The Playboy Bear's Baby: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (8 page)

“How
far along are you?”

Mara
grabbed a handful of paper towels and mopped up the mess she made on the
counter. “Eight weeks, give or take a day or two.”

Nancy
snorted. “You really are at the beginning of all the torture. Just wait until
your feet start swelling and you get your first hemorrhoid flare up. Then
you’ll know suffering.”

“That
sounds like a blast.” Mara grabbed her coffee, added a splash of creamer, and
carried it over to the table. She sat across from her mother. Upon closer
inspection, the woman didn’t look so good. Her eyes were bloodshot and there
were dark circles beneath them. Not even the heavy application of foundation
and powder could conceal them.   

“It’s
part of motherhood.” Nancy popped the last morsel of toast into her mouth and
chewed. “Welcome to the club.”

Mara
fought hard not to roll her eyes. She wasn’t sure she wanted to listen to
advice from someone who’d dumped her kid off with family before puberty had
even started. She sipped her coffee and refrained from commenting.

“So,
I assume the Gray fella who was here yesterday is the daddy?”

Mara
nodded. “He is.”

“Is
he as loaded as his folks were?”

“I
don’t know. His finances aren’t really any of my business.”

“Sure
they are. You’re having his kid, aren’t you?”

 “Yes,
but I’m not sure what one had to do with the other.”

“Kids
aren’t cheap.”

“I’m
sure I’ll be fine, with or without Gray’s money. I have a college degree that
I’m going to put to use just as soon as I find a decent job.”

“I’m
sure you know best.” Nancy stood, walked over to the counter, and freshened up
her coffee. Her hands shook as she poured. “So, have you been with Gray long?”

“Long
enough,” Mara replied. For whatever reason, she didn’t want her mother to know
the whole story. Besides, it didn’t matter how their child was conceived. They
were together now. They were mates. Or they would be as soon as Gray claimed
her. She wasn’t quite sure about that point.

“Mm
hmm.” Nancy sat back down and cradled her cup between her palms. “He seems nice
enough.”

“He
is,” Mara repeated. “Gray’s a wonderful man.”

“You
think he’ll stick around after the baby comes?”

“Yes.”
Indignation stirred in Mara’s gut. Gray was a good man and she didn’t appreciate
her mother implying anything else. She frowned and sat up a little straighter.
“What kind of question is that anyway?”

“No
offense, but if there’s one thing I know about it’s men. The ones who leave are
more common than the ones who stay.”

“That
may be true about the men you’ve chosen to surround yourself with but I’ve
known plenty of good, honorable men. The bad apples don’t account for the
majority.”

“I
felt the same way about your daddy and you see how well that turned out.” Nancy
lifted her cup to her mouth and drank.

Mara
didn’t even know where to begin replying. Her father had overdosed on heroin
when she was a toddler. She didn’t remember him, or know anything about him
other than what she’d been told. By all accounts, he’d been a troubled young
man whose life had been cut short by his addiction. “Dad didn’t leave. His
death was a tragic accident.”

Nancy’s
nostrils flared. “Is that what Mama told you?”

“Yes.”

“She
lied. While it’s true that he OD’d, it wasn’t an accident. He hated his life and
he hated us. He couldn’t handle being married or having a child. He
intentionally overdosed just to get away from us.”

Mara’s
nose lit up from within and moisture filled her eyes. “That’s a horrible thing
to say.”

“It’s
true.”

Mara
looked down, blinked to force the tears free, and wiped them away before they
could trail down her face. She hated crying. It made her feel weak and
vulnerable.

When
she looked back up at her mother, her eyes were dry and she was done beating
around the bush. “Why are you really here? I doubt it’s because of Grandma. If
you actually cared about her or me we have gotten more than a postcard from you
over the last thirteen years.”

Nancy
narrowed her eyes and stared across the table at Mara. The moment stretched
between them, growing more uncomfortable by the second.

Mara
refused to be the first to look away.

Finally,
Nancy crossed her arms over her chest. Her lips twisted upward in a frightening
parody of a smile. “Fair enough. If you want me to be straight with you, then
you’ve got it. Mama was a judgmental bitch. As far as I’m concerned, the world
is better off without her. However, she was my mother and that means I’m
entitled to her estate.”

