Waking the Bear (Shifter Wars) (7 page)

“You mean...?”

She nodded and her eyes misted with tears. She had no intention of bringing up Darren. Griff wasn’t Darren and it wasn’t fair to compare the two. She knew that. Still, she couldn’t help but bristle every time Griff gave her the order to stay out of the forest.

He fisted his hands. “No man should ever be that way toward a woman. I didn’t mean to be so overbearing.”

“It’s not you. It’s my own issues.” She dabbed the tears away with her napkin. “I need to learn to be me again.”

“Dammit. Amy, I’m sorry. I get overprotective of people I...people...friends. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

She looked up at him, his face scrunched in pain. Darren had never shown remorse even in his thousand apologies. “I know. It’s okay.”

“I’ll try to do better.”

She smiled. She believed him. “Thank you. I don’t mean to be so weepy. I’m tired.”

“No apology necessary.”

She took a ragged breath. “Okay, change of subject. Can I ask you something?”

He tensed, his shoulders rising. He probably thought she wanted to know about his girlfriend or lack of.

“Yeah, go ahead.” He stared over her and out the front window. “I’ll try to answer.”

“Why did you leave the cabin? I mean, why don’t you still live there, since you own it and it’s right at the forest and park boundary?”

“It’s complicated.” He sighed.

She always managed to ask the wrong questions. It was a wonder that he didn’t get upset. Darren would have. “I’m curious. I know you have the ranger cabin. Is it bigger or something?”

“I didn’t have to take the ranger cabin, but I wanted to.” He massaged his temples. “My family was murdered at my cabin. A long time ago. It’s difficult to imagine the four of us there, but it’s what we had at the time, and I was grateful for a home.”

“Oh no!” Amy’s stomach dropped and icy shivers ran up her back. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

He paused, the muscles in his face tensing and releasing in a symphony of pain. The hurt from the past was evident, from the straight line of his mouth to the scrunched eyebrows. Losing your whole family, and by murder—shit didn’t get much worse than that. No wonder he seemed a bit aloof. “I should’ve. If you want out of the lease, I understand.” He looked up to meet her gaze. “I should’ve told you.”

“No, it’s okay.” She shook her head. Her stomach flip-flopped at the news. His family murdered. She was surprised he even kept the cabin. “I want to stay. I get a positive vibe there—I have from the moment I walked in. I don’t want to move.” She wanted to ask more, but didn’t want to hurt him. “I’m so sorry about your family.”

“It’s okay, really. It happened a long time ago. I’m glad you’re still happy with the place.” Griff chewed his lower lip. “I keep the cabin because it was our family’s home and I have fond memories of us all piled up there. It’s all I have left of them besides what I remember.”

Griff’s revelation explained a lot. She wondered who’d raised him, but now didn’t seem the appropriate time to ask.

“My sister and I used to pick armloads of wildflowers and pile them on the porch swing. We’d sit out there all afternoon making flower garlands to hang in the house. Mom would bring our sandwiches out there and we’d picnic either under the elderberry tree or even down by the creek.”

“You lost your sister, too?” The sting of tears burned her eyes. “My gosh, that’s terrible. What was her name?”

Griff wiped at his nose. “Charlotte. She was only seven. I was nine at the time.”

“What happened?”

He shook his head. “I can’t talk about it.”

She placed her hand over his forearm, feeling the muscles tense under her fingers. She squeezed, hoping to provide a little comfort. “I can’t imagine what you’ve been through.”

He pulled away and sat up straight. “It was a bad time in my life. It was a long time ago. I’ve moved on.”

“I understand.” Amy leaned back in the booth. The earlier chills she had were replaced with a deep sorrow in the pit of her stomach, like a hole that couldn’t be filled. No matter what he said, Griff was still affected by the loss of his family. Anyone would be. But he carried his loss close and held on to it tight. “I’m trying to move on from some bad things in my life, too. That’s why I’m so far from home. Trying to get perspective.”

He looked up, his face red. “What are you trying to escape?”

