The Bear Buys a Bride (A Second Chance Christmas in Bear Creek Book 1)

by Harmony Raines

  Not that he needed to hear or see her leave. The mating bond was a deep connection between their souls and he could feel the loss of her presence keenly. Sian was his only weakness. After a life of having no real connections, no vulnerabilities, this came as a shock.

  If anyone tried to harm her, we would deal with them swiftly, his bear assured him firmly.

  Matthew nodded, but the idea shook him to the core. The deeper their bond became, the more vulnerable he would be to anyone who wanted to hurt him or his business.

  But she also gives us strength, his bear said firmly. She has taught us how to feel again. How to interact with people in a good way. And how to love.

  You are wise, Matthew told his bear.

  I’ve had plenty of opportunities to witness our old lives, his bear said. I like this new one much better.

  With a smile, Matthew left his hiding place and ventured out into the new world, a world filled with hope.

  “Matthew. You’ve just missed Sian,” Lucas said as he entered the reception office.

  “I know.” He gave one wistful look over his shoulder before he turned his attention on the reason he was here. “I’m here because I need your help and advice.”

  “You do?” Ronni’s surprised expression mirrored her tone.

  “Yes.” He looked from Ronni to Lucas and smirked. “We’re letting the past go, right?”

  “Yes. Absolutely,” Lucas said. “Unless you mess up and hurt Sian or anyone else. Or unless you try to tear down anyone else’s property.”

  “Great.” He was not going to try to defend his previous actions. It wasn’t worth it. Plus, he wanted Ronni and Lucas to like him.

  Christmas magic, his bear whispered in his head like an ethereal ghost.

  “I bought the pampering day...” Matthew began, but Ronni interrupted him.

  “Don’t tell me you are here because you need the money back?” Her pale face told him the money was already allocated to projects for the animals.

  “No. It’s yours.” He smiled reassuringly, which felt alien on his face. “I want to reverse the pampering day and do something for Sian since she works so hard. Both here, with the kids and on the classes she’s taking.”

  “Oh, in that case, coffee?” Ronni’s expression brightened, and she led them into the back office where a yellow Lab thumped her tail happily at him. “Jessie likes you, so you must have turned over a new leaf.”

  Matthew bent down and stroked Jessie’s broad head. “Hi there, Jessie.”

  A kitten popped its head out from the back of the sofa and sprang down to bat Jessie on the head before spinning around and leaping away. Jessie rolled her eyes and started puffing, which looked like a giant grin.

  “She mothered the kittens when we rescued them from an old dilapidated farmhouse over on Downend,” Lucas explained.

  “So that was one of the little devils Sian is adopting?” Matthew asked as a paw snaked out from the side of the sofa and made a grab for Jessie’s tail.

  “They’re all in here somewhere. Jessie is babysitting to give the momma cat a break. They are almost ready to go to their new homes.” Ronni passed Matthew and Lucas a cup of coffee. “Although Sian’s asked me to hold onto hers since she has no heating.”

  “Sian and her daughters are living in my house now,” Matthew said as he stood up and sipped his coffee. “But you already knew that.”

  “Does that mean they can have the kittens? Sian said Ella and Rachel are disappointed. It was kind of a Christmas gift for them.” Lucas caught one of the little demons with claws and held its tiny body in his hand. The kitten purred and rubbed its head against Lucas’s fingers. “They are super cute.”

  “And yet I am unmoved,” Matthew protested. However, this was his chance to show them all he was a changed man. A man who could take in a couple of animals who needed a home. It seemed right somehow since this was the place where it all began. If the shelter had never been in danger and the auction had never happened, then he would never have met his mate.

  “Not just a little moved?” Lucas held the purring kitten out to Matthew and Jessie barked in encouragement.

  “This is not why I’m here,” Matthew protested as he took the kitten from Lucas.