Mara
shook her head. She should have figured this was about money. It was stupid of her
to think her mother would show up out of the blue for any other reason. “While
I can see how you might think that, you couldn’t be more wrong. Grandma’s will
was clear about who her estate was left to and it wasn’t you. You weren’t even
mentioned.”

“Is
that right?”

“Yes,”
Mara asserted.

Nancy
shrugged. “It doesn’t really matter what her will said.”

“Why
is that?”

“I’m sure we can have it overturned easily enough.
She was getting up there in age. I doubt Mama was in her right mind when she
passed away.”

Mara gritted her teeth and counted to ten. Losing
her temper wouldn’t help anything. “Grandma was rational right up until she
took her last breath, but you go ahead and do whatever you think is right. If
that’s contesting the last wishes of the only person who loved you
unconditionally, then so be it.”

“I’m so glad you’re being an adult about this. I
was worried you were going to be angry.” Nancy got up and pushed her chair up
against the table. “Well… I have to run some errands, but I’ll be back by
dinner time. See ya later.”

Mara watched her mother leave and wondered if
they’d been having the same conversation. If her mother thought she was fine
with someone contesting her grandma’s will, then she was delusional.

Chapter Eight

Mara
gazed at herself in the full length mirror on the inside of her closet door and
decided to the blue maxi dress she had on would have to suffice. It was
probably her least favorite dress, but it was the only one that didn’t cling to
her stomach. While her belly had never been flat, the soft swell was definitely
more pronounced now. Only she didn’t look pregnant. She looked seriously
bloated. The empire waist of the indigo dress highlighted her cleavage and
masked her imperfections. Even better, she could wear strappy sandals instead
of heels. She couldn’t deal with heels tonight on top of whatever fancy shmancy
restaurant Gray intended to take her to for dinner. She just hoped the menus
were in English and they served something besides red meat. Just the thought of
a medium rare steak made her nauseated.

She
twisted this way and that, and fingered the neckline. She needed a necklace and
could only think of one that would be perfect. She headed down the hall and into
her grandma’s bedroom. Her jewelry box sat on the dresser, untouched since Mara
had returned home from the funeral home with her grandma’s personal
possessions. As Mara opened the little glass door that held her necklaces, a
flood of memories rushed over. Being allowed to play dress up with Grandma’s
costume jewelry. The diamond studs that had been handed down to her on her
thirteenth birthday. Borrowing gold hoops and a herringbone chain for senior
prom. Her eyes grew a little misty.

She
caressed her stomach and wished her grandma could be there to meet the baby, to
help guide her child the same way she’d been a guiding force in Mara’s life.
She took a deep breath and let it out. There was nothing she could do to change
what had already happened. All she could do was move forward and hope she and
Gray would be enough of a family for their little one.

Thinking
of Gray reminded her of his impending arrival. He would be there any time now,
so she needed to get a move on if she wanted to be ready by the time he picked
her up for their date. She riffled through the contents of the jewelry box,
searching for the string of pearls she wanted to wear, and came up empty. The
antique pearls were nowhere to be found. What the hell? She knew they hadn’t
just walked out of the room on their own. Unfortunately, that only left one
other option.

Mara
was fit to be tied as she stormed toward the guestroom to confront her mother.
Behind her anger was a heaping dose of self-loathing for forgetting to hide the
few small items that held sentimental value for her. The pearls were included
on that list. They were over a hundred years old and had originally belonged to
her great, great grandmother. Because of their age and value, her grandma had
only worn them during special occasions. They only reminded Mara of the good
times. 

She
raised her hand to beat on the guestroom door and paused. From inside, she
could hear her mother speaking to someone. She cocked her head and listened.

“No.
I have things under control.”

Pause.

“Yes.”

Pause.

“Please.
I need it.”

Pause.

“No.
I’m only asking for a little more time. Just a few more days.”

Mara’s
patience snapped. She didn’t know what her mother was talking about and she
didn’t care. She twisted the knob and shoved the door open without waiting for
an invitation. “We need to talk.”

“I’ll
call you back.” Nancy poked the phone’s screen and shoved it in one of the back
pockets of her jeans.  “Didn’t anyone ever teach you to knock?”

“I
don’t know. You should ask my mother…” Mara quirked her brow and waited.

