“Thanks,” Zak said, but he wasn’t offended.
“I always knew you would turn out OK. You knew how to look after yourself. Which was more of the problem. But this young lady, well, they have had it rough. And I wanted to make it smooth for them.”
“You always were a sucker for a sob story,” Zak said, and closed the space between them and hugged Dean awkwardly, trying not to crush the baby.
“Yeah, and you certainly knew how to spin those sob stories,” Dean said. “You were an education in itself, Zak. Boy, am I glad to see you.”
“I’m glad to see you too, Dean. Really glad.”
“The wanderlust got a little boring?” Dean asked, stepping back and leading Zak into the house.
“I wouldn’t say boring. But sometimes I just need to remember who I am. And I am what you made me.” Zak followed Dean into the house.
“Coffee?” Dean asked, setting the baby down in a high chair, where she proceeded to kick her legs and squeal excitedly.
“Yes, please. Although I have to go back out, I came to borrow a wrench.”
Dean turned and looked at him, a quizzical expression on his face. “What do you need a wrench for? That bike of yours sounded as if was running perfectly.”
“It is. I met a damsel in distress on the road, and I said I’d fix her car,” Zak told Dean, deciding to keep the fact that they were mates to himself for now.
“A damsel in distress?” Dean made a fresh pot of coffee. “I hope you remember what I taught you about being respectful.”
“Always,” Zak said. “I am a knight in shining armor. And that will never change.”
“Good man,” Dean nodded.
“And what about you? No damsels in distress?” Zak asked.
“Nope, except for Storm’s mom.” Dean shrugged. “I still have not found her, and am beginning to doubt I ever will.”
“Never say never,” Zak said. If there was one wish he wanted to be fulfilled, it was for Dean to find his own true mate. “Thanks.” He took the steaming mug of coffee from Dean, and smelled it. “You still make the best coffee. I’ve been all over the world, and I’ve never found anything finer.”
“You do have a silver tongue,” Dean said.
“It’s good to be home,” Zak said.
“How long are you staying?” Dean asked.
“As long as you’ll have me,” Zak replied.
Dean set his coffee down on the countertop. “Are you running from something?”
Zak smiled sadly. “Sometimes I think I’ve been running my whole life. And I want to stop.”
“Are you OK?” Dean asked. Zak hated the pain in his voice.
“I’m not in trouble if that is what you mean. I wouldn’t do that to you.” Dean was the reason Zak had kept out of trouble. His love and respect for the guy who had taken him in knew no end.
“I know, son. But if there is anything… You are never too big to need a shoulder to cry on.” Dean’s face was as honest as it had ever been.
“I just need some time away from my life.” Zak finished his coffee. “I’ve done what I set out to do. I shook off who I was. But now I need to find out who I really am.”
“So the wanderlust has gotten boring?” Dean asked, not pressing for more information than Zak was willing to give freely.
“Yeah. I would not mind settling down.” His thoughts turned to his mate. He would not mind one bit.
“You sound like an old man,” Dean said with a chuckle.
“I might be young, but I feel old. You know I didn’t have it easy.” Zak shook his head, feeling like a sap. “When I came to live with you here, it was the first time I felt as if I had a home.”
“So that’s what this is?” Dean asked. “You’re coming home.”
“Yeah. And I plan to stay. If you’ll have me.” Zak went to the sink and washed up his cup. “Now, if I can borrow that wrench, I have a car to fix.”
“Come on, let’s got to my workshop and get what you need. Don’t ever let it be said that Dean Capel got in the way of a man like Zak Pellow.”
“You made me what I am,” Zak said, as Dean picked up the baby and carried her outside.
“Spring is coming. A sign of new beginnings. You picked the right time to come back,” Dean told Zak as he opened up his workshop and went inside.
“Just as I remember it.” Zak nodded, and walked along the orderly rows of tools, selecting the correct-size wrench. “I promise to bring it back.”
