Hero Bear: BBW Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance (6 page)

Chapter Six

Caleb stood in line at Smithson’s with a pizza and a six pack of beer. He’d wanted to go for something more romantic, like wine, but he doubted there was a bottle of wine to be had within twenty miles of Salem Creek. Wine coolers, maybe, not but no wine.

“You got a big night planned?” Janine teased as she checked him out. “This looks like a boys’ night in to me.”

“Oh, uh, yeah.” He hadn’t considered it that way, but it did. Michaela had been awful quick to suggest going to her place instead of eating out. He’d been so eager to see her again, and so elated that she said yes, that he didn’t think about it. An evil little voice at the back of his head whispered,
Maybe she doesn’t want to be seen with you
. He tried to dismiss it, but the seed had already been planted. Maybe she couldn’t be seen with him. She’d already said that they were in a gray area where her job was concerned.

Can’t be that, not with her kissing you that way in front of work.
That was true, so that wasn’t what she was worried about.
And she was quick to introduce you to her neighbor
. That was true too, but it didn’t stop the idea from sitting in the back of his head and troubling him.

By the time he got to Michaela’s place, the oven was already warm and ready— and he got the feeling Michaela was too. She greeted him with a kiss that made his toes curl. The only thing that stopped him from sweeping her up and carrying her to bed right then was a growl that came from her belly.

“I’m so sorry.” She laughed, but looked embarrassed. “I forgot to eat lunch.”

“Well let’s get some pizza in you, because you’re going to need your strength.” He kissed her quick, and he didn’t miss the way the heat in her eyes flared. His body had been on constant red alert all day, as if finally having sex had awakened his libido with a vengeance. After the disappointment of the night before, feeling like a fool sitting naked in his backyard, he welcomed the distraction. This, at least, his body could do, and wanted to do desperately, to judge from the way he was already stirring.

He didn’t miss a chance to look around her place, hoping for something that would tell him more about her. It was a nice enough apartment, nicer than a lot of what passed for rental housing in Salem Creek. He suspected Miss Harvelle might have owned the whole place, once upon a time, before dividing it up into a duplex. She wouldn’t have been the first.

There wasn’t a lot of personal stuff around Michaela’s place. She hadn’t been there long, but it was like she didn’t have much stuff— that was the opposite of every woman Caleb had known, including his own mother, he thought ruefully. Their house was still full of bric-a-brac and decorations that neither of her sons had the heart to take down.

The pizza was all right, but they devoured it rapidly, washing it down with the beer Caleb had brought. Michaela sat back from the table and burped— it was a ladylike burp as such things went, but she again looked mortified. “I’m so sorry.”

Caleb just laughed. “Nah, us mountain boys appreciate a lady who can spit and cuss and burp with the best of them.”

“Lord, then I need to get my friend Brenda down here. Y’all would love her to bits.” She went on to tell him a little about Brenda, and by extension, her life in Louisville. It confused him. She didn’t sound like she’d had any reason to leave, with a good job, and good friends. “What about you? Who do you hang around with when you’re not working?”

It hit him that this was more of a first date type conversation, and he grinned. “Oh
now
you wanna talk about who my friends are?”

Michaela ducked her head, but she was smiling. He couldn’t get enough of that smile. “I guess it is a little backwards, huh. It’s all your fault for cooking me dinner and taking me off to a romantic place. Now answer the question, please.”

“Mostly Dalton,” he said. “There’s a few of my buddies from school still around, but we’re all pretty busy. We get together when we can, raise some hell up in the holler.” Friends he didn’t see much anymore, since none of them knew that Iraq had taken more than just his foot.

“Seems like everybody around here lives in town or in a holler. I still haven’t figured out what a holler is.” Yep, she was a city girl all right. She wrinkled her nose and he gave in to the temptation to kiss her on it.

“You know, back in the mountains. A valley.” They started cleaning up the dishes. “Most folks around here can’t afford to live right up on the mountain anymore, if there’s a mountain top left to live on and it hasn’t been strip-mined. Down in the holler’s as good as we can get.”

“I’d like to see it,” Michaela said. “You know, someday.”

“I think we can do that.”

They were both overly casual as they went into her living room, each pretending that they were going to watch a movie or a TV show, and both of them knowing better. Now that one set of physical needs had been satisfied, they could attend to another.