She ducked her head, letting her hair fall forward to cover her face a bit. “Sucky job, bad relationship, boring life. You name it, I’m trying to find a way to fix it.”

“Your ex-boyfriend?” He almost growled the word.

She peeked at him. “Yeah.”

He visibly relaxed and she fought the urge to smile. It was gallant that he puffed up at the mention of Darren.

“I’m glad he’s out of the picture. What about your job?”

“I’m done there. Definitely.” She looked around for the waitress and their drinks. Her mouth had gone completely dry.

“I see.” Griff scooted back on the bench. After a long pause, he continued. “Been painting?”

“Not yet. It’s only been a week. I’ve been unpacking and unwinding.” Amy let out a nervous laugh. He seemed like he felt okay, but the talk of his family had bothered him. She wasn’t used to such intensity in a man. It was an alluring quality.

Very sexy, too.

“Wasn’t sure when you’d start dipping your brushes in.” He grinned, though the strain still showed in the tense lines of his face. “Don’t worry about me going all emo on you. I can tell you’re tiptoeing around the conversation now. It’s been a long time since my family died. I’ve come to terms with it, really.”

“Okay,” she whispered. Sure he had. That’s why his whole demeanor changed at the mention of them. Still, that softness beneath his sometimes-growly exterior was a hint at his heart.

He was a teddy bear, no question about it. One she’d love to snuggle and comfort.

“Change of topic.” Griff raised his voice and cleared his throat. “This is important.”

“Okay.” She perked up at his tone and her hands dampened.

“Tell me about your art. What makes you want to paint?”

Her shoulders slumped and she looked at her hands.
Not sure what you expected.
“Well, I’m definitely not Picasso. I’m a little slower getting started than some might be.” Why did Griff make her uneasy and comfortable at the same time? Maybe it was his size, or the way he commanded any room he entered, coupled with his genuine smile and baritone voice. Or maybe she was horny and her body knew a night with him would provide relief.

She shook her head.
Stop thinking such thoughts!

“What is it?” He smiled, clearly aware of her unease. He moved his leg so that his knee slid across hers. “Excuse me. My legs are long.”

“Oh.” She flushed. “Don’t worry about it.”
You can wrap those legs around me anytime.

Tina swooped in and set their drinks on the table. “Soda for Amy and ice water for Griff. Share a straw or need two?”

“Two, please.” Now the waitress was playing matchmaker. This was real life, not a Disney movie.

“Can’t blame me for trying.” Tina tossed two straws on the table. “Food’ll be up soon.” She winked at Griff and disappeared as quickly as she’d arrived.

Amy opened the straw and stabbed at the ice in her soda. Anything to get the sexy vision of Griff out of her head. Seeing his soft side added to the attraction she already felt. Maybe if she thought of him ticketing innocent park visitors. She giggled.

“Yes?”

“Nothing.” She shook her head. “I think I’ve already mentioned that I like to paint landscapes. Flowers, birds, animals. Things in nature.”

“Yes. But why? I mean, why not people, or cars, or buildings?”

She thought a moment. “I’ve always wanted to be an artist, but I went into advertising to pay the bills. Painting nature was my escape from the mundane. Maybe because it’s peaceful. Different from my normal life.”

“You mean different from the city?” He put the straw in his water, spearing the lemon and pushing it to the bottom of the glass.

“Yeah, I guess that’s part of it.” She pushed her hair behind her ears. “But it’s more than that. To me, nature represents freedom. A freedom I don’t have. It’s like a magical gem, just out of reach. Shiny and glowing and beautiful, but not something I can grasp.”

“That’s why you came to the mountains.”

“Yes. I wanted to get closer to nature. Not by camping or anything like that. I wouldn’t know how to put up a tent and let’s face it, I really like to shower.”

Griff raised his eyebrows.

Heat ran up her cheeks. “You know what I mean. I’m not that much of a naturalist. I like modern conveniences.”

He smiled and swirled his straw in the ice.

“There’s something about nature that pulls me. I’d joke and say it was the call of the wild, but that sounds sort of crazy.”

