“He is. Mature beyond his years,” Mason said, with a hint of sadness in his voice. “Sometimes kids see too much of life before they should.”
“Like Haley’s kids?” Buck asked.
“Yeah. But that’s something you need to hear from Haley herself.” Mason put his hand on Buck’s shoulder. “They’ve had a rough time of it, which is why I couldn’t be happier they have you in their lives.”
“I hope I’m what they need,” Buck replied.
“You are.” Mason walked toward the truck. “You have to believe it.”
Buck breathed in a lungful of mountain air. He believed this was what he needed. From the mountain to the construction job to his mate and her children, it was as if everything was falling into place at last. He’d waited so long, had begun to believe he was too old, and yet here he was about to embark on an amazing adventure into the unknown.
It all started now.
He strode forward and got in the truck. Mason started the engine, giving Buck a sidelong grin before he turned the truck around and took them back home. Rhett sat quietly, consumed by his own thoughts while Mason and Buck made small talk about the plans and the project as a whole. They bounced around start dates and the number of workers they had to bring in to complete on time.
But none of it mattered next to the prospect of seeing his mate once more.
“They’re not here yet?” Buck asked with obvious disappointment in his voice when they reached the house. He’d daydreamed that Haley would be waiting for him, her arms open, welcoming him into her life. His disappointment was real, even if his daydream wasn’t.
“Not yet.” Mason got out of the truck and the others followed. “You know what women are like at packing.”
“No, I don’t,” Buck replied.
“They pack a lot,” Rhett joined in. He seemed happy to be home, especially when an elderly man waved to him from the front of the property.
“Rhett, I thought I saw you,” the man called. He moved with an awkward gait as he walked across the porch and leaned on the handrail.
“Granddad.” Rhett waved back and then bounded across the gravel and leaped onto the porch. “How are you?”
“Better for seeing you.” They hugged, although the old man had trouble lifting his arm. “When did you get back?”
“Late last night, and then I went out early this morning.” Rhett took a step back and assessed his granddad. “How are you feeling? You look good.”
“Ahh, I’m doing my exercises, managing to get out in the garden.” He smiled at Rhett. “It’s good to see you. I miss you.”
“I miss you, too. Is Grandma home?” Rhett asked eagerly.
“She is, want to come in and see her?”
Rhett turned to Mason. “I’ll see you later. I’ll watch out for when Haley arrives.”
“Okay. See you later. Afternoon, Norman.” Mason waved.
“Afternoon, son,” Norman replied with a wave and then ushered Rhett inside.
“Did the kid just dodge a bullet?” Buck asked.
“He did. I’m not sure how Tiana plans on finding out what’s wrong with Rhett. But he’s going to have to talk to her some time.” Mason led them around the house. It had been extended and cleverly split into two homes. Tiana’s parents lived on the ground floor so that her father didn’t have to use the stairs. He’d had a stroke a few months earlier and although better, an upstairs bedroom or bathroom would have been too much for him. The rest of the property belonged to Mason and Tiana, they had a couple of rooms on the ground floor and the whole of the first floor as their unique home. The new and the old portions of the house fit together seamlessly.
Almost seamlessly. To a trained eye such as Buck’s, the joins were there. “You did a good job on the house. What’s it like living with the in-laws on the doorstep?”
“They’re good people. Just like the rest of the folks around here. I don’t feel like an outsider, they’ve welcomed me into their town and their lives. They’ll welcome you, too.” He opened the door leading in and they entered the house. The smell of baking assailed them, and Buck’s mouth watered. “That smells good.”
“I thought I’d make some cookies and brownies for the kids. I hear they are camping out this evening.” Tiana came around the counter and kissed Mason. “Do you two big kids need a cookie?”
“Yes, please.” Mason rested his arm on her shoulders. “Is there anything you need me to do?”
“I have it all under control.” Tiana looked behind Buck. “Where’s Rhett?”
