Tempted by the Bear - Complete (8 page)

A
nnie

T
he waffle iron
creaks as I lower the top over the batter I just poured. I turn to the man who has just entered the kitchen. “Keith.” I walk over and hug Brady’s best friend, someone who’s practically a brother to me. I hold him a little longer than is normal, as if I can take some of his pain away with my touch. And because I remember how he did the same for me when my true mate died a few years ago. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Thanks. I’ve missed your breakfasts.”

“Well, dig in, before Brady eats it all.”

A plate clatters on the table as Mother sets it down and walks over to hug Keith, too. “So good to see you again, dear.”

When they step apart, Keith says, “Donna, I need you to do something for me.”

“Of course. What is it?”

He walks over, and coffee splashes into a mug as he pours. “There’s a young girl at Orono that was called and is dreaming about me. Can you cancel it or something?”

Almost two years ago, our clan put out a call to bring in women of werebear descent to bear children for us. Mother says, “Oh dear.” Keith’s jaw flexes when Mother sighs, and she continues. “There isn’t any way to cancel the call. Goodness, she has to have been dreaming about you for a while.”

Sierra places bacon on her plate and lifts a piece up as she says, “Wow. That’s a long time to be having those dreams.”

Carly’s already at the table with her food and says, “Oh my god. Are you talking about Tori?”

Keith nods. “You know her?”

“Yeah, she came in a while back for a tattoo. I expected she’d be back to find out more about her dream guy, but she never returned. I was going to call her to follow up.”

“So like the rest of you human women, she came here because she was dreaming about her potential mate?” He glances over at Sierra. “How did I get two of you?”

Sierra came here with Carly to mate with Keith, but their relationship didn’t work out, which was a good thing, because she ended up being Ashton’s true mate. She bumps him with her hip. “You’re just that hot.”

Keith smiles at her. “I’m also that old. Tori’s a kid.”

Brady teases, “You’re the older man. I hear that’s sexy for young girls.”

Carly hits his arm. “Perv.”

“Exactly.” Keith frowns. “Besides the fact I have no interest in another mate, I sure don’t want to hook up with a child.”

Silence falls, and I imagine we’re all thinking about his mate Taylor and her tragic death. I jump in to fill the void. “We’ll just have to ask Kimi what to do. This situation is just wrong.” Kimi is our medicine woman and the one that put out the call that made human women of werebear descent start dreaming about eligible Le Roux men. Some of them were more open than others and came to us.

Sierra says, “She’s a freshman at Orono. I wonder if maybe Tori didn’t do anything about the call for so long because she wasn’t legal?”

Mother says, “Could be.” She breaks off a piece of blueberry muffin. “Don’t worry Keith, we’ll sort this out.”

“Thank you.” He sets his plate of food down with a thump and pulls a piece of paper out of his back pocket. “Here’s her number.”

My mother takes it and reads it before folding it up and setting it down. “I’ll bet one of Delia’s twins would be suitable for her. They’re the youngest in the clan.” Carly chuckles and Mom asks, “What?”

“You really should consider a career in matchmaking.”

She smiles over her teacup at us. “I have a gift. Just ask Annie about the polar bear I found.”

My cheeks flush, and I’m sure my smile looks foolish. “You do get points for that one.”

Keith says, “I heard Tristan is your true mate. That’s great.” He reaches over and puts his hand over mine. “You deserve this.”

“Thanks.” I remember how I was sure life was over when Kyle died, and nobody could have ever made me believe someday I’d be giddy in love again. I hope my second chance at lifelong happiness gives Keith hope. He deserves it, too.

Mother clears her throat to get our attention. Even though when Brady married Carly, Mother stepped down as prima, she still runs our weekly meetings. My sister-in-law is a smart woman, because she figured out that the best way to keep Mother happy and helpful is to let her feel as if she has some control over the family. She says, “That brings us to the most important order of business this morning—the land we’re gifting to the De Rozier clan.”

Brady says, “The papers are begin drawn up, and the De Roziers will soon own the one thousand acres that surround Crystal Lake.”