“Not at all.” His voice lowered. “It makes perfect sense.”

She met his gaze and her insides melted. His hazel eyes were the color of leaves at the peak of summer heat. The call of the wild definitely included one sexy park ranger. She ran her sweaty palms over her jeans.

“That’s essentially why I like to paint. Though I’ve rambled about it. I want to capture that wildness, that part of me that’s missing. I try to do it through art.”

“Maybe you need to get closer to the local wildlife.” He raised an eyebrow. “In a safe way, of course.”

“Maybe bunnies and squirrels. I don’t know what I’d do if I came upon a bear in the woods.”

Griff harrumphed. “You can see bunnies and squirrels from the cabin porch. I don’t think you need to be messing with bears.”

Amy laughed. “Yeah, but I’m not doing all my painting on the porch.”

He mumbled something unintelligible. “Please be careful. I mean, you’re from the city, not the forest. You really don’t know what to expect.”

“Well, I’ll let you know if I have any trouble, how’s that? Besides, you told me you’d stop being bossy.”

“Sorry.” He stared out into the restaurant.

“I may be from the city, but I can handle myself in the woods, Griff.”

At his name, he looked at her. “I’m sure you can handle all the things you might face in the city, and probably a lot of things you would run into in the forest.” He paused, his jaw muscle working on some tension, then continued. “But not everything. That’s what I worry about.”

“No one can handle everything.” She spoke softly as she watched his pupils dilate like dark pools.

“That’s true,” he whispered. He placed his hand over hers. “No one can handle everything.”

The tingle from his touch raced up her arm and she closed her eyes to savor the sensation. One moment she was annoyed with his overprotectiveness and the next, she was basking in the heat of his voice and the electricity of his touch. She kept her tone low and looked at him. “I’ll be okay. I’m not some poor damsel in distress. I don’t need to be taken care of.”

“I know. Just be careful.” He nibbled at his lower lip. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I’ll be careful. I promise.” She peered out the front window of the café. Not a car in sight. The town’s population must be the size of her neighborhood in Atlanta. Tiny. And people moved much slower.

“I’d love to see your paintings when you’re done, by the way. I’ve often wished I had a talent like that. Some kind of art.” Griff leaned back, his hand slipping off hers. “I mean, if you show them to people.”

She looked at him. He didn’t realize how hard that would be, but part of her jumped up and down inside at the prospect.

“I don’t know.” She adjusted in her seat. “I’ll think about it.”

“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” He licked his lips and studied her. “In fact, that’s the last thing I want to do. Maybe you need to get to know me better. Friends, of course.”

She looked down at the table. “I’m not uncomfortable. Of course we’ll be friends.” Her heart raced. He had no idea how he made her feel. If he did, she’d be embarrassed out of her mind.

He lowered his voice to a low whisper. “I look forward to seeing what you paint while you’re here.”

She swirled the ice in her soda, watching the cubes spin and trying to ignore the lust he stirred in her. “Not today. Besides, I haven’t painted any yet. Right now I’ve got to get home and put the food up—”

“The food will be okay while we eat.” From the tone of his voice, she suspected he didn’t take his eyes off her.

“Yeah, okay.” Amy scanned the café, refusing to meet his gaze. It held maybe ten tables and booths—probably enough for half the town to eat at once—but only one other booth was occupied. Such a difference from metro Atlanta where you could go your whole life without seeing the same person in a restaurant twice.

Whether that was a good thing or not remained to be seen. One really great thing about the small town...the park ranger was one sexy guy with a heart of gold. She hadn’t found that in the big city.

“I mean it. I still want to see your artwork.” His tone changed to teasing. “Do you do any nudes? Self-portraits?”

She whipped her gaze to look at him, feeling the color drain from her face. “You sure are persistent.”

He smiled. “Always.”

Chapter Seven

Griff took a bite of his burger, savoring the juices that rolled over his tongue. Nothing like hot food to make him happy, and the burger was his first since waking up.