  “Isn’t it?” Ronni asked. “See, I thought you came here to help Sian, to turn her pampering day on its head. Because you want to make her happy. And the thing that will make Sian really happy is taking home the kittens she promised her daughters.”

  Matthew sighed, he was a good negotiator and he knew when he was beaten, he’d witnessed it enough times after all. But always from the other side. “Okay. They can come live at my house when they are ready to leave their mom.”

  “Great. Since we all know now Sian and the girls are living there, they are never going to leave, are they?” Ronni asked pointedly.

  “I hope not. But we have a way to go before Ella and Rachel accept me as their mom’s new man. They don’t know about shifters or mating bonds, or any of it.”

  “They’ll be okay with it. Once they see how happy Sian is with you, they’ll understand.” Lucas drank his coffee and then put his cup down on the sink. “Okay, so why are you really here?”

  “The pampering day. Ella, Rachel and I were brainstorming ideas of what Sian would like and we came up with helping to get the pet salon up and running. So I need to know where she is with everything and what I can do to help.” Matthew tried to ignore the cute bundle of fur in his hand. They were somehow irresistible in a way he’d never expected.

  “Oh, that would be amazing. I know Sian has been waiting for the money to come through when her divorce is finalized, but Peter is being difficult.” Ronni glanced at Lucas. “But maybe she wants to do it on her own. I don’t know.”

  “Why not loan her the money?” Lucas suggested. “That way she can pay you back when she starts to make a profit.”

  “Good idea. But instead of loaning her the money, I’d like to buy the equipment and have it installed.” He watched their expressions. “Or will that upset Sian? That is the last thing I want to do.”

  “I have a list of everything she needs. We checked it off against what the shelter already owns. The idea is for Sian to rent the space in the building we use for new arrivals. It’s where we wash them and treat them for fleas while we assess their temperament.” Ronni went to her desk and opened a drawer. After rummaging around, she came back with a piece of paper. “Here, this is the list. I can copy it out for you.”

  Matthew took out his smartphone and took a photograph of the list. “This will do fine.” He handed the piece of paper back to Ronni. “Can I arrange to have it all delivered straight here?”

  “Sure, we can tell Sian it’s for our house.” Ronni folded her arms and stood back to assess Matthew. “You know, you’re not so bad.”

  “Thanks,” Matthew answered wryly.

  “I mean it. I thought you were a complete asshole when you came here posing as a potential adopter, just so you could nose around. But I might just have changed my opinion of you.” She let her arms drop to her side and came toward him, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him.

  His shocked expression was met by one from Lucas. “Thanks.” He patted her back gently before she pulled away and wiped her eyes.

  With a loud sniff, she said, “Sorry. I’m feeling a little teary right now. What with the building work beginning and your offer to help Sian? It feels as if our dreams are starting to come true.”

  “They are, honey,” Lucas said and wrapped his arms around his mate. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head and then looked up at Matthew. “This all gives life new meaning, doesn’t it?”

  Matthew nodded. “It does. I never saw it before, but my life was empty until I came here to Bear Creek.”

  He put his phone back into his pocket. “I’m going to make some calls, then I offered to help Will for a while.”

  “You can stay away from your mate for that long?” Lucas asked as his arms tightened around
Ronni.

  “With some difficulty,” he admitted. “But I don’t want to crowd her.”

  Ronni smiled through although her eyes were full of tears. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder?”

  Matthew gave a short laugh. “More like absence makes my heart yearn for her more and more.” He headed for the door. “Thank you both. And please keep this to yourselves, I want to surprise Sian.”

  “I think you’ve surprised us all,” Lucas told him.

  “I’ll see you later.” Matthew left the reception office and headed around the side of the building. He would make a few phone calls before helping Will as promised, but all he really wanted to do was get back to the house where his mate was. But a promise was a promise and Matthew intended to be the best he could be so his mate would be proud of him.

  Chapter Seventeen – Sian

  “Hi there.” Matthew straightened up and watched her as she sauntered toward him. Her body tingled with the desire to feel his strong capable hands all over her.