Nancy
scowled. “What do you want?”

“Have
you been going through Grandma’s things? Some of her jewelry is missing.”

Nancy
shrugged. “So what if I have? I have just as much right to her belongings as
you do.”

Mara
sucked in a deep breath and pushed it out. “Where are the pearls? I want to
wear them tonight.”

“I
don’t have them. I took some of her things in to have them appraised.”

“Why
would you do that?”

“I
wanted to see what they were worth? Why else?”

Mara
closed her eyes and rubbed the smooth skin between her eyebrows. Once she was
sure her head wasn’t going to spin around like that kid in the Exorcist, she
lifted her lids and looked at her mother. “Get them back. You had no right to
take them without asking me first.”

“I’ll
pick them up, but I can’t do it tonight. The place is already closed.”

“Fine.”
It wouldn’t do any good to keep bitching. As long as her mother did as she
asked, then she would let it go. There was nothing else she could really do at
the moment. “Just get them back as soon as you can.”

“I
will.” Nancy leaned against the dresser.

For
the first time since she’d entered the room, Mara took a good, hard look at her
mother and noticed she didn’t look so well. Her skin had a pale and waxy sheen
to it. “Are you feeling all right?”

“I’m
okay,” Nancy said a little too quickly.

“Are
you sure?”

“I
think I’d know if something was wrong with me.”

“Okay.
Well, Gray is going to be here in a few minutes and then we’re headed out for
the evening.”

“Have
a good time then.”

“Thanks.”
Mara turned to go. She made it to the door before she felt compelled to glance
back over her shoulder at her mother, who hadn’t moved a muscle. “Have a good
night.”

She
didn’t have time to dwell on her mother long. The doorbell rang, signaling gray’s
arrival. She hurried downstairs and opened the front door.

Gray
stood on the porch, looking better than any one man had a right to. His dark
hair was combed away from his face. Sexy stubble covered his lean cheeks and
the breadth of his square jaw. The dove gray dress shirt he wore was open at
the neck, fitted across the impressive width of his muscular chest, and rolled
up his forearms. Black slacks cupped his hips and groin like a glove. She
wasn’t sure what she’d done to attract someone so fine, but she wasn’t about to
look a gift horse in the mouth. He was drop dead gorgeous and all hers. She
needed a night out and couldn’t think of anyone she’d rather spend it with than
him. “Hey handsome.”

“You
look beautiful.” He smiled, making the dimples in his cheeks pop.

“Thank
you. Let me grab my purse and we can go.”

“Sure.”

Leaving
the door open, she rushed back into the living room and grabbed her bag off the
end table by the chair. She joined Gray on the porch and closed the door behind
her. “Let’s get out of here.”

* * * *

Their
reservations were at a charming little bistro a few counties over that served
the best Italian food Mara had ever put in her mouth. The company was even
better than the food.

They
made small talk as they ate, keeping the conversation light and friendly. Gray
told her anecdotes from work and she regaled him with amusing stories about
some of the things she’d seen or done while in college. Mara smiled so much her
cheeks ached. She loved it.

Gray’s
expression turned serious as they waited for their dessert to be served.
 “I’m not really sure if I should say anything, but I had someone call me
today to let me know there was a woman going around town asking about me.”

Mara
sighed. “Let me guess—my mother?”

Gray
nodded. “That would be my guess to based on my friend’s description and the
kind of questions being asked.”

A
ball of lead settled in Mara’s stomach. “They were about money, weren’t they?”

“Yeah.”

Heat
climbed up her chest and lit her face on fire. “I’m so sorry, Gray. She asked
me a bunch of questions about you yesterday morning, but I blew off the ones
about money. Your finances are no one’s business but your own. She wasn’t
acting on my behalf. I’m not here with you because I care about your bank
account. It wouldn’t matter to me if you didn’t have a pot to piss in or a
window to throw it out of.”

“I
know that.” Gray reached across the table, caught her hand, and held it.
“Believe me, I can spot a gold digger from a mile away and I realize you aren’t
that kind of person.”

“Thank
you for trusting me.” She couldn’t believe her mother had been running around
asking personal questions about Gray. Scratch that. She could believe it. She
just didn’t want to.

