Bodyguard Bear (Bear Creek Protectors Book 1)

by Harmony Raines

  She was shorter than Kate remembered, but about the right build. Confusion filled Kate. Had Imogen been playing a part all this time? But why? What did she have to gain from hurting Kate? They had never met before Space Monkeys Four began shooting.

  “You know you can’t trust any man,” Imogen said acidly.

  “No. I don’t know,” Kate told the other woman. With a kind of shooing motion, Kate got Imogen out of the room and shut the door behind her. When she turned around, she was puffing as if she had run a marathon.

  “Are you okay?” Red looked pale as he placed his hand on her shoulder and massaged the tension away.

  “I don’t know,” Kate admitted.

  “But you do know I didn’t kiss her?” Red asked with concern.

  “Yes, of course. What I don’t know is why she would say that?”

  “Because she’s a homewrecker,” Marylin said from the bed. “I know the sort. They come to you and tell you their lies just to get what they want.”

  Kate’s heart leaped in her chest. “Is that what happened with dad?”

  Marylin glanced quickly at Red and then gave a brief nod. “It was a long time ago. And you don’t have to live with the doubt like I did. It won’t eat you from the inside out until your love is dead.”

  “Oh, Mom.” Kate went to her mom and hugged her tight. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault.” Marylin pressed her lips firmly together. “But I don’t want that little minx to hurt you.” Her mom pulled the bed covers off her legs and went to get out of bed.

  “Oh, no, you don’t.” Kate caught Marylin by the shoulders. “This is my battle to win.”

  “Wait, before you go anywhere,” Red began, “you should know I think we have two suspects.”

  “Two?” Kate’s brow creased as his words sunk in. “Mike and Imogen? Do you think they are working together?”

  “I don’t know what Mike’s involvement is in all this, but he isn’t one of my suspects. I’m talking about Imogen and Wanda.”

  “Wanda?” Kate asked incredulously. “Why Wanda?”

  “She was downstairs in the hallway and she smelled of gardenia and violet. And Mike called her into a room to sing with him.” It was a loose thread to grasp at, but Red was right, they had to check out all angles.

  “And the other suspect?”

  “Is Imogen. She led me outside and kissed me with the sole intention of videoing it to show you.” Red’s concern showed in his expression. “Was she doing it to hurt you in the same way as she locked Marylin in the room to hurt you?”

  “But why?” Kate asked. “I don’t know her.”

  “You need to go find her and ask her.” Marylin slammed her fist into her hand. In any other circumstances, Kate would have laughed at her mom’s action. But right now, she wouldn’t mind beating the truth out of someone.

  “I have a better idea.” Kate took hold of Red’s hand. “It’s time we use my talent to get to the truth.”

  “How do we do that?” Red asked.

  “We tackle them one at a time. We test Imogen first. You go downstairs and tell Imogen that she’s ruined our relationship and that I’m walking in the gardens to clear my head.” Kate was sure this would work. If either Imogen or Wanda was the person they were looking for, at the very least they would want to gloat over their victory. Or worse…

  “And we see what her reaction is.” Red nodded. “It sounds like a plan. Let’s go.”

  “Take care, both of you,” Marylin told them. “You are the first man I’ve met that I like and respect. Don’t blow it!”

  “Oh, Mom, are you sure you’re all right on your own?” Kate asked.

  “I’m sure.” Marylin nodded and waved her hands at them to usher them out.

  “I’ll find Flint first and tell him our plan and also ask him to make sure there’s someone around at all times to watch over Marylin.”

  “Thank you.” Kate sat down on the side of her mom’s bed while Red went to fetch help.

  “I mean it, you know.” Marylin held her daughter’s hand in hers as she spoke. “I like him. A lot.”

  “Red is a good man. And I love him.” Kate nodded and then turned away as tears misted her eyes. “I wish you’d known the same happiness.”