I reach out and touch Brady’s arm. “Thank you.”

My brother’s face is serious when he says, “I do have one stipulation, though. While I realize the true mate bond should be security enough, I put your name on the deed.”

I nod as I wonder how Tristan will feel about that. But I suppose if it’s not common knowledge, it shouldn’t matter. We’ll never separate.

Sierra says, “Hey, I heard about Isabelle’s temper tantrum the other day. That girl’s got issues. Did she ever apologize for it?”

I answer, “Yes. She went out the next day and cleaned up her mess, but she definitely left a mark.”

“More like a new trail,” says Carly. She shrugs. “But with a few more trees down, it does give us a direct route to the river.”

Sierra says, “Still, that’s a pretty severe reaction to your brother sealing a true mate bond.”

Mother shakes her head. “She’s had a difficult upbringing. Her parents weren’t known to be warm and fuzzy. I think she felt abandoned.”

I get it. I remember the loss I experienced when Brady and Carly discovered they were true mates. Brady had been the shoulder I leaned on when my husband died. “Then I’ll just have to do what I can to make sure she still gets time with Tristan.”

“I think anger-management classes might be a better idea,” says Sierra as she rolls her eyes to the sky.

Ashton says, “Or maybe she needs a more rigorous workout schedule. I could use her as a warrior.”

Brady’s jaw is tight in alpha mode as he nods. “Train her. But I’m not sure I trust her just yet. Something about that girl is off.”

“Agreed,” says Carly. “I can’t put my finger on it, but I don’t trust her, either.”

I think about her almost nightly drunk hook-ups. She’s definitely self-destructive as a reaction to something, and I wonder what it could be. But I know she’s in good hands with Ashton. He used to be a Navy SEAL and has seen things I can’t even imagine. I’ve got no doubt if anyone can get through to Isabelle, it’s Ash.

I capture his gaze and say, “Help her.”

He nods in response.

I
sabelle

T
he Le Roux
act as if tearing through the forest in a rage makes me crazy. They have no idea it’s standard learned behavior for a polar bear with a temper. They should be grateful they didn’t know me as a child. It took years for me to learn to control my anger, and I’m proud of myself for not attacking Tristan, or even worse, Annie.

I stretch my arms over my head, and a lingering soreness is still present in the limb I shattered. Nothing I can’t handle, though. Ashton is across the gym, and I watch him approach me. His legs are the size of tree trunks, and I bet he works out for hours every day.

I’m glad it’s him, because I still have some resentment I need to work out, and Ian, the guy who runs Kick It, isn’t bear enough for my strength. Even though Ashton isn’t a polar bear, he’s got finesse on his side. He’ll know how to save himself if I get out of control.

I bounce on my feet to warm up my muscles and recheck my hand wraps. Ashton nods at me, and I say, “Hey.”

He walks over to a set of shelves and grabs two jump ropes. I reach into the air to grab the one he throws toward me, and the handles are smooth in my hand as I prepare to do what he says. But he doesn’t speak. Instead Ashton starts jumping across from me, so I copy his movements.

“You don’t talk?”

A small smile forms on his face.

“Good. I can do enough for both of us.”

“If you’re talking, then you’re not working hard enough.” He speeds up and changes his movements.

Got it, tough guy.
I match him step for step, and the slapping of our ropes on the floor is paired perfectly. At the point my eyes begin to burn from sweat dripping into them, I notice Ashton is breathing easily, while I’ve started to pant from the exertion. Damn, I’m impressed. A half hour later, my lungs are screaming from lack of oxygen, and I’m close to passing out. But I’ve never backed down from a challenge, so I keep going.

Ashton stops and nods toward the large punching bag. He executes a five-movement drill and steps away. “Fifteen minutes.”

I nod. The no-talking thing is contagious. I’ve only just caught my breath when he says, “Faster.” I blow out a burst of air and pick up my pace. Pain radiates through my hands with each strike, and I’m at the point at which I would stop if I were on my own when Ashton barks out, “Harder.”

