“People don’t do that kind of thing without conditions.” She turned and walked away from him, to look out over the valley below.
Mason moved with her, reaching for her arm and pulling her back toward him. “Tiana, can I ask you a question?”
She shied away from him and he let her go. With her feet hip-width apart and planted firmly on the ground as if she were ready to fight, she asked, “What?”
“You’ve lived here in Bear Creek for some years. You’ve gotten to meet a lot of people through the restaurant.” He wanted to tread very carefully and not freak her out if she didn’t know about shifters. However, this was the perfect place and the perfect time to tell her what she was to him.
His one true mate.
Chapter Seven – Tiana
Why did he care how many people she’d met at the restaurant?
“I have.” She looked at him kind of weird, unsure where this conversation would lead them. But before he had a chance to say any more, to tell her who he really was, her phone rang. “Sorry.” She glanced at the screen. “It’s my mom.”
She answered the call and walked off a few paces. “Tiana. Are you coming to pick me up?” Her mom sounded tired. Checking her watch, Tiana realized why, it was way past lunchtime.
“I am. Sorry, Mom, I got caught up with something.”
“Is the house all right?” Philippa asked.
“Yes, it’s fine. Give me ten minutes and I’ll be there.” Tiana swung around and faced Mason who was staring at her, with an expression approaching need. She swallowed hard, not willing to give into her own body’s response to that raw need. “Don’t worry.”
“I’ll see you soon.” Philippa ended the call.
She risked a glance at Mason. The moment was gone. Whatever he was about to say, it was too late. Tiana couldn’t figure out if she’d dodged a bullet or missed one of the most important conversations in her life.
Tiana walked back toward the house. “I promised to cut some of these roses and pick some raspberries. And I need to lock up the house.”
“What can I do?” Mason asked. “Since it’s my fault you’re late to pick up your mom.”
“Could you cut the roses? If you look in the barn, you’ll see my dad’s cutters. I’ll fetch a vase and lock the house.”
“Sure.” He turned on his heel and walked to the garage. Tiana was relieved to see he wasn’t in a bad mood over the interruption. Quentin had always been a sulker if things didn’t go his way. There was no way she wanted to date a man like that again, let alone marry him.
Tiana stood with her hand on the back door as she tried to figure out where that thought had come from. They’d known each other less than twenty-four hours and she was already thinking marriage?
Pushing the door open she went inside, retrieved her mom’s favorite vase, along with a Tupperware tub and after checking that everything was okay, she went back outside. Going around to the side of the house, she found Mason snipping the rose stems and carefully placing them on the ground.
“You look like a pro,” Tiana observed as she quickly picked some raspberries that were beautifully ripe.
“My mom is an avid gardener. Growing up I used to help her in the garden.” He snipped off a bloom and placed it with the others. “We grew a lot of our own food, too. My parents taught me to be self-sufficient.”
“Do you see them often?” Tiana asked. She wondered if his parents were still alive and well, or if he’d been hit by the death of one, or both, of them.
“I do. They live about twenty miles from here in Reamington.” He stood back and looked at the blooms. “Is that enough?”
“Yes, plenty.” Tiana sealed the Tupperware securely, then bent down and picked up the long stems one at a time and placed them in the vase. “Half for my dad and half for my mom.”
She paused, her hand halfway to the vase, and before she could stop herself, she erupted into sobs.
“Hey, it’s okay.” Mason bent down and wrapped his arms around her.
She wobbled into him and then overbalanced, taking him with her as she sat down heavily on the long grass. Mason shifted position and held her close against his chest as she cried. “I’m sorry,” she said when she trusted herself to speak again.
“Don’t be. This is a difficult time for you all. With your dad not well, and the sale of the house. It’s okay to let it out. I have broad shoulders, you can cry on them anytime.”
“I’m supposed to be strong for them just like they were strong for me.” She sniffed loudly and wiped her face on her sleeve.
“They’re your parents, you love them. You’re allowed to cry.” He let her go and then scooped the roses up, ignoring the sharp thorns as he transferred them to one arm and then offered her his hand. “Come on, your mom will be worried.”
Tiana placed her hand in his and he pulled her to her feet. “Thanks.”
He put his arm around her shoulders and they walked slowly to the car, while she wiped her tears and caught her breath. “Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” he asked.
“Will you meet me here? We can clear the garden and I’ll bring a picnic. Since I owe you a date.” She smiled, wanting him to say yes. Tiana thought she was strong, thought she could bear the weight of her life on her own shoulders. But being with Mason showed her she didn’t have to. He was there for her, willing to share the good times and the bad.