  “Perhaps one day.” Marylin nodded. “You two should make the most of your futures, do what makes your heart happy, Kate. I mean that with all my heart.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” Kate leaned forward and hugged her mom. This was the closest she’d felt to her for years, it was as if the barrier that had slowly built up between them was crumbling away. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” Marylin wrapped her arms around her daughter and held her close. “I’m sorry, for everything.” Her mom’s voice broke and she sobbed loudly.

  “Hey, there’s nothing to be sorry for. I’m grateful for what you did. I really am.” In some perverse way, the freedom Kate lost as a child would make her free as an adult. Free to make her own choices and lead her life on her own terms. She was at peace with herself and the world.

  But not with the person who now threatened her.

  Imogen or Wanda? It was time to find out if Red’s theory was true.

  The door opened and Red stood there, framed as if captured on camera. She smiled to herself, a thrill of excitement filling her. He was hers. Forever, beyond all doubts. Shifters were her kind of a man.

  “Are you ready?” Red asked and stepped into the room. “Terence is going to look after your mom while we’re gone.”

  “Thank you, Terence.” Kate got up and crossed the room, catching sight of Terence’s confused expression. Was it possible he and Marylin were mates?

  Before she had a chance to give it any more thought, Red caught hold of her hand and pulled her out of the door. “I saw Imogen talking to Mike.”

  “What kind of talking?” Kate pulled the door closed behind her and kept her voice low.

  “They looked as if they were arguing.” Red let that news sink in before he added, “I think he knows it’s Imogen.”

  “We need proof.” Kate slid her hands around Red’s neck. “I never want to see you kissing another woman again.”

  “I don’t intend to ever kiss another woman again,” he confirmed. Then he lowered his head and their lips met in a searing kiss as if he were trying to wipe all memory of Imogen’s lips away.

  “Just remember that when you talk to Imogen. She needs to believe that she broke my heart.” Kate patted him on the chest. “Go to it, tiger.”

  “Bear, I’m a bear.” He kissed her cheek, his warm breath tickling her skin and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. She resisted the temptation to grab ahold of him and pull him back toward her. There was time for that later.

  Kate watched Red stride along the corridor and then disappear from view as he went down the stairs. She counted to ten and then followed. When she got to the bottom of the stairs, she took a right and headed to the nearest door leading out into the gardens.

  Running down the steps, her shoes crunched on the gravel as she crossed the driveway. When she reached the grass lawn, she walked quickly toward a tall tree which gave her some shelter but was also visible from the house. She needed to look as if she were hiding, but she needed Imogen to see her.

  There she lowered her head and pretended to cry. Her soft sobs filled the darkness. However, while she pretended to have a broken heart, she pushed her senses out as far as they would go. Listening, looking under her eyelashes, she waited.

  But it was neither sight nor hearing that altered her to the presence of another person. Instead, the scent of gardenia and violets drifted toward her. Someone was approaching, not from the house, but from deeper in the gardens.

  A tall silhouette emerged from behind a tree. It stood watching Kate but didn’t approach. Kate held her breath. What should she do?

  The moments ticked by, the silhouette moved, and a twig snapped loudly. Purposefully. Whoever it was wanted to be seen. Kat
e lifted her head, her eyes locked onto the tall figure. Too tall to be Imogen. Too tall even for Wanda.

  Too slender to be Mike.

  Kate couldn’t let the chance to find out who was responsible go. She stepped forward. The person stepped backward. Step for step they moved deeper into the trees.

  Kate pushed her senses to the extreme, trying to figure out who it was. Why the perfume?

  It wasn’t a fragrance either Imogen or Wanda wore normally. Perhaps it was symbolic, a fragrance they only wore when they were about to frighten other people.

  But it couldn’t be either of them, she reminded herself. The figure was too tall.

  Movement in the trees alerted her to the presence of someone else. An accomplice? No, the shape was closer to the ground. Red. He was close. But she didn’t want him to alert her stalker to his presence. Not yet.

  Kate wanted answers.

  “What do you want?” The direct approach usually worked.

  The shadowy figure kept moving away from Kate, so she stopped. It was time to play this game on her terms, not someone else’s.