Caleb did his best to take it slower this time. It wasn’t long, though, before they were both in Michaela’s small bedroom, pulling off their clothes as fast as they could. The first time, he hadn’t even pulled his pants off all the way, and used them to cover his stump and his prosthetic. This time, he hesitated only a moment, then kicked them off before joining her and her deliciously naked body on the bed.

“My god, you’re beautiful.” Her body was perfect as he could imagine, soft and sweet as sin; he couldn’t resist raining kisses over her full breasts and down the luscious outward curve of her belly. She stirred, knowing where he was headed, murmuring softly.

Caleb nuzzled her thighs apart, and his mouth watered at the scent of her arousal, deep and primal enough to make him think of mates and mating, of that mystical connection some shifters were lucky enough to find. Did it feel anything like this? Her thighs were velvety and soft as ripe peaches, and he wanted to drink in all that ripeness until her juices ran down his chin.

Michaela wasn’t just beautiful, she was perfect, like she was made just for him.

He made her come every way he could think of with his mouth and tongue and fingers until she was begging him to take her. Sliding into her was probably as close to heaven as he’d ever get, and he could imagine heaven as being able to do this for all eternity, spending it in her arms. He knew he was extra big, and while a lot of women said that’s what they liked, from experience he knew that wasn’t always true. Not his Michaela though. She wrapped around him and took everything he could give her, and gave it all back when she came crying out around him.

After, they lay side by side in her bed, their hands clasped together, trying to catch their breath. Caleb was so blissed out he could hardly think. All he could do was lie there, and with each passing moment, he was more and more certain: Michaela was his mate. There was no other explanation. What he felt went way beyond just love. But how he could tell her?

“You’re being awfully quiet.” Michaela turned on her side and snuggled up against him. He wrapped his arm around to bring her close.

“Just thinking,” he said. “About you. Us. You think this is happening too fast?”

“I don’t know. You?”

He looked down at her and her sweet face was creased with worry. He kissed her frowning forehead gently. “If I was seeing it happen to someone else, I might say yes. It doesn’t feel too fast. It feels just right. You feel just right.”

Pink color flooded her cheeks and crept down her chest in a distracting way. “You do too.”

There was only one way he could think of to explain what he felt. Common sense said he ought to wait, to talk with Dalton first, but there was nothing common about the way he felt right now. He took a deep breath and started to do something he’d never done before.

“Michaela, there’s something I need to tell you.” He sat up in the bed, and she joined him, with his arm still around her.

“What is it?”

“It’s gonna sound crazy, but I need you to hear me out, and I swear I’m telling you the truth.” Was he really going to do this? Too late to back out now.

She had her worried face on again. Damn it. Worrying her was the last thing he wanted.

“There’s a— a legend, I guess you’d say, in my family. The men, and sometimes the women, are all... different. Special.”

“Well, I’ve seen that much.” She smiled and kissed his cheek.

Caleb paused. He had no idea how to say this except to say it. “We each have a spirit in us, that spirit can do a lot of things, and one of those things is that, well. Sometimes we’re able to recognize the person we’re meant to be with.”

“You mean, like soulmates?” Caution was written all over her face, and he didn’t know how to take it away, aside from pressing on.

“Like that, yeah.”

“What kind of spirit are we talking about?” She smiled a little, a nervous flash of teeth. “Are you trying to tell me you’re possessed or something?”

“A bear,” he blurted. “Just an ordinary bear.”

“So, like a spirit animal, or something?”

“Not exactly. A little more than that.” He should never have done this, what was he thinking? “I can— well I
could
— take the shape of a bear. And he’s with me all the time.” Most of the time.

“You’re trying to tell me you’re some sort of... werebear.” She pulled away from him and studied him intently. He fought the urge to pull her back to his side. She had to accept it on her own, or no.

“Well. Yes.”

“Is this some kind of joke?” Michaela climbed out of bed and started pulling her clothes back on, moving in quick, sharp movements. “Something you like to spring on the town newcomers?”

“No, it’s not a joke, I swear.” Caleb followed suit, at least pulling his underwear back on, and feeling like a fool.

“Right. The most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen gets me into bed— which I
never
do on the first date, just so you know— and then tries to tell me he’s a werebear.” She folded her arms.

“I know how it sounds—”

“Show me.”

“What?”

“You say you can become a bear, so show me.” She smiled, but it was a bright, bitter smile. “Oh wait, you’re going to say you can’t, because it’s not a full moon or something, aren’t you.”