“I know you will.” Dean smiled. “It is good to see you, Zak.”
“Good to see you too, old man,” Zak said cheekily.
“Now, get going. I’ll make up your old room and get it aired out.” Dean shooed Zak out of the door.
“And if you have time to make those brownies, I will not complain. One thing I have missed is home cooking. Life on the road is all hotel rooms and take-out food.” Zak got on his bike and, with a final wave, left Dean on the drive, watching him until the motorbike turned left and disappeared from view.
It sure was good to be home. And as the sun shone down, and the mountains rose high above him, he knew this had been the right decision. And not just because he had found his mate.
Chapter Five – Louise
“There’s someone to see you,” Ronni said, coming into the building where the stray cats were housed. This was Louise’s favorite place. She’d learned early on she was a cat person rather than a dog person, and spent as much time in here as she could making a fuss over her new furry friends.
“To see me?” Louise’s expression changed from surprised to worried. “What do they want? Is there a problem with Storm?”
A world of fear hit her. What if there had been an accident? What if Storm had gotten sick?
“Hey, relax. It’s a guy, dressed in leathers. Tight leathers,” Ronni said, her voice full of appreciation. “He said it’s something about fixing your car.”
“Oh,” Louise said, her fears slipping away, to be replaced by anticipation. Zak had actually come back! She had to admit she was surprised; Louise had figured she’d seen the last of him and her car.
“Oh? Is that all you can say?” Ronnie asked. From her expression Ronni was obviously going through a whole lot of speculation on what a man like Zak was doing with her car.
“Well, he fixed my car.” Louise stated the obvious, hoping Ronni would let it slide.
“He does not look like any mechanic I’ve ever seen. I don’t deny he’s got the physique, but since when do mechanics wear tight leather pants?”
“I have no idea what mechanics wear,” Louise answered feebly.
“OK, keep your secrets,” Ronni said. Luckily, her supervisor had not taken offense at not being told the gossip. If there was gossip. In reality, Louise was telling the truth. Zak was her mechanic, even if he had found her on the side of the road.
Louise took off her gloves and set them down next to the pen she’d been cleaning out. Then she followed Ronni out of the building and across to the reception area. She resisted the urge to comb her fingers through her hair and make herself look more presentable, because that would mean she cared what she looked like. And she didn’t. It did not matter to her one bit what Zak thought of her looks. She was not interested in taking this relationship any further. Not one iota.
Liar, she told herself when Ronni opened the door leading to the reception area and Louise caught sight of Zak. Ronni was right, those leather pants should be illegal.
“Hi,” Zak said, his eyes caressing her body as she entered the building.
“Hello.” Louise kept her tone friendly, but not too friendly. She only wished she had the same kind of control over her heart, which was hammering in her chest so loud she was sure both Zak and Ronni would be able to hear it.
“I fixed your car.” He held up her keys.
“Thank you,” Louise said, taking a couple of steps forward and reaching for them. Damn, she hoped he wasn’t going to play that game where he backed away and made her re
ach for them. If he did anything that looked as if he was playing with her, Ronni would get ideas about their relationship.
“It’s parked outside.” He handed her the keys, and she took them gratefully.
“You drove it here?” she asked, surprised but also relieved she wouldn’t have to walk to fetch it. Working at the animal sanctuary was physically demanding, and she was often tired when she finished, and longing for a hot bath.
“I did.” He paused, and then added, “I had to make sure it was fixed. I didn’t want you to get stranded on your way home to…”
Louise knew what he was doing, he was fishing for information. Did she want him to know where she lived?
“Bear Creek,” Ronni said from behind her.
Louise turned and gave her a stern look, but she had her eyes down, looking at some paperwork.
“Bear Creek,” Louise repeated, knowing there was little point in keeping it to herself now.
“Great. I’m staying in Bear Creek,” Zak replied. She was about to remind him that he promised to fix her car and not expect anything in return, when he turned away from her and reached for the door. “I might see you around.”