  “Hi, how’s it going?” She swallowed down her desire as he turned to face her.

  “Good, I should have this finished today. The roof no longer leaks.” He put his hands on his hips and her eyes were drawn to his wide expanse of chest. How her fingers itched to stroke his skin, and her lips buzzed with the need to trail kisses over his hot flesh. “Then I can start on the next job.” He lowered his head and surveyed her. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes.” Her voice squeaked. He was fulfilling her fantasy from earlier in the day. When she’d gotten back here and found the house bereft of her hot mate, she’d gone for a walk around the property to cool down. Yet here he was, as if she’d conjured him from her imagination. “I... The porch looks good.”

  “Thanks.” He didn’t take his eyes off her. Did he have any idea of how he made her feel?

  “I thought I’d make lunch.” She smiled brightly and tried to look normal, but figured she looked more like a demented fool. “Can I get you something?”

  Me.

  Color rushed to her cheeks. He couldn’t hear her thoughts, but she was certain her body was betraying her with all kinds of subtle hints. Peter had never made her feel like this, her body thrummed with excitement, she could get high just being close to Matthew. Was this how her life would be from now on, barely able to function because of a man? But oh, what a man he was.

  “You.” His answer was accompanied by his outstretched arms and she had to force herself to focus on what the question was again.

  “The feeling is mutual.” That sounded so lame, but her brain had left for a vacation somewhere warm and fuzzy.

  Sian took a step forward and then another until she was in his arms. There was nowhere else she wanted to be. He tightened his grip on her as if he never wanted to let her go. “I know it’s a lot to take in, it’s a lot to believe in,” Matthew said.

  “I might find it harder if I hadn’t witnessed the moment Ronni and Lucas met. It was love at first sight. Like they knew who the other was instantly.” She lifted her head and looked up at him. “Did you feel the same way?”

  “I did. At the auction, it was as if cupid’s arrow had struck me in my heart. Which was weird because I thought my heart was shriveled up and blackened. But seeing you was like getting an electric shock, which kick-started my heart and my life.” He stroked her hair with his hand and dropped a kiss on her lips before murmuring, “My life changed in that split second, but I didn’t know how to handle it or how you would feel about me, so I swallowed it down and tried to hide it.”

  “I know that feeling.” She listened to his heart beat constant and strong. “You’ve woken something in me, too. When I decided to move us halfway across the country for a new start in Bear Creek, I vowed I would stay away from men at least until the girls had grown up. But that promise I made to myself has shattered into a million pieces.”

  “I’m glad.” He stroked her cheek and then cupped her chin in his hand. “You are freezing, let’s go inside.”

  “I don’t know, I like it here with you.” She snuggled closer to him. “You are so warm.”

  “Which is a good thing since I’m living in your freezing cold house.” He reached for her hand and they entered the house.

  “Are you trying to make me feel guilty?” she asked. “Because it won’t work. I love it here.”

  “So much that you’ll never leave?” His direct question shocked her.

  “I don’t know. I mean I know we’re meant to be together. But what about Ella and Rachel?” she asked.

  “They’re invited, too.” The hope in his eyes was almost too much.

  “I don’t know... We have to tell them about shifters first. I don’t know how they’ll take it.” She let go of his hand and headed for the kitchen, but he pulled her back to him.

  “I’ll wait as long as I have to wait. If all we have is stolen moments, then so be it.” His voice was hoarse as he wrapped his arms possessively around her.

  “I can’t ask you to do that.” She lifted her face to his.

  “You aren’t asking. I’m offering. No expectations, just a chance to be in your life.” He lowered his head and captured her lips and she pressed her body against his. This felt so right. As if this was where she’d been born to be.

  “We’ll make it work,” Sian breathed against his neck as their kiss broke and she fought the well of emotion that threatened to explode inside her. It had been so long, too long, since she’d wanted a man. After the first blush of lust for Peter had faded, sex had soon become a formality.