He’d snacked on chips and power bars between naps and drives into the park to check things and had finally woken up enough to head into town for real food. His first real meals after hibernation always tasted like the best food in the world. Sharing a meal with his mate was the right topping to it all.

Mate
. He still couldn’t believe it. And she was human. Beautiful, too. He shook his head. How he’d ended up so lucky, he had no clue. He wasn’t exactly sure how to handle keeping his bear from acting out around her.

He set his burger down. No mistake, he could smell her even over the aroma of the delicious food. All female and meant for him. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to end up ignoring his duty to the den. As much as Elijah wanted grandkids, this wasn’t the time to even consider being with a mate.

What the hell was he thinking? Clearly, she was messing with his mind. His buddies who had mates had said it was like this when they met theirs, but he hadn’t believed all the hype. They’d become all discombobulated, especially when their mates had rejected them. The way his feelings intertwined in his head, he understood what the guys meant now.

The bears needed him to be focused and ready to do his part in the upcoming war with the Sen Pal, not be following behind his beloved like a lovesick cub. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing someone else he loved. His heart couldn’t take it.

His mate called to him.

The golden-haired beauty had woven some kind of spell over his psyche without even trying. She hadn’t meant to—that much was clear. She wanted to be alone and had allowed him to join her out of courtesy, not lust. Probably not even out of much like, either. Being human, she wouldn’t sense that they were mates, would she? He’d have to ask Elijah. One thing was for sure, she made him feel things he hadn’t felt since his family was alive.

The need to protect her overwhelmed him at times, like a waterfall over his better judgment. He’d think of ways to keep her safe, even at the risk of the den.

He sipped his water and pretended not to watch her, though he stole glances as they ate in silence. Then, she looked up at the same time and his heart felt like it swelled to ten times the size. If someone were animating the scene, he’d have rainbow sparkles floating around his head.

Amy was a slave to her manners. Though she was a city-dweller, she was Southern through and through. He knew the type. Polite to the core. She had no idea she was his mate but she wouldn’t have refused anyone who asked her nicely if they could join her for lunch. That was just who she was. It’s also what would make her a target for the lions, if they ever found out she was his mate.

If he’d told her the truth, she’d shoot out of there faster than a rifle bullet out of a barrel.

She couldn’t know. For one thing, she’d never believe him. He spent so much time with the bears preparing for the war, she’d be alone and unguarded. The den couldn’t afford such a high layer of security for one person, either.

This mate thing is confusing
.

He chewed on a fry and took another peek. Amy shoved her burger into her mouth and chewed without a care. He liked that. Why she was timid about showing her artwork, he couldn’t understand.

“Do you like the burger?” he asked.

She glanced up and their gazes met briefly before she blinked her soft brown eyes and looked away. “Yes, it’s very tasty.”

He watched her confidence drain by the moment as he looked her up and down. He forgot. Humans didn’t like to be physically analyzed. He cleared his throat and stared at his plate.

He shifted in his seat and brushed up against her leg. Heat shot straight to his groin, followed by ice. “Sorry!” he almost yelled.

She smiled and dabbed her mouth with her napkin in an effort to cover it. “It’s okay.”

Did being near a mate make someone act stupid? Apparently, it did.

“The fries here are excellent.” He almost laughed at himself. She probably thought that was as lame as he did. He didn’t know what else to say. If he said, “You’re my mate and I’m taking you to my cabin to claim you,” she’d call the cops. But he wanted her. He didn’t want to have to wait until the lions were gone.

“They are.” She shoved another one in her mouth.

He imagined her mouth closing over other things. He shook away the thought quickly.

Soon, the rest of the bears would converge at the den, and he needed to be ready to help them plan the lions’ defeat. Would he be able to keep his mate at a distance until things were safe? Maybe he should enlist Elijah’s help.

Unless he planned to kidnap Amy, he could forget her being a willing captive until the war was over. She’d never agree; she was too independent. He could try to get her to go back home, but Evers could follow her, so she really wouldn’t be safe until the lions were gone. He also didn’t like the way she’d said “ex-boyfriend.” The guy sounded like a controlling asshole, maybe even an abusive one. No, she needed to be in Oakwood at least, so he could make sure she was safe.

