Bad Bear_A Shifters in Love Fun & Flirty Romance

by V. Vaughn

  I shake off thoughts about my parents once I get out of my car, because I have a smoking-hot boyfriend to cook for. I smile and take a moment to enjoy the sunshine as I walk toward the market. Vapor escapes my mouth as I breathe the frigid air, and I notice I’m not cursing the cold. I might even be enjoying it. Just a little bit. And that has everything to do with being in love with Lance. Metal clashes as I grab a shopping cart, and I float toward the produce section with delirious thoughts of my soul mate that even worry for my parents can’t keep away.

  Chapter 10

  “Would you just look at this place?” says my mother as she walks around my kitchen. “My gosh, I remember it being so much bigger.” She got here just before midnight, and she chuckles as she drags her fingers along the kitchen counter and makes her way over to the apothecary I love so much. “But it’s been a long time since I was here.” Mom tugs a drawer open and crinkles her nose before she slams it shut. “They didn’t refurbish everything, did they?”

  I frown and wonder why my mother is being so negative. She hasn’t had one nice thing to say about my house since she walked in the door a half hour ago, and I’m surprised she hasn’t started a punch list of things to fix. It’s not as if she has to live here. Maybe I’m just cranky because it’s late, so I paste on a smile as I walk over to the chest of drawers she’s not impressed with. “I’m glad they didn’t. I adore this piece so much. It’s a slice of history and tradition, don’t you think?”

  “It’s a slice of something all right.” She chuckles. “Which reminds me. I did find a great place for blueberry pie down in the southern part of this state. They know how to do it in Maine. That’s for sure.”

  Finally. Something positive. I jump on it. “I have a pint of blueberries I picked last summer in the freezer. We could have them in pancakes or muffins tomorrow if you want.”

  “That sounds lovely,” says Mom as she places my teakettle on the stove with a thud, and the gas burner ticks as she lights it to heat up water. “Where’s your tea?” she asks, but she doesn’t wait for an answer as she opens and shuts the cabinets until she finds my tins.

  As Mom reads my handwritten labels, I ask, “Would you like me to get your bag from the car?” She came inside with just her purse earlier and a desperate need to use my bathroom.

  “Yes, thank you. I only need the one on the passenger seat tonight. We can unload all the others in the morning.”

  All the others? I frown, wondering what she means by that. I can’t imagine how much she’ll need to stay with me for a few weeks, but I don’t ask as I walk to the front door to go find out. When I get to her car, I discover it’s packed to the brim. It’s as if she’s brought everything—oh my god! I think my mother plans to move here. And since this is her brother’s house, and she’s been walking around it as if she’s figuring out how to make it habitable, she might think that also means living with me.

  Oh boy. I love my mother, but there’s a reason I lived in an apartment with friends once I got out of college. Living with her will mean I’m under her scrutiny. And I can only imagine the grief she’ll give me for spending every night at Lance’s house. Breathe, Dawn. I close my eyes and open my arms to the universe as I seek to calm myself.

  I don’t know for sure Mom wants to live with me, so there is no sense in freaking out yet. Once I’ve let the earth’s restorative energy flow through me and my pulse has slowed to normal, I open her car door and grab the bag. I bring it into the living room and drop it with a thud near the stairs. I can carry it upstairs later. Once she’s had her tea, I’ll show Mom her room and make sure she doesn’t need anything.

  I take a deep breath and blow it out slowly as I readjust my thinking to be positive before I return to the kitchen and say, “It looks like you’ve left Florida for a while. Are you planning on moving to Maine?”

  Mom frowns at me as she lifts her mug to her mouth and blows on it. “Yes. Don’t you remember our discussion about that? Honestly, Dawn. Your head is in the clouds more often than not. Or have we reached the point in our relationship where you just tune me out now?”