Gray
used his thumb to caress her wrist and the back of her hand, and gazed into her
eyes. “There’s no one I trust more than you.”

She
looked right back at him, her gaze unwavering. “I feel the same way.”

It
amazed her that they’d come so far in such a short amount of time. If someone
had told they’d be together and planning for forever a month earlier, she would
have accused them of having a screw loose. And yet here they were, growing
closer every day, and building a foundation of love and trust with which to
anchor their relationship. Although neither of them had dared utter the L word
yet, she had no doubt it was there lingering between them. Just because they
were moving fast didn’t mean they were running ahead blindly. She knew he was
wooing her with every intention of claiming her as his mate, just as he knew
she wouldn’t let him continue to court her if she didn’t think there was a
chance for them to have a future together.

The
arrival of the waitress with their dessert cut their moment short. They both
sat up straight to make room for the plated food, although Gray kept his hand
atop hers, maintaining contact. After their food was delivered, the waitress
rested the leather binder holding their check on the edge of the table and
departed.

Mara
took a small bite of the white chocolate and raspberry mousse she’d ordered and
groaned as the perfect blend of sweet and tart burst over her taste buds. “Oh,
now that’s good. Here.” She scooped up a larger bite and held the spoon out
across the table. “You have to try this.”

Gray
closed his lips around the spoon and slowly pulled the creamy confection into
his mouth. He licked his lips and nodded. “You’re right. That is good. I’ve
only tasted one thing sweeter.” The heat in his gaze left no doubt about what
was on his mind.

She
eased her arm back and tried not to blush at the reminder of all the things
he’d done to her with his mouth. Other than the night they’d met, they had yet
to do more than a little heavy petting. There always seemed to be something
standing in their way. Her nausea. His work schedule. Her mother’s untimely
arrival. However, there wasn’t anything to stop them tonight.

Heat
washed over her at the thought of inviting him inside once they reached her
house. It felt like a lifetime since she’d had his hands on her bare skin and she
was anxious for a do over somewhere a little more comfortable than a grimy
alley. He made her blood race and her body sing that night behind the bar, so
she could only imagine what he could accomplish in a bed with a little time at
his disposal.

“Here,”
Gray said. He picked up a small, round ball and held it out to her. “My
struffoli is pretty good too. This is the only place I know of that serves it.”

“What
is it?” She eyed the pastry skeptically.

“They’re
kind of like a donut holes, only glazed with honey. They’re really delicious.”

“All
right.” She leaned forward and opened her mouth. The second the sweet treat
touched her tongue, she closed her lips around the pastry and Gray’s fingers.
She retreated slowly, using her lips and tongue to clean all the honey from his
fingers,while watching his face for a reaction. Sure enough, his gaze dropped
to her mouth and his lips parted as if he was having trouble getting enough
air. She licked the tip of his index finger and then sat back to chew the
struffoli. “Yum. I can see why you like these. They really are good.”

“Uh
huh,” Gray said without looking away from his fingers.

Mara
grinned and went back to eating her mousse. Teasing him was fun. “So, how would
you feel about a sleepover tonight?”

Gray
raised his hand. “Check please.”

Mara
laughed and pointed to the end of the table. “The check’s right there.”

“Right.”
Gray winked. “I knew that.” He slid a credit card into the folder and waved it
in the air to get their waitresses attention.

They
finished their desserts while they waited for the waitress to take care of
their bill and then walked out hand in hand. The night was warm and balmy, with
a light breeze that tousled her hair during the walk to the SUV.

Gray
opened the passenger side door for her and she climbed in. He crossed in front
of the vehicle, climbed into the driver’s seat, and started up the
vehicle. 

She
glanced over at him. “Thanks for dinner. I had a good time tonight.”

“It
was my pleasure.” He reached across the seat, grabbed her hand, and held it all
the way home.

All
too soon they pulled up in front of Mara’s house. The drive home seemed a lot
shorter than the trip to the restaurant, although that could be because she was
both anxious and excited about inviting Gray to stay over. Despite the physical
yearning to be with him, she couldn’t help but remember the few pounds she’d
gained since he’d last seen her naked—all of it centered in her midsection—as
well as the fact that she was stone cold sober this time around. That alcohol
had lowered her inhibitions. Without it, she was much more reserved. What if he
found her unattractive and boring?