“He’s visiting with your mom and dad.” Mason went to the coffee maker and began making a fresh pot. “He was really interested in the building project.”
Tiana went back to her cookies and Mason handed Buck a fresh cup of coffee. “Thanks.”
“Do you think he wants to quit school?” Tiana asked thoughtfully.
“Is it a big deal if he does?” Mason asked.
“Not for me, but it’s all he’s talked about for so long.” Tiana sighed and rubbed her hand over her swollen belly. “All I want is for my kids to be happy.”
“I know.” Mason hugged her and kissed her cheek. “So, what can we do?”
“Could you go up to the attic and bring down all the camping gear?” Tiana put the brownies on a cooling tray. “How was Haley?” Mason and Buck looked at each other. “What?”
“She didn’t mention anything?” Buck asked, wishing he knew Tiana better.
“Anything about what?” Tiana put her oven gloves down, looking concerned. “What’s happened now? Not her asshole ex again?”
Buck’s grip tightened on his coffee mug. “Does he cause her a lot of trouble?”
Tiana shrugged. “He doesn’t support her or the kids…”
“Buck, you need to tell Tiana.” Mason’s voice was firm.
“Tell me what?” Tiana looked from Mason to Buck and then back again. “Tell me what?”
“Haley is my mate.” The words sounded strange on his tongue and if Mason hadn’t been there to witness the whole thing, too, then Buck could almost convince himself it never happened.
Almost.
“She’s what?” Tiana asked, looking confused.
“My mate.” Buck looked at Tiana with concern. “She never told you when she called?”
“No.” Tiana frowned.
“Did she sound okay on the phone?” Buck asked, his concern deepening. Perhaps Haley had second thoughts and didn’t like the idea of being the mate of a bear shifter.
Or maybe she’s finding it hard to believe it happened, too, his bear said. You were a little reserved.
Reserved? Buck went over the time he’d spent with Haley, and his bear might have a point. In not wanting to make Haley feel pressured or seem overpowering, he may have come over as cool and disinterested, when in fact he was very interested.
“She did sound as if she was holding back. But I thought she was trying not to get upset about the ceiling. She said she was grateful for your help but that she didn’t want to take advantage.” Tiana stopped talking. “I’m rambling.”
“Perhaps she thought I was making it up?” Buck asked. He rubbed his hand over his chin.
“No, she knows Mason wouldn’t stand for anything like that,” Tiana assured him. “It’s more likely that she feels a bit stupid saying it.”
“Why?” Mason asked, helping himself to another cookie.
“Well…” Tiana looked at them both and then returned to her brownies as she said, “You feel kind of stupid. I mean in what real world does a person turn into an animal and know their true love when they see them?”
“Our world,” Mason said simply.
“Which you and Haley don’t live in.” Buck understood now.
“Exactly. For us non-shifters, this comes as one big surprise. Then you feel stupid, as if the whole thing must be made up and someone is telling you a lie to make fun of you.” Tiana placed the cut-up brownies on a plate.
“But you know it’s real. So
Haley must know it’s real,” Mason insisted.
“She’s never seen you shift.” Tiana stood still and waved a knife thoughtfully in the air. “Maybe she thinks I’m crazy and I made it all up.”
Mason laughed. “She knows you are not crazy and she knows it’s all real. I think she’s simply scared.”
Tiana’s expression faltered, and her mouth drooped at the corners. “She’s scared she’ll make the same mistake she did before. Haley blames herself for how her marriage turned out. And no matter how many times we tell her it’s not her fault, she still thinks it is.”
“Then I’ll show her it’s not. I’ll make sure she knows I could never hurt her and that I want the best for her and her children.” Buck’s honesty shone through. So much so that Tiana broke down in tears and sobbed.
Mason wrapped his strong arms around her and held her close. “It’s okay. It’s all going to be okay.”
“I know you’ll be the best thing to ever happen to Haley and her kids. I just want her to be happy,” Tiana sobbed as a car approached the house.
