A Fox Between the Bear's Sheets (16 page)
was said, but she saw the subtle nod each male gave the other, and let out the breath she was holding.
“Now, maybe I could join you two for a beer?” Luke nodded again, turned and gestured for three
beers, before turning back toward them.
“I’m Luke, by the way. We didn’t really get proper introductions the last time we met.”
“True.” They shook hands in the quick way men usually did, and just like that there was no
more tension. Maybe it was because Luke was drunk, but his easy acceptance of her relationship with
Ford shocked her. That wasn’t to say she wasn’t pleased beyond belief. They spent the next our
drinking, talking, and actually laughing. To see her brother smile, despite what he was going through,
had Talia feeling so much better. The night was closing in, and she could see it was time for her to
take Luke home. He was far too drunk to even speak in full sentences, and that broke her heart all over
again.
“I should probably take Luke back to my motel since the wedding is off.” That had Ford’s
eyebrows lifting and him glancing back at her brother.
“Man, she did a number on him, too.” It wasn’t a question. She went to grab Luke’s arm, but
Ford shook his head and took a step closer. “Let me get him, baby. Here, pay the tab.” He handed her a
wad of cash and leaned down to give her a long, drugging kiss.
“I’m good. I’m good.” Her brother stood, but weaved slightly. His words were slurred, and she
had a moment of regret for letting him get the way he was, but then she heard the voice that sounded
like nails on a chalkboard, and her anger went to nuclear levels. Turning around she came face-to-face
with Mina. For a moment all she saw was a red haze, but she reined in her temper and took a deep
breath.
Mina looked behind Talia’s shoulder, and her eyes widened. There was a shot of lust that came
from her, and Talia knew it was because she was looking right at Ford. That had her inner fox rising to
the surface. “I figured you’d be slumming it at one of the only two bars in town. I thought we could
work out whatever it is that you think is wrong, Luke, but apparently you’d rather get drunk.” The way
Mina looked at Talia and curled her lip in disgust led Talia to believe she would have liked to say
more on the subject. For whatever reason she kept her mouth shut.
“Listen, I don’t think now is a good time to talk about anything, especially since Luke
explained pretty clearly that things between the two of you are over.” Talia said it as nicely as
possible.
“You’ve never wanted your brother and me to be together.” Mina gave Talia a once-over, the
distaste on her face evident. “I don’t need to be an animal to smell the jealousy all over you, Talia. It
isn’t my fault you got stuck with the less than favorable genes.” Mina crossed her arms under her
chest, successfully popping the huge mounds up and in everyone’s face. Mina looked at Ford who was
now standing behind Talia, and then back at Talia. Realization dawned on the human, and her eyes
narrowed. “Are you kidding me, Ford? This is what you’ve moved on to?”
That fucking bitch.
Talia stiffened at the condescending tone. A glance over her shoulder
showed Luke had taken a step forward. He wobbled slightly and braced his hand on the table to hold
himself up.
“So you can’t stand that I’m going to marry your brother, and instead you think you’ll start
seeing my ex?” Before Talia could answer Mina leaned forward and said, “Just an FYI, you can’t
replace me. I’ll always hold a special place in Ford’s heart.” Mina grinned over at Ford.
“You are way out of line, Mina, and showing exactly how tacky and tasteless you really are.”
Ford’s voice was loud and deep enough that the whole bar could hear, and this was verified when
everything and everyone became utterly quiet.
“I told you it was over, Mina. I don’t care who gets pissed at it.” Luke stood to his full six foot-
two height, and surprisingly was steady despite his glossed over eyes and less than clear speech. “I
shouldn’t have let it get as far as it did, and I’m sorry about that, but you said things that can’t be
taken back, did things that I will never forget, and have disrespected far too many people I care about.
I’m not going to get into this with you again, especially with a crowd, but just know I can’t do this
anymore.”
“Luke, we can discuss this later tonight back at my family’s estate.”
“No, Mina.” He waved her off and muttered in passing, “Talia, I’ll meet you back in the car.”
Mina tried to stop him, but whatever look he gave her had her snapping her mouth closed and grinding
her teeth.
“This is all your fault.” Mina rounded back at Talia and bared her teeth like she had an animal
inside of her. “For the past two years you never liked me, and, honey, the feeling is mutual.” Mina
curled her lip. “It’s not my fault you are fat and have freaky eyes. It also isn’t my fault that your social
status is less than dog shit.”
Ford took a step forward and growled low in his throat, but Talia had had enough of this bitch.
“No, Ford.” Talia curled her hands into fists, and right when Mina smiled in the way that always made
Talia feel like she was the gum on the bottom of Mina’s heel, she reared her arm back and clocked the
bitch right in the side of the face. Mina stumbled back, and gripped her face. Her mouth opened and
closed, but before she could mouth off once again Talia said, “Say something else, bitch, because I
have wanted to hit you way more than just once.”