  “Game’s over. I’m not going anywhere until I get some answers.”

  Her stalker stopped and tilted its head to one side. It’s very long head. The person either had a stiff neck or…

  “Giraffid,” Kate whispered into the night.

  Kate sucked in a lungful of breath and then ran at her stalker, head down as if she were about to tackle them. Which she was. Wasn’t she? Kate had always been taught to stick to the carefully choreographed fight scenes in movies, so no one got hurt or caught off guard. But she was completely winging this.

  The tall figure stepped backward, retreating fast, only a tree root caught at its heel and the long, slender figure fell backward, sprawling across the ground with a yelp.

  Kate rushed forward and placed her foot on the dark figure’s chest. “Gotcha, Imogen.”

  She leaned forward and yanked the giraffid costume off Imogen’s head, which she had covered with black fabric to make her look like a tall, slender person. Even though Kate had figured out who it was, she was still shocked to see Imogen lying on the damp ground. But not as shocked as Imogen was when a massive bear stuck his head in her face, opened his mouth and roared.

  Imogen’s screams mingled with the bear’s roar. “Get it off! Help me!”

  “Why did you do it, Imogen?!” Kate leaned forward and yelled over the sound of Red’s roar.

  “I can’t… Help me and I’ll tell you,” Imogen begged.

  Kate placed her hand on the bear’s shoulder. “I think she’s got the message.”

  Red stepped back but stood menacingly by Kate’s side. There was no way they were going to let her run away, it was time Imogen paid for what she’d done.

  “Kate?” Mike’s voice called out from the darkness surrounding them.

  Red snarled and turned around to face the house. “Easy boy,” Kate crooned. “Let’s see what he wants before we make any rash moves.”

  “Mike, is that you?” Imogen lifted her head and called out.

  “Imogen.” Mike’s tone became wary. “Imogen, what have you done?”

  “I did it because of you, Mike.” Imogen attempted to get up, but a low growl from Red made her think again.

  “You did what for me?” Mike ducked under a low branch and stood with his mouth open, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. “It was you who attacked Kate?”

  “Kate?” Caroline’s voice carried through the trees. “We’re coming. We’re…all…coming.”

  “We’re about to have an audience. You’d better go.” Kate patted Red’s head. “I’ll be okay.”

  Red turned his massive head and roared in Imogen’s face once more before he loped off into the trees. Kate missed his presence, but she wasn’t afraid. Not anymore.

  “What the hell?!” Carter stumbled through the trees with Caroline and a few other people from the mansion. Carter looked as if he’d been drinking too much of his own beer, but he managed to right himself, and a glare from Caroline soon sobered him up.

  “Imogen was about to tell us why she attacked me and my mom.” Kate put her hands on her hips.

  “Because of me,” Mike answered quickly, looking down on Imogen with some sympathy.

  “So you were in this together,” Red said as he appeared from the direction of the house and came to stand next to Kate. “Are you okay?”

  Kate nodded. “Yes. Go on, Mike.”

  “You remember all those years ago, when I tried to wrestle that part from you for my then girlfriend?” Mike said.

  “Yes. Is Imogen your girlfriend?” Kate asked.

  “No,” Mike said quickly.

  “Was she your girlfriend back then?” Caroline asked.

  “No. Imogen has never been my girlfriend!” Mike insisted.

  “His girlfriend was my sister,” Imogen explained. “And because of you she gave up her dream. Because of you she never became an actress. I couldn’t believe it when I found out you got the role in Space Monkeys Four. If you’d gotten fired from that first job, Phyllis would have gotten the part and she would be a star. Not you.”

  “Imogen, Phyllis was a terrible actress,” Mike said bluntly. “We both know it. If I hadn’t been so in love with her I would have seen it back then. I was stupid and a complete jerk to do what I did to Kate.”

  “And that’s a good enough reason to destroy someone’s dream?” Imogen asked.