“She’s here,” Buck said, and while Tiana wiped her eyes and composed herself, Buck went out to meet his mate.
Chapter Five – Haley
Nerves kicked in halfway to Tiana’s house and Haley wanted to turn the car around and drive back home where she could dive under the covers and hide from the world in the sanctuary of her own bed.
But even as she imagined her bed, Buck entered her daydream, his strong arms wrapping her up in a secure embrace from where no one and nothing could hurt her. But could he make her safe, or should he be the thing she feared?
However, she knew she couldn’t turn around. The girls were too excited, full of chatter about camping out and toasting marshmallows over a camp fire. And she wanted to see Buck, she truly did. She wanted to know for real, with absolute certainty, he was the one for her.
Of course, she made it harder on herself by not telling T over the phone. For some reason the words would not form in her mouth and she could not give life to them. Why? Because she felt stupid. Stupid to admit she was ready to risk her heart again.
She turned off the main road, the car eating into the distance to where her true mate no doubt waited for her.
What was she supposed to say? How was she supposed to react?
She was about to find out. As she came to a stop next to Mason’s truck, she looked up and saw Buck waiting for her.
“He knew you were coming,” Alicia breathed in awe as she stared out of the car window at Buck.
“That proves it, doesn’t it, Mom?” Marie asked hopefully.
“He might just have heard the car,” Haley said, trying to explain it away, even though she wanted to believe.
It was like Christmas as a child all over again. Haley had been one of those kids that believed in Santa even when her friends said he wasn’t real. She’d wanted to wrap herself up in that make-believe for as long as possible, even when the doubts crept in and she knew deep down it wasn’t true.
But this was different. This was true. Tiana and Mason were testament to that. It was real, the mating bond was real. She had to hold on to that even if her head told her it was a lie. Because even if she didn’t trust herself, she trusted Tiana’s judgment.
“Mom, are we going to get out of the car?” Alicia asked, nudging her out of her daydream.
“Yes.” In a flurry of activity Haley opened the car door and nearly fell out. Strong hands caught her upper arms and pulled her upright before she hit the ground. The shock of recognition between them obliterated all thoughts that this might not be real.
“Are you okay?” Buck asked as she stared into his soft brown eyes and admired the strength of his jaw, and of his hands that were still in contact with her flesh.
“Yes,” she squawked like a parrot before clearing her throat. “Yes. I’m fine, my foot got caught in the…” She looked back at the car but there was nothing for her foot to have gotten caught up in.
“Do you want a hand carrying your gear?” Buck asked, not dwelling on her clumsy behavior.
“Thanks, that would be great. I think we packed for a week,” Haley admitted and earned herself a smile off Buck. “What’s so funny?”
“Mason and Rhett said you would pack too much stuff.” He hauled Alicia’s suitcase from the car. “They were not wrong.”
“I wanted to make sure I have everything I need,” Alicia said firmly as she took another suitcase from the trunk and placed it on the ground.
“Good thinking,” Buck responded and lifted Marie’s suitcase out, while Haley grabbed her own luggage which consisted of a backpack and a small vanity case.
“Hi there!” Rhett appeared on the porch and came to meet them. “Here, I’ll take one of those.” He reached out for Marie’s suitcase and Buck let him have it. Not because he couldn’t manage, he could carry all the luggage with one hand, but Rhett wanted to help, and Buck wanted to encourage him.
“Where are we going to camp?” Alicia asked, falling into step beside Rhett, with Marie running to catch up to them.
“I thought we could go down toward the end of the lawn. There are fewer trees there to block the view of the stars.” Rhett was talking to the two girls and Buck took the opportunity to speak to Haley.
“Where are you sleeping?” he asked and then closed his eyes as the words registered in his head. She had to admit she found his nervousness kind of cute. “I didn’t mean that to sound like a proposition.”
Haley looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “Maybe I wouldn’t mind if you did.”