Mina tightened her lips together, and before Talia lost control again and the police were called
she was being ushered out of there by Ford. He muttered a few choice swear words to Mina, and the
next thing that Talia was aware of was the cool night air washing over her face. She spotted Luke in
the front seat of her car, his eyes closed and his throat working. It was going to take time for him to
heal, but she would be there for him, because there was no way in hell she’d let him be consumed by
the pain a woman like Mina could inflict.
“About what Mina said.” She turned and looked at Ford. “None of that is true, in fact,” He
leaned in close, and she braced herself against the side of the building. This position brought back a
lot of very good memories, and Talia let the negative and toxic emotions that came from Mina fade in
the distance. “I could smell her jealousy. It was as thick as a winter coat.” Talia’s eyes fluttered, but
she forced them to stay open. “There isn’t a female that can compare to you. Your curves drive me
crazy with lust.” He ran his hand down the side of her body, and her breathing hitched from the
intimate contact. “Your gorgeous red hair reminds me of liquid fire.” He leaned in until his nose
brushed the underside of her jaw and inhaled deeply. “And every time I look at you all I want to do is
drop to my knees and worship you.” He leaned back and stared into her eyes. “And the color of your
eyes reminds me of cut aquamarine, and I can’t help but get lost in them.” Talia’s knees threatened to
give out. Never had anyone said such things to her, but it wasn’t just the things he said, but how he
said them. Talia didn’t give a shit what Mina had said, didn’t even bat a lash at them. She had wanted
to hit her for far too long, and the throbbing in her fist made it all real.
Ford wrapped his arms around her, brought her flush with his body, and kissed her until she
swore her heart was going to beat right out of her chest. “If you’ll have me, I plan on showing you
every single day that what you have is exactly what I want.” And just like that Mina was no longer an
issue, her self-image problems were the last thing on her mind, and all she could think about was
always having this big, bad bear next to her. Whatever it was about Ford Wylde that made her feel so
at ease, Talia never wanted to let it go.
One year later
“Luke, stop it.” Talia smacked her brother’s hand away but grinned in the process.
Talia rubbed her palm over her swollen belly, and little Amelia kicked wildly. Luke
immediately had his hand on her belly again. He looked in awe, and she couldn’t help but feel her
chest warm at the sight. The past year had been hard for him, but he was coming around and not
immersing himself in his work so much. Even though things had gone badly with Mina, Luke had
honestly loved her despite the fact he had known deep down what kind of person she really was. Even
after Luke called off the wedding and spoken out to everyone on the reason why he couldn’t marry a
woman who would betray him, their whole family had been shunned by the Sheldons since they
blamed their daughter’s failed relationship and wedding on Luke. In the end none of that mattered
because Luke was strong and determined not to let her ruin his life like she did Ford’s. Now here they
were, twelve months later, and Talia was married to Ford. The little girl kicking inside of her had been
a pleasant surprise shortly after they were married.
“Have you talked to Mom and Dad yet?” His smile widened when the baby kicked again right
under his hand. With only a few more weeks to go before she delivered Talia couldn’t wait to have the
baby. Her aching back and swollen ankles would be grateful as well.
“Yeah. They will come out the week after next, unless I have the baby before then.” She turned
so she faced Luke. Since the disaster with Mina she hadn’t really sat down and talked with him about
her. The time never seemed right, and he had immersed himself in work so that he was cut off from
everyone that loved him. Although there had been plenty of opportunities, Talia hadn’t wanted to talk
about something that was obviously still raw inside of him. “Do you—”
“No, I don’t want to talk about Mina, or the almost wedding, or anything else that will take
away from this moment I’m having with my soon-to-be niece.” He glanced up at her, and she saw his
genuine smile. “Okay?”
Talia nodded. “Okay, Luke.” If he didn’t want to talk about it, or how he felt, then that was
okay.
“You guys ready to eat?” Ford came out of the kitchen. He was wiping his hands on the apron
he wore, the one that had a bikini clad woman on the front of it. Talia grinned and eyed her husband.
How could a male as big and strong as Ford look so cute and domestic?
“Absolutely.” Talia’s stomach decided to give a mighty growl, and she felt her cheeks heat. She went
to stand, but Ford was right there, taking her hands in his and helping her to stand. As he did every
time he was near, he drew her into the safety and warmth of his arms, and she felt her strength grow
tenfold. The doorbell rang, and she pulled away. “Looks like the rest of the clan have arrived.” She
made her way to the front door and pulled it open. Bram walked in first, and after he gave her a
brotherly hug and a belly rub, he moved further into the cabin. Charlie and Ary were next to enter, and
they also gave her a hug before entering. Little Cole hung onto his mother, and Talia couldn’t help but
smile and place her hand on her stomach. Who would have ever thought a red fox who thought she was
overweight and had self-esteem issues would have mated with an alpha bear that had been damaged
for ten years of his life? It just went to show that everyone made their own path in life, and Talia’s just
happened to be a cobblestoned one in the little town of Sweet Water.
The End
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Other Books by Jenika Snow:
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