Where he could protect her from both Evers and the ex.

Dammit.
He didn’t know what to do.

“What’s that on your burger?” She pointed, scowling. “An egg?”

“Yep. I love fried eggs on burgers.” He took another bite.

“If you say so. Must be a regional thing.”

He nodded. Being so close to her was causing his body to respond in ways that messed with his mind.

Maybe just one date would help ease the tension. She smelled so good. Who was he kidding? He wouldn’t stop until he claimed her.

Mate. Mine.

“Can I get you anything?” Tina reappeared and refilled Griff’s water glass.

“No, I’m okay.” Amy wiped her mouth with her napkin. “May I have my check, please?”

Before he could stop himself, Griff said, “Put it on my tab.” He saw Amy go tense and he shot her a look. “It’s the least I can do for my new tenant. You can pick up my tab another time, how’s that?”

Tina smiled a wicked smile and scuttled off to the kitchen.

“I guess that’s okay.” She looked down.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be overbearing—” He squirmed. He needed to back off or she wasn’t going to have anything to do with him. She was going to think he was like her ex. Which he wasn’t.

“It’s okay. Thank you.”

He smiled. “Happy to treat my tenant to lunch. I hope we can do it again soon.”

“Sure. We both need to eat.”

I’m hungry for you.

* * *

Amy hopped in her car and shut the door, wincing as it screeched on its way closed. She put her head on the padded steering wheel and closed her eyes. This was not happening. Griff Martin was trouble. Scratch that, he was sex in blue jeans. Now that he’d shaved his beard off, she could see more of the kindness in his face. And more of the handsome.

Hard to believe he could be more sexy.

Amy time. Amy time.

She sat back and stared out the window. After what had happened with Darren, the thought she was even looking at a man as something beyond a human to talk to was shocking. Griff appeared to be all the right things—and all the things Darren wasn’t. It had taken a while for Darren to show his true colors. Why shouldn’t she think Griff was hiding his? Maybe that was the way men played the game. But with the loss of his whole family, maybe he just didn’t want to be involved with anyone.

Griff didn’t seem like that type, though. She wouldn’t be in town long enough to find out. Two months was long enough for a fling, nothing more.

“Too bad, Amy.” She wagged her finger at her reflection in the cracked rearview mirror. “You don’t even know what you want to do with your life. You will paint and think.” If Griff wanted no-strings sex, she’d be all for it. That was it. No relationship
.
She laughed. As if that would ever be an option. His flirting had to be part of his personality. Everyone she met had a crush on him. He was nice. He couldn’t help but flirt. He wouldn’t want to be with her when he could have anyone he wanted.

She stuck the key in the ignition and started the car, then pulled the seat belt over and clicked it into place. No more thinking about Griff and his tight jeans and scrumptious lips.
Done
. She put the car in gear. He’d filled her dreams the last few nights; there was no reason he needed to fill her waking moments, too.

She’d head back to the cabin and clean him right out of her thoughts. Maybe even sketch a while after she put up her groceries. Flowers or something. Or rocks. Sketch something inanimate and...natural.

As she started to pull out, a loud
thwack
sounded on the trunk. Her heart leapt to her throat, and she slammed on the brakes, even though she’d not even left the parking space. She shoved the car into park.

What the heck?

A knock at her window, and she turned to see Griff smiling through the dirty glass and motioning her to roll her window down.

Adrenaline rushing through her veins, her heart sped. More than a little flustered, her hands shook with the shock. She pushed the button, and the glass lowered with a jerk and a squeal. “Oh my gosh! Did I hit you?”

She couldn’t seem to ditch the guy—everywhere she turned, he was there. That was a bad thing. A very, very bad thing. Especially if she just hit him with her car.

Right?