  She closed her eyes and drank in the sensations washing over her skin as Matthew caressed her jawline, his fingers trailing lightly down her neck as he reached for the zipper of her coat. There was nothing formal about this, she wanted to tear his clothes from his body and throw him down on the bed before making sweet, passionate love to him.

  A small nervous giggle escaped her lips. Matthew had awoken the beast inside her and she was ready to set her free.

  “Did I tickle you?” His question was accompanied by soft butterfly kisses along her collarbone.

  She shivered in anticipation as his strong fingers curled around her coat and he pushed it off her shoulders. “That’s not exactly how I’d describe what you are doing to me.” Her fingers fumbled for the hem of his sweater and pulled it upward. “But I’m willing to experiment.”

  He chuckled, a deep throaty laugh that sent tremors through her body. She wanted him and for once she was certain she was going to get exactly what she wanted. He was a shifter, he couldn’t say no to his mate, right?

  “Maybe we should go take a look at the bedroom?” he asked as she pulled his sweater over his head.

  She nodded, not trusting herself to speak now that she was faced with the reality of sex with Matthew. Sian tried to recall what underwear she put on this morning. Was her bra sexy or serviceable? Did he care?

  The dark need barely hidden in his eyes told her she could be dressed in a garbage bag and he wouldn’t care. In fact, he would prefer no clothes at all. But still, she could always run upstairs first and drag something lacy out of her drawers.

  Matthew took that decision out of her hands. And into his. Scooping her up as if she were a young, nubile woman, not the middle-aged, fully-ripened mother of two nearly grown children, Matthew cradled her against his body as he mounted the stairs in haste. She could feel his hard length jutting into her thigh, and she swallowed down her panic and instead tried to resurrect her desire. But her mouth had gone dry and her palms were sweaty.

  He kicked open the bedroom door and strode across the room before placing her down gently on the bed. This one tender action brought back her longing. Its tendrils unfurled deep in her belly and fanned out until her body ached for him.

  Matthew hovered over the bed, uncertainty playing across his face. “Are you sure?”

  In response, she grasped hold of the front of his T-shirt and dragged him toward her. “Absolutely, one hundred percent.”


  He leaned forward and their lips met, gentle at first, but then the flames of desire raged inside them both. It flickered in their eyes and the heat seared their skin with each stroke, each touch. Sian slid her hands down to grip the hem of his T-shirt and dragged it upward. Matthew sat up briefly and dragged it over his head, throwing it to the floor before he unbuttoned her cardigan, and then her shirt, before pushing them both off her shoulders. She shrugged out of them, her hand getting caught in the cuff of her blouse, but together they worked to free it.

  Matthew dropped her jumble of clothes on the floor, and she took a moment to glance down at her bra. It would do. Not her best lingerie, but then she hadn’t expected to be lying here on the bed with Matthew when she dressed this morning. She shook her hair back from her head and tried to look seductive, but Matthew was more interested in the button of her pants and how quickly he could drag them down over her thighs.

  If she ever thought to question his own need for her, he showed her the answer in his haste to have her naked beneath him. Sian couldn’t take her eyes off him, he was beautiful. Not in a feminine way, oh no, he was all man. But his body was sculpted from smooth flesh despite his age. Only the silver-gray hairs on his head and the smattering of hair across his chest, which led down to his navel, had been touched by time.

  “You are magnificent,” she breathed as he dropped his jeans to the floor.

  “You’ll make me blush,” he said coyly.

  “I bet you’ve heard it a thousand times,” Sian replied.

  “But it only matters when you say it.” He stalked toward the bed, a hunter about to claim his prey, but the desire in his eyes told her that she had as much power over him.

  A lump formed in her throat. She understood now, even without the same mating bond shifters were destined to obey, she couldn’t hurt him, would always be faithful to him, because he loved her without expectations. It was one of the purest of loves, unconditional, like that which a parent and a child shared.