Caleb slumped. No matter what he said now, she wouldn’t believe him. “It’s not that.” He went to her, aware of how dumb he must look in just his underwear, and tried to take her hands. She let him, barely. “I haven’t— I can’t— since I got hurt, I haven’t been able to shapeshift. Hell, until I met you, I thought my bear was gone for good. That’s why I think... we might be meant for each other.”

Michaela pulled her hands away. “Now you’re just being mean.”

“Michaela, I—”

“I think you should go.” She moved past him and started picking up his clothes and handing them to him. “Just go.”

Caleb never knew before that a heartbreak could feel just like that, like his heart was cracking in his chest. He wanted to take it all back, to tell her that no, he was just kidding, but that he really did care about her. From the look on her face though, she wouldn’t listen. How could he have been so stupid?

He got dressed and slunk out of her house, then drove home like a man in a trance.

Chapter Seven

“I hate this damned town and I wish I’d never moved here.” As soon as Michaela got off work the next day, she called Brenda, and that was the first thing she said.

“Oh honey. What’s going on?”

“Caleb turned out to be a jerk.” Michaela had been fighting back tears all day at work, and at this point she couldn’t tell if she was mad or sad. Maybe both. “I can’t believe I actually let myself think that someone like that could really be interested in someone like me.”

“What are you talking about? You’re great.” Ever a good friend, Brenda was instantly to her defense. “Start from the beginning. Tell me everything. You said the first date went good, you bad girl.”

Michaela couldn’t bring herself to tell Brenda everything. It was too humiliating. “Let me put it this way: going out with me was just a joke. He tried to give me some outrageous story to rope me in further, but I didn’t fall for it, so he left.”

The worst part was, she didn’t even have to figure out why he slept with her. She knew there were guys like that, who’d sleep with a girl who wasn’t in their league and then deny it or make fun of her. Any day now she was going to start running into friends of his, and they’d all have nasty, knowing grins on their faces. Well, let them. She’d punch the first man who made a snide comment to her.

“No, he sounded so nice!”

“He did. I thought he was.” Cracks started to appear in the dam she’d been keeping in place all day, and tears filled her eyes. “I really thought— I thought there might be something there.” She sniffled.

“Michaela, honey, don’t cry. He’s not worth it.”

“I just feel so st-stu-hu-pid!” Michaela tried to speak around the sobs that poured out of her. The pain in her chest was literal, and she thought she’d break open at the sheer meanness it must have taken to act the way Caleb had.

“Girl, you are not the first woman to get taken for a ride by a good-looking man, and I’m sorry to say you won’t be the last.” Brenda didn’t sound unsympathetic, just brisk.

Michaela gave in to the sniffles for a few minutes, then took a deep breath. “You’re right. I mean, we only went out twice. And it could have been worse. I could have
believed
the crap he told me.”

“Atta girl,” Brenda said. “Hey, listen. I know it’s last minute, but how would you feel about some company this weekend? You sound like you could use a distraction.”

“I’d love it. You don’t have to work?”

“Not this weekend, thank god. Reuben decided not to start that shit until next month, so I’ve got a reprieve.”

“Come on out then. I can’t promise to introduce you to any of Caleb’s friends, though.”

“Huh, after how he did you, I’d spit on ‘em.”

Michaela got through the rest of the week by hanging on to seeing Brenda again. She’d forgotten how much she missed seeing her every day. Marty and Dottie and the others were good people and she enjoyed working with them, but it wasn’t the same as the friends she made at the old place. It would just take time.

Brenda pulled up to Michaela’s house just after eight on Friday night. After a flurry of hugs and greetings, Michaela asked, “Have you had dinner yet?”

“I drove straight on through, and I’m starved!” She took her bag out of the trunk and Michaela led her into the house. “Oh, look how cute this is!” Brenda exclaimed. “I swear, I think it’s twice the size of my place.”

Michaela swelled a little with pride. “Well, rent’s cheaper out here, I can say that much for it.” While she got Brenda settled in her guest room she asked, “What sounds good for dinner?”

“I don’t care, as long as it’s
out
,” Brenda said. She gave Michaela a shrewd look. “Cause I’ll bet you ain’t been out since that boy.”

Busted. “Well, come on. It’s a small town, it’s not like there’s a real big nightlife going on.”

“Uh huh, that’s what I thought.” Brenda snagged Michaela by the hand and pulled her to sit on the guest bed. “We are gonna fix you up, and then we are gonna go find whatever nightlife there is here in Hooterville.”