“We might. And thank you again,” Louise held up the keys. She really should say more, but she was frozen to the spot and didn’t know what she was supposed to do. She didn’t want a relationship with any man, not now that Ollie was taken, and certainly not one who looked like trouble on two wheels. She had a baby to think of. There was no way she was going to do anything to jeopardize her life.
“No problem.” He flashed her a smile that was like the sun coming out on a cloudy day.
“You aren’t going to offer to drive him back to wherever it is he left his bike?” Ronni hissed.
“It’s not time for my break,” Louise said, in way of an explanation.
“It is now,” Ronni said. “Go on.”
Louise looked at Zak’s back as it retreated. OK, so she was more like looking at his butt, which was encased in those tight leather pants, making her feel hot and flustered. “I can’t.”
Ronni got up from her desk. “Why not?” She cocked her head at Louise. “He fixed your car, you never paid him, and he walked away with only a thank you in his ear. The guy is a keeper.”
“I don’t want a keeper,” Louise said, wanting to escape back to the cats.
“Listen, Louise, I know you’ve had it rough.” Ronni put her hand up to stop Louise from talking. “Don’t worry, I do not know the details, but I do know that when you started working here, you were scared. And now you have blossomed.”
“I can’t risk getting hurt. I have a baby…”
“I completely understand, but that guy is into you. Really into you.” Ronni opened her eyes wide as if trying to convey a hidden meaning.
“I’m not ready. I can’t let myself get into a situation where I’m going to get let down.” Louise was insistent; she did not want to be coerced into anything that opened her up to more hurt. Zak might be a nice guy, but the bike and the leathers were a reminder of Ajax. A reminder she did not need.
“That is why this is perfect,” Ronni said encouragingly.
Louise frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“He’s a shifter.” Ronni pronounced each word slowly.
“How do you know?” Louise asked, whirling around to look at Zak, but he’d gone out of sight.
“Takes one to know one,” Ronni replied lightly.
“I’ve already fallen for a shifter, and got my heart ripped out. I can’t be with one when I’m not his mate, no matter how good he looks in tight pants,” Louise told Ronni firmly.
“How do you know you are not his mate?” Ronni asked, as always the voice of reason.
“He would have said,” Louise answered.
“Not necessarily. How does he know that you know?” Ronnie emphasized her meaning.
“About shifters?” Louise asked.
“Yes, he can’t exactly come out and say, hey, you’re mine, let’s get it on,” Ronni said in a deep voice.
“I… He never gave any indication,” Louise said.
“And stopping and helping you out, without expecting anything in return, is not an indication?” Ronni asked.
“I can’t go after him. It’s too late.” Louise said, her decision made.
“Don’t let love scare you,” Ronni said. “If there is any chance he might be your mate, you should go and give him a ride.”
“And then what?” Louise asked.
“See if you can get him to admit it. Then you’ll know.” Ronni went back to her desk. “Or don’t. The choice is yours.”
Louise pulled the door open and went outside, walking quickly down the driveway that led to the road. When she couldn’t see Zak, she broke into a jog. Now that she had made a decision, she wanted to get it over with.
“Damn it.” She reached the road, but he wasn’t there.
Swinging around, she ran back to her car, which was parked just outside the security gates of the sanctuary. Placing her hand on the door, she stopped, reconsidering her actions. Was she simply chasing Zak because she was on the rebound from Ollie?
OK, so technically, she was not rebounding, since they had never been together. Friends, yes, boyfriend and girlfriend, no. That did not change the amount of hurt and disappointment she had felt when he broke the news he had met his mate.
Was going after Zak her way of overcompensating? But what if he really was her mate?
He wouldn’t have walked out of her life. Not without at least giving her some indication he wanted her.
Louise’s shoulders sagged forward. If Zak was a shifter, and she was his mate, there was no way he would have simply walked away. Ollie had told her about the gut-wrenching need to be with his mate from the moment he’d met her.