My growl sounds in annoyance, and I punch with more force. Now the agony of impact radiates through my arms, and I let it drive me. Tristan’s face comes to mind, and I imagine hitting his nose as my growl becomes a constant rumble in my throat.
You left me.
I drive my fist hard, and white-hot agony races to my shoulder.
You said you’d always take care of me.

Ashton’s loud order startles me. “Stop.” I step back and bend over my thighs. Sweat drips on the mat, and I gasp for air as I recover. Blue eyes cut into me as he leans down to get my attention. “Kicks.”

I stand up and watch his progression. When he steps away, I go in with renewed energy. This time I remember my father. When my foot slaps at the leather bag, the sound brings me back to being a small girl, and my cheek stings with the memory of my father’s hand. I want to laugh, because that was for a minor infraction like being in the same room if he was annoyed.

I begin to kick harder as I recall the beatings. The ones I learned to take instead of fighting back. But I got my retribution, as any polar bear in my clan would tell you. The girls feared me, while the boys learned to stay out of my way. Only Tristan could get through to me when the rages hit.

Drops of salty moisture fly as I spin and deliver kicks faster and harder. My breathing is so labored that it sounds as if I’m gasping, and my chest hurts. I pour on all I’ve got, and the bag splits with a loud tear from the impact of a kick. I don’t stop, and each one of my blows pulverizes the stuffing.

Ashton commands me to stop. He eyes the carnage of the punching bag. His gaze is intense as he says, “We’ll need to order a few more of those.”

It would be funny if I thought he was cracking a joke. But he’s not, and I nod in reply. He walks us over to the weights, and I catch a glimpse of Ian cleaning up my mess.

My arms and legs are like jelly, but my rage has subsided. I focus on controlled movements as Ashton takes me through a circuit. Partway through the second round, he leaves me. My brother may have ditched me for Annie, but I’m a survivor. I smile as I formulate my next move.

Luke
.

Ian approaches me. I glance at the strong, sexy man in front of me. Yup. My rage is definitely gone if I’m thinking about sex. He says, “Ash had to leave for a bit, but he asked me to work on some combinations with you.”

I smile sweetly. “I’d like that.”

Ian’s definitely a flirt. “We’re going to work on grace.” He winks at me. “Think lover, not fighter.”

He’s a strong contrast to Ashton, and I grin back. “Can do.”

Ian walks me through a combination and asks me to focus on placement and smooth transitions. He says, “I want to hear the faintest of taps when you make contact with the leather. If it slaps, you’re striking too hard.”

I dance around the bag and focus on fluidity. Luke’s careful hands come to mind, and I imagine I’m mimicking his touch. My skin flushes with the memory, and I’m grateful I’ve sweat so much that my musk masks the scent of my arousal. Ian calls out praise and direction.

Once I’ve grasped the grace, Ian instructs me to take it up a notch and use a bit of force. This time I punch and kick with enough power to make noise but not enough that I lose smoothness.

When Ian calls for a break, I say, “That does feel like dancing. Thanks.”

“I like to think of fighting like relationships.”

I shake my head.

“No,” says Ian. “Seriously. Think about it. It’s more than the sex, it’s the love and caring that goes with it that makes it the love real. Same thing with fighting. You need to mix the power with grace, agility and speed.”

I nod at him as we make our way to the water cooler. It makes sense. If I want a relationship with Luke, I’m going to need more than great sex. And I’m going to need to give more than that, too. Perhaps it’s time to go after what I need now that Tristan has replaced me as his number one. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. My anger is gone, and what’s left is an empty shell ready to be filled with more than rage. And maybe Luke Robichaux is the one that can help.

T
ori

Y
eah
, so my dream guy never called. And he’s still a nightly visitor who makes me look forward to sleep. Now that I’ve seen him in real life, the dreams are even more intense. I swear I can smell him and feel his burning touch. But I can’t live like this forever, so I’ve decided I needed to do something.

