Bearview Bride (BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance) (19 page)

“Could you take me to the bride?” Tess asked. “I don’t want to miss her getting ready.”

“Of course,” the woman said. “Right this way.”

He watched them go. Somehow, a few steps down the hall, Tess already had the mother of the bride gushing about her daughter.

Cade shook his head in wonder. He had work to do, and they had a long way to go before this wedding was over.

Grabbing his suit jacket, he headed out back. It was going to feel like a very long wedding indeed, as he hadn’t slept at all last night.

Still, at least she had come.

Though he had to run around out of sight of the guests, he prepared everything in time with a little help from Ethan. The two of them exchanged a thumbs up as the bride walked down the aisle.

The ceremony went flawlessly, and the reception began. Cade directed the catering staff, and even helped them carry some trays to the tables. He wove through the crowd beneath the tents, incognito in his suit and tie, listening for any complaints. He heard none, which pleased him.

Then again, how could anyone complain about Bearview? The night was cool but not cold, the sunset over the mountains was spectacular as always, and the lanterns spread throughout the glade looked like twinkling stars. It was magical.

Cade looked toward the gazebo, remembering what it had been like to hold Tess during their photoshoot. He shook himself, trying to jostle the memory from his mind. It was over between them. He might as well forget it had ever happened.

Since his work was done until the tents needed to be taken down, Cade wandered among the tables. One of the bridesmaids asked him if he’d join her for a drink, her eyes promising much more. Cade politely declined. She was pretty enough, but his heart wanted someone else.

Unfortunately, it was someone he couldn’t have.

Cade picked up a champagne flute from a caterer’s tray. He should feel angry, insulted about what Tess thought of him, but he couldn’t bring himself to feel anything but sorrow. Besides, he still wasn’t sure that he hadn’t done something wrong.

Light flashed outside the tent. Cade ducked out to see Tess directing the bride and groom in a photoshoot. She was making them laugh one minute, and coaxing tender poses from them the next. Her smile was like a knife through his heart.

Tess was flawless, but he couldn’t watch her work any longer. Cade didn’t know what bothered him more—the sweet sound of her voice, or the knowledge that the two of them would never experience what the happy couple had shared today.

That was when the knife in his heart twisted. Cade realized that he hadn’t just loved Tess—he’d wanted to marry her.

His bear reared within him, fighting to surface. The beast wanted to shift
now,
to claim his mate before it was too late. He didn’t want to lose her.

Cade didn’t either, but he didn’t appreciate the fur that rippled over his arms. At least it was dark. It took all his strength to force his bear down.

Shifting won’t help!
he told the stubborn animal.

She’ll be lost.
Within him, the bear paced, making Cade feel nauseous.
Do something, or we’ll lose her. We can’t lose her. She’s our mate.

Cade grimaced. Maybe that wasn’t for them to decide.

The couple came back under the tents for the toasts. Cade didn’t hear a word. He was fixated on Tess. And she, of course, was fixated on her camera.

Cade clenched his fists as the audience applauded the final toast, everyone raising their glasses. He emptied his in one swig. There was nothing here to celebrate.

Tess swung her lens around, following the couple as they retreated to their seats for dinner. He ached to talk to her, but now was not the time. He didn’t want to bother her or cause a scene.

“Isn’t she gorgeous?” The mother of the bride leaned against his arm, steadying herself. She seemed a bit tipsy.

“Yes,” Cade said, staring at Tess.

“I knew my daughter would be a beautiful bride, but I never imagined just how dazzling she would be.” The woman dabbed at her eyes with a tissue.

“Oh. Yes, she’s a lovely bride.”

She looked up slyly. “That photographer’s a lucky lady.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I’ve seen you staring at her, young man. And though she’s rarely taken her eyes off her camera, whenever she does, she looks for you. It’s obvious you’re in love.” She paused, gazing at Tess. “Though perhaps you’re the lucky one.”

One of the bridesmaids came to tug the mother of the bride to the dance floor, saving Cade from having to continue the conversation. Could it be true that Tess kept glancing at him? The mother of the bride might have been tipsy, but she had seemed awfully sure.