Something akin to relief swept over Louise. The moment had passed; Zak and his leather-clad body had walked out of her life. And she was happy about that.
Liar.
Chapter Six – Zak
Zak shifted into his bear as soon as he was out of sight. It was easier to deal with leaving their mate behind if they ran blindly into the mountains until they were exhausted. Standing on the ledge of a cliff, his bear had looked down over Bear Bluff and let out a long, mournful roar. Then he’d made his way back down the steep paths, with aching legs to match his aching heart.
Arriving at the place where he’d left his bike, he climbed on and started the engine, turning it with some determination toward home. Toward Bear Creek. At least he knew that was where Louise lived, and if he had to wander the streets for the rest of his life, he would find her.
We shouldn’t have left her in the first place, his bear told him.
We couldn’t force ourselves on her, Zak said in return.
We could have left a phone number.
We promised no strings attached, Zak ended the conversation, not wanting to think about it anymore. Although he soon found that impossible, Louise would haunt his dreams, day and night, until he made her his.
Arriving at Sunnyside, Zak parked his bike on the driveway, took his one solitary pack, which contained all of his worldly possessions, off his bike, and went inside.
“There you are,” Dean said. “I was expecting you hours ago. Did you get the car fixed?”
“I did. Then I went for a run. I’ve missed the mountains.” Zak was not ready to talk about his mate. Maybe tomorrow, he would tell Dean all about it, but not now.
“Yeah, I get out as much as I can, but my babysitting duties keep me here.” Dean was feeding Storm and looking like a proud grandpa.
“It agrees with you,” Zak said, helping himself to a cold bottle of water.
“Yeah, I enjoy it.” He looked at Storm and said, in a baby voice, “We have great fun, don’t we? We go to the park and the store. How many times a day do you get told you are beautiful?”
Storm kicked her legs excitedly at the sound of Dean’s voice, and Zak had to laugh. “Just by you, or othe
r people?”
“Oh, I tell her twenty times a day at least,” Dean admitted. “And then your mommy tells you another thirty, and all the ladies in town must add up to a hundred.”
“I can believe it.” Zak studied Storm; she was beautiful, but then all babies were beautiful to a man who wanted his own family.
“Just like your mommy,” Dean said. “Only she doesn’t see it. Does she?”
“Do you mind if I take a shower?” Zak asked, shouldering his pack. “Then I’ll help you with dinner.”
“Sure, go ahead. I made your room up.” Dean looked at the clock. “Storm’s mommy should be home in an hour, I like to have dinner ready for her.”
“OK, I’ll be quick.” Zak headed to his old room. He called it his room, even though after he’d left he knew that other kids had stayed in there. Opening the door, he breathed in the scent of the fabric softener that Dean used. The same brand and same scent he’d used for years.
Zak walked to the window and looked out over the well-tended back garden, which was now littered with children’s toys. A small swing and a rocking horse, plus a play mat. The old man really had gone soft on this baby. He hoped Storm’s mom appreciated it.
Stripping off his leather pants, he headed for the shower, and washed off the dirt he’d accumulated from his journey. When he got out, he felt more like the young man who belonged here, and less like the creation he’d invented when he left, which Zak had worn like body armor.
He had no intention of going back. That part of his life had been fun while it lasted, but now he intended to live a quiet life here in Bear Creek. The bad boy was well and truly dead.
Drying his hair, he pulled on his well-worn jeans and a T-shirt, then padded back to the kitchen with bare feet.
“That looks better,” Dean remarked. “Those leather pants were enough to cut off your circulation.”
Zak laughed. “You always did know how to bring me back down to earth.”
“I have a knack for it,” Dean said. “It’s why you love me.”
“It is, old man.” Zak took an ice-cold beer from the fridge, where Dean always kept them in case someone dropped by. “Do you want one?”
Bad Boy Bear (Return to Bear Creek Book 9) Page 3
