Without waiting for their reply, he turned around and strode off in the direction of the cabins.
When he arrived, fifteen minutes later, he finally looked behind him and was greeted by the sight of seven bears following him in single file, the heads of Niall and Olsen dipped sheepishly. He sighed. Nothing good comes easy.
Lauren’s phone rang while she was out shopping in Hope Valley for some things to brighten up her apartment. She’d hoped it would cheer her up, but all it was doing was reminding her she didn’t have the cozy family home she’d craved ever since her younger brothers and sister grew up and went out into the world, leaving her with an empty nest and a hole in her heart.
“Hey, hun!” came Kristin’s voice through the phone, way too excitedly for a sick person. “So, the article’s all done. The photos are really good. The look on Connor’s face is going to tug a few heartstrings for sure.”
“Mmm,” Lauren replied. She couldn’t even stand the sound of his name right now.
“The paper’s going to press in a couple of hours, and it’ll be out tomorrow morning.”
“That’s great.”
“You’re killing me with your enthusiasm, Lauren. I thought you’d be happy about this.” Kristin’s voice was heavy with mock offense.
“Sorry, Kristin. I am. Thanks so much for doing this. Think I’m just feeling a bit down in the dumps.”
“I know—it’s a miserable day, isn’t it? Why don’t you come over, keep me company?”
Lauren looked up at the gray blanket of cloud cover. She’d been planning to get a manicure, but catching up with Kristin was way more appealing. “Okay. What can I bring the patient?”
“Ah, just some grapes,” Kristin replied carelessly.
“That’s all?”
“Yup.”
Fifteen minutes later, Lauren let herself into Kristin’s apartment, using her own key. They both had keys to each other’s places in case they ever lost their own. Kristin wasn’t in bed as she’d expected but sitting on the sofa, laptop on her lap, looking bright-eyed and full of life.
Lauren stopped dead. “You’re not sick, are you?”
“Surprise!” Kristin yelled, bouncing to her feet and wrapping Lauren in a hug.
“Wait. You pretended to be sick just to make me go to Connor’s place? Kristin Pasternak, I could kill you!” She jabbed her index finger at her friend’s chest, but Kristin caught her hand, laughing.
“I know how stubborn you can be, and I thought it was the only thing that was going to convince you.”
Lauren shook her head. “I’m mad at you. All you’ve done is cause me a piece of heartache I could have done without.”
The smile dropped from Kristin’s face. “Why? What happened?”
Lauren sighed. “Is it too early for wine?”
“Four p.m. on a rainy Saturday? Not at all!”
“I’ve got some grapes to go with it.” Lauren held out the bag, lips quirked in sarcasm.
“Will you forgive me if I tell you I’ve got cheese and crackers, too?”
“I’ll think about it.”
Kristin made up a cheese board, opened a bottle of Zinfandel, and they settled onto her super comfy sofa amid a huge pile of soft cushions.
“Start from the beginning,” Kristin said, fixing Lauren with her bright brown eyes.
Lauren sighed. “So, I started to take the photos of him. Then the rain came down hard. Like a deluge from the sky. Connor ran up to me and picked me up.”
Kristin gaped. “Literally?”
“Yup. Then he brought me inside. And kissed me. It was hot. Steamy, to be precise. We were both drenched, so he pulled off his T-shirt.”
Kristin’s lips twitched. Normally she’d be cracking a whole stream of jokes, but Lauren knew she was forcing herself to stay quiet, concerned for how the story was going to turn out.
“Then my shirt came off, and then we ended up in his bedroom.”
Kristin gasped. “You had sex! I knew it.”
“Not exactly. He, um—went down.” Lauren tipped her head vaguely in the direction of her nether regions. She wasn’t used to discussing her sex life with her friends since it had never come up before. A heat rose to her cheeks.
Kristin pressed her lips together. “Nice. And then?”