Color rose in his cheeks, she’d made Buck feel like an awkward teenager, which turned her thoughts to Rhett and his sudden and unexpected return home. That age was filled with big decisions you had to make about your future when you didn’t have any idea of where you wanted to go. Haley hoped spending a couple of days goofing around with Alicia and Marie, who were like sisters to Rhett, might help him clear his head. Then he might talk to his mom about his problems. If he had any. They might all be reading too much into the whole thing.
She switched her focus back to Buck.
“I meant inside or outside the house?”
“I know what you meant.” She glanced sideways at him and gave him a lopsided smile.
“I have to get used to the way you tease,” Buck said and set the suitcases down as Mason and Tiana came out to meet them. Tiana looked as if she’d been crying and Haley hoped she wasn’t the cause of her best friend’s tears.
Haley stepped forward, placing her hand on Buck’s arm for a moment before she reached out for Tiana and hugged her. “Thank you for giving us a place to stay.”
“Any time. Mason said the ceiling should be easy enough to replace once it dries out.” Tiana kissed her cheek and then pulled back and looked at her for a second or two too long before inclining her head slightly toward Buck.
It was Haley’s turn to blush. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“With words,” Tiana rebuked.
“I know, it just…” Haley dragged her hand through her hair. “It’s all a bit much.” Her expression faltered but then she summoned the strength to put a smile back on her face as Rhett and the girls came over.
Tiana kept hold of Haley’s hand and squeezed it. “Right, Rhett, why don’t you and Mason go and grab the camping gear from the attic? Then we can all help set up. I have made cookies and brownies and there is plenty of cold soda.”
“We should employ you to project manage the building site,” Buck joked after Tiana had given jobs out to everyone else.
“Believe me, T is more than capable of running a building site.” Haley heaped more praise on her friend. “The way you kept things going when your dad was in that home and Quentin lived at the end of the garden…”
“And now I have a baby on the way to add to the mix,” Tiana said, smoothing her hand over her stomach.
“Which is why you need me here,” Rhett blurted out in a choked voi
ce.
“Oh, honey.” Tiana gathered her son in her arms. “Is that what this is all about?”
Rhett hung on to his mom, his face buried in her shoulder, but didn’t speak. Tiana and her son needed time alone, which wasn’t going to be easy since they had taken in lodgers for a couple of nights.
“Okay, let’s go find the cookies.” Haley shepherded the rest of them into the kitchen, a lump in her throat that she was trying to swallow down but refused to go away. “You, too, Mason.”
Mason nodded. “I hate seeing them like this.”
“Is Rhett okay?” Marie asked, looking over her shoulder as Haley shut the kitchen door.
“He’s scared,” Alicia said.
“But Rhett’s never scared, even when that big spider fell from the ceiling. Or when…”
“It’s a different kind of scared, honey,” Haley told her younger daughter as she looked outside to where Tiana and Rhett stood talking. As she switched her attention back to the kitchen and the cookies, she caught Buck’s eye. He was watching her, and a faint smile spread across his lips.
She smiled, squeezing the lump in her throat down until her tears had passed.
“He’s scared of change. But change isn’t always bad, is it?” Alicia locked eyes with her mom, then she turned around and faced Buck. “Shall we go and get the camping gear?”
“Sure,” Buck said quickly. “Although I have no idea where it is.”
“I do. We’ve been up in the attic loads of times.” Alicia grabbed hold of Marie, who had a couple of cookies in her hand. “We’ll show you where it is.”
“Is that okay?” Buck asked Haley.
“Sure, that would be great. Then we can go and pitch the tent as soon as Tiana and Rhett are ready.” She walked across the kitchen to Buck and placed her hand on his arm, wanting to feel the connection between them. Life had been turned on its head lately, since the arrival of Mason in town their quiet lives had been replaced by a sense of wheels turning faster and faster as they rolled downhill toward an unknown fate. It took some getting used to. For all of them. “Thank you.”
Silverbacks and Second Chances Page 59