After Googling Bear Mountain Tree Farm, I discovered the headquarters and the lumber mill. Based on the scent of pine that was on the guy, I guess he works at the lumber mill. I would have called to find out, but he never gave me a name. I glance down at the speedometer of my car and ease my foot off the gas pedal, because I’m going way too fast. My stomach flips over as I begin to question my sanity.

My phone calls out my next turn, and I realize it’s the road to the lumber mill. I take a deep breath and hope my dream guy doesn’t turn me away. At least this time I thought about what I’m going to say so a stream of babble doesn’t spout out of my mouth. Now to find him.

As I approach the parking lot, my palms get sweaty, and my tattoo begins to throb.
He’s here.
When I park, my eyes fall shut for a moment as the memory of his lips on my neck floods my mind. I tingle in response but shake my head to clear my thoughts. This guy is so not interested in me that way.

Loud bangs and shouts sound as I head toward a tractor trailer that contains logs. A man is in a vehicle with a long-armed claw that squeaks as it unloads the wood and places it on a moving chute. A guy in a plaid jacket jumps down from the cab of the truck that is being unloaded and notices me. He smiles, and I don’t miss his quick scan of my body. I don’t usually turn heads like thin girls do, but this male clearly appreciates the way I look judging by the low noise he makes under his breath.

“Hello, sweetheart. Can I help you?”

“I’m looking for the boss.”

“Are you now? Which one?”

Oh boy. “Um, the guy who’s really tall with dark hair and blue eyes.”

The man grins. “Darn, my eyes are brown. You must want Keith.”

I smile back, because while I don’t think he’s anyone’s boss, I appreciate the flirting. “That sounds right. Do you know where I can find him?”

“Try the office.” He points to a door. “Right through there and to the right. Can’t miss it.”

I pull a piece of hair out of my mouth that the wind blew into my face and tuck it behind my ear. “Thanks.”

The main door of the building is heavy, clear glass, and I yank hard to get it open. When it shuts behind me, the noise outside is muffled, and I walk slowly along the dark-gray industrial carpet. My heart beats against my chest as I try to remember what I was going to say. When I turn right, the hallway opens up to a reception area, and past it, a door is ajar.

I find my courage and throw my shoulders back as I approach. He’s sitting at the desk, and keys click as he types on a computer. My knuckles rap on the door to get his attention. The guy looks up in confusion and blinks to focus.

“Hi.”

He stands up as his face relaxes. “Tori.”

My face heats up, because my body betrays me with its sexual urges. His eyes are so blue that it’s like staring into the sky, and I lose my train of thought. Breaking away from his gaze, I focus on his chin. “I hadn’t heard from you and thought maybe you lost my number. I would have called, but you didn’t give me your name.”

Unfortunately his chin is too close to his lips, and I lick mine in the memory of what he tasted like in last night’s dream.

The man glances at me, and his eyes are squinted before he relaxes them with a sigh. “I’m sorry. I’ll bet this is hard for you.”

I nod. He’s not angry, but his brow is furrowed a bit as if something’s wrong. “I shouldn’t have come here,” I say as I start to back away.

“No. It’s okay.” He comes out from behind his desk. “I’m Keith. Do you want some milk and cookies?”

Seriously? Does he think I’m seven? But a cookie does sound good. “Sure.”

“Right this way.” Keith leads me back toward the hall, and we continue straight to go past it. He pulls open a door to a large room and lets me enter first. It appears to be the employee cafeteria, and we walk by round, laminated tables toward a stainless steel machine, where he pours two glasses of milk. I smile when he grabs a cookie and takes a bite. He catches my eye and nods towards the tray of baked goods. I grab one, too.

“Come sit,” he says as he walks toward the closest table. We’re the only ones in here, and I wonder if he’s supposed to be taking a break.

After we’re seated, I snap off a bite of my treat and fiddle with it as I say, “If you need to work, we can do this another time.”

Keith has a little milk mustache, making him appear younger than he is, judging by his job and the fine lines near his eyes. “Nope. I needed a snack, and you just reminded me.”

His words are casual, but he hasn’t cracked a smile. Such a serious man. “Okay. Good.” I sip my milk to wash down the sugary flavor of cookie.