Lauren exhaled hard, staring at the ceiling. “It was amazing. Then I wanted to go all the way with him. And he was ready, you know?” Her cheeks got even hotter. “But he wouldn’t. He stopped and said he couldn’t have sex.”
“But why? What guy does that?”
An honorable guy, Lauren realized with a tug. She hesitated, trying to figure out how to explain his predicament without mentioning that he was a shifter. “He says he’s sworn off sex because his father and his brother are cheaters, and he feels like it’s in his blood.”
“Wow. Is he for real?”
“It sounds crazy, but I think he is.”
“You still want him?”
Want was an understatement. Just the thought of his bare chest made her tingle. “It doesn’t matter if I do. I just wish he hadn’t kissed me.”
“Maybe you should just go for it. So you won’t have a relationship with him, but it could be a lot of fun.” Kristin wiggled her eyebrows goofily.
“Are you suggesting I jump his bones, have a one-night stand with him?”
“Why not?”
Lauren groaned. “Because I like him more than I should. He’s an amazing guy, Kristin. I love his company. He’s kind, thoughtful. He’s just real decent, you know?”
“Except he’s so scared of cheating he’s decided to live like a monk. That’s kind of quirky. Why doesn’t he just tell himself he’s not going to fool around with anyone?”
Lauren stayed silent, unable to give Kristin the true answer—because he was a shifter.
“Smells like bullshit to me,” Kristin continued. “The way he looked at you the other day, like you were the only girl in the world. I think he’s scared of something.”
“Whatever. I’m not going to wait around to find out. I just want to forget about him now.”
“I guess if your heart’s at risk, it’s probably for the best.”
It’s gone beyond being at risk, Lauren thought while Kristin went to get a pizza menu. This morning, she’d been ready to give up the convictions that had kept her going all those years of singlehood. Heal the hurt. Trust somebody again. She’d always pretended she didn’t care about relationships. And then Connor had ripped her right open, leaving her raw and sore. She wished so bad she could share everything with Kristin. She not only had to hide the fact she’d never been with a guy before, but she couldn’t tell her the truth about Connor either.
Lauren didn’t make it home that night. She and Kristin spent the evening commiserating over their eternal singleness, then Kristin forced her to watch America’s Hottest First Responders, but her mind was on Connor. He was way bigger and sexier than any of those guys. The way he’d swept her into his arms so easily. Those huge, bulging muscles. Then the way he’d kissed her and touched her, making her body sing for the first time ever. Will this be it? Will this be the only erotic experience I’ll ever have in my life? she asked herself, and the thought churned and twisted inside her.
Eventually, she passed out on the sofa and didn’t wake until the next morning, wrapped in a blanket and wondering where on earth she was.
She was done with Connor, she decided as she stretched out her back, which was sore from having slept in an awkward position. Even if he turned up on the doorstep right now, begging her to give him a chance, she’d say no. She was done with all men, in fact. Not dating and staying celibate had kept her safe all those years, and nothing was worth the pain of having her heart broken again.
Chapter 10
Connor figured he should’ve slept well, knowing that the friction in the clan was tailing off and he didn’t have to worry about losing control of his desire for Lauren. But no, the nocturnal elves were busy, whispering their m
ischievous suggestions in his ears, making him toss and turn all night long. When he finally awoke with a sore head, it was to the sound of Ryzard calling to him through the busted window.
He dragged himself out of bed and approached the window cautiously.
“I came to tell you I’m leaving,” Ryzard said, barely able to meet his eyes.
Connor frowned. “If you’re planning on taking some of the others with you—”
“No, no. I’ve just realized I’m not ready for a clan. I’ve still got too much shit to sort out. I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me, Connor. But my bear gets crazy sometimes, and I don’t want to let you down again.”
Connor rubbed his face, trying to make himself more alert. “If that’s truly the way you feel, I don’t want to stand in your way. But what will you do?”
