“Nope.” Sorcha looked shocked.
“Wow, you must go around with your eyes shut. And your ears,” Haley accused.
“No one talks about it openly,” Sorcha said defensively. “How was I supposed to know?”
“Is Mason one?” Tiana interrupted before Haley could answer Sorcha.
Haley’s mouth dropped open. “No.”
“Are you sure?” Tiana asked.
“Yes.” Haley paused. “He’d tell me. We’re old friends…” Her expression changed.
“But?” Tiana asked.
“We haven’t seen much of each other since college and…” Haley shook her head. “I’d never heard of shifters before I moved to Bear Creek…” She shook her head. “I’m sure he’s not.”
“And what if he is?” Sorcha asked, her eyes still wide with shock. “How does he…?”
“How does he what?” Tiana asked.
“Change. Does the hair sprout out of his skin?” She shuddered at the thought. “Does he change like in that film…what was it?”
“American Werewolf in London.” Haley screwed her face up at the thought. “That would be icky.”
“It sure would,” Tiana agreed, weighing up the pros and cons of having a man who would never leave her, but who turned into a drooling beast at a full moon.
“Are you going to ask him?” Sorcha asked.
“No, she’s not,” Haley said quickly. “T’s got a real chance of happiness here, she is not going to blow it by asking Mason if he’s a shifter.”
“Are you?” Sorcha asked.
“I don’t know,” Tiana answered honestly. But she had a sneaking suspicion that was what Mason wanted to share with her. It would explain why they had this instant attraction.
“Time to get to work, ladies,” Mr. Monroe called and the three waitresses broke up their conversation and got to work.
Chapter Eight – Mason
Mason drove to the house early the next day and got to work weeding the garden. Not because he wanted to impress Tiana, but because he needed to do something, or he would go crazy.
The time since he saw his mate yesterday had gone by far too slowly and even a run over the mountains had not taken the edge off his restlessness. Sleep had evaded him, and food didn’t taste the same without Tiana there to share it with him.
He sensed her even before his enhanced hearing heard the car engine as it strained up the steep road. Thrusting the gardening fork into the ground, he leaned one hand on it, while he watched her come into view.
His heart raced, and his breathing came hard as if he’d run a marathon. The effect she had on him literally took his breath away.
“Hi there,” Tiana said as she got out of her car and shut the door. “You’ve been busy.”
“I wanted to impress you.” He grinned and wiped the sweat off his forehead before walking across the grass to meet her.
“You have.” She looked relaxed and cool in jeans and a loose shirt. Her feet were shod in sturdy boots, and her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She’d definitely come to work, not to watch Mason work.
Pity, his bear said lightly. You could show off for her.
He ignored his bear, who was finding it amusing to watch Mason flounder around, out of his depth, where their mate was concerned. Mason would likely be amused, too, if there wasn’t so much resting on his ability to impress their mate. Or his ability to explain what a shifter was and to make her understand she was the one for him.
The one and only, his bear said. Make sure you tell her that we will never leave, unlike that first husband of hers.
I hadn’t thought of that, Mason said sarcastically.
“Everything all right?” Tiana asked, her brow creased as she watched Mason having a conversation with himself.
Great, now she thinks you’re crazy, his bear huffed. Perhaps you should leave this all to me.
Mason shut his bear out of his head and went around to the trunk to help Tiana, who had packed enough food for a small army. “This looks good.”
Tiana looked up apologetically. “When I told my mom you’d offered to help with the house, she insisted on making enough food for an army.”
“You told her about me.” That was a step in the right direction. “She didn’t mind that I’d come to look at her house?”
“At first, yes. But then she decided she would rather sell it to someone we knew.” Tiana shrugged. “She doesn’t really know how to feel.”
“Well, I have been giving it all some thought.” He carried the cooler toward the house. “Inside or out?”
“Let’s take the food inside. You know, in case a passing bear decides to take advantage of the food.” She glanced at him sideways. Something had changed. Did she know he was a shifter? Did this mean there wasn’t going to be some great reveal?
Say something, his bear roared.
“Good idea. I know for a fact bears are attracted to good food.” Mason followed Tiana to the house, where she unlocked the door and entered the kitchen.
Together they unpacked the food and she made coffee, this time she’d brought milk. “I’d love to hear your ideas.”
“Okay.” He took her hand and led her to the living room. “This room would make a good bedroom. And off here, we can add an extra room. At the same time, we could add an extra room on the first floor and extend out toward the mountain and make a new entrance. That would mean we could divide the house into two. Your parents could live downstairs…” He took a deep breath, but before he finished his sentence, Tiana put her fingers to his lips.
“And we could live on the first floor.” Her eyes locked with his and all he could do was nod like a dumb animal.
Insulting, his bear said.
“If you’re offering.” Despite all his experience in business, he was out of his depth in this conversation. Did she know about shifters? Did she know he was a shifter? But how?
“Are we mates for life?” Tiana asked bluntly.
“Mates?” He wasn’t sure how to answer her.
She arched her eyebrow. “Isn’t that what shifters call their partners in life? You are a shifter, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” He swallowed hard. What if she was setting him up and now that he’d admitted what he was, she would leave?