“Getting rid of your dreams isn’t as easy as I thought it was going to be. I’m sorry.”

“Oh.” I take another sip of my milk and wish I could do something to make him grin. I wait for him to explain more.

He gulps down the rest of his milk and then asks, “Want a tour?”

That’s random, but I say, “I’d love one.”

I finish my milk, too, and when I’m done, his lips turn up just the slightest as he reaches toward me. I lean in without thinking, and he stops just before he touches me and pulls his hand back quickly. “Ah. You’ve got a milk mustache.”

He does feel this attraction. But why did he stop himself?
Oh, Keith, you shouldn’t have done that.
Because even though he didn’t touch me, now I know he wants to. I smile as I wipe my mouth with my sleeve. “You do, too.”

He copies my movement and grabs my glass as he stands. “C’mon.”

He drops the cups in a plastic bin full of dishes on the way out. We leave through a different exit than the one we entered through, and this hallway is industrial, with tile flooring and concrete walls that are lined with hooks and cubbies. An assortment of hard hats is hanging on the wall, and Keith grabs one to inspect it. He holds it out to me. “Try this on.”

I place it on my head and cock my hip in a pose. “How do I look?”

The smile he’s trying so hard not to crack threatens to escape again. “Cute.” He reaches into a cubby and pulls out a hat of his own and two sets of ear-protection headphones. “Here. You’ll want these, too.”

After we put on the headgear, Keith leads me through a door that opens up to a large warehouse-like space full of machinery. He walks me over to where the chute I saw earlier is carrying in the fresh cut logs and depositing them in a machine that removes the bark. They move on toward a series of saws that cut them into planks. Our headphones don’t allow us to communicate other than pointing.

Keith directs me to a small control room, and I’m relieved when we get to remove our ear protection. A computer screen appears to be monitoring the wood planks and rejecting the ones that don’t have the right measurements. Keith says, “Do you have any questions about what you’ve seen so far?”

“What happens to the scraps?”

He answers everything I ask with the patience of someone who finds this as fascinating as I do. When we’re done in the control room, he finishes the tour near the trucks being loaded with kiln-dried wood for retail distribution. He brings me back to the hallway, where I return my hard hat. It clatters on the wall as I gush on about the operation, and Keith asks, “Have you always been interested in how things work?”

I nod. “That’s why I decided to major in engineering. I was the little girl who took apart her talking doll to see if I could get her to say different things.” I grin, recalling my mother’s dismay that one of her triplets would rather take her toys apart that use them as intended.

Keith smiles the tiniest bit. “I was that kind of kid, too.” He begins to walk us back toward his office, and our footsteps are muffled again once we hit the carpet.

“Did you major in engineering?”

The heavy door slams behind us, and the silence is almost deafening now that we’re in the administrative part of the building. “Yes. I even went to UMO.”

My first thought is to ask him when he graduated, but since I got my first smile, I don’t want to point out our age difference. “So you’re a Black Bear too.” The animal is the mascot for the university.

We’ve stopped at the hallway that leads outside, and his eyes widen for a moment before he furrows his brow. “How much do you know about your dreams?”

“Not much. The woman who gave me my tattoo said I was being called and that the guy in my dreams would want to date me. Only you don’t, so....”

He sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. “Tori, I’m twenty-eight. And you’re what, eighteen?”

I nod.

Keith lets out a low noise that’s almost a growl. “I’m going to figure this out for you.” He stares into my eyes, and my body hums with desire I don’t want to control. “We aren’t right for each other.”

I hear the words, but when his lips part and his pupils widen, I don’t believe them. He feels our connection, too. I say, “Thanks. Now about that internship. I was serious. I actually need one this semester. Got any openings?”

Keith’s shoulders slump in defeat. “I’ll make one.” He reaches into his shirt pocket and pulls out a card. “Email me the details.”

Hope bursts in my heart, and I clutch the card in my hands as I grin. “Thank you. I won’t let you down. I promise.”

I get a genuine smile this time, and he says, “I know you won’t.”