“It is. I want the clan to value me, and I know I’ve stepped way over the mark recently. I’m gunna go on the road again. Drive trucks. Quit drinking. Come back when I’m right in the head.”
“You can still be a part of the clan, Ryz. We’re still here for you if you need us.”
“Thanks, bro. That means a lot.” Ryzard held his fist up and Connor bumped it. “So long.” He turned and walked away from the cabin until he disappeared from view.
It was for the best, Connor knew that in his heart, but it didn’t make it any easier.
“Things are tough enough right now without you having to watch Ryzard’s every move,” Logan said when Connor gave him the news. They were driving into Hope Valley together because Logan had had the bright idea of advertising their carpentry services to see if they could get some work.
“I know. I still hate it, though.” He groaned. “Every one of us has got the potential to go off. None of our bears are exactly stable.”
“We’ve just gotta find our mates. Take your lead, Con.”
Connor let off a rumble of irritation. Logan wouldn’t get off his damn back about Lauren. He didn’t know his secret. Nobody did. His wolverine genes were his secret shame. And what was he going to do when everyone found their mates except for him? What right did he have to lead a clan when he couldn’t lead by example?
“Con?”
“What?” He turned his head and saw that Logan was watching him with amusement.
“I was asking you why you’ve got a face like a wasp bit your tongue when you’ve found your mate already.”
“She’s not my mate,” he snapped, and his joints cracked and his skin burned as his bear pushed itself to the surface.
Logan raised his hands. “Calm down, bro. If you don’t like her, just say so. But there’s no need to act so weird every time I mention her.”
Connor ignored him, grumbling to himself and staring resolutely ahead until Logan took the hint.
The two of them were attracting a lot of attention in downtown Hope Valley. They were used to getting looks from men because of their size, and females, just because… But folks kept looking at Connor like they knew him.
“Someone forget to tell me my best bud’s a celebrity?” Logan commented.
“Wait. I think I know what it is.” Connor looked around for a store selling newspapers. He went into Marty’s Quick Stop, grabbed a copy of the Hope Valley Echo and let out a shout. “Well, I guess I am now.”
Logan snatched it from him. “Let me see that.”
It was a three-page spread, and Lauren’s journalist friend had done a great job. She’d told the whole story, making the bears sound like heroes, and she’d included all the photos Connor had given Lauren of the land being transformed from a dump site into a set of beautifully made cabins, finishing up with an image of the real estate ad. She hadn’t named Lauren’s boss, but she’d included Connor’s physical description of him.
“Good on you. Don’t let those corporations take advantage of you, young man!” a quavering voice called from behind them. They turned around and saw the voice was coming from a little old lady. “I’m sure glad that paper is standing up for you,” she continued.
Connor grinned. “Thanks for your support, ma’am.”
“Any time, young man. That land has been an eyesore for years. I think it’s amazing what you’ve done, creating homes for yourselves. The community will stand behind you, you know.” She squeezed Connor’s forearm and went on her way.
“Nice work,” Logan said, nodding admiringly. “That Lauren’s sure in your corner.”
In my corner. No one had ever been in his corner. From his dad and their bad blood, to being alone all those years, to finding his clan, but always having to take care of them. But Lauren had gone out of her way to help him, defying her boss in the process. She could’ve taken her boss’s side and assumed he was lying. But she hadn’t. She believed him over a human official. The thought made him feel like he had wings.
Connor purchased the paper, and he and Logan continued walking down the main street. Heads kept turning in Connor’s direction, and he started to wish he owned a pair of sunglasses.
“Damn, they’ll be asking for your autograph next,” Logan quipped.
“I don’t know if I can deal with this much longer,” he muttered as two women in their mid-twenties waved at him like they were good friends of his. His bear was desperate to get away from all the scrutiny, to go curl up in a cave until all the interest had died down.
“It’s part of the process, bro. The more interest you can get, the better.”
Connor let off a bad-tempered rumble. “I should have gotten them to take your photo instead. Or Ryder’s, since he likes posing for the camera so much.”