  “I didn’t destroy anything,” Kate said. “I am not responsible for what happened. I worked hard to get that part, I auditioned just like everyone else. So don’t blame me.”

  Imogen curled her lip and hissed. “You are such a bitch.”

  “What did you plan to do?” Red asked, steering the conversation away from the past.

  “I planned to force Kate Kellan out of the movie.” Imogen’s piercing look was meant to hurt Kate, but it didn’t work.

  “How?” Carter asked.

  Imogen shrugged. “At first I wanted to scare her. But that didn’t work.”

  “So what did you plan to do tonight?” Kate asked. She was strong enough to take whatever Imogen had to say.

  “This afternoon, while you were out on your hike…” Imogen paused.

  “Go on,” Kate said.

  “Why should I tell you?” Imogen asked. “So far all you have is me following you in a costume. It was a prank. A stupid joke.”

  Red hunkered down next to Imogen. “You know the bear that was here?”

  Imogen nodded warily. “I saw him.”

  “Well, he is like a tracker dog. All I have to do is say the word and he’ll locate your scent and follow it until he finds out what you were doing this afternoon. Of course, once he has your scent, he might not ever stop tracking you.”

  “Everything okay?” Guy and Flint materialized out of the trees. Kate had a sneaking suspicion they had arrived in shifter form but were now human.

  “Imogen was just about to tell us what she planned to do out here tonight,” Red informed them. “Go on, Imogen.”

  “There’s an old cabin in the mountains and I planned to take Kate there and get her to write a note saying she had changed her mind about the movie. That she couldn’t take the pressure. The part would get recast and then I’d release her once her career was in tatters.” Imogen spoke quickly as the people surrounding her listened in disbelief.

  “You planned to kidnap Kate?” Red asked, his fists clenched by his sides.

  “No. Just keep her locked away until the part went to someone else,” Imogen replied.

  “That’s kidnapping, Imogen,” Mike said gently. “Phyllis wouldn’t want that.”

  “How do you know what she would want, you dumped her! She wasn’t good enough once she gave up acting, was she?” Imogen spat. “I should have framed you for this.”

  “I think we’ve heard enough,” Flint said as he approached Imogen. “It’s time to call the local sheriff.”

  “For what? We
aring a stupid costume?” Imogen asked.

  “Something like that,” Flint’s deep voice replied. “I’m sure the police would also be interested in what you did to Marylin Kellan.”

  Imogen didn’t answer as Flint led her away.

  “So that’s it? It’s over.” Kate looked at the people surrounding her. “Thank you so much.”

  “You’re welcome,” Caroline told her. “And you can thank us all with invites to your wedding.”

  “Wedding? We aren’t even engaged yet,” Kate said.

  “Then maybe it’s time.” Red dropped to one knee and pulled a small box from his pocket. “This is… This was my mom’s. She’d want you to have it.”

  “Red, you don’t have to…” Kate put her hands to her face as Red flipped the box open and revealed a single ruby surrounded by diamonds.

  “Yes, I do. I promised myself that as soon as this was over, I’d ask you to marry me.” He took hold of her hand. “Kate Kellan, will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

  “Yes. A thousand times yes.” She dropped to her knees and kissed his face while he slipped the ring on her finger.

  This was better than any movie scene. She’d gotten her happy ever after with the man of her dreams. And now that the mystery was solved, the movie could go on and then? Well, the future was theirs.

  She would write her screenplays and Red would protect those that needed protecting. Hopefully, one day soon that would include a child of their own. Or maybe two. A family of her own, a normal family. That was better than any movie career. It was a thing money could not buy but was the most valuable thing in the world.

  Epilogue

  “So where did the perfume come from?” Kate asked as she stood on the side of the set watching Captain Orang finally beat the Zengarians.

  “The costume,” Guy replied, a smile on his face as he watched Carter, as Captain Orang, punch a bad guy in the face. “The costume belonged to Hannah, whose signature scent is gardenias and violets. When Wanda handled the costume and Imogen wore it, the scent lingered on their clothes.”