  I sigh. “I don’t tune you out. It’s just that when we talked about it, you weren’t definitive.” I walk over to make myself a cup of tea too. “It doesn’t matter. I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Good.” She smiles at me. “Because I’m happy to be here.” She lets out a yawn and then says, “I’m beat. Can we catch up tomorrow? I could really use some sleep.”

  “Of course,” I say, and I walk with her to bring her to the guest room. Once she’s settled, I take my tea and go to my room. When I get there, I chastise myself for thinking the worst about my mom. For all I know, she’s planning on finding a place of her own and reconnecting with childhood friends to keep herself occupied. Since she’s got a background in the restaurant business, she may even have plans to open the magical teashop or bakery she’s always talked about. I don’t know what I’m worried about. I bet she’s even going to like Lance and be thrilled for me having found my soul mate.

  After I get my bedtime routine done, I climb under my covers and immediately miss sleeping with my furnace of a bear, Lance. My sheets feel cold to me, and I wonder how I ever managed to sleep well before I met him. I grab my phone from my nightstand and send him a text. I miss you. I clutch my phone to my chest as I let the memory of him holding me flood my mind.

  My cell buzzes, and I look at it to see Lance texted me back. Miss you too. Is your mom all settled?

  I smile and text him back. And like kids, we have a silly conversation back and forth until I can barely keep my eyes open. I fall asleep with my phone in my hand and with Lance in my heart.

  The next morning, I awake to the scent of coffee in the air, and I immediately roll over to feel for Lance beside me. But when I open my eyes, I realize I’m in my bed and that the coffee was likely made by my mother. I check my phone and smile when I see a good morning from Lance with a heart emoji. After I send him a quick text back, I head downstairs and find Mom humming to herself as she makes pancakes.

  She turns to me with a spatula in her hand. “Good morning, sunshine. It’s a glorious winter day. Don’t you just love the way the sun shimmers on the snow-covered field?”

  I smile at her and make my way to the coffee pot. “It is beautiful.” The pot clatters as I remove it. “You’re up early.”

  “That’s because I have a lot to do. I need to get a meeting with Tori, shop for some warm clothing, and goodness this place is a mess.” A pancake splats as she flips it. “I did a little organizing. How old do you think that cauldron is anyway? I’m going to need a new one of those too.”

  The wonderful afterglow of my thoughts about Lance vanish to be replaced with slight panic as I notice a pile of dried leaves, roots, a few claws, animal teeth, and numerous other oddities one might use for spells sitting on the counter. She must have cleaned out my supplies, which kicks my panic up a notch more because I bet she rearranged too. I recall the time she decided the liquor bottles in my bar should be organized to be visually pleasing. But more pressing than how I’m going to find things is why she cleaned. “Hold on a minute,” I say. “What do you mean, you ‘need a new cauldron,’ and why are you meeting with Tori?”

  “To start the transition, Dawn.” She shakes her head and grabs two plates from the cabinet. “And since you love that apothecary so much, we might as well see about getting it shipped to Florida for you too.”

  I blink in shock. And then I wrack my brain, trying to figure out when exactly we had a conversation that would make her think I’m leaving. Let alone giving up my position in the clan so she can take my place. And then it hits me. When she first mentioned coming to visit, she suggested that she might be willing to take my spot as the clan’s medicine woman. But I never agreed to it, and now I have to figure out how I’m going to tell her I have no intention of leaving.

  Chapter 11

  I set my coffee cup down on the counter with enough force that the contents spla
sh over the edge. I wouldn’t say I have a temper, but I do have a strong will and an upbringing that taught me to never let someone treat me like a doormat. Since my mother is the driving force behind both, and we’ve gone down this road before whenever she decided to change things in my bar at the Crab Shack, I’m not sure why she stares at me in shock when I put my hands on my hips and speak in a stern tone to her. “Let’s get something straight. I never agreed to let you take my place as the medicine woman of this clan. I am not moving back to Florida. And you’re a guest in my home, so stop criticizing it.”

  Her mouth tightens as her gaze narrows in on me. “Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Why don’t you drink your coffee and let the caffeine kick in?”