Logan gave one of his deep, rumbling chuckles. Out of all the bears, Ryder was the only one who had approached creating his Shiftr profile with any enthusiasm, insisting that Logan take his photo again and again until he was happy with it.
“I’m sure it’ll be worth it,” Logan said. Especially since you’re the only one who’s capable of identifying the butthead who’s trying to steal our homes.”
“He’s right!” a familiar female voice said confidently from somewhere near Connor’s waist.
“Shush!” another voice hissed. Connor looked down, and his heart flipped. Lauren and Kristin were sitting at a sidewalk café.
“Lauren,” he said helplessly.
Lauren’s face closed down. She looked like she wanted to go curl up in her own hermit cave. But aside from that, she looked cuter than ever, her dark eyes sparkling and her jaw-length hair a little tousled. “Connor,” she said in return.
Kristin leapt to her feet, eyes glittering with excitement. “So, what do you think of the article?”
“It’s perfect.” At a loss for words, Connor shook his head. “Thanks a lot. The guys and I are very grateful.”
“We sure are,” Logan cut in, his deep brown eyes shining. Kristin turned to him, and he introduced himself, shaking her hand courteously. I’ve taught them all well, Connor thought. When he first met some of the clan members, they’d rarely spent time in their human forms. Now they were all capable of passing as human men when they needed to.
“What happens next?” Logan asked.
“There’s still a long way to go. It looks like people are supporting your cause though, which may be enough for the Parks central office to investigate. There’s been some talk about holding a protest. People really get involved here. So it’s hard to say what the next step is, but hang tight. This is just the beginning!”
“That’s good to hear, Kristin. And it’s a pleasure to meet you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go post some ads around town for our carpentry services. So long, ladies, Connor.”
Before Connor could protest, Logan was off, walking fast in the direction of the central square.
“I was actually about to leave on an errand of my own,” Kristin said. She reached for her purse, pulled a ten-dollar bill out of her pocket book, and laid it on the table. Then she handed her business card to Connor, saying, “Call me anytime if you need anything.” She blew a kiss to L
auren. “Love you. Gotta run!” And she hared off in the same direction as Logan.
Connor stood beside the chair Kristin had just vacated, every human instinct pushing him to join in the exodus.
“Maybe I should follow them,” Lauren said in a tight voice.
“No, stay,” he said, without knowing why.
She glowered up at him. “I promised myself I’d never see you again, but here we are.”
“Here we are.” God, he wanted her. His nostrils were full of that night-flower scent, and he longed to bury his face in the curve of her neck, run his hands all over her luscious body, kiss those sweet lips again.
“Want to sit down?” She kicked at one of the chair legs, pushing it toward him.
“Want me to?”
She shrugged.
“I’ll buy you coffee.”
She raised her cup. “I already have coffee.”
“I’ll buy you ice cream.” He didn’t know why he was saying it. She looked more like she wanted to kill him than eat something sweet.
“Okay. Deal,” she agreed, her lips remaining in a taut line.
He flashed her a quick smile, pulled out the flimsy aluminum chair, and sat down. “I’m very sorry I hurt you yesterday. I messed up bad.”
“Do you make a habit of giving women amazing orgasms then running out on them?” she demanded.
His bear let off a rumble. It was scrabbling beneath his skin, desperate for him to finish what he started. “I went too far. I should’ve stopped myself.”
She shot him a hard look. “Why didn’t you?”
“I lost control. You in my arms. So soft and sexy against my body,” he murmured, and his cock hardened instantly at the recollection. He heard her breathing fast and shallow. She was as turned on as he was. She hated him, but she still wanted him.
Her expression softened infinitesimally. And he sat on his hands to stop himself from reaching for her. What he wanted to say was, “Be mine. I’ll never cheat on you. I’d rather kill the animal inside me than break your heart.” But he didn’t know if that was the truth.
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