Cade turned his head toward Tess, and met her gaze for a split second. Then she blushed, looking down at her camera.

His bear roared inside him. Walking quickly, Cade left the tent. The beast was determined to burst out, and Cade had lost the will to stop him.

He ran into the woods. Shucking his clothes, he unleashed his bear. He felt himself grow as muscles swelled and sinews lengthened. He dropped to all fours, and found his paws ready to carry him anywhere.

Digging his claws into the dirt, Cade went up the mountain. He spurred himself to run as fast as he could, far away from the clinking of glasses and the murmurs of laughter. He tried not to think about what he was leaving behind him. Paws pounding against the earth, Cade sought out the quiet heart of the mountain.

He needed to be alone.

***

It took about thirty minutes before Tess dared to look for Cade again. Then another hour to stop denying the fact that he seemed to have disappeared.

Tess forced back the welling tears. It was time to work, not to cry. She had been repeating the litany to herself for hours now.
Just focus on this next shot
, she told herself.
Then the next, and the next…

At first, she thought that seeing Cade out of the corner of her eye was the worst thing in the world. Now that he was gone, she knew she had been wrong.

How could she leave him forever?

Lining up a shot of Kristen and Scott cutting the cake, Tess squared her shoulders. She had to leave. It wasn’t like he’d want her around here anymore.

At last, the dance floor and tents began to empty. Tess couldn’t remember the last time she had felt this exhausted. All she wanted to do was throw herself on Aubrey’s couch, but unfortunately she had to drive down a mountain first.

Tess rubbed her bleary eyes. Maybe she’d just sleep in the woods.

“Hi, Tess!” Despite hours of partying, Kristen was still as bubbly as the bottle of champagne in her hand. “Is it time to take the star pictures yet?”

Tess wanted to groan. Cade had definitely told her that a star shoot would be requested, but she’d forgotten. “Whenever you want!” she told Kristen, trying to match her enthusiasm. It was difficult. It had been a very long day.

“Come on, Scott!” Kristen called. “Just tell us where we should pose.”

“Hmm. By that stream, maybe?” Tess hoped Kristen would go for it. She didn’t want to trek to the lake again.

“Ooh, how about by that lake like in the other picture? That’s not too far, is it?”

“No.” Tess tried to keep smiling. “Not too far.”

“Great! I’ll get our hiking boots.”

Tess had to give it to Kristen—the girl had come prepared.

Somehow, she managed to lead the bride and groom to the lake. The whole way, Kristen regaled her with tales of the salsa class the two of them were taking.

“I was wondering if we could pose with some of our salsa moves,” Kristen said when they reached the dock. “Maybe a dip or something. What do you think, Tess?”

“Whatever you decide on, you’ll have to hold the pose for ten minutes. Can you manage that?”

Scott flexed his biceps. “I’m strong,” he said.

Kristen giggled.

“All right,” Tess said, “I’ll set up my tripod over there, and give you a shout when I’m ready.”

Fastening her camera to the tripod, Tess triple-checked the settings. These photos would take long enough that none of them would want to reshoot anything.

“Ready?” she called. “Go!”

Scott dipped Kristen low, one hand on her waist and the other at her shoulder. The bride’s head was tilted back, her hair streaming out below her.

Tess had been skeptical, but she had to admit that the pose would make for quite the dramatic image. As long as they pulled it off.

From the direction of the dock, Tess heard giggling, but neither of her subjects moved. She started counting the seconds under her breath. They just had to hold the pose a bit longer.

At last, the shutter clicked.

“We got it,” Tess called. She jogged over to the couple.

Scott helped Kristen up. “That wasn’t so bad,” he said. “I was only shaking a little by the end.”

“Or a lot,” Kristen said, massaging his arm.

“Okay, maybe a lot,” Scott conceded.

“You don’t want to dip me again?” Kristen teased.

“How about you dip me this time?”

The two of them laughed.

“Fine,” Kristen said, “we don’t have to do any more dips.”

The three of them decided on two more poses, one where the couple faced each other, hands clasped, and another where they embraced. Tess had them pose in the same place so that she’d only have to take one star trail photo.