Tiana let out a sharp breath. “It is true.”
“You didn’t know?” he asked in surprise.
“Not about you. Sort of about shifters. Not for absolute real.” She looked nervous, afraid she was making a fool of herself. Mason admired her courage. Tiana was not afraid to speak out, even at the risk of sounding stupid.
“And now you do know for real?” He needed to show her, to allow her to understand what he was and why he knew they were so perfect for each other.
“Yes.” She nodded once. “I think I do.”
“Do you want to see?” he asked. It wasn’t ideal to show her in broad daylight. “Perhaps we can use the barn?”
She swayed slightly as if the offer to show her his bear was unexpected. “You can just change. Like that.” She snapped her fingers.
“Shift. Yes.” He moved to her side and took her hand.
“You don’t need a full moon?”
“No. You don’t quite believe, do you?” he asked gently.
She puffed the air out of her cheeks. “I’ve never seen anyone shift. And I have to say, it’s difficult to believe. I thought it was a joke, an urban myth. But it’s not.”
“No, it’s not. It’s a part of me, and it’s also the reason I know we are meant to be together. We’re fated mates.” He pulled her forward, wanting to show her so she could believe and not question his sincerity. “Come with me. Let me show you.”
She took a faltering step forward and then another one. Mason opened the door and led her outside, heading for the small barn. His bear paced around in his head, eager to be free and show their mate he was real. But they had to take things slow, they couldn’t rush this and risk scaring Tiana.
They reached
the barn, and Mason let go of Tiana’s hand as he slid the bolt back and opened the large door. Inside there were several old cabinets filled with tools and a small trailer. Other than that, it was empty, there was plenty of room for his bear.
Are you sure? his bear asked. She looks a little flighty.
She won’t run, Mason assured his bear, even though he wasn’t a hundred percent sure Tiana wasn’t going to make a run for it as soon as he shifted. This had to be the strangest thing she’d ever seen in her life.
“Just stay there.” He put his hands up to stop her from moving forward. “And no matter what you’ve been taught about bears, know I’ll never hurt you.”
“You mean don’t pepper spray you?” she asked lightly, but her jaw was tense, this wasn’t a joke to her.
“I’d prefer it if you didn’t.” He locked eyes with her. “You’ll like him. I promise.”
“Him. Your bear. Is he like a separate part of you?” Tiana asked nervously.
“Separate but the same. We’re linked. Just as you and I are linked.” He took a couple more steps backward and then inhaled deeply, calming himself as his bear fought for freedom, fought for the chance to see their mate with his own eyes.
Once he had control, Mason allowed his bear to come forward, to take his place in this world, where their mate waited wide-eyed as the air shimmered, filled with crackling electricity. As she faded from Mason’s human eyes, his bear appeared before Tiana. She cried out and covered her mouth with her hand.
Mason wanted to tell her it was all right, he wouldn’t hurt her, but his voice was mute. His bear had to find another way to reassure her.
At first, he stood still, huffing lightly as he inhaled her scent. Then he took a step forward, his soft brown eyes fixed on her face. Any indication she was about to run, and he would back off, but she didn’t run. Instead, as his bear took one more step forward, she held out her hand and stepped toward him.
“It’s real. Shifters are real,” she crooned as she crouched down, bringing her head level with his bear’s. “I thought it was make-believe.”
His bear breathed warm air over her hand and she smiled, tears trickling down her face. Mason hoped they were tears of joy. He never wanted to bring anything other than joy into her life.
“It’s as if there really is magic in the world.” Tiana stroked his face, and he kept very still, not wanting to spook her as she buried her face in his neck and held him close. Then his bear turned his head and leaned on her shoulder as if hugging her right back.
For several minutes they stayed like this, sharing a moment of tenderness, mates together. His bear was happy. Filled with joy. After the sacrifices of living in a city, with no wild places to roam, his bear finally had it all.
Although a couple of bear cubs would be the cherry on the top, his bear told Mason.
Who agreed. But even if they never had children of their own, they would be happy.
Chapter Nine – Tiana
Tiana buried her face in the soft fur of the massive bear who had materialized out of nothing. Or out of Mason. She couldn’t get her head around how that worked, but it didn’t matter. Just like a magic show, it was often better not to know the technicalities.
“Good to meet you.” She lifted her head, cupped his massive head in her hands and looked into his eyes.
The bear looked back at her, there was no denying the depth of intelligence in this creature who had appeared as if out of nowhere. More than that, there was love, and longing and need.
If Tiana had ever doubted she was joined with Mason in some way, those doubts were now gone. Completely, irrecoverably.
Although it was difficult for her to get her head around what this meant. Was she ready to give herself over to fate? To give herself to Mason and not question if it were the right thing to do?
The bear lifted his head, took a couple of steps backward and then the air shimmered once more, and Mason reappeared. “He likes you.”
“I like him.” She gave an apologetic smile. “I’m not sure what I’m supposed to say.”