Well, there were really only two bars in Salem Creek proper, and only one of those served food, so they had a pretty easy choice to make. Michaela let Brenda do her hair and makeup and wound up sitting at a table at Willie’s feeling over-lipsticked and ridiculous. A band blasted country music loud enough they had a hard time hearing their server, and the tiny dance floor was crowded. Conversation was out of the question, so they people-watched while waiting for their food, and drank ice cold beer.

Michaela should have known it was only a matter of time before a couple of guys came over to their table. The cute blond one made a beeline for Brenda, of course, and his buddy, a burly, shorter redhead, came to her— probably just to be polite. He asked her to dance just as she saw the other guy leading Brenda onto the dance floor. Well, if he could be polite, so could she.

“My name’s Dylan.” He put his arms around her and was a complete gentleman. “Dylan Ellis.”

“Michaela Baker. Thanks for asking me to dance.”

“Shoot, thanking me for asking a pretty girl to dance is like thanking me for taking seconds of my Mamaw’s banana pudding.” He grinned, and the force of it made him awfully cute.

Michaela resolved to enjoy herself. They danced for a few songs, and Dylan made her laugh talking about his brothers and the antics they got up to. By the time they got back to the table, Brenda was there having a shouted conversation with the cute blond, and their food had arrived. The boys snagged their beers and they all settled in. When the band’s lead singer announced they were taking a break, Michaela let out a sigh of relief. She still had no idea what Brenda and her blond were talking about, and she was starting to get a headache.

“So anyway,” Dylan was saying, “I tried to warn them that Jesse would get pissed off if they messed with his truck, but they went ahead, and next thing you know, that old pickup is sprayin’ glitter all over the highway and Dalt’s on his ass in the middle of the road about to bust a gut laughing.”

“Dalt?” Michaela looked up from poking at her food. That was Caleb’s brother’s name, she was sure of it.

“Yeah, Dalton Bentley.” Dylan pointed at his friend sitting next to Brenda.

Michaela started looking around. Was Caleb here? Were these two in on the joke too? Worse, was she about to be set up, again? “Oh. So do you know Caleb Bentley?” She had a horrible sinking feeling that Dylan knew exactly who she was.

“Sure! We grew up with the Bentleys. You know, this one time—”

“Did Caleb have a good laugh with y’all about what he did?” She should have known. Small towns. Everybody knew everybody.

“You know Caleb?”

“Oh sure,” Michaela said, aware that Brenda and Dalton were listening to her. She glanced at Dalton, then back to Dylan. “I’m sure all y’all were in on it, since you like pranks so much. Which one of you had the idea he should tell me he was a werebear? Him saying he couldn’t shapeshift to prove it, that was a nice touch. What would he have done if I’d believed him?” She laughed and slammed back the last of her beer. “Guess he would’ve been stuck with me.” She stood up. “Bren, I’m going home. You coming with me?”

Neither of the men said a word, probably too surprised— and maybe a little ashamed— that their target had started talking back. They both stood when she did, and then Brenda followed suit.

“Michaela, honey. What are you talking about?” Brenda was pulling money out of her purse to settle up.

“I didn’t get to tell you that part. Guess it wasn’t enough to lead the new girl on, Caleb figured he’d try to make me look like a fool too.” She finally spoke directly to Dalton. “Tell your brother he can go to hell!”

She stormed out, with Brenda on her tail. “’Chaela, wait.” Brenda stopped her in the parking lot.

Michaela pulled her arm away. “That was his brother you were dancing with!”

“I didn’t know, honest,” Brenda said. “He didn’t give me his last name. You think he was in on the joke? What were you saying about bears?”

“That’s what Caleb tried to tell me.” Michaela ached with how foolish she felt. She headed for the car again, and Brenda didn’t stop her. “I guess he wanted to see how much bull I’d believe, so he said he was, I dunno, part bear or something.”

“Dalton seemed so nice...”

“See what I mean? So did Caleb!” Michaela unlocked her car door and got behind the wheel, pausing to consider if she was drunk or not. Once Brenda was in the passenger seat with the door closed, Michaela dropped her head to the steering wheel. “I can’t believe I slept with him.”

“Honey, if it’s any consolation, if he’s as cute as his brother, I can understand why.” Brenda rubbed her back. “You okay to drive?”

Two beers over the course of the night. Yeah, she’d be fine. “Yeah. Let’s go home. Sorry about your night out.”