  “Mother,” I say in a warning tone.

  I’m confused by her reaction. She’s usually a straight shooter, and I expected her to fire back at me.

  She looks up at the sky as if she’s trying to find patience, and then she looks at me. “Fine. But come on. You hate it here, and my taking over sounded like a good idea to you a couple weeks ago. I thought you’d be happy with my decision. But”—she holds her hand up in a stop position when I open my mouth to object—“I’ll admit I jumped from here to there without talking it over with you first.”

  I blow out a breath of air to calm myself now that she’s being reasonable, and to get over the shock that she is. I was geared up for our usual screaming-match version of a fight. I frown and say, “You did.”

  “Yes. Please accept my apologies.”

  I chuckle, because my mother doesn’t usually concede so quickly. Happy I don’t have to defend myself further, I say, “I accept.”

  She smiles at me with pride. “See? I’ve learned something from the last year of therapy. Too bad your father didn’t.”

  I raise my eyebrows to warn her not to go there.

  Mom frowns at me for a moment. “Oh!” She remembers the pancakes she was making and scoops them off the pan as she asks, “What made you decide to stay? I thought you hated the cold.”

  “I did.” I think about the outdoor activities I’ve done with Lance and smile as I grab the butter and maple syrup from the fridge. “But that was before I gave it a chance. Now that I know how to stay warm, I don’t hate winter anymore.”

  “I see. Well, that presents a bit of a problem, doesn’t it?”

  “How so? Is there a reason both of us can’t live in Maine?” The chairs creak as my mother and I sit down to breakfast.

  “Of course we can both live here, but only one of us gets to be the clan’s medicine woman, and I had hoped to take over for you. I don’t suppose you’d want to give it up?”

  I shake my head. “I really love my job, Mom. I’m sorry.”

  She sighs. Mom seems to be taking this kind of disappointment amazingly well. It makes me wonder if she should have separated from Dad sooner, because I like it.

  “Well then,” she says. “I guess I need a new plan, because I’m not moving back to Florida either.”

  I take a bite of my pancakes and savor the sweetness. After I swallow the delicious mouthful, I say, “I’m sure any restaurant in town would love to have you.”

  “I suppose, but I’m not sure that’s what I want to do. I’d really like to enjoy the weekends for a bit. Do you realize it’s Saturday, and I don’t have to work?” She grins. “What should we do? A movie? Go shopping? How about we go out to dinner?”

  I smile at her. “I have to work.” I glance at the clock on the stove. “I have a client coming in an hour.”

  “Well, surely you aren’t going to work through the night. We could still do dinner and a movie.”

  “We could.” I think about being away from Lance for more than twenty-four hours. It’s not something I want to do. And since I have to tell Mom about him eventually, I say, “But there’s someone I’d like you to meet. What would you say to pizza and a movie in tonight?”

  “Aha.” She lifts her coffee cup to take a sip and says, “I knew there was more than a job keeping you here. What’s his name?”

  I ignore the slight snark to her tone because thinking about my soul mate fills me with such a glow nothing else can penetrate my joy. “His name is Lance, and Mom, you’re going to love him.”

  “Oh my. Look at how dreamy-eyed you are over this guy. He must be something special.”

  “He is.” I know I shouldn’t lay it all out there for her, but I’m so in love with Lance I don’t care. “He’s my soul mate.”

  “Soul mate. Dawn, that’s not something to be flip about,” she says as she pours more maple syrup over her pancakes. “Most witches never get that.”

  “I know, but Mom, I’m sure that’s what he is.” I’m tempted to tell her he’s a werebear too, but I hold back. If she’s questioning the fact I could have found a soul mate, she’s definitely not going to be ready to accept that he also happens to be a werebear.

  “Then I guess I need to hear all about this love affair. How did you meet?”

  I tell her about falling on the ice and the snow-angel story, which makes her laugh. And then I explain that Lance took it upon himself to make me love winter. I gush on about how I feel, and as I do, I think about my moment of truth when Lance’s spirit bear held my deer one. “I love him so much it’s overwhelming at times.” I begin to tear up.