“You aren’t supposed to say anything. This is new to you. It’s new to me. I never expected to find my mate on this visit to Bear Creek. Sure, I’ve always hoped I might find the perfect person for me. But as the years rolled by I’d given up hope.”
“You thought you’d spend your life alone.”
“Yes.”
“I can relate. After Quentin left, I had a few disastrous dates and then decided that perhaps a life with no man, and no trouble, would suit me.” She shrugged. “It’s not as if I was ever alone. I had Rhett and my parents.”
“But it’s not the same, is it?” Mason asked. “It’s not the same as having a special someone in your life.”
“No, it’s not,” Tiana agreed. “I can see that now. I couldn’t before. Or I didn’t want to.”
“But now, are you willing to give us a chance?” Mason asked, an urgency in his voice he could not mask.
“I think I am.” She took a deep breath and said it once more with conviction, “I know I am.”
He closed the space between them and pulled Tiana into his arms, his lips on hers as he kissed her with a need so intense, it seared her skin. Tiana clung to him, her arms wrapped around his neck as she held on tight, never wanting to let go, either of this man or of the feeling that this was right. So right.
His tongue entwined with hers as his hand slid over her bottom and he pulled her closer. Sensations flooded her body, sensations she thought long dead. But the breakup of her first marriage hadn’t killed them, only made them dormant, waiting to be awakened by the touch of Mason.
“We should go and weed the garden,” Tiana said as their kiss broke.
“My kiss was that impressive.” Mason gave her a lopsided grin.
“No, it’s not…” She searched for the words she needed. “I need time to get my head around all this. It’s not every day you meet a bear shifter in the flesh. Or fur.”
“I get it, and you take all the time you need. We’ll be waiting.” He slid his hand around hers, holding her tightly as if he never wanted to let go.
“I plan to mow the lawn before we eat.” She looked at her watch. “Unfortunately, I only have three hours and then I have to go and pick my mom up. She’s having lunch with a friend.”
“Then we’d better get started. If we work hard we can have the garden back to its best before you leave.” He opened the barn door and led her into the daylight.
“Thank you.” She leaned on his shoulder as they walked.
“For what?” He kissed the top of her head.
“Everything. For taking a chance on a blind date,” she said feebly. What was she thanking him for?
“You took a chance, too,” he told her firmly. “You were brave enough to step out of the rut you were in when it would be easier to stay there.”
“A rut. Thanks.” She frowned. “I suppose I was in a rut.”
“Not anymore.” He pulled her into his arms, and she tilted her head back to gaze into his handsome face.
“This all seems so perfect. When we’re here alone, it’s as if nothing else matters.”
“Nothing else does matter.” He brushed her hair back from her face and bent his head to kiss her again. If Mason had his way she was certain they’d spend all their time kissing and not actually getting any work done in the garden.
“Yes, it does,” she informed him firmly.
“Not in this moment.” He looked around them at the beautiful scenery. “In this moment there is only you and me. The rest of the world can wait. Just for this moment.”
Tiana laid her head on his chest and listened to his heart beat, strong and true. “Just in this moment.”
They stood together as the breeze caressed their skin and the sun warmed their backs. Then they moved apart and started their chores, both lost in thought. They both realized that no matter how they felt and what they wanted, there were more people to consider than just themselves.
>
Tiana mowed the grass and trimmed the edges of the lawn. Standing back and admiring her work, she was sure her dad would be equally as pleased. Maybe she had a knack for gardening and had inherited her father’s green fingers.
“Looks good,” Mason complimented.
“Thanks.” She put her hand on the small of her back and stretched. “For everything.”
“I’ve enjoyed getting my hands dirty.” He looked across to the weeded flower beds. “I miss manual labor. You know, if your parents do decide to extend the house, I’d like to be hands-on.”
Tiana couldn’t help thinking she’d like his hands on something other than the house. She hid her smile and dragged her thoughts out of the gutter. “I’ll talk to them. Although maybe it would be better coming from you.”
“Are you inviting me to meet your parents?” he asked as they walked toward the house.
“You could come for dinner this evening. I have a night off. My mom and Rhett will be there.” They went inside, and Tiana fetched plates from the cupboards and made a fresh pot of coffee while Mason laid out the food she’d brought for this picnic.
“You don’t have to rush things. We can take it slow,” Mason told her.
“Don’t you want to meet them?” she asked as she poured the coffee.
“Yes. I do. What will your son think of you having a boyfriend?” Mason’s question tweaked a nerve for Tiana. Rhett had never seen her with another man, only his father.
“Rhett’s old enough not to feel threatened by you. And anyway, he’s leaving for college. His life is just starting, he’s spreading his wings and learning to fly. Knowing Rhett, he’d want the same for me.”
“Sounds like a good kid.” Mason looked at all the food. “Are we going outside?”
Tiana caught her reflection in the window, she looked red and blotchy from working outside. “Shall we sit in here where it’s nice and cool?”
“Sure.” He put the plates on the table and sat down, watching her as she set the coffee cups down. “Should I bring wine or beer?”
“Tonight?” She thought for a moment. “Wine. Or beer. I’ll leave it up to you.”
Blind Date Bear Page 6