“I’m okay. I thumped the car to get your attention before you drove off.” He stuck his hand in his pocket. “You forgot this at the café.” He held up her wallet. “Thought you might need it before I see you again.”

She didn’t know whether to strangle or kiss him and since neither were really options, she smiled and took the wallet from him. “Thank you. That was sweet of you to catch me before I left.”

“No big deal.”

“I wouldn’t have noticed I was missing it till who knows when.” Driving all the way back to town for it would have been a pain, yet she would’ve had to do it.

He bent down so that he could see eye to eye. “No problem. I’d already decided that if I didn’t catch you, I’d stop by the cabin on my way home. Figured I could leave it on the porch if you weren’t there.”

“Well, I’m glad you caught me.” If she could be invisible, she’d fan herself. Griff’s musky cologne wafted through the window. Woodsy and strong, like him. She set the wallet on the seat beside her. “I wouldn’t want you to have to go out of your way.”

“It’s no problem.”

She tucked her hair behind her ear then adjusted her earring. “Thanks again. In Atlanta—”

“You wouldn’t have gotten it back.”

“Probably not.” She sighed. “Unless the person who found it really went out of their way to find me. It’d be gone. So many people there.”

“Oakwood is more my size town for many reasons.” He looked out over the street then turned to her. “Speaking of...”

“What is it?” Her heart thumped. Something about this man set her feelings all topsy-turvy.

“There was one more thing I wanted to ask you.” He put his hands on his hips. “Just crossed my mind when we were talking about how small the town is.”

“Yeah?” She checked to make sure the car was still in park.

“Townspeople like to gather at the bar across the street, the Oaken Barrel, on Friday nights for pool and darts and beer. A little dancing. Why don’t you come join us this week? Join me?”

Sounded like the closest thing she’d see to Atlanta weekends, on a much smaller scale. She did like to play pool. But it meant spending more time with her sexy landlord. “I don’t know...”

“It’s fun. A perfect way to wind down.” His voice held a tone she hadn’t heard in him before. Almost plaintive. “Getting out occasionally has got to be good for you. You can’t stay cooped up in the cabin all the time.”

He was right. The loneliness she’d felt earlier was completely gone. It was sure to return if she didn’t see people for a week at a time.

“Well...” She looked down the street.

“Come on, it’ll be fun.”

“I know, but I’m not sure a date is appropriate.”

“A date?” He grinned a huge smile, so wide his dimples showed.

“I mean...”

“Who said ‘date’?” He leaned toward her.

“Well, it sounded like you meant a date.”

“It’s two people getting together for a beer. We can call it a date if you want.”

She blushed. Darn, why did he have to be so adorable? What should she say to that? “I don’t know.”

“I can introduce you to some of the people you’ll see around here. I’ll buy you a beer. You don’t have to dance or anything, just hang out a couple hours with everyone. You know, some of them might have some suggestions of places to paint. It can be a friendly date, not-a-date date.”

She covered her concerns with a smile. She needed a break from people, sure, but what was the harm in getting out once every few days? Griff was the harm. Being near him made her insides do things they hadn’t done in a long time. It wasn’t like she’d be alone with Griff—there’d be plenty of people at the bar. He was right, some of them might have some leads to some areas around to paint. She put her hands up in an
I give up
gesture. Nothing wrong with a little fantasy. “Okay, sure. A friendly date. What time? I’ll be there.”

“Pick you up around seven?” He grasped the edge of the car door. “That way, you don’t have to worry about parking or driving home late.”

She imagined his strong hands around her waist as they danced. Slow. In the dark. “Hmm?” Would they dance? No way. What the hell was she thinking? She was not going to dance with her sexy landlord.

“I said, I can pick you up at seven.” He yawned. “Excuse me. I’m happy to drive.”

She shook her head. “Oh, no, that’s okay—I can drive myself. I prefer it, actually.”

“We’re both going the same way, and I have to pass right by the cabin on the way here.”

“I’d feel more comfortable if I drove.”

“Okay.”

She stared at him a moment. “I’ll see you Friday night at the Oaken Barrel at seven.”