  “Dawn? Are you crying?”

  I nod as I regain my composure. “Mom, my feelings for Lance have my heart so full that they overflow.”

  She reaches her hand across the table to me, and she’s sincere when she says, “That’s beautiful. Has your guiding spirit spoken to you about this?”

  “She has, Mom, and—” I want to tell her that I’ve seen Lance’s too, but then I’ll have to tell her he’s a werebear. “That’s why I’m sure.”

  She squints at me. “You’re holding something back, young lady. I can always tell.”

  I glance at the clock. “I should really get ready for my client.” I stand up with my plate.

  “Fine. You go get ready, and I’ll clean up the kitchen. Then you can help me unload my car until your appointment arrives.”

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  As I walk out of the kitchen, Mom calls out to me, “Don’t think I won’t find out what you’re not saying!”

  She’s right. Because once Lance walks in the house tonight, she’s going to figure out from his size that he’s a werebear, and I won’t have to say a thing. After I get changed, I send Lance a quick text inviting him over for pizza, and then I brace myself to tell my mother what my soul mate really is.

  When I get outside to help Mom unload the car, I grab a box, and items rattle in it as I carry it inside. We set the things in the living room for now. As we go out for another trip, I hold the door for her and say, “You’re right I didn’t tell you everything, and it’s because I’m afraid you’re going to freak out.”

  “Okay,” she says as she walks to the back of her car. “Then I promise I’ll do my best to keep an open mind and consider everything before I make any rash statements.”

  “Good,” I say. She hands me a box as I look into her face so I can judge her reaction. “Lance is a werebear.”

  Mom stiffens, and I see turmoil in her eyes, along with something I don’t recognize. Not that I expected her to congratulate me or anything. Finally, she says, “I see why you didn’t want to tell me, but I’m glad you did.” She grabs a box and moves to bring it into the house.

  “Mom?” I follow her, and she doesn’t speak as we set our things down. She’s acting so out of character I begin to get worried. “Mom, it’s not like you to say nothing. Why?”

  “I can’t,” she says in a strained voice. She takes a deep breath and then acts as if Lance being a werebear really is no big deal to her. “I promised to consider the situation and not to freak out instead of flying off the handle. So that’s what I’m doing.”

  “Fair enough.” We finish unloading her car in silence, but with each load, she speaks with her mov
ements, and when she drops the last box so that something glass inside breaks, I’m very aware she’s freaking out on the inside.

  “Thank you for your help,” says Mom. “I’m going to run some errands and get out of your hair now.”

  I want to talk through what she’s thinking, but just then, there’s a knock on my door, so I say to Mom, “I’m done around five. We can talk before Lance comes over.”

  She sighs, and sadness fills her voice as she says, “Yes. Let’s do that, honey.”

  As I make my way to the kitchen to let my client in, I ponder what the heck just happened. My mother’s emotions flip-flopped so many times I haven’t got a clue what she’s thinking. I expected anger, her stomping around for a day or so as she tried to force things to be the way she wants, and then acceptance of what she can’t change. But what I just got from her was nothing I understand. Maybe therapy did give her a new strategy to cope, but I have a feeling it can’t be anything good.

  Chapter 12

  Saturdays are my busiest day, and today I barely get lunch in. But my last client is late, and I’m starving, so I grab some cheese before I wander into the living room to see if I can find my mother. Earlier, I heard the sounds of her unpacking and her footsteps on the stairs, but we haven’t spoken since this morning. I think about how oddly she was acting then.

  After I check upstairs, I realize she’s not here, and I go back to the kitchen to get my phone to call her. I see a message from the guy who is supposed to be here by now, telling me he has to cancel. He was booked with me for two hours, and since my mother thinks I won’t be done until five, I have time to kill. I smile as I think about Lance, but first I need to make sure we’re alone for what I have planned.