitchen cupboards.” Dean’s voice was gentle and supportive, and Elizabeth could see why he was such a good foster parent. Although it did not detract from the maleness that oozed out of every pore. He was a man who knew how to nurture, but would not back down if someone threatened his loved ones.
“No, it’s OK.” She smiled through her nerves.
“You have met half of Bear Creek already,” Suzie reminded her.
Silverback Bear (Return to Bear Creek Book 10) Page 2