“I told you, you don’t owe me anything. If you want to see me again, I want it to be because you want to, not because you feel obliged.”
“I do want to,” she admitted, her cheeks flushing pink. Without another thought, she leaned forward and kissed his mouth.
Mason’s arm tightened around her and he pulled her closer, wanting more.
Their kiss deepened. What began as a chaste peck on the lips became fueled by the passion they both felt. It was undeniable. And she didn’t want to fight it.
“You should go,” he whispered in her ear as their kiss broke.
She looked up, searching his eyes and knew he was telling her to go, not because she needed to pick up her mom, but because if she didn’t, he would give her one hundred and one pleasurable reasons to stay.
“Tomorrow. Same time.” She dumped everything into the trunk of her car.
“Same place.” He waved as she got in the car and drove away, leaving her heart with him.
The drive to the inpatient rehabilitation facility passed by unnoticed. Her thoughts were too consumed with Mason to take in the wonderful view, or the sound of the birds in the trees. However, reality soon came crashing back down around her when she saw her mom waiting for her.
“I was worried,” Philippa said accusingly.
“Sorry.” Tiana fetched the roses from the trunk. “Shall we go and give these to Dad? I just need to add water.”
“He’s having his lunch,” Philippa told her daughter. “That’s why I’m out here.”
“They wouldn’t let you stay while he ate?” Tiana asked.
Philippa looked down at her hands clasped in her lap. She was seated on a bench which bore a small brass remembrance plaque. “He doesn’t like me watching him eat. He says he looks like a baby.”
“Oh, Mom.” Tiana sat down next to her mom and gave her a hug. “I’m sorry, I should have been here earlier.”
“Why were you so long?” Philippa’s eyes shone brightly with tears. “I need my lunch, too.”
Sometimes it was as if her parents had regressed and Tiana was the adult and they were the children, both helpless in their own ways. Philippa had never learned to drive. Up until her husband’s stroke, this had never been an issue. But now she was left stranded unless someone was around to drive her where she needed to go.
It had been the deciding factor for the house sale. The property was too remote for them with no way of getting into town unless someone fetched them.
“There was someone viewing the house.” Tiana stared into the distance as Philippa gasped.
“O
ur house?” Philippa’s question was rhetorical, but Tiana answered all the same.
“Yes. It was the guy who I met last night on my date.”
Philippa sucked in her breath sharply. “That’s a coincidence. Or did you tell him about the house? Is he trying to rob us?”
“No, Mom. He’s not trying to rob you. He works in property. Plus, he’s looking for a place to live in Bear Creek.” Tiana put her arm around her mom and gave her a reassuring hug.
“Is he one of those shifters?” Philippa whispered.
Tiana’s arm stiffened, and her breath came fast. “I don’t know.” She hesitated. “What do you know about shifters?”
“We see them sometimes on the mountain. And we hear things.” She glanced at her daughter. “You’ve never seen one?”
“We live in town, I’ve never seen a bear walking past the front door,” Tiana admitted. “I sometimes wonder if it’s all made up.”
“They are real. I believe the hotel owner, Julius, is one. He moved in next door a few months ago.” Philippa considered it for a moment. “I hope this man of yours is one.”
“Why?” Tiana asked.
“Because they mate for life. You wouldn’t have any of this running off with someone else business. I like Quentin and all, but he should have stayed with you.” Philippa patted Tiana’s hand. “You deserve a man who will stay with you forever.”
“Like Dad stayed with you.” Tiana rested her head against her mom’s hair. “We’ll figure it all out. You know that, right?”
Philippa nodded. “Let’s take those roses inside and then we can get home and eat.” Philippa picked up the roses and inhaled deeply. “If anything is going to make your dad pull himself together, the scent of these roses will.”
“You know he can’t help it, don’t you, Mom?” Tiana asked.
“I do. But I don’t like to think of him being helpless.” They walked into the home hand in hand.
Tiana took a moment to go over what her mom had said. When she saw Haley at work this evening, she was going to ask her about Mason. If anyone knew if he was a shifter, she would. They were long-term friends.
But how did you broach a subject like that?
***
“A what?” Sorcha exclaimed loudly.
“A shifter. You know, the ones who can change into animals?” Haley’s eyes widened. “You two didn’t know about them?”
“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 fl
oor.” 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.”
Silverbacks and Second Chances Page 51