“That’s great,” she said as the shutter clicked for the last time. “I just have to take one more photo. It’ll probably take a few hours, so I don’t think you want to stay here for this.”

“Are you sure you don’t want us to stay?” Kristen asked. “You aren’t going to be up here alone for hours, are you?”

Tess could think of someone she’d like to keep her company, but forced the thought aside. “I’ll be fine,” she said. “Besides, I can leave my camera here to do the work for a little while. Let me walk you back to the lodge.”

Kristen and Scott were both effusive in their thanks as they walked through the woods. Tess found herself grinning stupidly in the face of their praise. She couldn’t wait to edit their images. They were an amazing couple, and they deserved photos that reflected that.

As Tess waved goodbye to them from the gazebo, she was hit with the realization that she was really going to miss wedding photography. Sure, a ton of stress and effort had gone into the shoot today, and Tess still had plenty more work to do, but she knew that Kristen and Scott would appreciate her photos. Maybe forever. Their grandkids might even display them at their weddings.

Tess sat on the gazebo steps. The tents had been taken down, and nothing of the wedding remained in the glade but the flickering lanterns. As beautiful as they were, she almost wished they had been left out of this wedding. They reminded her too much of that photoshoot with Cade. She could see the pictures now, her goofy expression as she looked up at him, his gaze of adoration…

She rubbed her eyes, banishing the images. That was over.
They
were over. She would go back to the lake, sit with her camera, and then quietly take her leave of Bearview. Tess touched the folded piece of paper and the envelope in her pocket. Maybe she could shove them under his door before she left.

Tess stood, leaning against the gazebo. Somehow, she’d have to muster the energy for another hike to the lake.

Part of her was glad she hadn’t had to face Cade again. At this point, she didn’t even know if she was capable of holding a conversation. Even the thought of dragging herself back to her camera was overwhelming.

But it had to be done. Kristen and Scott deserved great photos. Taking a breath, Tess stepped out of the gazebo.

“Wait.”

She turned. Cade stood there, in the darkness. His shirt was rumpled and a line of dirt was streaked across his face, but Tess barely noticed. All she could see was his warm eyes.

“Don’t go,” he said. “I have to talk to you, just once.”

There was such earnestness, such tenderness in his voice that it made her want to weep. But she had to stand firm. In the end, she wasn’t good enough for him, and she had to leave. She couldn’t let him say anything that would change her mind.

Ignoring her dry throat, Tess stated the words she’d already prepared. “I’m sorry I accused you of wanting my money. I think you should have this.” Reaching into her pocket, she handed him the piece of paper and the envelope.

He opened the paper first. “Your notice?”

She nodded. “You can find a better photographer for Bearview.”

Cade hefted the envelope. “And what’s this?”

“A start to your permit funds. I’m leaving you in a bind after only two weddings, so I can’t keep your money. It’s only fair.”

He pushed the envelope back into her hands. “Please keep the money, Tess.”

“Cade, just—”

“Keep it. I don’t want it.”

Tess sighed. She was too tired to argue.

“What are you going to do now?” he asked.

“I’m moving. To a place where I can see the ocean.”

He was quiet for a long moment. “Why are you running away from me?”

Tess rubbed her eyes. She couldn’t have this talk right now. “I like you a lot, but we could never have this.” She gestured to the gazebo, the lanterns. “It would ruin everything.”

“How?” There was a world of pain in his question.

“I still want to live my life. I want to get out of this state, see the world, go to Africa.”

“And is there any reason you can’t do those things with me?”

She had never expected a question like that. “You’d come with me?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

Behind them, in the dark, the stream whispered her deepest fears. “What if we fall out of love?”

“I don’t think I’m capable of not loving you.” His smile made her heart drum an odd rhythm.

“My parents loved each other once. Deeply.” She looked down at the dewy grass. “Then, one day, they didn’t. I’m scared, Cade. How do you stay in love?”

“You chose to. Every single day.” He took her hands. “That’s not so scary, is it? It’s not about the years and decades. It’s just one day at a time.” Cade looked at her, uncertain. “How are you feeling today?”